When There's That Much Smoke

There Has to Be A Fire Somewhere Right?

Is America's Most Famous Cyclist a Fraud?

by Jay Kaplan, OTSL Co-Host & Head Writer

This past Sunday Tyler Hamilton, a former Gold-Medal winning cyclist and former US Postal Cycling teammate of Lance Armstrong, was interviewed on "60 Minutes" where he confessed to using illegal performance enhancers like EPO and other doping techniques while helping Armstrong win three of his record seven Tours de France.

He also stated that Armstrong himself was a major user of the blood-booster EPO, as well as human growth hormone and testosterone while regularly using techniques designed to beat the testing done by the agencies like the World Anti-Doping Agency. When pressed to back up his claims, Hamilton gave replies that were along these two lines: "I heard the conversation" or "I was there when he was doing it and I was doing it with him".

He even went so far as to say that part of the reason that Lance never got caught or never tested positive was that he and his people could make things like that go away. Hamilton hinted that the International Cycling Union was at best turning a blind eye and at worst complicit in covering up Armstrong's transgressions. If true, that's a very damaging statement leveled at the governing body of a sport that has long fought rumors of rampant corruption.

Hamilton is the third former US Postal teammate of Armstrong's to come out and say that despite Lance's "I've never tested positive" affirmations to the contrary, America's greatest cyclist reached his legendary place in his sport's history by hook and by crook.

When Armstrong's bitter rival Greg LeMond made accusations that Armstrong might be cheating en route to winning the Tour de France after his fight with cancer, he was dismissed as a rival chucking sour grapes at a legend, because he was bitter over rumors that Armstrong was behind bike maufacturer Trek threatening to end their relationship with LeMond.

And when another former Armstrong teammate, Floyd Landis, threw similar stones with regards to Armstrong claiming that he was the biggest drug user of everyone on the US Postal team, his accusations were dismissed under the headline of "People in Glass Houses" as Landis himself had just recently been stripped of his 2006 Tour de France win due to his own doping.

All the while Armstrong sang the familiar "I have NEVER tested positive" refrain and Landis was dismissed as just another bitter, jealous ex-teammate just like Steven Swart and Frankie Andreu who along with his wife Betsy and former Armstrong personal assistant Mike Anderson are among those who have leveled accusations at Armstrong regarding doping and other cheating while he was racking up his record seven Tour de France wins.

In the past Lance Armstrong would make the case that personal hatred, want of financial gain, revenge, jealousy, any and/or all of the above drove his accusers to level these unfounded charges at him. He could make the case that accusations by Landis and LeMond had no credibility since both men admitted to their own drug use after years of steadfast denials.

All of this would eventually cut the legs out any potential story and Lance would continue on. Winning the Tour de France, adding to his legend as America's most famous cyclist and seemingly, its most famous cancer survivor. After all, who wants to believe that a guy who conquered cancer and continues to push for research, programs and any other initiative that will assist in curing as many of the myriad types of cancer that are out there could possibly be a hero with feet of clay.

And yet, Hamilton's "60 Minutes" interview is compelling. A man who got away with cheating the system for most of his cycling career. A man who claims that although the Olympics was one of the few times he raced "clean", he was so disgusted with himself that he hid his 2004 gold medal away for years before recently returning it to the United States Anti-Doping Agency last week.

Armstrong's people claim that Hamilton is fueled by greed and a desire for publicity since he is writing a book about his career in cycling. This time, the typical response from Armstrong's camp seems to ring hollow. Hamilton was a widely respected and well-liked member of the professional cycling community and Armstrong's camp aside, very few people have anything bad to say about him.

Hamilton's confessions may be good for his own soul, but they may ultimately wind up being good for the soul of the sport he still claims to love. Even if those confessions lead to the sport's biggest name being taken down. Sometimes the only way to make something better is to blow it up and start all over.

The Lake (no)Show
Why the Lakers got swept by the Mavericks
by Jay Kaplan, OTSL Head Writer/Analyst

As I watched Game 4 of the NBA second round series between the Dallas Mavericks and the two-time defending champion Los Angeles Lakers go to halftime with the Lakers down 63-39, I was reminded of a scene fr0m the movie "The Replacements". Head Coach Jimmy McGinty is asked by a sideline reporter what the Washington Sentinels will need to overcome the big halftime deficit in a game they must win to make the playoffs. His reply? "Heart." When pressed by the reporter, he taps his chest with his game plan and says "Miles and miles of heart."

