Soft Pretzel Logic

Notice

2008-12-10T17:35:21Z

If you came here from ESPN the Magazine's website or anywhere else that linked to this URL for my blog, it isn't here anymore. It moved a few months ago to this link. Thanks.

Moving Day

2008-03-17T21:45:51Z

Leron asks:

Jonathan, are you traveling with any one of the teams? If not, you should.

Anthony took a good guess:

My prediction is that Jonathan will be set up with his live-blogging apparatus for all games from DC. He will take the train both ways and explain the virtues of rail travel over air travel. :)

Unfortunately, I will not be traveling to any of the NCAA Tournament sites. I don't have the time to fly out west or down south, and none of the teams I have any connections with are playing in Washington. There is a chance that I might go to D.C. for a story this weekend anyway, but it will not be basketball-related. Stay tuned, because it will probably end up on the blog. Well, I take that back... sort of. It won't end up here. With the NCAA Tournament about to begin, I'm switching to a new blog platform. The new URL is http://www.philly.com/philly/blogs/pretzel. It's got some more toys for me to play with, and as a result, I'll be able to get blog posts to do some things that they never have before. You'll like it, I promise. As a result of the move, I've locked comments on this blog. So come on over to the new blog and have your say about who you've got in the Final Four, how far you think the local teams can go, and whatever else is on your mind about the NCAA Tournament. And don't forget to play Hoops Hysteria if you aren't already. I'll be posting my bracket soon... and you'll only see my picks on the new blog. So come on over and join me.

Game schedule announced

2008-03-17T01:41:56Z

We have tip-off times for the first round, and let's start with the local games. All times Eastern: Thursday, March 20 5. Michigan State vs. 12. Temple, 12:30 p.m. Friday, March 21 6. Oklahoma vs. 11 St. Joseph's, approx. 7:10 p.m. 5. Clemson vs. 12. Villanova, approx. 9:50 p.m. Isn't that the second year in a row the Wildcats have been put in the last Friday night game? Also, you can print your own bracket by clicking here. After the jump, the full schedule.]]> Thursday, March 20 12:20 p.m.: 3. Xavier vs. 14. Georgia (Washington, D.C.) 12:25 p.m.: 1. Kansas vs. 16. Portland State (Omaha, Neb.) 12:30 p.m.:: 5. Michigan State vs. 12. Temple (Denver, Colo..) 2:30 p.m.: 6. Marquette vs. 11. Kentucky (Anaheim, Calif.) Approx. 2:50 p.m.: 6. Purdue vs. 11. Baylor (Washington, D.C.) Approx. 2:55 p.m.: 8. UNLV vs. 9. Kent State (Omaha, Neb.) Approx. 3:00 p.m.: 4. Pittsburgh vs. 13. Oral Roberts (Denver. Colo.) Approx. 4:55 p.m.: 3. Stanford vs. 14. Cornell (Anaheim, Calif.) 7:10 p.m.: 6. Southern California vs. 11. Kansas State (Omaha, Neb.) 7:10 p.m.: 2. Duke vs. 15. Belmont (Washington. D.C.) 7:20 p.m.: 4. Washington State vs. 13. Winthrop (Denver, Colo..) 7:25 p.m.: 8. Brigham Young vs. 9. Texas A&M (Anaheim, Calif.) Approx. 9:40 p.m.: 3. Wisconsin vs. 14. Cal State-Fullerton (Omaha, Neb.) Approx. 9:40 p.m.: 7. West Virginia vs. 10. Arizona (Washington, D.C.) Approx. 9:50 p.m.: 5. Notre Dame vs. 12. George Mason (Denver, Colo.) Approx. 9:50 p.m.: 1. UCLA vs. 16. Misssissippi Valley State (Anaheim, Calif.) Friday, March 21 12:15 p.m.: 2. Tennessee vs. 15. American (Birmingham, Ala.) 12:25 p.m.: 7. Gonzaga vs. 10. Davidson (Raleigh, N.C.) 12:30 p.m.: 5. Drake vs. 12. Western Kentucky (Tampa, Fla.) 12:30 p.m.: 7. Miami vs. 10. St. Mary's (Little Rock, Ark.) 2:45 p.m.: 7. Butler vs. 10. South Alabama (Birmingham, Ala.) 2:55 p.m.: 2. Georgetown vs. 15. Maryland-Baltimore County (Raleigh, N.C.) 3:00 p.m.: 4. Connecticut vs. 13 San Diego (Tampa, Fla.) 3:00 p.m.: 2. Texas vs. 15. Austin Peay (Little Rock, Ark.) 7:10 p.m.: 6. Oklahoma vs. 11. St. Joseph's (Birmingham, Ala.) 7:10 p.m.: 1. North Carolina vs. 16. Mount St. Mary's or Coppin State (Raleigh, N.C.) 7:20 p.m.: 4. Vanderbilt vs. 13. Siena (Tampa, Fla.) 7:25 p.m.: 8. Mississippi State vs. 9. Oregon (Little Rock, Ark.) Approx. 9:40 p.m.: 3. Louisville vs. 14. Boise State (Birmingham, Ala.) Approx. 9:40 p.m.: 8. Indiana vs. 9. Arkansas (Raleigh, N.C.) Approx. 9:50 p.m.: 5. Clemson vs. 12. Villanova (Tampa, Fla.) Approx. 9:55 p.m.: 1. Memphis vs. 16. Texas-Arlington (Little Rock, Ark.)

