I've long been a fan of Mad Men, for many reasons and on many levels. I'm not going to go into all that here, but I will note a recent New York magazine review that I think captures beautifully what this show is all about.
The review was written right before Season 5 began, and it bats back some critics' complaints that the show doesn't serve history as it should by perfectly encapsulating the era. The review argues -- so correctly -- that this was never the intention of Mad Men.
This show is what all great writing should be: a window into the human condition. Mad Men is a perfect (silent) canvas on which life, hope, and good and evil play.
(And a side note on any suggestions that Mad Men has a soap opera flair: Well, how many times in your life have you had a tangled day and thought to yourself, "My life is like a soap opera"? I find the show completely realistic, the characters very well developed, and each episode self-resolving. Not much of a soap opera from where I'm sitting.)
The review uses the word "intimate," a great observation, and also notes Mad Men's resistance to a "master narrative" that has to be resolved or kept wound around its characters.
A great show (although, as always, beware before jumping in), and a great review.
4.27.2012
Awesome archives
One of the best things newspapers have to offer these days is their incredible wealth of knowledge, information, and ability to capture and explain history.
The reason we still have journalism is because you can't just report the news -- you also have to give it context. Two of the best ways to do this are through exceptional photography and superior analysis, which is why I've always been a fan of the New York Times.
Now, paywall-free, the Times is offering a look at a bunch of its archive photos. Not only are the photos incredible, but the captions offer enough of a context that you can tell there's a whole different world out there.
The Boston Globe has jumped on board with its own archive series.
The reason we still have journalism is because you can't just report the news -- you also have to give it context. Two of the best ways to do this are through exceptional photography and superior analysis, which is why I've always been a fan of the New York Times.
Now, paywall-free, the Times is offering a look at a bunch of its archive photos. Not only are the photos incredible, but the captions offer enough of a context that you can tell there's a whole different world out there.
The Boston Globe has jumped on board with its own archive series.
Labels:
archives,
boston globe,
journalism,
New York Times,
newspapers,
photography
How Mad Men is a metaphor for the Masters
I couldn't write it better than Brian Phillips on Grantland, so I shall link to him.
This is a great piece about how some of the themes of Mad Men can be seen in the modern day Masters.
A couple of killer quotes: "Why does Jim Nantz narrate the Masters as if he's already nostalgic for the things he's describing, even while they're taking place?"
"No one wants to go back to the America of Mad Men, but a lot of people want to go to the costume party."
This is a great piece about how some of the themes of Mad Men can be seen in the modern day Masters.
A couple of killer quotes: "Why does Jim Nantz narrate the Masters as if he's already nostalgic for the things he's describing, even while they're taking place?"
"No one wants to go back to the America of Mad Men, but a lot of people want to go to the costume party."
Labels:
golf,
grantland,
jim nantz,
mad men,
the masters
4.20.2012
A God outside of Time
I spent parts of today and yesterday reading Time magazine, one of my favorites. Time was started by two overachieving Yale graduates who wanted to take all the news in the world and condense it into something manageable and visually appealing. They wanted to save their readers time by telling them everything they needed to know about the nation and the world during the week in just one place. That mission continues today, and I think Time is a great place to go to keep up with major events in politics, the world, and culture. It has great storytelling, analysis, and photos especially. And it’s a heck of a lot easier and fun than reading the newspaper every day.
One of Time’s signature approaches is that it focuses on people. This, too, goes back to when the magazine first started. The founders latched on to what would become the hidden ethos of the 20th century, that people are always interested in other people – that people are the center of the world, of the events that intrigue us. To an extent, their approach even supported the burgeoning acceptance of secular humanism, where people are not only the center of the world but are also the aim for all that is good. The advancement of people is the advancement of the world, and as such, the human race should be rooting for the success of people, and believing that all people are basically good and that the human spirit will win out in the end.
This brand of human optimism is now commonplace in modern culture. Whether we state it overtly or not, I think plenty of us in modern America agree with it. Even if we don’t buy into secular humanism or think that people are intrinsically good, we do make people the center of our world. And we often root for people to be triumphant. We find great hope and encouragement in human accomplishment.
I certainly grew up with some of these beliefs nestled into my subconscious, and that may be why I was always so attracted to Time. I loved the profiles and the interviews, the power shots of the people who were changing the world. Issues of the magazine dedicated to the 100 people of the year, or the one person of the year, made sense to me. Lauding a world leader or a musician for making this world feel like a better place didn’t seem odd.
But now that I’m a bit of an adult, and now that I’ve spent years studying the world and human behavior via my profession (journalism), I’ve found I’ve taken a different view of Time magazine.
I still read it every week, and I love it, but the issues focused on people and people alone are no longer my favorite.
This week’s issue was the 100 people of the year for 2012. As I sat and read the entries, which are written by some other "noteworthy" person who comments on the person who made the list, I became fatigued. The same thing happened last year, although I remember being annoyed then by something else: that the authors writing about the Time 100 were more prone to talk about why they themselves were important.
This year, as I passed through paragraph after paragraph of why these people were incredible and how they were making the world so wonderful, I felt myself shrugging more than feeling enthralled. For all the human good, this world is still such a messy place. I want a little more awesome than that.
