The Morning Walk-thru - The Tournament Looms

Dragons slain?...Interesting article over on cbs.sportsline.com regarding Drexel’s chances at the Big Dance as the fourth best team in the Colonial Athletic Association. Gary Parrish makes a compelling argument for the Dragons by putting their resume up against those of Illinois and (full disclosure, my team) Creighton, who Drexel beat in Omaha during Bracket Buster weekend.

Parrish writes, “…when you compare Illinois, Creighton, and Drexel, it’s reasonable to reach the conclusion that Drexel has done more than Illinois and about equal to what Creighton has done.

Fair enough, but the problem is, according to the article, Drexel plays in the CAA. When asked if things would be different if the Dragons were battling it out in the MVC, DU Head Coach Bruiser Flint had this to say: “Not only would we be in the tournament, they’d be talking about us having a pretty good seed.”

Damn right.

According to midmajority.com, the Valley has sent 22 teams to the tournament over the past 10 years, winning 13 games and representing multiple bids the last eight years straight. The Colonial has sent multiple teams only once over that same period (2006) and only 11 total in the past decade for six wins, four of which came last year via George Mason.

So, yes, Bruiser, if you played in the Valley you would have a better shot because the conference has had documented success for a mid-major. Maybe that’s where the CAA is headed, but they’re not there yet.

Florida keeps on fallin’…After winning 17-straight over December, January and February, the Gators have lost three out of their last four with double-digit defeats at Vanderbilt and LSU and last night’s slip up in front of Peyton Manning in Knoxville.

Does this spell tourney trouble or is it a wake-up call? In a tournament that lacks a clear-cut front runner, I’m betting on the latter. They lost three games in February last year before winning their next 11.

Oh and, no matter what you do Pat Summitt, you’re still not feminine. At least it wasn’t tit-for-tat with Bruce Pearl’s earlier showing.

This Old Cub ain’t getting any younger…Ron Santo falls just short. Again.

HiPlains hits the airwaves…Big thanks to The Edsel for having me on his show yesterday afternoon on 1050 AM in Williamsport, PA. I’d like to think they’ll still be talking about it when the LLWS rolls around, but I seriously doubt it.