I think we should post media references to the "smart school" showdown in a running thread. Post any good material you find (with a link to the original source) in the comments. I'll start us off after the jump:

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via cache.daylife.com

While we've all been preoccupied by Senior Day tomorrow at Memorial, the Vandy Women led by Coach Melanie Balcomb have been at work in Duluth, GA, at the SEC tourney.  They went in as a 5 seed. Last night, they played Arkansas and won a hard fought game in overtime to advance to today's game versus 4 seed LSU.  LSU somewhat embarrassed the Commodores earlier in the season with a 55-39 LSU victory.  Tonight, however, the Commodores survived a huge run by LSU at the beginning of the game to win 63-61. They will play tomorrow in semi-finals.  Go 'Dores!

The best thing about today's game? The season continues.

It was UGLY. It was ROUGH. We had horrible shooting, and we still only lost by two. The defensive swagga was there. The offensive swagga was lacking. However, this is a loss that in the past could destroy a season. This year? It is just another game.

Yes, we would have loved to have beaten the C-A-T-S. Yes, we would have loved to be tied for 1st the in SEC East. Yes, we would love to have risen in the ranking and perhaps even been bumped up to a projected 2 or 3 seed.

But in the end, it will be okay. We'll get back to work and learn from this game. The season continues, and we'll hopefully have another shot at the 'Cats...next time with a Commodore W.

(via curtischoate.tripod.com)  (via 1.bp.blogspot.com)

I had thought it couldn't be easier to make fun of UK than when the Tubster was around...little did I know that Calipari would make it even harder not to make fun of UK. (That aside, they are playing great ball and I am looking forward to the game tomorrow...I just hope to goodness we win by ourselves and not in retrospect five years from now).

Anyway, I've never been comfortable with the idea of playing with "house money" though many analysts continue to apply that terminology to the game tomorrow.  However, if one thing this season has made me more comfortable with this team than teams of the past, it is the "swagga" factor. I am a firm believer in the power of Memorial Magic, and I look for Memorial to be at its best for tomorrow's game. CKS suggested before the game at Ole Miss that the team needed to get its road swagga back. Though rough at first, the team did eventually reach a comfort level and the swagga returned.  After the last outing in Memorial, I'm hoping the Magic and the swagga combine to leave us with a win that we'll be talking about for years to come.

Swagga factors after the jump.

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via nashvillewx.com

There are many important things to consider when preparing to play a team ranked number one. There have been many great posts here at AoG that give you some of that analysis.  I, however, have found a different area to analyze: the loyalty of Mother Nature.

Any of you in Nashville are currently dealing with what Twitter has dubbed #thesituation2010. While I'm not in Nashville, the snow has just arrived in eastern Tennessee, and this brings to mind a great moment in Vandy basketball history...February 26, 2008. A white-out by the fans for a game in Memorial versus the number one ranked (24 hours previously) Tennessee Vols was aided by a little help from Mother Nature with all of Nashville turning white for the game.

This year's team just pulled out a road win against the Vols on Wednesday.  Tomorrow, they arrive at Rupp Arena to take on the currently number one ranked Kentucky Wildcats.  There is snow in Nashville...and the forecast for Lexington includes a bit of snow as well.  I'm beginning to believe that Mother Nature may, in fact, be cheering for the 'Dores this weekend.