Monday, November 2, 2009
OT: Stop creeping Packer totalitarianism
This Sunday, one of the greatest of injustices in Twin Cities television history could be delivered. Initially, the Fox was going to air the Arizona Cardinals and Chicago Bears on it's Twin Cities O&O, KMSP. However, evidence has shown up that has KMSP airing the battle of the Bay of Pigs(Green Bay Packers-Tampa Bay Buccaneers). Click on the title above this post and get your voice across that, since the Minnesota Vikings have already swept the Packers and the Bucs are headed for the 2nd 0-16 season in NFL history, Minnesotans deserve a more meaningful game.
Saturday, October 24, 2009
Watch this blog in the coming days
I've got something that's a little controversial up my sleeve. One hint: It's not a preseason bracket(I don't do those anymore, I just wait for the season to hit January and then, it's projection time!)
Monday, September 21, 2009
Examining the 2011-13 sites
Three years worth of sites, three looks of how the NCAA did.
2011
Three new venues(and one new city) highlight the road to Houston for 2011. Both Cleveland and Tulsa are back in the rota, but with new arenas hosting(Quicken Loans Arena; BOK Center). The Prudential Center brings the NCAA's back to New Jersey for the first time since 2007 and brings it to Newark for the 1st time. It's also the only Northeast site this particular year(Unless you count Washington, D.C. as northeastern). The major shock is the return of Tucson into the rota. A few years ago, the NCAA deemed McKale Center too small(in terms of square footage). In fact, the media center had to be shoehorned into the weight room. I'm not sure what happened, but it appears the University of Arizona was able to expand to meet NCAA needs. Also, there is no Midwest or South regionals(these have been replaced by the Southeast and Southwest.
2012
Louisville and Pittsburgh rejoin the rota this year with two new venues, both of which are an upgrade over what they had previously had. Louisville's last NCAA tourney game was in 1991 at Freedom Hall, located at the Kentucky Expo grounds. Pittsburgh will host at Consol Energy Center, a stones throw away from the Igloo, where there have been two years of preliminary games. The Phoenix area venue for this year is the US Airways Center, a more centrally located venue than University of Phoenix Stadium which was a losing candidate for a Final Four. St. Louis hosts at the Edward Jones Dome, which won't be available for any games for a few years after it hosts the Midwest Regional, due to an upcoming renovation in 2014.
2013
With this being the diamond tournament, the NCAA opted for history, rather than new venues. Indeed, among the areas that are hosting in 2013(Including Atlanta), only Austin and Dayton have not had a Final Four in their areas. Consider the sites chosen(and the Final Fours in the areas of said sites):
Arlington, TX(1986 in Dallas at Reunion Arena, plus 2014 at Cowboys Stadium)
Auburn Hills, MI(2009 in Detroit at Ford Field)
Indianapolis(1980 at Market Square Arena, 1991, 97, 2000, and 06 at RCA Dome and 2010 and 15 at Lucas Oil Stadium)
Kansas City(1940-42, 53-55, 57, 61, 64 at Municipal Auditorium, 1988 at Kemper Arena)
Lexington, KY(1985 at this year's site, Rupp Arena)
Los Angeles(1968 and 72 at the Sports Arena)
Philadelphia(1976 and 81 at the old Spectrum, plus the classic 1992 East Regional final)
Salt Lake City(1979 at the Huntsman Center)
San Jose(1960 in San Francisco at the Cow Palace)
One site is still unknown. It is believed that the venue in question is Madison Square Garden in New York(would likely be hosted by St. John's University and the Big East), but some unknown factors have forced the NCAA to delay the announcement. It's unknown who would replace MSG if it cannot host.
Missing in Action
Two cities that bid for the Final Four in the most recent cycle(2012-16) did not get preliminary round games for 2011-13; Detroit and Minneapolis. There will be games in the Detroit area in 2013 at the Palace of Auburn Hills, though Detroit(or more specifically Ford Field) will likely be a host of early round action in the next cycle. Minneapolis-St. Paul however is a murkier picture. The likely site for early round games, the Metrodome, faces an uncertain future as it's possible it may be redeveloped for the Minnesota Vikings(which itself is uncertain). If the dome can't be used, or is replaced by an outdoor stadium, the other two options out there may be unavailable due to commitments to other events(Target Center due to state high school basketball, Xcel Energy Center due to the potential of the WCHA Final Five remaining there for the foreseable future on the 1st weekend of the NCAA's(although the X may be able to host regionals)).
