Docket Rulings for 4/11:

• Tiger’s comeback/collapse + Charl Schwartzal’s triumph at the Master’s
• Miami Heat’s toss of the Celtics to stay in second
• Red Sox silence critics with a storming of the Yankees
• Continued NBA playoff perspective

Call in to plead a case or join the Major in prosecuting sporting offenders, no athlete, team or program is safe! LIVE from Los Angeles 917.889.9592!

Lace-up those Nike’s – the Madness has resumed!

But it’s not just NCAA that’s ripe for the taking, oh no, the NBA has also given us a multitude of scenarios to pick over.

What’s Good?

Jimmer Fredette aka WHITE VADER not a reasonable NBA starter? Get the f out of here!

Everyone is trying to bring down the force that is Jimmer Fredette but I’ve got news for you, he’s in control of his own destiny, not you naysayers.

I came across an article earlier today at lunch (of course now I can’t find it) where some league executives & scouts for the NBA were actually making cases against Jimmer’s NBA potential. For the most part, they relegated him to a bench or role player, someone who will never be more than a situational scoring guard when his team needs it.

They went on embellishing that should BYU knock off Florida tonight, his stock will rise exponentially into a higher lottery pick, but if he doesn’t, watch his value drop like Dez Bryant’s jeans.

If I was English I’d call it poppycock, ballyhoo or rubbish, but I’m American so I call it bullshit haterade.

Vesting the likes of Gonzaga & Wofford in the first round & trampling all over conference rivals & higher seeded San Diego State twice doesn’t do enough for you?

How about his 28.8 PPG/45% FG/40% 3PG from this year?

Maybe that he’s dropped 30+ points in 15 games this season, with 4 straight games like that to end the season into the tournament?

Face facts, the kid knows when to turn it on & how to vanquish his enemies.

The question isn’t WHAT he’s going to do in the NBA, but WHO he’s going to do it to.

Jimmer for President.

With so much swirling around in our heads, let’s take this madness one step at a time.

First, a look at who really deserves the top spots in each region.

The ONE’S

• OHIO STATE

• KANSAS

• DUKE

• PITTSBURGH

Take into account that OSU, KU & Duke all ran their respective conference tournament’s and all either won or contended for their regular season conference crowns. Pittsburgh’s body of work, combined with their tough non-conference schedule bumps them up & Notre Dame out of the top-4 in favor of Duke. For the simple Irish fans who don’t follow rational logic, Duke won their conference tournament against the regular season champion, Notre Dame didn’t even make it to the Championship game and that’s just not enough for my taste.

The TWO’S

• CONNECTICUT

• NORTH CAROLINA

• SAN DIEGO STATE

• NOTRE DAME

An astounding Big East tournament title and their tenacity all season long makes UCONN my top #2 seed. UNC comes in a close second due to their ridiculous run of comeback’s through the ACC tournament and of course the ACC regular season crown helps too. The Aztec’s were able to finally exercise the Jimmer demons in the MWC tournament and has earned the right to be in the upper echelon with only two total losses all season. While the Irish probably don’t deserve to be this low of a #2 seed, a sweet but just short stint in the Big East tournament is really their only flaw, which came at the wrong time for this hot team.

The THREE’S

• LOUISVILLE

• BYU

• FLORIDA

• KENTUCKY

The Cardinals, Cougars and Gators all made it to their respective conference tournament championships games. In addition to Louisville’s previous to victories over UCONN, BYU & Florida were also co & regular season champions for their respective conferences. Kentucky’s run in the SEC tournament did a lot to prove they have grown from their inexperience since September and deserve the seeding of such a squad.

The FOUR’S

• TEXAS

• SYRACUSE

• ARIZONA

• PURDUE

The Longhorns found themselves in a grudge match against the Jayhawks, but they still have the talent and the resume to the best of the four seeds. Syracuse has had their issues but put in some strong work at the end of the regular season and  in the Big East tournament, knocking off West Virginia, Georgetown, Villanova and St. John’s, all of whom will be seeded lower in the dance. Between Arizona and Purdue it’s really a matter of schedule. The Wildcats are getting the edge because of their regular season Pac-10 title and their ferocious losing battle with Washington in the Pac-10 tournament. Purdue has been lackluster to close the season, plus their loss to Michigan State is just a sour way to go out of the Big-10 tournament after such high hopes for a deep run.

