This was supposed to be a simple bracket, which is why I was tasked with making my triumphant return to SFBE to spew Orange chalk all over this place.

Syracuse is (was) unequivocally the best team to ever walk Marshall Street, or any street for that matter. You could write "'Cuse" six times in a blood Orange market and then have your black lab dog fill out the rest.

As Kenny Powers would say, "it's not extreme arrogance, if you'ref#%!ing right."

But then neglecting to do school work happened, and the Orange lost eight points, six rebounds and three blocked shots a game because Fab Melo said to hell with the student part of being a student-athlete.

Selfish prick.

Sure, those stats can be replaced, but it's everything that the stat sheet doesn't say about Melo that can't be replaced, and why everything is all messed up now. His missing presence in the middle of the famed 2-3 zone has drastically changed the landscape of the entire NCAA Tournament.

With this in mind, look for Vandy and their senior leadership and momentum coming off the SEC Championship to challenge the Orange in the Sweet 16. On the bottom of this bracket, ACC Conference Tournament winner in Florida State will meet the Ohio State Buckeyes in the Sweet 16, battle and emerge victorious.

The Bucks have struggled throughout the year with big physical teams, and that is exactly what the ‘Noles will bring to the table. Look for the strong guard play of FSU and a balanced attack up front to cut down the East Regional nets in Boston, somewhat avenging a loss to Boston College in their most recent trip to the Hub.

The winner?

Florida State. I already said that.

Why?

A balanced deep team that has a physical front court and strong guard play. They have beaten both UNC and Duke twice, so they can play with anyone. Leonard Hamilton is on to something here.

Five players you want to know about

• Deividas Dulkys (Florida State) - He is reeling right now and is the motor of the team. He keeps themf ocused on the goal and calm on the court while still bringing the fire and passion needed to advance int he one and done scenario.
• Kris Joseph/Rakeem Christmas (Syracuse)- Their lives just got a bit more complicated. The only way the Orange have a shot at redeeming their championship hopes is through the leadership and scoring of the senior Joseph and the rebounding and defense of the young'n Christmas, who now must log actual game minutes.
• Deshaun Thomas (Ohio State) - A nice inside/outside guy whose struggled to play well inside and outside. Thomas is a big of an enigma on the court. Nick told me Thad Matta has taken to call him "Shaun" this season because he doesn't play any "D". How cute. Time for this kid to sack up.
• Will Cherry (Montana) - The best defensive player in the Big Sky led his team to a 15-1 record in conference and should put Wisconsin on upset alert early Thursday afternoon.
• John Jenkins (Vanderbilt) - Jenkins brings his 20 point average and 45% three point shooting into a tournament that demands superb guard play for advancement. His parents have a few more tears they would like to shed in Boston and his play will determine whether they are joy or grief.

Who will overachieve?

I wish I could say this would not apply, but my beloved ‘Cuse are no longer the same team, and will allow Vanderbilt to challenge for the East Region.

Who will underachieve?

Wisconsin. Expect an upset at the hands of Montana.

Describe this bracket in one word

Effed.

During a recent informal reunion with high school friends, a reminiscence of one of those youthful innocence road trips became a topic of conversation. The event: first NCAA Tournament without the supervision of parents.  The weekend was a mix of fast food, P-Funk All-Stars and BL smoothies, with a side dish of six first and second round games in the Boston Garden (we refuse to acknowledge all that Fleet, TD Bank non-sense). Placed adjacent to a crow's nest, our assigned seats left us feeling insulted and we were brave enough to haggle Tom Coverdale's parents for their loge seats as the rest of his extended family mourned the conclusion of Tom's career.

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Are we in midseason form already? Not even close.  Sloppy play and teams "finding themselves" has been the staple of the first week in college basketball.  Well consider all of those games rubbish compared to the slate of games tonight.  It's like all week you ate Taco Bell (while always delicious) and Mickey D's and tonight you'll be served steak and potatoes.  We're not saying that the games tonight and this afternoon won't be littered with turnovers but at least the talent pool of all 10 players on the court should be at the highest level of the season thus far.

True degenerate breakfast bonus game:

• #21 Dayton (+1.5) vs. #19 Georgia Tech, 11:30 am Puerto Rico Tip Off Classic

One time relevant mid-majors still trying to compete:

• George Mason vs. #6 Villanova (-14.5), 2 pm ESPNU.  Villanova is flat out good.  They can beat you inside or outside, up tempo or in the half court set.
• South Florida vs. Davidson (-1), 7 pm Charleston Classic.  Davidson sans Curry means back to reality.  The fact that they are even favored, albeit by a slim margin, means they are still riding the coat tails of their former star.

