"Is the mean the average???"

Opening thoughts: Econ humor is getting me through this very busy time. The above question was asked earlier in the lab while working on an assignment. Michelle, we love ya!!!! Anyway, did I mention I was tired.

Hoops time, but quickly, my bed is calling me:

• Duke 60, Georgia Tech 56. Despite shooting 39% from the field and 59% from the line, the Dukies stayed alive in the ACC and have put Tech in a position where they must win out. B.J. Elder: 1/8, 2 points.
  
• Holy Cross 69, Bucknell 54. The Crusaders all but clinch the Patriot League regular season title with the win. If they make the NCAAs, teams be wary. In recent years, Holy Cross has come oh so close a couple of times to knocking off someone in the first round (see Marquette the year they made it to the Final 4).
• West Virginia 70, Pittsburgh 66. Suddenly, the Mountaineers are back in the NCAA picture after sweeping Pitt. Tonight, they came from 14 down with 9 minutes to play to win. Now 7-7 in the Big East, 17-8 overall, and with winnable games at home vs. Rutgers and at Seton Hall, win out, win a game in the Big East tourney and who knows.
• Akron 55, Miami 49, OT. In a defensive struggle to say the least, the Zips reopened the MAC for discussion, pulling to within a game of the Redhawks with 3 to play. For at-large consideration, Miami must win at Bowling Green Sunday. The MAC now has 4 teams in the RPI Top 50. 17 turnovers are way too many for Miami. Romeo Travis was unstoppable in the post. He would've made a former teammate named James proud.
• Charlotte 80, Memphis 77. Memphis got 29 from Darius Washington Jr. and 22 from Rodney Carney, but the 49ers were just a tad better, putting 4 in double figures, led by Eddie Basden's 24. This was a well-played game that was close throughout. The 49ers have won 6 straight are setting themselves up for a showdown with Louisville for the CUSA title. Memphis is still in good shape for the NCAAs, but they need to take care of business down the stretch in order to help their low RPI.
• Tennessee 80, South Carolina 72. NIT, Gamecocks, NIT. A valiant comeback from 23 down to make it close, but not good enough.
• Florida 69, Vanderbilt 61. Gators, in; Commodores, out.
• Xavier 81, George Washington 62. After it seemed the Colonials were back on track, they have now fallen into a tie with Dayton for the A-10 West and must go to Dayton Saturday. The A-10 should only get 1 team in. The Colonials aren't consistently tough enough, evidenced by losing the boards 37-25 and allowing 49% shooting.
• Minnesota 65, Iowa 57. The Gophers need to keep winning, now 8-6 in the Big 10. Vincent Grier again led the way with 17 for UM.
• Illinois 84, Northwestern 48. 28-0, enough said.
• Villanova 76, Boston College 70. I don't want to play Villanova right now. Even without starting point guard Mike Nardi, the Cats led throughout at home and are locks for the NCAAs. Nova didn't make many shots, but the ones they did make were huge (8/17 from 3s). They also went 36/41 from the line, which isn't bad either. BC isn't explosive, but I was impressed with the way they never lost their calm, stayed in it, and gave themselves a decent chance of winning at the end. They would be unbeatable if they had one guy that could step up and be a consistent 3-point threat for them.

In some other news, Randy Moss is on his way to the Raiders, Drew Bledsoe is officially a Cowboy, and it seems Chris Webber is heading to the 76ers.