The FIVE’S

• XAVIER

• TEMPLE

• UTAH STATE
  

• SAINT JOHN’S

Two A-10 teams in this group is a scary thought, but I do love my mid-Major darlings. Xavier won the A-10 regular season crown while Temple took the tournament down. Utah State was the WAC regular season champion as well as the tournament champion making them an easy choice here. The controversy for me was who was the last of the best? It came down to a handful of deserving squads, but after looking thoroughly at all the criteria, Saint John’s gets the nod. On the bubble are Vanderbilt, Florida State, Wisconsin & Texas A&M. Why the Red Storm you ask? Simply put, they play in the Big East and had more victories against top-25 teams than any of the other contenders.

If you haven’t come down with it yet, don’t worry the fever should hit you soon enough.

Madness is brewing and after a hearty weekend of fun-filled fisticuffs all around the league, there is no better time like the present to show us what you got for the big dance.

Conference tournaments are already in full swing, with most of the big boys taking flight this week, we are officially into MAJOR MADNESS.

10. NORTH CAROLINA

Swiping the ACC title away from pre-season favorite Duke should net these Heels more respect, both in the polls and in the ACC tournament.

The combination of Kendall Marshall, Harrison Barnes & Tyler Zeller have proved to be lethal, not to mention role players like Dexter Strickland and John Henson give UNC that extra punch when necessary, so it should come as no surprise that a conference champion would post in the top-10 easier than a tied for third Syracuse team.

9. TEXAS

Their stumbles @ Nebraska & Colorado are terrifying when you consider how well the Longhorns played on the road up until, still, you have to wonder what will happen in the Big 12 tournament.

Vesting a surging Baylor team away shouldn’t have been such a big deal, but keeping in mind those two uglies on the road beforehand, it became a much needed sealer for a possible auto-bid. The real question remains though: Can their savvy leadership mesh with their talented youth for a burst into the dance?

8. PURDUE

With a chance to seize a potential top-5 spot pre-Big 10 tournament, the Boilermakers fell flat on their faces against “unreal team” Iowa, helping them to slip a bit further than they would like.

They still have the experience and the tenacity to make a heavy push in the conference tournament, but with so much potential and expectation surrounding the Boilermakers, I have to start wondering if Matt Painter is more of a finesse coach than a general leading his men into battle. If they can’t make a big dent in the Big 10 tourny, they could find themselves battling a tough first round opponent come next week.

7. BYU

After the Brandon Davies saga, the Cougars allowed their chance at redemption and solidarity to pass them by against New Mexico. While a rebound win over Wyoming is nice, it’s not any mega sign about who this team is. Jimmer and Abouo have a lot of work to do, but we still have to admire the poise they have showed in the face of some seriously dirty laundry.

6. DUKE

Where did the road skills go? I fear a serious malfunction in the Duke locker room regarding late-game adjustments and challenges. The master of young-men is probably feeling a bit spent, but a good jolt from UNC most likely cured Coach K from that catatonic state. Prepare for war in the ACC tourny, it’s likely they just take it straight to the house with total disregard for any human life.

5. SAN DIEGO STATE

Wait, no hold up. Yes, I did. No, they aren’t in a major conference, but hey, they’ve still only lost TWO games all season, both to the SAME TEAM, and in my book, that counts for a lot.

Co-Mountain West champions? Yes please.

4. NOTRE DAME

I’m not thrilled to put them here, but I can’t deny a deserving placeholder when I see one.

Capitalizing on others’ missteps is key at the end of the NCAABB season and no team has done a better job of it than the Irish. They closed out by running over Villanova and Connecticut and boast a seasoned team that has the chops to make it far in both the conference tournament and big dance. Not much to dislike about them other than their fans.

3. PITTSBURGH

Big East regular season champions and poised for big things, had Ohio State and Kansas lost at all over the weekend, they would have been a clear cut #1, and with some magic during conference tournament time, Jamie Dixon’s squad could be #1 overall come this time next week.

Believe in the Pitt Panthers unlike years’ past, this time they are for real.

