Conference Tournaments A Plenty

So with March Madness comes the idea of the NCAA Tournament, but before that comes the conference tournaments. The chances for Robert Morris, Oakland and North Texas to make their way into the NCAA's; also, for some great, high-level basketball to be played in the power conferences in great venues. This is where the magic starts, and where the madness really begins. Whether it be Georgia winning the SEC Tournament in 2008 after only 4 conference wins during the regular season. Or Maybe it was the amazing and heroic performance by Gerry McNamara at the 2006 Big East Tournament:


Then there is the ACC Tournament show put on by Wake Forest's Randolph Childress and his demoralizing of Jeff McInnis in the championship game in 1995:


The conference tournaments are something where people say they are not necessary, such as Bobby Knight, but they have such passion and energy when they are being played. None is better (though I will admit my bias as a Syracuse fan) than the Big East Tournament. The bright lights and big stage of Madison Square Garden in New York City is just unequaled. The teams are some of the best, with some of the best players, and they perform amazing feats each year. Just ask Syracuse and Connecticut last year.

This year there has been no slouch in the Big East tournament either, with Notre Dame continuing there solid play, and gaining back their star in the process. The thriller between Seton Hall and Providence when the Pirates tried to blow a 29 point lead. Then on Thursday bedlam continued, as three of the top four seeds fell to their opponents, beginning with number one seed Syracuse at noon. Only to be followed up by a minor upset of Villanova by Marquette, and finally Pittsburgh being upset by Notre Dame. With the three games being decided by a total of 16 points the thrills continued at the Garden.

Then there was the final game of the night, matching West Virginia up with Cincinnati. The Bearcats were the lone wildcard remaining in the Big East, as the top eight seeds have seemingly punched their tickets. The game that followed was yet another game in which the fans from each side will be talking about for years to come. With Cincinnati battling back from an early deficit to take a lead late in the second half behind freshman phenom Lance Stephenson, the Mountaineers looked to senior Da'Sean Butler to lead them to victory, and he stepped up.
While Cincinnati had the ball with under 10 seconds to go he was able to pressure the ballhandler into a turnover with three seconds left. He did not stop there though, as he was also able to catch the inbounds and take an NBA range three with Stephenson in his face and bank it in as the backboard lit up red and the buzzer sound. Clearly counting, West Virginia won the game and another instant classic was born from the Big East Tournament.

While conference tournaments might be detrimental and useless to some teams, the passion and moments that come from the games are undeniable. We have stories and legacies to tell our kids from each year, and the Big East fans know their stories. Boeheim versus John Thompson, Ray Allen versus Allen Iverson, G-Mac, 6 OT thriller, and now maybe Da'Sean can be added to the Big East lore.

Austin Freeman, Might be a Hoya but Sure to have Cheering Sections Everywhere

Austin Freeman is a Junior guard on the Georgetown Hoyas basketball team. He is their leading scorer and three point shooter, putting him at 10th in the Big East in scoring and third in the league in three point shooting percentage. He is a candidate for Big East most improved player. And now Austin Freeman is a young man that has been diagnosed with diabetes.

Having been sick recently, limited in a loss to Notre Dame on Saturday February 27, and out for the team's Big Monday matchup on ESPN at West Virginia in which the Hoyas lost again, Freeman believed it to be a simple stomach virus. After going to the hospital however, he was diagnosed with diabetes, and his future is uncertain.

Freeman and coach John Thompson the III both believe that his return to the court is a certainty, as the quiet and low-key Freeman states himself to be alright:

It's going to be a certain change in my diet and my life. But I know I can deal with it. I'll be fine.

Freeman has really been under the radar until the middle of this season, when his abilities and scoring remained consistent as the Big East season went along. Having been overshadowed by DaJuan Summers last year, and who I believed to be overhyped and overrated Greg Monroe (whom I have reconsidered those adjectives when describing Monroe after his great play of late), Freeman has been the silent assassin. I thought him to be the best player on the team the last two years. Certainly Syracuse fans know of his skill; averaging 22 points a game this year against the Orange, and 16 a game in his three year involvement in the rivalry.

Wherever the Hoyas go, and whatever seedings they get, they will have one player that all are cheering for. I hope that this is just a minor speed bump for Freeman, because his career at Georgetown could be a special one if he can get through this.

No. 1 in the country, and the Big East too

On Monday Syracuse found themselves number one in the country, both in the Associated Press and ESPN/USA Today rankings. On Tuesday night they also found themselves to be number one in the Big East, all alone, and with nobody going to catch them.

Syracuse dominated a game they were supposed to against St. John's, winning 85-66. On senior night it was the two seniors that stood out for Syracuse, as Arinze Onuaku and Andy Rautins were able to really dominate the second half, hooking up several times throughout en route to Onuaku's 21 points, to go along with his eight rebounds.

