Countdown to tip-off: MSU vs. Pitt

By: Sean Ely Posted: 03/22/08 6:00pm

Denver — I watch too much NCAA Tournament analysis on CBS and ESPN — way too much.

Even when Seth Davis’ words make me cringe, I don’t change the channel. For some reason, I’m sucked in to what these so-called “experts” have to say about teams I know nothing about, like Cal State Fullerton.

And if the broadcasters words meant anything, the MSU men’s basketball team would be in decent shape.

Although Bob Knight and Seth Davis don’t see Tom Izzo’s squad moving on to the Sweet 16 in Houston, Hubert Brown, Digger Phelps and Dick Vitale do. Earlier today, they all said Izzo’s leadership and the experience of senior guard Drew Neitzel will be too much for the Panthers to handle.

And if sophomore forward Raymar Morgan is clicking at the same time — goodbye competition.

Thanks for playing and goodnight.

But the important thing to remember is, opinions don’t matter. It’s going to come down to who makes shots down the stretch.

Every NCAA Tournament pool I’ve ever been in with my girlfriend, she’s found a way to beat me. Not just beat me, but destroy me and any advantage I thought I had simply because I watch 50 hours of basketball a week.

And I call myself a prognosticator?

It doesn’t matter what Knight, Vitale or anybody else says.

Teams are going to play harder and make shots that those predicting it never expected.

I just hope this year I can slip past her in the pool.

Ehh, who am I kidding, I looked too far into each matchup yet again.

Those filling out brackets know you can’t pick a team simply because they were from a powerhouse conference or they have a star who scores 24 points a game.

It always comes back to bite you.