2. KANSAS

If any coach knows how to keep his team finishing strong, it’s Bill Self. Streaking wins against Colorado, Oklahoma State, Oklahoma, Texas A&M and Missouri are a great indicator that the Jayhawks are ready to make a run of it in the Big 12 tournament.

Should they capture that crown, I fear what damage they could inflict in the first and second rounds.

1. OHIO STATE

No doubt about it, the longest tenured undefeated team this season deserves their spot at the regular season top. Senior leadership, undergrad talent and a heap of expert coaching, Ohio State will be a monster to slay from here on out and if I’m facing them, pitch forks and torches aren’t going to be enough.

11. SYRACUSE – Worthy cause over the final weeks, but let’s see how they handle the Big East tournament before we go crowning them.

12. FLORIDA – Huge SEC title for them, potent and poised with Senior Chandler Parsons & Vernon Macklin, they could be a sleeping giant in March.

13. WISCONSIN – It’s tough to lose your last game of the year, but the Badgers like tournament play a whole lot more.

14. LOUISVILLE – They beat Pitt, but losing @ Morgantown really puts a damper on all their hard work.

15. ARIZONA – Bouncing back against the state of Oregon probably never felt so good.

16. ST. JOHN’S – The Seton Hall loss was a fluke, this team is going deep so strap in.

17. KENTUCKY – Big wins against Vandy & Tennessee have these young Wildcats believing at just the right time.

18. XAVIER – When other teams fail and you succeed with a 9 game win-streak to end the season, yea you win.

19. UTAH STATE – What’s almost as good as 9 games? How about 6?

20. CONNECTICUT – Brutal thrashing by WVU & Notre Dame played this one-man-band right off stage.

21. GEORGETOWN – Tisk, tisk Hoyas. Dropping three in a row is not a good way to show the committee you’re legit, especially when two of them were against Cincinnati.

22. VILLANOVA – The only thing worse than three is four, and I know they were all ranked, but not one win? That’s no bueno indeed.

23. VANDERBILT – Same goes for the Commodores. Losing your last two is pitiful, especially in the SEC.

24. WEST VIRGINIA – Welcome to Graceland, Bob Huggins.

25. TEXAS A&M – The only reason they make the cut over Missouri is because they won their last regular season game against Texas Tech, plain & simple.

With every great massacre there is always clean-up. Here are my Top-25 teams in NCAABB for the week. Let’s see how well they hold up come Monday morning.

10. WISCONSIN

The cheesy ones just sneak in. Thanks to surprising losses by Arizona & Georgetown, they inherit the last of the best.

It’s not like their opponents have been intimidating, yet despite they have managed to pull out a very narrow win in Ann Arbor and a slaughter against Northwestern which earns them my nod.

Ohio State will be ugly, but if anyone can take it, it would be Bo Ryan’s Badgers.

9. SAN DIEGO STATE

Yes, this is a big drop, but consider they just got whipped, AGAIN, by BYU, and it was at home for the Aztecs, who now seem to be out of the race for the MWC crown.

I wouldn’t write them off for a possible run in the MWC tournament, but it might hold a rubber-match that’s more lopsided than even. Jimmer’s got their number and if Wyoming was paying attention on Saturday, it could get ugly in San Diego real quick.

8. PITTSBURGH

Very valiant effort against a tough to beat home team Louisville, but nevertheless, they lost another one on the road. Coupled with the L to St. John’s, I’m not overly impressed with the sandwich win against the Mountaineers.

Still, they are dangerously potent and are probably looking ahead, not behind. I’m not really pleased to put them here, but there are teams playing better right now and I’m going to give props where they are due.

7. TEXAS

What once seemed so promising is now starting to shed it’s facade. Nebraska and now Colorado? You’ve gotta be kidding! No seriously, is Rick Barnes joking with this road defense in the 2nd half?

Things don’t get anymore appetizing with the newly invigorated K-State Wildcats and Baylor Bears coming up to close out the regular season. It’ll be interesting to see how the Longhorns rebound and lucky for them, they start the stretch in Austin.

It’s not how you start, its how you finish, so I’ll keep it short & sweet: ALWAYS BE CLOSING.

