Forseeing the Final Four

Who will be the National Champion come Monday? Many of the experts are picking Florida. Coach Billy Donovan has been to the Final Four before, they're a dominant team down low, and a number of analysts say the Gators have the best player in Indianapolis this weekend: the versatile Joakim Noah.

But I'm picking LSU. I love the athleticism of Tyrus Thomas; he's a monster on both sides of the floor. Glen Davis is as talented as Noah, in my opinion, and he's stronger in the post. Senior Darrel Mitchell runs the point with poise, and he has a knack for knocking down clutch shots. Their complementary players, namely freshman wing Tasmin Mitchell, gel well with the rest of the Tigers, and they all play with an incredible intensity on the defensive end that will rattle the other teams in Indy this weekend.

Versus UCLA, I expect the Bruins to hang around for awhile, but the Tigers should wear them down in the second half and win, 73-61.

In the other semifinal, I expect George Mason to play some great basketball and put on a nice passing display. But I think Florida's power, especially on the offensive boards, will in the end tucker out the Patriots and their magnificent Cindarella run. Gators 68, Patriots 63.

Then, Monday night, the SEC Championship Game will be re-enacted at the National level. Florida won that one three weeks ago by 16. But that was against a hobbled Tyrus Thomas. He's healthy now, and explosive as any college player I've seen in a long time. I expect him to have a jaw-dropping weekend, full of emphatic dunks and dejecting (for his opponents) rejections. He'll be the tournament's MOP, and the Tigers will win it all Monday, 80-74, bringing joy to Louisiana, a place where it's desperately needed -- perhaps moreso than anywhere else in this country.

State of the Pistons Address (March 30)

It's great to see Lindsey back on the court again.

In a brief stretch in last night's game, the best on-the-ball defender in the NBA scored seven points in a row to help the Pistons defeat the Philly Sixers. He's my favorite Piston, and just to see him out there makes me smile -- not to mention seeing him excel.

The win sent us to a league-leading 57-14. Eleven games left, and five of them are really tough: Phoenix, Indiana, Cleveland, and Washington at home, and the Heat down in Miami.

A few days ago, I was worried. We had lost to the Nets at home. We had gone three games without scoring more than 82 points. While the defense appeared to be back, the whole package was not. Now those fears have evaporated; the hunger is back.

Thank you, Dallas. The Mavs were the inspiration Tuesday night as they came to the Palace with the second-best record in the league and in need of a little payback. The Pistons had lost to them by 37 back in November, and the loss had not been forgotten. An MVP-like performance from Chaunce -- 31 points, 11 feeds, only one spill -- was beautiful to see, especially after Mr. Big Shot's shooting woes of late (5-for-20 in the previous two games).

Hate to leave it in the air like this, but I gotta go. More later.

Stan the Man

Leave it to my dad to find the two brackets with the correct Final Four. (See comments).

He's a master of the Web, and also a gigantic basketball fan. Stan the Man has been to every game of every Final Four from 2000 to 2005. He even had hotel rooms for this year's Last Dance, but no tickets, so he will not be in Indy this weekend.

If either Russell or Ethan happen upon this blog entry, my word is my bond: we're headed to Indy!

Are you serious?!

To my readers: I apologize for the far past due post. I've been out of town, but I have not taken my eye off of what I consider to be the greatest NCAA Tournament of all time.

Have you ever seen a collection of such exciting games on consecutive nights? I sure haven't. Show me the bracket with LSU, UCLA, Florida and George Mason (!!!) in the Final Four, and I'll take you to Indianapolis myself. Holy Patriot!

This tournament has had it all. My top five favorite moments:

(Well, six. I had to throw this one in there. Coming back from Tampa last Friday, my buds and I stopped in Atlanta to watch the 'Nova/BC game in a bar. One minute into OT, we look up and see none other than Glen "Big Baby" Davis, LSU's 315-pound center and SEC Player of the Year. He's a big man. And he wasn't even paying attention to the game.)

5. Boston College's Craig Smith -- a mediocre free throw shooter at best -- hit two free throws with his team down two to Pacific in the first round, and the four-seed Eagles went on to win in double OT.

