Selection Sunday and the BCS, Laughing Stock in the Sports World

The aftermath of Saturday, December 6, 2003 left a nation of college football fans unable to sleep. The top three teams all have one loss. Who is going to play in the Sugar Bowl?

As Selection Sunday came upon us, it is unveiled that the University of Southern California Trojans are ranked number one by both the Associated Press and the ESPN/Coaches Poll. However, they are number three in the Bowl Championship Series Poll, trailing Oklahoma University and Louisiana State University who are going to play in the Sugar Bowl for the BCS Championship.

The fact that USC was jumped again (they were jumped by Ohio State for the 2nd spot three weeks ago before OSU lost to Michigan) only added to my frustration. The loss by Oklahoma on Saturday eliminated Texas (my alma mater) from going to a BCS bowl game, and Tennessee (the team I worshipped as a kid) was edged by Ohio State for a BCS bowl game. The three teams I am in love with were all screwed by the BCS!

Once my initial reactions settled down, I thought about the present scenario. After all, USC might be sitting in the catbird seat! Let’s think about USC’s circumstances.

First, USC is ranked number one in both polls. Although not unanimous, if USC wins big against Michigan while LSU and Oklahoma get into a tight game, USC will certainly remain at the top of both polls which will give USC the AP National Championship title.

Second, USC is playing twenty miles from their campus. Their fans will definitely outnumber Wolverine fans and create a hostile environment for Michigan. I would prefer this over traveling half way across the nation to face either LSU or Oklahoma. Besides, playing in New Orleans around New Years is like holding Mass at a burlesque house. Believe me, I’ve been to New Orleans (mmmm, hand grenades!!), the place is a blast for the fans, but I wouldn’t want my team’s players in that environment before the biggest game of their careers.

Third, USC is literally playing a national championship game against a beatable Michigan team. I would rather face Michigan than an angry Oklahoma team whose got much to prove after the blowout by Kansas State or a LSU team who’s probably playing the best defense in the country. The only time Michigan played west of the Rockies, Oregon beat them 31-27 by holding the Wolverines to -3 yards rushing. I expect a much more superior USC defense to put up comparable numbers. However, it is USC’s offense against Michigan’s defense that’s getting me salivating. Michigan’s defense gave up 495 yards to Minnesota, 383 to Ohio State, and 368 to Central Michigan.

Fourth, Michigan would have had 39 days of rest by the time of the Rose Bowl compared to USC’s 25 days. The long layoff would definitely throw Michigan off sync for at least the first quarter. By that time, the scoreboard might already be 21-0 given USC’s quick-striking offense. Both Oklahoma and LSU will be playing on 28 days of rest.

Finally, I don’t really think an injustice has been done in USC not playing in the Sugar Bowl. I agree with what Coach Pete Carroll said, “when you lose a game, you put your destiny in other people’s hands”. Considering USC lost to an unranked California team, I really don’t believe we have the strongest argument. But then again, LSU lost to a 3-3 Florida team at home and Oklahoma didn’t even win their own conference.

So, after five years of dodging bullets and avoiding catastrophic controversies, the BCS finally blows up by not having the number one team in the polls play in the championship game. Until the birth of a playoff system, USC might just have to hope for a “Paper Champions” tag from the AP this season.

5 Questions For the 2003-2004 College Basketball Season

Part 5 of 5

1. Who wins the hardware?

…And the grand finale!!!