Also not hosting this go-around are:
Albany, Birmingham, Boise, Buffalo, Cincinnati, Des Moines, Fresno, Grand Rapids, Hartford, Jacksonville, Knoxville, Little Rock, Memphis, Miami, Oakland, Oklahoma City, Orlando, Providence, Raleigh, Wichita, Winston-Salem, Worcester(there are definitely others I may have missed.
Stay tuned for my women's picks, sometime next month.
2011
Three new venues(and one new city) highlight the road to Houston for 2011. Both Cleveland and Tulsa are back in the rota, but with new arenas hosting(Quicken Loans Arena; BOK Center). The Prudential Center brings the NCAA's back to New Jersey for the first time since 2007 and brings it to Newark for the 1st time. It's also the only Northeast site this particular year(Unless you count Washington, D.C. as northeastern). The major shock is the return of Tucson into the rota. A few years ago, the NCAA deemed McKale Center too small(in terms of square footage). In fact, the media center had to be shoehorned into the weight room. I'm not sure what happened, but it appears the University of Arizona was able to expand to meet NCAA needs. Also, there is no Midwest or South regionals(these have been replaced by the Southeast and Southwest.
2012
Louisville and Pittsburgh rejoin the rota this year with two new venues, both of which are an upgrade over what they had previously had. Louisville's last NCAA tourney game was in 1991 at Freedom Hall, located at the Kentucky Expo grounds. Pittsburgh will host at Consol Energy Center, a stones throw away from the Igloo, where there have been two years of preliminary games. The Phoenix area venue for this year is the US Airways Center, a more centrally located venue than University of Phoenix Stadium which was a losing candidate for a Final Four. St. Louis hosts at the Edward Jones Dome, which won't be available for any games for a few years after it hosts the Midwest Regional, due to an upcoming renovation in 2014.
2013
With this being the diamond tournament, the NCAA opted for history, rather than new venues. Indeed, among the areas that are hosting in 2013(Including Atlanta), only Austin and Dayton have not had a Final Four in their areas. Consider the sites chosen(and the Final Fours in the areas of said sites):
Arlington, TX(1986 in Dallas at Reunion Arena, plus 2014 at Cowboys Stadium)
Auburn Hills, MI(2009 in Detroit at Ford Field)
Indianapolis(1980 at Market Square Arena, 1991, 97, 2000, and 06 at RCA Dome and 2010 and 15 at Lucas Oil Stadium)
Kansas City(1940-42, 53-55, 57, 61, 64 at Municipal Auditorium, 1988 at Kemper Arena)
Lexington, KY(1985 at this year's site, Rupp Arena)
Los Angeles(1968 and 72 at the Sports Arena)
Philadelphia(1976 and 81 at the old Spectrum, plus the classic 1992 East Regional final)
Salt Lake City(1979 at the Huntsman Center)
San Jose(1960 in San Francisco at the Cow Palace)
One site is still unknown. It is believed that the venue in question is Madison Square Garden in New York(would likely be hosted by St. John's University and the Big East), but some unknown factors have forced the NCAA to delay the announcement. It's unknown who would replace MSG if it cannot host.
Missing in Action
Two cities that bid for the Final Four in the most recent cycle(2012-16) did not get preliminary round games for 2011-13; Detroit and Minneapolis. There will be games in the Detroit area in 2013 at the Palace of Auburn Hills, though Detroit(or more specifically Ford Field) will likely be a host of early round action in the next cycle. Minneapolis-St. Paul however is a murkier picture. The likely site for early round games, the Metrodome, faces an uncertain future as it's possible it may be redeveloped for the Minnesota Vikings(which itself is uncertain). If the dome can't be used, or is replaced by an outdoor stadium, the other two options out there may be unavailable due to commitments to other events(Target Center due to state high school basketball, Xcel Energy Center due to the potential of the WCHA Final Five remaining there for the foreseable future on the 1st weekend of the NCAA's(although the X may be able to host regionals)).
