Live from Tampa: Day 3 - The Popped Bubble

Leading Off (The Cuff):
Yesterday I said I didn’t think Auburn had yet earned a spot in the NCAA Tournament. What changed? Well, Tennessee blasted the Tigers by nine. More importantly, the game was never close. Auburn had a few opportunities to close to within one possession, but never cashed in on those chances, thus never pulling closer than five in the second half.
USC won its conference tournament, meaning there is one fewer at-large spot available, which also hurts Auburn’s cause.
Auburn had its chance to win its way into the NCAA Tournament. As Auburn coach Jeff Lebo said yesterday, the team’s margin of error has been slim over the last month and a half and the Tigers have been nearly flawless over that time. Yesterday’s performance, though, had plenty of flaws.
The bottom line remains that Auburn has no marquee road win (the best came at Mississippi State) and though the Tigers finished the season winning 10 of 12, the hole they put themselves in early in the season will likely mean they’re on the outside looking in today.
Auburn will play the victim, but its only chances of making the tournament are if the selection committee decides it has to take a third SEC team.

Today’s Starting Lineup:
Bad news for Auburn – ESPN’s Joe Lunardi still has the Tigers outside the tournament this morning. I thought if Auburn were to get a bump, it would happen this morning.
The Tigers will learn their fate this evening at Lebo’s house before facing the media at 6:30 p.m.
In case you were wondering, NIT invitations go out at 8 p.m.
According to ESPN, there are seven teams competing for the final three spots. Lunardi has Maryland, Creighton and St. Mary’s in with San Diego State, Arizona, Penn State and Auburn out.
The only game of relevance for Auburn and the rest of the bubble teams today is the SEC final. The bubble teams need to hope Mississippi State, which wouldn’t earn an at-large bid, falls to Tennessee.
If Auburn and Mississippi State both miss the tournament, it almost certainly means the SEC will get just two NCAA Tournament bids for the first time in nearly two decades.

Double-down:
Syracuse’s remarkable run through the ACC Tournament came up just short. Meanwhile, don’t look now, but Rick Pitino’s Louisville team might be the best in the country.
Devils goalie Martin Brodeur tied Patrick Roy for the NHL record of career wins last night.
Puerto Rico blasted the United States yesterday in the World Baseball Classic, winning 11-1 in a mercy-rule-shortened game.
When divorces get nasty: Cutler, parents selling Denver-area houses. Just a hunch, but here’s thinking the honeymoon between the Broncos and the former Vanderbilt QB is long gone with nothing but paperwork to look forward to.

Around the League:
Tennessee reaches its first SEC Tournament championship game since 1991. The Knoxville News Sentinel
Mississippi State knows what’s at stake today. Kyle Veazey
Tennessee’s QB competition is coming together. The Knoxville News Sentinel
Alabama QB Greg McElroy is ready for his turn. The Birmingham News

TV Update:
As much as I hated it, I can’t wonder if the Hollywood writer’s strike did two of my favorite shows a lot of good. Both 24 and Scrubs have made what I consider strong comebacks this year.
Of course, Scrubs also has ABC to thank for picking up an additional season for the gang to say its goodbyes. The show has gone back to what made it so good early – more real situations with drama without overplaying the drama. The zaniness is still there, but in smaller dosages, which is good for everybody.
24, on the other hand, missed the entire 2007-08 television season because of the strike. That, coming off a terrible season 6, left many wondering whether or not the show had jumped the shark. Some will still say it has because of how bad season 6 truly was – honestly, one of the worst shows on television that year.
This year, though, the show has come back by doing something it desperately needed to do – developing other characters. (SPOILER COMING)
Killing off characters, as the show did in its most recent episode, is fine. The Wire proves that. What puts The Wire in a league of its own, though, is the phenomenal character development that 24 lacked.
24 still isn’t must-watch television to many, but it has put itself back in the character for me – that’s at least a start.

TV Update:
As much as I hated it, I can’t wonder if the Hollywood writer’s strike did two of my favorite shows a lot of good. Both 24 and Scrubs have made what I consider strong comebacks this year.
Of course, Scrubs also has ABC to thank for picking up an additional season for the gang to say its goodbyes. The show has gone back to what made it so good early – more real situations with drama without overplaying the drama. The zaniness is still there, but in smaller dosages, which is good for everybody.
24, on the other hand, missed the entire 2007-08 television season because of the strike. That, coming off a terrible season 6, left many wondering whether or not the show had jumped the shark. Some will still say it has because of how bad season 6 truly was – honestly, one of the worst shows on television that year.
This year, though, the show has come back by doing something it desperately needed to do – developing other characters. (SPOILER COMING)
Killing off characters, as the show did in its most recent episode, is fine. The Wire proves that. What puts The Wire in a league of its own, though, is the phenomenal character development that 24 lacked.
24 still isn’t must-watch television to many, but it has put itself back in the character for me – that’s at least a start.

Today’s News
The Good:
Airless tires? CNN

The Bad:
Senseless violence in Miami. MSNBC

The Absurd:
Shocking for those who have ever sat through an episode of America's Next Top Model -- Tyra Banks brings out the worst in humanity. CNN

Ending on a High Note:
Amazing, but true. Significant pressure forced a company to do the right thing. AIG is cutting back on salaries and bonuses for top employees. Good to see the national economic crisis is finally hitting even the top of the food chain.