If this is the pinnacle of human life, I thought, we are a bit doomed, because this doesn’t do much for me. Is this the highest I can hope? What does it mean to be on this list?
For some people, landing on a list like that will be the height of their achievement. Whether it’s the Time 100, an Oscar, a Pulitzer prize, or another great award, that’s how human success is measured.
But even the greatest human success doesn’t make much of a dent in this world.
At that point, something a friend once said crossed my mind. When talking about God and philosophy, she once said that God is outside of time – that He isn’t related to time the same way we are. We see life as a series of events, a this leading to that, a timeline. But the very idea of God is that He is a Being Who defies those parameters, Who just sees us as us, unfettered by time. Time doesn’t exist to Him except as a tool, an object to be used for different purposes.
Now, that’s a pretty deep topic, and one I don’t have a lot of formed thoughts on. But at its root is the idea that God – in the true sense of the word – is much bigger than this world in so many ways. The way we think this world works is very small compared to how He can use it.
When we see injustice, He can bring grace, and not just the kind of grace where a good person does a good deed but gets trampled in the end. His grace wins; His love wins; His redemption wins. He is outside the hurt and decay in this world, with the power to make all things new.
When we see achievement, we can only go so far. We can only reach a certain degree of success, and many people who get a rough start or hit unfair points in life can never get that. But God is sovereign and outside it all. When He wants something to happen, it happens.
A lot of times, we don’t give God the credit of being God. We deify Him into being partially powerful, or somewhat capable. But if He’s truly God in the real sense of the word God, He has control over everything and can do what He wants in all things. He is outside of it, in control of it all, and not able to be swayed.
God is outside of time, but that doesn’t tell us much, especially if we don’t really understand what it means. But God is also outside of Time, and that means a lot.
God is bigger than the Time 100 and all that it represents. That means that when our list of 100 people who are changing the world still leaves us with an ugly, hateful, spite-filled world, good remains. That means that when the Time 100 don’t enthrall us but rather leave us wondering what the point of it all is, hope still lives. That means that after a century of picking out people and trying to elevate them enough that it could save the world, we don’t have to rely on them to carry us through. Humans don’t have to be the center, and they don’t have to be the best reservoir for our dreams.
God is outside of Time. He raises and lowers world leaders. He gives inspiration and dreams, and He takes them away. He is the care for the broken, the answer to the dark questions of this world. He is the One changing it and making it worth reading about. These people are just who He is using right now. Some of them know Him and glory in His living through them. Others pursue traits that reflect Him so much, whether they know it or not. They live His truth, His goodness, His perseverance, His triumph. Still others are there for a moment, thinking that for some reason human something has gotten them there. They, too, will fade as the grass, with only what God has done through them remaining.
It’s sort of amazing how little of this world actually involves anything we do, and how all of it involves our huge God. If anything, that’s made me more excited about the Time 100.
A kid can dream of making that list, or seeing it organized in beautiful colors enough that she gets psyched about where this world is going.
A semi-adult can realize that, even with all the treachery in this world – and all of her own personal faults – God could still use her enough that she’d make that kind of list. Or, better yet, that God could redeem the world despite all of us. It could all become good, and the top 100 wouldn’t even know how it happened.
One of Time’s signature approaches is that it focuses on people. This, too, goes back to when the magazine first started. The founders latched on to what would become the hidden ethos of the 20th century, that people are always interested in other people – that people are the center of the world, of the events that intrigue us. To an extent, their approach even supported the burgeoning acceptance of secular humanism, where people are not only the center of the world but are also the aim for all that is good. The advancement of people is the advancement of the world, and as such, the human race should be rooting for the success of people, and believing that all people are basically good and that the human spirit will win out in the end.
This brand of human optimism is now commonplace in modern culture. Whether we state it overtly or not, I think plenty of us in modern America agree with it. Even if we don’t buy into secular humanism or think that people are intrinsically good, we do make people the center of our world. And we often root for people to be triumphant. We find great hope and encouragement in human accomplishment.
I certainly grew up with some of these beliefs nestled into my subconscious, and that may be why I was always so attracted to Time. I loved the profiles and the interviews, the power shots of the people who were changing the world. Issues of the magazine dedicated to the 100 people of the year, or the one person of the year, made sense to me. Lauding a world leader or a musician for making this world feel like a better place didn’t seem odd.
But now that I’m a bit of an adult, and now that I’ve spent years studying the world and human behavior via my profession (journalism), I’ve found I’ve taken a different view of Time magazine.
I still read it every week, and I love it, but the issues focused on people and people alone are no longer my favorite.
This week’s issue was the 100 people of the year for 2012. As I sat and read the entries, which are written by some other "noteworthy" person who comments on the person who made the list, I became fatigued. The same thing happened last year, although I remember being annoyed then by something else: that the authors writing about the Time 100 were more prone to talk about why they themselves were important.
This year, as I passed through paragraph after paragraph of why these people were incredible and how they were making the world so wonderful, I felt myself shrugging more than feeling enthralled. For all the human good, this world is still such a messy place. I want a little more awesome than that.
