Final Rankings - My Tournament

So this is very delayed, but is hard to blog when you have a job that has much less down-time than you are used to. The final rankings are the RPI and SOS numbers from March 13th, and the final AP and ESPN polls from March 7th. I will use a seeded S-curve with the rankings to give you my bracket. The First Four 16: Texas-San Antonio vs. 16: Alabama State 16: Hampton vs. 16: Arkansas-Little Rock 12: Florida State vs. 12: Virginia Commonwealth 12: St. Mary's vs. 12: Colorado State East Regional 1: Kansas vs. 16: UTSA/ASU 2: Brigham Young vs. 15: Bucknell 3: Kentucky vs. 14: Akron 4: Syracuse vs. 13: Princeton 5: Wisconsin vs. 12: Richmond 6: UNLV vs. 11: UAB 7: Texas A&M vs. 10: George Mason 8: Michigan State vs. 9: Old Dominion West Regional 1: North Carolina vs. 16: Hampton/UALR 2: San Diego State vs. 15: Northern Colorado 3: Texas vs. 14: Wofford 4: Connecticut vs. 13: Oakland 5: West Virginia vs. 12: Gonzaga 6: Xavier vs. 11: Butler 7: Tennessee vs. 10: Michigan 8: Washington vs. 9: Memphis Southeast Regional 1: Ohio State vs. 16:UC-Santa Barbara 2: Duke vs. 15: Long Island 3: Pittsburgh vs. 14: Belmont 4: Louisville vs. 13: Indiana State 5: St. John's vs. 12: FSU/VCU 6: Arizona vs. 11: Georgia 7: Villanova vs. 10: Utah State 8: UCLA vs. 9: Temple Southwest Regional 1: Florida vs. 16: UNC-Ashville 2: Notre Dame vs. 15: Boston U. 3: Purdue vs. 14: Morehead State 4: Georgetown vs. 13: St. Peter's 5: Kansas State vs. 12: St. Mary's/CSU 6: Vanderbilt vs. 11: Boston College 7: Penn State vs. 10: Cincinnati 8: Missouri vs. 9: Illinois First 4 Out: Clemson, Marshall, Cleveland State, Harvard Next 4 Out: Alabama, Missouri State, UTEP, Wichita State

Next to Last Rankings

Here's how I determined the ranks this week...
The conference's auto-bid goes to the highest remaining seed in the conference tournament as of this morning (as I speak St. Peter's is beating Iona and VCU is challenging ODU). Bold print means the team is already in.

1: Kansas (Big 12)
2: Ohio State (Big 12)
3: North Carolina (ACC)
4: Pittsburgh (Big East)
5: Brigham Young (MWC)
6: Florida (SEC)
7: Notre Dame
8: Duke
9: Purdue
10: San Diego State
11: Georgetown
12: Kentucky
13: Texas
14: St. John's
15: Wisconsin
16: West Virginia
17: Louisville
18: Kansas State
19: Syracuse
20: Connecticut
21: Vanderbilt
22: Arizona (Pac 10)
23: Villanova
24: Xavier (A-10)
25: Tennessee
26: UNLV
27: Texas A&M
28: UCLA
29: Missouri
30: Illinois
31: Boston College
32: Michigan State
33: Georgia
34: Cincinnati
35: Old Dominion (Colonial)
36: UAB (C-USA)
37: Penn State
38: Colorado State
39: Utah State (WAC)
40: Memphis
41: George Mason
42: Temple
43: Butler
44: Washington
45: Michigan
46: Florida State
47: Marshall
48: St. Mary's (WCC)
49: VCU
50: Harvard (Ivy)
51: Indiana State (MVC)
52: Iona (MAAC)
53: Oakland (Summit)
54: UW-Milwaukee (Horizon)
55: Charleston (Southern)
56: Kent State (MAC)
57: Long Beach State (Big West)
58: Morehead State (OVC)
59: Belmont (A-Sun)
60: Bucknell (Patriot)
61: Long Island (NEC)
62: Northern Coloraho (Big Sky)
63: Boston U (Amer. East)
64: UNC-Ashville (Big South)
65: Mid Tenn State (Sun Belt)
66: McNeese State (Southland)
67: Texas Southern (SWAC)
68: Bethune-Cookman (MEAC)

First 4 Out: Cleveland State, Southern Miss, Clemson, Gonzaga
Next 4 Out: Missouri State, Alabama, Richmond, Princeton

Here Comes March!