The reason this scene popped into my head was because heart was exactly what I did not see from the Lakers. Not just in Game 4 which ended in a 122-86 series-sweeping rout by the Mavs; but throughout the entire series.

I kept waiting for the Lakers to flip that switch and become "that team". You know the one with the cast of characters like "Kobe The Ruthless" - able to score on anyone, anytime and win a series by nothing more than the sheer force of his will.

That team also had a talented AND tough Power Forward named Pau who played the game with equal parts skill and power and was good for a double-double every game. There was D-Fish the respected team elder who invariably made HUGE, clutch shots every game. Andrew the Younger gave them yet another low-post scorer, rebounder and tough, physical, shot-blocking defender of that sacred area called "The Paint". And finally there was Lamar and Ron, homeboys from NYC who could play multiple positions, provide ball-handling, clutch scoring, physical D, match-up problems, celebrity significant others and shout outs to therapists. All led by the Zen Master, whose ability to blend egos and talents together to make champions was legen - wait for it - dary as the rings for every finger would attest.

I kept waiting for that team to show up. But it never did. Not in Game 1 when the Lakers blew a 16 point lead yet still had two excellent chances to win the game but Pau Gasol butter-fingered his chance and Kobe flat out bricked his.

Not in Game 2 which saw the Lakers fall 93-81. They missed their first 15 triples (they finished 2-20 from beyond the arc); couldn't guard Dirk Nowitzki (24 points) for the second straight game; got a 3-12 performance from Odom, the NBA's Sixth Man of the Year and saw Artest - their reputed defensive stopper - clothesline reserve Dallas Guard JJ Barrea (whose 12 points led a Mav's bench that outscored LA's 30-12)) with 24 seconds left in a game in which they only managed 32 points for the entire second half.

Completely losing home court would have been bad enough - LA was 2-16 (now 2-17) all time when losing the first two of a seven game series (most recently the 2008 Finals against Boston) - but to hear Andrew Bynum of all people to say after the game that the Lakers flat out have trust issues only added insult to injury. It raised the possibility that the Lakers were not only being undone by their erratic play on the court, but by a locker room in disarray.

That team I mentioned earlier would surely show up in Game 3 right? After all none of Phil Jackson's teams had EVER been swept in a post-season series in the 20 years he'd been manning an NBA bench. So surely they'd show up for Game 3 right? Nope.

Game 3 pretty much resembled Game 1. The Lakers were up by 7 with 5:05 to go when their defense betrayed them. The Mavs went on a 20-7 run led by Nowitzki (32 points) en route to a 32 point quarter that was highlighted by what Kobe referred to as "some of the dumbest defensive mistakes I've seen us make all year." It all added up to a 98-92 Dallas win putting them up 3-0 and in position for the unimaginable scenario: sweeping the Lakers out of the playoffs. After all, none of the previous 98 NBA teams that were down 0-3 ever came back.

Which brings us back to where I started this piece - Game 4. With their season, the defense of their back-to-back titles and Phil's retirement send-off on the line you'd expect that this game of all games would be the one where "That" team would FINALLY show up. That they'd fight tooth, nail, and every other body part on every possession for all 48 minutes. They'd make sure that if they went down, they'd go down fighting, leaving it all out on the floor. Yeah, not so much.

LA came out flat and stayed that way. Dallas didn't just make it rain from beyond the arc, they let loose a torrential downpour of three point field goals. Jason Terry's 9 led the way as Dallas tied an NBA post-season record with 20 3's (on 21 attempts). The Mavs didn't even need an All-Star performance from Dirk (17 points) to sweep LA, getting 32 from Terry, 22 from JJ Barea and 21 from Peja Stojakovic (6-6 from 3) -all of whom come off the Mavs bench - to make the Lakers the 99th team not to come back after losing the first three games of a seven game series.

As for that bush-league stuff that Odom and to a greater extent Bynum pulled at the end of the game? Don't even get me started. Odom's was more frsutration than anything and didn't seem to have any malicious intent. Bynum on the other hand, well I've seen muggings on 125th Street that were more polite. That garbage has no business in the game and does nothing but disgrace the Lakers, the NBA and the game of basketball. Okay, so you got me started, but this is where I stop.