6. NOTRE DAME

This pains me, really, because I just dislike the Irish, but they have re-earned my respect after dropping a sure-fire win in Morgantown. They could have buckled, caved, crapped-out against Seton Hall & the always dangerous Providence, but they didn’t.

Also, it doesn’t hurt your case when your closest in conference foe Pittsburgh loses either.

5. PURDUE

Riding a six-game streak and looking at a soft finale to the regular season, the Boilermakers are sneaking into the top 5 like thieves in the night.

They have the depth, the experience and the tenacity to make a deep run and after all these years of underachieving, it could be time for the pot to bubble over in Indiana.

4. DUKE

It’s just not safe to be #1 anymore. The ACC is getting no love, or respect for that matter, from the pollsters, but I’m believing in this new found depth within the divisions. There is always a chance when you’re playing at home, just ask Florida State, Virginia Tech & St. John’s.

This doesn’t mean I’m losing confidence in the Blue Devils, because they are certainly a sleeping giant waiting to be angered, and if North Carolina can pull off the Chapel Hill upper-cut, I greatly fear their wrath come tournament time.

3. KANSAS

Yippee they beat Oklahoma & Oklahoma State….yawn…sorry Jayhawks but you ain’t cutting the mustard even with the struggles of Duke & Texas.

They’ve got two dangerous match-up’s ahead, Texas A&M at home and a visit to Missouri, but I’m gonna wager they find a way to somehow botch it when it matters most, probably as soon as they are voted #1 again, which is why they aren’t getting my vote until they do more than just NOT fail.

2. BYU

Not only did they smash the one opponent all thought they should fear, but they did it in hostile SDSU territory. The one-two punch of the surely locked-in POY candidate Jimmer Fredette & his South African smasher forward Charles Abouo are poised to swipe a tournament #1-seed from some poor Big East or Big-12 team and there hasn’t been a more pre-tourny darling than them in years.

Vengeance is on the horizon against New Mexico and with a quick run over the MWC tournament, the Cougars are just a few weeks away from living the dream, Cinderella style.

1. OHIO STATE

So they worked out the kinks and look to be steam rollin’ through the Big-10 straight on to the dance. David Lighty’s coming out party against Illinois reminded us that it’s not just about Jared Sullinger in Assembly Hall.

All that remains for the Buckeyes is a quick trip to Penn State followed by a bloodsport re-match against Wisconsin, neither of which really strike fear in my heart, but hey anything could happen.

And I’m not forgetting that Kansas was ranked #2 last week, and understand that naturally the safe assumption would be that because they won this weekend, they should automatically go up – it’s logic to most out there, but when has the Major ever really bought into other people’s logic?

That would be never.

See you crazy kids @ 10 am for Majority Rules and let’s discuss, shall we?

11. LOUISVILLE – UCONN & PITT in the same week? Someone done pissed Pitino off.

12. NORTH CAROLINA – Fear the Heel!

13. SYRACUSE – They are still soft, but vesting Villanova & Georgetown both on the road, maybe they’ve finally got it together in Syracuse.

14. GEORGETOWN – Maybe they should be lower, but I’ll give them some lee-way with the absence of Wright.

15. SAINT JOHN’S – Steve Lavin is going to take this team deep in the dance.

16. VANDERBILT

17. TEMPLE

18. FLORIDA – Yuck, don’t even start with this Donovan. Your team is actually good!

19. KENTUCKY - I bet that tasted good, eh Calipari?

20. VILLANOVA - Losing to Syracuse & St. John’s in the same week, no bueno heading into the Big East tournament. Can they bounce-back against a the gritty teams remaining on their slate, Pittsburgh & Notre Dame?

21. CONNECTICUT - The one-man-band is starting to run out of tunes.

22. TEXAS A&M

23. ARIZONA – Who thought they could fall so far? Well, when you lose to UCLA & USC in the same week, it’s hard to argue.

24. UTAH STATE

25. XAVIER

I can’t recall the last stretch of time where both the NBA & NCAA have been so enthralling simultaneously, and with my enthusiasm comes a new blog!

If the NBA trade deadline hasn’t been titillating enough for you, collegiate hoops just keeps getting more dicey, especially as we draw closer to conference tournament play.