4. Winthrop's scare of Tennessee in the first round had us all on the edge of our seats. It took a Kobe/T-Mac-like fadeaway on the baseline by Volunteer Chris Lofton to propel UT to the second round. What a shot.

3. This shot may have been even more impressive, though. Down by two, Northwestern St. guard Jermaine Wallace rebounded his teammate's miss with four seconds left, dribbled toward the 3-point line, stepped back, and with an outstretched hand directly in his face, nailed a fadeaway triple from the true corner to lift the Demons over three-seed Iowa in the first round, capping a furious rally.

2. I had never seen Tyrus Thomas play, nor had I heard his name. After his performance against Duke in the third round, he made sure I'd remember it for a long time, and I think a few NBA scouts noticed, too. Thomas had five blocks -- most of them against Dukie banger Shelden "the Landlord" Williams -- and some rabidly emphatic dunks to help the Tigers advance. Then, against Texas in the Atlanta regional final, he had three consecutive alley-oop dunks in the first half to help LSU build a lead it would relinquish, but rebuild again in OT en route to its first Final Four since 1986.

1. George Mason is headed to Indy, after a fantastic win over Connecticut in the Washington, D.C. regional final. Two comebacks occurred. First, the Patriots trailed by nine at the half, but they kept their poise and managed to pick away at the Huskies' lead throughout the second half. Then, it was UConn's turn to rally. With less than a minute to go, Marcus Williams got into the lane and made an off-balance runner, count it and the foul, to bring the Huskies within one. GM then made a FT, then missed one, setting up Denham Brown's last second bucket -- a reverse on the baseline where the ball defied gravity and remained on the rim, eventually falling in to force overtime -- and the Huskies were still breathing. Their faces were the definition of fatigue, disbelief, and dejection, though. Through three rounds, they had had to come from behind and make the clutch plays in the waning moments. It wasn't meant to be a fourth time. GM had a bit more savvy in the extra period, scoring calmly inside and making free throws, until the very end when one last free throw miss carromed off, and Denham Brown had the chance to be the hero one last time. His 3-point shot bounced off the rim and fell to the ground, though, and the Patriots were dancing to the Final Four for the first time. Connecticut's well had run dry. As the one-seed, too many close games tired them out. Had they been blowing out their opponents, they would have had a bit of gas left in the tank for this thriller.

It's awesome baby, it's awesome!

Madness is here. And my dad and I are spreading the word about our ESPN bracket pool.

Here's the link. The group name and password are in the link. Set up an account and pick 'em! May the best picker win!

http://games.espn.go.com/tcmen/group?groupID=93357&password=flywilliams

Pass the word.

(Last year's champ was my buddy Matt E. I took second. Two years ago, I won. So, traditionally, I'm good at this stuff. I usually watch the Selection Show and immediately fill out 45 brackets, getting a feel for each game, somehow, from the continual writing of "UNC" and "UConn" and "'Cuse" -- those were my three picks for champs the last three years, thank you -- and finally settling on one to use in my pool. This year, I've waited, and I'm pausing on each game thoughtfully. We'll see how I do. )

What a beat

Michigan lost to Minnesota in the Big Ten tournament today. As a Wolverine fan, it's frustrating.

All year long, Michigan teased its faithful by starting out hot, winning some big games at home, and returning to the Top 25 for the first time in, like, a decade.

But an ineptness for winning on the road hurt the Wolverines. So did losses to UCLA in mid-December and an inexplicable loss to Indiana last Saturday in Ann Arbor. In that game, Daniel Horton scored 34 points, but a slew of ill-advised shots and turnovers, in the waning moments of the game, lost the game.

Injuries hurt, too. With Lester Abram out indefinitely, Dion's turned ankle in crunch time versus Ohio State, and Chris Hunter's late-season knee buckle, it proved to be too much to overcome.

Still, at 18-9 before today's game, they had a shot to go dancing, to jump off the bubble. Two wins would have done it. Maybe even one. Now, it's sad to say that the bubble has popped: I think they'll be NITin' once again...

... In other sad news, the United States baseball team lost to Canada, 8-6, yesterday in the World Baseball Classic. It's acceptable to fall to the Canucks in hockey. Or curling. But not baseball. Not our American pastime. That makes me sick...

