The Lunatic has problems


They are good problems for the Lunatic, and considering that he is crazy, all of this makes sense – because these are not the actions of someone sane.

I was watching the Tennessee / Auburn game when realizing that Wisconsin was winning in a close game with a minute left – so I switched over to the Big 10 semifinal just to see it in commercial. So, then I put the SEC game on my computer and realized the VCU game was also close.

So, here I am – Big 10 game on the TV, SEC game on my computer sitting on my lap, and VCU game streaming on my phone in my hands as I switch my view from TV to laptop to phone.

I have to thank VCU for holding on to their victory with relatively little drama. Because every time I looked at my laptop, I was watching as 2-3 players were picking themselves up off the court. I am fine with a little bit of physical basketball, but from watching the Tennessee vs. Auburn game, I think it is getting out of hand when players from both teams can be lying on the ground on multiple plays with no fouls being called on either play.

With 14 seconds down 3, the Spartans drive the ball to the basket and kick it out to Tre Holloman for a tying three-pointer at the top of the key. But the Badgers’ Carter Gilmore steps out to block the shot. The Spartans are forced to foul John Tonje, and Tonje surprisingly missed both FTs keeping the door open. But as Jeremy Fears crosses half court and tries to throw up a deep three pointer, Tonje reaches in and strips the ball to preserve the Wisconsin upset 77-74 over Michigan State.

I flip the TV back to ESPN for the finish of the SEC game, as Chad Baker-Mazara gets a layup to cut Tennessee’s lead to 3 points (they were up 12 with 6 minutes to play when I started looking at what was happening in the other games and realized how close the other two games were). Auburn got a defensive stop and then had a weird sequence.

Johni Broome got the ball into the paint but missed the layup, he tried to tip back in his missed shot, but missed again, and as he tried to tip it again, Felix Okpara slapped the ball out but was called for what looked like a questionable foul. Then, Broome missed the free-throw, but after a scrum the ball rolled out-of-bounds. And of course, after a review, it ends up being Tennessee’s ball. But Broome then forces a held ball on Zeigler in the corner to give Auburn the ball back. But that would not work out as Baker-Mazara missed a three-pointer from the wing, and after multiple people go up for the ball it looks like it will be Auburn ball.

Until we once again go to the replay – which correctly shows the ball went off Broome last – so it is now Tennessee’s ball. They can’t get the ball in-bounds so they have to call a time out. Then, out of desperation, they just wing the ball to half court, and Jahmai Mashack was able to outjump everyone for the ball and then get fouled. Mashack hit his two free throws, Miles Kelly missed a desperation three-pointer, and Tennessee had upset the SEC regular-season champs.

It would be unfair to not mention that Bryant and Norfolk State won their conference tournaments. It is a little sad that I was trying to watch three basketball games at the same time. It must be March.


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