SINCE WE LAST SPOKE: 3-13-14
CHANCE TO DANCE: Well, here we go again. The Vols once again find themselves at the door of the dance club with only one bouncer at the door and another seemingly too far away to provide assistance between them and the floor. The last two seasons they’ve flailed blindly at the sentry before being grabbed by the collar and slung into NIT alley. Let’s hope those agonizing experiences have seasoned, enlightened and hardened the Vols into an irresistible force that won’t be stopped until accomplishing enough to hear their name called on Selection Sunday. What could have been reduced to a win-and-you’re-in scenario was probably muddied by Missouri’s win and Arkansas’ loss in Thursday’s afternoon session. The Vols could have benefitted from another quality win against the Hogs but in all-likelihood they need only to avoid another bad loss. I believe a win over South Carolina will be the last step required
unless Missouri catches Florida napping and pulls off a monumental upset. If that were to occur the Vols would be advised not to drop the rubber match versus the Tigers. The SEC will not get four spots and only Tennessee and Missouri remain in contention for the third. That being said the tournameter has clicked down to one more must; with a caveat:
CAN’T AFFORD TO LOSE I (If Florida beats Missouri) (1): South Carolina
CAN’T AFFORD TO LOSE II (If Mizzou beats Florida) (2): South Carolina & Missouri
NAY-PALM: CBSSPORTS.COM Bracketologist Jerry Palm told Tony last week that the Vols would probably need an SEC Tournament victory over Florida or Kentucky to strengthen their resume enough to make the tournament. I’m certainly no Bracketologist but as I stated above I don’t believe that will be necessary and I doubt a week removed from his statement Palm does either. In his latest update he has moved Tennessee from
last 4 out to his
last 4 in facing Providence in Dayton. Palm had also projected Arkansas to make the tournament playing in Dayton versus Xavier but their loss to South Carolina almost certainly will drop them from the projections and no amount of outside help will be able to put the pieces back together for the Hogs. If both Florida and Tennessee win their Friday afternoon contests all that will ride on Saturday’s outcome is who will play in Atlanta on Sunday because both will hear their name called later that day. Any other scenario would mean the SEC would only get two teams in the field of 68. The league may be all-time lousy but it’s not two-bid-only bad.
ESPN’s Joe Lunardi -as has been the case throughout- is slightly more impressed than Palm with Tennessee affording them a spot in his
last 4 byes as an 11 seed playing VCU in Raleigh.
Blogger’s Thought: The last time I checked Division 1 Men’s teams were not allowed to play an NCAA Tournament game on their home court. How then can the games in Dayton actually be a part of the tournament if the Flyers are one of the teams playing there? You guessed it. Just like 90% of basketball fans even NCAA Officials think they’re only play-in games.
TOURNAMENT CRUELTY: As Tony told the world last week during this time of year I relax my Yankee-cap-only restrictions in favor of an old-faded Minnesota Twins hat. The interlocking T-C seems to provide the perfect description of the Vols post season futility through the years which I have unfortunately suffered through most all of. Hence the Twinkies hat which in March stands for Tournament Cruelty. The Vols have been especially dreadful in the SEC Tournament after winning the inaugural tournament in its reintroduction year in 1979. I know I hit you with this depressing information each year but I guess the old
“Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it” quote has never been more germane. I also guess from the numbers that follow we obviously
“cannot remember”
In the 35 years since the tournament’s reintroduction the Vols:
-have a record of 26-35
-have been one-and-done 15 times (even worse Ole Miss eliminated us in 5 of those)
-have won only one game 15 times
-have played three or four games only 5 times
-have made it to Saturday only 5 times
-have made the Finals only 3 times
-In the 25 years from 1984-2009 the Vols played more than 2 games
ONCE (91) which was arguably the worst Tennessee team of that Quarter Century.
MY FAVORITE TIME ON THE SPORT’S CALENDAR? RIIIIIGHT NOW! I am not the most well rounded sports guy. Much like my music taste I without apology tend to narrow the field greatly which helps me to get more out of my passions. I closely follow Men’s College Basketball, Major League Baseball, College Football and the NFL unconditionally. I will also invest time in College Baseball and High School football, basketball and baseball if –and only if- Tennessee and Oak Ridge are good in them. With that in mind here are my three favorite periods on the sports calendar:
(3) Late December through January: Though College Football is still my favorite sport the highlight of the period is the NFL Playoffs. CFB’s regular season is still the most meaningful and compelling of any sport but the post-season lags far behind most every other. College Basketball’s pecking order becomes apparent during this period but conference play has become so geographically and in many cases historically insignificant that third place in my heart is the best the period will do.
(2) October through Early November: Major League Baseball’s playoffs leading to the Fall Classic in combination with College Football Conference races taking shape with many of the greatest traditional rivalries on-tap is hard to beat. Throw the best weather of the year in the mix and even I’m not completely sure why I ranked it only second.
(1) March –Nuff Said: Actually I am sure why the third month of the year is the undisputed heavy weight champion of my sports mind. Despite all the seemingly un-ending, uninspired, play of the regular season the NCAA Basketball Tournament is the greatest post-season event of all and it ain’t close. The three weeks of win-or-go-home games can’t be imitated with 67 Game-Sevens spread over 12 days of action. When you add the romanticism and hope of a new season that every old baseball player has ingrained in his soul and winter dying a long-awaited death March simply has no peer.
FIRST STATE TOURNEY: I can’t believe that a few years prior to my 60th birthday I attended my first Tennessee High School State Tournament game on Wednesday. My brother Ron played in the 1965 event but my parents wisely decided not to take their 8 year old tidal wave to Memphis who was as likely to be sitting with and chatting up the Nashville Pearl fans as in the Oak Ridge section if they turned their heads for a second. In my adult years I was more likely to be playing in a softball tournament, attending the SEC Tournament, or in my recliner watching other college action and spring training baseball. Oak Ridge rewarded my procrastination (undeservedly) with a wire-to-wire thrashing of Jeff County winning their first State Tournament game since 1999. MTSU’s Murphy Center is a terrific venue for the event with great sightlines regardless of where you choose to sit and a friendly and helpful staff. The Arlington-Siegel game that preceded Oak Ridge-Jeff County was a more electric atmosphere due to the throng of Siegel fans that jammed the arena but I’m sure as the tournament progresses through the weekend, the stakes get loftier and more fans are afforded opportunity to attend the electricity is exponentially increased for every contest. I enjoyed my brief visit and doubt I will wait 50+ years before a return engagement. I would be remiss If I failed to express special thanks to Vic King of WLAF for his kindness and generosity. I appreciate ya Vic.
IN A PERFECT WORLD: The Vols make a run in the SEC and NCAA Tournaments and Cuonzo Martin parlays it into a new job.
NO SHOW BEANO With sincere apologies the blog will not appear next week as I will be taking in the first weekend of the NCAA Tournament in Sin City. I hope that you all enjoy the early rounds and I'll see you right back here on March 27. God Bless You and as always thanks for taking the time to read my alleged thoughts.
