And They're off

The excitement begins and the upsets are already happening.

ACC STARTS WELL / SEC BACK INTO POST-SEASON FORM
Remember my rules
1. If you have a close game, always go against the SEC
2. If you have a close game, always go with the ACC
3. Always pick at least one 5/12 upset in the 1st round

Early on Manhatten takes down Flordia by 15 points, following both rules 1 and 3. A no-brainer. Did you pick Manhatten like me?.......... Maryland squeeks by UTEP, following rule #2. Of course, looking at the NIT, both UVA and FSU won their games, showing the ACC's strength again. Wake Forest just dodge a bullet and slipped by VCU. Of course rules are made to be broken, as S.Illinois could not beat Alabama, so I'm not always right.

FORGET WORKPLACE PRODUCTIVITY
In Iowa they are cancelling legislative forums due to the game.

PANTHERS A TOUGH TASK FOR THE JACKETS
This could be a good game, but I think we will be ok for these reasons:
1. The games we have lost have been against solid teams (Dook, UNC, WF, NCST)
2. We had two lesser quality losses, but came down to the wire - last second loss to UVA, double OT loss to UGAg.
3. Only non-conference loss was against UGAg/Valentine in 2OT
4. We are a hard team to scout and play if you haven't seen us much (ex - 1st 12 games)
5. Team chemistry and leadership is strong enough to avoid the upset

Here is an article on the game..............

MORE BRACKET PROGNOSTICATIONS
Lots of stories with writers giving their picks.......... This guy from Penn Live sees us beating BC.............. Here the Carolina Panther players make their picks - all have GT in the sweet 16.............. This guys sees GT losing to KY in the final 8............... This guy points out the 5/12 upset, but then proceeds to say it won't be Manhatten this year - wrong!!!.............. This guy compares our team to the 1990 Lethal Weapon 3 team......... Another writer with GT in the final four....... Another writer picking GT in the final four. His last comment - "Anyone notice the Yellow Jackets have beaten Duke, North Carolina and Connecticut?"............... Here is a look at some key traits of winners in the dance - simple arithmetic, quality guards, stopping power, a stud, and free throw shooting........... More "A to Z's" with H = Hewitt. From the article - "H is for Paul HEWITT, the St. John Fisher grad who is living the American dream, making several million dollars while coaching Georgia Tech. Hewitt will get to the Final Four one of these days, but this may not be the year with Gonzaga and Kentucky standing in the way". Another "A to Z" article. This time G=Georgia Tech. From the article - "G is for Georgia Tech's Marvin Lewis, who has his accounting degree with a 3.8 grade-point average and was offered a job with Frazier and Decker, a high-end Atlanta firm. "I just like working with money," Lewis said."

Even Clemson coach Oliver Purnell has gotten in on the act, making his picks. He has GT / Duke in the finals and has 3 ACC teams in the final four. Could happen - maybe a little nepotism on his part, but why not.

A LOOK AT 1985 AND ILLINOIS
This article about Illinois near misses in the tourney mentions their loss to GT in 1985.

THE HEAT ON THE ACC
With 5 teams among the top 16 seeds, the ACC will get some heat if we don't win games. It was on the front sports page of the USAToday this week - here is another article.

PROPS FOR ISMA'IL
Musings on the tourney and mention of Isma'il - "Most exciting player not named Nate Robinson: Watch Georgia Tech's 6-6 sophomore forward, Isma'il Muhammad. Best dunker in the nation, bar none."

ED NELSON GETS CALLED OUT
This article focuses on players who are more concerned about "I" instead of "we". This on Nelson - "Heralded forward Ed Nelson transferred from Georgia Tech to Connecticut because he didn't think he was getting enough visibility for his professional career." Maybe that is one of the things that has "changed the environment" this year (see article below on Jack/Bosh).

WHAT COULD HAVE BEEN IN HOOPS IF PLAYERS STAYED
This writer takes a look at the brackets had some high profile kids stayed. He says GT would be people's sleeper national champion with Chris Bosh. Heck if you ask me, we are a lot of people's sleeper NC anyhow................ Here is a nice article on the Jackets with more quotes from Hewitt about being better if we had Bosh. I like the comments from Jack to Bosh in their talks - that "the environment has changed". I think that's great - a big reason for the success is attitude changes and with Jack saying something like that it shows leadership. I love it.

LOOKS LIKE COACH HEWITT WILL GET A CONTRACT EXTENSION
I heard some rumblings of this from some folks over at the Hive, but it does look like Coach Hewitt will get a fat raise after the season which should put the final nail in the coffin for all the St.John's fans. It is well deserved for Coach.

THE BUZZ IS BACK
Nice article from the Macon Telegraph on the Jackets and being back on the national stage.

CALLING OUT COACH K AGAIN - WRITERS GETTING BOLD
The media love for Coach K is dwindling and THAT is what he doesn't like. Check out this article called - "Coach K could use a swift kick". I especially love mentioning Coach K's double standard about ref's as he complained about Dean Smith's preferential treatment in the early years.

BEESBALL TEAM OUTSLUGS PURDUE
Maybe the bats are starting to appear - an 18-16 slugfest.

WHERE ARE THEY NOW - DEZ WHITE
Might latch on with the Falcons.

WHERE ARE THEY NOW - MATT MURTON
Nice article on Murton who is listed as one of the RedSox top prospects.

COACH GAILEY UPDATES HIS SITE
Coach Gailey has added a new update to his site regarding spring practice and position changes (story here).

MOVIE ON BOBBY JONES DRIVEN BY GT GRAD
There will be a movie on the golf great - story here.