Who ya Gonna Call?!?!?!

I will admit it, I'm a copycat; I am going to make no apologies about it. So, to break down the college basketball landscape, I am going to break it down Sports Guy Bill Simmons style and use a favorite movie of mine to explain the goings on in the college basketball landscape.

In a wild and wacky year, I am going to use one of the funniest, wackiest movies that was ahead of its time in the mid-80’s: the movie Ghostbusters. When I was a five, I wore out four or five copies of the movie, and its what I believe, still one of the greatest movies of all time. So, let’s get started...

Dana Barrett: You know, you don't act like a scientist.
Dr. Peter Venkman: They're usually pretty stiff.
Dana Barrett: You're more like a game show host.

This part in the movie goes to the North Carolina Tarheels. They looked like a top ten, maybe top five team. There was even question as to who would get to 2000 wins first, Kentucky or UNC. However, they dropped their first three games against ranked opponents and then the floodgates opened, as they lost eight of their last ten games and are still waiting on their much ballyhooed recruiting classes of the past two years to pan out. In the what have you done for me lately world of college basketball, Roy Williams will need a big rebound year next year to calm the nerves of Tar Heel fans.

Dr Ray Stantz: I think we'd better split up.
Dr. Egon Spengler: Good idea.
Dr. Peter Venkman: Yeah... we can do more damage that way.

This quote in the movie is dedicated to the University of Tennessee Volunteers. The Vols were seen as some hoop heads as the favorite to win the SEC East to start the year. However, just after the calendar turned to the new year starting senior forward Tyler Smith, 23, junior point guard Melvin Goins, 22; junior center Brian Williams, 22; and sophomore guard Cameron Tatum, 21 were arrested and suspended (Goins, Williams and Tatum were re-instated) from the team for amongst other charges, pot and guns. However, Tennessee responded by beating then #1 Kansas and #23 Mississippi. For better or worse the Vols have pulled it together despite injuries and suspensions and are a team to watch despite being split up multiple times throughout the year.

Dr. Peter Venkman: We've been going about this all wrong. This Mr. Stay Puft's okay! He's a sailor, he's in New York; we get this guy laid, we won't have any trouble!

My favorite quote from my favorite actor in the movie, Mr. Bill Murray. This quote goes to the big man, Big Cuz’ Demarcus Cousins. Cousins, labeled the bad boy of the NCAA’s by media heads who make asinine statements just to get attention (Pat Forde, Jimmy Dykes), has had his moments this year. The non-elbow heard around the world against Louisville and the tape reviews elbow against LSU. No matter how out of control they have said Demarcus is, Coach Cal has always found a way to reign him in and get him to play like the beast he is.

Dr Ray Stantz: My parents left me that house. I was born there.
Dr. Peter Venkman: You're not gonna lose the house, everybody has three mortgages nowadays.

To Mitch Barnhart and the Kentucky Wildcat Basketball program who went all in and mortgaged the house to bring in John Calipari. The 31.65 million dollar contract raised some eyebrows across the state and national landscape, but a little less than one year later, here we are 25-1 and back on top of the college basketball world. You aren’t a legit five star recruit unless Kentucky is on your list and if you are a point guard you won’t be taken seriously unless Coach Cal comes for a visit. The management of Bledsoe, Wall, and Cousins mixing in with the parts that were left from the Gillispie era has been nothing short of a master stroke. Well played Wildcats. Well played.

Winston Zeddemore: I'm Winston Zeddmore, Your Honor. I've only been with the company for a couple of weeks, but these things are real. Since I joined these men, I've seen sh** that'll turn you white.

I thought of Bruce Pearl when I saw this quote… (See Explanation above concerning the Vols).

QUOTE ONE:
Dr. Egon Spengler: I'm worried, Ray. It's getting crowded in there and all my data points to something big on the horizon.
Winston Zeddemore: What do you mean, big?
Dr. Egon Spengler: Well, let's say this Twinkie represents the normal amount of psychokinetic energy in the New York area. Based on this morning's sample, it would be a Twinkie... thirty-five feet long, weighing approximately six hundred pounds.

QUOTE TWO:
Dr Ray Stantz: Personally, I liked the university. They gave us money and facilities, we didn't have to produce anything! You've never been out of college! You don't know what it's like out there! I've *worked* in the private sector. They expect *results*.

These two quotes fit perfectly with fans of Kansas and Kentucky when talking about the upcoming Big 12, SEC, and NCAA Tournaments. Both teams have been the cream of the crop during the regular season, as they both sit at 25-1. However, the Big 12, SEC and NCAA Tournaments will be the deciding factor on how successful their 2010 season were in the eyes of two of the most demanding fan bases in college basketball. Will Kansas’ experience and depth be too much?? Will the Wildcats’ talent win out?? Will their youth be their downfall on the big stage?? Fans of Kentucky and Kansas demand results and those results will be played out on the biggest stage in college sports... the NCAA Tourney.