From the day late and a dollar short department...

It's been 11 days since Kansas knocked off Memphis in the national championship game.  I had the privilege to be in San Antonio to see my first ever Final Four with my dad and brother.  I've had the chance to attend a bunch of incredible events thanks to my job, but the Final Four had always alluded me.  We bought tickets, sat in the upper deck of the Alamo Dome and had a phenomenal time.  The entire Final Four weekend was great, and it had very little to do with basketball.  If you've never visited San Antonio, I'm telling you it needs to go to the top of the list of places you need to go...especially in April.  80 degrees every day with little to no humidity...the food was fantastic...and the people are incredibly nice.  For a large city, it's got a very small feel to it.  We walked around town at night, and in some places that weren't lit very well, but there was never a time I didn't feel safe. 

One of the best parts of the trip, especially for my brother, was seeing all of the coaches from pretty much every team in America.  The coaches have their annual convention at the Final Four, so everybody was there.  You'd see them just walking around shopping or eating or whatever.  Tennessee's Bruce Pearl stayed at our hotel.  The first day we got there, my dad and brother went up to check out the pool.  Pearl was up there shirtless (of course, although no painted chest) with his long orange bathing suit.  I got a frantic text message from my brother saying Bruce was there.  I don't know if my brother would have been more excited if Elvis had walked up to him. 

We saw Billy Gillispie eating down on the RiverWalk.  My brother walked up to him, and said "Good luck."  Billy smiled and said thanks.  Of course my brother immediately turned around and said "Why did I wish him luck?  It's not like he's playing this weekend."  I'm sure Billy has heard worse things from people who interrupt him while he's eating. 

All of the coaches stay at the same hotel downtown, and they had security at the door to keep all the riff-raff out of there.  If you didn't have a key, you couldn't get in.  I was able to score a key (you don't need to know how) so we were able to walk in and out whenever we wanted.  Once inside, we hit the jackpot of coaching sightings.  Former Murray coach Steve Newton was holding court with some folks...Tom Izzo (who is incredible small, but still scares the heck out of me)...St. Joseph's Phil Martelli (who I think I saw 12 times during the entire weekend)...SIU's assistants...UT Martin's Bret Campbell fighting off agents who wanted to talk about Lester Hudson...former Georgetown coach John Thompson (who is HUUUUGE by the way)...the list goes on and on.  I think my goal next time is to get a picture with as many random coaches as possible.  Just because.  I need help.

The championship game was obviously amazing.  We were sitting in a section with almost all Kansas people.  With about 2:00 left in the game, I thought I was going to be sitting in the middle of the largest funeral in the state of Texas.  But I have never FELT anything like the roar that came from that building when 45,000 people erupted in either shock or elation when Mario Chalmers hit the three to send it to overtime.  Phenomenal.

Maybe the most underrated portion of the trip...after Kansas cut the nets down, watching "One Shining Moment" with 25,000 people.  They clapped and cheered at all the right parts, but any time a Kansas player showed up on the big screen, the place erupted.  It was special.

To make a really long story short...if you ever have the chance to go to a Final Four...DO IT!  You won't be disappointed.

Other links I've found this week...

• I don't know what to think about this article other than the Ohio Valley Conference apparently gets no respect nationally when it comes to football.  I'm not sure they've done a whole lot to earn that respect, but such is the beast of burden known as 1-AA football.  Is Murray really averaging less than 5 wins a year so far this decade?  Yikes.
• After losing so many stars off last year's team it will be interesting to see how Kentucky's football team bounces back this year.  Former Hopkinsville star Curtis Pulley is in the running for the starting QB job, but it's hardly a lock he'll be leading the Cats in the fall.
• Former Mizzou basketball coach Quin Snyder is now coaching in basketball's version of Siberia.  At least he still has awesome hair.

That's all for today.  Have a great weekend.  As always, the floor is yours.

7:16pm Update

I guess it's been there all season, but the Murray State website has a song put together by three of the Racers.  The collaboration could almost be considered the "We are the World" for the 21st century.  Almost. Of course without Lionel Richie leading off...Michael Jakcson wearing one of the top ten most amazing coats of all time...and Kenny Rogers showing off his phenomenal beard...the bar can only be set so high.

I listened to it, and I not only had my head bobbing a little bit...but I also caught myself doing the white man's overbite.  I'm a mess.

We're off to get some dinner.  I think we'll be hitting the world-famous Ledo's Restaurant in College Park for the second straight night.  Oprah recommended it.  And if Oprah likes it, well, the rest of us have no choice but to like it as well.

4:45pm Update

I just ran up to the other media room, where they house the newspaper folks, to grab something to drink.  Usually the food spread involves all the Coke or Sprite you can drink...and the chance to eat your body weight in pretzels.  This year they've upped the ante in College Park.

