What a day!

First of all, our head is spinning here at Mister Faded Glory, with pounds upon pounds of rumorific news turned fact today!

And, to be frank, we were going to preview the tournament with a sort of “power rankings” – akin to what Bill Simmons did last week. However, after seeing the vitriolic reaction to Gene Wojekceicjekcljejski’s “re-seed” column this week, we decided to pass. Ouch! Granted, MFG is simply a mouthy blogger, but even I can’t phone in a post as dramatic as Gene’s latest rubbish. (ESPN Conversation was actually somewhat blissful – it was cathartic to read viewers from all over trash Gene W – he’s like your neighbor’s lame dad, who shows up at barbecues with a headband and a Hypercolor T-shirt and promises to buy the high school kids beer, then jokingly hands over root beer. That’s the tiresome, goofy Gene.)

But, regardless of our failed game previews, it’s a red-letter day! MFG is practically prophetic (!) – ESPN’s Andy Katz went live this morning with the scoop that Steve Alford is bolting Iowa for New Mexico. He’s gone! And say what you will about Alford (underrated game coach, clueless public persona), it’s at the very least a clean slate for the Hawkeyes – all set in motion by our cockamamie post earlier in the week. (Pats self on back.)

Then, later in the afternoon, perhaps catching “Out of the Frying Pan Fever”, Kentucky coach Tubby Smith bolted for Minnesota! The Goofers! Wow! I didn’t even know they were missing a coach. Let the dominoes fall. Also, we now have proof that Kentucky Nation is insane. They were in the Elite Eight two years ago. Good luck to whomever gets this job…

And, from the stuff-we-absolutely-have-to-mention department:

• Early this morning The Genius was ticketed for drunk driving. Nice work, Tony. Though we suspect it happened just as a cover for whatever weird stuff Jim Edmonds was pulling (nice pun, I know) in the back seat.
• Also, Duke’s Josh McRoberts is turning pro. (!!!!) I’m stepping away from the keyboard – this just writes itself.

Finally, the inimitable The Big Lead has been all over the OJ Mayo/Tim Floyd recruiting saga and current Mayo backlash, and MJD discussed Michael Beasley’s laundry list of foibles last month.

Now, I’m not going to eviscerate a couple of 18-year-old kids – not when I, myself, told my jackassed high-school coach to “fuck off” in the last edition of my school newspaper – but I’m also not giving Mayo and Beasley, or their entourages, a free pass either. Both Greg Oden and Kevin Durant will be gone after this season completes – and let’s try and remember how decent these two kids were before we paint all high school ballers a certain color depending on how batshit insane Mayo and Beasley turn out to be. Cue the nervous swallows from Tim Floyd and Bob Huggins – both of whom have never met a kid they wouldn’t try and fix. They’ll have their work cut out next season.

On to our Sweet Sixteen forecast.

OUT TONIGHT

16. Southern Illinois
The Salukis are an extremely well-coached and well-prepared team – their commitment to defense is striking, and they are intense, focused, under control and heady. That being said, Jamaal Tatum and Randal “Mother” Falker are the only two players who belong on the same floor with Kansas – and they would be reserves at best on the Jayhawks. On the plus side, we may be watching Iowa’s new head coach, Chris Lowery. (We can dream, can’t we?)

14. Memphis
A hobbled Chris Douglas-Roberts doesn’t bode well for the Tigers. This should be a great game with A&M, but everyone’s got something to prove here. Billy Gillispie is proving his mettle as Kentucky’s head coach, Acie Law is writing his legend at A&M and establishing his career, and Dominique Kirk is proving he’s the next Acie Law. Add to that we still don’t know how good Memphis is, but we do know they haven’t faced a killer defense like the Aggies’ until tonight. Plus, the game’s in San Antonio! I know Texas is a big state, but, well, not that big.

13. Louisville.
Sorry. Seriously, what was that shot? And what is with coaches calling times out with 14 seconds left – it’s a pattern. There’s 30 seconds left in the game, the kids come up court, do what they’re supposed to, holding and searching for the last, best shot, when some egomaniac shouts “Time out!” from his bench.

Then, interrupting the flow of the game, the coach draws up a play his counterpart foresaw a mile away, forcing the point guard into the teeth of the defense and a poor shot, even as no other shots were available. Seriously, Pitino thought the next head coach of Kentucky hadn’t seen the Marquette game tape? Then he throws his point guard, who played the game of his life, under the bus. Yes, I’m still bitter, and yes, they are better than nine teams left in this thing. Nice seeding, committee.

12. Ohio State
Believe it or not! The upset king lives! The Buckeyes have improved, but I’m sticking with one of my lone remaining upset picks here – I think Tennessee has the juice to knock off the Buckeyes. Sure, there’s no real way to control Greg Oden – but do they really have to? Tennessee’s three guards, headed by Chris Lofton, should more than neutralize the 20 and 10 Oden will max out at. I believe in this one – I’m sorry. Ohio State just doesn’t score enough.

11. Pittsburgh
I fully expect the UCLA-Pittsburgh game to end at 38-37, or something hideous, while two notoriously poor tourney coaches (Ben Howland’s 2006 run notwithstanding) attempt to lose this game. I’m picking UCLA for one reason, and one reason only – Aaron Afflalo. I think he’s too much for the Panthers. On a different note, can anyone believe that Aaron Gray was Big East preseason player of the year? Thank heavens for Jeff Green and Demetris Nichols’ seasons. Gray is a good college player, and has had a nice career. That’s where it ends.

OUT TOMORROW

10. Butler
They’ve proven me wrong, so congratulations to them. If they stay within 20 of Florida, it’s a miracle – though Ball State once almost beat UNLV in the Sweet Sixteen, so you never know.

9. Georgetown
I still have upset fever, but hopefully the blueprint for beating Georgetown isn’t lost. Play a 2-3 zone. End of discussion. Syracuse was the last team to beat the Hoyas – and handily – and it was a result of the 2-3. In the last round, Boston College was up eight on the Hoyas as a result of their own 2-3 zone, and Georgetown actually looked silly.

In true BC fashion, however, the Eagles comically reverted to a man defense, and summarily got killed. Genius coaching, and no one does it better than Boston College. If Kevin Stallings is also auditioning for the Kentucky job, he should know enough to play a zone. The Commodores have sick range – enough to beat any team in the tournament if they’re on. The shooting and a zone should keep them in the game till the end, and then underrated Derrick Byars should keep getting the rock against Georgetown’s only-average guards. (Sorry for saying ‘the rock.’ I’m totally white and not a sports announcer. Won’t happen again.)

8. Oregon
Lots of folks rushing to crown this 3-seed as a Florida-2006 clone. I still think they don’t play enough defense, and are too dependent on the three. Yes, I still took Vanderbilt instead, but I’m feeling it with the Commodores – not with the Ducks. UNLV is a smart team, and I like Lon Kruger better in this coaching situation than Ernie Kent. Should be a fun one, however.

7. Southern Cal
As much as I want to pick one more upset, I can’t. This is a good team – and it’s either setting itself up for a spectacular 2008 implosion (see above), or a springboard to a dominant season. Tomorrow against the Heels, however, they won’t have the depth.