... The Pistons won, 106-101, over the Bulls last night. 'Sheed played well and scored inside (my most pressing concern of late), and I was happy to see my boy Ben Gordon post 28 in the loss. So all's well in that realm. Their next game is Saturday at Washington. At 30-30, the Wiz are a dangerous bunch -- especially with All-Star Gilbert Arenas, one of the league's best shooters (and he'll pull from anywhere across half court). Plus, the Pistons lost (in 2OT) to them earlier in the year. But I see that as fuel for redemption for the boys in red and blue. They're ready to rattle off 38 consecutive wins en route to a second championship in three years. (Yes, that means they will win the rest of their regular season games and sweep through the playoffs. Got beef?)

State of the Pistons Address (March 8)

Twenty-three games to go. Five back-to-backs. Two games versus Miami. Two games versus Indiana. One game each versus Dallas and Phoenix. The most crucial part of the Pistons' regular season schedule has arrived.

Despite a 2-2 showing on their last road trip, the Pistons remain two games ahead of both San Antonio and Dallas for home court advantage throughout the playoffs. And at 48-11, they still have a chance to reach 70 wins, although I don't think that should be their focus.

To clinch home court and to be at an optimum level once the playoffs begin, the Pistons should concentrate on the following points:

1. Limit distractions.

There are no more west coast swings, so travel frenzy can no longer be an excuse for fatigue. There are no reasons for the mountainous numbers of technicals being whistled. I realize they need to have conversations with the referees, but they need to put a leash on the tempers while doing so. The game's just not as fun when you're frowning after every call.

2. Trust the bench.

It's a testament to Fip's will to win that he plays the starting five so much. But their legs must be fresh come playoff time. The minutes of Chaunce, Rip, Tay, 'Sheed and Ben all hover around 36 per game. If Flip could curtail that to just 32 per game -- that's only one or two more minutes, say, for each time they come out -- it would make a world of difference. Not only would their legs rest, the bench players would gain more confidence out on the floor. And Flip would have more freedom to experiment with different combinations out there, too. Which leads me to my next point.

3. Develop a substitution pattern.

In the playoffs, chemistry is everything. I like having Lindsey and Tony Delk at backup guards, but will they play together? Will they wreak havoc as a trapping backcourt like Lindsey did in the 2004 playoffs with Mike James as his fellow pitbull? (I think we miss James more than people realize, by the way. He was a terrific defender.) And between Mo Evans and Carlos Delfino, who plays 2 and who plays 3? I think Delfino has shown himself as an exceptional defender -- especially against guys like Dwyane Wade and Vince Carter. What about Dale Davis? Will he play solely against Shaq? Will Kelvin Cato get any minutes when he's healthy? These are all things that should not be left up in the air until mid-May. The tricky part for Flip will be experimenting while continuing to win. If he does the latter, I don't see any reason why he shouldn't be Coach of the Year.

4. Give 'Sheed more of a yellow light than a green one.

I'm hesitant to say this, just because I think 'Sheed is our most talented player. Still, he gets in those modes where he tries to shoot himself out of a slump, and it ends up hurting the team. I suggest, if he misses three 3-pointers in a row, send him to the block, and let him get his groove going there. He feeds off emotion and rhythm. Let him get those in the post, backing down, drawing fouls, frustrating defenders with his sky-high release. Not behind the arc.

5. Resurrect Big Ben.

On the last road trip, Ben averaged just 6 ppg, 10 rpg, and less than one block per game. Uncharacteristic, to say the least. I can't say he's been uncharacteristic at the free throw line, but he has been worse than normal. It's easy to find his troubles at the charity stripe comical. During the All-Star Game, he missed drew all air on one and LeBron shot him a puzzled look. Ben smiled and said, "That's what I do." His stats of late haven't been too laughable, though. He's made just 14 of his last 44 attempts.

6. Keep the starting five healthy!

Each of the starters has been on the floor for tip-off in all 59 of the team's games: the only team in the league to boast such a statistic. Knock on wood, and give kudos to the team's trainers Arnie Kander and Mike Abdenour -- without question, two Piston legends.

An ode to March

March is the best month of the year. Why? Come on, now.

Oh tell me, when was the Dad of Dads, my pops, Stanley Garfield, born? March 26, thank you.

