My scouting season just started. I hate to take away any drama but the Psychos will be advancing past my Deep Valley Grouchos. I was going to update the Final Four by saying that they definitely had the edge after Ivisic went for just 3 in his first game, but that’s immaterial now. Although, I will relate my thought process as it’s something that each and every one of us has gone through many times. Ivisic had been my best freshman all year and due to mono and an ankle injury I had not played him for awhile. The week of the Elite 8 I did not have him in the lineup and he killed it so I figured he was 100% again-and he was/is. However, the thing you can all relate to is going with your gut, recent results, or, analysis (stats). I don’t like my guards so I went with another freshman, Doty at a guard instead of King and that way I could feel comfortable about the guard spot since Doty has been great (put in 36 in his first game this week) since I added him late and that would get Ivisic back in the lineup. However, I did not like Ivisic’s schedule. I try to never play any player if the opponent is Michigan State. I ignored that because Ivisic had two great games the week prior, he had MSU as a home game, and, even though MSU is highly ranked they are not the MSU of old. I also didn’t like his 2nd game, on the road at Wisconsin. The choice at guard was similar. I was at first thinking King. King had two home games for the Elite 8 and two more home games for the Final Four-meaning no travel and for an volatile player like King, a little more stability. He went for 30 & then 19 during the Elite 8 which actually is good but with King, you never know. Prior to that week he was averaging a tick under 17 fppg when I had him in the lineup. So, he’s capable of sucking. Still, I should have gone with my gut. Of course, King (or, the basketball Gods) “punished” me by going for 31 this week in his first game. Basically, my “guard paranoia” overwhelmed my gut instincts, the schedule, and, who’s hot and/or more likely to perform well. Sub out Ivisic’s 3 for King’s 31 and we have a chance. Notice I didn’t say we would have it. Why? Because freshman Blake Harper put up 44 fantasy points today (2-17) for the Psychos in a bravura performance that temporarily puts them at 207.5. And even though they are likely to slide down from that lofty total and the DVG’s are still waiting on Kam Jones to have his first game, statistically it will be a near impossibility to overcome the margin. So, congratulations and kudos to the Psychos who will need to bring it to beat the Maize and Blue Bloods. However, their players are “hot,” and if you don’t think that’s a factor because we are playing fantasy basketball, well my friends, the players are real, so being “hot” is a real thing.
#2 Maize and Blue Bloods vs. #14 The Hoop Guru
Right now, shockingly, this one is not technically over. At the end of the first round of games (7 for each team), MBB has just 149 while THG has 141 and both teams have obvious “risers” guys who are going to bump up, and, HG has a downer. MBB still has a strong edge however, and, that is the fact that their freshman, Newell, put up 38 and it’s locked in. THG needs Felton to not fall too far from his first round 33 and for both Garcia (not performing well of late, had 10) and Rataj (went for just 3) to bump up significantly. That’s certainly doable but MBB can counter with the fact that Braden Smith (just 14) figures to move up as does Haggerty (just 17). And, remember that Brooks (just 15) will not be getting just one rebound in a game again, in our lifetime. So, while it’s not over and it’s more interesting than I thought it would be, I would say that it’s with 90% certainty that MBB will be advancing to play the Psychos in the final.