Reading material

2008-03-16T22:42:52Z

For the first time since 1999, the Philadelphia region has sent three teams to the NCAA Tournament. Now that the bracket is finished, I'm going to leave this post at the top of the blog and just update it with stories as they come through. And remember to enter Philly.com's Hoops Hysteria contest, in which you can win a 50-inch plasma TV from Bob and Ron's Worldwide Stereo if you have the best bracket. You can also compare your bracket to a panel of experts from the Inquirer, Daily News and Philly.com, or you can play in the Soft Pretzel Logic group just for fun. Check back here tomorrow for my picks, as well as audio and video from the Coaches vs. Cancer breakfast. From the Daily News Dick Jerardi: Late season excellence puts Temple, Saint Joseph's, Villanova in Big Dance Owls knew their NCAA day would come Villanova Wildcats relieved just to be invited to NCAAs Saint Joseph's Hawks can exhale, on way to Big Dance Capsule previews of Michigan State, Clemson and Oklahoma http://www.philly.com/philly/sports/20080316_NCAA_East_Region_capsules.html">East region West region South region Mdwest region From the Inquirer Bob Ford: Philly teams find a way to NCAA tourney The resume gets job done for Villanova Hawks let out a collective sigh of relief St. Joe's, Nova join Temple at dance On College Basketball | 16 tournament questions that demand an answer East | UNC repeats as NCAA top seed Midwest | Jayhawks the best of Midwest South | Memphis leads strong contingent West | UCLA, of course, is the team to beat Fan information St. Joe's

The West

2008-03-16T22:32:31Z

In Anaheim, Calif. 1. UCLA vs. 16. Mississippi Valley State 8. BYU vs. 9. Texas A&M In Tampa, Fla. 5. Drake vs. 12. Western Kentucky 4. Connecticut vs. 13. San Diego In Washington, D.C. 2. Duke vs. 15. Belmont 7. West Virginia vs. 10. Arizona In Washington, D.C. 3. Xavier vs. 14. Georgia 6. Purdue vs. 11. Baylor

The South

2008-03-16T22:24:55Z

In Little Rock, Ark. 1. Memphis vs. 16 Texas-Arlington 8. Mississippi State vs. 9 Oregon In Denver, Colo. 5. Michigan State vs. 12. Temple! 4. Pittsburgh vs. 13 Oral Roberts In Little Rock, Ark. 2. Texas vs. 15 Austin Peay 7. Miami vs. 10. St. Mary's In Anaheim, Calif. 3. Stanford vs. 14. Cornell 6. Marquette vs. Kentucky

The Midwest -- VILLANOVA IS IN

2008-03-16T22:16:57Z

In Omaha, Neb. 1. Kansas vs. 16 Portland State 8. UNLV vs. 9 Kent State In Tampa, Fla. 5. Clemson vs. 12 Villanova! 4. Vanderbilt vs.13. Siena In Raleigh, N.C. 2. Georgetown vs. 15. Maryland Baltimore-County 7. Gonzaga vs. 10 Davidson In Omaha, Neb. 3. Wisconsin vs. 14. Cal State-Fullerton 6. Southern California vs. 11. Kansas State

The East -- ST. JOE'S IS IN

2008-03-16T22:16:36Z

In Raleigh, N.C.: 1. North Carolina vs. 16 Mount St. Mary's or Coppin State 8. Indiana vs. 9. Arkansas In Denver, Colo.: 5. Notre Dame vs. 12. George Mason 4. Washington State vs. 13. Winthrop In Birmingham, Ala. 2. Tennessee vs. 15. American 7. Butler vs. 10. South Alabama In Birmingham, Ala. 3. Louisville Cardinals vs. 14. Boise State 6. Oklahoma vs. 11. St. Joseph's!