2k Sports Coaches vs. Cancer Classic @ Madison Square Garden:

• #24 Syracuse vs. #12 California (Pick 'em) 7pm ESPN2.  Madison Square Garden is Syracuse's home away from home.  They should have named the Garden's court after Jimmy B since he rarely plays away from the Dome until march, and if he does, it's in "Lebron's MECCA of basketball."
• #4 North Carolina (-2) vs. #15 Ohio State, 9 pm ESPN2.  Once again UNC reloads.  UNC has put up at least 88 points in all three games this year.  Will the Buckeye's even get up enough attempts to match that score?  Evan Turner (19ppg, 17 rpg) and David Lighty will have to play out of their minds, but Deon Thompson and Ed Davis should be too much down low.

To satisfy the degenerate gamblers that follow the purity of college basketball, we will be providing our shot out of a cannon thoughts behind a few select games every night.  What better night to begin with than tonight, the NIT Preseason Tournament Tip Off Classic, presented by Dick's Sporting Goods.  We will keep tabs on our selection so that you will know whether to side with us or go against the grain.

-Selections are underlined-

Coastal Carolina @ #8 Duke Blue Devils (-28.5), 7pm ESPNU.  We'll reluctantly take the Blue Devils.  Coach K is best at covering early in the season but we don't think too highly of the Blue Devils this season.  This could be a team to make some cash on later in the season, betting against.

Colgate @ #14 UCONN (-27.5), 9pm ESPNU.  This one should be a cake walk for the talent loaded team out of Storrs.  Don't be fooled by Colgate returning five starters; those starters only amounted a 10-20 record last year, good enough for 5th in the Patriot league.

Auburn (-4) @ Missouri St.  Auburn has the athleticism to make this a 20 point game by halftime and we think it will be.  Sometimes it seems too easy.

Miami (OH) @ #5 Kentucky (-20), 7pm E360.  John Wall makes his debut tonight and we're thinking he will put up the 20 extra needed to cover.  This one will be a fast paced game, so we might even think about touching the over on this one as well.

Yale @ Hofstra (-6.5). The Ivy league visits the CAA.  It doesn't change the fact that it is the Ivy league playing out of conference.  Free money.

Considering our blog title gives a shout out to a once promising Syracuse guard gone astray, we figured it would be a good idea to keep the nostalgic juices flowing from time to time and give you that "oh wow I remember him" feeling. We will be dishing out some write-ups on former players; ranging from the All-American type who didn't have the "NBA Body," to one-hit-wonders who played their best when it mattered most...March. Feel free to pass along your favorite forgotten college basketball players, as we get back into the season and compile a list of prospective guys to feature.

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Despite being the shepherd for supreme athletes and seasoned basketball players, college coaches will still grill their troops on the fundamentals early in the season.  When it comes time to teach the rudimentary ideas of rebounding and posting up, look no further than Oklahoma’s Kevin Bookout game tapes as a Sooner, which serve as a model of consistency and excellence in simply doing every damn thing correctly. 

Kevin Bookout was a true corn-bread fed, homebody who was tagged to be a Sooner walking out of the womb.  The elder Bookout brothers were Sooner athlete standouts; Casey holds the OU career home run record and Kyle competed on the OU track and field team in the events of discuss and shot-put.  Kyle was not the only shot putter in the family, our spotlight athlete Mr. Kevin Bookout can push the stone too.  Kevin won the state title in shot put and discus all four years in high school.  Oh and he can also challenge brother Casey to a home run derby after setting a high school career record in the long ball department.

Once attending Oklahoma he became one of the program’s very rare four-year starters.  Bookout amassed 1,018 points and 682 rebounds during his tenure in the paint for the Sooners.  He never really grabbed any awards during his four year run with the Sooners, accept for Valedictorian and that 4.0 GPA, but he did rewrite the book on "How to Play the Secondary Big Man and Provide Weak Side Defensive Help," if there is such a leather-bound out there.  His ability to establish post presence and clean the boards with box out abilities that allow the ball to hit the floor before being collected were impeccable and outstanding, so much so that the D-League wanted his services.  During the 2007-2008 season, Bookout started eight games for the Rio Grande Vipers and put up a reassessment of talent causing internal conversation of 4.6 points per game and 5.6 rebounds.

Kevin has since taken a step back in his basketball maturation and decided that he is going to get back to throwing heavy things..like real far.  Kevin will now be looking to return to the glory of out muscling other massive men in the most historical and barbaric competitions of all time, the 2012 Olympics.  Bookout is hard at work (check out all five!) in the World Throws Center (www.worldthrowscenter.com) in Phoenix, Arizona hoping to bring home the gold for Our Lady of Liberty. 