1: Brigham Young (MWC)
1: Kansas (Big 12)
3: Ohio State (Big Ten)
4: Purdue
5: Pittsburgh (Big East)
6: Georgetown
7: St. John's
8: San Diego State
8: Florida (SEC)
10: Texas
11: Duke (ACC)
11: North Carolina
13: Louisville
14: Notre Dame
15: Wisconsin
15: Syracuse
17: Connecticut
18: Kentucky
19: Vanderbilt
20: West Virginia
20: Kansas State
22: Arizona (Pac-10)
23: Villanova
24: Xavier (A-10)
25: Tennessee
26: UNLV
27: Missouri
27: Texas A&M
29: Michigan State
30: UCLA
31: Illinois
32: Georgia
33: Memphis
34: George Mason (Colonial)
35: Boston College
36: Utah State (WAC)
37: Old Dominion
37: Temple
39: UAB (C-USA)
40: Penn State
41: Colorado State
42: Marquette
43: Cincinnati
43: Michigan
45: Washington
46: Virginia Tech
47: Butler
48: Minnesota
49: Cleveland State (Horizon)
50: Missouri State (MVC)
51: St. Mary's (WCC)
52: Oakland (Summit)
53: Princeton (Ivy)
54: Long Beach State (Big West)
55: Charleston (Southern)
56: Kent State (MAC)
57: Belmont (A-Sun)
58: Bucknell (Patriot)
59: Vermont (Amer. East)
60: Northern Colorado (Big Sky)
61: Florida Atlantic (Sun Belt)
62: Long Island (NEC)
63: Fairfield (MAAC)
64: Murray State (OVC)
65: Coastal Carolina (Big South)
66: McNeese State (Southland)
67: Texas Southern (SWAC)
68: Bethune-Cookman (MEAC)

First 4 Out: Southern Miss, Oklahoma State, Central Florida, Florida State
Next 4 Out: Marshall, Wichita State, Alabama, Harvard

Judgement Week

Not sure why ESPN calls this "Judgement Week." While it is a time when the contenders rise to the top and the prentenders drop off, technically every team is still alive until they're eliminated from the conference tournament. No team is undefeated in their conference after Nebraska's weekend upset of Texas and only the 0-28 Centenary Gentleman have yet to win a game.

Here are the rankings:

1: Kansas
2: Georgetown
3: Texas (Big 12)
4: Ohio State (Big 10)
5: Purdue
6: Brigham Young
7: Pittsburgh (Big East)
8: San Diego State (MWC)
9: Duke (ACC)
10: Florida (SEC)
11: Notre Dame
12: Connecticut
13: North Carolina
13: St. John's
15: Vanderbilt
16: Wisconsin
17: Kentucky
18: Louisville
19: Arizona (Pac 10)
20: Syracuse
21: West Virginia
22: Villanova
23: Tennessee
24: Xavier (A-10)
24: Kansas State
26: Texas A&M
27: UNLV
28: Missouri
29: George Mason (Colonial)
30: Michigan State
31: Washington
32: UCLA
33: Georgia
33: Illinois
35: Memphis
35: Minnesota
37: Boston College
38: Old Dominion
39: UAB (C-USA)
40: Utah State (WAC)
41: Temple
42: Colorado State
42: Penn State
44: Michigan
45: Cincinnati
46: Valparaiso
47: Cleveland State (Horizon)
48: Oklahoma State
49: Butler
50: St. Mary's (WCC)
51: Missouri State (MVC)
52: Harvard (Ivy)
53: Miami-OH (MAC)
54: Oakland (Summit)
55: Charleston (Southern)
56: Long Beach State (Big West)
57: Belmont (A-Sun)
58: Vermont (Amer. East)
59: Bucknell (Patriot)
60: Florida Atlantic (Sun Belt)
61: Morehead State (OVC)
62: Coastal Carolina (Big South)
63: Fairfield (MAAC)
64: Montana (Big Sky)
65: Long Island (NEC)
66: McNeese State (Southland)
67: Bethune-Cookman (MEAC)
68: Texas Southern (SWAC)

First 4 Out: Florida State, Southern Miss, Dayton, Wichita State
Next 4 Out: UTEP, VCU, Alabama, Princeton

You Say You Want a Revolution

Now that the "revolution" in Egypt is "over," I feel like I can weigh in on the situation.

First, the fact that the demonstrations were organized on the Internet and social media is a victory for both democracy and Islam. If the younger generations of a traditional Islamic nation can use something so non-traditional to peacefully organize, you have to think they made positive strides in changing the way Islamic doctrine is viewed around the world. Being Muslim is not about screaming at infidels, firing assault rifles into the air, and suicide bombing Western establishments. Muslims can be peaceful and use the Internet just as much as the rest of us.

For those who are concerned about how a new administration will be received by the United States, I have two words for you... Obama and oil. Whomever is elected, it's unlikely that this administration will challenge them. Obama will want a peaceful transition, but will keep a watchful eye on the new administration. Also, if the U.S. hassles the new government too much it would have an effect on all of our relations with Islamic countries... specifically a risk to our outsourced oil resources.
More importantly, I believe in a more isolated U.S.A. I realize we need strong relations with other countries as allies and trade partners, but I'm tired of our army playing World Police. I feel that the U.S. should only concern themselves with other nations when it comes to trading goods/resources. I understand that we like to think of ourselves as the human rights watchdogs, but isn't that what the UN is for?

