People Are Dumb

I just felt the urge to write this particular blog post because of some of the stupidity that is out there trying to judge this year’s bubble situation. I read the Bubble Watch article for today on ESPN.com and was amazed at the sheer lack of intelligence by this one fool wjg24 in his comment. Below are two segments of what he wrote.

· 2. I believe most of Kentucky's problems lie in their losses, not in their wins. The loss to San Diego looks significantly better now, but the Gardner-Webb game still shines awfully brightly in a lot of people's minds. They did a hell of a job in conference play, but 6-7 in non-conference when the schedule wasn't that rough (Louisville, UNC and Indiana were the beasts there) is a difficult thing to overcome. Just ask Temple. I think they're in easily, probably a six or a seven seed...but I've been wrong before.
· 4. ASU's non-conferece sked included Cal Poly, Princeton, Florida GC, Delaware State, Coppin State, Montana State, Idaho and St. Francis. Yes,they did beat down Xavier, but that's not much of a slate. UA, on the other hand, went to Kansas UNLV and Memphis. Granted, they also had Adams St and UMKC, but for the most part they made an attempt at a difficult sked, plus won 10 total games against the top 100, by far the most among teams on the bubble. Hell...a 3rd of their slate was against the top 100. UA's in, ASU needs a win.

I would like to apologize for putting the two preceding paragraphs in the blog, as they are offensive to any person with a spec of knowledge about college basketball. Let’s look at the first point, where the fan compares Kentucky’s non conference to Temple’s, and then declares the Owls are a lock for the tourney. Are you f***ing kidding me? Let’s take a look at Temple’s non conference losses: Duke, Tennessee, Florida, Villanova, Providence, Akron, and College of Charleston. Their best non conference win was over OHIO. They did beat Xavier in conference, and their next best wins are over fellow bubblers UMass and St. Joe’s while they lost to Dayton. So, I’m confused, what makes Temple “in easily,” as a “six or seven seed?” Granted Kentucky’s non conference was no gem either as they didn’t beat anyone, but they did beat Tennessee, Vandy, Florida, Mississippi, and Arkansas in conference. I’m not saying you can’t argue against Kentucky’s non conference schedule, but why do you do it with Temple? And why do you declare Temple easily in? It just pisses me off.

That first point was more of a personal argument/disagreement, but this second one is more general. In the second point I copied, the commenter truly displays his stupidity. He argues Arizona State’s non conference victories over those teams listed, and then follows that by stating Arizona’s trips to Kansas, UNLV, and Memphis. Well guess what, Arizona lost to Kansas and Memphis. That leaves UNLV as their victory. Tell me, which victory is better, Xavier or UNLV? Right, so how is this guy arguing for ‘Zona? Strength of schedule I believe is an extremely overrated tool for measuring a teams resume. He lists those teams that Arizona played, but the fact is they lost two of those games. The important stat is not the strength of the team’s you play, it’s the strength of the team’s you BEAT. The only time strength of team’s you play becomes a factor is if a team loses any of those cupcake games to teams they are supposed to beat. Otherwise, the only important thing is the teams you defeat. For example, give credit to Arizona for playing those teams, but the fact is their only victory of the three was over UNLV, and while Arizona St. beat a bunch of those cupcakes, they then beat Xavier. So, for that slate of games compared between the two teams, ASU has the advantage. It would be different if they lost to one of those cupcakes, but they didn’t. This genius also forgets to realize that ASU beat Arizona both times they played each other this year.

Sorry, I just read that comment and needed to get this off my chest. While I’m at it, I might as well take some time to wave goodbye to the following team’s NCAA Tournament hopes as they lost today and will join the company of Syracuse in the NIT. Adios Florida, UAB, Houston, Maryland, and Mississippi. And congratulations to these proceeding teams for stubbing their toe when they could’ve locked up a bid: Oregon, Arizona St., Baylor, UMass, Villanova, and Dayton. Now you will all have to sweat it out for the next three days when you could have avoided that with a win. Here's a question: who wants to be in the tourney?