In honor of our lovely program this evening “Court-Side Cocktails” here are some golden nuggets of thought spanning the pro’s & am’s that our esteemed panel of chefs (Mark Moseley, P. City, Seth K., Serious, Tymeless & special guest Shaun Howard) will be chopping up on tonight’s broadcast.

• CARMELO ANTHONY TO KNICKS

While I can’t say it made me happy to see that a cry-baby got his way, I can understand the concept of going home again. Not only going home, but being embraced by home, and Carmelo received quite an ovation in the Garden last night, with just cause. His line wasn’t THAT impressive 27-10-1 (10-25 FG% is concerning but I’ll cut him some slack being that it was his first game as a Knickerbocker) nor was his defense, something I won’t give him slack on, but it’s safe to assume the Knicks are on their way, again, maybe.

• DERON WILLIAMS TO NETS
  

After months of pining over where Melo would end up, it’s safe to assume that Deron Williams was completely blindsided with his trade to New Jersey. I ripped on the Nets for taking practice off on Tuesday, seemingly due to mourning their loss of Melo, however it would appear the front office was doing a bit more moving & shaking behind the scenes in order to recover.

If Williams gets comfy in New Jersey, it could be one hell of a cross-town rivalry in two years, and that makes for a formidable Eastern conference. There’s whispers of Jerry Sloan giggling in his recliner, so much so that his depends needed cleaning. If it’s drama you want, you’ll get it in Utah, there’s lots of big love to go around now that the heel Williams is gone.

• BARON DAVIS TO CAVALIERS
  

A few years back when BD signed as a FA with the Clippers instead of re-upping with the Warriors, everyone in LA knew why: He’s a homegrown, City of Angels mogul, complete with his own production company and Hollywood roots. Baron was looking to settle down, and settle down he did. Just like any happy cow, he put on some weight, rekindling his injury concerns of old, and in his absence, the dazzling play of Eric Gordon & Eric Bledsoe didn’t bode well for the complacent point guard to stay put in his hometown.

It’s not shocking that he was dealt, but it is interesting that they traded for another semi-overrated PG in Mo Williams. Whatever the case may be for Cleveland, it was a good move getting a veteran like Davis who might be able to muster them some wins in the seasons final weeks. Either way, Cavalier fans better hope that the giddy Baron they saw at All-Star weekend is still present, otherwise it could be a sour end to an already bitter season.

• GEORGETOWN

Let’s be frank – the Hoyas have been inconsistent at best this season. They have had their struggles on the road and at home all year, and last night dropped a must-have conference home game to Cincinnati. In addition, their senior point guard Chris Wright broke his hand in the loss to the Wildcats, leaving Austin Freeman to his own devices.

Where do the Hoyas go from here? Well, it’s looking like down with two conference games left on the schedule (@Syracuse, @Cincinnati) and with St. John’s, Louisville & Notre Dame surging in the Big East standings, the loss of Wright might be final straw that breaks the Hoyas spirit.

• NORTH CAROLINA

Every now and then a good loss to your in-state rival can do an underachieving team some good, as in the case of UNC & Duke. It’s clear that the Blue Devils are a lock to win the outright ACC regular season crown, but depending upon how the Heels finish up against Maryland, at Florida State, they may put on a shocker in Chapel Hill come March 5th when the Dukey’s visit for the culmination of college hoops.

It’s not often we have an underdog North Carolina team in the grand scheme of the tournament, but flying under the radar so late in the year might just give the Heels an element of surprise their unused to having. If Kendall Marshall continues his amazing play and Harrison Barnes remains in rounding-out mode, we could very well witness the first UNC team ever to be ranked lower than potential to outperform their expectation.

-MAJ

Please join us this evening in the Sport City Chefs Kitchen as we cook up these topics & more tonight @ 11 PM est only on BlogTalkRadio.

Follow me on twitter @themajorgray

How swiftly the crown falls.

Seeing as most of the top-10 suffered an L in the past week, it’s going to be a lovely little massacre in the poll come Monday.

Waiting is for the foolish, so lucky for you, here’s the dish on my Top-10, with bonus coverage of the top-25.

