I have a pretty simple strategy that guides which teams I root for. First, I'm rooting for our team. Next, I root for any teams from the Pacific or Mountain West regions. After that, I'm just looking for upsets. So, I guess that breaks down as follows:
1. Stanford
2. Pac-10 teams
3. Any teams from California, Washington, or Oregon
4. Any teams from Arizona, New Mexico, Nevada, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, or Utah.
5. Any team seeded lower than its opponent.
Today was actually a very good day. Almost outstanding. Stanford handily took care of Santa Clara. S., because of her ties to SCSU, was hoping that the Broncos had some success early on. I was just hoping for Stanford to win in a dominant fashion. We, both got our wish (although I told S. that the living room was Stanford only territory - I get a little unrealistic where the team is concerned and try to turn into a lazy-boy despot. I'm also a very pessimistic fan and a wet blanket when we're trailing.).
The rest of the Pac-10 kicked ass. We're 4-0 so far (with only Arizona left to play in the first round). The only game that was technically an upset (based on seeding) was the Oregon victory over TCU. But, due to the lack of respect that the Pac-10 normally receives on the national stage, every victory was sweet. Monday's games are going to be a bit more problematic. Arizona State will meet another great defensive team in Notre Dame. I think the Sun Devils are at least as good defensively and better offensively. USC are going to have their hands full with Michigan State. But I think the combination of size and quickness, and the platooning of players, gives USC an even money shot to pull off the huge upset. Oregon has a harder task, IMO, going up against Baylor. I watched the conference championship game that Baylor won and they are impressive. Their big tandem up front would give most Pac-10 teams fits. However, Oregon is the ideal west coast team to face them. They've got a pair of giants of their own who know how to play. It should be a battle down in the trenches. Stanford shouldn't have too much of a problem with Utah. They're similar to Santa Clara in that they shoot a lot of threes and we played them earlier in the season. Our perimeter defense showed up in the second half today and we really shut down SCSU from beyond the arc, so I think we'll do the same for the Utah shooters. Plus, Thiel might be back, which gives us even more of a rebounding advantage.
I was only disappointed in the outcome of two games. Montana losing to Vanderbilt was one of them. ESPN2 didn't show any of that game so I'm not sure what it was like. The harder defeat was Santa Barbara going down to Notre Dame. UCSB actually made a great game of it. They were close all game, even though the number one scorer on the team - the conference player of the year - was pretty much held in check. They were within 4 points late in the game when two possessions really decided things. A lazy pass out on the perimeter led to a breakaway basket for the Irish. On the next possession, the Gaucho player was called for traveling as she shot the ball. The ball went in and the replays showed she didn't lift her pivot foot. Two turnovers in a row. Missed opportunities. Notre Dame stretched the lead and UCSB didn't seriously threaten after that. Just two possessions. It was frustrating.
That's it for day 1. Mostly good news. A lot of favorable press for the Pac-10 from people who gave us short shrift before the tournament started. Let's hope days 2, 3, and 4 are just as good. There's really only two games I care about tomorrow: Arizona taking on Oklahoma and New Mexico against Purdue. Both Arizona and New Mexico are 8 seeds so the games should be tight.