We wish our All-American boy from the Midwest the best of luck, but with that kind of music for a workout video, how can he not be the favorite?

There is an old saying, "if you look good, you’ll play better."  Some teams have thrown caution into the wind and scoffed at the previous remark.  As the floors are being waxed and dusted in anticipation of Tip Off 2009, Paul Lukas of ESPN's "Page 2" takes a look at some of the new threads that will be flaunted on the hardwood this year, retros to alternates.

SFBE is praying for the day that when teams bring back the "retro-look," but not a half hearted attempt.  We want to see the look on Hot-lanta’s face when G-Tech puts Gani Lawal and crew in John Stockton-esque short-shorts.  Come on, think about it; Each team has to don exact replica jerseys circa 1960 for one game.

Other notable changes:

• UNC celebrate’s their 100th anniversary with special red trimmed jersey’s for a few undisclosed games.  Dean Smith’s court takes on a year long beauty mark that commemorates the centennial celebration.
• D Wade makes the switch from Converse to Nike, alma mater follows suit.
• The Black Pearls of Tennessee will show up at some point after Bruce Pearl showed interest following UT’s football uni unveiling.
• A hardwoods got some reconstructive surgery over the off season.  We’re taking a liking to Notre Dame’s parquet and shamrock.

Kentucky, Kentucky, Kentucky!  That’s about all you’ve heard about since Luther Vandross dropped those angel whispers of One Shining Moment on us back in April.  Yes, Kentucky has the talent to be observed as the outright favorite to win the National Championship but there are a handful of other worthy opponents that can interrupt a bluegrass march through March.

Mississippi State and Tennessee provide the dangerous combination of experience and talent.  Both programs biggest loss in the off season was probably a concessions employee and we’re positive that won’t be enough to cause for a first round exit like last year (MSU to Washington, UT to OK ST).  South Carolina carries five seniors and arguably the best point guard in the conference in Devan Downey.  Of course, we sidebar the previous statement with the ability to hold an exception based on the unproven Jesus Shuttlesworth John Wall of Kentucky.

The Commodores of Vanderbilt and Billy Donovan’s Florida Gators are sophomore heavy but possess the cohesion required to play spoiler on any given night.

After the newly acquired Calipari takes Rupp Arena, we’re sure the hype will fall true behind the broad shoulders of our pick to take home Conference Player of the Year honors, Patrick Patterson.

Where there is hype, there is Hocus Pocus and we think that the Southeastern Conference could be most wide-open races.

Our breakdown is after the jump.

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Maybe you'll hear some of our favorites...

• "The Runner..."
• "Puuuuure..."
• Gus will be out of the hospital in time for tomorrow's game
• "From the parking lot!"
• A best of montage "Rise and Fire"

Binghamton has never been at the forefront of NCAA basketball talks and they probably never will be. Actually the only time any America East team makes headlines, that particular school would probably prefer to be nameless, as nothing good emerges.

Emanuel "Tiki" Mayben and his recent arrest for possessing and selling cocaine confirm the truth (one up-ing fellow teammate that stole condoms from Walmart). We all knew Mayben could dish out the rock after he set the single season school record for assists, and that he has a grotesque unibrow, but we didn't know he also dropped dimes on the street too. The Po-Po's did know about Mayben's extra "practice sessions," as he was the subject of an on-going three month investigation that came to an end Wednesday night with his arrest. Tiki couldn't settle for just having a wicked jump shot, he had to go for the double-double and slang that crack rock.

College football is back and now we don't have to flip to ESPN on a Thursday night and be disappointed that the World Series of Poker is on.  Thursday night's game between Oregon and Boise St. gained a lot of hype but resulted in one of the more disappointing sporting events that we stayed up for on a work night.  First games are generally sloppy but we're just glad its back.  Oregon RB LeGarrette Blount decided to welcome college football back in loving fashion... a haymaker to the jaw.  Watch this one twice, once for enjoyment of the one punch dropping and once for the release of David Hasselhoff's STD encyclopedia.

Labor day is approachng, signifying the end of another BBQ, beaches and beer filled summer.  Our beloved Red Sox are clinging to the Wild Card.  Football season is on everyone's mind and talk around the water cooler has turned into who your sleeper picks will be.  College basketball is still in hibernation.

A few of the momentary wake ups of recent...

