A True Fairytale

I've been reading article after article and hearing commentary after commentary about how disappointed everyone is that there's no George Mason in the tournament this year; there's no UW-Milwaukee and no Vermont. Yes, it's true. Cinderella was invited to the ball, but she got way too drunk at the pre-party and ended up leaving the dance after the first few songs to bang the biker dude who nobody liked from the start. And she passed out, so she's definitely not getting let back in...and I could not care less.

I don't see what the big pout fest is all about. You'd think that for one, all the hoop crazy jocks in our offices (myself included) would be ecstatic because their bracket hasn't gone to complete shit by now. Last year, i was out of contention well before the Sweet 16 because of teams like George Mason. Let's just all be thankful that Betty from Accounting isn't going to win the pool because she once dated a cadet from Texas A&M who was very handsome and picked them to win it all (not to say they will, but you can bet your ass that Acie will be laying down some serious Law into round IV).

I do agree that it's always nice to have the cinderella story...to have that one team that everyone is just really pulling for...that one sweetheart that inexplicably takes down one giant after another on its way to the Final Four. But look at this way: we'll most likely have a dream matchup in the Championship Game of epic proportions. Can anyone not be excited about that prospect?

I would love to see Florida and the ass-slapping Joakim Noah go down hard before the Final Four, but the chances of that happening are very slim. Due to that statement, we're probably staring at a Florida/Kansas matchup that will pit the most talented starting 5 in the nation against the most experienced starting 5. This game alone would be a mint final game to decide the crown, even though it's not possible. I'm assuming and hoping that this matchup materializes and finally, Florida falls behind to the wrong team at the wrong time. If they fall behind to Kansas, they're in big trouble. Horford and Noah will create minor matchup problems for KU, but Brandon Rush will give Billy Donovan fits and prove to be the difference.

Look over at the other side of the bracket now. We're looking at UNC and G'town...and that's just in the Elite 8. Also, OSU and A&M...in the Elite 8. I'm assuming that all will play out as such and these will be the next round matchups, and those games could be epic. I love the old school ramifications of UNC-G'Town, and Hibbert v. Hansbrough in the paint--regardless of whether or not they're matched up--will be fun to watch. In the OSU/A&M game, you've got the best center in the country and the best guard in the country going at it. Oh yeah, and maybe the second-best guard in Mike Conley, Jr, too. I like OSU to take that one and head into Atlanta to face UNC, who will ride Hansbrough as far as the Final Four.

So screw Cinderella. I love the prospect of the the four best teams in college basketball playing each other to decide our National Champion. I'll conclude with this: the possibility of Roy Williams facing Kansas in the championship game, which makes me shiver all over the place...