March 21, 2005

Tourney Thrills and Spills

By: Marty Coultas
Milwaukeeworld.com

Hello again Milwaukeeworlders. Only the great state of North Carolina has more teams still alive in the NCAA tournament than does our beloved state of Wisconsin. Who would have thought it? Both the Badgers and the Panthers into the round of 16. Seriously, even the most ardent of fans didn’t suspect this was coming. And talk about messing up the betting pools, you have to be a complete dope to be in a winning position after weekend one. As I have mentioned in this space before, the general consensus by those “in the know” about basketball states that the “Big Ten” conference is grossly overrated. Funny though how the Big ten still has three teams left standing. Only one other conference has three and it isn’t the ACC. Those right coast, effete snobs in Eastern country must be wringing their hands today trying to figure out what spin to put on the results they put forth. Wake, BC, Syracuse and UConn blah, blah. blah. Better luck next year boys, the Big Ten has three teams still practicing.

I am no longer making predictions but it is not beyond the realm of possibility for the Badgers to wind up in the final four. Their next opponent is a team made up of slow guys who play the same game as the Badgers but not quite as well. The problem will come in the following game when they would have to play the run and gunners from Florida. Whoops, is that right, did I say Florida and not UNC. That is correct folks, I do not see the Tarheels making it to the final four. Iowa State had UNC’s number for awhile the other day and if ISU had been able to put some more athletes on the floor, they would have beaten UNC. Problem is, Iowa State ran out of players and that is something that Florida won’t have a problem with. As for the Panthers, I am sorry to say that I watched the Illini dismantle a pretty good Nevada team on Saturday and it really doesn’t matter if they have to play Arizona or the Okies. They can handle them too. Illinois is hitting on all cylinders again and when that happens, they are sure fun to watch. Fantasize with me for a minute and visualize a Monday night final that pitted the Badgers against the Illini for the fourth time this year. Not that I think it will happen, but it could and it would be great for the Midwest.

It was very encouraging to see one of our own, Mike Wilkinson, the Badger Senior from Blue Mound take control of a basketball game on the national stage on Sunday. Mike is a fifth year player who came into the program the year after the last final four team and is the last guy left from the Dick Bennett recruits. On Sunday with nine minutes to play and an announcer who stated that Bucknell was only nine minutes from history, Mike made the history. He dominated the last part of the game the way that a Michael Jordon or Kobe Bryant can dominate a game. The opponent had no answer for him on defense or on offense and it came about as a result of determination and fortitude that only very special people possess. When the game and the season were on the line, Mike Wilkinson said “give me ball and get on my back, I’ll take it from here.” Mike truly knows the meaning of the five most important words in the English language. YOU CAN COUNT ON ME.

Last week I attended one of the last games that Paul Silas would coach for the Cavs. I thought he looked a little weary and somewhat frustrated and said so to my seatmates. It wasn’t long until I found out how correct I was. In that game, which the Bucks won by 8, I was very impressed by the ease with which LeBron James seems to play the game. I don’t mean that he is dogging it or anything, he just seems to do the things he does effortlessly. Whether it is rebounding, shooting or simply getting open, he does it with what seems to be little effort or thought. Can you imagine what impact he is going to have when he learns how to play. Michael Jordon was five years in the NBA before he was really in command of his game. LeBron is there in two and is younger now than Michael was when he entered into the league. Hopefully he will stay away from gamblers and partiers. His future is unlimited.

That is it for this week. Remember to keep your ears open and your noses clean. Hasta la proxima ves.

Ciao,

Marty the Sports Chick
Milwaukeeworld.com

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