The Spencer Magnet • March 14, 2012 SPORTS B BIG WINNERS Kentuckiana — college ’s Mecca

arch Madness is here and but a 32-2 record is evidence they will do it’s like a holiday for basket- that much more often than not. Mball fans in Kentuckiana. Championship banner No. 8 may be on The field of 68 was announced Sunday the horizon. evening and regardless of what color hat LOUISVILLE: What a difference a you wear, there’s a likely a team for you week makes. After finishing the regular to root for. season on a down note with a lot of fans Forget about Tobacco Road. We live in griping about their coach, their future and ’s Mecca their plummeting seed, the and a quick scan of a Cardinals resurrected hope map will reveal just how COUNTY and optimism with a four- prominent and dominant SPORTS game charge through New basketball is in this area. SCENE York to claim the Big East Take Louisville, circle a Tournament. 200-mile radius around by JOHN went back to SHINDLEBOWER the area and look how Sports a stifling, pressure defense many teams are in the Columnist that had opponents in fits. NCAA field are located The games weren’t pretty within. (and neither were the new, Kentucky, bright orange Louisville Louisville, Indiana, uniforms) but the Cardinals Cincinnati, Xavier, Ohio University, may have found a strategy to make anoth- Western Kentucky University, and on the er magical March run. There’s probably fringe are schools like Ohio State, Purdue, no coach in the field of 68 who wants to Murray State and Notre Dame. Among face Louisville’s defense anytime soon. that group are nearly 20 NCAA titles, Cardinal fans will be able to erase last countless final fours and more than a cou- year’s ugly first-round loss with a couple ple of teams that are legitimate contenders of wins in this year’s tournament, and the to get to New Orleans this year. Cardinals are capable of doing even more. ESPN recently confirmed that INDIANA: Tom Crean is building a Louisville is the national leader when it program at IU that will be a consistent comes to college basketball viewership contender. That they’ve arrived at that and most televisions in this area will be spot this soon is a testament to the loyalty tuned in to the tournament over the course of IU fans and the players who have put of the next three weeks. everything thing have on the court. Submitted to The Spencer Magnet What are the prospects of some of The Hoosiers could surprise some TOP: Members of the championship Blaze team pose for a picture. From back left are Coach Dawn these teams? folks with a deep run, but just their arrival Heuglin, Brielle Heuglin, Jason Nichols, Ryan Beck, Chris Beck, Colton Price and Coach Susan Nich- KENTUCKY: If there is a favorite to as a 4-seed after a few years of missing ols. From front left are Zane Payton, Daniel Seeforth, Braden Heuglin, Jackson Jaggers and Brant cut down the nets on the first Monday in the tournament should have fans feeling Muddell. ABOVE: Members of the runner-up Venomous Crew pose for a picture. From back left are April, the Wildcats are it. Don’t worry too great. The Hoosiers own some huge victo- Coach Andy Mallory, Adam Nation, Andres Rubio, Gunner Mahoney, Noah Horner and Kaleb Weis. much about that loss Sunday to Vanderbilt ries over top-5 teams, including two No. From front left are Mary Ellen Mallory, Noah Stone, Zachary Holloway, Aaron Lester, Steven Stayton in the SEC Tournament Final, these Cats 1-seeds in Kentucky and Michigan State. and Katelyn Brentzel. are the most talented team in the field. They definitely have the potential to com- Vandy is a really great team that matches pete against anyone, but anything beyond Spencer County teams battle for River City championship up well against Kentucky and beating a Sweet 16 finish would be an amazing them three times in a little more than a finish to a wonderful year. The scary Submitted to the Magnet the Venomous Crew “in a battle in which all players left everything they had on the field,” month’s span would have been an amaz- thing about Indiana however, is that Two Spencer County youth soccer teams according to a news release. ing task. they’re only getting started. The Hoosiers recently battled for the championship of the Both teams represented Spencer County Kentucky will have to avoid foul trou- are back. River City Indoor Soccer League. well during the regular season and tourna- ble, will have to shoot a little better and WESTERN KENTUCKY The league consisted of teams from all ment, said Venomous Crew Coach Andy exercise a little smarter shot selection UNIVERSITY: Maybe the best story of over Kentucky and Southern Indiana. Mallory. than they did against Vandy (28 three- any team in the tournament. The The Blaze won the championship against point attempts?) to get to the Final Four, see MECCA, page B-9 Bring out the oohs and ahhs, it’s ‘big dance’ time in Kentucky est three weeks in Carolina, Kansas, Michigan State, Contributed to his 2-of-11 shooting LOUISVILLE sports? Roll out the Kentucky? Who will be Ty Rogers SPORTS in 32 minutes against Vandy. NBA 19. Rick Pitino must not (will Bjargon: Big dance ... for 2012? scouts notice. not) fritter away talking heads who bracketology ... good draw-bad Thoughts on the SEC IN KY 11. ... no repeat pick Davidson to end the Cardinals’ draw ... “we wuz robbed” ... one Tournament — As if scripted, John performance of 34 minutes against season. to another Final Four and One Calipari’s team rid itself of (per- and Steve Tchiengang. 