Every year, it seems I have some weird basketball mancrush. And, it’s oftentimes rather unusual. It’s never a guy like Jimmer or John Wall, or someone like that. Last year, it was Austin Freeman, and a couple of years ago it was Terrance Williams from Louisville. And, they never turn out to be stars in any way at the next level. I think it all started with guys like Randolph Childress from Wake Forest, Shawn Respert from Michigan St., and Randy Rutherford from Oklahoma St. Not sure what it is, but I can’t really look at these guys objectively. It’s the guys that I would pay to just watch play. Well, this year’s version is pretty intense. I love Casper Ware. Love him. I think he’s absolutely incredible. I would absolutely pay straight cash, homey, to watch that guy play the game of basketball. I was actually pretty upset when the Beach lost in the Big West tournament last year, but it will be nothing like this year. I think I would actually trade a Temple A-10 title for a Long Beach Big West title this year (mainly because TU would still get in)…it’s pretty weird and pretty embarrassing, but whatever.
Along with Kentucky in the SEC, The Beach is the most popular championship pick.
Championship Picks
17 for #1 Long Beach St.
1 for #2 CS-Fullerton (Waters)
1 for #3 UCSB (RDoc)
0 for #3 Cal Poly
0 for #5 UC-Riverside
1 for #6 Pacific (KA)
Biggest Upsets
QF – #7 UC-Irvine (Bry, J, Mac, Primm)
SF – #6 Pacific (KA)
Previous CTC Champions
2011 – J
2010 – Stri
2009 – Bry*
2008 – Doogan
#3 UC-Santa Barbara vs. #6 Pacific
The Big West was supposed to be a really heated two-team race all year, but one of those teams didn’t show up. The Gouchos do have Orlando Johnson – who was Casper Ware before Casper Ware – winning the Big West POY as a sophomore two years ago. But, they just fell flat this year, losing to upstart CS-Fullerton and also a head-scratcher against Riverside. Oh, and even if they hadn’t lost those two, they got absolutely pummeled by the Beach in both showdowns. Pacific, who used to be the pride of this conference, was pretty bad this year. The only reason they finished in the middle of the standings is because this conference is full of really bad teams.
6 people have Pacific in this upset (Dave, KA, Lil Lohse, Primm, RSmith, Waters). KA has them winning this tournament. 8 people have the Gouchos in the final (Alexi, Bry, J, Lynch, Mac, Rikey, RDoc, Scoot), with RDoc picking them to break The Beach’s heart again in the finals.
#2 CS-Fullerton vs. #7 UC-Irvine
The Titans in Fullerton were kind of the forgotten team in the BW this year, but they were right there and actually won the non-LBSU regular season title. They did it with a high-flying offense and just barely enough defense. They take on the Anteaters of UC-Irvine, who aren’t very good.
Bry, J, KA, and Primm all have this pretty big upset. Waters has Fullerton winning the tournament.
#1 Long Beach St. vs. #8 UC Davis
But, this Beach team is not just Casper. This is a really fantastic team, honestly. But, then again, I can’t be objective in any way on them right now. Trust me, though, Larry Anderson and T.J. Robinson are truly outstanding players. Throw in a really solid JUCO transfer on the perimeter, Eugene Phelps and you’ve got yourself a potential Sweet 16 team. It all starts tonight against a team that started the season 1-27, but won 2 of the last 3 games to, somehow, qualify for the Big West tournament.
No one took the upset here, and 17 people have LBSU winning the whole thing.
#4 Cal Poly vs. #5 UC-Riverside
UC-Riverside was not supposed to compete in the Big West this year, but they pulled off a couple of nice conference wins and ended up finishing in 5th place, after spending most of the season in 2nd or 3rd. Cal Poly was supposed to be the best team after LBSU and UCSB this year, as they have been building for this year for a while, but they really struggled at points. They still have a lot of talent, but even at their best, they were overmatched by the two big dogs, so now that they haven’t hit their expectations, it’s hard to imagine them beating them both in consecutive nights. Hell, they might have trouble beating Riverside tonight.
7 people went with the mild upset of Riverside here (Alexi, Dave, Gross, J, Primm, RSmith, Scoot). Dave, Primm, and RSmith have Riverside going to the finals. KA has Cal Poly in the title game.
