All Aboard The Win Train.

My two college hardwood squads pulled out post-worthy wins over the last couple of days, and that's got me all pumped up. 

First off was Wednesday's OT domination by the Irish over Louisville. #7 ranked Notre Dame played a strong game, and matched up completely evenly in regulation, against the #15 Cardinals. The second half ended at 74 a piece, and then Notre Dame kind of took over. The Irish opened things up, scoring 14 unanswered points to start the extra session. Just like that, the Cardinals were sunk. It finished 15-5, ending the game at 89-79 in favor of God's team.

Carleton Scott was the OT hero, putting 9 of his 16 total points into the hoop in the extra session. He completely dominated Louisville, helping ND pick up their sixth straight win (and 17th straight win at home). Ben Hansbrough, ever the stud, nailed 25, and Tim Abromaitis scored 23. After the game, Scott opened up about the Notre Dame game plan as the second half ended, "We had to let it all hang out and go for it." Maybe he shouldn't be the one doing the post-game interviews. 

The Irish are now 20-4 (9-3 in the Big East) and will hope to move up at least one slot in the national rankings next week. That won't happen, though, if they don't take care of business against South Florida tomorrow. At 8-17, So-Flo shouldn't pose much of a problem, even with the game being played in Tampa. 

I've said it before, and I'll say it again: this Irish team is headed to the Final Four.

Just when I didn't think my college basketball life could get any better, UCSB stepped up yesterday, just off the 91 freeway, and just crushed UC Riverside. The Gauchos went into the 909 (or 951, if you think that makes it cooler, which is doesn't) and mopped the floor with the Automatic-Acceptance UC school, finishing them off with a 59-47 victory. Seaside, CA native and Junior Orlando Johnson scored a massive ("West Staines Massiv") 31 points in the game, and made 5 of 10 three pointers (part of a 7 for 13 team effort in the first half that helped build the lead early on). James Nunnally scored 14 as well.

The key to the Gauchos' success was their defense, or maybe more accurately, the Highlanders horrible offense. UCR finished the game with a .321 FG% and a .111 3P%. We also out-rebounded, out-assisted, and out-blocked UCR, although our 18 turnovers (to their 9) should have helped them keep it a little closer than they did. I'm sure the traveling fans' chants of, "We don't live in Riverside," got in the Highlanders heads.

At 13-9 (6-5 in the Big West), the Gauchos still have a long way to go. They'll be traveling to Orange County tomorrow afternoon for a rivalry game with the UCI Anteaters. The game is on TV, so set your DVRs, because the Anteaters should get smoked in this one.

¡Olé!

-- Sent from my Palm Prē