EZ Money Picks

Great night of hoops action tonight. I'm already partaking in the game atmosphere at Beef O'Brady's in Floyds Knobs.Thought I'd get my picks in as part of my EZ Money.

Really like two games tonight.

Ohio State (-3) vs. PURDUE
Connecticut (+4.5) vs. DEPAUL

Happy Watching!

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ONCE AGAIN, Duke gets the call

This just deserves it own blog post. If you didn't see it last night, Clemson steals an inbounds pass and hits a three-pointer to tie up their game against Duke.

The timer made an error with the game clock so the refs had to review the tape and decided that the ball went through the basket with 4.4 seconds remaining.

IT DID. Problem was, the clock was started WAY LATE, which is what this video portrays.

Duke went on to have 4.4 seconds to get a basket off with 0.1 seconds remaining to win the game.

Now COME ON!

DICKIE V ONLINE!

Back by popular demand (you mean, you wouldn't rather just listen to me? Don't answer that), here's the conversation we had with Dickie V (no, I didn't ask him how much he gets paid by Duke) on the January 23rd edition of The Big EZ Show.

Here's the thing, I got a lot of e-mails on Dickie V... most of which were anti-Dickie V. But the thing is, whether you like him or you hate him, he's a polarizing figure. Most people love to hear what he's got to say. And if you mute him during the game, face it, you are in the minority.

Hell, I even find myself disagreeing with him a lot. But I'd be lying if I said I didn't tune in to listen to him. And for that reason, he makes for great sports talk radio.

LISTEN HERE The Big EZ and Dickie V (16 MB)

EZ MONEY: College Hoops UPDATE!

Some of you have e-mailed to ask how I've been doing on my EZ Monday picks.

I'll be honest. I only like to give you what I think are pretty good locks. And once the conference season begins, those are a little harder to come by.

But rest assured, I look every day for picks FOR YOU!

Here's an update.

EZ MONEY: COLLEGE BASKETBALL
12/6 - Villanova (-1) vs. OKLAHOMA ** WIN ** (NOVA, 67-51) [1-0]
12/7 - NOTRE DAME (-2) vs. # 5 Alabama ** WIN ** (ND, 99-85) [2-0]
12/7 - Florida State (-10) vs. GEORGIA STATE ** WIN ** (FSU, 87-55) [3-0]
12/9 - Indiana (+5) vs. KENTUCKY ** PUSH ** (UK, 59-54) [3-0-1]
12/11 - Mississippi State (+1.5) vs. MIAMI (Fla.) ** WIN ** (MISS ST, 70-52) [4-0-1]
12/12 - Central Florida (+4) vs. MINNESOTA ** LOSS ** (MINN, 73-64) [4-1-1]
12/13 - Louisiana-Lafayette (+5.5) vs. NEW ORLEANS ** WIN ** (NO, 70-66) [5-1-1]
12/14 - Chattanooga (+7) vs. CHARLESTON ** WIN ** (CHAR, 62-60) [6-1-1]
12/20 - UC Irvine (+17) vs. DEPAUL ** WIN ** (DEP, 65-53) [7-1-1]
12/22 - KENTUCKY (-7.5) vs. Massachusetts ** WIN ** (UK, 82-68) [8-1-1]
12/22 - BUTLER (-10) vs. Evansville ** WIN ** (BUT, 76-65) [9-1-1]
12/23 - Miami (+9) vs. LOUISVILLE ** LOSS ** (UL, 82-59) [9-2-1]
12/23 - Dayton (+13) vs. PITTSBURGH ** LOSS ** (PITT, 84-54) [9-3-1]
12/28 - CLEMSON (-6.5) vs. Georgia ** WIN ** (CLEM, 75-60) [10-3-1]
12/28 - NORTH CAROLINA STATE (-12.5) vs. East Carolina ** LOSS ** (NC ST, 64-57) [10-4-1]
12/28 - UCLA (-12) vs. Washington State ** LOSS ** (UCLA, 55-52) [10-5-1]
1/11 - Nevada (-8) vs. SAN JOSE STATE ** WIN ** (NEV, 74-65) [11-5-1]
1/23 - Indiana vs. ILLINOIS (OVER 133.5) ** WIN ** (ILL, 51-43) [12-5-1]

12-5-1

Now, enjoy a little Dikembe Mutumbo towering over Laura Bush to his left, and a really small lady to his right.

