NIT Action

Creighton has sold out tonight's contest with Kentucky (17,500+). That should be a good one with the winner taking on ND on Wednesday. Doug Gottlieb called the matchup between St. Mary's and Davidson "better than any of the first weekend NCAA games." Not true, but should be pretty good nonetheless. The NCAA Tournament made Stephen Curry a household name (instead of, say, just another Keydren Clark). Mills was great against Washington State but we'll see if he can repeat the magic with his second good game since returning from injury (Eastern Washington does not count).

EDIT: Poor Creighton just couldn't finish the job. We play Kentucky tomorrow.

I'd rather just watch Stephen Curry and Paddy Mills play one-on-one. Outdoors, ones and twos, chain baskets. Pretending to play a team game is just silly. I'm sure Bob McKillop is a smart guy. He wouldn't let Curry jack 25 footers and turn the ball over half a dozen times if the rest of his squad was any good. The other eight players are fluctuating from serviceable to clearly intimidated by the surrounding star power. Hubert Davis, I get that both of these guys are fantastic college players (they really are fun to watch), but I don't buy either one's stock on the next level. Having each take twice as many shots as the next guy on their respective teams just makes me more sure that neither school deserved to make the Tournament.

To Further Poke Fun at the Orange

Before they lost to Cleveland State (Cleveland State!), a Syracuse blog picked this item up. In other news, UND.com has a sale on Doug Gottlieb memorabilia.

He'll Also Tell the Teacher on You...

Oh, boy.

Before I get started, let me first say that people are human. We all make mistakes. We all deserve second chances. We also shouldn't take pleasure in someone else's pain. Unless that person is Doug Gottlieb, ESPN analyst and champion of the fourth grade insult contest.

From Deadspin:

(Note that this is a real ESPN chat. Gottlieb has the option to accept or ignore every question he receives.)

Mike Indiana: How did your mediocre basketball career prepare you for a mediocre broadcasting career?
Doug Gottlieb: (4:04 PM ET ) So your mediocre life can prepare you for a mediocre afterlife...and by the way, which one of us works for ESPN... hey and next time...when I you say 30 minutes or less....get here on time with my pizza.

Right... Bragging that one works at the worldwide leader does nothing to spare you the label of "mediocre". Just look at Bob Davie. Heck, even being a Hall of Famer doesn't make you a great analyst.

John (Notre Dame): Doug, I lost my credit card, where were you last night?
SportsNation Doug Gottlieb: (4:27 PM ET ) Ask your mom.

Referring of course to how Mr. Gottlieb left Notre Dame. Referencing the chatter's mother was a nice touch.

Johns Mom (Notre Dame): GOTTLIEB I KNOW YOU STOLE MY SON'S CREDIT CARD! SportsNation Doug Gottlieb: (4:34 PM ET ) Ten years ago I made a mistake...and payed for it...18 years ago YOU WERE your parents mistake and they are still paying for it.

Ooh, maturity. That's a great way to convince "Sportsnation" of your reformed ways.

That Gottlieb felt the need to respond to these questioners speaks volumes about the number of people who cared enough to spend their time chatting with the former USBL guard.

The man deserves a chance to reform his life, but this was just too good to pass by. Way to stick it to your naysayers, Douggie!