FAITH WATCH: Positive Media Spin on Friday, 3/9/07.

by Meriones on Mar 9, 2007 10:24 AM PST Comment 19 comments

From the diaries. Unlike our Ben Ball Warriors, MIM is on FIRE. ;-) GO BRUINS. -N

For those looking for positive signs from the media, check this out:

-- UPDATED: DSPN's own Bracketology by Jope Lunardi for today has THIS to say -- and this was the one I was waiting for. IMO, Lunardi's is the most intelligent and thorough one of all, as it tracks teams weekly for the WHOLE season. He has US as the No. 1 West seed, apparently 3rd No. 1 overall.

The capsules for the No. 1 seeds on Lunardi's Bracketology are public, so no copyright concerns here (emphasis mine):

UCLA

Have to drop the Bruins from No. 1 overall after falling in the Pac-10 quarterfinals. The West Region No. 1 seed is still nearly certain, however.

Why seeded here? Overall power numbers remain the best in the country.

May change because: UCLA will now need Ohio State to lose to return to the No. 1 overall seed.

Now, we could very well still drop to a No. 2, depending on how others do. It's not impossible. HOWEVER, it is not crazy to think we could still keep a No. 1 seed, even if it's not the Overall No. 1 slot.

Whether being a 1 or a 2 ultimately matters or not is another story, but for those in need of media-fueled hope, here you go. :-)

-- On CBS Sportsline.com as of this morning, March 9, 2007, Gary Parrish has his projected seeds as follows:

Midwest: 1) OSU, 2) Texas A&M, 3) WSU, 4) Notre Dame

East: 1) Kansas, 2) Missouri, 3) Georgetown, 4) Maryland

West: 1) UCLA, 2) Florida, 3) Louisville, 4) Southern Illinois

Southeast: 1) Wisconsin, 2) UNC, 3) Texas, 4) Pitt.

OK, the Florida part looks bad, but let's not get ahead of ourselves -- there's been too much of that, already. The fact is we're still IN the discussion for a No. 1 by the network that's SHOWING the Big Dance... and that is an encouraging thought.

-- For a different take, on DSPN Radio's Cowherd Show this morning, a Big 10 (albeit Ohio-based) sportswriter said that he believes that Wisconsin is not really in line for a No. 1 seed since one of their main guys is out. So, it looks like UW, because of injury and comparisons with OSU, MIGHT NOT leapfrog us for a No. 1 spot.

-- The same writer also mentioned UCLA is 6-4 in its last 10, but so is UNC. This led me to think that yeah, we got beat by UW, but UNC got beat by MD and guess what? Both UW and MD went home yesterday.

-- Times mentioned Aboya may have slightly tweaked his knee in the first half, but Aboya said it was fine. We now have a few days to rest, WITH NO OTHER WORD OF OTHER NEW OR AGGRAVATED INJURIES to Mata (sprained thumb last week) or Luc (sore knees much of the season) or anyone else.

-- In the Daily News this morning, despite some gloom and doom, Steve Dilbeck wrote this:

This loss was more telling, of more concern. The Bruins probably needed at least one victory here to lock up a No. 1 seed in the NCAA tourney. Now they're at risk, although with a No. 1 RPI and 9-1 record against ranked teams, they still seem likely to get the top spot in the West.

-- As I mentioned above, Gottlieb (sorry for my horrible spelling earlier) is still in our camp, despite the blatherings of former Syracuse coach Mcnamara who said last night on GameNight that he thought Georgetown could be a No. 1 or 2 seed.

Gottlieb immediately responded by asking about what Georgetown had done in its non-conference schedule. We may not be running full-speed into Selection Sunday, but it's not like we didn't bust our tails for it most of the year.

-- Even if, if, IF!!! we drop to a 2-seed, check this bit from Katz's piece on DSPN.com today:

The selection committee protects the Nos. 1-4 seeds (and sometimes the No. 5) in the first two rounds, keeping them as close to home as possible. In going through a mock selection process last month, though, it was made clear to those of us in attendance that the committee doesn't look to set up advantageous situations for possible Elite Eight matchups. They simply don't plan on games that may occur in the tourney's fourth round. That's why UCLA could drop to No. 2 in the West (San Jose), behind a No. 1 like Wisconsin or Kansas or whomever, and the committee wouldn't necessarily worry about the disadvantage to the top seed.