Also not hosting this go-around are:
Albany, Birmingham, Boise, Buffalo, Cincinnati, Des Moines, Fresno, Grand Rapids, Hartford, Jacksonville, Knoxville, Little Rock, Memphis, Miami, Oakland, Oklahoma City, Orlando, Providence, Raleigh, Wichita, Winston-Salem, Worcester(there are definitely others I may have missed.
Stay tuned for my women's picks, sometime next month.
The sites are in for 2011-13
The NCAA today has awarded preliminary round hosting duties for 2011, '12 and '13. I'll detail the selections in an upcoming series of posts, but here is the nitty gritty details for all three years.
2011-13 Opening Round
Dayton, OH
UD Arena
University of Dayton
2011
1st/2nd Rounds: 3/17-19
Denver
Pepsi Center
Mountain West Conference
Tampa
St. Pete Times Forum
University of South Florida
Tucson, AZ
McKale Center
University of Arizona
Washington, D.C.
Verizon Center
Georgetown University
1st/2nd Rounds: 3-18/20
Charlotte
Time Warner Cable Arena
University of North Carolina, Charlotte
Chicago
United Center
Big Ten Conference
Cleveland
Quicken Loans Arena(New Venue)
Cleveland State University
Tulsa
BOK Center(New Venue)
University of Tulsa
East Regional: 3-25/27
Newark, NJ
Prudential Center(New Venue)
Seton Hall University
Southeast Regional: 3-24/26
New Orleans
Louisiana Superdome
Tulane University
Southwest Regional: 3-25/27
San Antonio
Alamodome
University of Texas, San Antonio
West Regional: 3/24-26
Anaheim, CA
Honda Center
Big West Conference
2012
1st/2nd Rounds: 3-15/17
Albuquerque
The Pit
University of New Mexico
Louisville
Waterfront Arena(New Venue)
University of Louisville
Pittsburgh
Consol Energy Center(New Venue)
Duquesne University
Portland, OR
Rose Garden Arena
University of Oregon
1st/2nd Rounds: 3-16/18
Columbus, OH
Nationwide Arena
Ohio State University
Greensboro, NC
Greensboro Coliseum
Atlantic Coast Conference
Nashville
Sommet Center
Ohio Valley Conference
Omaha, NE
Qwest Center
Creighton University
East Regional: 3-22/24
Boston
TD Garden
Boston College
West Regional: 3-22/24
Phoenix
US Airways Center
Arizona State University
Midwest Regional: 3-23/25
St. Louis
Edward Jones Dome
Saint Louis University
South Regional: 3-23/25
Atlanta
Georgia Dome
Georgia Institute of Technology
2013
1st/2nd Rounds: 3-21/23
Auburn Hills, MI
Palace of Auburn Hills
Oakland University
Lexington, KY
Rupp Arena
University of Kentucky
Salt Lake City, UT
Energy Solutions Arena
University of Utah
San Jose
HP Pavillion
West Coast Conference
1st/2nd Rounds: 3-22/24
Austin, TX
Frank Erwin Center
University of Texas at Austin
Dayton, OH
UD Arena
University of Dayton
Kansas City, MO
Sprint Center
Host TBA
Philadelphia
Wachovia Center
Temple University
East Regional: 3-28/30
Unknown
West Regional: 3-28/30
Los Angeles
Staples Center(New Venue)
Pepperdine University
Midwest Region: 3-29/31
Indianapolis
Lucas Oil Stadium
Butler University, Indiana University/Purdue University at Indianapolis, Horizon League
South Region: 3-29/31
Arlington, TX
Cowboys Stadium(New City and Venue)
Big 12 Conference
2011-13 Opening Round
Dayton, OH
UD Arena
University of Dayton
2011
1st/2nd Rounds: 3/17-19
Denver
Pepsi Center
Mountain West Conference
Tampa
St. Pete Times Forum
University of South Florida
Tucson, AZ
McKale Center
University of Arizona
Washington, D.C.
