Villanova Learned Nothing

Heading into the 8-9 match-up between Villanova and George Mason, I was convinced Nova would win despite the team's epic slide down the stretch. Here's why: For one, few people believed Nova could right itself, so it only made sense that they would. It is March Madness after all. Second, I thought Jay Wright would use the end of the season as a teaching tool and have his team prepared to correct those mistakes in the NCAA Tournament, since Nova has been a very strong tournament team under Wright.

I was wrong. Dead wrong. Instead, it was the same old Villanova. Blowing a double-digit lead? Check. Making boneheaded plays late? Check. Missing crucial foul shots? Check. And Corey Stoke choking big time? Check. I mean, seriously, that was the best final shot of your career you could get? A god-awful shot off the side of the backboard? Corey Stokes is terrible.



This Villanova team was the most undisciplined and least mentally tough squad in the Jay Wright era. And they should be ashamed of themselves. They learned nothing all season long, and they got what they deserved. Check that, they got more than they deserved. This team should have been an 11 seed at best, a 14 at worst given how horrendous it was in February and March.

Now Philadelphia's hopes lie in the hands of Temple, and nothing would be sweeter than seeing the Owls upset No. 2 seed San Diego State.

It's Friday, Time to Dance

My biggest pet peeve with college athletics, especially at my alma mater Penn State, is the absolutely atrocious, out-of-place music they play at stadiums and arenas. Zombie nation is played out. Living on a Prayer, Don't Stop Believing and Sweet Caroline don't and shouldn't get anyone pumped up. Those songs are fucking horribly out of place, and if you sing along to those songs at a college game, you shouldn't be there in the first place.

I've said it a million times, the only music that should be played at sporting events is hip hop, because that's pretty much all the players listen to anyway, and Rage Against the Machine, because that shit pumps you up. Well guess what? The George Mason student band went out and put every other college on the planet on blast, doing what I've been begging for years by breaking out the Rage Against the Machine.



Much respect to the George Mason band for that. Hopefully this is a trend other universities pick up on. Because that's the type of music I want to hear at football and basketball games, not girly pop ballads.

Still Battling

Penn State failed to make the NCAA tournament thanks in large part to a weak out of conference schedule and the loss to Iowa in the final regular season game — a win would have given the Nittany Lions the 2 seed in the Big 10 Tourney, and most likely, a trip to the big dance.

That's a big letdown for college kids who had visions of dancing, even with the NIT invitation. Oftentimes, teams that just miss out on the big dance have the life and competitive fire sucked out of them, then falter early in the NIT. I wouldn't have been shocked if Penn State rolled over and died in its first-round game with George Mason. I should have known better. This team never stops battling:



Talor Battle simply wasn't going to let Penn State's season end with three straight losses. Not happening. He hit that ridiculous three to send the game to OT, scored 8 more in the extra session, finished with a game-high 24 points and gave the Nittany Lions the 77-73 victory.

"I like to call myself Mr. Big Shot," Battle said. "It's more of a joke but during the games Coach wants me to have the ball in my hands and make a play."

…

"It's not just Jamelle," Battle said. "It's a lot of guys. Willie [Leiner], Stanley [Pringle], Danny [Morrissey], I know they didn't want to play their last game, and I didn't want to play my last game of the season."

It may not be the big dance, but it's better to keep playing than to not play at all.