FROM THE BASS'S GILLS

"I don't really know what to tell you, but we think The Bass has been "caught." Bad pun aside, he's gone missing. Thankfully I've been courting a series of internationally renowned "SuperBloggers" that jump at any opportunity to be heard. And this Stickler character knows what he's talking about. And he's a damn good host. Check out his blog, but if you're in his neighborhood, check out his pad. Not only will he host you graciously, but he'll bring you to LA's hottest kareoke bar. What you do after he gets tossed out and arrested, however, is really up to you." -Rival Room Editor

by Josh Stickler, www.sticklersworld.blogspot.com

I rolled out of bed at 8:45 am to find a ticket on the windshield of my car, not the best start to the first day of Big Ten Tourney play. Moved car, took shower, cracked open beer and turned on the television at halftime of the first game. Not being either an Ohio State or Penn State fan I could care less who wins, but I prefer to root for the underdog. I watched as Ohio State flubbed a 3-point shot at the buzzer for halftime.

Now I’m not here to talk about former coach “Jim O’Brien� and how he used “ineligible player Boban Savovic.� I’m not here to speculate on the news that surrounds the tournament. I am here to chronicle THE TOURNAMENT. One man’s quest to drink a case of beer (left in his fridge) and watch the best conference (this season) play some amazing basketball. Now as tip off started I downed my first and cracked open another, that is why Miller Light is the best for game play. Penn came out strong off the tip! Then Erin Andrews (the hottest of hot ESPN reporters, I wish she would pose for playboy!) started talking about something. Her beauty distracted me! I really have no idea what she said. Do any of you ever no what she says?

Then suddenly I awake from my daze around 17:48 left in the game. Penn State solidly passes to Claxton who makes the extra pass to Jackson who hits the two-point jumper to bring them farther ahead. Which is retaliated by Luber for Ohio who rushes down the court for a missed lay-up. Ohio State can’t get back into the game, life is looking good. Penn State cheerleaders fill the screen, Stickler is happy!

Ohio State has had one hell of a season; commentators speculate that if they take the Big Ten Tourney title then they will get a number one seed in the NCAA tournament. The score is 42 –33 Penn State and I don’t think that will happen.

I love in college basketball the way the score can change so spontaneously, except in this moment. Beer number 4 has passed my lips. The Big Ten is known for one important thing, Late Game Executions. Seriously take a look at the past games between any two Big Ten Teams. They are close and have phenomenal endings. This game would be no different. Suddenly it started raining in California. The downpour was heavy; it was a sign that something was going to happen.

4:00 minutes left and Ohio State pulls ahead with a two-point jumper. Then pull ahead farther when J.J. Sullinger hits a 3-pointer jumper. It’s a battle of the likes I’ve never seen, but Penn State just couldn’t keep up the momentum. Ohio State wins 63 to 56. In a final game interview with coach Thad Matta he says, “ We didn’t deserve to win this game.� He goes onto to talk about the comfort level of his players and how it just took time. I believe Ohio State underestimated the playing prowess of Penn State. Regardless this is a clear showing that the rest of this tournament is going to be amazing and who knows what it is in store.

I crack open been no. 5. I await the next game, really the only game I care about this day. Indiana vs. Wisconsin. Having graduated from Indiana and being a loyal fan of the team this is what I came for. I was there when Bobby Knight got fired; I rioted with the student body. I was there when we lost to Maryland in the NCAA Championship, again rioting with the student body. I am a Hoosier and the rest of this post will be biased, but I will do my best.

As the game begins I used my XBOX Live account to get online with my friend Brian. Drinking alone is never fun, but drinking over the Internet with a friend is just that much better. Wisconsin and Indiana these are two teams that have not won a championship, this is the decider to get a good seed. This is about momentum; win today and you could win tomorrow. People to watch Alando Tucker for Wisconsin, he still has another year and Marco Killingsworth for IU, who will probably going to the NBA next year!

Wisconsin wins the tip, but IU’s defense is there to take it back. I’m in shock, where is my beer!

18:53 Robert Vaden misses a three and then Killingsworth misses the rebound. This has been how it has been all season folks. I still have faith, but when your team relys heavily on a guy who seems to be out of the groove in shooting three pointers and guy who doesn’t know how to pass outside you can’t always expect the world.

13:26 traveling on Wisconsin, finally a foul on Wisconsin. This is their 4^th turnover Killingsworth jumps in and hits a 2-point jumper. The problem with IU is that they don’t have any heart. They don’t play well as a team and how do you play well as a team when your coach decides mid season that he isn’t coming back because the boosters don’t want him? My friend Brain who I am talking to says, “I don’t think Vaden has done anything with his two years here,� as Vaden misses another three pointer. At the end of the first half it is 19 – 15 Wisconsin. An ugly first half with both teams missing shot after shot. Is it because both have defensive powerhouses? I don’t think so, your looking at two teams who are not in the groove. If IU doesn’t shape up and gain some team unity and amazing perimeter shooting in the second half then they are going to lose making this Hoosier fan get drunk because of depression. Beer 6 has been placed in my hand and is gone within seconds.

IU needs to start shooting more from the perimeter, Strickland and Vaden; this is you go at it. My old roommate Chris who currently works for ESPN hates Eric Suhr, but I say anyone who plays strongly with heart is good for the team. The game started strong and then went nowhere.

So I missed the opening tip off, lots of activity with people coming to look at the house and a girl called me to find out if I could look at her apartment. I drank two more beers in this time limit and I am on beer number 8.

16:30 Miles Brand, head of the NCAA, “I hate you!� When you fired Bobby I hated you and I still hate you now!

15:40 Killingsworth hits for two making the score 28-24. IU has pulled ahead, I am excited!

15:10 Strickland hits for two, IU is creating a gap, Brian Says, “ Look at Wisconsin’s coach he has crazy eyes, kind of like a angry badger!�

14:28 Killingsworth hits a lay-up for two! Indiana looks good like they did at the beginning of the year, when D.J. White was playing! 19 points in the last 6 1/2 minutes! That is more then the first half, I see a win for IU. But if we all know Big Ten basketball anything could happen!

6:55 Controversial foul, what’s new with that, refs hate IU! The score is 49 –48 IU. This is how it goes

5:35 Score is the same, Brian says, “Derp, Derp, Derp!� Why? Because like usual both teams have fallen back into hitting nothing! The next five minutes are a blur of IU staying ahead and Wisconsin trying to regain the lead. IU winds the game down and wins 61 –56. Did they deserve to win? No, IU needs to work on their game. This is a fact from the entire season; they rely to heavily on two players even when they are tired! IU won which means they move on to the next round tomorrow. Mike Davis said after the game, “ Offensively I think the guys did a great job in the second half!� Unfortunately I was staring at Erin’s breasts again and missed the rest of the comments. All I know is that tomorrow IU plays Ohio State! Who will Win, Who will rein Supreme!

Since I don’t get the rest of the games on TV in California I can’t comment on the rest, but I recommend you all watch. Minnesota took Iowa to triple overtime last time they played! And Illinois always puts up a good fight. Too bad ESPN is pissed at CBS for taking the rest of the Big Ten Tourney over the weekend, therefore I don’t get to watch any more games today!