20. Peyton Siva has settled his Shining Moment punctuation. ceived?) pressure from 24-wins-in- by BOB 12. Anthony Davis’ average of team and himself into a groove. U Bonus? The Bluegrass State is a-row Sunday. Pressure removed, a WATKINS four blocks in his last six college of L’s point guard must avoid letting so near the middle of it all, we can game film is the result. A Vanderbilt Sports Columnist games. himself fall back, try and take a hear the heartbeats. Heck, we are production. Video title: Ways to beat 13. Snatch and grab fouls away game over. And, stay out of foul the heartbeat. Kentucky. The Commodores’ win, for legend-status here and in the from the ball — and trouble. Kentucky earned the No. 1 seed; and it was more than a UK loss, black hole (NBA), 19-year-old . 21. Breakout? Unless shooter Western Kentucky got a play-in; was tough, smart, relentless, no sur- Anthony Davis. 14. Laugh off 2011 shows up and Murray State is the lone once-beaten; render, swish and “hey, Kentucky is 3. History. Promising UK teams whine about NCAA South bracket replaces the 2012 model, the stark and Louisville, like a good Derby beatable!” past have lapsed into mysterious “... the only thing I was happy about truth is, Louisville could be one- horse, roared out of the pack to win A career moment, too, for Kevin shooting holes and were dispatched is I heard that they were trying to get and-done. On the other hand, U of its league tournament then was cast Stallings and a four-word catapult to early on empty trips home (see an exemption for the (Miami) Heat L could very well be playing March as underdog to Davidson. Peculiar the Commodores psyche heretofore Georgetown, 1984). to be the second seed in our bracket 24 against Michigan State in the that, but perfect for Big Mo. said to be too soft. “We can beat 4. Talking-head punditry touting and they weren’t allowed to.” Elite Eight. College basketball’s place on the anybody.” Kentucky-Syracuse final. Ignore it. 15. Technical foul on Calipari at calendar and the tube reduces all In Kentucky a few cautionary 5. Numbers to avoid — five, crucial time (see UMass, Mar. 26, WESTERN KENTUCKY else in sports to below-the-fold also- notes for our Big Dance entries. zero and 16. Michael Kidd-Gilchrist 1992). 22. Is Ray Harper’s Hilltopper stuff. This includes Peyton Flashing yellow lights that could points, rebounds and minutes in 16. New Orleans or bust. This is honeymoon destined to be longest Manning’s next stop, Kentucky undo a March march. SEC title game. (basketball) Real World at in history? Derby candidate Union Rags, the 6. Calling ’ num- Kentucky. Win everything or, we all 23. Cash-in time on this magic NIT field and the country’s only KENTUCKY ber early prevents a Jones disap- know, the season goes on the heap. carpet ride literally, figuratively. unbeaten college baseball team, 1. Beware of the Praises of pearance (Indiana). 17. Don’t forget sending thank Hilltopper hoops renaissance is well , 16-0. And, March. They are many, frequent, 7. Recall Al McGuire’s NCAA you notes to Vandy, Florida and LSU. under way and new money from with CBS, TBS, TNT and truTV well-intentioned and in the NCAAs, tourney golden rule: “One, maybe this unexpected NCAA trip juices doing games, a clamp on Dick a distraction. This includes NBA two games, will be decided at the MURRAY STATE the budget. Vitale’s mouth. draft order buzz. line.” 18. Maintain poise and patience, 24. If the Hilltoppers are still From San Diego State to 2. Try and forget — before the 8. Ignore Dick Vitale altogether. avoid foul trouble and understand tra- playing Thursday, what better Harvard yard, all things are possible clocks fall back in autumn, four or 9. 28 and six. Number of threes dition. OVC winners get no calls and venue, opponent and time of year and move us to anticipate who will more beloveds on this team will tried and made last Sunday. (See little respect at the big dance. For the than — Louisville’s home arena be this year’s Butler and VCU? have packed up and gone from UK-West Virginia, NCAA 2010). Racers, losing poise and patience will against No. 1-ranked and seeded Which big dog will fall first: North Lexington, including one destined 10. Doron Lamb pout. mean a quick trip home. Kentucky in the big dance. LET YOUR BUSINESS STAND OUT!

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