Yes, the Dallas Mavericks get plenty of credit for the sweep. They executed their game plan on both sides of the ball almost flawlessly. They owned games 2 and 4 and came up with HUGE 4th quarters (the quarter that typically belonged to "That" team) in games 1 and 3 to win both. They played the vaunted Los Angeles Front Court to a standstill - which goes in the "W" column for Dallas as no one was supposed to be able to handle the LA Big Men. Their bench thoroughly outplayed LA's, exposing it for the weakness it's been for some time now once you get past Odom (a match-up advantage LA never managed to take advantage of in this series). And Rick Carlisle, RICK CARLISLE, out-coached the Zen Master.

That said, this is a series that LA woulda, coulda, shoulda won but didn't for one simple reason: heart. Miles and miles of heart. Dallas had it, LA didn't and because of that, not even Shane Falco could have saved the Lakers from their fate.

STILL #1

by Sean Roman, OTSL Analyst

Time is our most valuable commodity. For once we give it up, there is never anything we can do to get it back. This is the precise reason why I try to be judicious in choosing what sporting events I honor through viewing.

I tend to prefer events with grand traditions. The World Series, the World Cup, and Olympic Hockey are my favorites.

In my humble opinion, The Masters Golf Tournament was the event most worthy of our recent attention. However, I have come to acknowledge that I am interested in the event for the wrong reason. I am fascinated with the fame of that one athlete.

I then reflect for a moment. It was just one year ago that we experienced His return to Augusta.
This was one of the strangest returns in the history of sports given He did not miss a major golf event by reason of His overwhelming love of vagina.

He brought the bizarre to the “tradition unlike any other.” Organizers feared fans would try to bring blow up dolls to the course and heckle the golf great. Additionally, one of his liaisons decided to cash in and book “appearances” at a local gentlemen’s club.

How quickly another year has passed me by. As I continue to pray for a retreat from a harsh Northeastern Winter, Augusta has awarded another Green Jacket to a young man from South Africa whose name I have nearly forgotten.

Still, as I discussed the exciting climax with my friends and colleagues, it dawned on me, at this point in time, The Masters - and the Game at large - has not been able to transcend the Monster that has hovered over the sport since 1997.

It is a fact – the population at large, including myself, was more interested in how He was doing than any other topic, including the lead changes and how so many different players were within striking distance of a historic win.

Whether I think He is deserving of our focus, I have just confronted the reality that He gets it.
Tiger is an idol, and most of us, idolaters. No matter how much of a failure this guy can be painted as, He still sits atop of the throne of popularity.

This fact is a great reason for immediate self-examination.

The Sport of Baseball vs. Barry Bonds

By Sean Roman, OTSL Analyst

Barry Bonds is being put on trial now for his liberty in San Francisco. He is officially charged with multiple counts of perjury. But that does not begin to reveal the significance of what has already happened.

After all the scientific testimony becomes a mere memory few will be able to recollect, the Man who sits atop the most revered record in American sports WILL pay the piper for benefiting the greatest from using performance enhancing substances.

If this were any other sport where a prominent American athlete were tried, the facts of the case and legal ins-and-outs would be more important to focus on.

But baseball is THE special sport.

Baseball rose with the growth of our nation as an industrialized power after the Civil War. As a game, is revered for its perfect balance of offensive and defense. The flow of the game from Spring to Autumn, as well as the trip around the base paths (where one strives to spring from home, travel the world only to make it back) is symbolic of our lives in a way no other activity can mimic.

And the way time can not strangle the game, unlike other contests which have the most vulgar of devices…a clock...is simply...ineffable. Baseball represents American Society, and Mr. Bonds has disgraced us all in a way which can not escape divine retribution.

Historically, Baseball’s Eras are just as important as national conflicts, political movements and technology revolutions. We are tracking and preserving the proceedings that are happening right now in the federal court in San Francisco for generations that will walk the earth when we are no more.

Consequently, it is fitting that the one who benefited the most from selling his very soul should have to be put through this humiliating national ordeal. The ultimate result of this case is irrelevant. This public prosecution has already fulfilled its goal as each day of testimony plays out.

Even if Mr. Bonds is found not guilty, he still can not recover his good name any more than the eight “Black Sox” Players could almost a century ago.

Out But Not Over

by Jay Kaplan, OTSL Writer/Analyst

Those of you who follow "On The Sportslines" know that I am a St. John's graduate. I was there back when the guy the on-campus arena is named for was still roaming the sidelines in his Cosby Show sweaters. I was there when basketball players from high schools all across the five boroughs still lined up around the block to wear the Red & White and play half their home games at The World's Most Famous Arena. I was there when THE college basketball program in the city that called basketball ITS game was still a fixture in both the Big East, the Top 25 and NCAA Tournament.

