Editor’s note: This is the transcript of a live chat with Denver Post sports writer John Henderson. The chat took place on Monday, March 12, 2007.
DenverPost moderator: Hi. This is The Denver Post’s online March Madness chat with sports writer John Henderson. Welcome~~~
DenverPost moderator: All right — here’s the first question, emailed to us in advance: What do you think of Air Force not being awarded an at-large bid?
John Henderson: I totally agree. Sorry, but just because a team is NCAA worthy in December and January doesn’t make them NCAA worthy in March. And any team that loses to TCU and Wyoming should not be allowed in the tournament.
DenverPost moderator: Who is this year’s George Mason?
John Henderson: I wrote Winthrop. It’s an 11 seed, like George Mason. It plays a tough schedule. It has great guards. It has a favorable bracket, too. They may play my Oregon Ducks in the second round. Oregon has plenty of weaknesses.
DenverPost moderator: How has the NCAA men’s basketball tournament changed, in terms of hoopla, in the last decade or two?
John Henderson: The media has grown so much on the Internet. There is so much information available to normal persons that I believe the NCAA Tourney office pool has become a national obsession. Women are picking teams by who has the cutest coach or best nickname — and they’re winning.
DenverPost moderator: Is this the year that a No. 16 seed finally defeats a No. 1 seed? What other upsets do you see in the works?
John Henderson: The most vulnerable this year is North Carolina playing Eastern Kentucky because the Tar Heels play so young sometimes. Ill-advised shots. Bad passes. But there’s a reason a No. 16 has never beaten a No. 1. A No. 1 can play awful and still beat a No. 16 which is at the bottom rung of mid-majors.
John Henderson: Other upsets, I picked Gonzaga over Indiana because Indiana is up and down and Gonzaga is battle tough. Also, Indiana is lousy on the road. Also, I love ORU’s game. They’ll be close to Washington State.
DenverPost moderator: Could you give us your Final Four?
John Henderson: My favorites are Ohio State, Texas, Kansas and Florida. I may change Ohio State to Memphis.
DenverPost moderator: Have you ever won a bracket pool? What’s the best decision you’ve made in a bracket?
John Henderson: I do not enter office pools. I lived in Las Vegas 10 years. I became totally bored with gambling. Of any kind.
DenverPost moderator: Any word on who will be the new head coach at DU?
John Henderson: None. They are totally secretive. They want a guy they believe can win rather than just a big name.
DenverPost moderator: If you could change one thing about March Madness, what would it be?
John Henderson: The pod system. It’s too confusing. People at one site are seeing two regionals. They can’t imagine future matchups. They did it for money. They want teams closer to home but even when one site had no teams from its region it still sold out.
DenverPost moderator: Another question from the emails: I think good play at guard is key to a long run in the NCAAs. Who is the best point guard in the tournament?
John Henderson: I’d take Acie Law of Texas A&M. Great distributor, leader and may be best clutch player in nation.
DenverPost moderator: We’ve got time for one more question. What do you think of the play-in game?
John Henderson: Dumb. Make a decision. Why is 65 better than 64? Take away one less at-large.
DenverPost moderator: John, thanks for your time and your patience. This has been the March Madness online chat with Denver Post sports writer John Henderson… the transcript of this chat will be available online on our sports page soon.
John Henderson: My pleasure.