10. ARIZONA

Believe it people, the Pac-10 is back in the Top-10.

The Wildcats are storming through the conference with gusto, and are poised to finally break their meager tournament seeds of recent past with a run through the Pac-10 tournament.

9. NOTRE DAME

It was a good run while it lasted, and considering they barely escaped Louisville recently, moving one spot back is by the grace of the Major.

Ben Hansborough can’t do it all, but he might just have to.

8. PURDUE

Call them the Giant slayers. Go ahead and try to argue me they don’t belong here after vesting both Wisconsin and Ohio State in the same week, especially after the Badgers dismantled the Buckeyes. Granted both wins were on home turf for the Boilermakers, still, they’ve got the talent and the tenacity to belong within the top 10, and ahead of Notre Dame simply due to the Irish’s collapse in Morgantown.

7. KANSAS

Look, when you lose to your in-state rival on the day you’re crowned, you’re out of my Top 5, it’s that cut & dry.

Besides, I’m not a big Jayhawk believer anyway. Their schedule is supremely suspect and the Morris twins need to find more consistency on both ends of the floor. There’s one thing you don’t do in Kansas if you’re a Jayhawk, and it’s lose to the Wildcats.

6. TEXAS

Losing to Nebraska was just ugly, but I’m going to say they got bushwhacked and simply overlooked a competitive conference foe on the road.

The Big 12 isn’t all that impressive, and the Cornhuskers are pretty good at home. I like the Longhorns a lot more when we’re talking tournament potential, but after tanking their chance to grab #1 with KU’s loss last Monday, I’m thinking they let the prospect of being on top get the best of them.

5. PITTSBURGH

I don’t like putting them here, but this is likely where they should be considering their loss total and the return of Ashton Gibbs did nothing to help the Panthers fend off St. John’s.

The Big East is starting to really get murky and I’m not willing to put them higher than the mid-majors that are still rocking opponents night in & out.

4. OHIO STATE

Like I said last week, the Buckeyes are going to ride on cruise control for the rest of the regular season now that perfection is off the table. If that means they are a sleeping giant, so be it, but they aren’t Top 3 anymore after dropping two straight road games.

They are good, but they’ll wait and show the big guns come March, even if that means dropping one or two more before tourney time.

3. BYU

You wanted Jimmer, you got him. Simply put, just two losses overall (yes, they do play in the Mountain West, and no I haven’t forgotten that loss to UCLA) so I’m giving them the respect their record deserves.

Sure, there’s beef to find with this, but save it for my next trick.

2. SAN DIEGO STATE

How’s this for meaty? For all the talk of going “undefeated” between the Aztecs and Buckeyes, SDSU still has only one loss, and to me, that counts a hell of a lot more than what conference they play in compared to OSU, KU & UT.

We get the Cougars/Aztecs rematch on Saturday. Consider me officially pumped.

1. DUKE

Back where they belong. I’m probably aiming for the stars with my #2 & #3′s, but even I can recognize a deserving #1 team when I see one. Duke’s two losses were at the hands of likely tournament Cinderella’s FSU & St. John’s, and to me those are worthy losses.

Coach K will have his hands full with Temple Wednesday, but if Nolan Smith & Kyle Singler can push the Blue Devils through the Owls, there’s a good chance they end the season right where they started it, even with the danger of UNC in Chapel Hill looming at regular seasons end.

The rest of the Top-25 after the jump.

25. UTAH STATE

24. XAVIER

23. TEMPLE

22. KENTUCKY

21. TEXAS A&M

20. MISSOURI

19. SYRACUSE

18. NORTH CAROLINA

17. VANDERBILT

16. CONNECTICUT

15. FLORIDA

14. VILLANOVA

13. LOUISVILLE

12. GEORGETOWN

11. WISCONSIN

Because most of the time, the pollsters get it wrong.

And in the kitchen, we like our sports spicy.

10. WISCONSIN (19-5)

When others lose, someone has to win. The troubles of Villanova, Syracuse & Connecticut make it easy to vault the Badgers into top-10 territory.

I completely respect their win over Ohio State Saturday, but it was a gimme. Bo Ryan doesn’t lose in Madison, fact, and I doubt any team in the NCAA could have won that game, so it’s almost inherit.

