The Back Nine comes at you after a four-TV weekend (if you count my laptop as a television) that included the six most beautiful words in sports -- "Kentucky's season comes to an end."
The closer one lives to Kentucky, the more one appreciates this comment.
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From: gatornews@googlegroups.com [mailto:gatornews@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of Shane Ford
Sent: Tuesday, March 22, 2016 6:56 AM
To: GatorNews
Subject: [gatornews] [SUN]: The Back Nine: Tournament best we've seen
The Back Nine: Tournament best we've seen
By Pat Dooley
Gainesville SUN Columnist
Published: Monday, March 21, 2016 at 5:04 p.m.
Last Modified: Monday, March 21, 2016 at 5:04 p.m.
The Back Nine comes at you after a four-TV weekend (if you count my laptop as a television) that included the six most beautiful words in sports -- "Kentucky's season comes to an end."
10. We all knew this could be a wild NCAA Tournament because of all of the mediocrity in college basketball. We all knew that could be reflected in our brackets. We all knew our brackets might be crumpled, burned or cut to shreds. But Friday at 5 p.m.? One of the things that people think you would be interested in, but you really are not is how their bracket is doing. It's like your fantasy football team or your hole-by-hole golf score. It's only interesting to you. So here is all I'll say about my bracket -- it's dead to me. It was put out of its misery Friday afternoon after Michigan State loss. I chose the least glamorous of ways to dispose of it, by throwing it in the garbage can of a convenience store. That's all it deserved. And I didn't want it in the house with me this morning. So I filled out a second chance bracket and I think it's already in trouble. It's been that kind of a Dance. From a pure viewing standpoint, I think it is the best one we've seen. Because we often cheer against our brackets.
11. OK, so we were right about one thing -- Kentucky's frontcourt would eventually do the Wildcats in. John Calipari's postgame news conference was interesting as always when he talked about how he couldn't have guys with "five gazillion" on the box score. "You know, five minutes and then a bunch of zeroes behind it," he said. Here's another thing about the Madness that can drive coaches crazy -- you get different officials than you are used to seeing. Kentucky had six offensive fouls against Indiana. "I don't think in my career we've had six offensive fouls," Calipari said.
12. I have a theory why Florida has played so well in its first NIT games -- the weight is off the players' shoulders. Down the stretch, you could almost see the pressure of trying to make it into the tournament eating away at the brains of these players like it was "The Walking Dead." The body language was less than outstanding and the missed free throws were as much a part of feeling the weight of the NCAA burden as much as anything. Once they were told they weren't in, it feels like they are playing free and loose, almost as if basketball is fun again. I know the opposition in these first two games has not been NCAA Tournament quality, but UF has looked like an NCAA team. Of course, the SEC really was an NIT league for the most part.
13. The conference didn't do so well in getting into the tournament and then staying in it. Texas A&M's miracle comeback set a new standard for when a game is over and the Aggies will carry the conference banner forward. That means the SEC will earn a minimum of six units of payout from the NCAA. Each unit is worth a little more than $265,000 and is paid out with a six-year rollover plan. Which is why the ACC is rolling in dough. The conference is assured a minimum of 19 units and had 21 last year. So it is guaranteed more than $30 million for this season for the next six years. The most units ever -- the Big East with 24 in 2009. I have a feeling the ACC is going to break that record.
14. If you were watching the SEC gymnastics meet Saturday, you were probably nervous for Bridgette Caquatto knowing that she was the last gymnast to perform and needed a 9.875 on the floor for Florida to win its 10th SEC title in the sport. And once she got done, we had to wait more than 10 minutes for her score to be posted because the meet was so close (although I suspect it was to fill time on the SEC Network because the meet flew by so quickly). Finally, they announced Florida won and the young ladies went nuts. Gymnastics is difficult to cover when you try to do it the way the SEC does it with multiple events going on at the same time, so give the SEC Network credit for trying to bring it to us live. And congrats to Jenny Rowland and her ladies, who are having a wonderful season.
15. For all of the great things that happened for the Gators this weekend, there was a scary moment when Mike Rivera jammed his neck while hustling into second Sunday. The catcher is a huge reason for UF's success, both behind and at the plate. Rivera was on his face in obvious pain, but it turns out he's OK. He'll sit out tonight's game and be ready to go for the weekend. The baseball team is playing some pretty strong baseball right now at 21-1 with a .307 batting average and a 2.51 ERA.
16. In fact, we talk all the time about the sports that use bats and balls being pretty strong around here, but did you ever think the two could be a combined 51-2? They also have this in common -- they don't overwhelm you, they just beat you. Both teams rely on pitching and defense. It's going to be an interesting spring around here.
17. The Tweet of the Week comes from Florida basketball player Cassie Peoples after UF lost to Albany in the first round -- "Thank you Gator fans for your amazing support. Y'all have been amazing. I'm sorry for failing you all today." Pretty powerful. It's important to remember that for every heart-stopping winner there are hearts being broken.
18. The wedding is getting close and this past weekend didn't help. So I really have to get a good playlist to push me into the gym:
• "The Last Thing On My Mind" by The Joy Formidable.
• "Stuck" by Day Wave.
• "Everything" by Dream Wife.
• "Cold To See Clear" by Nada Surf.
• And for an oldie, the sizzling "Me and Mrs. Jones" by Billy Paul.
Contact Pat Dooley at 352-374-5053 or at pat.dooley@gvillesun.com. And follow at Twitter.com/Pat_Dooley.
Sent From Shane's iPhone
Go Gators! & Skål Vikes!
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