Lou Carneseca retired from coaching the Johnnies (sorry, those of us who were there back then will NEVER call the team by its current name - we absolutely HATE IT) the same year I graduated - 1992. Things were never quite the same after that.

Long-time right-hand man Brian Mahoney inherited the job but didn't do much with it - a .491 winning percentage (.397 in The Big East) though there were two NCAA appearances from '92-'96. Fran Frischilla followed and gave us hope that things would get better - a .613 winning percentage (.593 in-conference) and a trip to the Big Dance in 1998, but then he was fired amidst rumors that he was job hunting while still on the job at St. John's.

The Mike Jarvis era followed. From 1998-2003 St. John's seemed to be back. NCAA trips in '99, '00 and '02. A Big East Conference championship in 2000 and an NIT Crown in 2003. Then, like Frischilla, he was fired. In this case, more for losing control of the team which led to NCAA sanctions, including vacating of wins in the NCAA's and that 2003 NIT title.

I for one, was never a Jarvis fan. I blame him for the condition that the basketball program has been in for the last decade. I blame him and his ego and his grandiose ideas of recruiting the best players from all over for giving the best players in this city - a city filled to overflowing with great high school basketball players - no reason to stay home and play for New York's college basketball program. Why should they when the coach of that program ignores them. Jarvis just never understood the core recruiting principle for a St. John's coach - keep the kids from places like Rice, Christ the King, Boys & Girls and St. Raymond's at home.

Norm Roberts tried his best under very tough conditions. The NCAA sanctions made it hard to get players to come play at St. John's. But the guys he got stuck around because they believed in what Roberts was ultimately trying to do - return this city's college basketball team to prominence. Norm didn't get to finish what he started, but his kids did.

10 seniors, 9 who played four years, who suffered through a 44-53 stretch their first three years, who suffered through 37 conference losses over those three years finally got their moment in the sun.

They bought into new coach Steve Lavin's system hook, line and sinker. They knocked off 6 Top 25 teams - 4 in the Top 10 - en route to a 21-12 season that included a 12-6 record in the crucible that is the Big East. They returned to both the Top 25 and the NCAA's as the #6 seed in the Southeast Region.

Unfortunately, they would have to play their opening round game without Senior Swingman DJ Kennedy. Kennedy tore the ACL in his right knee during the Johnnies loss to Syracuse in the Big East Tournament. Would Kennedy's presence on the court have been the difference between a second-round game against Jimmer and BYU and last night's heart-breaking 86-71 loss to Gonzaga? Probably not.

St. John's did not play its best game last night. They got crushed on the glass (43-20); allowed the Zags to kill them from long-range (9-15 on 3's) and just couldn't seem to execute their game on either end. Once they fell behind by double-digits they just couldn't seem to find their way back against a tough, tournament-tested team like the Zags. It was a painful, tearful way to end what had been a season filled with smiles.

Those 10 seniors will never play another game in the Red & White. Never get a chance to feel the exhilaration that comes from a March Madness win. Never get to dream about what next season might bring. Last night's loss will no doubt stay with them for a long time.

They may remember the 2011 tournament only as a One-And-Done disappointment. The rest of us - Alumni like me and fellow OTSL panelists Scott Chapman (under-grad) and Sean Roman (law school), and all the St. John's basketball fans in New York and around the country - we will remember this tournament and this season as the one that returned the Johnnies to their rightful place in the college basketball landscape.

St. John's basketball may be out as far as this season goes, but thanks to the kids that Norm Roberts recruited and Steve Lavin turned into winners, things are far from over. In fact, you could say they've just begun and thus once again we can say it loud and say it proud: WE ARE...ST. JOHN'S!

The Rabbi's Conference Tournament Preview- Part 2

I am The Rabbi, Video Editor of "On The Sportslines". This is the greatest week of the college basketball year for a lot of people, and for me the greatest week on the sports calendar. No week has as much intrigue and action as the week before the NCAA tournament in college basketball. Over the next two days, all of the big conference tourneys kick off around the country. Here are nine big conference tournaments to get you ready for the big week in Part 2 of our championship week preview. I will be providing the brackets on each of these tournaments so click the link to play along.

