Michigan basketball and NCAA thoughts

You have to hand it to the Wolverines. Two Big 10 conference titles in a row isn't too shabby.

They entered the tournament being ranked #15 in the country. Also not bad, but hardly elite status. But after thoroughly trashing cross-state rival Michigan State (#2 nationally) in the semi-finals -- again -- then easily handling #5 Purdue in the title game, no doubt their ranking will go up a few spots.

Before the tourney, UM was projected as maybe a #3 seed in the NCAA madness, which will commence in a week or so. They may very well have improved their lot. A #1 seed? Not a chance. But a #2 is definitely a possibility. As brackets go, this could make a big difference. After the usual first patsy game, a 3 will face much stiffer competition in the round of 32 then a 2 would.

Then again -- does it really matter? If you want to win it all -- and what school doesn't? -- they're gonna have to wade through some serious competition eventually.

[Idle thought. Why is it that in college ball, especially the hoops version, the Final Four is trumpeted to the heavens? The hockey version (Frozen Four) is much the same way. Where else in what other sport are so many accolades bestowed upon a team for merely making it to the semi-finals?]

On the other hand, both Michigan State and Purdue, previously ranked far above Michigan, may see their seed slip a notch when the almighty committee convenes to determine such things. Getting smoked in Madison Square Garden by a "lesser team" with the world watching isn't exactly conducive to improving one's lot.

Nevertheless, despite Michigan owning them this year -- so far -- few would count out Tom Izzo's Spartans of MSU when the Big Dance starts. True, despite all the hype, the Green won their only title a whopping 18 years ago, and have been bounced early in the tourney more often than making a deep run. Middle Tennessee State in the first round? Really? The Sparties always have talent and toughness galore, ask anybody, and Izzo is a Hall of Fame coach -- right? Fair enough. But what they've never seemed to possess is much in the brains department.

This is not to say John Beilein's Maize in Blue squad of cagers are going to qualify for the Jeopardy! Tournament of Champions or take the Mensa world by storm any time soon either.

Play hard? Check. Well coached? Roger that. Sometimes bomb away from 3-point land with amazing success? Yep.

So why is it they can't seem to do the most basic of things? Like make free throws? Watching them shoot from the charity stripe brings back not-so-good memories of Shaq or Wilt. Let's just say it isn't a pretty sight. Brick city. And if they don't correct that glaring flaw, they'll find themselves bounced out of the tourney as well.

True enough the field is wide open this year. Lots of good teams, but no super favorite. Virginia, Nova, MSU, Arizona, the Dukies, Carolina, Kansas, even Xavier, among others. All excellent but nobody a definite cut above the rest.

So yours truly will go into this tournament like I have every other in recent years, pulling for my own favorite. Big 10, ACC, Pac 10, and the usual gang of wannabes will always be there. A collective yawn to them all.

Go Zags!!!!!