Thursday, January 31, 2008

Walkin' in Memphis


Well it looks like the Tigers (or at least one of the dozen teams who call themselves Tigers) are solidly atop the NCAAB rankings. The people to congratulate for John Claipari & Co. reaching the uncontested #1 spot are sleeping in Lawrence, Kansans tonight. Bill Self (the biggest under-achieving coach in NCAAB-ball), shoulda-been-a-Hoosier Darrell Arthur, Mario Chalmers and the rest shat the bed tonight, losing to Kansas State, 84-75.

I guess we should have seen it coming, though. The only baller that truly rivals Eric ("EJ") Gordon in all-out frattitude is one Michael Beasley, who guaranteed TWO victories over perennial Big-12 powerhouse KU this year. True, he might have made this prediction after rubbing Bob Huggins' belly for good luck, but even after the departure of the Huggy-Bear, Beasley and his posse have made good on the promise, or at least 50% of it. But really, after ending the 24-year-old streak of KU victories, who cares if this is the only win K-State scores against its in-state rival this year? If I can tell you one thing for sure, it is that there is going to be a truly gnarly party in Manhattan, KS right now.

Good for you, K.S. Wildcats. I salute you. And Michael Beasley, enjoy this one year of college while it lasts...and enjoy the guaranteed dough that comes with being a #1 overall draft pick. You ONLY contributed 6 boards and 2 assists while scoring 25 points tonight. By willing your team to victory over the Gayhawks, you have assured yourself the loot and the legacy. Enjoy my friend.

P.S. In other news, the Texas Longhorns have lost, ensuring that if the Indiana Hoosiers win at #13 Wisconsin we will move back into the Top 10.

10 comments:

Andrew Adamson said...

How can Bill Self be the biggest underachieving coach in the nation if his team is always a perennial powerhouse? Clearly you are just a rock chalk hater. Of course, I dislike them too, so I'm not gonna argue with you too much here. Young Beasly is sick, but don't forget about Bill Walker, the forgotten freshman at K-State. He's going to be a solid NBA player someday too.

dickmau5 said...

"We're gonna beat KU at home, we're gonna beat 'em at their house, we're gonna beat 'em in Africa. Wherever we play, we're gonna beat 'em."

Haha, Michael Beasley is the shiiiiiit.

Unknown said...

Bill Self is like Quinn Snyder on steroids (and without the coke habit). Great recruiter, poor game coach.

I'm still stinging from the Fighting Illini's Elite 8 loss back maybe '01 or '02? If you can't coach Brian Cook and Frank Williams into the Final Four then you've got problems.

Young Swole said...

Calling Bill Self an underachieving coach is the most idiotic thing you've said in here. Not only did Bill Self resurrect Illinois basketball from the dead (which Bruce Weber has promptly destroyed), he has also kept Kansas a perennial power. I guarantee if Bill Self was hired at Mizzou or IU you would be down at Kincade's drinking a myriad of brews in celebration.

Young Swole said...

Oh and one more thing. Why the hell would you be mad that Self lost when he was the coach of the Illini? Isn't your favorite team supposed to be IU, the Illini's biggest rival?

Unknown said...

when you go to high school in Illinois, you root for the home team. It's not so much the loss for the Illini that bothered me as it was the loss of the investment of my time during the season, rooting for them. I felt like Hitler after the Cowboys lost.

Kansas wasn't exactly hurting before Self arrived in Lawrence, and he has yet to achieve the results that Roy Williams did.

Illinois made the final four a few years before Self showed up (89) and a few years after he left (05).

Young Swole said...

So Cicero roots for Missouri, Illinois and Indiana. Are you trying to cover the entire Mississippi River watershed with your rooting interests?

Self has only been in Lawrence 4 years. He's been number one and made elite 8's which isnt too shabby. And if you remember, Ol' Roy had plenty of flameouts in March and only made the final four once despite having even more talented teams than Self has had. Get over your bias Cicero, he is a good coach whether you like it or not. One loss to a dangerous K-State team does not change that.

Anonymous said...

"Not only did Bill Self resurrect Illinois basketball from the dead"

Bill Self inherited a team at Illinois that was stacked and was ranked 8th in the country in the preseason. That team was at worst the third best team in the country that year (behind Duke and Arizona, who unfortunately they had to play in the Elite 8). Illinois basketball was not dead before he got there.

Bill Self is a damn good coach, but mainly because of recruiting. The fact that he lost twice in the first round in his second and third years and lost in the Elite 8 last year is ridiculous with the talent his teams have had. I think this is the year he'll break through and get to the Final 4, but I could probably coach this KU team to a final 4.

BK said...

roy williams made 4 Final Fours at KU

dr. burns said...

http://1205kentucky.blogspot.com/