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| | Sunday, February 13 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Nothing is safe from the wrath of a scorned Big West fan.
Angered by the removal of Long Beach State from last week's Watch, now some folks out West are calling for ESPN2 to change its broadcast schedule. Instead of showing Boise State at New Mexico State on Sunday, the legions of fans demand to see the Beach take on Utah State in a battle of conference unbeatens.
We're also realizing the LBSU-USU game is Saturday, not Sunday. Folks, make sure to read your schedules before you get all hot and bothered. With that being said, on to the masses!
No love is right! You have to take another look at the Long Beach State 49ers. They are now 16-3 overall and 8-0 in the conference, keeping a 14-0 streak alive! What more do they have to do? What other teams have done it? Gotta show some love to the Beach!
Dave Holguin
I am definitely surprised to see that Indiana State University is on the web page on ESPN! But at the same time, as a student of this university, I am very proud. I feel that ISU is this year's Cinderella team, and has been proving that by our amazing wins, i.e. Indiana vs. ISU 63-60!
Kristin Garing
Dave Herbenick
As a Duke alum, I too don't usually give too much credit to West Coast teams. I'm impressed, however, with Long Beach State and think it could pull an upset or two in the tournament. Seton Hall and Mizzou, with proteges of Coach K at their respective helms, could go deep.
Bob Jenkins
I must admit your column is no fun this year because I can't rant on and on about Siena's bubble chances. So I will ignore your column all year and when Siena wins the MAAC, and doesn't get screwed by the Selection committee this year, they will beat a 3 or 4 seed in the first round.
Tim Picciocca
Where the heck is Long Beach State? This team is what, 16-3, with a winning streak that dates back to 12/4/99? I have a hard enough time wondering where the pollsters are, let alone making a simple "Cinderella Watch." Let's put it this way...LBSU's season comes down to its game this Saturday vs. Utah State. If LBSU pulls this out, I expect them to re-enter "The Watch" with extreme prejudice as the favorite.
Tom Brennan
I do play-by-play in the NEC for LIU, and Central Connecticut State is good enough to beat a team or two in the NCAA Tournament (it has three guys who could play for anyone). But since the NEC will probably be slotted for a 14- or 15-seed and only the automatic bid, that might be a reach.
Sam Murchison
Bring back the Beach! This week's watch demonstrates the East Coast bias that is endemic to college basketball. Although Long Beach State does not play in a tough conference, it has most certainly taken care of business over the past two months, beating teams from the Big 12 and Pac-10. Long Beach is a team that can beat you inside with Mate Milisa and James Williams, or on the perimeter with Ramel Lloyd, D'Cean Bryant and Antrone Lee. If the Beach gets in the Tournament, watch out for an upset.
Jim Ciampa
Vanderbilt, Shmanderbilt...the Cinderella Watch is no place for an SEC team! Look at the top of the MCC standings: Cleveland State. The Vikings are on fire. They're 8-1 in the league, beat Dayton earlier in the year, took St. Bonaventure to the wire and played Temple tough. They have a guard named Damon Stringer who is putting up obscene numbers. It's been almost 15 years since CSU made the tourney (and pulled off a couple of upsets), but the Vikings look poised to make a return trip this year. It's time to put Cleveland State on The Watch.
Steve Kornacki
I think Hofstra is the best story and the best Cinderella team. The school is clearly dedicated to making its sports programs competitive on the Division I level. Not only are the Dutchmen 11-1 in conference this season, but they have a 22-game home winning streak -- sixth longest in the nation -- and are undefeated in their new arena. They had a complete sell-out against Delaware, and that's no easy task with the Knicks and Heat at the Garden and an always-competitive St. John's team right down the road. Speedy Claxton is the best point guard you've never heard of and head coach Jay Wright is the best coach you've never heard of.
Steve Luca
How about you guys get some guts and vote for yourselves who deserves to be in the Cinderella Watch, instead of letting the fans bias the information? If you would do that, then powerful West Coast teams like Pepperdine would still be in your Watch. They lost to UCLA by two on a bad call at the buzzer, hung tough with Auburn, Kansas and UNC-Charlotte, and if they could have just held Gonzaga's Richie Frahm in check on Thursday, would be leading the WCC. We'll see if you guys can pull rank on the fans when they beat Gonzaga on Saturday at their huge homecoming game. At any rate, you'll see your mistake in relying on fans for votes when they march to the Sweet 16 in March.