Big East just isn't that good

Undoubtedly a good win for the Cards over UConn. I thought that the win was sloppy, but it looks like U of L is going to have to win these kinds of games to be successful this year. U of L is going to have to win games like that. Healthy as well. That's huge.

I will be honest. At halftime, I wrote on my little notepad "SLOPPY, NEITHER TEAM IS A TOURNAMENT TEAM." And I can't believe I'm going to say this, but after the game ended, I wanted to go back and scratch that I said that. I mean, that first half was pathetic. Horrid. But I really learned three things from this game:

1. The Big East sucks! This is the Big East this year. This year's Big East is nowhere near last year's Big East. Not even close. Which means that Louisville, who really is a lot like last year's team plus a couple of talented freshmen and minus Taquan Dean, they move up the Big East ladder by default. Not because Louisville is all that much improved, but because other teams straight lost more! UConn lost FIVE NBA DRAFT PICKS. FIVE! Syracuse is down compared to last year. As are many other teams, Georgetown, West Virginia (who I think is the serious sleeper, even with the loss to Cincinnati). Marquette and Pitt are the teams that really stand out in my opinion.

But the Big East... listen, Louisville may finish in the top half... but you don't automatically get in to the field if you finish in the Top 8. You've got to be 9-7 AT THE LEAST (depending on how many big wins come from those nine). Other than that, it's 10-6 that gets you in. The Big East just isn't that good.

2. Rick Pitino needs to be credited for having an unbelievably terrific defensive game plan against UConn. He said in his pregame that he watched the Indiana tape and when he did his final scouting report, he was just going to slow UConn down and not let them get into the up and down game, and that totally worked.

Pitino knew that this UConn team was worthless in the halfcourt, didn't have a lot of good outside shooters with the exception of AJ Price and got a lot of their points out of transition and second chance points. And Pitino drew it up like so... get back on defense fast, keep them out of their transition offense, play a bunch of zone, because if not, these guys can beat you off the dribble and get to the hold, just MAKE THEM go through their painfully boring zone offense and see if they can beat us that way.

It was a great game plan. I'm very high on Pitino today because I thought he did a lot of good things last night. And I don't really want to say he outcoached Jim Calhoun, beacuse there's only so much a team loaded with freshmen and sophomores like UConn can do (just ask Ricky-P).

But I will say this--Rick Pitino had a much better game plan for UConn than Kelvin Sampson did for UConn. I know IU fans hate to hear that, but Kelvin Sampson, he just doesn't strike me, at least after 18 games, as a guy who likes to play a lot of zone, but that's what you need to do against this UConn team. Don't give them a chance to penetrate on you or get into an up and down game. Playing a zone keeps you from doing that.

3. MOST IMPORTANT*** Louisville is NOT ON THE BUBBLE OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT YET. Don't get overly excited. It's easy to get excited when you beat UConn. IU fans did it too. The "UConn" name just sounds good. But, you got to look at it this way. This isn't even Louisville's best win when you look at the RPI. It's their fourth best. UConn is ranked 88th today in the RPI. Louisville has wins over DePaul (ranked 65th in the RPI), Providence (54th), and FREAKING OHIO (76) who all have better RPI rankings than UConn. Here's Louisville's results with RPI's attached. Thanks Ken Pomeroy!

STILL A GREAT WIN... and I still say that this game, and not any of the other games, was Rick Pitino's best coaching job all year, even though it was a horrid game to watch!