Oh tell me, when were my darling twin sisters, Tracy and Kathy, born? March 10, thank you.

Oh tell me, when was Shaq-Fu, the Big Aristotle, the Diesel, the most quotable athlete of all time, Shaquille O'Neal, born? March 6, of course.

Oh tell me, is March not the evaporation of winter into spring? Is March not the turnstile through which the chirping birds and blossoming flowers and golf season all bolt out of, racing speedily toward summer?

Oh tell me, is March not the inebriated horse that St. Patrick's Day rides in on, decked out in Celtic green, boasting arguably the greatest holiday of the year? (I'll take Thanksgiving, actually -- just because I prefer eating to drinking. But it's close.)

Oh tell me, is March not mad? Do thousands of basketball teams around the country not compete at the same time for city, district, state, conference, and national championships? Do you not recall skipping school on the first Thursday and Friday of the Big Dance to watch the most exciting basketball games to be played all year? Have you never gamecasted the No. 3 Syracuse versus No. 14 Manhattan matchup in its entirety, while at work, sitting on the edge of your seat, when you just as easily could have driven home and watched it on TV? Have you never been caught up in the madness? If your answer is no, you haven't lived.

An interesting start to my day

March 5 began with a Pistons loss (after midnight here in Kzoo), but I don't really feel like getting into that. All I'll say is Kobe is good, and 'Sheed shot too much.

Anyway, at 9 a.m. this morning, I awoke to my boy Phil causing a ruckus out in the lounge. So I head out there to learn that a BAT has appeared in his room. Phil discovered it at 4 in the morning, flying around in his single, so he left his room, shut the door, and slept in the lounge. When he returned a few hours later to check on it, the bat was perched on the ceiling, motionless. We decided to wait a few more hours, just to see if it would stay in its place, and around noon, it was still there.

Then, we examined the possible means for its removal. Paper bag? Plastic bag? Trash can? Cooler! I suggested a cooler with a retractable top -- and it worked. Phil placed it on the ceiling, waited patiently, and at the first feeling of movement, he snapped the top back on so quickly, I'd never seen Big Philly Style move that fast.

The ensuing celebration was sheer pandemonium. We had captured a bat! We yelled and ran around the room, excited to have conquered the nocturnal, possibly rabid rodent. For a brief moment, we pondered using the creature as a prank, letting it go in someone's room, or simply leaving the cooler somewhere, for some innocent passerby to discover a bat inside.

Instead, we took the cooler outside, opened the top, and expected the bat to fly out, buck wild. But when we opened the top, the bat moved nay a muscle. With the poke of a stick, my boy Damon was able to provoke a high-pitched squeal, and it appeared as if the blind one was trying to use its sound to vibrate off the walls of its surroundings. After awhile, the bat rose from the cooler, flew around belligerently, and finally rested beneath a gutter atop the roof of Severn Hall.

I don't know how it got in here, or if there are more to come, but, if necessary, we are prepared to revisit our roles as bat exterminators.

That's all from the Bat Cave, for now.

State of the Pistons Address (March 4)

I don't see us losing when Rip, 'Sheed and Chaunce score 20. But it almost happened.

The stingy Sonics -- behind 31 efficient points from still-sensational Ray Allen -- tested the Pistons Friday, but some clutch plays down the stretch secured a much-needed win.

Watching the game at the bar with my buds, we debated what the Pistons should have done down the stretch: Pick 'n Roll with Chaunce and 'Sheed? Rip off a curl? Tay in the post? Turned out to be a combination of the first two options, with Chaunce coming off a ballscreen and hitting Rip on the baseline off a Ben screen. With 0.2 to go, Rip hit nothing but bottom. Ballgame.

Chaunce is Mr. Big Shot, but Rip is Mr. Automatic. With a clear look at the hoop and his feet set, he rarely misses.

"I know before I get the ball if the shot is going in or not," Rip told interviewers after the game. "It's all a rhythm shot. The follow through and the shot are the easy part. It's just getting there and stopping on a dime, and being in the right place at the right time, and getting the shot off."

As the Pistons -- especially now, with 24 games left in the regular season -- each game becomes a big one for their opponent. The Pistons are the hunted; their opponent, the hunter. Naturally, that means a lot of close games. But wins are important now more than ever. The Spurs and the Mavs linger only three games back, and we need to secure home court for the duration of the playoffs.

