March, 2007

I know, it's only rock & roll, but I like it. A VERY long day in Cleveland started Saturday morning at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. It was for a story we aired in our Lady Vols Final Fortunes special. We were working, really!

After that, the entire day was spent at The Q-- Quicken Loans Arena. Press conferences, interviews, pictures, practice, meeting old friends. We did it all.

We're back! Cleveland looks about the same as when we last visited, not that I expected it to be any different. Simply by coincidence, the Lady Vols played North Carolina in the region finals here in 2006. Tennessee lost-- something they obviously want to avoid this year.

I won't be suprised if the Lady Vols win the national title. But it won't shock me if they don't. Even with Candace Parker.

When the Lady Vols had Chamique Holdsclaw, they won three-straight titles. In Connecticut's Taurasi years, they also won three-in-a row. Pretty simple equation--in the women's game, the best player's team usually ends up with the big trophy.

Surprises happen. The Lady Vols were knocked out of the national title race in 1999 when Duke beat them. It was Holdsclaw's final game. But that stuff is rare.

It's 3:30am in San Antonio, 4 hours after the Vols lost their Sweet Sixteen heartbreaker to Ohio State. So many issues. Seeing a 20-point lead evaporate won't be easy.. ever. The Vols were on the brink of the Elite Eight, but their season ends on a sour note.

They say everything's big in Texas, and for the Vols that means a much bigger stage to play on. The Alamodome is set for Thursday night's NCAA regional semifinal match-up between Tennessee and Ohio State.

The rematch angle is getting plenty of play down here in San Antonio. The Vols had a shot to pull-off a major upset in Columbus on January 13th. But Chris Lofton missed a critical free throw, and the Buckeyes scored the game winning basket with 11 seconds to play.

It's so late.. it's early. After our live coverage in Columbus, we drove home and arrived in Knoxville at 1am. It's now 3am, so there's nothing witty about the postgame blog. Keeping my forehead off the keyboard is a challenge right now.

Saturday at Nationwide Arena. Not much stirring, except a few hundred media hounds, some anxious coaches, a few stern looking NCAA officials, and players that generally look loose and relaxed.

The Vols got in a 90-minute closed practice session, and sources tell me their game plan for Virginia looks solid. Pearl's staff has these guys scouted, there is no doubt about it. But games are all about execution. The Vols need to stiffen-up on defense.

Saturday is practice day in Columbus. After scoring a record 121 points against Long Beach State, do the Vols really need it? Friday's game sure beat that nail-biter against Winthrop last year!

Game day. I'm getting too much flak for complaining about the weather in Columbus. But it's still cold.

I'm worried because there haven't been many upsets yet, outside of Duke-VCU. Memphis has their hands full with North Texas. Let's hope the Vols don't fall into upset status today.

No blogging from the arena today. Long story, but let's just say the NCAA has found another new revenue stream. Web-site access charges could put a serious dent in most station's coverage budgets.

More tonight, after the game.

Early this week the Vols said this NCAA tournament would be a business trip, and I've got the distinct feeling they truly believe it. Practice and press conference day in Columbus, and the players aren't awestruck. JaJuan Smith had the best line, saying "It is business. We're working a two-hour shift (on Friday) from 3pm-5pm, and hopefully we'll get a raise."

Before practice, the Vols watched some of the tournament on a television in their locker room. Tomorrow, they will gain some of the spotlight.

It's an overcast, wet, chilly, and downright dull morning in Columbus, Ohio. Granted, we're not in Buffalo, but it's close. Despite that, March Madness is here and the Vols take the floor at the Nationwide Arena for a 45-minute practice session today. Their opponent, Long Beach State goes first.

I checked into our downtown hotel last night, and caught the tail-end of another sports network NCAA preview show. They've got the Vols winning tomorrow's game. They predicted another 12-5 upset, but by now I've forgotten which one. It's all become a blur. (Oh, and it was also 1:30am).\r

Yes, I borrowed one of Bert Bertelkamp's favorite expressions. But it works

My initial reaction, the Vols got a nice deal on Selection Sunday. They won't travel far, and their seeding was fair, although their first-round opponent is an unknown challenge. Much will be made of five-seeds getting upset. Something called the Bleacher Report says there has been a 5/12 upset every year since 2000. In the last decade, they say it's happened in 35% (14 of 40) of the games.

This is the true definition of March Madness, at least for a reporter. I am sitting in the lower reaches of the Arena at Gwinnett Center, awaiting the Lady Vols' SEC Tournament semi-final game against LSU. It's three-hours before tip-off. I've just finished shooting a story that will air on 6 News tonight at 6.