The Enigma of Wake BBall

I am a diehard fan, yet will never understand the curse that is Wake Forest basketball.  The Wall Street Journal analyzed the last 20 years of the NCAA Tournament and determined that we are the biggest underperformer in the entire field.  And yes, we are a small school of 4,000 kids and it is recognized that we perform at a high level in relation to student body, but so does Duke.

But it's not only the wins and losses, it's how we win and lose.  Tonight was the fifth overtime game of this season for the Deacs.  Fifth.  All of which we held a lead and let a team back in the game.  We were beating Texas handily late in the second half by 12, then let them all the way back to tie it up and go to overtime.  Then, instead of coming out and reasserting ourselves, we let them go up by 8.  Luckily this team found its heart.  Last year, when the going got tough in the tourney, the team (2 of whom are now in the NBA) packed it in and decided that the Final Four wasn't worth fighting for.  But this team has Ish Smith.  Not since Taron Downey have I believed in a Wake player so much.  Ish and Taron have that Brad Pitt as a gypsy in an underground fight in Snatch quality where they never realize they're down and should be out, but instead pop right back up swinging and take you to the brink before sinking a dagger in your heart.  And tonight, Ish's dagger found its mark and sunk the Longhorns in OT.  So while I will always be puzzled by Wake's uncanny ability to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory and choke at the highest level, tonight I will bask in the happiness that accompanies a solid NCAA Tourney victory.  At least until Saturday when we face #1 seed Kentucky...

March Madness

If you are like me, March Madness is a time of fun and exciting basketball, but also of extreme frustration and angst.  Every year, I fill out brackets, and every year I doubt my picks and second guess my basketball knowledge.  And every year I pay hard-earned money to participate in a bracket.  And every year I lose that money.  But not just to anybody; usually to someone that has NO CLUE about college basketball.  Which just goes to show you that it's anybody's guess who wins.  All the analysis, watching games all year, evaluating the brackets...doesn't end up having a bearing on how well you do in the pool.

In the end, these are 18-22 year old kids playing in strange cities in front of boisterous crowds on national tv with nothing but school pride and a love for the game driving them.  Some are showcasing skills for that million dollar a year paycheck, but most are simply out there because they want to be.  They represent themselves, family, college, hometown...in the end, they play because of emotion and a desire to win.  And when that is the case, anything can happen.  And it usually does.

My alma mater, Wake Forest University, straps up for a trip to New Orleans as a #9 seed to play #8 Texas. Having lost four games in a row before snapping the streak, only to get annihilated by a focused Miami squad in the ACC Tournament, my bet would not be on this team.  The Deacs are not playing well and I'm sure confidence is low.  But that's what makes this matchup interesting.  Texas is a similar team; almost identical in terms of profile.  Athletic, experienced teams with some great non-conference wins battling in tough major conferences, but suffering from inconsistency and bipolar disorder on the floor.  One of these teams will turn it around, and one of them could contend if the momentum goes their way.  When you have seniors on the court for potentially their last organized basketball game of their career, uncommon valor abounds.  This will be a dogfight, and I'm not going to give up hope until the final buzzer sounds.  And hopefully my dog is the one left standing.  I know I will be...I'll be on my feet for 40 minutes, cheering and holding my breath for every shot.  Because isn't that what March Madness is all about?

WFU Soccer: The Franchise

I always enjoyed watching my friend Vicente Bastidas as he starred for the Wake Forest soccer team, typically ranked in the top five in the country. Then, a couple years after we graduated, they went to three straight College Cups (Final Fours) and won a National Championship.

This past week, they set the record with four first round draft picks. Pretty impressive for Jay Vidovich and his squad.

Excerpt from this article:

San Jose selected Wake Forest defender Ike Opara with the third overall pick. Opara marked the first of a MLS-record four first-round draft picks out of the same school. Demon Deacons teammates Zack Schilawski (ninth overall to New England), Corben Bone (13th overall to Chicago) and Austin Da Luz (14th overall to New York) rounded out the complement.

"We call it the franchise because (Wake has) produced so many players," Opara said.

Officiating

Great article on officiating. In two games in the ACC this weekend, including one for my very own Wake Forest Demon Deacons, an egregious no-call in the final seconds sent the game to overtime when it never should have gone there. I believe in letting the players play...anyone who knows me knows that I do not believe in calling many fouls...but when it is glaringly obvious and intentional it must be called. Particularly in the final minutes. There is no excuse for that. Good thing Wake won anyway, otherwise I'd be livid.