Still, they beat Purdue recently and have strong resume wins over Minnesota & Illinois, however their split OT series with Michigan State is a head scratcher.

9. GEORGETOWN (20-5)

Losing at home to Pittsburgh a month ago hit home for the Georgetown seniors.

Since then, the Hoyas have been mauling the Big East, tackling Villanova away, Louisville & Syracuse away on an 8 game win-streak.

It’s tough to build in the Big East, but if they can vest a reeling Connecticut squad this week, they could be poised to steal the conference away from Pittsburgh should they falter.

8. NOTRE DAME (21-4)

Since dropping back-to-back games in early January, the Irish have been balling out of their minds.

Ben Hansbrough has been lighting up near & far, pushing Mike Brey’s Irish to their best start since 1981 with 3 wins against the top-25 during their 10 game win-streak.

The rest of the Big East better prepare for a fight, because they aren’t going down quietly.

7. BYU (24-2)

They ought not be punished for attempting to polish their RPI, but seeing as they do have a loss to UCLA & that nasty clunker at home to New Mexico, I can’t help but keep them a shade outside the circle.

Jimmer is a cricket and I see big things for him come Mountain West conference tournament time, as well as Madness time, but their major wins aren’t wowing me quite yet.

6. SAN DIEGO ST. (25-1)

It’s not often a team wins a huge conference road game and drops in the polls, but I fear it all too real a possibility for the Aztecs come Monday.

That pesky Jimmer Fredette really mucked things up for SDSU, but seeing as their is a rematch on the horizon, things are far from done in the Mountain West, and for a NCAA hoops fan, that’s exciting.

5. OHIO ST. (24-1)

When Duke lost their first game, they dropped to 4, so consider this generous being that they play in the Big-10.

It was an inevitable loss, especially in Madison, and it wouldn’t surprise me if their was more to come in the L column for the Buckeyes.

With a nice cushion in conference, their is no longer a need to push the envelope, so I expect a full retreat from heavy battles, that is of course unless things get too interesting.

4. DUKE (23-2)

A thrilling rivalry win against North Carolina last week was just what the Blue Devils needed to finish the job in the ACC.

Cemented for a top seed come tournament time, Duke has the arsenal, even on cold nights, with or without Kyrie Irving.

Nolan Smith should be believed, but I need more consistency from a usually fundamental Kyle Singler before I grant them veteran approval.

They belong Top-3, but seeing as they are the more recent to lose, they stay outside for now.

3. KANSAS (24-1)

Their home loss to Texas is the main reason for this placement. Coupled with an unimpressive bounce-back win at Colorado, and a ‘meh’ home win against Missouri last week, I don’t see any intimidating opponents on the horizon.

You must protect your house to be a number one, or two for that matter.

2. TEXAS (22-3)

The Longhorns get me giddy. Rick Barnes has exciting plays, promotes a fast-paced aggressive minded defensive philosophy and Tristan Thompson is make a firm case form himself in the POTY talks.

Their loss to Pittsburgh seems like forever ago, but it will burn for Texas so long as the Panthers continue to thrive.

However, the Longhorns are undefeated in Big-12 play (10-0) and look pretty good to run the conference table, making them a virtual lock for a #1 seed in the tournament.

1. PITTSBURGH (23-2)

Look, I know Kansas or Texas certainly deserve it more in the grand scheme & main stream, but hear me out.

First, the Panthers beat Texas back in November. Yes it was a long time back, and on home turf for Pitt, but still, they won, albeit barely and that’s undeniable.

Second, standing atop the Beast of NCAA hoops has to count for something. When you’re running with contenders night in, night out, beating the likes of Connecticut, Georgetown, Syracuse & Villanova, where’s the respect?

My vote goes to Pittsburgh, and while I do like Texas a lot (especially when compared to Kansas), the grit & poise that Brad Wanamaker, Gary McGhee & Gilbert Brown have shown in the absence of Ashton Gibbs tells me that they are a tight-knit group poised to rise, or fall, together, and that type of camaraderie is an ingredient for deep tournament success.

Majority Rules the Kitchen audio preview for 2/10 regarding Troy Polamalu

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Dishing Down on Majority Rules