Thus, it's important to examine who should take the shot in crunch time. I'd consider giving it to anyone of the four shooters -- Rip, Chaunce, 'Sheed, or Tay -- but I think if I were coaching, I'd draw up a play for Rip every time. He's that automatic.

Having Chaunce and 'Sheed run their pick 'n roll to begin the play is a nice distraction, but it can't be the only one. As Chaunce comes off and Rips comes corner, 'Sheed should be flaring off a subsequent Tay screen and Tay should flash to the top. That gives Chaunce four options (including his own pull), with the first of the four a pass to Rip. And then, there's always Ben cleaning up a potential miss, which is the ultimate luxury.

Up next: A bout with the Lakers in SmogTown tonight. I like the Pistons by 13, with a big game from newcomer Tony Delk (6 points, 2 assists). Kobe for 31 on 12-of-35 shooting.

State of the Pistons Address (March 2)

Late in the second quarter of the Pistons' game versus Denver Wednesday, I looked over at my buddy Pat and told him this was the most exciting game I'd seen this season.

Fast-paced, above the rim, physical, and personal (Rip Hamilton and Ruben Patterson got into a little verbal altercation that could have evolved into something more). Chauncey was hitting (he finished with 27) and Rip started out hot (5 for his first 6). This game had it all.

Then, as the second half began, and the Nuggets' high-flying antics did not cease, it became more frustrating than entertaining. 'Melo, Kenyon, Ruben, and Marcus Camby were each continual recipients of artfully-placed lob passes from Andre Miller, and the Pistons had no answer. In all, Denver totaled 25 dunks -- 10 of them on alley-oop passes. Flip Saunders said there were more lob throwdowns in this game than there had been in Detroit's previous 56 games. Tayshaun Prince had never seen anything like it. And neither had I.

It'd be best to just forget this game and move onto Friday's bout in Seattle with the Sonics. After all, there is a new Piston who should be making his debut soon: Tony Delk. The former Kentucky All-American and Final Four MVP is a savvy veteran. He also has the team career high in points in one game, with 53.

Still, it's hard to believe the Pistons were so outplayed Wednesday. Maybe we can chalk it up to fatigue, or an off night; after all, they can't play at their highest level for 82 games. I still wish they could have made some adjustments to keep the Nuggets more grounded. They were flying as high as the city of Denver claims to rest above sea level.

Lenten Promises

I'm Catholic, and for Lent this year I've decided to give up a few things:

1. Sweets. All sweets. From cookies to Skittles, birthday cake to M&Ms -- they're out of my diet for 40 days.

2. Pop. I don't drink it too much anyway, but that does kind of rule out my favorite cocktail for awhile.

3. Fast food. No late-night T Bell, MacD's, BK, or Wendeezy's for me.

I see these promises as challenging -- especially the fast food. I enjoy these things, but I also realize they're bad for me. I will just have to resist temptation.

Now, that being said, there are certain things that the majority of my friends see as temptations, but for me, I detest. For instance:

1. Doritos. I'll admit, they're tasty. But I once saw a TV special on Saddam Hussein where his prison guards recounted his number one request: Doritos. He ate them all the time; it became all he ate. And he became incredibly ornery if he did not have them. From that day forward, I have not eaten a single Dorito.

2. Eva Longoria, the "Desperate Housewife," and ladyfriend of my least favorite basketball player of all time, Tony Parker. The public is enamored with her, and now so is the NBA. (She recently coached a celebrity team at All-Star Weekend.)
Now, if I were to say she's an ugly looking gal , I'd be lying. But anyone who sees Tony Parker as attractive, I cannot stand. Of course, this stems from my love for the Pistons and my hatred for the Spurs. Still, other than her looks, she's got nothing going for her. She's not a good actress. She's not funny. And she's always got so much hideous makeup on, anyway. When my friends say, "Oh, Eva Longoria, she's so hot," I cringe. When a shot of her behind the Spurs' bench at the Palace flashed on the big screen last June, and many of the Pistons' faithful showered her with boos, I grinned. And it couldn't have been more smug.

3. Hot sticks. But I won't get into that.