Tuesday once again was a showing of what the team mentality is, and how the Orange got to number one in the polls and Big East standings. They had five players in double figures and 19 assists on 30 field goals.

Syracuse found themselves holding their second hardware of the season, halfway their though, with the Big East Tournament and NCAA Tournament still ahead.

Abe Pollin Passes Away

Abe Pollin, owner of the Washington Wizards and founder of the Washington Capitals, passed away at age 85. The longest tenured NBA owner, Pollin was known for his loyalty and love of basketball, and a great friend and owner. Pollin was reported to be afflicted with a rare brain disease that affected movement and balance known as supranuclear palsy, and had bypass surgery back in 2005.

Rather than give heresay on what a great man he was, here is what others had to say.

The NBA family has lost its most revered member, whose stewardship of the Wizards franchise, together with his wife Irene, has been a study in unparalleled dedication to the city of Washington," NBA commissioner David Stern said. "During his illness he fought with a determination and valor that will remain an inspiration to all.

I just lost a real, real good friend," said Wes Unseld, star of the 1978 championship team who later became the team's coach and then general manager. "And I think it's more than any of you will understand or I could even explain. It's just going to be a big void in sports in this community.

We're deeply saddened to hear about the passing of Abe Pollin - a giant in the world of professional sports and someone I was proud to call a friend. Abe was a man who knew that being an owner wasn't just about winning championships, although his teams had plenty of success. It was about helping young athletes become good people as well as good players. And it was about being part of a community," Obama said.

The funeral is set to be held on Friday, along with a public memorial service on Dec. 8 at the Verizon Center.

The Hits Keep on Coming for Notre Dame

So Notre Dame lost another game at home, this time to Connecticut. Charlie Weis is on the hot seat, the team has lost three straight, and players to the NFL seems likely.Then this happens, Jimmy Clausen gets punched outside a bar in South Bend the morning after the double-overtime loss. The black eye that was given to the program materialized on their best player's face.

This is just what Notre Dame needs, their starting quarterback, who is having a phenomenal season in almost every aspect while already injured, getting sucker punched at two in the morning. What can possibly happen next? Where can this go? Are they going to lose to Stanford while scoring touchdowns on themselves as the Stanford Tree is playing defense?

Apparently what happened was that Clausen was at the bar with family and friends, and decided to leave around two in the morning. After his girlfriend had forgot her purse in the bar they returned to get it. On the way out she was pushed and Clausen said something to the person, as anybody would. Then he was sucker punched and the cops were called.

Now people are going to get on Clausen because they are Notre Dame and Clausen haters, calling him a "pussy" and a "loser" saying he just got beat up in a fight. You know, because all of those Internet tough guys were there, and they would have done it themselves. Clausen finally did what players should do, and walked away and stayed away from more trouble. For that I think he should be commended. Clausen will be wearing a visor for the game on Saturday following the black eye, but he is going to be alright to play.

The Buffalo Bills on Steroids

So the Buffalo Bills went to the Super Bowl four straight years, and unfortunately for them and their fans lost all four times. Now their fans have to hear about it forever, or until they actually make it back there and win it. Now fans of Jimmie Johnson will have to hear about his four straight for the rest of time, but they will hear it from one another while they are gloating.

Johnson cruised to his fourth straight Sprint Cup Championship, and became only the fourth driver to win more than three titles. Those other three are not too bad, you might have heard of Dale Earnhardt, Richard Petty and Jeff Gordon.

He was able to win in 2009 thanks to his fifth place finish at the Homestead-Miami Speedway, easily giving him enough points to run away with it. It is a truly remarkable accomplishment, especially given the drivers that are around and the level of cars these days. Johnson is truly a great competitor and a great driver. When asked what this meant to him Johnson was very appreciative.

To do something that’s never been done in the sport, and love the sport like I do and respect it like I do and the greats – Petty, Earnhardt, Gordon – to do something they have never done is so awesome,” Johnson said. “And to win four championships in eight years, what this team has done – this is unbelievable.

Bird and Magic Forever Linked....Again

Larry Bird and Earvin "Magic" Johnson just can not seem to separate themselves from one another in basketball lore. It all began in 1979 in the National Championship game when small school Indiana St. was led by Bird to face Magic's Spartans of Michigan St. Then they went to two of the most storied NBA franchises- Bird to the Boston Celtics and Magic to the Los Angelas Lakers. Then they found one another again in the NBA Finals in 1984, and again in 1985...and then again in 1987. The two were finally on the same side for the 1992 Olympic basketball team, or the Dream Team.

So the two should only be inducted into the College Basketball Hall of Fame together. After that great game they should have been planning this for 30 years. The two have become great friends, and to have them both going in the great year, is a great move by the voters.

The two of them have done so much for the game, and did so much for the college game, especially with that monumental championship. The rivalry that they began in college and let grow in front of the eyes of the world was something special, and what better than to have this special moment shared by the two of them, for the world to see.