- The NCAA tournament is now midway through the Sweet Sixteen and it has been an incredibly anti-climactic run so far. Few upsets, fewer memorable performances, and quite possibly the most boring basketball game in tournament history between UCLA and Pitt. Turnovers, missed shots, and Aaron Gray. Tennessee blew a 20 point lead, Acie Law IV missed a lay up and SIU hiccupped the game away after playing Kansas tough. Bada bing bada boom, and here we are. Both number 1 seeds as well as their number 2’s move on. Billy Packer is happy again. Not much more needs to be said. But, that won’t stop me.
- While we are on Pitt, it is time to note that they are, contrary to reports, a solid and not premier program. Sorry yinzer nation, they just aren’t there yet. Pitt is a top 20 program. They cannot be considered a top 10 program because since the resurgence of the Ricardo Greer led Panthers, they have yet to crack the Sweet 16. Nobody should mention them in the same breath as Duke, North Carolina, UCLA, Kansas, or Florida and you are pushing it if you compare them with programs like Illinois, Maryland, Arizona and in conference players like Syracuse and UConn. The main difference between Pitt and these teams is the growing hurdle that is the Sweet 16. All of these teams have made Elite 8’s or Final Four’s over the past decade while Pitt has yet to do so. How do they fix this? Well, defense is certainly not the problem. They can defend and rebound with any team in the country. They lack a slasher who can create for themselves and teammates off the dribble and a competent offensive game plan. They do a terrible job exploiting match ups and still play an inordinate amount of one on one, despite the departure of Carl Krauser. For instance, last night’s match up with Mata, despite Gray’s general lack of ability, was a huge key for Pitt. Pounding the ball inside to Gray was essential and he did not get enough touches early. Mata had 2 fouls early and had Dixon planned accordingly, could have been rendered useless for the rest of the game. Gray and Mata battled to a draw, Pitt shot the ball terribly from outside and the game was over. This is the single biggest improvement needed by Pitt – in game offensive coaching. They will have talent and defense and once they have an organized offense, this program will climb the ladder a little more.
- Aaron Gray is the most overrated player in America. He averaged almost 10 rebounds per game this year and I am convinced at least 3.5 of those were gathered off his own misses. He is this generation’s Greg Ostertag only not as good. Pittsburgh talk show host Mark Madden claimed Gray had a chance last night to cement his draft status or play his way out of the draft. In battling the great Lorenzo Mata (who looks like Splinter from the original Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movie) to a draw, Gray ensured himself a spot on the bench of the Pittsburgh Xplosion. Some highlights: Having a jump hook blocked by the smaller Mata. Missing numerous lay-ups, some uncontested. The inexplicable way the front of his hair becomes chemically bound to his forehead while the rest bobs almost uncontrollably, giving the appearance of a 7 foot tall 6 year old bounding through the driveway. Honestly, anyone who still thinks Gray will be a starting center in the NBA needs to check into rehab immediately. He has a 2 inch vertical, slow feet, doesn’t block shots and can’t hit free throws. His only chance to even get meaningful minutes is to play along side a Tim Duncan type player who can stretch the D, command a double team and leave Gray open on the opposite block. However, there is something to be said for a free edumacation.
- Sticking with sports, Tiger Woods attempted to have the world’s best Tennis maestro, Roger Federer, watch a practice round from inside the ropes at the CA Championship at Doral. PGA officials, apparently not worrying about their future financial stability, escorted Federer from the fairway and put him back amongst the masses behind the ropes. It’s not like Salamander Jones from Blawnox ran on the course. It was Roger Federer. ROGER FEDERER. Alerted to their error by Woods, Federer was once again allowed inside the ropes. Then he beat the officials unconscious with an unopened can of Penn 5’s. And Tiger Woods ran them over in a Buick Rendezvous.
- Moving away from sports, figure skating is still on TV.
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