If this is the pinnacle of human life, I thought, we are a bit doomed, because this doesn’t do much for me. Is this the highest I can hope? What does it mean to be on this list?
For some people, landing on a list like that will be the height of their achievement. Whether it’s the Time 100, an Oscar, a Pulitzer prize, or another great award, that’s how human success is measured.
But even the greatest human success doesn’t make much of a dent in this world.
At that point, something a friend once said crossed my mind. When talking about God and philosophy, she once said that God is outside of time – that He isn’t related to time the same way we are. We see life as a series of events, a this leading to that, a timeline. But the very idea of God is that He is a Being Who defies those parameters, Who just sees us as us, unfettered by time. Time doesn’t exist to Him except as a tool, an object to be used for different purposes.
Now, that’s a pretty deep topic, and one I don’t have a lot of formed thoughts on. But at its root is the idea that God – in the true sense of the word – is much bigger than this world in so many ways. The way we think this world works is very small compared to how He can use it.
When we see injustice, He can bring grace, and not just the kind of grace where a good person does a good deed but gets trampled in the end. His grace wins; His love wins; His redemption wins. He is outside the hurt and decay in this world, with the power to make all things new.
When we see achievement, we can only go so far. We can only reach a certain degree of success, and many people who get a rough start or hit unfair points in life can never get that. But God is sovereign and outside it all. When He wants something to happen, it happens.
A lot of times, we don’t give God the credit of being God. We deify Him into being partially powerful, or somewhat capable. But if He’s truly God in the real sense of the word God, He has control over everything and can do what He wants in all things. He is outside of it, in control of it all, and not able to be swayed.
God is outside of time, but that doesn’t tell us much, especially if we don’t really understand what it means. But God is also outside of Time, and that means a lot.
God is bigger than the Time 100 and all that it represents. That means that when our list of 100 people who are changing the world still leaves us with an ugly, hateful, spite-filled world, good remains. That means that when the Time 100 don’t enthrall us but rather leave us wondering what the point of it all is, hope still lives. That means that after a century of picking out people and trying to elevate them enough that it could save the world, we don’t have to rely on them to carry us through. Humans don’t have to be the center, and they don’t have to be the best reservoir for our dreams.
God is outside of Time. He raises and lowers world leaders. He gives inspiration and dreams, and He takes them away. He is the care for the broken, the answer to the dark questions of this world. He is the One changing it and making it worth reading about. These people are just who He is using right now. Some of them know Him and glory in His living through them. Others pursue traits that reflect Him so much, whether they know it or not. They live His truth, His goodness, His perseverance, His triumph. Still others are there for a moment, thinking that for some reason human something has gotten them there. They, too, will fade as the grass, with only what God has done through them remaining.
It’s sort of amazing how little of this world actually involves anything we do, and how all of it involves our huge God. If anything, that’s made me more excited about the Time 100.
A kid can dream of making that list, or seeing it organized in beautiful colors enough that she gets psyched about where this world is going.
A semi-adult can realize that, even with all the treachery in this world – and all of her own personal faults – God could still use her enough that she’d make that kind of list. Or, better yet, that God could redeem the world despite all of us. It could all become good, and the top 100 wouldn’t even know how it happened.
Labels:
briton hadden,
God,
good,
henry luce,
human achievement,
time 100,
time magazine
3.17.2012
March Madness: Round 2 picks
Day One was mostly upset-free, but Day Two made up for it, with two No. 15 seeds taking down their No. 2 matchups (Norfolk State over Missouri; Lehigh over Duke) and plenty of other lower seeds moving on. Here's what to look for in Round 2.
SOUTH
This region had some of the best upsets of the whole tournament, with No. 15 Lehigh moving on, No. 11 Colorado taking down UNLV, No. 12 Virginia Commonwealth (from last year's Final Four) beating Wichita State, and No. 10 Xavier toppling Notre Dame. Will the adrenaline from so many crazy upsets carry into the next round? VCU should have the mettle to keep its head against Indiana, and Xavier (10) and Lehigh (15) will both be facing another team that just came through similar circumstances, but Colorado (11) may be the most likely of the deep seeds to run into reality when it faces the Baylor Bears (3).
Kentucky (1) vs. Iowa State (8): The Wildcats are in it for the long haul and will hold off Iowa State, which knocked off the defending champs, Connecticut.
Virginia Commonwealth (12) vs. Indiana (4): A tough call, with traditionally weak but recently great VCU taking on recently weak but traditionally great Indiana. I pick the Hoosiers.
Colorado (11) vs. Baylor (3): Baylor will end the excitement for Colorado.
Xavier (10) vs. Lehigh (15): Xavier, a strong team that needed a break, gets one and takes advantage by beating Lehigh.
WEST
Not too many surprises in this bracket, until you get to No. 15 Norfolk State upsetting No. 2 Missouri, a pick to win it all for many. Watch out for upsets among some higher seeds that shook the first-round-loss albatross only to run into a tough opponent in the second round (Louisville, Florida).
(1) Michigan State vs. (9) St. Louis: The Spartans continue to roll.
(5) New Mexico vs. (4) Louisville: Except a tighter game in this go-around, but Rick Pitino's Cardinals should be able to slip into the Sweet 16.
