PICKS OF THE WEEK
By Tee Kane
February 7, 2008
In case you missed my picks of the week from last week here was my prediction for Super Tuesday:
…look for the Republican race to narrow dramatically on Tuesday, with McCain getting a clear path to the nomination based on some big wins in delegate-rich states. The Democratic race is unlikely to end on Tuesday since it’s difficult to accumulate large delegate margins. Look for the Democratic race to last until February 12th and beyond.
I don’t like to brag, but that’s pretty much 100 percent correct. They are still sorting out all the delegates from Super Tuesday, but it looks like it’s still a toss-up for the Democratic nomination. All eyes now turn to the great states/cities of Maryland, Virginia, and the District of Columbia. Obama should do well in all of these contests.
From my time as an organizer in Northern Virginia I can tell you that the Democrats there (outside of Arlington and Alexandria) are good Democrats, but they aren’t warm to Hillary Clinton for cultural reasons. Governor Tim Kaine was once prompted in a debate to answer what was thought to be a difficult question: whether he would support the Democratic nominee for president if it was Hillary Clinton (Kaine later became one of the first Democrats to endorse Obama). I’m surprised Obama didn’t win the endorsement of Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley when everyone knows:
Senator Barack Obama has Irish roots on his father's side, according to research from the Doolin Genealogy and Knitwear Centre, Co Clare.
The senator's paternal great-great-great-grandfather, Patrick O'Bamagh, left Galway during the disastrous but largely forgotten turnip famine of 1803 and sailed to the west coast of Africa. – Irish Times, January 10, 2008.
Before I get to the picks of the week, I’d also like to take some time to get to some reader mail. In case you already didn’t know, please feel free to email me any questions on college basketball, politics, or the upcoming GAA season. Rest assured, I won’t suggest you do anything that involves physically assaulting another family member like a certain Tee’s Weekly staff psychiatrist.
Dear Tee,
Since UVA basketball has shit the bed (is there a better player with a worse supporting cast than Sean Singletary?), I'm looking for a new team for tournament time. Luckily, I've attended several universities over the last 10+ years, and I'm thinking about going with the University of Rhode Island Rams. William and Mary won't win the Colonial Athletic, and I can't stand Cornell even if they could get the Ivy bid. How do you like Rhody?
Also, your golf game is wack.
Andrew
Hayes, VA
Dear Andrew,
Thanks for the email, it sounds like you’ve been at more universities than a 12-pack of Natural Light. I’m going to have to disagree with your assessment of Sean Singletary and his University of Virginia teammates. It might seem like Singletary is carrying the Cavaliers, but he’s actually doing a great deal of harm to the team by heaving up all these shots. He’s taken 70 more shots than his next closest teammate, despite the fact that he’s one of the least efficient players on the team. It takes a certain degree of ability to take that many shots, but the team would be much better off if it found ways to more equitably divide his shots.
The real problem for UVA, however, is that they’ve been terribly unlucky. They have already lost three overtime games and an additional two more by a total of four points. Eventually these things even out for a basketball team (unless you are coached by a certain coach-with-a-mustache-who-shall-not-be-named). The truth is that the Cavaliers should be at least one or two games better. Unfortunately for you the fan, the damage is already too great to overcome for a realistic chance at a post-season berth.
All of which leads you to ask whether you should hop on the University of Rhode Island bandwagon. The Rams have almost completed their journey back from the wilderness of college basketball after Lamar Odom and Al Skinner left in the late ‘90s. They now have a real chance to make the NCAA tournament. As graduate of The George Washington University I am morally obligated to throw you off the smell of the ram. However, as a man with a great affinity for the bovid species (see goat), I think you are making a wise decision.
They also have the good story line with a father-son pairing of coach Jim Baron and star guard Jimmy Baron. This usually works out well except in the case Tubby and Saul Smith and Kentucky and the 1991 Tom Brown under-12 basketball final when Dr. Old School over-coached an undefeated Crickets team to a shocking loss in the championship. Thanks a lot Dad for ruining a season and a promising career.
Tee
Notre Dame vs. Marquette (February 10):
The Irish are now 7-2 in Big East play and have been fantastic at the Joyce Center in South Bend. Marquette is coming off a stinker of a performance at home to Louisville and are looking to stay near the top of the Big East standings. Earning a top four finish is crucial, because it gets a team a bye to the second round of the Big East tournament and an extra days rest in the brutal four - day competition. These teams are closely matched and both match up well offensively against each other. Marquette can't defend inside and Notre Dame can't defend threes. Given that it's nearly a toss-up, I think the edge might go to Marquette, who has slightly more to play for than Notre Dame. Look for them to end Notre Dame's long home winning streak.
Final Prediction: Notre Dame 81, Marquette 84