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| | Monday, February 28 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Were those compliments we saw cascading out of the email box? For the first time in the five weeks we've done the Watch, there were more praising comments than folks demanding justice, proclaiming our ignorance or belittling our fashion taste.
Maybe March Madness is setting in early. Come on, everybody -- let's see some spite next week. With that being said, on to the masses!
SMS may have the easiest schedule remaining, but the Bears have to travel through SIU the last game of the season. SIU will take first in the MVC the way it is playing right now. Come on now, if we beat Indiana State (which puts us in first due to tiebreaker) and beat Bradley on the road on Saturday (very few make it out of Bradley with a win), give us a break! We should be on this Watch too. Give us some love!
Chicago
Your removal of Tulane from the Watch is deplorable. True, C-USA is a log jam, but that doesn't negate what the Wave has done this season. They were picked to finish last in their division, yet Tulane currently has the second best record in the conference. This decision makes even less sense because SMU was removed because they are "too good." If you take a look at the list of teams who beat SMU, you will find Tulane among them.
Joseph Shorter IV
Well, two teams from the MVC on The Watch, impressive. The tell tale sign of Indiana St. and SMS will be their matchups with Southern Illinois. Both teams have to go on the road to SIU. By tourney time we might be talking about possibly three teams from the MVC that might make the tourney.
Doug Kirchens
If the Hickory Huskers can beat South Bend Central Bears (from Hoosiers) on the same home court on which the Butler Bulldogs play, anything can happen for them in the Big Dance.
Richard Templeton Shhh .... Don't talk about them -- please don't talk about Siena. After all, Siena is the third highest scoring team in the country. Siena has won eight in a row, as of Feb 21. Siena has one of the hottest coaches in the nation in Paul Hewitt. If you let out our secret, Siena might wind up on the Cinderella Watch. Shhhhhhhhhh....don't tell anyone.
Kevin J. Flatt
I`ve been following the C-Watch and by far this week`s candidates do reflect the essence of small-school Cinderella underdogs that could give most teams fits come tournament time; although, I never understood why you kept Vandy in for so long and kept the likes of Arizona State, Virginia and Notre Dame out this week? Why do some teams from major conferences are considered and anothers are not? A good rule would be to leave out any teams from the top conferences (SEC, ACC, Big10, Big12, Big East and Pac10) and consider only the mid-major and small conferences. As much as people hate Hofstra or Siena, they do reflect the spirit of the Cinderella Watch.
Mario Koo
The Bowling Green Falcons could be for real. Two tough road test come this week as they face Akron and Marshall. Anthony Stacy, while not Wally Szczerbiak, is by far the best player in the MAC. His ability to ignite his team is unbelievable. The team's tough defense and the ability to fire the trey will give the Falcons a chance to make some noise if they get their shot at the NCAA tourney.
Jeff Miller
How could you forget the second-place team in a conference, but put on the third-place team? Southern Illinois has played better ball then both Indiana State and SMS over the last month and the only reason the Salukis' record is so bad is because they started out 5-5. One of those losses came to a top 10 team and two others were games they lost by one point each. Let me also remind you that they play in the toughest small-school conference in the nation -- or do I have to just tell you to look back at last year's Big Dance!
Theodore Saad
How could you drop Tulane? The Wave had a good week capped by an exciting comeback against Saint Louis. In fact, they were not in ESPN.com's projected NCAA Tournament last week, but re-entered it this week. So it makes absolutely no sense that they were dropped considering: their RPI moved up, they re-entered your projected field of 64, and they were not voted out.
Michael Chestnov
I'm Ragin cause no Cajuns are on the Watch! The University of Louisiana-Lafayette (21-6, 12-1 Sun Belt) should win the Sun Belt tournament, but even if they don't, they could be 26-7 or 25-8. This team is good, very athletic with lots of hops! My case is stated, you can't leave them out! Bet many majors would hate to see them in first round!
Chuck Anderson
Two things right in one week -- I am impressed. First, you finally graduated Vanderbilt from the Cinderella Watch. Next you added Butler. A round of applause to the committee. The only thing I don't understand is why you didn't mention the ferocious Butler defense, as it is third in the country? Defense wins basketball games, including in March!
Andy Haider
Everyone has "hated" on the SMU Mustangs since the beginning of this season. They have won 21 games and will win at least 3-4 more before the Big Dance begins. They have an all-American backcourt in Jeryl Sasser and Stephen Woods. It's time that they get the "props" they deserve. ESPN, show 'em some love for a change. SMU stands for Still Most Underrated team in the country.
Raymond Mbala
The SMS Bears have a nearly identical overall and conference record as last year, and have most of last year's Sweet 16 team back for a tourney run this year. With deep senior leadership taking charge, SMS is peaking at the right time and offers a terrific "upset" pick in the early rounds, although many NCAA coaches will not be caught off guard. Ask Tennessee and Wisconsin about last year's NCAA experience.
Russ Marquart
To exclude Siena from the Cinderella Watch is like serving the turkey without potatoes ... it just isn't right. Here we have a team that has shown consistency for 90 percent of the season (which I might add is more than any other team on this Watch), and yet you exclude them from this list. I once believed that to be a Cinderella was a great accomplishment, however I now feel that it is simply gauged on who gets the most press during the season. I laugh when I think of how petty and materialistic one can be when ranking college basketball teams. If the Saints are excluded from this list, then you have successfully excluded any mid-major college with little TV coverage. It's a disgrace to the game...period!
Brendan Houlton
Why do you cast such a negative light on SMU finishing poorly in the Cinderella poll last week? Obviously, the well-informed readers of your column don't consider SMU a true Cinderella, since the Mustangs should be a lock for the NCAA. SMU's RPI is 35! How could they even seriously be listed as a Cinderella?
Carl Koontz
Bring back the Beach! Sand in the shorts to all of those ballot-stuffing cities that left Long Beach State off their ballots. All the Niners have done is win 17 of their last 18 and this week will add two more to that total. At the outset of the season the question was could Wayne Morgan make it to New Year's Day. Now the contract renewal is on the table and the Beach is sunny.
Bruce Sparks
Wow, it's like you guys read my mind. After seeing records, stats, and streaks recently, I didn't understand why Butler wasn't on the watch...and there they are! Congrats on recognizing a team that has improved incredibly over the season.
Brian Stage | ALSO SEE Cinderella Watch  | ||||||||||||||||||
