My intention was to do some posts while in Cleveland watching the MAC basketball tournament. Doing so requires some degree of sobriety, which my UB Bulls have made completely impossible by turning my first three days here into a balls-to-the-wall par-tay thanks to dipsatching Kent State on Thursday and beating Ball State 64-52 last night to advance to the MAC championship game against Akron tonight.
The post-game celebration was a little intense last night, but it was really the pregame session, where we steadied our nerves and whiled away the day at Great Lakes Brewery and Bier Markt in Cleveland’s cool yet unpretentious Market District. Might be headed that way today since tip-off isn’t until 8PM and there’s a brat sandwich, some baked goods, and other deliciousness from the West Side Market are calling my name.
Vegas says the Bulls are two point ‘dogs tonight. I’d bet the house on UB +2 points over Akron just about any day of the week, but the MAC tourney final, with a trip to the Big Dance on the line, isn’t just about any day of the week. It’s much more massive than that and I think Buffalo’s key seniors — starting point guard Greg Gamble and Andy Robinson, the first guard off the bench, — recognize that.
Down the stretch against Miami last Sunday, in the game that clinched the three seed and opening round bye for the Bulls, Gamble and Robinson were clutch down the stretch. While they haven’t scored alot the past two nights, they’ve defended like their lives depend on it, and Gamble has managed the offense incredibly efficiently. That has to continue tonight, especially on defense since the Zips are a perimeter-oriented three-point shooting team.
The formula for victory is simple: control the boards; make life hard on Akron point Steve McNees by pressuring him; and guard the three-point line. Do that and UB can claim it’s first-ever MAC basketball championship.
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on Mar 16th, 2009 at 1:16 am
Should I post the text message you sent me Saturday night?