Offensive Player of the Year

Ike Diogu, Arizona State

Defensive Player of the Year

Emeka Okafor, Connecticut

Playmaker of the Year

Jameer Nelson, St. Joseph’s

Coach of the Year

Tommy Amaker, Michigan

Freshman of the Year

Luol Deng, Duke

Player of the Year

Hakim Warrick, Syracuse

First Team

C	Emeka Okafor, Connecticut


F	Ike Diogu, Arizona State


F	Hakim Warrick, Syracuse


G	Romain Sato, Xavier


G	Jameer Nelson, St. Joseph’s 

Second Team

C	Arthur Johnson, Missouri


F	Wayne Simien, Kansas


F	Ben Gordon, Connecticut


G	Rashad McCant, North Carolina


G	Julius Hodge, North Carolina State

Third Team

C	James Thomas, Texas


F	Paul Davis, Michigan State


F	Rickey Paulding, Missouri


G	Luis Flores, Manhattan


G	Blake Stepp, Gonzaga 

Final Rankings

Rank		School


1.		Duke


2.		Connecticut


3.		Texas


4.		Syracuse


5.		North Carolina


6.		Illinois


7.		Kansas


8.		Arizona


9.		Missouri


10.		Florida


11.		Saint Joseph’s


12.		Michigan State


13.		Gonzaga


14.		Kentucky 


15.		Stanford 


16.		Maryland 


17.		Louisville


18.		Wisconsin


19.		Oklahoma


20.		Pittsburgh


21.		Georgia Tech


22.		North Carolina State


23.		Michigan


24.		Marquette


25.		Xavier

5 Questions For the 2003-2004 College Basketball Season

Part 4 of 5

2. Star power or depth?

The beauty of college basketball is that you don’t have to have a superstar to win. Just look at last year’s Kentucky Wildcats and Michigan State Spartans. However, all four teams in the Final Four had a go-to-guy and future lottery pick on their team. Marquette had Dwayne Wade, Texas had TJ Ford, Kansas had Nick Collison and Kirk Hinrich, and Syracuse had Carmelo Anthony.

Superstars intimidate the opponent, but make their teams suffer when they struggle. Teams without superstars are better balanced with everyone chipping in, but often, the players are all too passive when it comes to scoring in crunch time. Which ever makeup of a team you like, here’s a look at the top five teams with and without a superstar.

Star-powered Teams

1. Connecticut

Star: Emeka Okafor

Okafor, the 6-10, 252 junior out of Houston, TX is the best player in the nation. He is without a question the best defender in the country after leading the NCAA with 4.7 blocks per game and grabbing 11.2 rebounds per game as a sophomore. His teammate Ben Gordon is also an electrifying player, but there is no doubt Okafor is UConn’s go-to-guy.

2. Arizona State

Star: Ike Diogu

Diogu is another young star out of the state of Texas. Coming out of Garland, TX, Diogu averaged 19.0 ppg, 7.8 rpg, and shot .609 from the field as a freshman. Diogu’s offensive game is unbelievably polished. He is almost impossible to stop down low. This year, he might be even tougher as coaches encouraged him to shoot the three more. However, Arizona State might not even make it to the field of 65 come March due to the lack of support on his team and strong conference opponents in Arizona, Oregon, Stanford, and California.

3. North Carolina State

Star: Julius Hodge

Hodge was Mr. Basketball out of the state of New York in 2001 and appeared on the cover of Sports Illustrated that same year. Hodge is very offensive minded as he averaged 17.7 ppg and made 41 three-pointers last year as a sophomore. Hodge played his best late last year when he scored a career high 31 points against Wake Forest in the ACC Tournament semi-finals. This year, look for Hodge to contend as the National Player of the Year.

4. St. Joseph’s

Star: Jameer Nelson

After flirting with the NBA during the off-season, Nelson is back for his senior year. Nelson led the Atlantic-10 in assists for the past two years and is only 37 dishes away from being the school’s all-time leader in assists. Despite his love to share the ball, Nelson averaged 19.7 ppg last year and scored a career high 39 against a great Dayton Flyers team. The 6-0, 190 guard also averaged 5.1 rpg last year. The backcourt tandem of Jameer Nelson and Delonte West will be the best in the nation. The two guards combined for 37.0 ppg, 9.4 rpg, and 7.9 apg last year.