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"Enough is enough."  In a random outburst of organized emotions, Rick Pitino went off on the media and despite being a second hand media source, we don't blame him.  The facts are clear: Rick Pitino was blackmailed and Karen Sypher is a liar and unstable.  The New Yorker came out as Pitino emphasized his rage towards the unfounded ongoing reportings.  The is warranted and it is understood that he would like the trial speak the truth while he continue's to maintain his Top 10 program.  We enjoyed a few of the emphasizing statements made in the six minute rant:

 "On a day that Ted Kennedy died" - TWICE.  Yes, we understand that there was other news made that day but twice?

"My lawyer says 'Don't say anything.', The Univeristy says 'Don't say anything.'  The Authorities said 'Don't say anything.'  Well, enough is enough.  I am saying something, it's a lie."

"That's why I havn't gone around to Inside Edition..."  Really.  Inside Edition?  That was your first media outlet mentioned?  I think we could have gone with The National Inquirer.

"The FBI and the U.S Attorney's Office don't go after jaywalkers."  Ending on that note, well played.

When Jim Boeheim cut down the nets for his first National Championship in 2003, he was probably wondering if or when he would ever be able to do so again.  He undoubtedly also questioned whether he would find another Frosh Phenom like Carmelo  Anthony to lead the charge.

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There is finally some excitement circulating at James Madison University and it doesn't surround the annual solo cup littered, black-out festival known as the "block party" (pictured above).  It surrounds the basketball program at JMU.  Yes, the same JMU Dukes that has won an intimidating 33.7 percent of their games over the previous six years. [Sidebar: Four of those years, despite being an avid college basketball enthusiast,  I elected to attend $2 pitcher night and watch Big Monday instead.  Trifling program.]  And unless you eat, sleep an breath round ball in the Shenandoah Valley, you probably didn't know of the head coaching change that brought former Marist coach Matt Brady to Harrisonburg.

It is not surprising that Brady elected to bring the four mediocre mignons that he wooed to Poughkeepsie, down I-81, to don the purple and gold, a possible attempt to reinvigorate the "Electric Zoo."  The national buzz and only reason Marist or JMU is mentioned on a college basketball blog in July is because of the controversy this normalcy in recruiting has been complicated with.  The controversy is hinged on the fact that Brady's contract with Marist contains a provision prohibiting him from continuing to recruit players he has contacted to put in a Red Hawks uniform, if he ever jumped ship for another program.  In March, Brady did exactly that, bringing four of his Marist recruits to JMU.  On July 7th Marist filed a lawsuit against Brady, JMU and the entire Commonwealth of Virginia.

This apparent clause in Brady's coaching contract is uncommon.  Many legal experts feel the provision is flawed.  Where is the line to be drawn?  At an initial interest letter?  When has a recruit truly committed? Is it when a recruit has verbally committed or when they have signed their national letter of intent?  And why should the NCAA or specific school be able to lock-in a student athlete like a professional, binding contract?

Common lesson leanred: Read the fine print, even if it is only "Marist" on the letterhead. 

Another casualty of the economy is waving big red flares as a last resort before financially drowning.  A hypothesis generated when Mr. Ed O'Bannon became the arrowhead of pending class-action lawsuit against the NCAA.  Ed O'Bannon was the Final Four MVP in 1995 for the dominating UCLA Bruins.  The beef?  A deviation of the timeless debate circling around whether NCAA athletes should be paid.  The twist?  O'Bannon believes that former players should be receiving a "royalty"-type compensation for images of the past, currently being used commercially in DVD's, video games, memorabilia and the like. 

As the catalyst of this class action lawsuit, O'Bannon is arguing on behalf of former Division I football and basketball players.  O'Bannon states that the NCAA is a "for profit business" and the players receive "no compensation whatsoever."  Apparently the $160,000 of free education, four years of room and board and a monthly stipend was not enough.  

Car sales are down, we know that, but are you that desperate?  I guess that $3.9 million dollars evaporated quickly.

Save the drama for yo' mama, Xavier Henry is going to remain at Kansas despite all the propaganda splurged across Twitter, Facebook and other mindless, rumor littered, time wasting social sites.  How did Mr. Henry confirm that he would not cause Jayhawk head Coach Bill Self an ulcer? The X-Factor sent a text message to Kansas City radio station 610 Sports Radio, "I'm going to Kansas and that's final."  Text Message... Really?  We're hoping that Henry is not going to start a new fad of communicating life and program influencing decisions via T-9.  The icing on the cake would have been dropping a little third person in there.

For more on the details and history of Henry's storyline, our friends at Rock Chalk Talk delve in a bit deeper.  

