Hey…it’s been a minute. Things have changed, but I promise you–I never stopped thinking about you. Life is slowing down just as sports are speeding up…so maybe it’s time to chat.
With the hectic nature of life, I’m a bit behind on my college basketball consumption, but I’d love to hear some feedback on what you’ve seen this year. Big conference tourneys start next week, so let’s get into some mid-major action.
ASUN
Last year Bellarmine snuck up on everyone and won the conference tournament in their first year in the ASUN conference…just to be denied entry to the big dance since it was their first year in Division 1 (bullshit rule). At first glance it looks like Kennesaw, Liberty and everyone else in this conference, but Stetson had a decent non-conference schedule–beating Florida State (dead to me) on the road and competing with a very good Charleston team on the road. Combine that with a sick nickname like the hatters and you got a team worth a sprinkle to win the tourney.
Horizon
It feels great to talk about the Hagen’s Horizon league again…There’s not a clear cut number one team in the conference with perennial teams at the top like Youngstown, Cleveland State and Northern Kentucky, with a couple disappointing seasons from Oakland, Wright State and Purdue Fort Wayne (although if you look at the last 2’s non-conference, it wasn’t bad). The champion is going to get screwed over with how competitive the conference was and is probably looking at a 15 seed. I’m sprinkling Northern Kentucky, but I don’t think you can go wrong with anyone in this league. I could easily see 13-18 Detroit Mercy punching a ticket to the dance on the back of stud guard Antoine Davis.
Patriot
It’s Colgate and everyone else. Hammer the toothpaste.
Sun Belt
I feel really confident in the top 4…maybe 5 teams from Southern Miss, Louisiana, Marshall, James Madison and maybe Troy. Marshall has the best non-conference resume by going 3-0 against the top 3 teams in the MAC, and beating the Ohio Valley’s regular season champion Morehead (lol) State.
That was fun…we should do it again sometime. Tomorrow morning? We can talk about things like Longwood and Morehead…Love you, bye.
The Morning Flush 
Son of a Bitch the Flush is Back! I’d like to hear your thoughts on some potential Final 4 futures. It’s tough this year. Bama has been “KILLING” it this year. Edey has improved his game a ton for Purdue but I don’t know about their guard play. I’m definitely throwing one Big 12 team in because they are Deep from top to bottom in that conference. UCLA or Arizona could come out of the Pac 12. I think Houston is fraudulent. I’ll take your comments off the air.
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Is this THE TY GOWER? I’ll be damned, it’s an honor. I disagree about Houston and here’s why. What do we preach as Defensive Coordinators? THE BALL, THE BALL, THE BALL. Jamal Shead and Marcus Sasser make up one of the most talented/experienced backcourts in the country, and they’ll take care of THE BALL, THE BALL, THE BALL. Combine that with an incredible coach in Kelvin Sampson…the Final Four is in Houston…it’s Jim Nantz’s last year calling March Maddness…where did he go to school? HOUSTON. Stars are aligning for the Cougs.
They may or may not be a final four future for me, I guess you’ll have to subscribe and wait for the March Madness breakdown 😉
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