(6) Murray State vs. (3) Marquette: Murray State surprised many by making it to this round unscathed, but Marquette should have the depth to handle the upstarts.
(7) Florida vs. (15) Norfolk State: Why not Norfolk State? They had a load of poise down the stretch, and I still don't buy the Gators.
EAST
All the higher seeds won in this region, but that wasn't the news: Syracuse, short its great defensive center Fab Melo, was almost the first No. 1 seed ever to lose, escaping UNC-Asheville by a smidge. The teetering Orange could be looking at a short stay.
(1) Syracuse vs. (8) Kansas State: Syracuse will toughen up and win this round, but no guarantees once the Orange hit the Sweet 16.
(5) Vanderbilt vs. (4) Wisconsin: The Badgers have a clear path to the Elite Eight at this point and should be able to handle Vanderbilt.
(6) Cincinnati vs. (3) Florida State: Florida State, the pride of the ACC, takes care of a strong Bearcats team.
(7) Gonzaga vs. (2) Ohio State: Both teams won their first-round matchups by double digits, but Ohio State as a Final Four contender should take this game.
MIDWEST
This bracket is Upset Village, with No. 12 South Florida cranking past No. 5 Temple, No. 13 Ohio downing No. 4 Michigan, No. 11 N.C. State knocking off No. 6 San Diego State, and No. 10 Purdue pushing past No. 7 St. Mary's. This region has a very good chance of a double-digit seed going deep, although Kansas (2), Georgetown (3), and North Carolina (1) showed they are reading to contest that with double-digit wins. Their paths may have just become easier.
(1) North Carolina vs. (8) Creighton: A Tar Heels romp or a Creighton squeaker? North Carolina is tasting the Elite Eight already.
(12) South Florida vs. (13) Ohio: South Florida cleaned out Temple, but I'm feeling good about Ohio right now.
(11) N.C. State vs. (3) Georgetown: How about the Wolfpack? I'll take another upset.
(10) Purdue vs. (2) Kansas: The Jayhawks have the tendency to choke on the big ones, and the Boilermakers have had their share of disappointments and partial rosters over the last few years with the Robbie Hummel saga. Let's go with Purdue.
SOUTH
This region had some of the best upsets of the whole tournament, with No. 15 Lehigh moving on, No. 11 Colorado taking down UNLV, No. 12 Virginia Commonwealth (from last year's Final Four) beating Wichita State, and No. 10 Xavier toppling Notre Dame. Will the adrenaline from so many crazy upsets carry into the next round? VCU should have the mettle to keep its head against Indiana, and Xavier (10) and Lehigh (15) will both be facing another team that just came through similar circumstances, but Colorado (11) may be the most likely of the deep seeds to run into reality when it faces the Baylor Bears (3).
Kentucky (1) vs. Iowa State (8): The Wildcats are in it for the long haul and will hold off Iowa State, which knocked off the defending champs, Connecticut.
Virginia Commonwealth (12) vs. Indiana (4): A tough call, with traditionally weak but recently great VCU taking on recently weak but traditionally great Indiana. I pick the Hoosiers.
Colorado (11) vs. Baylor (3): Baylor will end the excitement for Colorado.
Xavier (10) vs. Lehigh (15): Xavier, a strong team that needed a break, gets one and takes advantage by beating Lehigh.
WEST
Not too many surprises in this bracket, until you get to No. 15 Norfolk State upsetting No. 2 Missouri, a pick to win it all for many. Watch out for upsets among some higher seeds that shook the first-round-loss albatross only to run into a tough opponent in the second round (Louisville, Florida).
(1) Michigan State vs. (9) St. Louis: The Spartans continue to roll.
(5) New Mexico vs. (4) Louisville: Except a tighter game in this go-around, but Rick Pitino's Cardinals should be able to slip into the Sweet 16.
(6) Murray State vs. (3) Marquette: Murray State surprised many by making it to this round unscathed, but Marquette should have the depth to handle the upstarts.
(7) Florida vs. (15) Norfolk State: Why not Norfolk State? They had a load of poise down the stretch, and I still don't buy the Gators.
EAST
All the higher seeds won in this region, but that wasn't the news: Syracuse, short its great defensive center Fab Melo, was almost the first No. 1 seed ever to lose, escaping UNC-Asheville by a smidge. The teetering Orange could be looking at a short stay.
(1) Syracuse vs. (8) Kansas State: Syracuse will toughen up and win this round, but no guarantees once the Orange hit the Sweet 16.
(5) Vanderbilt vs. (4) Wisconsin: The Badgers have a clear path to the Elite Eight at this point and should be able to handle Vanderbilt.
(6) Cincinnati vs. (3) Florida State: Florida State, the pride of the ACC, takes care of a strong Bearcats team.
(7) Gonzaga vs. (2) Ohio State: Both teams won their first-round matchups by double digits, but Ohio State as a Final Four contender should take this game.
MIDWEST
This bracket is Upset Village, with No. 12 South Florida cranking past No. 5 Temple, No. 13 Ohio downing No. 4 Michigan, No. 11 N.C. State knocking off No. 6 San Diego State, and No. 10 Purdue pushing past No. 7 St. Mary's. This region has a very good chance of a double-digit seed going deep, although Kansas (2), Georgetown (3), and North Carolina (1) showed they are reading to contest that with double-digit wins. Their paths may have just become easier.