In recent months the Memphis basketball program has been the wall at which monkeys throw their feces at, or so it seems.  The integrity of the program has been jeopardized due to allegations of disfavorable entrance to the university, notably current Chicago Bull (#1 pick in the 2008 NBA Draft) and former Tiger, Derrick Rose and his Tiger running mate Robert Dozier.  As the NCAA continues to dig into the past (USC and Alabama), why not bring up irrelevant party pictures of the aforementioned Rose, flashing mangled versions that represent cliques of territorial people with insecurity issues?  An undated picture of the Southside Chicago native has been discovered throwing up the "Gangster Disciple" sign:

 We just think it's another college kid, glassy-eyed off of two Olde English 40's, trying to be cool.  Or he is just doing what all other college kids do, imitate Will Ferrell.  Either way, Rose had to release the obligatory statement of remorse...

"Recently, a photo has been circulating on the Internet which appears to depict me flashing a gang sign.  This photo of me was taken at a party I attended in Memphis while I was in school there, and was meant as a joke ... a bad one, I now admit. I want to emphatically state, now and forever, that Derrick Rose is anti-gang, anti-drug, and anti-violence. I am not, nor have I ever been, affiliated with any gang and I can't speak loudly enough against gang violence, and the things that gangs represent. In posing for this picture, I am guilty of being young, naive and of using extremely poor judgment. I sincerely apologize to all my fans for my mistake. I pride myself on being a good citizen, and role model, that young people can look up to and I want to urge all my young fans to stay away from gangs and gang-related activities."

Just wanted to remind everyone about how awesome this jam from the early 00s is. Yes, it's that kind of Friday.

The Toilet Run - An annual tradition at Pimlico.  100,000 people on the infield will have no idea who won the race Sunday morning.

President Barack Obama had his second encounter with the North Carolina Tar Heel basketball team on Monday, and this time it was in his new house.  The first meeting between the two came before each respectively won the highest honor in their line of work.  When Obama was the Democratic Presidential Candidate he visited the Tar Heels and showed he could miss lay ups.  At least he tried to play the "I'm cool" card among basketball enthusiasts. 

President Obama greeted the 2009 National Champions and they presented him with a jersey, donning the #1.  In hindsight, maybe they should have given him #903,125.

Hey, at least he picked the winner.

We are not a college football blog but the Syracuse Orange pathetic football fans are buzzing about an undersized, ACC point guard, four years removed from football making a visit to his hometown.

Former Duke point guard Greg Paulus is reportedly returning to his old "glory days" hometown to speak with some Syracuse Orange football coaches.  Paulus played high school football in the area and is actively searching for a place to be point man of the gridiron.  Paulus started his football frenzy fiasco with a visit from the Green Bay Packers in Durham.  Next, it was Rich Rodriguez who attempted to coddle Paulus into the friendly confines of the Big House.  Now one of the jokes of Division I is calling Greg back to his hometown.  So, by deductive reasoning we can hypothesize that Paulus is not good enough for the NFL (really?), or he is more infatuated with college than Asher Roth and will do anything to stay in school, ANY SCHOOL. 

Be sure to check in with Nunes Magician for more development on this story.

Have a good weekend.

Duke guard Greg Paulus is not headed to the NBA.  Coach K closed that door on Paulus midway through his senior year, demoting him to the bench in favor of younger and trendier talent. We figured Paulus would just get cozy next to another former Duke point guard and prepare for his long and semi-illustrious coaching career under the wings of the Coach K regime.  Not so fast.  

Somewhere in the bowels of Bristol, Mel Kiper is scrapping together high school clips of Greg Paulus.  Why, you ask?  Either Greg Paulus is trying to write another destined for Disney film or the Green Bay Packers have officially decided to disgrace Lombardi and Lambeau in search of the next Brett Favre.  Green Bay Packers representatives have traveled to Durham and watched Paulus play pitch and catch.  Again, why?  Paulus has put his hands on the taint of another man many times before.  During high school Paulus was four-time all state, US Army All-American and a Gatorade Player of the Year...in football.  The 6'1," 180 pound Paulus set six New York state passing records and lost only 3 games while under center in his four years of scholastic play.  Paulus elected Duke basketball over Notre Dame football but has obviously not forgotten about the pigskin.

Will Greg get his name called on April 26...day two of the NFL draft? Probably not, but an enticing selection for Mr. Irrelevant.  

Green Bay, wow.  We thought you were better than that.  

Yes we know he's not in the tournament this year, at least he is contributing in other ways.  You'll find him outside of his oversized RV, across the street from the famed and prestigious Augusta National, selling paraphernalia.  We applaud the red neck.  "Don't under estimate the fat man."