EZ MONEY: College Hoops
Record going in: 11-5-1

Indiana vs. ILLINOIS UNDER 133.5 ** WIN **

Record going out: 12-5-1

I'm a Class 'D' celebrity!

I'm no Bob Domine, but I'm moving up in the world. I did my show today from Bruno's Pizzeria on Charlestown Road in New Albany, Ind. today (we'll be there the next three Thursdays as well). And damned if they don't have a "Big EZ Special" in my honor. Good for the at least the next month!

1 large one topping pizza
1 order of buffalo wings
AND
1 order of breadsticks

$15.70.

That's the Big EZ Special baby! (I'll let the misspelling slide) Bruno's Pizzeria!

My Brohm thoughts...

Let me preface this by saying that I know very little 'inside' scoop on whether Brohm is going or not. All the sources that I've reached out to have either not been 100% sure, or the ones that say they ARE 100% SURE have given me conflicting reports.

Go figure.

For what it's worth, my gut says he's staying. All the pub he's received since he's returned from Miami with Orange Bowl MVP award in hand. He's gone to the airport to greet the new coach, done to the the press conference in support, and then pleasing the crowd at the Louisville-Providence basketball game on Saturday--it'd be criminal for him to tease the U of L faithful like that, and then leave.

So, contrary to what I've been saying the last week and a half, I'm guessing he'll announce that he is staying at his 9 AM presser tomorrow.

But I think it's dumb if he does.

And I'll save those thoughts for the show on Monday.

And do me a favor and spare me of the ever-multiplying e-mails saying "EZ, why would he have a press conference if he were staying at Louisville. He could just put out a statement if that were the case."

Have we not learned? Michael Bush did it last year, as did Matt Leinert two years ago. There are many other examples as well. Hell, Keenan Burton did it Friday.

Two reasons why there are press conferences to announce you are staying. (1) It's a good publicity event for your program, and (2) the press will want quotes, so instead of a hundred different media trying to get quotes using a thousand different methods, this gives everyone their opportunity to get their quote, get their story, and move on.

So just be content with the fact that press conferences to announce intentions of STAYING at a university for another year is and always will be commonplace.

Burton to stay at Kentucky

A source painfully close to the situation in Lexington says Keenan Burton said by phone today that he would stay on with Rich Brooks and the Wildcats for one more year. We found out just after 5 PM today.

Many people are e-mailing me saying that his dad and other people close to Burton keep saying that he still HAS NOT made up his mind.

To that I would answer two ways:
1. If he hasn't made a decision, then why would he schedule a press conference?
AND
2. If you were going to have a press conference like this, wouldn't you ask your close friends and relatives to tell a little "white lie" so that you yourself can reveal the news at YOUR press conference? It's only logical people.

In fact, it should be noted that Keenan DID NOT even mention to the University his plans. And maybe not even Rich Brooks, who is out of town coaching in the North-South All-Star Game.

So Cats fans, just sit back, relax, and know that the remaining piece of your offensive puzzle is staying at the University of Kentucky next year.

EZ MONEY: College Hoops
Record going in: 10-5-1

Nevada (-8) vs. SAN JOSE STATE ** WIN **

Record going out: 11-5-1

"The Legend of Kragthorpe"

Well, first off, let me get this off my chest... Mr. Petrino, you are forgiven! I forgive you! I know you didn't necessarily tell the thurth. But I can't say I wouldn't do the same thing in the same situation, if the NFL was THE GOAL! So, you are forgiven, and I will root for you at the Falcons. But you better win, because given your lack of "savvy" with the media, they'll crush you if you don't win. They're not as nice as us here in Louisville.

OK, that being said... many listeners have e-mailed to talk about how they weren't quite happy with the lack of name recognition in Jurich's new football hire.

