By The Way, Cornell Is Beating Stanford On Thursday
Large man Jeff Foote will hold the fort against Stanford's twin towers
Okay I may have officially lost it, I'm convinced that Cornell will pull an opening round upset over Stanford in Anaheim on Thursday. I don't know if the fact that the program hasn't been to the NCAA tournament since 1988 has altered my judgement, but I'm 99.9% sure of a Cornell victory. I was even able to find someone who agrees, almost.
What did I find shocking about selection Sunday? Arizona getting the nod over Arizona State? Virginia Tech getting snubbed despite the fact that they just beat #7 seed Miami and gave #1 seed UNC a run for their money in the ACC tournament? Hardly. I was shocked to see that the Cornell Big Red only got a 14 seed. Cornell is the hottest team in the country, running off 16 straight wins following a loss to Duke at Cameron. The refs were probably Duke homers. Cornell also boasts an undefeated conference record, I expected at least a 12 seed.
But hey, the Big Red became the first Ivy League team besides Penn or Princeton to go to the Big Dance in 20 years, so no complaints here. And look at the awesome draw they got! Good old Stanford. Doesn't it seem like the Cardinal always bow out of the Tournament a little earlier than they should?
The Cardinal hasn't been past the second round in its past five trips to the tournament. They've lost in the first round their last two trips. In 2004, Stanford was a #1 seed and got upset by 8th seeded Alabama in the second round. In 2000 they once again garnered #1 seed, but got upset by another 8 seed, North Carolina. In 1999, they entered as a 2 seed and were upset by 10th seeded Gonzaga in the 2nd round. The last time the Cardinal had a 3 seed? It was in 1989 when they lost to the 14 seed, another upstate NY school, Siena (this is no coincidence). I think losing early in the tournament can be considered a trend for Shamford.
Let me guess, Shamford is led by two tall as hell twin brothers. Come on, we've seen this tired act before when the Collins brothers were in Palo Alto. They're a big team, so what? The bigger they come the harder they fall.
What do you need for a tournament upset? Well, first you'll need some three point shooters. The Big Red's top three scorers, Ryan Whitman, Louis Dale, and Adam Gore, shot 47%, 36%, and 42% respectively from behind the arc. The Big Red were 3rd in the country from three point land as a team, shooting 41.4%. That's a big 10-4 on the threes, but you also need to shoot your free throws for the upset. Well good news there, the Big Red's top four scorers average 88% from the charity stripe, and overall Cornell is tied for eighth in the country in free throw percentage at 76.3%. Shamford doesn't even crack the top 100 in either of those categories. The last key ingredient is a team willing to be upset, and if history is any indicator Stanford is ready and willing to oblige.
Can a team with great big men overpower the Big Red? Yes. Shamford's big guys? Hell no. I see Jeff Foote and Jason Hartford surprisingly holding the fort down low, while the Big Red sharpshooters work the perimeter. Add a few clutch free throws down the stretch, and there's your Thursday upset. Sorry Stanford, it was cool when you beat USC in football this season. Better luck next year. Hail, all hail, Cornell!
** Editor's Note -- Commenter Dave astutely points out that Stanford actually went to the Final Four the last time they were a #3 seed in 1998. D'oh. But, The Cardinal has exited in the 1st or 2nd round 11 of their last 14 Tournament appearances. And they did lose to #14 seed Siena in 1989.
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10 comments:
The last time Stanford was a #3 seed was 1998, when they went to the Final Four.
Damn, my stellar research missed that Dave, you're right, thanks.
Since they haven't been to the tourney since I was a Senior, I decided to put my money where my mouth was: I’m offering a prize to any office pool player (in my office only, of course) who, in the first round, picks Cornell over Stanford. If they make that pick and Cornell wins, I will take all those foresighted folks (who are over 21 with proof of ID as I deem necessary) out for a beer.
GO BIG RED!
BTW, its Siena not Sienna. And its Siena College, not Siena University. Siena also beat Stanford this year in Albany.
Davidson is actually the hottest team in the country. They've won 22 straight.
Siena (thanks for the sp.) did beat Stanford, and also lost to Cornell.
KLN, great plan, I hope those enlightened few enjoy their beer.
I am blatantly disregarding Davidson's 22 game winning streak and standing by my claim that Cornell is the hottest team in the country. Numbers be damned.
No chance. No way. The twin towers are starters. Your 7 footer's a reserve (or at least that's what I assume "7 foot reserve center" means. Maybe they meant "reserved" and he's just shy). I watched the Collins brothers play, and as good as they were, the Lopezes are far better, far more aggressive, and they have a better supporting cast.
Incidentally, I was also conducting the Stanford band when they lost to Siena. Man, that was one crappy road trip.
Jon, I love the Stanford band and their antics, every day except today.
Cornell's 7 footer is just shy, it's a shame, but we're hoping he comes out of his shell today.
4 Hours till tip off.
Dude. You were so close.
Dave, yeah, if only Cornell didn't look like a high school JV team compared to Stanford, I would have been dead on.
Note to self, unless we're talking hockey, lacrosse, or math, don't predict a victory for the Big Red.
But f*ck it, we only get a tourney shot once every 20 years, I'll make a ridiculous prediction every time.
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