Dustin Skilbred
It's obvious that the ESPN users would vote the West Coast teams out. They never get any coverage by channels that aren't on the West Coast, and on top of that, if they are ever on ESPN, there is usually no mention of them until the 1 a.m. ET SportsCenter. People always have to wait until the NCAA Tournament to find out how good the West Coast teams are, and how overrated the ACC is. Unfortunately, there are a lot of good West Coast teams that don't even get to go to the tournament because of the East Coast bias. Hopefully, people will start realizing that there are many great players and teams on the West Coast.
Ranjit Shiralkar
Thanks to the great folks at ESPN for coming up with the Watch. Last year I followed it weekly with the presence of Gonzaga. This year I've been disappointed to see schools like Vanderbilt listed. If you're going to list major colleges, how 'bout a vote for the Oregon Ducks? They've got a great record, highly underrated for their performance so far and not even the pollsters will give them credit. In the end it's irrelevant though. Watch out for Gonzaga again this year. They seem to be peaking at the right time. Go Zags!!!
Scott Sevigny
Jacob Gainey
Don't give me Cinderellas from the SEC and Big East. Those are conferences that shouldn't even be considered in this whole thing, unless the name is changed to "teams who are playing better than expected who could make the NCAA Tournament."
Phil LaBella
Missouri is a team that needs to be watched. Mizzou hired a "dynamo" in Quin Snyder and the Tigers are starting to play with a chemistry that will make them a force to be contended with down the stretch. They do not have the physical strength that many other teams have in the Big 12 but Snyder has established a chemistry with his troops that will make this team a contender come NCAA tourney time. Missouri is very quietly becoming a national factor.
Mike Anderson
Hey, leave Long Beach State and Pepperdine off the list. That just makes them all the more Cinderella stories when it comes time for the dance
Brad Torgan
Hofstra? How can a team named the Flying Dutchmen actually show themselves in public? I know the Cal Bears may not quite be Cinderella Watch material just yet, but going to L.A. and beating USC and UCLA and with a strong showing this week (hopefully) against Oregon State and Oregon, the Bears will have to be considered a Cinderella. Given two wins, the Bears will have a winning record in the Pac-10 and wins over quality teams including the aforementioned Flying Dutchmen.
Ben Lemke
How can you have a team like Tulane, with a sub-.500 league record, in the watch and leave out quality teams from other "mid-major" conferences, such as the Missouri Valley and Mid-American, that have winning records in their conference? Let's let some of the small schools have some glory!
Jonathon Cavins
What does Central Connecticut have to do to gain a little bit of recognition? They have won 14 straight games, and are 18-2 overall. Their only two losses came early in the year, when three starters were suspended. They are the best team that no one has ever heard of. Since they won't get recognition, everyone will find out who they are when they upset someone in the first round of the tournament.
Scott Martin
Nobody takes any of the West Coast teams seriously. However, a 12-seed beats a 5-seed every year in the NCAA Tournament. This year that team will be the Big West champion: Utah State, Long Beach State, or New Mexico State. Listen to a guy from New England -- give the West Coast its due!
Brian Vadney
Utah State will turn heads at the NCAA Tournament. Making it to the dance is not the question anymore. The question is, can anyone stop the Aggies on their charge to the Final Four? Only one word comes to mind that can describe this team: juggernaut. Try telling any one of them differently. They will take you and your team out onto the court and show you exactly what a bunch of slapnuts you are. Bring on Chris Porter, bring on Etan Thomas, bring on Mark Madsen, bring on Khalid El-Amin, bring on Saturn, Pluto, Uranus, it doesn't matter who you bring -- BRock, Downtown Tony Brown, the man from Thuck Belgium, Shawn D, Tha Reverend, and Curtis Bobb will light you up. And don't get me started on Brennan Ray. Y'all best watch out.
Aaron Anderson
Long Beach State wins 14 games in a row, and the 49ers are bumped. Give me a break. You wouldn't know a Cinderella team if it bit you on the behind.
Jim Palmisano
Thank you for finally recognizing Seton Hall in the Cinderella Watch. Lasts night's win over the 'Cuse only solidifies my (and now your) thoughts about The Hall!
Brian A. Palazzi
After watching Hofstra crush Delaware at home, after beating Rutgers and Fordham in the ECAC, I can only say that they are one of the best unknown teams in the country. Coach Jay Wright has his team primed for the America East tournament and I feel bad for whoever they face in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.
Mike Granelli | ALSO SEE Cinderella Watch  | ||||||||||||||||||
