In T-minus two hours and fourteen minutes (games start at 12:20 p.m. today), March Madness will officially be underway. Spring is here, the tournament’s starting, and it’s the best time of the year, baby. Screw it, meet me at the airport. We’re going to Vegas. I know a place there that will give us money if we win at card games!!!
Although the games start presently, the really important game — the Maryland one — doesn’t start until 9:40 tomorrow. The good news: you won’t miss it because you have to work (assuming you work the day shift). The bad news: well, that’s a long way away. So here are some suggestions for staying occupied in the meantime:
- Throw a one-person ticker tape parade for yourself with the remnants of your FUBAR bracket. Let’s face it: if there was ever a year in which the-administrative-assistant-who-makes-picks-based-on-team-mascots-and-where-her-grandkids-went-to-school is going to win, this is that year. In fact, start a new office pool for who’s going to win the office pool, and then put all your money on Gladys.
- Any leftover Guinness in your fridge?
- Go outside. It’s beautiful outside right now, you pasty desk jockey. Why don’t you go out there? I promise it won’t kill you, you lazy Internet-addicted fuckstick.
- Building on suggestion number three, I haven’t done any yard work in like two years. Could you come over? Sorry I called you a fuckstick before.
- Watch some American Idol reruns. Crystal Bowersox is kind of hot, in like an Altamont kind of way.
- Read this preview of Maryland’s first-round matchup with the Houston Cougars.
So there you go. Plenty to chew on there. Plenty to ponder. Okay, take it easy then! Go Terps!
Oh, right, the preview. So by now, you’re all aware of face-stomping Houston guard Aubrey Coleman. You’re also aware that he was, by a fairly substantial margin, the nation’s leading scorer. The 6′4″ Coleman, who transferred last offseason from Southwest Mississippi Community College, has a lot of street in his game, preferring to slash for layups and mid-range jumpers. This is going to be a difficult, and very interesting, defensive assignment for Greivis Vasquez. I’d like to see Bowie get a shot at him as well.
Either way, Coleman is a killer. But at the same time, he can go cold, and he can also do other things…he demonstrated both these things in winning the Conference USA title game. From what I’ve read, he’s a borderline NBA draft pick at the moment, and a good showing here would improve his stock. You can bet he knows that.
He also thrives in the high-octane system of head coach Tom Penders. Remember him? He coached four pretty unmemorable seasons at nearby George Washington from 1998-2001 (think SirValiant Brown).
According to this recent Post article, Penders was on the hot seat at Houston, too, until their improbable conference title run. So props to them. At 19-15, they’re just delighted to be here.
The team does have other pieces. Senior Guard Kelvin Lewis is their Eric Hayes — solid player, good three-point shooter, and a steady floor leader. Forward Maurice McNeill is their primary post presence and top rebounder.
Still, it clearly begins and ends with Coleman. At 6′9″, Maurice is big, but not prohibitively so. Coleman is the team’s second-leading rebounder. So hopefully — hopefully — the Terps can control the boards with no problem.
When the Terps are on offense, they can and should make Coleman work. Vasquez has a couple inches on Coleman and should be able to get his shot. Now, re-read that sentence and replace “Vasquez” with “Jordan Williams” and “Coleman” with “McNeill.” In general, given that they ranked first in C-USA in steals, I’m guessing Houston plays a frenetic, gambling style of defense. Given that they were second-to-last in in scoring defense and dead last in FG percentage defense and rebounding defense, I’m guessing this style yields mixed results.
Bottom line: Some people saw Coleman lead an exciting conference tourney run and now want to pick the upset based on that momentum and, let’s face it, Maryland’s recent underachievement in the tourney. But I this is simply a case of one team being better than another. That said, Houston is going to attack. If Maryland comes out with any ACC tourney hangover, we’ll know quickly. Here’s hoping they’ve been getting their rest and drinking plenty of Gatorade. If they have, this should be an easy win.
Now what ever happened to that leftover Guinness we were discussing?
Prediction: Houston 65, Maryland 83
(Photo credit: www.uhcougars.com)
