BoDerickus' Tourney Special, Part II

Ohio upsets the Hoyas?  Murray State over Vandy?  Villanova squeaks by Robert Morris in OT? New Mexico just pushes by Montana in the last minute of the game.  What is this, the Bizarro NCAA Tourney?  Also, Butler upsets Texas El Paso.  Wait, my crack BoDerickus staff tells me that Butler was favored in this game.  How is a team named after everyone’s favorite pick in Clue favored to win?  Seems like Butler did it in the Pavillion with a lead pipe. 

One day into the tournament and I’m already in the crapper (firmly entrenched in the upper middle of the standings).  Except for my BNOW picks, that is.  Old Dominion and St. Mary’s come through, but TX misses by one point to keep me from a perfect 3-3.  Did I say that Murray State and Ohio had “no chance to advance?”  Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain, the Great Oz has spoken.  

I have got to start with the best name in the tournament (possibly the best name ever):

Just-in’love Smith (Sienna) – Nickname is J-Love – fitting.  This may be the best use of creative naming and punctuation ever in a name.   

Now, on to the picks:

Upset Lock of Friday Games:

Utah State (12) over Texas A&M (5)

Utah St:

Pooh Williams – Ok, I know this is a nickname (given name is Earnest), but why pick a name synonymous with either a stuffed bear or a bowel movement?  It is not very intimidating.  Here is an actual quote from a Utah St coach: Pooh really matured as the season went on and became very offensive (ok, so I paraphrased a little).

Jaxon Myaer – pronounced Jackson.  Then why spell it with an X? 

Tai Wesley – Tai says if he can get his Chi in line with the universe, he will be unstoppable.   

TX A&M:  Dash Harris (Dashan Karon Harris) – Best Dash since the one in The Incredibles and the 40 yard.  

Toss Up Prediction:

Cal (8) over Louisville (9)

Cardinals: Rakeem “the Dream” Buckles – meh, not too bad.

Cal:  Markhuri Sanders-Frison – Nobody ever has to wait on Markhuri.

Bak Bak – This is how it is listed in the Cal media guide although his name is Bol Bak Deng (from Sudan).  How is Bak Bak better than Bol Bak? And I can’t shake the image of him walking menacingly around the court, pumping his fist with a maniacal look on his face while the crowd chants “Bak Bak! Bak Bak!” al la Chong Li from Bloodsport.

Best Overall BNOW Team (with no chance to advance):

AR-Pine Bluff:

Lebaron Weathers – Like I have said before, if you are going to name your kid after a car, don’t go with one that screams failure.  Why not just call him K-Car Weathers?

Tavaris Washington – Tavaris, Spanish for “a Hermit’s Place.”

Savalance Townsend – New for 2011, the Savalance gets 37 mpg on the hwy and looks stylish.  Sorry, it’s late.  

Probably not advancing:

Junior Salters (Wofford) – I know Junior is not his real name, come on, I’m from Mississippi.  I really just wanted to comment on the fact that the Wofford mascot is (are?) the Terriers, which may be the wimpiest name ever for a mascot.  When you’re picking a mascot and settle on a dog, why on earth do you go with a Terrier.  Just call yourself the Wofford Yippiedogs.  At least they could have called them the Fighting Terriers.