(1) North Carolina vs. (8) Creighton: A Tar Heels romp or a Creighton squeaker? North Carolina is tasting the Elite Eight already.
(12) South Florida vs. (13) Ohio: South Florida cleaned out Temple, but I'm feeling good about Ohio right now.
(11) N.C. State vs. (3) Georgetown: How about the Wolfpack? I'll take another upset.
(10) Purdue vs. (2) Kansas: The Jayhawks have the tendency to choke on the big ones, and the Boilermakers have had their share of disappointments and partial rosters over the last few years with the Robbie Hummel saga. Let's go with Purdue.
3.14.2012
March Madness: Round 1 picks
The first round is technically under way, with Brigham Young and Western Kentucky both staging big comebacks to get into the official Big Dance, but the real buffet starts tomorrow.
One big change that's happened since Selection Sunday is the announcement that Syracuse's powerful big man Fab Melo is out for the rest of the season. The 31-2 Orange are a No. 1 seed and were many's pick to win it all after a stellar season, but this development is sure to upset some apple, er, orange, carts going forward.
SOUTH BRACKET
The South regional offers some of this year's biggest heavyweights. The UConn Huskies look to defend their title while the upstart Virginia Commonwealth Rams come off their own run to the Final Four. The Indiana Hoosiers are looking to not only add glory to their illustrious history but also avenge a few years spent in sanctions purgatory, while the Baylor Bears are looking for redemption of their own as the university tries to turn a corner on some athletic program hardships and win big in football and both men's and women's basketball. The Duke Blue Devils, behind a crop of excellent three-point marksmen and an excellent three Plumlee brothers, plan to make a serious dent with star freshman Austin Rivers leading the way. Finally, the class of the NCAA, the Kentucky Wildcats, are aiming to make John Calipari look better than just a guy that's good at flipping kids from high school stars into NBA linchpins in a year or less. These 'cats have the talent to win oodles of games, but stringing six in a row right now is the only task that matters.
(1) Kentucky vs. (16) Western Kentucky: Kentucky wins walking away.
(8) Iowa State vs. (9) Connecticut: UConn comes out ready to fight, the fatigue and inconsistency that stalled much of the Huskies' season non-existent in the first round.
(5) Wichita State vs. (12) Virginia Commonwealth: Wichita State puts up a mighty battle, but Shaka Smart and Virginia Commonwealth know how to get it done again.
(4) Indiana vs. (13) New Mexico State: The Hoosiers continue the tradition to take their opener.
(6) UNLV vs. (11) Colorado: UNLV enjoys its first trip back to the Big Dance, leaning on an excellent team all-around to move on.
(3) Baylor vs. (14) South Dakota State: The Bears end South Dakota State's honeymoon early.
(7) Notre Dame vs. (10) Xavier: Xavier, still smarting over the attention given to crosstown rivals Cincinnati, rampages early in the tournament.
(2) Duke vs. (15) Lehigh: Duke moves on, leaving its NCAA choking to a later round and a more talented opponent.
WEST BRACKET
Plenty of newcomers or no-names fill out the West bracket, with perennial favorites and high seeds Michigan State, Louisville, Marquette, and Missouri looking to dominate early and save their energy for tough Sweet Sixteen matchups.
(1) Michigan State vs. (16) Long Island: Michigan State could win it all, and the Spartans will start with an easy first-round win.
(8) Memphis vs. (9) St. Louis: Memphis has shown it's more than Calipari, and the Tigers continue a strong season by taking down St. Louis.
(5) New Mexico vs. (12) Long Beach State: Long Beach State has cobbled magic together before and can do it again.
(4) Louisville vs. (13) Davidson: Plucky Davidson won't get a bite out of Rick Pitino's Cardinals.
(6) Murray State vs. (11) Colorado State: Murray State enjoys its high(er) seed and takes care of its Colorado foes.
(3) Marquette vs. (14) Brigham Young: Marquette will devour Brigham Young if spotted a lead like the one the the Cougars gave Iona in their come-from-behind win Tuesday night.
(7) Florida vs. (10) Virginia: Virginia pulls an upset for the ACC, taking down Billy Donovan's Gators.
(2) Missouri vs. (15) Norfolk State: Missouri has high hopes this year, and they do not include losing to Norfolk State.
MIDWEST BRACKET
The North Carolina Tar Heels and Kansas Jayhawks are expected to meet in the end for this group with a chance at the Final Four on the line, and few should be able to challenge those two teams, which are full of length, athleticism, and scoring ability.
(1) North Carolina vs. (Round 1 winner): North Carolina, even if an NBA team were the play-in winner.
(8) Creighton vs. (9) Alabama: Let's go with Creighton, because I just don't think you can ever trust the SEC in NCAA tournament play.
(5) Temple vs. (Round 1 winner): Temple has had a strong season and should be able to win its first-round matchup.
(4) Michigan vs. (13) Ohio: Michigan is pushing its way back to relevancy, and a good season should continue into the second round.
