Broseph's Bits And The Wednesday Gospel

There's something so magical and sublime about conference tournament time in college basketball. It's the perfect prelude to the madness because it's maddening how many games there are being played and at all hours of the day. The fastest way to decrease the nation's productivity is to throw on some basketball or baseball in the afternoon. It's hard to resist even for me who already works in this business. How can you turn away from the first round of the Big East tournament which will go on all day.

There's something great about giving every team in the country one more shot. The slate is clean for most teams in most conferences as even the squads with hopeless records get one more chance. There will be that eighth seed that we all will be rooting for despite not being able to pick them out on a map or naming a player who ever played there too. Oakland went 6-10 in their conference in 2005, but they won their tourney AND beat Alabama A&M in the play-in game before losing to North Carolina. The Grizzlies were 12-18 that season. How about Florida A&M in 1999 also made the field of 64 with a 12-18 record before they got blown out by Duke. The worst team was 1961 George Washington who went 9-16, but got to dance.

Some will argue that the conference tournaments are bad because they make the regular season worthless. These people don't get the essence of March Madness. These are the same people who want to get rid of the auto bids for the smaller conferences saying that they aren't one of the best teams in the nation. Those people would be wrong because the mid majors are what makes the tournament so magical. It's been a broken record in this column for me so I won't bore you with the Cinderella's who have captured the hearts and imaginations of us all.

Charlie Sheen mentioned that he keeps winning. Well the readers have been winning too if they followed my picks. Let's keep the good times going.

Utah State/New Mexico State Over 133.5 -- The battle of Aggies heats up in New Mexico as New Mexico State hopes to snap their three game losing streak. NM State has scored at least 70 points in seven of their last eight games. The team has scored less then 70 at home just three times this season. The two teams met January 22nd in Utah with USU winning 59-49. New Mexico State may score a lot, but they also play faulty defense allowing over 70 points too. Troy Gillenwater (19.3 ppg) and Hernst Laroche (11.7 ppg) lead the way for the home team. Utah State has a more balanced attack with five players scoring at least eight points per contest. This balance has helped them average 73 points per contest. They play tremendous defense at home and specialize in low scoring games there. On the road, they have been prone to higher scoring affairs putting up over 80 points at Nevada, San Jose State and Hawaii. The total is low enough that a scoring explosion by either team should help this go over.

Northwestern -3.5 -- Minnesota has been in a tailspin since their win over Northwestern on January 26th. The two teams renew acquaintances, this time, in the Wildcats' building. The Golden Gophers have lost three straight each by less then 10 points. The team's depth has been ravaged by injuries and off the court issues. Blake Hoffarber (13.9 ppg) and Trevor Mbakwe (13.9 ppg) are the main threats for Minnesota's offense which scores just under 70 points per game. Northwestern averages 72 per game and has three main scorers led by John Shurna's 16.8 points per game and Michael Thompson's 15.2 ppg. The Wildcats have hit the skids a bit, but for the most part they've taken care of business at home knocking off Iowa, Illinois and Michigan there.

TWTW: Neh-Vad-Uh Keeps On Rolling

((HT: KTVN-TV Reno))

Yeah, even if it was New Mexico State...

It was another chance for the best college QB you have neither seen nor heard of, Colin Kapernick, to run up on a Bottom of the Barrel Squad...

Garrett Dearborn is at the adult table...

New Mexico State Wins On The Last Play Of The Game

Those of us at the OSG HQ have been wondering if they knew had to play football in the state of New Mexico. The Lobos have been lousy for quite a while. The NM State Aggies haven't been much better. Saturday New Mexico State gave Aggie fans a homecoming thrill against San Jose State.

NMSU wide receiver Taveon Rogers caught an 8 yard touchdown pass with no time left on the clock as New Mexico State beat San Jose State 29-27 and is a hero in Las Cruces.

"It's just all the struggles we've had, these guys continue to work. We made some adjustments this week and it's great to see these kids win a football game." New Mexico State head coach DeWayne Walker said.