Next to the pretzels...a plate of Rice Krispie treats.  All you can eat, baby!  I've died and gone back to 4th grade.  Next to my wedding and the births of two children, this might be the 4th happiest day of my life. 

I know I can't be alone on this one.

The floor is yours.

4:02pm Update

"I'm not even sure they realize they're hosting this thing."

That, kids, was the quote of the day from my tag-team partner Chad as we rolled up to the Comcast Center this morning at about 8:45 to pick up our credentials for the tournament.  When we've attended the men's tournament in the past, it's pretty much a rule of thumb you need to be there as soon as the doors open so you can get a spot for your equipment.  Otherwise, you end up a mile away from where you want and need to be, and life gets a little tougher.

Today, that hasn't been a problem.

So back to 8:45am.  We pull into the parking lot and there are roughly 15 cars parked outside the arena.  Most of the seem to belong to a bunch of kids playing a game of cricket in a field next to the building.  We wandered up the arena and tried to figure out which door we needed to enter...but we couldn't find a sign ANYWHERE.  At most NCAA events, you can't go 6 feet without running into some sign or poster reminding you that you are, indeed, at an NCAA-sponsored event.  Today...nada.

We eventually find an open door at the top of the arena.  We walk in and it's a ghost town.  Eventually we bump into a security guard who points us toward the credential area...which happened to be the first unmarked door we walked by when we got out of the car. 

After picking up our stuff, we made our way to the media room to claim our spot.  The media room is in the Comcast Center's auxilary gym where the women sometimes play games.  It's much more spacious than some of the other places we've been.  We walked in...and we were the first people here.  8 hours later we're here working...and there are still no other TV people here.  Are we the only ones who got the memo the tournament was this weekend?

We just got back from the Racers' practice...and there might have been 10 people in the stands watching.  A grand total of 0 fans were wearing Murray State stuff.  Mind you, the practices are free to the public.  Even Duke, who practiced right before Murray, didn't have more than 25 people watching.  It's, frankly, pretty stunning at the lack of interest so far in an area that traditionally loves its basketball.

Murray did look good in their practice and looks ready to go.  They say they aren't in awe of the D-U-K-E written on their opponent's uniforms.  We'll see how and if that changes once the ball goes up tomorrow.

I'll be back a little bit later. 

The floor is yours.

Well, this will certainly be an SEC tournament to remember, eh?  Friday's severe weather that swept through Atlanta not only forced Kentucky to possibly play two games on Saturday, but also put the SEC in a lose-lose situation.

During the delay Friday night, people in the newsroom were wondering if the SEC would push back the UK game until Saturday.  I didn't think that was remotely feasible.  With all that is on the line, especially for a team like Georgia who has no at-large possibilities to the NCAA tournament, it would be horrendously unfair to ask a team to play two games in one day.  Add in the fact Mississippi State, who would play the winner of the UK/UGA game, is doing nothing but sitting around all day...the situation becomes all the more unfair.  But as my mom taught me long ago...life isn't fair.

I assumed the SEC would play that UK/UGA game in the middle of the night Friday, if need, be, just to get it in.  Obviously, the damage to the Georgia Dome was extensive enough that just wasn't a possibility.  So now, somebody will play two games today.  It's unfortunate, but ultimately the SEC had no choice.  With the automatic bid to the NCAA tournament on the line, they had to get the finals played by Sunday afternoon.  The NCAA tournament selection committee told the SEC they could push the finals back, but the winner wouldn't get the automatic bid.  That's all fine and good for Tennessee, but I'm sure Georgia and Arkansas would have other feelings on the matter. 

The second half of the SEC's lose-lose equation has to do with the fans.  Moving the games from the dome to Georgia Tech meant trying to figure out how to squeeze 35,000 fans into a place that holds 9,100.  So the SEC did the only thing they could...they didn't let ANY fans into the building.  The only people in there today are the teams, their families, the bands, the cheerleaders, some university administrators and the media.  Sitting here watching UK and Georgia play in front of hundreds of people, instead of the customary thousands is quite surreal.  I'm sure the fans stuck outside could think of another word for it.  But again...it's unfortuante, but the SEC had no choice.

How in the world would you prioritize which fans would get in to watch today's games?  Would you make people wait in line?  Would there be a stampede trying to get into the arena?  And would the whole arena be general admission in terms of seating?  It would be, to say the least, a security and logistical nightmare.

I'm sure people are going to be peeved about spending money on hotels that ended up being worthless.  I'm also sure the SEC will find a way to refund money for tickets.  The SEC may take some heat over this, but if the dome wasn't usable, or most importantly safe, there wasn't much else they could do.

As we've learned so often over the years, when Mother Nature rears her sometimes ugly head, we're all at her mercy.  Even when it comes to a basketball game.

As always, the floor is yours.

March is officially here, so let's jump into the 1st region brackets.  We'll break it down game by game and give you guys the chance to get worked into a lather.  Here we go.