The number one seeds

2008-03-16T22:02:37Z

East: North Carolina South: Memphis West; UCLA Midwest: Kansas If all four top seeds were to make the Final Four, North Carolina would play Kansas and Memphis would play UCLA. I see the TV cameras are at Temple's party.

The top overall seed

2008-03-16T22:00:58Z

... is North Carolina. So the Tar Heels will get the winner of Tuesday night's play-in game between Coppin State and Mount St. Mary's.

Time's up

2008-03-16T22:00:00Z

It's 6:00 p.m. in Philadelphia. Do you know whether your team is in the NCAA Tournament?

A Cat-shattering kaboom?

2008-03-16T21:37:49Z

That sound you just heard was either "Glory, Glory to Old Georgia," or a lot of Villanova fans becoming very afraid.

The play-in game...

2008-03-16T21:08:14Z

... is Coppin State vs. Mount St. Mary's. Coppin State heads to the Dance with a somewhat unsightly 16-20 record, but the MEAC's No. 7 seed beat No. 2 Hampton, No. 3 Norfolk State and No. 1 Morgan State to win the bid. Mount St. Mary's won the Northeast Conference as the 4-seed in a tournament that was re-seeded after every round. The Mountaineers beat 5-seed Quinnipiac, then upset top seed Robert Morris (coached by ex-St. Joe's assistant Mike Rice) before beating 3-seed Sacred Heart in the title game. Meanwhile, Kansas just beat Texas and Wisconsin finished off Illinois, but Georgia has led from the start against Arkansas and currently is up by three. (Hat tip to the D.C. Sports Bog)

The countdown begins

2008-03-16T20:55:01Z

An hour to go until the Selection Show begins. As I write this, Georgia is winning the SEC, Wisconsin is up big in the Big 10, and Kansas just took the lead on Texas in a possible battle for a No. 1 seed. Somewhere out Lancaster Avenue, Jay Wright is watching nervously, his Wildcats poised on a knife-edge. Phil Martelli might just grab his rosary beads a little tighter if Georgia wins, but deep down you have to believe he knows his Hawks have done everything they need to do. And at the Draught Horse just off North Broad Street, Temple is getting ready to throw a big party. Tick, tock...

Selection Sunday Crunchy Numbers

2008-03-16T19:17:47Z

Welcome to Soft Pretzel Logic's live coverage of Selection Sunday. With the Selection Show just hours away, here's the final edition of Crunchy Numbers of the season. As we find out who's in and out of the field among the local teams, here's the last rundown of all the big stats. Remember to enter Philly.com's Hoops Hysteria contest, in which you can win a 50-inch plasma TV from Bob and Ron's Worldwide Stereo if you have the best bracket. You can also compare your bracket to a panel of experts from the Inquirer, Daily News and Philly.com, or you can play in the Soft Pretzel Logic group just for fun. (Ignore the Philly.com group; I created it by accident when trying to build a group for the blog and now I can't get rid of it. Sorry.)

Team	Record	Pomeroy	RPI	Sagarin	BB State	SOS
Drexel	12-20 (5-13)	264 (275)	240 (237)	225 (224)	266 (262)	170 (172)
La Salle	15-17 (8-8)	139 (143)	163 (158)	154 (157)	265 (259)	138 (156)
Penn	13-18 (8-6)	278 (289)	261 (275)	274 (285)	312 (312)	280 (292)
St. Joseph's	21-12 (9-7)	55 (58)	45 (56)	51 (55)	41 (35)	51 (79)
Temple	21-12 (11-5)	65 (78)	48 (65)	64 (58)	75 (71)	43 (36)
Villanova	20-12 (9-9)	51 (60)	51 (60)	52 (62)	57 (67)	47 (57)

