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By Rhett, March 26, 2010 9:43 am

Basketball was watched.

http://www.tourneytrip.com/sites/2010-buffalo-ny/

Or, click on the spot in the right hand column where we had a giant picture of buffalo wings for the past year.

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By Rhett, March 15, 2010 5:03 pm

A year ago, the five member Tourney Trip selection committee chose Buffalo, NY as the site which would play host to our yearly trek to the NCAA tournament. Yesterday, the brackets were released, and our patience was rewarded with actual basketball teams to watch play at this site. Here is who we will see this weekend, battle for the honor to advance to the Sweet Sixteen.

1. Syracuse vs 16. Vermont – Personally, this is a cool game. I have never seen Syracuse, and really enjoy their hoops team. On the other hand, Vermont lives in the hearts of the underdogs, after the Catamounts knocked off the Orangemen in 2005, a very classic upset. Does this mean it will happen this year as well? Hell no. The fabled 16 seed over a 1 seed will probably never happen. However, there are a few things to take note of this year:

1. Syracuse is on a two game losing streak
2. The rock of their front court, Arinze Onuaku, is hurt, and may not play.
3. Sibling rivalry’s never die. Kris Joseph of the ‘Cuse will face off against Maurice Joseph of Vermont. This is the same Marucie Joseph who transfered from Michigan State a few years ago. He’s a senior now. This could be his last game. I will root for him as a former Spartan.

So, yeah. I’ll say right now that I won’t get my hopes up. I’m sure that won’t be the case when this thing tips off on Friday.

8. Gonzaga vs 9. Florida State – I’ve seen both teams play, but fellow trip members have not. Gonzaga is classic little guy who’s now a big guy. Florida State seems kind of gangster. I don’t really know much about their team. I’m sure the dog pound from Washington state will roll through pretty hard and make me root for Florida State.

2. West Virginia vs 15. Morgan State – Thuggins. Groan. I hope he decides to put on a goddam suit at least once. I am thinking we should find the team hotel and yell things at him, or something. Da’Sean Butler is my namesake, and has a pretty sweet basketball skillset. Morgan State only lost a single conference game, and beat Arkansas, at Arkansas. Gotta love when you collect a paycheck to make the trip, then slay the home team. I’m calling for Reggie Holmes to drop 30.

7. Clemson vs 10. Missouri – Somehow, someway, I’ve ended up with a Clemson basketball t-shirt in my travels. Can’t tell you how, or why. Missouri is super gangster, and will be rooted against heavily by this trip committee. I will watch the game because it’s a game, and whoever wins will automatically gain my following, should Thuggins knock off Reggie Holmes and company.

The trip starts on Wednesday at 3PM Eastern. I board a plan to Toronto 11:30 PM Pacific. Bring your drinking hats.

More to come.

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By Sam, July 9, 2009 3:07 am

#10 Quinn Snyder

This muppet not only holds multiple degrees from Puke but is also the son in law of creepy old vagabond coaching curmudgeon Larry Brown.  Looking at his pedigree it was obvious that he was going to be an insufferable wrong. He went out of his way to live up to that suspicion by coaching the run and gun/ illegally recruited chuckers from Mizzou to a moderate level of success in the early part of this decade. The end of his reign was thoroughly enjoyable to watch as NCAA sanctions and poor on the court performances sent him out of college basketball and into the NBADL.

The lowlights:

· Missouri hired Snyder over two other finalists with mutual interest…John Calapari and Bill Self

· Ricky Clemons – This guy was the ultimate flash in the pan, undisciplined kind of street baller that needs to either be coached up or sent back to the playground to train for a career on the And1 circuit. Instead Snyder rode him to some tournament success before his behavior pulled the entire program down around himself.

In early 03 Clemons was arrested on charges of assault and battery and false arrest against his lady friend because apparently she didn’t want to watch the same movie he did.  When he gets sentenced and has to spend time in jail he talks about how he and other players were receiving payments from the coaching staff. During the ensuing investigation it turned out that he never should have been academically eligible in the first place. Oh and while out on bail he flipped over an ATV at a party being held at the then-university president Elson Floyd’s house. The university was further embarrassed by this guy when a recording of Floyd’s wife’s phone call with Clemons was made public. In the call she advised Clemons to “stay away from them crackers”, referencing his (white) girlfriend. Nice publicity for the University Quinn.

· After the Clemons scandal forced him to clean house/ cover his ass and blame his assistants Quinn went a spectacular 42-42 never making another NCAA tournament.

· After back to back NIT flops Snyder was photographed clearly wasted at Mardi Gras, denied it was him when questioned about the photo, and then later had to acknowledge he was at Mardi Gras yet still tried to deny that was him in the photo, before finally admitting it could have been him.

· While at the Maui invitational coached a game in sandals.

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By Rhett, March 29, 2009 9:53 pm

-Tom Izzo, during the presser after Michigan State beat Louisville today.

The dreams of the Trip have been realized this afternoon after the Spartans took it to the ‘ville in Indianapolis to the tune of a 64-52 victory over the 1 seed to send Michigan State home to Detroit. This caps another amazing weekend for college basketball for myself.

