Loading ...Pac-10 Looked Overrated and Overmatched
On the eve of The Final in college basketball tonight, can’t help but lament how poorly Pac-10 teams showed in the NCAA tournament this year.
Year after year, those of us West of the Grand Canyon complain about an East Coast bias by establishment media. This season looked and sounded to be different. The Pac-10 was suddenly referred to as the toughest basketball conference in the country, with a number of “marquee” players making momentary stops at west coast schools before heading on to the NBA.
Two players were lavished with tremendous coverage, praise and adulation. Kevin Love of UCLA and OJ Mayo of USC arrived on their respective campuses with daunting expectations. In the end, neither accomplished what experts labeled as the “sure thing”. There will be no national championship for either the Bruins or the Trojans. Not even close.
Based on the way Pac-10 teams were sent packing from the Big Dance this year, how can anyone dispute that the Pac-10 was overrated?
The UCLA Bruins were simply run off the court by Memphis. Not only did the Tigers want a win in the semi-finals more than UCLA, they were ready to out-hustle and out-muscle the boys from Westwood.
Prior to the mugging taken by the Bruins, the “unstoppable” Twin Towers of Stanford were embarrassed by Texas. The Lopez twins pouted and postured their way up and down the court. Their mood was shaped by the whipping they were being handed by the aggressive teamwork implemented by the Longhorns. The only thing more shocking than the 20 point loss by the Cardinal was the claim that Robin Lopez was ready to come out from under the shadow of his brother Brook and enter the NBA draft. Are you kidding? Neither of the Lopez boys did anything to improve their NBA stock by their play in the tournament. Actually, they both would clearly benefit from more seasoning before trying to fool NBA scouts. Even the Knicks management wouldn’t be foolish enough to risk a draft choice on either seven footer.
Then there was the drubbing taken by the Cougars of Washington State. They managed to make UNC look like the best team in the nation, bowing out with a 21 point (margin) pasting by the Tar Heels. Yikes! About the best thing to be said for their performance is that they weren’t expect to score many points. But 47 against a team that didn’t stop anyone all season long?
There’s no need to rehash the early round losses handed to Arizona, Oregon and USC. Yes, they were all summarily dispatched to their dorm rooms out west after world class butt whippings.
This time around it turns out the media should have ignored protestations from the Left Coast with regard to bias. Just as it appeared that folks out west were finally going to enjoy their day in the sun, the east coast teams rained all over their parade.
At least one thing remains consistent, establishment media got it wrong… again…
As for this blogger, guess I’ll quietly pack up the board and head down to the beach to catch a few gnarly waves.
Darcy
April 7th, 2008 at 4:07 pm
Lew,
Does the New Moon have your Jockies in a twist—my we’re slamdunking today!
It’s funny that our Fantasy B-Ball team was named “Memphis is Overrated”. I’ll be cheering the Tigers on tonight.
I always enjoy your journalism, even if I don’t always submit the Digg!
Cougar Lew
April 7th, 2008 at 5:06 pm
Darcy,
Was going for a reality check. Pretty unlikely that such reflection will change my “homer” views, but credit should be given where it’s due.
If you give me a chance to catch my breath, we’ll be talking smack all too soon!
But seriously, couldn’t believe the way all the Pac-10 teams were run over. Maybe it was something in the water?
Thanks for your kind words Darcy. To say your praise is truly appreciated on begins to describe my reaction.
One more thing….