After the jump, the usual team and individual breakdown.]]> Drexel -- Offensive efficiency: 9.4 (332) -- Defensive efficiency: 97.1 (67) -- Tempo: 65.7 poss / 40 mins (216) Offense -- Effective FG %: 45.6 (316) -- Offensive rebounding %: 28.1 (306) -- 3-point FG %: 31.3 (313) -- Free throw %: 62.9 (316) -- Steal %: 12.8 (332) -- Ratio of assists to field goals made: 61.1% (50) Defense -- Effective FG %: 47.3 (58) -- 3-point FG %: 33.1 (67) -- 2-point FG %: 46.2 (83) -- Ratio of three-point attempts to all FGA: 31.5% (82) Frank Elegar -- Defensive rebounding %: 51st (23.7) -- Free throw rate: 20th (81.0%) -- Block %: 86th (7.2)

La Salle -- Offensive efficiency: 104.5 (129) -- Defensive efficiency: 106.0 (275) -- Tempo: 70.6 poss / 40 mins (52) Offense -- Offensive rebounding %: 36.2 (58) -- 3-point FG %: 39.6 (16) -- Block %: 14.3 (339) Defense -- Offensive rebounding %: 31.2 (99) -- Ratio of three-point attempts to all FGA: 31.1% (59) Darnell Harris -- Offensive rating: 9th (128.9) -- Effective FG %: 51st (61.1) -- Turnover rate: 16th (9.8%) -- 3-point FG %: 4th (47.9) Jerrell Williams -- Offensive rebounding %: 50th (13.4)

Penn -- Offensive efficiency: 96.4 (265) -- Defensive efficiency: 105.8 (272) -- Tempo: 70.0 poss / 40 mins (68) Offense -- Free throw rate: 27.3 (98) -- Steal %: 11.9 (307) Defense -- 3-point FG %: 39.8 (325) -- Block %: 10.2 (95) -- Ratio of three-point attempts to all FGA: 30.6% (47) Harrison Gaines -- Assist rate: 12th (37.9)

St. Joseph's -- Offensive efficiency: 112.3 (22) -- Defensive efficiency: 102.2 (180) -- Tempo: 65.1 poss / 40 mins (237) Offense -- Effective FG %: 54.6 (17) -- Turnover %: 19.0 (60) -- Free throw rate: 29.1 (49) -- 3-point FG %: 38.5 (36) -- 2-point FG %: 52.8 (31) -- Free throw rate: 72.6 (71) -- Ratio of assists to field goals made: 58.8 (87) Defense -- Free throw rate: 32.6 (88) -- Block %: 13.7 (26) -- Steal %: 11.0 (89) Rob Ferguson -- Offensive rating: 93rd (120.0) -- Effective FG %: 94th (59.4) Ahmad Nivins -- Effective FG %: 15th (65.0) -- Free throw rate: 27th (79.3) Tasheed Carr -- Assist rate: 41st (34.0)

Temple -- Offensive efficiency: 109.2 (51) -- Defensive efficiency: 102.6 (189) -- Tempo: 65.5 poss / 40 mins (223) Offense -- Effective FG %: 54.5 (20) -- Turnover %: 18.7 (52) -- 3-point FG %: 37.2 (82) -- 2-point FG %: 53.6 (18) -- Free throw %: 74.1 (35) -- Block %: 7.2 (39) -- Steal %: 8.8 (71) -- Ratio of assists to FGM: 39.4% (59) -- Ratio of three-point attempts to all FGA: 59.4% (80) Defense -- Free throw rate: 31.7 (74) -- 2-point FG %: 46.2 (82) -- Free throw %: 71.9 (300) -- Block %: 12.5 (43) Dionte Christmas -- Percent of possible minutes played: 12th (92.8) Mark Tyndale -- Percent of possible minutes played: 20th (91.9) Ryan Brooks -- Turnover rate: 85th (12.4%) Sergio Olmos -- Block %: 55th (8.3%)

Villanova -- Offensive efficiency: 105.6 (109) -- Defensive efficiency: 100.3 (126) -- Tempo: 69.1 poss/40 mins (96) Offense -- Offensive rebounding %: 36.7 (41) -- Free throw rate: 27.8% (83) -- Free throw %: 72.3 (79) -- Block %: 12.5 (327) Defense -- Turnover %: 23.7 (43) -- Free throw rate: 45.9 (322) -- Steal %: 11.7 (49) -- Ratio of three-point attempts to all FGA: 40.5% (318)