Closing The Deal

First tonight, Kirby Puckett died due to a stroke he had yesterday. He was only 44 years old. I'm not much of a big baseball fan, but I remember watching Kirby Puckett and every time he had a big smile on his face just having fun. That's how you should play the game, for the love and pure joy of just playing.

3 more teams are going dancing, bringing the total to 9, who are they?

• Colonial Final: UNC Wilmington 78, Hofstra 67. The toughest thing to do in tournament play is close out the game. You come out ramped up to play, run out to a big lead, and naturally relax. You're in control, you just have to play smart and you're going to win. But that's when the other team makes their run and you've got to stay aggressive enough to hold it off. UNC Wilmington was up 23 in the 2nd half after playing brilliant basketball. They played good defense, finished inside, hit the perimeter shot, textbook. But they started playing conservatively, content to run time off the clock, and Hofstra made their move. With 4 minutes left, this was a 3 point game, but TJ Carter scored 12 straight points for the Seahawks, sealing the deal and preventing one of the biggest comebacks, if not the biggest comeback in Championship Week history. The Seahawks are one to look out for, they can shoot, rebound, and they have more size than normal for a mid-major. Their point guard is experienced and tough, and I have first-hand experience of this because I played with him way back in junior high. You don't want to mess with John Goldsberry, believe me, he's a really good player. Hofstra can only sit and wait. They beat George Mason twice in the last 10 days and they have a higher RPI, but will it be enough?
• Metro Atlantic: Iona 80, St. Peter's 61. In a matchup of 2 of the top 10 scorers in the nation, Iona's Stevie Burtt was on fire and he got help from his teammates. Burtt got the better of Keydren Clark 28-25, and Iona showed they were the better team overall. Burtt is capable of putting his team on his back, and he's a lefty making him awkward to guard. Iona is not very big, but athletic, they might give someone problems if in the right matchup, but that's a big if. Burtt has a nice inside-outside game, I was impressed.
• West Coast: Gonzaga 68, Loyola Marymount 67. Loyola Marymount played great for the first 27 minutes, leading at Gonzaga 49-36. Keep in mind Gonzaga has never lost in their new arena the 2 years they've played there, LMU was almost flawless. But again, you have to close the deal. LMU's leader Brandon Worthy picked up his 4th foul with 12 minutes left, forcing him to sit. Gonzaga made their run with big shots coming from unexpected people before Adam Morrison and JP Batista brought the Zags home. But LMU didn't quit and had a chance to win when their big man blew an open layup at the buzzer. Gonzaga gets the automatic bid, and someone's bubble remains intact. Batista is not 100%, especially on defense. Gonzaga also showed tonight they don't get back in defensive transition. I'm not anti-Gonzaga, I love watching them play offense. They play offense as you should and have guys who can shoot, drive, and dish. But defense wins championships and Gonzaga doesn't play much defense.
• Tomorrow, 3 more bids will get handed out: Sun Belt: 1 vs. 2, Western Kentucky vs. South Alabama. Horizon: 1 vs. 2, Wisconsin-Milwaukee vs. Butler, and Mid-Continent: Oral Roberts vs. Chicago St. Yes, that Chicago St., normally one of the worst teams in America will play for an NCAA Tournament bid with a record of 11-18. It will be deja vu all over again for Oral Roberts. Last year, they played a team with a losing record in the finals on their home floor, and lost. Remember Oakland. Chicago St. would be a bigger Cinderella story.
• MAC Madness got underway with the 1st round held at campus sites. No upsets to report, so it will be Miami/OU part III Thursday night in the final quarterfinal of the day. OU's won the last 2 times they've matched up in Cleveland, I'm thinking it's Miami's turn.
• Arizona could be in a little trouble, Hassan Adams has been suspended for the Pac 10 tourney due to a possible DUI Sunday night.

And the Southern Illinois cheerleader who fell and hit the floor during the MVC championship has a chipped vertebrae, but should be ok. She fell down, the EMTs immobilized her as a precautionary measure, yet when the SIU band started playing their fight song, she started doing the hand/arm movements that go along with it. Wow, good for her, way to be tough.

And at the Gwinett Gladiators hockey game, it was Runaway Bride bobblehead night. If you were one of the first 1,000 in the building, you got a Jennifer Eubanks bobblehead. They were gone in 10 minutes haha. But the doll doesn't look like her at all, the eyes aren't nearly big enough.

I need to go to sleep, must be up in 6 hours?!?!?!