Duke vs Gonzaga

And ESPN screwed it up

ESPN chose to play a somewhat meaningless game that was in overtime and being played very slowly.

Now the match up which both basketball fans and non-basketball fans have been dying to see is half over.

Yeah, the match up may have come a year or two too late with both Morrison and Reddick now in the NBA but the anger and anticipation that I was feeling toward the game and ESPN is clearly present.

ESPN can even start a poll, since they are so good at doing that, and maybe they should have for this game, on which game fans and viewers want to see.

I have always been a fan of ESPN but by not airing the first half of the much anticipated Duke Gonzaga matchup, something needs to be said.

Shame on you ESPN.

While I can’t provide a good summary of the game so far, it appears to be an unusual low scoring game between the two offensive powerhouses.

Even Dick Vitale was extremely pissed about not getting his airtime.

The top five teams (Oregon, UCLA, Washington State, Arizona, Washington) currently have a combined record of 48-3.

The Pac 10 is a conference on the west coast and sometimes does not get all the hype it deserves like some east coast conferences.

Why?

Maybe the time difference? Maybe the fact that most major sports networks are on the east coast?

This is seen in both college football and college basketball, where notable east coast conferences like the SEC or the Big East get most of the hype.

Looking at Conference Standings around the NCAA, the Pac 10 tops the list.

Washington and Arizona have just pulled off successful wins against highly ranked teams (LSU, Memphis).

UCLA is back on top, just like last year and teams like Oregon and Washington State are really opening some eyes this year. Especially with Washington State upsetting Gonzaga earlier this year.

Perhaps it’s coming a year too late?

Adam Morrison and J.J. Redick left last year for the NBA draft.

While it would have been nice to see that matchup, it will still be a great game.

Neither team seems too dominating or is a one-man team like Gonzaga last year. Both teams are well balanced.

So Thursday it is. The 22nd ranked Bulldogs will see the 6th ranked Duke Blue Devils as the second part of a double-header at Madison Square Garden.

Dick Vitale, ESPN’s finest will be there, announcing the game.

Gonzaga University has had remarkable success against the Atlantic Coast Conference.

The Bulldogs are 8-1 all time against ACC competition following an 82-74 win over then second-ranked University of North Carolina on Nov. 24 in the semifinals of the Dick’s Sporting Goods NIT Season Tip Off at Madison Square Garden. Gonzaga’s game Thursday with Duke University will be the second of three games against ACC opponents this season, with a Jan. 3 date at the University of Virginia.

While coaching the University of San Diego, a Division I-AA program, Harbaugh posted a respectable 29-6 record.

The Stanford football team, being one of the worst football programs in the NCAA, is coming off its worst season since 1960.

In 2006 Stanford went 1-11 with its only win coming against the University of Washington.

Former coach, Walt Harris saw his five year contract end early, with his 6-17 record during his two years at the program.

The lone win of the season came against Tyrone Willingham’s Huskies, also a former Stanford Coach. Despite the embarrassing loss and a sub par season it looks like Willingham will be staying at UW, despite rumors.