Another Almost for the Badgers

Almost made you love me
Almost made you cry
Almost made you happy, baby
Didn't I didn't I
You almost had me thinkin'
You were turned around
But everybody knows
Almost doesn't count

Almost heard you saying
You were finally free
What was always missing for you, baby
You'd found it in me
But you can't get to heaven
Half off the ground
Everybody knows
Almost doesn't count

I can't keep on lovin' you
One foot outside the door
I hear a funny hesitation
Of a heart that's never really sure
Can't keep on tryin'
If you're looking for more
Than all that I could give you
Than what you came here for

Gonna find me somebody
Not afraid to let go
Want a no doubt be there kind of man
You came real close
But everytime you built me up
You only let me down
And everybody knows
Almost doesn't count

Maybe you'll be sorry
Maybe you'll be cold
Maybe you'll come runnin' back, baby
From the cruel cruel world
Almost convince me
You're gonna stick around
But everybody knows
Almost doesn't count

So maybe I'll be here
Maybe I'll see ya around
That's the way it goes
Almost doesn't count

Badgers Reach Sweet 16

Vanderbilt's John Jenkin's shot hit the rim and hung up in the air for was wasn't quite an eternity, but at least enough time for me to think "Wow, that better not go in". It didn't and Ryan Evans muscled/pushed to grab the rebound, and the Badgers are heading to the Sweet 16 for the second year in a row.

We probably too often uses phrases like "willed the win" or gutted out the victory", but I really can't come up with more apt descriptions for this Wisconsin win. But don't get the wrong idea. This was not an upset. It was not the case of an underdog upsetting the better playing team. No, this was Wisconsin basketball. Not pretty or glamorous, but effective.

Let's look at the last possession when Wisconsin was up by 2.
1:22 remains: Rob Wilson rebound after missed free throw
3o seconds later: Missed 3 pointer by Evans, Berggren offensive rebound
35 seconds later: Missed 3 pointer by Taylor, Gasser offensive rebound
:17 remain: Gasser misses front end of 1-and-1
:04: Jenkins misses 3 pointer, Evans grabs rebound
:02: Evans makes 1 of 2 free throws
:02 Breggren blocks inbound pass, Badgers Win!

Yes, not pretty. Taylor hit the "winning" 3 pointer with 1:45 left, but all those little things mentioned contributed to the win. 5 Badgers scored in double figures and we will need this balance again on Thursday. Evans started off hot again. Brust and Brueser hit some big 3's. I enjoyed the gritty display despite how nervous I was at the end of the game.

Last note on Saturday's win, can everyone stop sweating Vanderbilt now?!!! I'm looking at you Dick Vitale, Seth Davis, and almost all of the ESPN "experts". Has there ever been a more overrated 5 seed? Damn.

Up Next: #1 Seed Syracuse. This one will come down to shooting. I'm sure you're shocked by this. Wisconsin played pretty poorly when Vanderbilt went into the zone late in the 2nd half. Wisconsin will need Brust and Wilson to be zone-breakers. Wisconsin will control the tempo, but it will need to make shots to make this pay off. There is no reason we cannot take this game!

Badgers Take Care of Business vs. Montana

Say what you will about the shortcomings of Bo Ryan teams in March, the Badgers are actually 10-1 in the first round of the NCAA Tournament (that's still what I'm calling it) under Ryan. The troubles usually come in the next couple rounds.

The Badgers took care of business on Thursday with a pretty dominating performance against the Montana Grizzlies. People love to pick Wisconsin to be upset early and there were a lot of Montana fans as they came in riding a 14 game winning streak, but this one was never really in doubt. Both teams came out hot, particularly Ryan Evans, but once the Badgers' D stepped it up (Jared Berggren with 7 blocks), the Badgers coasted to a comfortable victory. Jordan Taylor also had a great game with 17 points, 8 rebounds, 6 assists, and 0 turnovers.

Now even though Bo Ryan's Wisconsin teams are 10-1 in the first round of the tourney, this does not mean there haven't been a few close ones. Just look at squeaker wins vs. 13 seed Wofford and 15 seed Texas A&M Corpus Christi. So, the relative ease of this win was a surprise, but well deserved.

If the Badgers can keep up the balanced offense (meaning they don't just stand around waiting for the shot clock to go under 10 and pass the ball to Taylor), continue to play strong on the defensive end, and get a 3's to drop for Bruesewitz, Brust, and Wilson, this team can keep rolling.

Next Up: Vanderbilt (pretty much the media darling of this tourney, everyone's sleeper that's not really a sleeper pick) 5:10 CST Saturday.

This will be a much tougher game. I expect a similar grind-it-out 4/5 match-up to last year's win vs. Kansas State.

We Want More (Beer)!

Tim Dillard Gets in on the Tim Kurkjian Fun

And suddenly, out of nowhere, ESPN has something to talk about rather than Peyton Manning or Dwight Howard. I've generally tried to ignore the Mothership as much as possible ever since  SportsCenter named Valdosta, Georgia "Titletown" over Green Bay, but every now and then they give me a reason to tune in. This time around, it's the various players throughout Major League Baseball that interrupt Baseball Tonight for their chance to impersonate analyst Tim Kurkjian. Milwaukee Brewers relief pitcher Tim Dillard was the latest to do it, and quite well I'd say. At this point though, the best impression in my book goes to Tampa Bay Rays infielder Elliot Johnson.

Now those are the goods. This whole impression started with J.P. Arencibia, and actually after listening to this one again I may have to deem this one the best.

Kurkjian tried to deliver some payback to Terry Francona with the help of Jonathan Papelbon, but it doesn't have the same punch. Although it is worth a laugh.

Good on you, ESPN. If nothing else you gave us an easy way to make a post without doing too much work (and this continues my string of making the same non-joke over and over Mike Florio style. Unless it doesn't.)