Head to Head look at 8 Games Ahead

Down to 16 teams – 8 games over the next few days to whittle it down to the elite 8.  Here’s a look at the history of the 8 matchups.

1. Loyola-Chicago v. Nevada. The two teams have never met.
2. Kansas v. Kentucky. Kansas remarkably has never beaten Kentucky in 7 tries.  The two teams last met in the Second Round in 2014 with Kentucky winning 56-49.
3. Florida State v. Gonzago.  Florida State is 0-1 against the Zags.  The last time the teams played was in the First Round of the 2010 tournament with the Zags winning 67-60.
4. Michigan v. Texas A&M. The teams last met 56 years ago in a game the Wolverines won 82-79.
5. Villanova v. West Virginia. Villanova is 22-20 against the Mountaineers. They last met in 2011 with West Virginia winning 83-69.
6. Texas Tech v. Purdue. The teams have only met twice with the Boilermakers winning both contests. They last met in 1988 with Purdue winning 63-54.
7. Kansas v. Clemson. Oddly, the two teams have never met.
8. Syracuse v. Duke. The two teams have met 11 times with Duke winning 6 of the meetings. They last met in February with Duke winning in convincing fashion 60-44.

Trump’s enduring friendship with Putin

 

The journalists and political commentators seem confused or mystified as to why Donald Trump continues to act as a close personal friend to Putin and Russia. It’s not too complicated, in my view. I don’t know whether Trump or his campaign colluded with the Russians to influence the outcome of the 2016 U.S. Presidential election, but it seems obvious that Trump and his campaign knew Russia was trying to help. During the campaign Trump asked Russia to find Hillary’s emails and praised Wikileaks for all the “surprises.” Of course, Trump denies that Russian meddling had anything to do with his victory even though he surely knows better. For Trump to admit that he got help would make him look weak and illegitimate.  Insecure bullies like Trump want to look strong to mask their fears and insecurities. Trump looks up to Putin as a model dictator who has absolute authority and power. Trump has no patience for checks and balances which he thinks are meddlesome roadblocks.  He refers to any opposition as the enemy and to critics as being part of a witchhunt.  He seems to have no understanding of how a democracy works and no experience or respect for it; rather all he knows is how to run a family business that is accountable only to himself. And he is trying to run the country as if it were a Trump enterprise.

Another explanation for Trump’s bromance with Putin is that Putin may have something on Trump; the idea that Trump is compromised. This is not an original thought and many have wondered the same. It is not entirely clear what Putin has on Trump, but it may be that both are trying to cover up a money laundering scheme or other illegal financial activity which could explain why Trump refuses to release his taxes. Who knows, Putin may even have a tape that proves collusion or some other compromising evidence that has been out there for a while now. Or Trump may simply fear being poisoned like some of Putin’s opponents have been – there have been reports that Trump only eats fast food purchased by anonymous aides and brought to him secretly because he thinks these meals are poison free. It is just as likely that Trump has been promised a Trump Tower in Moscow, something I’ve read he’s wanted, in exchange for a friendly stance toward Russia – a quid pro quo so to speak. Whatever it is, Trump appears to be a lackey to Putin based on his behavior and actions since he’s been in office. Here is what Trump has seemingly delivered to Putin so far: delayed the sanctions that Congress passed for as long as possible; took a meeting with key Russian officials in the White House with no Western reporters allowed; berated NATO to demand they pay their fair share; hung out with Putin at the G-7 – shunning the leaders considered to be America’s closest allies; pulled out of the Paris Climate agreement; insulted Mexico; lied to Trudeau about trade deficits with Canada and has not rubuked Russia for its unleashing of nerve agents in England. He has also fired Secretary of State Tillerson, who Russia lobbied to have Trump hire initially, and then later soured on when he took a hard line on Russia. Don’t forget that Trump fired Comey and McCabe who he felt weren’t loyal to him (even though loyalty to Trump was not part of their jobs) and thought they didn’t do enough to stop the Russia investigation. And he has never publically rebuked Putin by name for his hand in meddling in the 2016 presidential election. Instead, he congratulated Putin for his “victory” as Trump himself contemplates the dream of being in the league of dictators – a  “president” for life, accountable only to Vladimir Putin.

There, I’ve said it and feel better now.

16 Teams & 16 Oddities: March Madness

From the Sporting Desk of Ribbie’s Weblog

1. There could be an all TX Final – Texas Tech v. Texas A&M.
2. There could be an all KS and All Big 12 Final – Kansas State v. Kansas.
3. There could be another All Big 12 Final – Kansas State v. West Virgina or Texas Tech.
4. There could be an All ACC Final – Florida State v. Clemson, Syracuse, or Duke.
5. There could be an All Big Ten Final – Purdue v. Michigan.
6. There could be an All 11 seed Final – Syracuse v. Loyola-Chicago.
7. The two teams with State in their names are 9 seeds: Kansas State and Florida State.
8. Texas and Kansas are the only states with more than 1 team represented, both w/ 2.
9. Half of the teams in the Sweet 16 are from the ACC and the SEC, each with 4.
10. The East is the most competitive region left – seeds total 11.
11. The South is the least competitive region left – seeds total 32.
12. Nevada has no players from Nevada on its roster.
13. Duke has no players from North Carolina on its roster.
14. Texas A&M has 13 players from Texas on its roster; Texas Tech has 8.
15. Syracuse has 1 Senior on its roster.
16. Duke has 1 Senior and 8 Freshmen on its roster.