Verizon Center
Georgetown University
1st/2nd Rounds: 3-18/20
Charlotte
Time Warner Cable Arena
University of North Carolina, Charlotte
Chicago
United Center
Big Ten Conference
Cleveland
Quicken Loans Arena(New Venue)
Cleveland State University
Tulsa
BOK Center(New Venue)
University of Tulsa
East Regional: 3-25/27
Newark, NJ
Prudential Center(New Venue)
Seton Hall University
Southeast Regional: 3-24/26
New Orleans
Louisiana Superdome
Tulane University
Southwest Regional: 3-25/27
San Antonio
Alamodome
University of Texas, San Antonio
West Regional: 3/24-26
Anaheim, CA
Honda Center
Big West Conference
2012
1st/2nd Rounds: 3-15/17
Albuquerque
The Pit
University of New Mexico
Louisville
Waterfront Arena(New Venue)
University of Louisville
Pittsburgh
Consol Energy Center(New Venue)
Duquesne University
Portland, OR
Rose Garden Arena
University of Oregon
1st/2nd Rounds: 3-16/18
Columbus, OH
Nationwide Arena
Ohio State University
Greensboro, NC
Greensboro Coliseum
Atlantic Coast Conference
Nashville
Sommet Center
Ohio Valley Conference
Omaha, NE
Qwest Center
Creighton University
East Regional: 3-22/24
Boston
TD Garden
Boston College
West Regional: 3-22/24
Phoenix
US Airways Center
Arizona State University
Midwest Regional: 3-23/25
St. Louis
Edward Jones Dome
Saint Louis University
South Regional: 3-23/25
Atlanta
Georgia Dome
Georgia Institute of Technology
2013
1st/2nd Rounds: 3-21/23
Auburn Hills, MI
Palace of Auburn Hills
Oakland University
Lexington, KY
Rupp Arena
University of Kentucky
Salt Lake City, UT
Energy Solutions Arena
University of Utah
San Jose
HP Pavillion
West Coast Conference
1st/2nd Rounds: 3-22/24
Austin, TX
Frank Erwin Center
University of Texas at Austin
Dayton, OH
UD Arena
University of Dayton
Kansas City, MO
Sprint Center
Host TBA
Philadelphia
Wachovia Center
Temple University
East Regional: 3-28/30
Unknown
West Regional: 3-28/30
Los Angeles
Staples Center(New Venue)
Pepperdine University
Midwest Region: 3-29/31
Indianapolis
Lucas Oil Stadium
Butler University, Indiana University/Purdue University at Indianapolis, Horizon League
South Region: 3-29/31
Arlington, TX
Cowboys Stadium(New City and Venue)
Big 12 Conference
Sunday, September 13, 2009
Projecting the Sites - Men's Tournament
A few years ago, on an earlier incarnation of this blog, I made predictions on what the NCAA would pick for sites to the men's and women's basketball. Reviewing those selections a few days ago, my record was mixed. I hit some, but missed badly on others. With the sites for the 2011-13 tourneys to be awarded by the end of the month, I feel it's time to put on my best prognostication cap and see what I come up with. Not all combinations will be chosen(in fact some of the picks are just outright guesses, some may have elected to stay out of the bidding process entirely).