Well, we've decided that his name was very well recognized, just not in football. We've started a ficticious "Legend of Kragthorpe." And the word on the street... there are a lot of great things that Kragthorpe has done. The following fables are from today's show (by me, or producer Nasty Nate, or callers and e-mailers):

• "Kragthorpe once scored 100 points in a basketball game... with a broken leg... in the first half."
• "Kragthorpe once drove a car 300 miles an hour... without stepping on the gas pedal."
• "Kragthorpe regularly gives Hugh Hefner advice on women."
• "Kragthorpe invented the iPod."
• "Kragthorpe started the fad of wearing a headband, which was then copied by former Bears quarterback Jim McMahon, and hey, McMahon won a Super Bowl."
• "Kragthorpe once caught five touchdown passes in one quarter... two of which were thrown by Kragthorpe."

Check back for more on Wednesday. It's all done in fun. We'll continue the "Legend of Kragthorpe" so everyone knows that name recognition is no problem.

Petrino to NFL: Should've seen it coming

Why is it that no matter how many times we see a coach 'fib' to their local media (whether it be Saban, Petrino, or anyone else) and say their "committed" to where they're at and this and that and whatever, that we continue to believe them?

And don't say you saw this one coming. The contract and the comments from Petrino gave us that warm and fuzzy feeling... especially when he just got done telling us at the Orange Bowl that he hadn't been contacted by Alabama. Hell, I doubt Bobby's wife even knew.

Well, I vow never to be fooled by college coaches again. If Pitino and his constant 'spin' of seemingly everything wasn't enough, the departure of Petrino was the last straw. I vow never to be fooled again.

I understand that for most college coaches, the NFL is the pinnacle. I understand why Bobby left. But no more patronizing will I accept from any coach that they are truly "committed" to anything, or anyone, while at the University of Louisville (and many other colleges around the country).

The NFL is it. If the right offer comes along, 95% of all college coaches are gone. That's just the nature of the beast. Believe no one. The NFL is it. I'll never be fooled again.

Now, go take a look at some Petrino-based voting from ESPN SportsNation.

NEW SHOW TIME, and other stuff

I'm waiting in the airport terminal here in Miami for my flight. And was thinking I would pass the time with a little blog post. Here's some things on my mind.

1. Thanks a lot for the support of the move from middays to 3-to-6 in the afternoon. I know a lot of people are fans of the Underdogs, and they are personal friends of mine. So I do it with a heavy heart. But the goal for me remains the same... and that's to get better at my job every day.
2. Special shout out to WQAM, the top-rated sports radio station in Miami for letting me shack up down there and do my show the morning after the Orange Bowl. They've got an absolutely beautiful workspace and were so accomodating. And that says a lot considering that we just happened to be doing the show from there the same morning as former Dolphins coach Nick Saban decided to go to Alabama AND Heat coach Pat Riley decided it was time to take a break. It was pandemonium there and they still treated Keith Conrad and I fantastic! Visit them and listen to their feed online at wqam.com.
3. The Orange Bowl was a big win for the program. But let's be honest... in the grand scheme of things, it didn't do a whole lot for the program since the opponent they beat is not a prestigious program in ANY sense of the word. That hurts for Louisville fans, but most of the feedback since my day-after-the-bowl show have agreed.

About to board. Thanks for checking in. We'll be back on Monday from 3-to-6.

ORANGE BOWL GAMEDAY

ON-AIR FROM 3-6 PM TODAY: ESPN LOUISVILLE 1570-1600.

We'll post on here from time to time until I leave midway through the 4th quarter to go down to the field.

We're already here. Got here around 12:30 PM to set up for our broadcast and hang out and check out the lights here at Dolphin Stadium. It's a nice place, but it does need a makeover. It's getting one soon, and the pictures I've seen look real nice.

OFFICIAL PREDICTION: Louisville 27, Wake Forest 21

So let the gameday blog begin:

12:51 PM - Set up and ready to go. We're broadcasting from one of the press boxes. Nice place... but undoubtedly the smallest of any pro football press box I've been in.

