Chris Mortensen reported this afternoon that 30 out of 32 teams have "No Interest" in acquiring Terrell Owens.  The Giants were one of those 29 teams. 

That collective sigh of relief was pretty much the New York/New Jersey area Giants fans who were probably ALL hopeing such was the case. 

The only possibles with interest according to Mortensen were the Titans and Raiders.

*Personally, however, I wouldn't put it past the Redskins to sign him

We beat them in football... that alone should disqualify Notre Dame from the NCAA BASKETBALL tournament.  But, I shall digress and make actual sense instead of spouting off sarchastically. 

All I heard tonight during the Nova/ND game was how ND was still alive (before they lost by 17 at home). And to be honest, after sitting through the past two years of what Syracuse has been through, it pissed me off. 

-2 years ago Syracuse gets 10 wins in the Big East, 22 overall, and they miss the tournament.

-Last year Syracuse gets 9 Big East wins to go .500 in the conference and they're left out.

But somehow, someway, Notre Dame has very similar credentials (before tonights game) and are somehow still alive?  Now, I understand this is a different year with a weaker bubble, and that Syracuse last year was still "on the bubble" until they lost to Nova in the BE tournament, but COME ON?!  Sportscenter made a big deal today about Notre Dame playing 12 ranked opponents this year and that being the most in the school's history since the late 70s....

OK... what Big East team hasn't played about 10 ranked opponents this year? Syracuse, by the end of Saturday afternoon will have played 11 (Florida, Kansas, @Memphis, @Nova, Nova, @Georgetown, @UConn, @Pitt, @Marquette, Louisville, and Notre Dame).

I just don't get it sometimes.  Different year, different circumstances, maybe.

I'm not a REAL big "I support the Big East because Syracuse is in it" kind of guy, i guess. I do it and I get why people are like that, and I defend the Big East with all my heart.  Its (by far) the best basketball conference in America. But, I like seeing other Big East teams suffer from time to time.  And this year, especially after the past two years of being an Orange fan... I won't feel sorry for PC or Cincy or ND or (ESPECIALLY) G'town if they are left out.... not one bit.... at all.

I've watched about the entire Marquette @ Villanova game this evening, and there are a few things that strike me.  First, Villanova has 92 points and there are still four minutes left to play in the game.  Now, pretty much what I've heard all year is that Marquette plays some of the best perimeter defense in the Big East, and maybe even the country.  Jay Bilas has especially spoken from such a platform.  They are probably going to give up 100 to Nova, just as Syracuse did on Saturday. Also, I listened to Jim Boeheim's interviews with The Axeman and Dan Patrick over the past couple of days.  Jimmy B made a great point by stating that a lot of Villanova's offense was given to them by 13 Syracuse first half turnovers.  The Orange gave up 53 in the first half while playing zone and turning it over 13 times.  They gave up 49 in the second half while playing man and only turning it over 3 times (I think it was only three times at least).

Perhaps Syracuse ran into a Villanova buzz saw who is on a complete offensive tear?  Is Villanova proving themselves to be one of the top 4 teams in the BE? 

Also, this is not an excuse for the lazy effort put forth by the Orange on Saturday.  I've never liked the Zone, but I was at the Louisville and WVU games and the zone defense they played in those contests was more active around the perimeter and overall it was much more intense.  How well you play defense has a lot more to do with how HARD you play, rather than what kind you play. 

And one last point, just to get it out there.  I don't think Syracuse has peaked yet.  It appears as if Notre Dame peaked very early, Marquette peaked early in the conference season, and that Villanova is peaking now.  I'd much rather have this Orange team go through a little rut now, get healthy, get their legs under them (so to speak) and gel and peak during the last portion of the regular season going into the post-season.

Basically, lets keep our heads up and remain positive about this season.

P.S. Nova just hit 101 points while I typed this up.