1st Region Quarterfinals:

• Calloway County vs. Lone Oak.  This is our first "no contest" of the tournament.  Calloway is as good as this region has to offer at 26-5, while the Flash are definitely in "we're just happy to be here" mode at 7-22.  Calloway wins big...but we ALL win big if Coach Sivills busts out his blue blazer for the game.  Or the red one...I'm not picky. 
• Ballard Memorial vs. Hickman County.  For a team that was supposed to be a year away from making any noise, that bunch from Ballard sure is loud this year.  On top of their run to the "All A" Classic state tournament, the Bombers have thrown in their first 3rd District title in nearly a decade for good measure.  Hickman County did hand Ballard one of their six losses this year, but that was way back in early December.  Ballard is playing too well right now to get tripped up in the quarterfinals.  Bombers win by 20.
• Marshall County vs. Paducah Tilghman.  From 2004 to 2006, these two met each year in the 1st Region finals.  While Tilghman has been hit hard by graduation, the Lady Marshal machine rolls on.  The most important number in this game for me is 34.  That's how many points Marshall beat Tilghman by two weeks ago AT Tilghman.  Marshals coast home in this one.
• Graves County vs. Fulton County.  This may be my idiot pick of the bunch, but I need to take one upset, right?  Graves County will only go as far as Brittany Young can take them.  The Pilots are playing well right now winning their last three.  Yes, I know Graves County has won both meetings with Fulton this year.  Yes, I know Fulton doesn't have any one person to match up with Young's scoring ability.  But for whatever reason, I'll take the Pilots with some late free throws to steal one at Racer Arena.

1st Region Semifinals:

• Calloway County vs. Ballard Memorial.  I think this is the game we find out how far Ballard has come.  My concern for them is, besides their district games with Graves County, they haven't played any games against the top-tier teams in the region.  They have no idea how they match up with Tilghman or Marshall County or Calloway.  I just think Marshall and Calloway are playing at another level right now.  Next year, Ballard might be able to win this game.  Just not this year.  Calloway should win easily.
• Fulton County vs. Marshall County.  Fulton has the same problem Ballard has, and that's just not enough games against top-tier teams.  Of Fulton's 13 wins this year, none of them are against teams who right now have a winning record.  Marshall County should be able to name the score in this one.

1st Region Finals:

• Calloway County vs. Marshall County. Again.  These two went to double overtime last year in the region finals...Calloway won.  These two went to double overtime last week in the district finals...Calloway won.  This will be the 8th meeting between these two in the last two seasons.  Calloway has won the last four.  5 of the previous 7 meetings have been decided by 6 points or less.  Calloway has won 20 of their last 21 games.  BUT...they've got to beat a Howard Beth coached Marshall County team.  Has anybody ever beaten one of Coach Beth's teams four times in a year?  EVER?!?  One thing I can nearly guarantee, this thing will be decided in the final minute by 5 points or less.  Calloway has all the momentum.  Marshall County has all the tradition.  I'm stalling...I know.  The clincher for me, Calloway won TWICE this year in Draffenville.  They surprised everybody last year by running the gauntlet and going to Diddle.  This year it won't be a surprise, but it certainly won't be easy.  Prediction:  Calloway 69, Marshall 67 in overtime (Why not another OT game?!?)  Of course, if Howard Beth raids Bruce Pearl's closet and busts out an orange blazer for the game, all bets are off.

As always, the floor is yours.

As we come down to the last two or three weeks of the season, the debate will certainly be heated as about 10-15 teams fight for the last 5 or 6 at-large bids to the NCAA Tournament.   As of February 26th, there may be no more suprising team in that discussion than the Kentucky Wildcats...especially when you look at where they were even a month ago. 

Part of this exercise is going to rely on some hypotheticals.  Kentucky is 15-10 and has little margin for error down the stretch, so most of the hypotheticals will surround them having to pretty much win every game.  With that in mind, they have games left against:

• vs. Mississippi (RPI 45)
• at Tennessee (RPI 1)
• at South Carolina (RPI 130)
• vs. Florida (RPI 59)
• Anywhere from 1 to 3 games in the SEC Tournament

I'm not going to assume Kentucky is going to win at Knoxville, and that can hardly be considered a bad loss.  So, I believe they need to go 3-1 in the rest of the regular season, then get to the SEC Tournament finals and lose.  That would have them sitting at 20-12 overall and 14-5 in the SEC. 

20-12 may still not be good enough to get in...but here's why I think it will be enough.

