HITTING THE TRIFECTA

Ya know...USUALLY hitting that trifecta is a GOOD thing, like in horse racing or something. But THIS trifecta was NOT a good thing for Wisconsin sports fans.

I guess we'll start with the Badgers, since that's the one I'll have the most fun with this coming weekend. I know they weren't expected to win the game as a two point dog with the Vegas smarties, but when you're in the situation TO win and you DON'T, that is HIGHLY disappointing. ESPECIALLY when you know that you are a "bubble team" in the month of March. There were times that they looked like a determined team that was finally getting Marcus Landry to do what was expected of him all season long. But then there were times in which they looked like a team that was playing together for the first time ever! Bo Ryan even admitted as much at half time when he said the team was searching for chemistry. Say WHAT?? The second to last game of the regular season is NOT the time of year to be trying to gel as a team! And then to let ONE GUY score the last TEN POINTS of the game...what's up with THAT! Next up...the dangerous INDIANA HOOSIERS! (more on that...including details on a little friendly wager with a co-host...tomorrow)

Then there's the Marquette (not so) Golden Eagles. I know that the game of basketball is a TEAM game, and the loss of one player isn't really supposed to make THAT big a difference. That is...unless that one player is Dominic James. I keep trying to come up with a good analogy...other than the old "taking the air out of the tires". But that's pretty much what happened when he went down a couple of games ago. The team seems like they're riding a bike with flat tires. You know...sometimes you'll build some speed and get your hopes up that you'll make it through and get to that destination... but you just KNOW that at SOME point its going to come to a screeching halt. (ok, not the greatest analogy...but you get my point) They've got to hop back on that bike again Saturday in the season finale against the 'Cuse, and I say if they lose that game... and then bow out early in the conference tourney, they may wind up dancing as a double digit seed.


Last, for some definitely least, the Milwaukee Bucks. First of all, i give them kudos for not folding when the duo of Redd and Bogut went down. They have managed to keep afloat in that wacky Eastern Conference. (the middle of the standings remind me of the Big Ten standings) But last night they ran into the machine known as LEBRON. I know that Kobe is leading his team to the best record in the league right now...and D-Wade is D-Man... but D-MVP is #23 in a Cavs uniform. They said it so well on the broadcast...he's hitting deep outside shots like they're layups! I mean...last night, the Bucks did EXACTLY what they were supposed to do...they played really good half court defense...they forced the shot clock all the way down...they forced a trapped shot deep in the corner...Luc Richard MMM Bop MMM Mootay contested it as well as ANYBODY could have...so you're thinking they got the stop, right? Not when L.J. is the one being contested. Yep...he hit it. Yet ANOTHER addition to his highlight reel. Now...there IS STILL TIME...theres a LOT of hoops to be played in the long NBA season...but with games against the likes of the Hornets, Celtics, and Magic (3 times) still on the schedule, I hate to say it, but I am starting to hear sound of the ping pong ball machine again.