While a number of college basketball tournaments (and I've written about this many times before) disgustingly guarantee the last four teams standing will be the most marketable teams, thereby rendering the games before them moot and un-tournament-like, every year there are more and more tournaments that are doing it the "right" way, with eight teams, and if David beat Goliath, then by God he gets to move on. Let's focus on one of those tournaments starting tomorrow and dissect it; namely, the Paradise Jam in the Virgin Islands.
Ohio vs. Tulsa (Friday 1 PM, No TV)
Ohio is always a mainstay of MAC competitiveness (they scored huge NCAA tourney upsets in 2010 and 2012, when they made the sweet 16) and as a diehard of a fellow MAC program, I hate them. It's supposed to be a down year for them, but they're 2-0 so far, and both of those wins are against D1 competition at least.
Tulsa, meanwhile, is also 2-0 and fresh off a 10-point win over No. 9 Wichita State. They had an argument for getting into the NCAAs last year, and seem to have something to prove this year.
The Pick — Tulsa by 14.
Florida State vs. Hofstra (Friday 3:30 PM, CBS Sports Network)
Again, we have two teams that are undefeated, but not against notable opposition. Hofstra is coming off a 20-win campaign and CBI tournament appearance, where they lost a close one to eventual semifinalist Vermont. Florida State was 17-16 last year (8-10 in the ACC) and missed the postseason, but with that record in college basketball's premier conference, I'm guessing they declined a consolation tournament appearance. This should be a close game and I'm tempted to pick the upset, especially since FSU just struggled with mediocre Jacksonville, but I can't quite do it.
The Pick — Florida State by 3.
DePaul vs. South Carolina (Friday 6:00 PM, CBS Sports Network)
Here we have two bottom dwellers of major conferences. DePaul was 12-20 last year and 6-12 in the Big East, which was actually a mark of improvement. They came back to beat a solid Western Michigan team in their opener, but lost to yet another power conference bottom dweller, Penn State, in game two. South Carolina was similarly 6-12 in conference play last year, but 17-16 overall. They are led by the hot-tempered Frank Martin. You remember Frank Martin. He quickly built Kansas State into a success, took the baffling lateral move to South Carolina, and has been unable thus far to repeat his magic there. They should be able to get by DePaul, though.
The Pick — South Carolina by 6.
Norfolk State vs. Indiana State (Friday 9:00 PM, No TV)
No disrespect intended to the Missouri Valley Conference, but I'm unsure why they pitted these two teams together and also two major conference teams (the DePaul-South Carolina game) together, as well. Norfolk State is coming off a successful, 20-win, postseason play year, but in one of the weakest conferences in America and they have already lost to South Carolina by 16. Indiana State got upset by IUPUI 72-70 in their opener, seemed to have been shocked awake by it, and beat Wyoming by 15 in their second game. Last year's squad went 11-7 in conference play, pretty good in the best mid-major conference around, but 15-16 overall and no post-season. Plus (I can't resist), Larry Bird's not walking in that door.
The Pick — Indiana State by 9.
Semifinals
Tulsa vs. Indiana State (Sunday 6:30 PM, CBS Sports Network)
Tulsa, by far, has the most impressive win of anyone in the field and I don't think Indiana State will provide much resistance in this Midwestern affair of the blue-clad.
The Pick — Tulsa by 12.
South Carolina vs. Florida State (Sunday 9:00 PM, CBS Sports Network)
Slightly better team with the slightly better recent resume in a slightly better conference gets the nod here.
The Pick — Florida State by 5.
Finals
Florida State vs. Tulsa (Monday 9:00 PM, CBS Sports Network)
Oh, somewhere in this favored land the sun is shining bright/The band is playing somewhere, and somewhere hearts are light/And somewhere men are laughing, and somewhere children shout/But there is no joy in Tallahassee/The Seminoles have struck out.
The Pick — Tulsa by 4.
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