3/12: Decertification, Jimmer, Kemba, etc...

It was a busy, busy Friday in Sports....

• The NFLPA decertifies... if you haven't heard by now (and that's pretty impossible), the union has decertified, and been subsequently locked out by the owners... what does it all mean? Basically, this has gone from semi-civilized negotiation to full-on litigation with this move... the timetables are supposedly slower, their can be NO league operation basically (resulting in lay-offs, the stop of personnel moves, etc.), and the virtual shutdown of the league... I know it's tough to be invested fully in this with real, live game action nowhere near AND with basketball in full swing, but stay tuned, but this isn't good...

In actual, on-field matters...

• Jimmer Fredette is an alien... the BYU guard cemented his stranglehold on National POY honors with a 52 point performance in the Cougars' win over New Mexico on Friday... previously 0-2 against the Lobos, he pretty much wouldn't be denied... 22 of 37 (!) from the field, 7 of 14 from 3... it's really outlandish how much free reign he has in that offense, but when you shoot like this, why not?
• In the Big East was the other leading story...How bout Kemba Walker? Earlier in the day, Kemba had 33 in leading UConn to a win in a virtual road game (at MSG) over Syracuse in OT... he's been pretty ludicrous recently, and especially in this tourney... it's not the full 1-man show that some may believe it is, but he's carrying them... and Louisville will meet them in the final after knocking off Notre Dame... the story for me was Ben Hansborough shooting a putrid 3 of 17... they just couldn't overcome it...
• In the Big 10... Ohio State escapes by the skin of their teeth over Northwestern... it was a see-saw game throughout, and went to OT before the 6-point win... Michigan State put up their best performance of the season in blowing out top-10 Purdue by 18... I'm not sure that seals their tourney bid, but it was a must-win spot for them... Penn State and Wisconsin play to a virtual standstill... 36-33... that's the final score for those of you scoring at home... I can't even comment here, but it's a tough loss for Wisconsin... good gracious... and Michigan gets a big win over Illinois... cementing their tourney bid once and for all, and locking themselves in as the most overachieving Wolverines roster in 20 years... thanks fellas...
• In the ACC... North Carolina storms back from 20 down to Miami, taking their first and only lead on a Tyler Zeller layup at the buzzer... Duke holds serve over Maryland by 16, and Clemson wins a crucial bubble matchup over BC via 23-point blowout...
• In the Big 12... Kansas keeps pace with... well, themselves... as they are expected to cruise and have held serve thus far, continuing to do so with a 90-83 over Colorado behind 40 points and 21 boards combined from the Morris twins... and Texas holds serve over A&M setting up the Final that everyone wanted to see in that league...
• Out west in the Pac-10... Arizona held off USC to make the title game thanks to 20 from Derrick Williams... I really, really like that team...USC was playing without coach Kevin O'Neill who was suspended due to a fan altercation.. yeah.... and Washington beats up on Oregon to reach the final as well despite Isaiah Thomas shooting just 2 of 11... he did add 12 dimes though...
• Lastly, the SEC saw Florida, Kentucky, and Alabama get wins they were expected to get... Alabama may have knocked UGA out of the field and inserted themselves into it... crucial... other than that, not very much interest from me here...

Non-college...

• NBA Check - Boston falls in Philly 89-86 in OT... the Celtics are reeling a bit, but I think we can pretty much chalk it up to the dog days of March... Charlotte rises up and knocks off Portland in Gerald Wallace's return... S-Jax led the way for the Bobcats with 29 and 10... The Bulls hammered the Hawks in Chicago... Derrick Rose got right with 34 points, and the Hawks couldn't generate any offense all night... frustrating/maddening.... Kevin Love isn't from this planet (much like Jimmer)... 24 and 12 for him (again) and the streak continues.. and the Golden State backcourt takes down Orlando... Monta Ellis dropped 39 points, 11 assists and 6 boards while Steph Curry added 22 and 12 to overcome Dwight's 21 boards and J-Rich with 30...

And there it is... deep breath... what to watch for on Saturday...

• Big 12 Title Game - #10 Texas vs. #2 Kansas - ESPN 6:00 - It's the matchup the Big 12 would've drawn up... Kansas is the better team and the Morris twins have no match on Texas, but they're def. capable of knocking them off...
• Big East Title Game - #19 UConn vs. #14 Louisville - ESPN 9:00 - It's pretty much a test of shutting down Kemba Walker... good luck with that, but Pitino has the horses to do it...
• Pac-10 Title Game - Washington vs. #15 Arizona - CBS 6:00 - Shame they have to go head-to-head with the Big 12, but this is probably the best matchup for the league...
• Mountain West Title Game - #8 BYU vs. #6 San Diego State - CBS College 7:00 - I wish this was on a channel everyone could see, but it may be the best game of the day... SDSU has 31 wins and 2 losses... both of which are to BYU... and oh yeah, there's that guy Jimmer who had 52 yesterday (see above)...
• Big Ten Semis - #1 Ohio State vs. Michigan - CBS 1:30 - Well, the rivalry is enough to sell it, but Michigan has played both games incredibly tight this year... Go Blue...
• Big Ten Semis - Michigan State vs. Penn State - CBS 4:00 - Would anyone else NOT be surprised if Michigan State won the whole tourney?
• ACC Semis - #7 North Carolina vs. Clemson - ESPN 1:00 - All signs point to the dream matchup...
• ACC Semis - Virginia Tech vs. #5 Duke - ESPN 3:00 - And that dream matchup includes the tobacco road rivals...
• SEC Semis - #16 Kentucky vs. Alabama - ABC 1:00 - Apparently, Alabama's OT win over UGA wasn't enough... so they'll need this one...
• SEC Semis - #24 Vandy vs. #12 Florida - ABC 3:30 - Pretty good game here actually... Florida is one of the more under-discussed teams in the country...
• Blazers @ Hawks - SportSouth 7:00 - Lamarcus Aldridge and the boys come to town... Atlanta is very much reeling right now, and I'm not sure Portland is the best medicine...
• Jazz @ Bulls - WGN 8:00 - Derrick Rose is worth watching...
• Lakers @ Mavs - NBA-TV 9:00 - Awesome game that'll get lost in the shuffle thanks to the college action, but Dallas is scorching right now, and LA is, well, LA...
• WAC Final - Boise State vs. #17 Utah State - ESPN2 10:00 - Oh, you thought the day was over with the Big East nightcap? Wrong... Utah State is worth the watch too...
• C-USA Final - Memphis vs. UTEP - CBS 11:30 - Live hoops at 11:30 am? With legit teams? Nice... Randy Culpepper can put up 40 at any time for UTEP...

Seize the day... it's a busy one...