Lots of missed shots in that game. I saw Butler up close at MSG this year and was not that impressed.

They were and OK squad, but they got worked by the Hoyas in every phase of the game. If you told me then they'd be playing for the National TItle, you could have named your odds.

Shows you how much things can change over the course of the year. From Dec to April, Butler has improved a ton. Same as the Yanks last year starting 0-8 vs the Sox and somehow tying the season series.

This year I will try to remember it's a long season.

Very long. Jon, who do you like in the second game tonight?

I love West Virginia in the 2nd game provided the ref gives them a decent whistle (ie doesn't give Duke a billion charges and alows West Virginia's physical superiority to manifest itself.)

In other words, bet on Duke.

Again, I am biased by the absolute drubbing the Hoyas put on Duke this year. Duke plays a great game of basketball, but it was like watching high school athletes vs mature college athletes. Duke was too slow at every position and gtown just ran circles around them. sometimes you get blown out because you can't hit any shots - sometimes you get blown out because you can't compete. this one was the latter.

West Virginia is not a particularly skilled team outside of Butler, but they are all very athletic and play great team defense. I think it will be hard for Duke to score, unless it's from the foul line.

If it's duke vs butler, in the finals, the hoyas will be kicking themselves in the rear all summer long.

hell yeah, i'm ready!

for the yankees and baseball and our 28th world championship! i could not care less about college basketball. not one iota...

ESPN just announced Curt Schilling will be an analyst this year - debuting tomorrow night.

[6] yeah, i just saw that. it ruined my dinner. i don't get the yes network or mlb, so i'm totally screwed, 'coz espn is the only way i get all around baseball news on tv. : /

[6] I nearly weaned myself completely from Baseball Tonight last year thanks to the MLB network. They can have him. The guys on MLB have a blast and love doing what they do. Wow. What a scene with Huggins and the hurt player. Damn shame for that poor kid. Hey, at this time tomorrow we might be in the 4 inning by now.
: )

[6]

Anyone taking odds on the date Schilling makes his first politically-tinged comment on-air?

Personally, I feel its been far too long since the Yankees last won the world championship, and I'm more than ready for another.

Ah, Mr. Schilling to join the Sunday Night blowhards. Perfect fit, no?

[11] Oh GOD NO...will be the Japanese announcers for me from now on..

Shilling, Neyer (he picked the Red Sox as WS champs, no surprise..)Sports Guy..well, at least the ESPN New York page has started, the Yanks blog there is pretty good.

[9] Why are conservatives only called out on this?

[13] I don't think the Banter reaction would be too favorable to Keith Olbermann either....a blowhard is a blowhard!

[14] The double-standard is far beyond The Banter, just thought it was curious to see it raised here. And, agreed — a blowhard is a blowhard!

[11] MLBN and ESPN have been involved in some hiring war. The number of baseball analysts on both networks is enough to populate a small country. ESPN has added Glanville, Schilling, Valentine, Nomar and Boone, while MLBN has brought Gammons, Rose and Smoltz.

[14] Olbermann may be a blowhard, but he is a honest and true Yankee fan, so he gets a pass (at least on a holiday like Opening Day).

Man, I sure hope Mariano gets o make that jog tomorrow night.

[16] Olbermann is "honest"? He's just as unwatchable to me as Hannity is, except Hannity is funny for his Mimbo paranoid persona. Olbermann is a smug prick who's just as biased. Fox News is at least entertaining. MSNBC is boooor-ing. The ratings bear that out too.

Enough about that nonsense....Let's go base-ball!

One thing the analysts seem to be missing: What happens to the vaunted Sox defense when V-Mart gives up 100-150 SBs playing the position full-time for the first time in two years?

Damn though, Schilling+Miller+Morgan is going to have my ears bleeding by the third inning.