5. Manhattan

Star: Luis Flores

Flores averaged 35.6 ppg while a senior in high school. Now that Flores is a senior, he’s looking forward to following his spectacular junior year when he was the MAAC Player of the Year. Flores averaged 24.6 ppg and consistently got to the free throw line (shot .902 from the line) last year. Despite playing for the Manhattan Jaspers, Flores is without a doubt one of the best players in college basketball and should be considered for Player of the Year honors.

Depth-powered Teams

1. Texas

Contributors: James Thomas, Brandon Mouton, Royal Ivey, Brad Buckman, Sydmill Harris, Brian Boddicker, Jason Klotz, PJ. Tucker, Edgar Moreno, Kenny Taylor

This is without questions the deepest team in the country. After last year’s Final Four run, Texas returns ten players with that experience. This year’s newcomers include two transfers and two high schoolers. The starting five features Mouton, Ivey, Harris, Buckman, and Thomas. Everyone except for Buckman is a senior, and Buckman was a McDonald’s All-American before his freshman season last year. Coming off the bench are three-point-threats Boddicker and Taylor, big man Klotz, point guard Moreno, and freshman Tucker.

2. Kansas

Contributors: Wayne Simien, Keith Langford, Aaron Miles, Jeff Graves, Michael Lee, Bryant Nash, David Padgett, JR. Gidden, Moulaye Niang

Simien had to sit out a majority of last year due to an injury. That injury boosted Graves into the starting lineup which helped develop him into a much better player, this year, Simien and Graves are both back. The backcourt is led by the athletic Langford and assist man Miles. Lee and Nash both had good finishes to their season last year and will look to contribute of the bench. What people in Lawrence are really excited about is their freshmen class. Padgett is a highly touted center who should start by the end of the season, and Giddens is another Langford in the making.

3. Duke

Contributors: JJ. Redick, Chris Duhon, Shelden Williams, Luol Deng, Daniel Ewing, Shavlik Randolph, Michael Thompson, Nick Horvath, Sean Dockery

Just like all Duke teams of the past, this team is loaded with talent. The stars of this team will be freshman Deng, sharp shooter Redick, and senior leader Duhon, but they are by no means by themselves. Williams, Randolph, and Thompson will be banging in the paint while Daniel Ewing, ex-high school teammate of TJ Ford, will play the reserve role at guard. Last year, Duke lost a close game to a senior-savvy Kansas team. This year, they will have learned a great deal from that experience and look to make it all the way to the final game.

4. Florida

Contributors: Anthony Roberson, Matt Walsh, David Lee, Christian Drejer, Bonell Colas, Adrian Moss, Mohamad Abukar, Rashid Al-Kaleem, Mario Boggan, Chris Richard, Ryan Appleby, Lee Humphrey

It’s surprising how a team can be so deep after losing three starters from a year ago. Florida lost leading scorer Matt Bonner, Justin Hamilton, and Brett Nelson, but is two-deep at every position. Last year’s freshman sensations Roberson and Walsh will start in the backcourt. Both can shoot the three extremely well. They are backed up by two talented freshmen Appleby and Humphrey. Colas and Moss will split time at center while rebound machine David Lee and Danish Christian Drejer plays the four and three spots respectively. They are backed up by another two freshmen, Abukar and Richard with additional help by sophomore Mario Boggan.

5. Michigan

Contributors: Daniel Horton, Lester Abram, Bernard Robinson, Graham Brown, Chris Hunter, JC. Mathis, Amadou Ba, Dion Harris, Courtney Sims, Brent Petway

You can hardly call such a young team “deep”, but despite having four sophomores and five freshmen, the Wolverines have the potential to be one of the deepest teams at season’s end. Don’t forget the three freshmen starters (Horton, Abram, and Brown) from last year’s team capped off 13 consecutive wins after a 0-6 start, so they are already more mature than their sophomore status this year. Daniel Horton is the star of the show. Abram and Robinson are capable scorers. Redshirt freshman Ba is a big man with NBA potentials. Freshman phenoms Harris, Sims, and Petway are all highly touted recruits.