1:30 PM - Cece Winans is going to sing the national anthem. She's practicing right now, and it's BEAUTIFUL. This is a great rendition. Viewers and fans will get a good version tonight!

2:17 PM - An unbelievable storm going through right now. It's insane. Stadium personnel tell us that the field is designed to be able to "completely drain and be dry" within 30 minutes of the end of the rain. I'm not so sure right now. The field, which looked great early, is a pond at the moment. The picture you see is what it looks like. It's from my phone though. Sorry about the quality.

4:45 PM - Craig Swabek, color man for the U of L Radio Network joins us and tells us he's got NOTHING on whether Brohm or Bush or Petrino are leaving 'The Ville'. Truth is, I honestly believe him, which may mean he is a good secret-keeper.

5:10 PM - Rich Bozich, sports columnist for the C-J, comes by and tells us that he thinks media members will be surrounding the Louisville buses coming into the stadium to ask Petrino about Alabama.

6:15 PM - Off the air now. And damned if we find out AFTER THE FACT that they gave us our own damn radio booth. We broadcasted from an ordinary press row first time around. Wish we would've seen a seating chart before we went on the air. But we couldn't find one.

7:03 PM - Starting to fill up now. We've got a great seat for the game. Rain is gone, and the field held up very well. Jody Demling of the C-J is messing with us from one booth over, and damned if Kent Taylor from WAVE-TV is sitting right next to us in the next booth. Bobby Petrino loves Kent Taylor kinda like Rick Pitino loves me.

7:08 - Louisville players enter the field for the first time. And fans are pumped. So far the stadium is about 1/3 of the way full, and it's VERY PRO-LOUISVILLE!

7:10 - Art Carmody, our favorite player, is kicking. Here's his pregame stats:

• 25-yarder, right hash: good
• 25-yarder, left hash: good
• 28-yarder, right hash: good
• 28-yarder, middle: good
• 35-yarder, middle: good
• 40- yarder, left hash: good
• 40-yarder, left hash: off the upright
• 44-yarder, right hash: good
• 44-yarder, right hash: good
• 48-yarder, left hash: wide left
• 48-yarder, left hash: good
• 50-yarder, left hash: good
• 32-yarder, middle: good
• 32-yarder, middle: good

12-of-14... pretty good for our award-winner.

8:03 PM - Both bands have taken the field and they are finishing up. I'm guessing the marching bands may not get a halftime shot, since Taylor Hicks and Gladys Knight (we can do better than Gladys Knight, can't we? She's been nothing since the end of the Psychic Friends Network.) got the halftime honors. A cheerleading group is out right now, and we should be ready for Ali, Palmer, and Wade and the coin toss before too long.

8:25 PM - The entrance of "The Greatest" was exceptional. Unbelievable. Enjoy the game everyone!

8:47 PM - Well, we're just over eight minutes in. Brock Bolen has fumbled the ball. Wake Forest will take over on their own 39-yard line. Wake Forest will be close to penetrating Louisville territory for the first time potentially.

9:00 PM - Louisville goes three-and-out deep in their own territory, and the punter Corey Goettsche botches his punt in fear of a quickly-coming Deacon defender. Wake with a score opportunity now with the ball on the Louisville 28.

9:07 PM - Wake Forest hits the scoreboard first with a 44-yard FG. They lead 3-0 with 14:17 left in the first half.

WAKE FOREST 3, LOUISVILLE 0

9:19 PM - Noticing a lot of overloads to one side of the field for Louisville's offense. Interesting.

9:20 PM - HUGE fourth-down conversion on a pass from Brohm-to-Barnidge for the Cards to get deep into Wake territory. Carmody FG follows.