(6) San Diego State vs. (11) N.C. State: Another ACC underdog pick: The Wolfpack will make good on their selection and strong year and take down San Diego State.
(3) Georgetown vs. (14) Belmont: Georgetown brings some Big East power into an easy win.
(7) St. Mary's vs. (10) Purdue: The Boilermakers do the Big Ten proud with an upset over St. Mary's.
(2) Kansas vs. (15) Detroit: Kansas takes this one by the half.
EAST BRACKET
With Syracuse's big man, Fab Melo, out, the favorite in this region may now be Ohio State, which has done well in the Big Ten this season and has a stud of its own in Jared Sullinger (plus a defense that makes some coaches salivate). Fellow conference foe Wisconsin will look to continue the Badgers' strong record in March, and Cincinnati and Florida State need to start off strong to live up to their breakthrough seasons.
(1) Syracuse vs. (16) UNC-Asheville: Syracuse, hands down.
(8) Kansas State vs. (9) Southern Mississippi: Kansas State has been playing well.
(5) Vanderbilt vs. (12) Harvard: The Crimson make good on their first NCAA berth and topple Vandy.
(4) Wisconsin vs. (13) Montana: The Badgers make short work of Montana.
(6) Cincinnati vs. (11) Texas: The Bearcats hold off Texas.
(3) Florida State vs. (14) St. Bonaventure: A tough call, but I'll take the upset of the Bonnies over the ACC winner Seminoles.
(7) Gonzaga vs. (10) West Virginia: Gonzaga continues its strong March performances with a win over the Big East Mountaineers.
(2) Ohio State vs. (15) Loyola (Maryland): Ohio State starts its run here.
Return here later for Round 2 picks.
One big change that's happened since Selection Sunday is the announcement that Syracuse's powerful big man Fab Melo is out for the rest of the season. The 31-2 Orange are a No. 1 seed and were many's pick to win it all after a stellar season, but this development is sure to upset some apple, er, orange, carts going forward.
SOUTH BRACKET
The South regional offers some of this year's biggest heavyweights. The UConn Huskies look to defend their title while the upstart Virginia Commonwealth Rams come off their own run to the Final Four. The Indiana Hoosiers are looking to not only add glory to their illustrious history but also avenge a few years spent in sanctions purgatory, while the Baylor Bears are looking for redemption of their own as the university tries to turn a corner on some athletic program hardships and win big in football and both men's and women's basketball. The Duke Blue Devils, behind a crop of excellent three-point marksmen and an excellent three Plumlee brothers, plan to make a serious dent with star freshman Austin Rivers leading the way. Finally, the class of the NCAA, the Kentucky Wildcats, are aiming to make John Calipari look better than just a guy that's good at flipping kids from high school stars into NBA linchpins in a year or less. These 'cats have the talent to win oodles of games, but stringing six in a row right now is the only task that matters.
(1) Kentucky vs. (16) Western Kentucky: Kentucky wins walking away.
(8) Iowa State vs. (9) Connecticut: UConn comes out ready to fight, the fatigue and inconsistency that stalled much of the Huskies' season non-existent in the first round.
(5) Wichita State vs. (12) Virginia Commonwealth: Wichita State puts up a mighty battle, but Shaka Smart and Virginia Commonwealth know how to get it done again.
(4) Indiana vs. (13) New Mexico State: The Hoosiers continue the tradition to take their opener.
(6) UNLV vs. (11) Colorado: UNLV enjoys its first trip back to the Big Dance, leaning on an excellent team all-around to move on.
(3) Baylor vs. (14) South Dakota State: The Bears end South Dakota State's honeymoon early.
(7) Notre Dame vs. (10) Xavier: Xavier, still smarting over the attention given to crosstown rivals Cincinnati, rampages early in the tournament.
(2) Duke vs. (15) Lehigh: Duke moves on, leaving its NCAA choking to a later round and a more talented opponent.
WEST BRACKET
Plenty of newcomers or no-names fill out the West bracket, with perennial favorites and high seeds Michigan State, Louisville, Marquette, and Missouri looking to dominate early and save their energy for tough Sweet Sixteen matchups.
(1) Michigan State vs. (16) Long Island: Michigan State could win it all, and the Spartans will start with an easy first-round win.
(8) Memphis vs. (9) St. Louis: Memphis has shown it's more than Calipari, and the Tigers continue a strong season by taking down St. Louis.
(5) New Mexico vs. (12) Long Beach State: Long Beach State has cobbled magic together before and can do it again.
(4) Louisville vs. (13) Davidson: Plucky Davidson won't get a bite out of Rick Pitino's Cardinals.
(6) Murray State vs. (11) Colorado State: Murray State enjoys its high(er) seed and takes care of its Colorado foes.
(3) Marquette vs. (14) Brigham Young: Marquette will devour Brigham Young if spotted a lead like the one the the Cougars gave Iona in their come-from-behind win Tuesday night.
(7) Florida vs. (10) Virginia: Virginia pulls an upset for the ACC, taking down Billy Donovan's Gators.
(2) Missouri vs. (15) Norfolk State: Missouri has high hopes this year, and they do not include losing to Norfolk State.