MIM

PS -- On an eye-rolling note, a caller on Tim Cates' show last night and lamented how the committee now would probably drop us down to a No. 4 or 5 seed. Cates immediately cut him off and asked if that meant he thought we were now suddenly the No. 13 to No. 20 team in the country?

The caller managed to stammer for a good 5 seconds before Cates cut him off for good.

MIM

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of BruinsNation's (BN) editors. It does reflect the views of this particular fan though, which is as important as the views of BN's editors.

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Comments

MIM--

You are a bright light in a dark world. In my piece on Selfishness (see comments to The Day After: Staying Positive), I meant to, but forgot, to point you out as a role model.

Go Bruins!

by rfirpo on Mar 9, 2007 8:38 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

We do what we do, rfirpo.

Thanks for the props, anyway.

We ALL want this ride to last another 3-1/2 weeks.

MIM

by Meriones on Mar 9, 2007 8:39 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

You are Rocking MIM

Who needs the media...we have MIM. Great post.

by pocho on Mar 9, 2007 8:51 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

Harrick on Tony Bruno's show

Harrick said that the loss would help the Bruins because we'll be able to rest and get fresh legs. He said Wooden taught him the importance of fresh legs in March.

And when asked to predict who would win the national championship, Harrick said without a pause "the Bruins." Why? He cited the Duke 1990 and 1991 teams, and I think you all know what he means by that.

Sure, he's a UCLA homer, but it was nice to hear.

by BruinsRule on Mar 9, 2007 9:22 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

I heard it too . . . and was shocked!

No matter how depressing that game was, we all know that the reason we lost can be boiled down to 15-29 from the line. If we made as few as 2-3 of the fourteen that we missed (including the 2 AA missed in the first minute of the game), we'd be talking about beating Oregon today after another uninspired, but gutsy win (a la all USC and ASU games earlier this year). Im not sure I agree that 20 yr olds need all this rest, but I do know that they should use the extra time to do nothing but shoot free throws until they cannot raise their arms. The big dance looms, baby!

by charnaw on Mar 9, 2007 9:59 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Our profile actually looks better this morning

Sure the L doesn't look good, but we are still #1 in the RPI (though just barely, I'd project Ohio State passes us with one more win).

We also just acquired three more wins against the RPI 1-25, because Oregon and WSU moved up, and two more against 1-50 because justSC finally broke into the Top 50. Just by playing Ohio State today, Michigan might make the same leap, if they win they definitely will, besides helping us not look so bad for losing in our conference tourney.

by blueandgold on Mar 9, 2007 9:57 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

Data Machines

Props's to all, great info

by artybruin on Mar 9, 2007 11:10 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

On College Gamenight

they were talking about our loss and saying that this week off could be good because of the rest after a possible "burnout". They cited UNC in 05 when they went home early before the Dance, got some rest and we know what happened then.

There was a yes and a depends on Florida/Wisconsin when asked if we are still a 1 seed.

by captain mightykite on Mar 9, 2007 11:25 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

UConn 2006

UConn took an early exit last year and played flat the entire tournament before throwing in the towel against George Mason.

History goes both ways. In my mind there's no point in analyzing what could happen anymore. The team knows what they need to do. They have our support. They can do it or not. Actually they have my support no matter what happens but I hope they play hard at least and live up to their season.

by njbruin on Mar 9, 2007 11:36 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

exactly

I'm over the analyzing of this situation and I just want this weekend to be over with. I am also one of those selfish fans that just has a big problem putting a positive spin on this. I still can't get the stupid smirks on the Trojan scums' faces out of my head, as I walked out of the Staples Center yesterday. I can't stomach watching the replays on ESPn nor their anaysis. I am about to go to the gym right now and it is hard for me to put on one of my Bruin shirts. Selfish yes, and I am sure that the players and staff feel worse...but if Afflalo is human then so am I and this sucks. Thank God for this site...I feel good now and I am going to wear my Bruin t-shirt with pride although the doubt still looms as I watch the other big teams take care of business in their respective tournaments. Cal...are you kidding me!!!!!

mike meow

by meow meow on Mar 9, 2007 12:02 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

I hear you, folks.