As an extension of that argument, we better stay the hell away from the upcoming Egyptian elections. Any meddling of any kind will be dangerous for us because the Islamic radicals are just waiting for another reason to attack us. If they elect someone we don't approve of, then Obama can handle it diplomatically. If there is unrest and fraud, then that's their lesson learned.

Congradulations, people of Egypt, I hope you get what you wanted.

St. Valentine Be Praised, It's Another College B-Ball Rankings

Some might call this the stretch run. Everyone has 4-6 games left and the bubble is getting smaller as teams start to file into order. Here are the rankings:

1: Kansas
2: Georgetown
3: Texas (Big 12)
3: Pittsburgh (Big East)
5: Brigham Young (MWC)
6: Ohio State (Big Ten)
7: Florida (SEC)
8: Notre Dame
9: San Diego State
10: Connecticut
11: North Carolina
12: Duke (ACC)
13: Purdue
14: Vanderbilt
15: Kentucky
16: Wisconsin
17: Villanova
18: Syracuse
18: St. John's
18: West Virginia
21: Louisville
22: Arizona (Pac-10)
23: Xavier (A-10)
24: Tennessee
25: Texas A&M
26: Missouri
27: Minnesota
28: UCLA
29: UNLV
30: George Mason (Colonial)
31: Washington
32: Kansas State
33: Illinois
34: Colorado State
35: Michigan State
36: Boston College
37: Memphis
38: Old Dominion
39: Temple
40: Georgia
41: Marquette
42: UAB (C-USA)
43: St. Mary's (WCC)
44: Butler
45: Michigan
46: Florida State
47: Baylor
48: Utah State (WAC)
49: Valparaiso (Horizon)
50: Oklahoma State
51: Missouri State (MVC)
52: Oakland (Summit)
53: Princeton (Ivy)
54: Coastal Carolina (Big South)
55: Long Beach State (Big West)
56: Kent State (MAC)
57: Charleston (Southern)
58: Belmont (A-Sun)
59: Bucknell (Patriot)
60: Vermont (Amer. East)
61: Florida Atlantic (Sun Belt)
62: Montana (Big Sky)
63: Fairfield (MAAC)
64: Murray State (OVC)
65: Long Island (NEC)
66: Hampton (MEAC)
67: Texas Southern (SWAC)
68: Texas State (Southland)

First 4 Out: Cleveland State, Wichita State, Southern Miss, UTEP
Next 4 Out: Cincinnati, VCU, Alabama, Harvard

My Problem with Limited Options

I want to begin by saying that I want this to be a non-partisan discussion. In fact, that's the problem. That I should even have to preface this with that disclaimer is ridiculous.

It's my opinion that when democracy was founded, they intended for a diverse range of opinions to heard in political discussions. Now, I understand that human society has a tendancy to group together; and I know the loudest voice (or the most voices together) is more easily heard. That being said, I can see how we ended up with a two-party representative government (and I'm not saying it doesn't work), but hear me out.

Hypothetically, let start over with the 2012 election. ALL political offices would be up for election from the POTUS to your town sheriff. If you would like to run for office, you are required to cut your political affiliations and submit an open description of your opinions/beliefs/policital desires/voting record. This document will be made available to everyone in the district/state/country, so that it can be reviewed by those that will vote for you. You can change these at any time but the change will also be publicized.

Now, if parts of the country want to band together with similar policital views/goals into say a political party they can. Ideally it should be very specific, like the "We Approve of Stem Cell Research" party or the "Fund the Military Industrial Complex" party. Each group or party would then be able to endorse any candidate in any election... thus forming a coalition of sorts. So we could have a candidate running for office with endorsements as Pro-Choice, Pro-Gun, Anti-involvement in the Middle East, Pro-Social Welfare, Anti-China, Pro-Environment, Anti-Immigration, and Anti-Budget Reduction... just to name a few.

Isn't it frustrating to have only two choices for office? Especially when you take issue with the politics of both candidates in some way? Too often people are voting for a candidate out of frustration with the incumbent of the previous official's party. For example, in my first official election as a Missourian (2004), I voted for Matt Blunt for Governor. I was upset with the democratic administration for cutting spending for high education (a direct affect on me) and over-spending. Do I regret my decision? Yes. If I had other options, I might have voted a different way.

I know what you're saying... third party candidates never win. I know, that's why we have to do away with the Democrat vs. Republican thing. If someone wants to run for office, they shouldn't have to be a slave to either Republican or Democrat rhetoric/party unity. Believe me, there is such a thing as a Pro-Life, aetheist, who thinks we should continue with our foreign policy and start using our own oil resources. But whom would that person vote for in the 2012 election?

I open this for criticism. I studied some of the (unsuccessful) coalition governments in Latin America and believe that if they had a stronger base of government and less opportunity for corruption, it would have worked out in places like Nicaragua. Let me know what you think.