MIDWEST BRACKET
The North Carolina Tar Heels and Kansas Jayhawks are expected to meet in the end for this group with a chance at the Final Four on the line, and few should be able to challenge those two teams, which are full of length, athleticism, and scoring ability.
(1) North Carolina vs. (Round 1 winner): North Carolina, even if an NBA team were the play-in winner.
(8) Creighton vs. (9) Alabama: Let's go with Creighton, because I just don't think you can ever trust the SEC in NCAA tournament play.
(5) Temple vs. (Round 1 winner): Temple has had a strong season and should be able to win its first-round matchup.
(4) Michigan vs. (13) Ohio: Michigan is pushing its way back to relevancy, and a good season should continue into the second round.
(6) San Diego State vs. (11) N.C. State: Another ACC underdog pick: The Wolfpack will make good on their selection and strong year and take down San Diego State.
(3) Georgetown vs. (14) Belmont: Georgetown brings some Big East power into an easy win.
(7) St. Mary's vs. (10) Purdue: The Boilermakers do the Big Ten proud with an upset over St. Mary's.
(2) Kansas vs. (15) Detroit: Kansas takes this one by the half.
EAST BRACKET
With Syracuse's big man, Fab Melo, out, the favorite in this region may now be Ohio State, which has done well in the Big Ten this season and has a stud of its own in Jared Sullinger (plus a defense that makes some coaches salivate). Fellow conference foe Wisconsin will look to continue the Badgers' strong record in March, and Cincinnati and Florida State need to start off strong to live up to their breakthrough seasons.
(1) Syracuse vs. (16) UNC-Asheville: Syracuse, hands down.
(8) Kansas State vs. (9) Southern Mississippi: Kansas State has been playing well.
(5) Vanderbilt vs. (12) Harvard: The Crimson make good on their first NCAA berth and topple Vandy.
(4) Wisconsin vs. (13) Montana: The Badgers make short work of Montana.
(6) Cincinnati vs. (11) Texas: The Bearcats hold off Texas.
(3) Florida State vs. (14) St. Bonaventure: A tough call, but I'll take the upset of the Bonnies over the ACC winner Seminoles.
(7) Gonzaga vs. (10) West Virginia: Gonzaga continues its strong March performances with a win over the Big East Mountaineers.
(2) Ohio State vs. (15) Loyola (Maryland): Ohio State starts its run here.
Return here later for Round 2 picks.
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3.11.2012
Madness, I say
It’s the most wonderful time of the year again, with college basketball playoffs (i.e. March Madness) starting this coming weekend. That means the amazingness that is watching 48 games over four days, as well as some predictions, of course.
Best conference in the dance: Big Ten
Michigan State (1) and Ohio State (2) should have very deep runs this year, and almost every other team in the Big 10 could have won a game or two had they made it in. This conference has been feasting on itself all year long, with crazy upsets and tight games even from the bottom-dwellers.
In all, the Big 10 grabbed six spots, with Wisconsin (4), Michigan (4), Indiana (4), and Purdue (10) all getting a bid. All have a good chance at making a little run, and look out especially for the excitement around the Hoosiers, who have thrilled their fans by coming back from the dead several seasons earlier than expected.
Usual heavyweight conference that may have some trouble: ACC
I’m just not as impressed by the ACC this year, and not just because Florida State (3) has emerged to be its champion. North Carolina (1) is an immensely talented team, but that talent has gone to waste in some games the Tar Heels should have won in their conference (a double-digit loss to Florida State earlier this season, and an inexplicable tempo change down the stretch to lose their first matchup against Duke). Duke (2) is Duke as Duke always is, but compared to the other Top 10 teams across college basketball, the Blue Devils are not scary. They are full of great shooters, but their lack of ability to clamp down anywhere in the paint, offensively or defensively, and their having only one truly amazing player (Austin Rivers), leads me to think Duke’s high seed is optimistic, and their victories this season truly fortunate.
When you’re struggling to find a way Duke and UNC can make a deep run, that means the rest of the ACC must be pretty good to give the conference a good representation. While Virginia (10) and North Carolina State (11) have been strong this season, Florida State is the only great hope for this group, with North Carolina needing to fight to keep its mojo to avoid an early upset. And while Florida State is very good, and very deserving of its conference championship, its lack of experience making deep runs in the tournament may be a factor in how far the Seminoles go. Expect one or two teams to emerge, including UNC, but not a conference-wide dominance.
High seeds you should always watch: VCU, UConn, Texas
The names sound familiar, and that’s half the reason I’m picking them. For whatever reason they make it into the tournament, they’ve shown an ability to build teams that contend each year. Don’t let a high seed scare you away; unless they’re matched up against another perennial favorite, plan for an upset. These teams know how to win in the big one.
Connecticut (9) is reasonably seeded, but No. 9 is still low for the defending champs, who have had an uneven season. Virginia Commonwealth (12) returns for another sniff after advancing all the way to the Final Four last year. And Texas (11) has bowed out early enough in recent years to get a string of games going its way.
Come on, Cinderella: Harvard, St. Bonaventure, Vermont
Harvard (12) is in its first NCAA tournament in the modern era, and it's no fluke: After a few years behind the now-everybody-knows-his-name Jeremy Lin and former Duke assistant Tommy Amaker, the Crimson is due to make good on its berth.