Friday night, the ladyfriend and I took a trip down to Phoenix to catch the West Regional Final between #1 Connecticut and #3 Missouri on Saturday afternoon. Turned out to be a great game, as Missouri’s unorthodox style was able to give UConn trouble, even helping the Tigers take the lead midway through the second half. The Huskie’s size down low was able to overpower Missouri in the end, and gave UConn a 82-75 victory over Mizzou. Missouri fans were completely brutal, with sloppy clapping, stupid chants and this weird wave thing they did during their fight song with no words. A lot of old people with Missouri pants and t shirts. A true slacks convention. I did have breakfast with one old dude in a purple shirt, who was very happy with the Spartan’s play the night before, knocking off Mizzou rival Kansas. We came back to Vegas after the game.

It was a nice little trip, and I’m glad the randomness in my life prevailed, as it seems like a lot (five hour drive, sleeping in a crappy Econo Lodge) to put up with just for one game. BTW, Glendale AZ is a far superior host for a tournament than Philadelphia. If Phoenix wasn’t off by itself in the middle of the desert, I’m sure they’d get more run. Better grub, a very nice city center type area with shops, pubs, open areas to sit and watch people walk by, easy parking, and very few chuds.

Today I took in the entire MSU destruction of Pitino’s Louisville Cardinals. With UConn and Villanova (both teams we saw in Philly), I was worried about the state of mind of the trip in relation to the final four. We were never going to get a break, right?  No stupid giant letter “ville” hats for us. No hockey jerseys for the bandies. For the first time, a team the Trip follows on a regular basis and roots for will be at our site. The site of sites. The Final Four. Downtown Detroit. Real bars, real fans and a chance to see the greatest on the greatest stage. My flight leaves Friday afternoon, and I cannot wait to get there. Fellas, chill down the beers (which I’m sure you’re able to find fairly easily, unlike Philly), I’m coming to knock down a few and watch some hoops. Tourney Coat is packed.

I unofficially proclaim myself Mayor of Hoops City, and will arrive to take my thrown in 5 days.

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By Rhett, March 28, 2009 6:39 pm

It is perpetual.

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By Rhett, March 1, 2009 11:44 pm

Today is March 1st. The calendar officially recognizes what is laid out before us, and the basketball gods produced a buffet of basketball for all to enjoy this weekend.

Michigan State @ Illinois -  MSU locked up a piece of the Big Ten season title with a gritty tense win vs a game Illinois team full of freaks with long arms and fast guards. Shout out to Lucas showing up, Morgan getting his mind right, and young Ibok’s playing a hand-full of meaningful minutes vs Wayman Tisdale’s illegitimate 7 foot + son. Great game to watch, and I did not have to break anything against my wall and / or TV. Really want them to finish strong with games @ Indiana and home vs the train makers and they’re host of scrubs with bad backs. Gotta beat these clowns down.

Marquette @ Louisville – Johnny Whitesuits out in full force for the early game. I have enjoyed watching this Marquette team all season long. It’s sad to see them continue on with James on the bench. Some of their swagger is gone. They still hung in the game and had several chances to win it. Louisville is a good basketball team, and they have a nice home crowd. Prolly the team to take a #1 seed should any of the anointed 4 drop a late season game they shouldn’t.

Missouri @ Kansas – Joke of a game. It took all Missouri had to eeek out a win in Columbia a few weeks back. Sharron Collins is insane. No way they were going to drop this game.

Georgetown @ Villanova (Saturday) – Since when has it come down to this? Villanova is good, sure, but why is Georgetown on the outside looking in? They have superior athletes, superior size and supposedly a great coach. The Princeton offense is nice, and its a cute novelty, but it has to go. You run that crap when your team is full of 6′3″ white guys, not 7 foot big men who should be beasting in the pant dunking and drawing fouls. Scrap this crap and go to the basket. It’s just too late for this year, as they’re probably not going to get to the tourney.

Mountain West race has gotten a ton tighter. My last game was BYU @ UNLV, with the Rebels pulling off another impressive win 75-74 (game # 21). They have since lost to Utah and have no shot to win the conference regular season title. It will probably come down to New Mexico and Utah. New Mexico has the easiest schedule left, but Utah is currently 1st. Look for three NCAA bids max from the MWC with Utah and BYU locks. San Diego St. hasn’t played anybody, New Mexico hasn’t either, which should give UNLV the nod based on their non conference victories at Louisville and home vs Arizona. Of course, they will have to win their last two games (at home vs Air Force and at SDSU). UNLV always has the conference tourney in their own back yard, which helps.

Looking forward to the next couple of weeks, you should find me at the WCC tournament, which is held here in Las Vegas at the Orleans Arena. My thanks to the organizers for hooking up the evening start times, which will allow me to get out of work and get there in time. I hope Patrick Mills can get back in time to get some run, as I’d like to see him live.

I should be able to find my way to a few sessions of the MWC tourney held at the Thomas and Mack as well, pending financial situations and whether my wife will wonder where I’ve been. This is Las Vegas you know, no reason to make the ladyfriend suspect.

From there, its off to Philly on Wednesday, March 19th to enjoy the 1st and 2nd rounds of the NCAA tournament. Selection committee, take notice – if BYU is sent to Philadelphia, I will make it my personal goal to make each and every BYU fan enjoy a weekend of living hell. Do not send this curse on them, or myself.