We always seem to play to the level of our competition. Hence, our wins against Vandy and Tenn., and then the Georgia loss. Let’s hope that holds true this weekend, too.

I turned my tickets back in for this weekend, and am hoping for Charlotte!!!!!
Go Hogs.

But my real point was that I don’t like the way the Hogs match up against North Carolina. Of course, I’m not thrilled with how we match up against UCLA, Kansas or Memphis, either.

As for the home field thing, that is now accepted NCAA policy. The goal is that 1-4 seeds are “protected” by playing close to home (but not “at” home) if possible given the sites. Is that fair? I don’t know, but it is probably good for business and is certainly the way the NCAA has decided to go. UNC has no more of a geographic advantage than UCLA drawing Anaheim and Phoenix. I really don’t see the harm in it. If you want the protection, win your way into a good seed.

You want something to bitch about, ask the Selection Committee why Indiana is an 8 seed and and Vanderbilt a 4. Just sayin’.

I also have this crazy faith in Beverly, that in the big ones he brings his A game, so I am looking for him to do well.

I probably am wrong, but I think North Carolina is the weakest of the four No. 1 seeds, so if we have to play one, might as well play them. But the NCAA should be taken to task, it is like they stacked the deck to make sure UNC made it to the Final Four. Both the regional and the Sweet Sixteen in their home state? Why couldn’t they have played the first round in Birmingham? Assuming we beat Indiana, I’d like our chances a lot better there.

Hopefully the powers that be will see the light with football too.

The good news is that it looks like changes are on the way. According to secsports.com, here’s the list of upcoming sites for the bball tournament:

2009 - March 12-15 St. Pete Times Forum, Tampa, Fla.
2010 - March 11-14 The Sommet Center, Nashville, Tenn.
2011 - March 10-13 Georgia Dome, Atlanta, Ga.
2012 - March 8-11 New Orleans Arena, New Orleans, La.

Would be nice to see Alltel Arena on there one of these days! Dare to dream…

-John

Now for a question/rant. Stemming from some of Kevin’s comments, does anyone know if there will ever be another football/basketball SEC championship game played somewhere else than Atlanta? To me, it seems a little unfair to have the games there EVERY year as it continuously puts SEC west teams, and their fans, at a bit of a disadvantage when all of the East teams are within a reasonable distance driving-wise, e.g. see our last two visits to the SEC football championship game.

I consider myself somewhat of an average Hog fan of average means and personally, I don’t have a couple grand to throw at plane tickets and a weekend trip to Atlanta when the Hogs do make it - the Razorback Foundation already has all of the serious money I can devote to the Hogs. But I probably could scrounge up a couple of bucks and make it to New Orleans or Memphis or Nashville on a reasonable budget. Also, it would seem to make things a little more fair.

I know that some championship games have been played in other cities in the past (like Memphis for basketball in the early 90s)and personally and I don’t mind the games being played in Atlanta every once in a while, I’d just like to see the games moved around every now and then. Does anyone feel the same? Does anyone know if it will change?

Off the soap-box.