Here's the highlights. (Thanks AggieVision/ESPN.com)



And post game highlights as well. (Thanks AggieVison/Youtube.com)

TWTW: Can Mike Locksley Be Fired Now...???

((HT: Youtube/AggieVision))

Freshman QB Andrew Manley engineered a last-second drive to set up a Tyler Stampler field goal as New Mexico State reinforced the notion that the University of New Mexico should blow up their football program, winning 16-14.

The Aggies, who moved to 1-4 on the season, knocked UNM to 0-6.

Teddy Feinberg of the Las Cruces Sun-News gets the line of the night declaring that both teams, for most of the game "both looked as if they were avoiding the win altogether..."

There's that...

Here's the wrap-up from Aggie Vision...

TWTW: It's All About Style Points For Boise 59-0

((HT: KTVB-TV Boise))

The Broncos know what they have to do from now on...
Well, until they play Fresno and Nevada, anyway...

They have to completely destroy everyone they play...
Strike fast, strike hard, no mercy, sir...

This weekend, it wasn't an issue in a blowout of New Mexico State...
The HQ still is a proponent of outlawing Division 1 football in New Mexico...

Zach Wolken is in front of a monitor indoors...
Ryan Larrando is live by himself in the stadium in Las Cruces...

Don't Mess with the Mascot!

It seems as though there was a bit of a scuffle this weekend at the WAC Tournament in Reno, Nevada. During Saturday night's Semi-Final between Utah State and New Mexico State, it appears that the mascots...well got into a bit of a shoving match.

As the story goes...a Nevada fan apparently offered the Utah State Mascot $100 to pull the mustache off of the New Mexico State's mascot. That didn't sit real well, and you can probably guess what happened next.

We couldn't resist posting this story for 2 reasons. 1 because it's funny as hell, 2 because there are 2 photos of said fight. It's better to read about it than talk about it, so enjoy.

Read the links to the story here (Denver Post)

And a little bit more here (Google and The Associated Press)

((photo 1 courtesy of: Associated Press. photo 2 courtesy of: Eli Lucero/The Herald Journal))

Here's the tail end of the fight, thanks to KOLO-TV in Reno...
Looks a lot tamer than it was when we read about it...

College Basketball Predictions: Western Athletic Conference

For the last few years, Nevada has ruled the pack in the WAC. That trend looks to continue as the title will go through Reno once again but Utah State could challenge it things fall their way.

Best Team In The WAC - Nevada Wolf Pack:

The only thing better in Reno other than the gambling and legal brothels is Nevada basketball. Mark Fox has built a mid-major power in Reno and will continue their run of championships simply because the Wolf Pack have the best talent in the league.

Best Player In The WAC: Armon Johnson - Nevada:

He is the reigning WAC Freshman of the Year after averaging 11.5 PPG and 4 boards per as well.

Team That Could Surprise: New Mexico State Aggies

NMSU boasts a talented player in sophomore Herb Pope. He was inconsistent last year as a freshman even though he wasn't cleared to play till mid season. Pope is a former High School All-American who could be the most talented player in the WAC before he leaves Las Cruses. Pope has a supporting cast that is young. Watch out for the Aggies.

Who Goes Dancing: Nevada, Utah State, New Mexico State

Who Plays For Number 66: San Jose State

WAC Notes: Mark New Years Eve on your calendar WAC fans. That is when Nevada hosts North Carolina and the Tar Heels could be #1 in the country then. Its a big test not only for the Wolf Pack but for the league going up against the best in the ACC. The secret to Utah State's success is to protect their house. Last year the Aggies went unbeaten, 17-0, at the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum and are 142-17 at home the last 10 seasons. It's by far the best home court in the WAC.

Predicted Finish (Coaches Poll)

1. Nevada

2. Utah State

3. New Mexico State

4. San Jose State

5. Boise State

6. Louisiana Tech

7. Hawai'i

8. Fresno State

9. Idaho

Photo Courtesy: John Byrne/nevadawolfpack.com