28 Mar, 2011
That's Why They Call It MADNESS ...
Unthinkable foursome heading to Houston
Even in the unpredictable, anything-goes world of March Madness, this is a Final Four nobody saw coming.
Kentucky, Connecticut, Butler and Virginia Commonwealth — the improbable, the implausible, the unthinkable and the downright unimaginable.
In one game in Houston next Saturday, No. 4 seed Kentucky will play No. 3 Connecticut — not a completely absurd thought as a Final Four matchup, though hardly a trendy pick given their up-and-down regular seasons.
In the other game, it will be No. 11 Virginia Commonwealth against No. 8 Butler — the team that was panned when its name was called on Selection Sunday against the defending national runner-up from a 4,500-student campus whose amazing success story had supposedly run its course.
"It never gets old," Bulldogs senior Matt Howard said.
Nor does the NCAA tournament, the three-week office pool that places the so-called experts on even footing with those who fill out brackets because they like a team's colors or its mascot.
Anything goes. Anyone can win.
And never has that been more true than this year.
Four teams with a combined 37 losses and a combined winning percentage of .755, second lowest since 1985.
Four teams whose combined seeding equals 26, breaking the record of 22 in 2000.
Not a single No. 1 seed for only the third time since seeding began in 1979 and, according to STATS LLC., the first time that no 1 or 2 seed will be there.
ESPN, which sponsors one of the country's biggest bracket tournaments, said that out of 5.9 million entries, only two had this foursome making its way to Houston. President Barack Obama? He went 0 for 4. He had plenty of company.
Kentucky is the new favorite in Vegas, at 8-5. VCU is listed at 7-1 — the longshot in the field, but still quite a bit better than 2500-1, which is where the Rams were listed at the start of the season.
"I think what it does as much as anything, it just puts a spin on the NCAA tournament," said Kansas coach Bill Self after his top-seeded team lost 71-61 to VCU. "It's wild. ... Because seeds are so overrated. It's about matchups. And their players could play for us any day."
VCU (28-11) got up early on Kansas on Sunday and never looked back, another upset winner in a tournament that's all about underdogs.
Story and Photo courtesy of news.yahoo.com.
Even in the unpredictable, anything-goes world of March Madness, this is a Final Four nobody saw coming.
Kentucky, Connecticut, Butler and Virginia Commonwealth — the improbable, the implausible, the unthinkable and the downright unimaginable.
In one game in Houston next Saturday, No. 4 seed Kentucky will play No. 3 Connecticut — not a completely absurd thought as a Final Four matchup, though hardly a trendy pick given their up-and-down regular seasons.
In the other game, it will be No. 11 Virginia Commonwealth against No. 8 Butler — the team that was panned when its name was called on Selection Sunday against the defending national runner-up from a 4,500-student campus whose amazing success story had supposedly run its course.
"It never gets old," Bulldogs senior Matt Howard said.
Nor does the NCAA tournament, the three-week office pool that places the so-called experts on even footing with those who fill out brackets because they like a team's colors or its mascot.
Anything goes. Anyone can win.
And never has that been more true than this year.
Four teams with a combined 37 losses and a combined winning percentage of .755, second lowest since 1985.
Four teams whose combined seeding equals 26, breaking the record of 22 in 2000.
Not a single No. 1 seed for only the third time since seeding began in 1979 and, according to STATS LLC., the first time that no 1 or 2 seed will be there.
ESPN, which sponsors one of the country's biggest bracket tournaments, said that out of 5.9 million entries, only two had this foursome making its way to Houston. President Barack Obama? He went 0 for 4. He had plenty of company.
Kentucky is the new favorite in Vegas, at 8-5. VCU is listed at 7-1 — the longshot in the field, but still quite a bit better than 2500-1, which is where the Rams were listed at the start of the season.
"I think what it does as much as anything, it just puts a spin on the NCAA tournament," said Kansas coach Bill Self after his top-seeded team lost 71-61 to VCU. "It's wild. ... Because seeds are so overrated. It's about matchups. And their players could play for us any day."
VCU (28-11) got up early on Kansas on Sunday and never looked back, another upset winner in a tournament that's all about underdogs.
Story and Photo courtesy of news.yahoo.com.
1 John 5:1-5 (ESV)
Overcoming the World
1 Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the Father loves whoever has been born of him. 2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments. 3For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome. 4For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world— our faith. 5Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?
What does God's Story say about the "underdogs" in our world?Overcoming the World
1 Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the Father loves whoever has been born of him. 2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments. 3For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome. 4For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world— our faith. 5Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?
Have you ever felt like an underdog? The fact that God is all about the underdog is found throughout scripture. From David defeating Goliath to John reminding us that we, because of Jesus, have overcome the world. What does that mean? It means that we win! It means that when we are followers of Jesus, we can live this life with the confidence of one who has already one the game of life! And the reward is better that a championship trophy ... the reward is an eternal home with the Father.
How can I connect today's God's Story scripture to My Life?
- Thank God for the victory you have as an underdog in this world.
- Spend some time reading through God's Story, looking for stories of the underdog getting a victory.
- Ask God how you might become a bigger supporter of the underdogs in your everyday world.
How can I connect Today's Story, My Story and God's Story with My Friend's Story?
- Invite some friends over to watch the Final Four this weekend.
- Get to know more of their story during the games.
- With all of the teams being "underdogs," what a great time start a coversation about the times in your life when you've felt like an underdog. It might even get them talking about their stories even more.
- When your friends leave, spend some time praying for them and about the new area of their story you discover during the games.
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