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KANSAN.COM / THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN / THURSDAY, MARCH 17, 2011 / SPORTS
11A
QUOTE OF THE DAY
"It doesn't matter who scores the points, it's who can get the ball to the scorer."
Larry Bird
FACT OF THE DAY
Five 14-loss teams are in the NCAA Tournament this year. Marquette, Tennessee, Penn. State, Michigan State and USC.
— ESPN
Q: How many 14-loss teams have been in the tournament since 1985, not counting this year?
TRIVIA OF THE DAY
A:Six
— ESPN
The CBI proves itself insignificant
MORNING BREW
If you want to watch the tournament this March, you better have HDNet, the exclusive home of the 16-team College Basketball Invitational (what tournament did you think I was talking about?). The four-year-old postseason tournament is the third of its kind, and also third in relevance, far behind the NCAA tournament and even the National Invitational Tournament.
BY GEOFFREY CALVERT gcalvert@kansan.com
This year's edition of the CBI features only one team from the traditional power six conferences — Oregon. But there's nothing powerful about the Ducks, who finished the regular season 16-17 overall and 7-11 in conference play. One of Oregon's losses came to San Jose State, 17-15 overall and 5-11 in conference. Oregon could potentially play San Jose St. in the semifinals, and I'm sure the Ducks are dying for revenge.
According to the CBI's website, the event "provides a meaningful opportunity for teams that deserve a postseason experience." Um, no it doesn't. The event, a borderline sham, is sponsored by Zebra Pen. With the NCAA Tournament expanding to 68 teams this year, and the NIT featuring 32, that makes the winner of the CBI the 101st best team in the country. Congratulations. There's no reason for a team to be proud of winning this tournament.
doesn't get your blood flowing, well then I don't blame you.
Along with the programs metioned above, the CBI features other barnburners such as Weber State, with its 18 total victories, and Conference USA member Central Florida with a 6-10 conference record. Some of the first round matchups include Duquesne at Montana, James Madison at Davidson and Hofstra at Evansville. If that
On the CBI's website, Zebra Pen claims
it assembles the brackets with the goal of minimizing missed class time. If Zebra Pen is really worried about missed class time, then cancel the event. Is there really any relevance to the college basketball world if Oregon defeats Weber State in the first round of a remarkably unimportant tournament? Many people who consider themselves college basketball fans don't even know about this tournament. No one cares about this tournament, it has no prestige, and the players miss class time to play what amounts to exhibition games. There is no glory, even if they win it all.
- Edited by Danielle Packer
THIS WEEK IN KANSAS ATHLETICS
TODAY
Swimming NCAA Championships All day Austin, Texas
FRIDAY
Softball
vs. Lipscomb University
9 a.m.
Conway, S. C.
vs. Providence
11 a.m.
Conway, S. C.
Swimming NCAA Championships All day Austin, Texas
Baseball vs. Oklahoma State 3 p.m. Lawrence
Men's Basketball vs. Boston University NCAA Tournament 5:50 p.m. Tulsa, Okla.
BIG 12 BASKETBALL
Illness keeps Pullen from K-State practice
TUCSON, Ariz. — Jacob Pullen is sick and did not practice with Kansas State on Wednesday.
The senior guard, who leads the Wildcats in scoring with 19.5 points per game, came down ill this morning and spent the afternoon in his room at the team hotel.
K-State officials were reluctant to release details about his illness, but said they expected him to recover in time to play against Utah State on Thursday in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.
When pressed about Pullen's status, teammates suggested he was suffering from food poisoning.
Jamar Samuels said Pullen was being well taken care of in the meantime.
"It was from something he ate last night, a cheeseburger or something like that," said sophomore Jordan Henriquez-Roberts. "But he's going to be all right and he's going to go tomorrow. I know Jake ... he's going to give his all tomorrow whether he's 100 percent or not."
"He'll be all right. He's drinking a lot of Gatorade and water," Samuels said. "His mom is here, so she'll baby him a little bit so he can get better. He'll be there tomorrow."
Practicing without Pullen was strange for the team, but nothing it couldn't overcome.
"It's just a precautionary
Freshman Will Spradling spent extra time during Wednesday's practice as the first-team's point guard to make up for Pullen's absence, and every guard on the roster had to stay on the court longer than usual.
measure," said forward Victor Ojeleye. "He's not feeling well, and coaches don't want us to catch anything he's got."
Beyond that, Pullen missing practice had no long-term impact.
"We've practiced with him all season and played with him all season," Spradling said. "Not having him for one practice isn't going to hurt."
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