LOUISVILLE 3, WAKE FOREST 3

9:31 PM - 6:31 left to go in the first half. I'm going to make a PREDICTION SURE TO GO WRONG. I predict that the next time Louisville has to punt out of deep in their own territory, they are going to fake the punt. Just a gut feeling.

9:35 PM - Trick play. Brohm with a wide receiver screen pass (backward) to Pat Carter, then Urrutia back across the field to Anthony Allen waiting in the end zone. TOUCHDOWN LOUISVILLE.

LOUISVILLE 10, WAKE FOREST 3

HALFTIME: Taylor Hicks and Gladys Knight do a pretty good performance. I went down to hang out with my 'wntourage' for the halftime show. They are all having a pretty good time. No doubt about that. The performance was okay. The lights and other things were more fun.

10:28 PM - Wake scores on a wide-open 30-yard pass play to tie things up. I'm starting to like my prediction a little.

LOUISVILLE 10, WAKE FOREST 10

10:39 PM - Wake's first big break on the game, which to me looked like Urrutia was down on the completion from Brohm. Second turnover for the Cards.

10:52 PM - I've got to be honest... Louisville and their fans are eerily quiet. I haven't had a good feeling about them since the first half. Wake looking good at times, but then having to punt, almost inexplicably.

10:57 PM - Fumble by Wake. This one looks like a fumble to me, but this booth has been wrong on every review thus far... seriously. But we are right this time as the ref "confirms the call on the field." HUGE CALL for Louisville as their defense has been "bailed out" on a couple occasions.

11:02 PM - Carmody misses a 35-yard FG attempt. Wake seems like they are getting a lot of pressure on every special teams play. Then Kenneth Moore breaks it open with a sick move that breaks the ankles of William Gay. Wake now driving. I'm telling you, it just doesn't feel right tonight for the Cards... at least not yet.

11:11 PM - Three plays into the fourth quarter, Swank adds three for the Demon Deacons to retake the lead. 14:46 left in the game.

WAKE FOREST 13, LOUISVILLE 10

11:19 PM - Louisville goes right down the field there and looks like the team that got them here for, arguably, the first time tonight. Hell of a golline run for Anthony Allen, who proves with this rush that he can gain two yards pretty much any time you need it... as long as he doesn't fumble.

LOUISVILLE 17, WAKE FOREST 13

11:26 PM - Great three-and-out for the Louisville defense. This drive right here for Louisville will make or break the game.

11:35 PM - Louisville driving for the game-winner basically. I'm heading downstairs to watch the rest of the game on the sidelines. Talk to you tomorrow from 11-1 live here in Miami.

Musings from Miami

Keith Conrad and I are nestled up (not like that though) in our hotel room in Miami prepping for our show from Dolphins Stadium tomorrow (3-6 PM) for the Orange Bowl. Let me be honest, we partied pretty hard.

The most productive things we did today were go to pick up our media credentials, and then go to Radio Shack to pick up a piece of equipment. That was about it. Other than that, we've been cat-napping here and there, and watching all the great football on TV.

Some things we've chatted about today, just food for thought for the loyal blog readers:

• Art Carmody's butt-cut hairdo.
• West Virginia's comeback against Georgia Tech in the Gator Bowl.
• A lot of "will Bush go pro?" talk.
• A lot of NFL draft talk altogether (quick shoutout for The Huddle Report)
• Our cab driver last night, who tried to hijack my girlfriend's purse on the way home
• Ice cream, and how the only ice cream place we've seen in Miami is boarded up. They must not eat that stuff here. They're too healthy here.
• Boise State football, and their apparent team tattoo artist.
• We're going to miss the IU basketball game against Ohio State.

ALSO, BE PREPARED FOR SOME BIG NEWS. NEW MANAGEMENT AT ESPN LOUISVILLE HAS ME DOING SOME 'U-HAULING'. NO, NOT LEAVING. SORRY! WE'LL ANNOUNCE TOMORROW ON THE ORANGE BOWL PREGAME SHOW!