Dick Wagenmaker wins CBCC 2015!!

March Madness - You're Still Perfect Until Thursday!!!

by the Cold Hard Truth

They say that with age comes wisdom. Generally I believe that, but there are always exceptions to the rule. The NCAA Basketball Tournament is one of those exceptions. No matter what we do, we never really learn any more the next year. It doesn't matter if we rush through and pick winners or carefully sit down and analyze every game - it just doesn't work out like we think it will. In fact, the only sure thing is that at some point, you will need a team to win...and they won't.

One of my favorite things to do is look at the entire season and try to make sense of everything; however, that can prove challenging since the selection committee never really gets it right. Here are a few things I noticed this year.

I'm still wondering how Cincinnati can be a #8 seed and Temple fails to make the tourney entirely when both teams have the same record overall and in conference play; they have split the season series, and Temple played one more round in their conference tournament. Really?

I feel bad for teams like Murray State and La Tech, who dominated their conferences all year - until their conference tournament - one slip up and they're not in it.

...yet teams like Oklahoma State and Texas make it. Huh? Maybe I'm old school, but I remember when a team had to have a winning record in conference play or they weren't invited to "The Dance". Both those teams were a full three games back of 5th place West Virginia in conference play. Apparently there are no statisticians on that committee either. They failed to recognize the natural break between a team that is 11-7 and one that is 8-10.

Wichita State and Northern Iowa should be ticked. Collectively, they have two conference losses against teams other than each other and have 58 wins. I know I wouldn't want to play them right now. The Shockers get the added benefit of a projected second round game versus Kansas. I am looking forward to that game. It might be an early exit for "Rock Chalk Jayhawk".

I am still trying to figure out this slick little re-alignment of all the Big East teams made last year. UConn headed to the American Athletic conference to play with a bunch of old Conference USA teams. Syracuse and Pittsburg joined the ACC, and it looks like a few Atlantic 10 teams joined the old Big East. No knock against Villanova - they are really good. However overall, the new Big East conference looks weak to me. I am not convinced that St. Johns belongs in this tournament. The one thing the Big East has going for them - Butler, Xavier, Georgetown, and Villanova all have a history of playing well in the tournament.

So let's just pick Kentucky and be done with it. The only problem is I personally don't think they will win it all. Yes, they are the best team. However, they could have lost at least three games in conference play that somehow they ended up winning - plus, they are very young. The last time we saw a really young team like this trying to win the title, Chris Webber was trying to call timeout - Sorry Michigan! Speaking of Michigan, it looks like that 16-16 record didn't make the cut this year. However, the New Jersey Institute of Technology (the team that beat the Wolverines earlier this year) has accepted a bid to the College Insider.com Tournament!

Wisconsin, Arizona, Duke, Virginia: The Badgers had the best year in Badger history in one of the best conferences. Arizona has 31 quiet wins. How good are they? They are completely under the radar in my opinion. Duke is very athletic with the best freshman player in the country, and Virginia - don't overlook them. Afterall, they are ACC Champs this year.

So that's the scoop. I have given you all the knowledge you need to win the CBCC championship! All you need to do now if fill out the bracket by the deadline. Just remember the three don'ts. 1) Don't think too much. 2) Don't research too much. 3) Don't eat too much. Let the games begin!