Its impossible to convey my level of disgust for Bracket Buster Saturday, or as its called now, ESPNU BracketBusters. I hate it more than the Halloween Oreos with orange filling, and I hate those abhorrent holiday cookies quite a bit. I hate it because for one day every year, everything we spend 364 days fighting against gets pushed to the forefront. We spend all year trying the shed the mid-major label, and then by playing in this event, we get stuck with the label all over again. Did I mention I hate Bracket Busters?
It didn't always used to be this way. When the first Bracket Buster was held in 2003, I thought it was a great idea with great potential. Of course, like most things ESPN touches, they turned an amp that should only go to 11 all the way up to 20 and blew it up (in a bad way). Instead of inviting only those mid-major programs that are consistently solid, they invited entire conferences. Instead of a handful of hugely meaningful games, there's almost 50 games, only a handful of which still matter.
I know what you're saying: "Excuse me, sir, but by inviting everyone, doesn't it allow surprise teams to participate?" Yeah, it does, but I don't care if Drake gets to participate the one year that they're relevant. I care about Creighton, and by inviting so many teams, inevitably the best teams wind up requesting "Home" games. When they only invited the consistently solid mid-major programs, half were at home, half were on the road. Whether you had a home or road game, your odds of an exciting matchup were roughly the same. Not anymore. Generally speaking, the programs you'd actually want to play, the programs that improve your schedule, all request home games. If you have a home game, you get either a one-year wonder, or a team that you don't want to play.
Is it any coincidence that the two most exciting matchups for CU came when they went on the road? Both the Kent State and Oral Roberts games were roadies, while Drexel, Chattanooga State, and Fresno State (TWICE!) have come to Omaha. Pardon me if I'm a tad underwhelmed by those home games.
Since Valley Commish Doug Elgin was one of the masterminds behind Bracket Busters and remains a huge proponent, the Valley isn't dropping out of this thing anytime soon. So it does me no good to complain. Bleh.
One Big Paragraph With Lots O'Dots (TM): With all that said, George Mason is not a *terrible* draw. A Final Four team in 2006, the Colonials are a solid if unspectacular team most years and could wind up being the second highest-RPI team on the Jays schedule by the end of the season. They should also be solid next year when the Jays return the game ... George Mason is also still a brand name, with the equity from that Final Four run not yet worn off. So a win will look impressive to the casual fan ... George Mason coach Jim Larranaga lobbied for the matchup, citing his teams' wonderful experience playing at the Qwest Center two years ago as one of the reasons, and the toughness of Creighton's program as another ... George Mason is 18-8 overall and 11-5 in Colonial Athletic Association play ... All eight of their losses have been by single digits. That said, all eight losses have also come on the road, where they're 5-8 on the season, including dropping the last five games ... Their style of play and the type of player they put on the court is eerily similar to their Final Four team: big, thick, veteran players who play tough inside, are able to get dribble penetration, and knock down contested jump shots ... Their scoring is well-spread out, with three players averaging in double figures: John Vaughan (11.8 ppg.), Cam Long (11.5 ppg., 5.0 rpg., 3.3 apg.) and Darryl Monroe (10.8 ppg., 8.9 rpg.) ... Much like Dana Altman, Mason coach Jim Larranaga has spurned offers of "better" jobs to stay and build a program. Now in his 12th year, Larranaga has won 225 games at Mason and over 400 in his career.
The Last Time They Played: The Jays beat George Mason 58-56 on Thanksgiving weekend in 2006, the first time a Final Four team from the previous season had visited Omaha since DePaul in 1980. The Jays also defeated Mason in their Final Four season on the road, 72-52.
Pete Rose Memorial Odds: Creighton by 8, with the over/under at 135.5.
Gratuitous Linkage: This is a real story. No, really, it is -- and not a planted story about Tracy Jordan of 30 Rock fame. "Fire at Tracy Morgan's apartment sparked by faulty bulb in shark tank." I never cease to be amused by celebrity.
Official Gametime Snack: Its a rare Saturday night game, and since I'll be using the Saturday night tip time as an excuse to take a date to a Creighton game, its got to be Mini Donuts. You see, its a test of sorts: if she puts up with me being loud and boisterous at a basketball game, AND she likes Mini Donuts, she's a keeper. If not, well, then at least I know. And like Duke told us on G.I. Joe when we were kids, Knowing is Half The Battle!
The totally random song I'd play right now if I were still a radio DJ: "I'm on a Boat" by The Lonely Island feat. T-Pain. Take a motherf****** look at me, on a boat, sailing away from a world where Bracket Busters exists! I'm doin' flips and s***, splashing everybody on the deck and s***, because Bracket Busters doesn't exist when you're on a boat!
Prediction: An intense, close, hard-fought game with several lead changes and shifts in momentum. Ultimately, the Jays depth and the loud, rowdy, drunken night game crowd put the team over the top in the last four minutes and they pull away at the free throw line.
Jays 74, George Mason 66
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