Big East Tournament (Tuesday-Saturday, New York City)

http://www.cbssports.com/collegebasketball/tournaments/conference/BIGE/big-east-tournament-bracket

At-Large Locks: Pittsburgh, Notre Dame, Louisville, Syracuse, St. John's, West Virginia, Cincinnati, Georgetown, UCONN, Villanova

Looking Good, needs a win: Marquette

Game to watch: Wed, UCONN vs. Georgetown/DePaul

Unless the DePaul Blue Demons pull off the upset they did last year as a #16 seed, the opener on Wednesday will see two of the better teams in the country who have fallen on hard times lately. Both lost 4 out of their last 5 to end the season but are too talented to lose more momentum here. The loser here could be as low as a #7 seed in the NCAA tournament.

Honorable Mention: Thursday, Syracuse vs. St. John's/Seton Hall/Rutgers

Madison Square Garden loves a local match up, and anyway you slice it, they'll get one here. The match up we are all shooting for is Syracuse vs. St. John's. The only loss the Red Storm have at Madison Square Garden this season is against the Orange, and it wasn't even close. If Lavin's boys can get payback, they are looking at a top 4 seeding at come Selection Sunday.

Prediction: Notre Dame

The Fighting Irish have never actually made the tournament finals of the Big East. I think they'll get there for the first time, and beat Pitt in the finals, maybe making both teams #1 seeds when the brackets come out Sunday.

Atlantic 10 Tournament (Tuesday-Sunday, Atlantic City (Fri.-Sun.),

http://www.cbssports.com/collegebasketball/tournaments/conference/ATL10/atlantic-10--tournament-bracket

At-Large Locks: Xavier, Temple

Needs Work to get in: Richmond

Game To Watch: Friday, Rhode Island/St. Louis vs. Richmond

Richmond has played on the edge most of the season and each of their four losses in 2011 have put them closer and closer to losing out on an at-large. A win here on Friday should vault the Spiders into the field of 68 and probably keep them out of that First Four round in Dayton. Rhode Island is dangerous though, they beat Richmond in their only meeting this year 78-74.

Honorable Mention: Semifinal #1, March 12 1pm

Bubble teams all across the country will watch this game closely, because if #1 seed Xavier doesn't come out victorious in it, Sunday's final will have a lot of those "last team in" schools on pins and needles. If any of the other nine teams win this tourney outside of the ones mentioned here, the A-10 is most likely getting a 4th bid that they never would have gotten before.

Prediction: Xavier

Outside of a fluke loss against #11 seed Charlotte in February, the Musketeers are unblemished in the A-10. It stays that way after this week. They'll beat Temple in the finals.

Pac 10 Tournament (Wendesday- Saturday, Los Angeles)

http://www.cbssports.com/collegebasketball/tournaments/conference/PAC10/pac-10-tournament-bracket

At-Large Locks: Arizona, UCLA

Looking Good, Needs a win: Washington

Needs work to get in: USC, Washington State

Game To Watch: Washington vs. Washington State

The Apple Cup's third meeting takes place on Thursday, and it's an important one. A lot of people believe the Huskies are still an at-large lock, but I do not. The Cougars have beaten the Huskies in BOTH of their regular season meetings, and a 3rd win would give both teams at least 20 wins. There's no major difference in my opinion in the non-conference schedules, so why should Wazzou be put in a lesser standard if they sweep their rivals?

Honorable Mention: USC vs. Cal

USC has sneaked up on some people lately. A win here in the 2nd quarterfinal on Thursday, along with a win versus what would most likely be Arizona on Friday, could give the Trojans a resume with enough wins (20) and victories (2) over likely Top 5 seeds in the NCAA tourney. That could be enough to sneak USC into the field of 68.

Prediction: UCLA

Since December, the Bruins have only lost once inside the state of California. I believe they beat USC in the final, and that BOTH teams make the tournament at the end of it all.

Conference USA (Wed.-Sat., El Paso, Tex,)

http://www.cbssports.com/collegebasketball/tournaments/conference/USA/conference-usa-tournament-bracket

Needs Work to get in: Memphis

Game To Watch: Friday, UAB-East Carolina/UCF vs. Memphis- Southern Miss/Tulane

Boy, that's a mouthful. If all holds form, UAB and Memphis will play in this C-USA semifinal on Friday, and it could be a highly competitive game. UAB won 7 out of their last 8 games to end the season. The only loss? Memphis, who boasts the only at-large chances for the conference, due to a strong non-conference schedule, despite losing most of their important non-conference games.