St. Bonaventure (14) weathered a tough conference schedule and will need plenty of help in its uphill bracket, and Vermont's bid is a play-in game.
Time to capitalize: Syracuse, Cincinnati, UNLV, Baylor, Louisville, Missouri
Are they highly seeded on strength of name and big-time schedule, or are these teams for real?
UNLV (6) looks to recapture the glory of years gone past with one of its best teams in years, both in talent and cohesion. The Running Rebels are due for a second-round matchup with Baylor (3) if both survive. The Bears are on the fast track from atonement to dominance, and they want to continue to make good on what has been a fantastic sports year all-around for the university.
Cincinnati (6) has been saying it's the toast of the Midwest, but the Bearcats have yet to put together a good tournament run to back that up. Louisville (4), always ranked well and with plenty of pressure thanks to being Rick Pitino's posse, needs to get to at least the Sweet Sixteen this year, considering the Cardinals' matchups. This team has folded early before.
Missouri (2) has put together a fantastic season and has a clear path to the Elite Eight if it doesn't overreach, and Syracuse (1) has played dominant ball all season. The Orange should be winning by dozens all the way to the title game.
Check back later for round-by-round picks.
Best conference in the dance: Big Ten
Michigan State (1) and Ohio State (2) should have very deep runs this year, and almost every other team in the Big 10 could have won a game or two had they made it in. This conference has been feasting on itself all year long, with crazy upsets and tight games even from the bottom-dwellers.
In all, the Big 10 grabbed six spots, with Wisconsin (4), Michigan (4), Indiana (4), and Purdue (10) all getting a bid. All have a good chance at making a little run, and look out especially for the excitement around the Hoosiers, who have thrilled their fans by coming back from the dead several seasons earlier than expected.
Usual heavyweight conference that may have some trouble: ACC
I’m just not as impressed by the ACC this year, and not just because Florida State (3) has emerged to be its champion. North Carolina (1) is an immensely talented team, but that talent has gone to waste in some games the Tar Heels should have won in their conference (a double-digit loss to Florida State earlier this season, and an inexplicable tempo change down the stretch to lose their first matchup against Duke). Duke (2) is Duke as Duke always is, but compared to the other Top 10 teams across college basketball, the Blue Devils are not scary. They are full of great shooters, but their lack of ability to clamp down anywhere in the paint, offensively or defensively, and their having only one truly amazing player (Austin Rivers), leads me to think Duke’s high seed is optimistic, and their victories this season truly fortunate.
When you’re struggling to find a way Duke and UNC can make a deep run, that means the rest of the ACC must be pretty good to give the conference a good representation. While Virginia (10) and North Carolina State (11) have been strong this season, Florida State is the only great hope for this group, with North Carolina needing to fight to keep its mojo to avoid an early upset. And while Florida State is very good, and very deserving of its conference championship, its lack of experience making deep runs in the tournament may be a factor in how far the Seminoles go. Expect one or two teams to emerge, including UNC, but not a conference-wide dominance.
High seeds you should always watch: VCU, UConn, Texas
The names sound familiar, and that’s half the reason I’m picking them. For whatever reason they make it into the tournament, they’ve shown an ability to build teams that contend each year. Don’t let a high seed scare you away; unless they’re matched up against another perennial favorite, plan for an upset. These teams know how to win in the big one.
Connecticut (9) is reasonably seeded, but No. 9 is still low for the defending champs, who have had an uneven season. Virginia Commonwealth (12) returns for another sniff after advancing all the way to the Final Four last year. And Texas (11) has bowed out early enough in recent years to get a string of games going its way.
Come on, Cinderella: Harvard, St. Bonaventure, Vermont
Harvard (12) is in its first NCAA tournament in the modern era, and it's no fluke: After a few years behind the now-everybody-knows-his-name Jeremy Lin and former Duke assistant Tommy Amaker, the Crimson is due to make good on its berth.
St. Bonaventure (14) weathered a tough conference schedule and will need plenty of help in its uphill bracket, and Vermont's bid is a play-in game.
Time to capitalize: Syracuse, Cincinnati, UNLV, Baylor, Louisville, Missouri
Are they highly seeded on strength of name and big-time schedule, or are these teams for real?
UNLV (6) looks to recapture the glory of years gone past with one of its best teams in years, both in talent and cohesion. The Running Rebels are due for a second-round matchup with Baylor (3) if both survive. The Bears are on the fast track from atonement to dominance, and they want to continue to make good on what has been a fantastic sports year all-around for the university.
Cincinnati (6) has been saying it's the toast of the Midwest, but the Bearcats have yet to put together a good tournament run to back that up. Louisville (4), always ranked well and with plenty of pressure thanks to being Rick Pitino's posse, needs to get to at least the Sweet Sixteen this year, considering the Cardinals' matchups. This team has folded early before.
Missouri (2) has put together a fantastic season and has a clear path to the Elite Eight if it doesn't overreach, and Syracuse (1) has played dominant ball all season. The Orange should be winning by dozens all the way to the title game.
Check back later for round-by-round picks.
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