>As you say, they have not been whole without Lucas, but they have never looked that impressive this year
>
>You might want to think back...at the end of January, Michigan State was 19-3, 9-0 in the Big 10, and #5 in the country. Then Kalin Lucas got injured in the game against Wisconin and they dropped 4 of 6. I'm not a Spartan fan (still hacked off over KU choking against Michigan State in the Sweet 16 last year), but when the Spartans are healthy, they are the best in the Big 10.
>
>I'm beginning to wonder if we'll really see any surprises this year. A team to watch is New Mexico, though at #10, it's not like they'd be a shock.
>
>I'll make a prediction - take a look at the new rankings this coming Monday - I'll bet that at least 14 of the teams in the Sweet 16 come from that top 25. Sure, some wild card like Siena or Kent State or Utah State might pull an upset in the 2nd round (and if some team from the Ivy League makes it, I'll never hear the end of it from Tamar, haha) - but I'll bet you get a MAX of two teams in the Sweet 16 that weren't ranking going into the conference tourneys.
>
>My final four teams right now are KU, Syracuse, Kentucky, and either Duke/Michigan State/West Virginia.
>
>I've got my drinking buddies ready to come over to my place on Selection Sunday - beer, pizza, wings, and brackets!!!!!!

How come every time I get insomnia I have a reply from you? ;-)

Maybe I will take that bet about 14 out of 16. It's probably a sucker bet because I bet it's the case about every year. A couple of Cinderellas get to wear their ball dresses a few days more but ultimately the contenders are the teams that have been among the best teams all year. What the heck, though. Got any stakes in mind? This could be fun. I will be the guy doing the Snoopy dance every time one of next Monday's top 25 gets bopped. Well, unless their name rhymes with Wisconsin. (They aren't that good, along with the rest of the Big 10).

Point taken about Michigan State. They did start very strong.

So is the bet on? Don't worry, I pay up when I lose. Just ask Bill Kuhn. (I did soften the blow by addressing his hockey jersey to William Kuhn, Chairman, Obama Election Committee).

My favorite bet here was the one with John Koziol. We wagered on the 2008 election, the loser to post a picture wearing a T shirt saying "John Koziol is smarter than me" or "Mike Beane is smarter than me." A fun bet. If anyone has that picture of John, please forward it to me, LOL.