Honorable Mention: Thursday, Tulsa vs. SMU/Rice

Tulsa is a team who could be a problem on their side of the bracket, and this is their first chance to shine. An easy win here puts them into a possible match up in the semifinals with UTEP, who's on their home court for this tourney.

Prediction: UTEP

UTEP's only lost once at home in-conference this season. I believe the home court advantage of the Don Haskins Center will lead the Miners to a victory over Memphis in the finals, although it won't be as dominating as their 27-point victory less than two weeks ago over the Tigers.

Big 12 Tournament (Wed.- Sat., Kansas City, MO)

http://www.cbssports.com/collegebasketball/tournaments/conference/BIG12/big-12-tournament-bracket

At-Large Locks: Kansas, Texas, Texas A&M, Missouri, Kansas State

Needs Work: Colorado, Baylor, Nebraska

Game To Watch: Thur, Texas vs. Baylor/Oklahoma

As mentioned many times in this column, the Baylor Bears have totally underachieved this year and need to get a big time victory this week in Kansas City. If they get by the Sooners, will go up against Texas. Baylor has faced the Longhorns twice this season and been disappointed both times in the final minutes. A win here though could give the Bears what very few bubble teams can get this late in the season: a win over a top 10 team. Baylor may not even need to win their next game to make the tourney.

Honorable Mention: Thur, Kansas St. vs. Iowa St./Colorado

Out of the three teams that needs work to secure their spot in the field of 68, the team in the best shape is Colorado. That doesn't mean the margin for error isn't small for the Buffaloes. They definitely need a win this Wednesday against Iowa State, who they lost to just a week ago. Then, they'll need to beat Kansas State to make the Big 12 semifinals. While the Colorado swept K-State this season, both wins were before K-State destroyed Kansas in Manhattan on Valentine's Day. Kansas State has been a whole different animal since then, looking more like the preseason Top 5 team that a lot of people expected.

Prediction: Kansas

The Jayhawks have been a force in the Big 12 all year. In fact, I think the bigger challenge for Kansas will be in the semifinals, when Kansas State or Colorado should be waiting for them. The winner of that game will have a lot of momentum and give Kansas a great fight. However, I think Kansas prevails there and over Missouri in the Big 12 final, securing a #1 seed.

Mountain West Tournament (Wendesday-Saturday, Las Vegas)

http://www.cbssports.com/collegebasketball/tournaments/conference/MWC/mountain-west-tournament-bracket

At-Large Locks: UNLV, BYU, San Diego State

Needs Work: Colorado State

Game To Watch: Colorado St. vs. New Mexico

Colorado State struggled at the end of the season, but if the right games break their way, they could make it into the tourney with two wins. Unfortunately, momentum is certainly going against the Rams. They've lost 4 out of their last 5 and will certainly have to beat BYU and San Diego State to get a definite tourney spot. CSU is 0-4 against the MWC's big 2 this season.

Honorable mention: Wyoming/TCU-BYU vs. Colorado St./New Mexico

Assuming that BYU gets past their quarterfinal, which is very likely but certainly not a given with the indefinite suspension of F Brandon Davies, this is a great semifinal. On one hand if Colorado State wins, they may be playing for a tournament spot against the class of the MWC. If New Mexico wins, BYU will look for payback as the Cougars will face a team they've lost to twice this year, both games weren't even close.

Prediction: San Diego State

The combination of Brandon Davies not being there and the Aztecs wanting revenge for their two losses, I predict the boys from Cali beat BYU in the finals, assuring them of a #2 seed in the NCAA's, knocking down BYU to a #3 seed (cue the mid-major groaning).

Big 10 Tournament (Thursday-Sunday, Indianapolis)

http://www.cbssports.com/collegebasketball/tournaments/conference/BIG10/big-10-tournament-bracket

At-Large Locks: Ohio State, Purdue, Wisconsin, Illinois

Looking Good, Needs A Win: Michigan

Needs Work: Michigan State

Game To Watch: Michigan vs. Illinois

The fortunes of both of these teams have changed over the last few weeks. There is no team that has zoomed their way onto the bubble like Michigan. Even in my College Basketball Primer, they were an afterthought. Now, they are the only thought that teams have in the Big 10. The Wolverines won 6 out of their last 8, with the two losses in that streak coming by a combined three points. The Illini are one of the two teams to beat the Wolverines in that stretch. The winner of this Big 10 quarterfinal is in the tournament. While the loser may be in as well, they will be doing a lot of sweating till Sunday.

