Elite Hate?

I am a huge college basketball fan. I understand that it really isn't for everyone. Even people who love sports, and love basketball, for some reason may not have the patience to watch a college game because in their mind it isn't as high quality as the pro game. Two main factors - a longer shot clock and a game more controlled by coaches rather than stars - are probably why the college game is a more strategic and perhaps "slow" game of basketball. For myself, these are reasons why I probably like it better. We see more than just isolation plays for superstars out of your typical college hoops team.

Regardless of everything above, mostly every sports fan loves the NCAA tournament. The lure of filling out a bracket as well as the appealing format of the tournament to crown a champion really appeals to just about everyone. So although the regular season doesn't get a lot of love from the sports media, the spotlight does turn to college hoops come March Madness time.

This year, I have already heard and read a lot of complaining about the games being boring. This is fucking bullshit. Sure, there have been more blowouts than usual, and not as many big upsets. But do people realize this isn't a scripted show? It's totally fine to complain when an episode of Lost is disappointing or this week's Three and a Half Men sucked, but fuck you for expecting every basketball game to be down to the wire. This is sports. We don't know who is going to win and we can't control if the games are close so either accept that and enjoy the dominating team's brilliant performance or shut the fuck up and change the channel.

Sorry about that. Lets quickly preview this weekend's games:

Missouri vs. UConn: Out of the four games this weekend, this is the one I am most certain about the outcome (not that this means much). A.J. Price has averaged 20 points, 5 boards and 6 assists in this tournament thus far and if not for how great Blake Griffin has been he would be the favorite for tourney MVP. I think he figures out Missouri's pressure. Prediction: UConn

Villanova vs. Pitt: Pitt is just of one of those teams in the past that has struggled in early games when we expect them to dominate but then will surprise us by crushing someone good. Like today, when they make Scottie Reynolds turn the ball over. Prediction: Pitt

Louisville vs. Michigan St.: The Spartans really BigTenified that game last night vs. Kansas. Nobody wanted to hit shots until the end of the game. Louisville has looked unstoppable, but really who have they played? They have had a really lucky draw in the tournament thus far, and in the Big East tournament as well. Prediction: Michigan St.

UNC vs. Oklahoma: Oh boy it's Griffin vs. Psycho T. Something tells me we will hear a lot about that matchup. Unfortunately for Oklahoma, the rest of their team is nowhere near as good as the rest of UNC and Ty Lawson is obviously on a mission. What has really been helpful for the Tar Heels has been Danny Green's play of late. Prediction: UNC

I look forward to seeing how wrong I was.