That's why I wanted us to get a couple of practices done and start the Tournament ASAP. (See my "I Still Believe..." post from yesterday.)

The team screwed up, and we may have fed into the hype. Who knows?

All that matters is what the bruins do in the games they have left.

I don't know about you, but I want to see them play hard, smart, quick, skilled, and tenacious basketball in every game left...

... ALL SIX OF THEM.

Rest up, study up, train up, practice up, heal up, drill up, work up, MAN UP.

Let's GO, already.

MIM

by Meriones on Mar 9, 2007 12:16 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

This is why I cancelled my Fishwrap subscription

Why on earth would anyone pay that alleged newspaper when all the news that's needed is right here in BN?

And although it doesn't matter, I don't care where we're seeded. We need a six game winning streak, and I think our team can beat anyone else in the country. We can also lose to anyone, obviously. But what sets us apart is a couple of our players who are men with character and the guy on the end of the bench in the suit. This group will win six in a row -- take it to the bank.

by Fox 71 on Mar 9, 2007 11:50 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

Just thanks

Gotta admit that I was pretty upset yesterday. Not super excited about going to watch Cal/Oregon tonight either. But, MIM, you, along with N and a few others, are doing a lot to raise the spirits. So, thanks.

by Menelaus on Mar 9, 2007 12:41 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

All part of the service.

MIM

by Meriones on Mar 9, 2007 12:57 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

just got over it...

alright...i just got over the loss about five minutes ago...and now I'm excited and ready to go for the tourney...you know they are going to come out focused and ready to play with a killer instinct and it's going to be sooo much fun to watch!!!

ben and afflalo will have them ready

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/writers/arash_markazi/03/08/pac10.ucla.cal/index.html

by afflalo0921 on Mar 9, 2007 1:26 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

Bracketology: UNT

Lunardi projects us to play UNT in the first round. I actually went to the University of North Texas's arena back in December for my girl's cousin's graduation, and I think it's called the Colliseum.

Anyway, the point is that when I was there, they have two banners up there, both commemorating just GOING to the Big Dance (I took a photo, but it's too fuzzy for me to post up). I thought it was funny when I saw it, and so it's ironic that we might play them, considering I was just there.

by stevenucla on Mar 9, 2007 1:31 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

Agree on Bracketology

Lunardi has an amazing track record of not only predicting the correct teams, but also in relative seeding. I saw the stats on Sportscenter once. That being said, I would like to echo the sentiment here that our seeding and region do not matter as much as how we refocus ourselves. I was never one to take much stock in the Pac 10 Tournament, in fact, last year I worried that we peaked too early by winning it. Of course, winning it secured our #2 seed, so we actually had something to gain last year. In hindsight, obviously my fears were misplaced, but the reasoning behind it remains the same.

In no way does it excuse the embarrassing way that we came out yesterday, but in my mind, it is still much better to come into the tournament refocused, rather than waltz into the tournament squeaking out wins and playing only one decent half of basketball, as has been our pattern lately. I understand that the fans may need media-fueled hope, but our team may have had too much of it. I would not be surprised if Howland has banned our guys from reading their own clippings until tournament time. I can definitely see a bunker down and regroup mindset coming, as it was when we got fluked by SUC last year.

by Tydides on Mar 9, 2007 1:37 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

Maryland?

I know it's a small thing, but you're not seriously comparing Washington to Maryland, are you? One's got an RPI of 18 and the other 83. Georgia Tech is more the level of UDub. Both teams even have the same inability to win away from home.

by T.H. on Mar 9, 2007 4:07 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

Guess I haven't been paying attention to Big XII

How, exactly, is Kansas the #2 ranked team in the country?

No doubt that they are a very good team, and are riding a bit of a hot streak. But who have they played? They beat Florida, and cetainly deserve credit for that, but have only played one other (RPI) top-25 team this season (losing at home to TAMU). Their conference standing was enhanced by playing the two other top Big XII teams once each, at home.

by bruinhoo on Mar 10, 2007 12:44 PM PST reply actions 0 recs