2011-13 Opening Round site:
Dayton, OH
University of Dayton Arena
University of Dayton
2011
1st/2nd Rounds
3-17/19
Albuquerque, NM The Pit University of New Mexico
Des Moines, IA Wells Fargo Arena Iowa State University
Hartford, CT XL Center University of Connecticut/Big East Conference
Oakland Oracle Arena University of San Francisco
3-18/20
Cleveland Quicken Loans Arena Kent State University
Little Rock, AR Alltel Arena University of Arkansas, Little Rock
Nashville Sommet Center Ohio Valley Conferernce
Philadelphia Wachovia Center LaSalle University
Regionals
3-24/26
Los Angeles Staples Center University of Southern California/Pacific-10 Conference
Raleigh RBC Center North Carolina State University
3-25/27
Chicago United Center Big Ten Conference
New Orleans Louisiana Superdome Tulane University
2012
1st/2nd Rounds
3-15/17
Fresno, CA SaveMart Center Fresno State University
Louisville Waterfront Arena University of Louisville
Orlando Amway Center Stetson University
Salt Lake City Huntsman Events Center University of Utah
3-16/18
Albany, NY Times-Union Arena Siena College/Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference
Indianapolis Lucas Oil Stadium Butler University/IUPUI/Horizon League
San Antonio AT&T Center University of Texas, San Antonio
Tulsa, OK BOK Center University of Tulsa/Conference USA
Regionals
3-22/24
Atlanta Georgia Dome Georgia Institute of Technology
Glendale, AZ University of Phoenix Stadium Arizona State University
3-23/25
New York City Madison Square Garden St. John's University/Big East Conference
St. Louis Edward Jones Dome Missouri Valley Conference
2013
1st/2nd Rounds
3-21/23
Boise, ID Taco Bell Arena Boise State University
Charlottesville, VA John Paul Jones University of Virginia
Denver Pepsi Center Colorado State University/Mountain West Conference
Pittsburgh Consol Energy Center Duquesne University
3-22/24
Detroit Ford Field Mid-American Conference
Memphis FedExForum University of Memphis
Miami AmericanAirlinesArena Florida International University
Omaha, NE Qwest Center Omaha Creighton University/Missouri Valley Conference
Regionals
3-28/30
Portland, OR Rose Garden University of Oregon
Washington, DC Verizon Center Georgetown University
3-29/31
Arlington, TX Cowboys Stadium Big 12 Conference
St. Paul, MN Xcel Energy Center University of Minnesota, Twin Cities
I'll have my women's choices up sometime this week as though will be awarded in November.
2011-13 Opening Round site:
Dayton, OH
University of Dayton Arena
University of Dayton
2011
1st/2nd Rounds
3-17/19
Albuquerque, NM The Pit University of New Mexico
Des Moines, IA Wells Fargo Arena Iowa State University
Hartford, CT XL Center University of Connecticut/Big East Conference
Oakland Oracle Arena University of San Francisco
3-18/20
Cleveland Quicken Loans Arena Kent State University
Little Rock, AR Alltel Arena University of Arkansas, Little Rock
Nashville Sommet Center Ohio Valley Conferernce
Philadelphia Wachovia Center LaSalle University
Regionals
3-24/26
Los Angeles Staples Center University of Southern California/Pacific-10 Conference
Raleigh RBC Center North Carolina State University
3-25/27
Chicago United Center Big Ten Conference
New Orleans Louisiana Superdome Tulane University
2012
1st/2nd Rounds
3-15/17
Fresno, CA SaveMart Center Fresno State University
Louisville Waterfront Arena University of Louisville
Orlando Amway Center Stetson University
Salt Lake City Huntsman Events Center University of Utah
3-16/18
Albany, NY Times-Union Arena Siena College/Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference
Indianapolis Lucas Oil Stadium Butler University/IUPUI/Horizon League
San Antonio AT&T Center University of Texas, San Antonio
Tulsa, OK BOK Center University of Tulsa/Conference USA
Regionals
3-22/24
Atlanta Georgia Dome Georgia Institute of Technology
Glendale, AZ University of Phoenix Stadium Arizona State University
3-23/25
New York City Madison Square Garden St. John's University/Big East Conference
St. Louis Edward Jones Dome Missouri Valley Conference
2013
1st/2nd Rounds
3-21/23
Boise, ID Taco Bell Arena Boise State University
Charlottesville, VA John Paul Jones University of Virginia
Denver Pepsi Center Colorado State University/Mountain West Conference
Pittsburgh Consol Energy Center Duquesne University
3-22/24
Detroit Ford Field Mid-American Conference
Memphis FedExForum University of Memphis
Miami AmericanAirlinesArena Florida International University
Omaha, NE Qwest Center Omaha Creighton University/Missouri Valley Conference
Regionals
3-28/30
Portland, OR Rose Garden University of Oregon
Washington, DC Verizon Center Georgetown University
3-29/31
Arlington, TX Cowboys Stadium Big 12 Conference
St. Paul, MN Xcel Energy Center University of Minnesota, Twin Cities
I'll have my women's choices up sometime this week as though will be awarded in November.
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