2/28/10

Due to popular demand (I can't believe I'm saying that about my blog) I'm back again.  I believe that this is the most I've blogged in, um...ever.  Twice in 5 days.  That's saying something for me.  This has been an interesting week for me personally and in the world of sports, which in all honesty and sadly enough is the world I live in.
Today I want to make some comparisons in between some college basketball teams.  I watched the BYU basketball game this last week.  I was really impressed.  BYU played a great game and shot lights out from behind the 3 point line.  They ended up winning in a hostile Viejas Arena, by double digits.  With the win, and another win over CSU earlier in the week, BYU climbed to number 3 in the latest ESPN polls.  I will say it once and for all, I NEVER SAID THAT BYU IS A BAD TEAM.   I think that they deserve the number 3 spot in the polls by default, because everyone ahead of them keeps losing.  BYU hasn't lost in a while and they should be rewarded for that.  They are doing something that the other top teams aren't: winning.  I think that the quality of the San Diego State win is really overrated though.  Regardless of RPI and the ranking, it is completely overrated.  San Diego State has now only lost two games this year, both to BYU.  Who else have the Aztecs played that would even present a challenge?  Gonzaga (not ranked and is not at the same level of Gonzaga teams of the past), and Saint Mary's (who also doesn't have a quality win on the year).  They were ranked number 4 (or 6 depending on the poll) out of default as well.  BYU beat SDSU and is clearly the better team of the two, and is clearly the best team in the Mountain West.  But SDSU has beat who?  No one.
BYU has also beat an Arizona team this year.  Arizona was ranked in the top ten before a loss to UCLA last week.  Arizona is a good team, but I will use Doug Gottlieb's words as my own "...name the wins BYU has...ZONA and ??? Utah State?"  I think that BYU has talent, but I don't think they can/will match up against other top teams in March.  BYU has 1 win which I would really consider quality (the Zona win), and 0 bad losses.  The teams ranked ahead of BYU are Ohio State  (#1) and Kansas (#2).  Let's take a look at their schedules.  Ohio State's quality wins; @Florida, Minnesota (x2), Michigan (x2), and Purdue.  OSU has two losses on the year as well, coming in two of the toughest places to play in the country.  At Wisconsin, and at Purdue.  Now let's look at Kansas.  Quality wins; Arizona, UCLA, Memphis, @Michigan, Kansas St., and Mizzou.  Losses coming against a good Texas team, and another good Kansas St. team.  When you look at the resumes there is no comparison.  To show everyone I'm not a homer, I'll compare BYU to the Utes.  Once Utah football actually played someone worth noting, they got crushed.  Utah was ranked number 5 in the nation by default.  All the teams ahead of them were losing and Utah just kept winning.  Utah played TCU and we all remember what happened.  I don't think that BYU can compete with Kansas, Ohio St., or even some of the teams they are ranked higher than like Duke, or Pitt.  I think that if BYU played any of them they would lose.  But I do think that BYU is the best team in the conference still.  I think BYU will win at least one game in the Big Dance as well.
Tonight the Jazz will play and honestly probably lose to the Celtics.  From what I've seen in the last two games with Devin Harris and Derrick Favors, the Jazz' future is very bright.  The Jazz did lose against Detroit but all facts considered I wasn't that disappointed.  We had a guy starting at Point Guard who had practiced with the Jazz once, and they were playing in back-to-back nights, not-to-mention the fact that the Jazz just aren't playing very well lately.  But the future looks promising with our new players.  Devin Harris had 17 points and 12 assists against the Pistons.  That's after one practice.  Also, when he was asked what he brings to the Jazz he responded in one word, "leadership".  I've liked this guy for a while.  I'm also happy that we lost a "leader" in Deron Williams, but picked up perhaps a better one in Devin Harris.  Go Jazz.
That's the way it is folks.  Love it or hate it, it's just the way it is.  Let the debating begin.