• Kentucky would be 20-12 overall and 14-5 (the 2nd best record) in the SEC (the nation's 6th best conference.)
• While their RPI is 65, UK's has played the 19th toughest schedule in the country.
• In their last 12 games (the new NCAA Selection Committee standard), UK would be 9-3.
• They'd have four wins against Top 50 teams in the RPI (Tennessee, Arkansas, Vandy, Ole Miss.)  That doesn't even count SEC Tournament wins.
• As bad as their early season swoon seemed to be at the time, in retrospect, it wasn't THAT bad.  Only two of UK's losses were against teams with RPI's higher than 100 (Gardner-Webb 207, San Diego 106.) 
• Kentucky fought through injuries, not to mention a new coach, in the beginning of the season and are now a MUCH better team than they were in December.

With all of that in mind, if UK can go to Knoxville and win, they may just punch their ticket there to the dance. It's hard to argue that a team doesn't deserve to be in the tournament when they sweep the #1 team in the country.

Now to play Devil's Advocate...even if they get to 20-12 it still may not be good enough.  Here's why I don't think they get into the NCAA tournament unless they win the SEC Tournament.

• Gardner-Webb, anyone?  San Diego?  Not only are those UK's two worst losses of the year, but they also happened at home.
• Assuming they win and lose the expected games down the stretch, they'd only be 4-7 on the road with wins at Georgia (RPI 133), Auburn (128), LSU (176) and South Carolina (130).  Not exactly a "good" road win in there.
• While they'd be 5-6 in against RPI Top-50 teams, they'd only be 5-9 against RPI Top-100 teams.
• As well as they've played in the last month, it may be hard for the committee to shake that horrific loss at Vanderbilt a couple weeks ago.  Especially with it being on national TV, they didn't exactly put their best foot forward that night for people who may decide their postseason fate.
• The SEC is hardly the SEC we've seen in years past.  While it is still the sixth toughest conference in America, only six SEC teams have winning records in the conference.  Not by coincidence, those are the six teams that are up for NCAA consideration.  Five of them, according to the experts, are in really good shape to get in to the tournament.  The 6th?  Kentucky.

A lot has to play out during the next couple of weeks.  A month ago, I never would have believed Kentucky had a chance to get in to the NCAA Tournament.  But now, on February 26th, they're back in the conversation.  They have by no means done enough yet to get in, but at least they are venturing back in to the discussion.  20 wins would be huge for them.  The question is...can they get there?

Thoughts?  Concerns?  Dating tips?  The floor is yours.

I hope everybody is recovering, slowly but surely, after a wild week of weather.  Tuesday at my house started with my wife finding the basement had started to leak.  Tuesday ended with the power going out for nine hours.  It started get a smidge chilly in the Bidwell estate.  In the end, though, I was one of the lucky ones.

Tonight Massac County's girls basketball team beat Nashville to advance to the IHSA Class 2A state quarterfinals...but basketball certainly took a backseat in the Patriot basketball family tonight.  Massac senior guard Destiny Mitchell and her family lost nearly everything Wednesday night when a power surge caused their house to burn down. Certainly, our thoughts and prayers are with Destiny and her family as they try to somehow pick up the pieces.  Suddenly, a little water in my basement doesn't seem like such a big deal.

On to some much lighter news and notes.  Did anybody else see this story on Ashley Judd's arrival at Daytona this week?  I tried to wear something that low-cut in my one and only trip to Daytona.  I was asked not to come back.

We're down to the last couple of hours to sign up for the blog's Fantasy NASCAR league.  Go to this page to find out how to sign up.  I think Saturday is the deadline to sign up.

My YouTube clip of the day is an oldie but goodie.  I remember my dad sending this to me almost 10 years ago, and it still makes me laugh repeatedly.  I know you'll watch it more than once...that little kid running around has no idea what's coming.  Good thing it was just a basketball.

As always, the floor is yours.

We've got some good games tonight I'm looking forward to.  I'll be over at Lone Oak as the suddenly resurgent Purple Flash can clinch at least a share of the 2nd district title when they host Heath.  I've been to more than one Lone Oak/Heath game at Lone Oak, and the atmosphere is always awesome...and the building is always incredibly hot.  It should be fun to watch.

Graves County coach Terry Birdsong makes his return to his old stomping grounds tonight when he takes his Eagles to Calloway County.  I'm always intrigued when coaches go back to their old schools just to see what reaction they get.  I'd imagine Birdsong will get a standing ovation tonight from the Laker faithful.  He certainly did a phenomenal job with the Calloway program during his time there.  Of course, once the ball goes up, Birdsong is the enemy at Calloway...but I'm sure the home folks will let him know, at least for a minute or two, that it's good to see him again.

Don't forget, if you want to sign up for the "Bidwell's Blog Fantasy NASCAR League" (catchy name, huh?), you've still got a few days left.  Thanks to everybody who has signed up already.  You can sign up here.  If you need directions on how to sign up, click here.

For the YouTube link of the day, this is amazing.  I don't know how I've never seen this before.  Hopefully that will get you in the mood for some hoops this weekend.

Until next time...the floor is yours.