Honorable Mention: Michigan State-Iowa vs. Purdue

Michigan State HAS to beat Iowa. If not, there should be no logical reason why a 14 loss team like the Spartans - who will have lost twice to Iowa - should be in the field of 68. If MSU makes it to the quarters, this matchup is just as pivotal to their tourney hopes. Both of Purdue's victories over Michigan State have been by double digits, including a 20-point victory at East Lansing less than two weeks ago. Michigan State may have more to play for, but Purdue may be pissed after losing to Iowa this past Saturday.

Prediction: Ohio State

On a neutral court, no team in the country is better than the Buckeyes. They have veteran leadership that's been in the tourney before, they have a super freshman in Jared Sullinger who can dominate games just like Evan Turner and Greg Oden before him, and they have a team who is battle tested in big tourney games as well. I believe Ohio State beats Wisconsin in the finals of the Big 10 to secure the #1 overall seed.

SEC Tournament (Thursday-Sunday, Atlanta)

http://www.cbssports.com/collegebasketball/tournaments/conference/SEC/sec-tournament-bracket

At-Large Locks: Florida, Kentucky, Tennessee, Vanderbilt

Needs Work: Alabama, Georgia

Game To Watch: Alabama vs. Auburn-Georgia

Just like last year in the SEC, the SEC West champion is most certainly not guaranteed an SEC Tournament bid. The 4th seed in the SEC East, Georgia has had a nice year, but their lack of big victories is catching up to them. So, what's the only way to get a big victory? Beat your opponent on Friday. Alabama is guaranteed to be here, Georgia's gonna need to beat SEC West bottom resident Auburn. Whether it be for Alabama or Georgia, Friday is desperation day in this Quarterfinal opener.

Honorable Mention: Tennessee-Arkansas vs. Florida

Florida has a huge resume, that coupled with an SEC title, could seriously give them consideration for a #2 seed. Arkansas will be a decent challenge for Tennessee, and has actually win against them in their only match back in February. The winner of that game should be a good opener for Florida, despite Florida winning all three meetings against both the Vols and Razorbacks this year. If Florida gets upset here, watch out because that opens up the SEC tourney big time.

Prediction: Florida

Florida has won 8 out of their last 9 and only lost three games in SEC play. All three losses were by single digits. Florida is showing a bit of the magic that they showed in their back-to-back national title seasons. Remember, the Gators were a #3 seed when they won the tourney for the very first time. This could be the start of something special for Florida.

ACC Tournament (Thursday-Sunday, Greensboro)

http://www.cbssports.com/collegebasketball/tournaments/conference/ACC/acc-tournament-bracket

At-Large Locks: Duke, North Carolina, Florida State

Looking Good, but needs a win: Clemson

Needs Work: Boston College, Virginia Tech

Game To Watch: Clemson vs. Boston College-Wake Forest

The ACC has been a very weak conference this year outside of the Top Three, but if BC continues on to this quarterfinal, a very well defined 4th bid from the conference will be handed out right here. Clemson has a good resume, enhanced by the very thin bubble. Despite losses to both Yale AND Harvard, the Eagles have done better during the latter portion of conference season, winning 4 out of their last 6 and having a very close game at regular season champion North Carolina. Despite the youth of both sides this year, one rookie head coach: either BC's Steve Donohue or Clemson's Brad Brownell will be going dancing with a win here.

Honorable Mention: Virginia Tech/Georgia Tech vs. Florida State

The Hokies will need to win twice: their quarterfinal on Thursday and this possible game on Friday. Over the last two years, Virginia Tech has been the ultimate bubble team and this year is no different. After what could have been a season and program defining win against Duke, the Hokies lost twice in the last week in the regular season against Clemson and BC. If Seth Greenberg EVER wants to make a second tourney appearance, his boys will definitely have to win two and possibly three ACC tourney games.

Prediction: Virginia Tech

Going out on a HUGE limb here. The Hokies are gonna recognize the talent that made them a Top 25 team at season's beginning. They'll beat both Duke and UNC in consecutive days to put them off the bubble and very much IN the NCAA tourney.

So, happy watching to all this Conference Tournament Week. Selection Sunday is just days away so I urge you all to enjoy all the madness this week. Every moment you get this week as a fan to watch a conference tournament game, do it. This is truly the most wonderful time of the year, perhaps in all of sports. I am The Rabbi, and I am out.