St. Patrick’s Day March Madness is here!
There are several questions ahead of the 80th edition of the NCAA Tournament. Digital journalists/wannabe college hoops insiders Mark Bergin and Eric Heubusch try to answer some of them.
Which channels are broadcasting the tournament?
What’s your tweet-length prediction ahead of the tournament?
Bergin: CBS announcer Bill Raftery delivers his legendary “Onions!” call several times.
Eric Heubusch: Teams under fire from the FBI about pay-to-play schemes will thrive, causing an undermining of the NCAA and ultimately leading to major changes in the system; CC: Arizona
Can a 16 seed pull off an upset against a No. 1 seed?
Mark Bergin: Certainly, I think we’ll see a 16-seeded team pull off the David versus Goliath upset at some point in our lifetimes.
However, history tells us how unlikely a colossal upset is: 16 seeds have a 0-132 record against No. 1 seeds.
I don’t understand why some analysts think Pennsylvania can pull off an upset against Kansas?
Do they not realize the game is being played in Wichita, Kansas? It’s about a 2.5-hour drive from Lawrence to Wichita. This is essentially a home game for the Jayhawks.
Heubusch: The only people picking 16 seeds are booger-eating third graders and that guy at the office that always says “this is the year, I can feel it” about literally every sports scenario.
Which of our alma maters will fare better?
Editor’s Note: Bergin is a graduate of the University of Missouri and Heubusch is a graduate of the University of Florida.
Bergin: Things aren’t faring well for my beloved Tigers. They opened as a 1-point favorite over Florida State. Missouri is now a 1.5-point underdog.
It is likely due to Jordan Barnett’s arrest on Saturday for driving while intoxicated. Barnett will not play in Friday’s game against the Seminoles. The senior guard is the team’s second-leading scorer at 13.7 points per game and is the team’s best perimeter defender. Tigers coach Cuonzo Martin said Barnett will be available for Sunday’s game if the team advances.
Missouri is down to seven scholarship players Friday. The only hope for the Tigers is if Michael Porter Jr. plays out of his mind in what will be his third official collegiate game.
Porter, who is projected as a lottery pick in June’s NBA Draft should he decide to leave school, is returning from a back injury that forced him to miss most of the season.
I haven’t even mentioned the Gators yet! To answer the question, I’ll take Florida.
Heubusch: After an underwhelming season of inconsistency, losses to Ole Miss, Georgia and other lackluster SEC teams, Florida fans have a very abysmal outlook on the tournament this year.
In Florida’s favor: When the Gators are hot, they are beating teams like Gonzaga and Cincinnati. In this particular instance, they have to make it farther in the tournament than Mizzou. They play a late game Thursday against St. Bonaventure, and then are likely to match up with Texas Tech.
I like Mizzou’s chances to lose more than I like Florida’s chances to win. However, if the Gators somehow squeak past No. 2 seed Purdue in the Sweet 16, I’d like that too.
What’s your favorite off-the-court moment from a previous tournament?
Bergin: The crying Northwestern kid belongs in the internet Hall of Fame.
However, it’s got nothing on when Michigan coach John Beilein unleashed a super soaker on his team after advancing to last year’s Sweet 16.
Do you know how alpha it is to pack a super soaker with you? Also, does Beilein pack the super soaker with his luggage or does he ask an equipment manager to go buy one? Did Beilein take one of his kids’ super soakers? Does Beilein always travel with a super soaker?
It’s worth pointing out Ann Arbor, Michigan, is only a four-hour drive to Indianapolis, which is where the Wolverines’ first two games of the 2017 tournament were played. It means Beilein likely didn’t have to clear the recreational water gun through the Transportation Security Administration at an airport.
However, Beilein doubled down. He auctioned off his March Madness super soaker for charity.
In May, the ChadTough Champions for Change Gala gala raised $1.025 million for Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma and pediatric cancer. I want to know how much of that total was from Beilein’s super soaker!
Heubusch: I see your crying Northwestern fan, and raise you a sobbing Villanova piccolo player that went viral in 2015.
Mark Bergin is a journalist with 10News WTSP. Like him on Facebook and follow him on Twitter and Instagram. You can also email him at mbergin@wtsp.com.
Eric Heubusch is a researcher with 10News WTSP. Follow him on Twitter or email him atEHeubusch@wtsp.com
