2008 Woodie Awards
Crazy season about to turn to madness
Off the foul Pohl
Bart Pohlman
Issue date: 2/29/08 Section: Sports
Talk about crazy.
In less than a week, two different No. 1 teams have lost.
Even more bizarre is the fact that all the action has come from one state - and no, it's not North Carolina.
Tennessee upset No. 1 Memphis Saturday in one of the finest basketball games of the season.
The game between the Tigers and Vols was to the state of Tennessee what the Tupac/Biggie feud was to the West Coast. It was so big, even Elvis' wife was in attendance. If the King's wife is in the building, you know something great is happening.
The Vols got the win and were consequently awarded with the No. 1 ranking for the first time in school history.
But it wasn't meant to be.
Tennessee took its top ranking into the awkwardly unique Memorial Gymnasium to take on Vanderbilt, and left the awkwardly unique Memorial Gymnasium with a loss. To Vandy's credit, the Commodores now have a 6-3 record when facing No. 1-ranked teams at home.
So, unfortunately for Tennessee, but fortunately for everyone else on the face of the planet who can't stand UT orange, the Vols are one and done as No. 1.
As exciting and crazy as the last week has been in college basketball, it's only going to get better - or worse, for some teams - in the upcoming weeks.
Take Drake, for example.
The upstart Missouri Valley team has been riding an unprecedented wave of success this season, and has been a mainstay in the rankings.
But it's hard to fight off the obvious Seinfeld connection here. As of right now, everyone is in "love the Drake" mode. You'll see people picking Drake to advance to the Sweet 16, Elite Eight and even the Final Four. The minute you invest too much in Drake - although I doubt anyone will be buying a brand new TV based on how they play - the team will break your heart, and you'll enter "hate the Drake" mode. Something crazy is bound to happen with Drake.
Drake isn't the only example, though. Kansas State, led by Michael "Durant who?" Beasley, beat Kansas at home for the first time in 24 years. Appalachian State, which gained fame for knocking off Michigan in football, beat Arkansas. North Carolina and Duke are ranked in the top 10 - wait, nevermind.
If the season is any indication, the basketball world had better brace itself for one crazy March.
Nothing is certain come NCAA Tournament time, other than to expect the unexpected.
Remember George Mason? Who would have thought it would make a run to the Final Four?
Who honestly picked Hampton, a 15 seed, to upset second-seeded Iowa State in 2001?
If you say you picked Gonzaga to make a run to the 1999 Elite Eight and become a college basketball powerhouse, I say you're lying.
But these unexpected things happen in March.
Now it's time to sit back and enjoy.
Bart Pohlman is the assistant sports editor for The Arkansas Traveler.
In less than a week, two different No. 1 teams have lost.
Even more bizarre is the fact that all the action has come from one state - and no, it's not North Carolina.
Tennessee upset No. 1 Memphis Saturday in one of the finest basketball games of the season.
The game between the Tigers and Vols was to the state of Tennessee what the Tupac/Biggie feud was to the West Coast. It was so big, even Elvis' wife was in attendance. If the King's wife is in the building, you know something great is happening.
The Vols got the win and were consequently awarded with the No. 1 ranking for the first time in school history.
But it wasn't meant to be.
Tennessee took its top ranking into the awkwardly unique Memorial Gymnasium to take on Vanderbilt, and left the awkwardly unique Memorial Gymnasium with a loss. To Vandy's credit, the Commodores now have a 6-3 record when facing No. 1-ranked teams at home.
So, unfortunately for Tennessee, but fortunately for everyone else on the face of the planet who can't stand UT orange, the Vols are one and done as No. 1.
As exciting and crazy as the last week has been in college basketball, it's only going to get better - or worse, for some teams - in the upcoming weeks.
Take Drake, for example.
The upstart Missouri Valley team has been riding an unprecedented wave of success this season, and has been a mainstay in the rankings.
But it's hard to fight off the obvious Seinfeld connection here. As of right now, everyone is in "love the Drake" mode. You'll see people picking Drake to advance to the Sweet 16, Elite Eight and even the Final Four. The minute you invest too much in Drake - although I doubt anyone will be buying a brand new TV based on how they play - the team will break your heart, and you'll enter "hate the Drake" mode. Something crazy is bound to happen with Drake.
Drake isn't the only example, though. Kansas State, led by Michael "Durant who?" Beasley, beat Kansas at home for the first time in 24 years. Appalachian State, which gained fame for knocking off Michigan in football, beat Arkansas. North Carolina and Duke are ranked in the top 10 - wait, nevermind.
If the season is any indication, the basketball world had better brace itself for one crazy March.
Nothing is certain come NCAA Tournament time, other than to expect the unexpected.
Remember George Mason? Who would have thought it would make a run to the Final Four?
Who honestly picked Hampton, a 15 seed, to upset second-seeded Iowa State in 2001?
If you say you picked Gonzaga to make a run to the 1999 Elite Eight and become a college basketball powerhouse, I say you're lying.
But these unexpected things happen in March.
Now it's time to sit back and enjoy.
Bart Pohlman is the assistant sports editor for The Arkansas Traveler.
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