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As the basketball season came down to the NCAA Tournament Selection Show, all we heard was Big East this, and Big East that. The Big East should get 4 teams in the Final 4. An all Big-Beast Final 4 in Detroit. Whatever.

Now I am not saying it's not the best basketball conference in the land for the regular season. It was, but it goes in cycles. What about the NCAA Tournament? Yes, they can still get 4 teams to the Final 4. That would be impressive. As the Tournament has proceeded however, the Big 12 has not embarrassed themselves. In fact I argue the Big 12 may have over-acheived after the first 2 rounds.

Consider. 5 Big East teams remain of the 7 invited, 3 Big 12 teams still alive from the 6 that started the tournament. But which conference has been the most impressive? The Big East came in with 3 number 1 seeds, none for the Big 12. The Big East teams had an easier chance to advance, considering those higher seeds. Not only that, another Big East team, Villanova got to play in its home town despite getting a #3 seed. Go figure.

Yet OU, the highest seed from the Big 12, remains alive, as do the #3 seeds Kansas and Missouri. OSU took #1 seed Pittsburgh to the brink, and Texas should have beaten ACC powerhouse Duke.

The records. Big east 11-2 going into the Sweet 16. The Big 12 is 9-3, with 3 teams still in the running.

Yes, the Big East is probably the tougher of the 2 conferences, but the Big 12 has nothing to be ashamed of, despite the bad publicity it suffered during the regular season.

The records of the power conferences.

Big East with 7 teams  11-2,

Big 12  with 6 teams 9-3

Big Ten with 7 teams 6-5

Pac 10 with 6 teams 6-5

ACC with 7 teams  5-5

SEC with 3 teams  1-3

We have the real America's Team vs. a newcomer to the Super Bowl fold. No, I am not going nuts. The Dallas Cowboys are not in the Super Bowl.

For those who are wondering what team is the real America's Team, I give you the Pittsburgh Steelers. What team, what city, what group of fans demonstrates the good ol' USA better than the Steelers? Not a one. Hard-nosed, great defense, down to earth fans. It doesn't get any more American than that. And if they win this Super Bowl, they would have won more than any other franchise. More than San Francisco, more than Dallas.

The opponent to the Super Bowl party on NBC Channel 2 in two Sundays will be a team that has never sniffed a playoff win, let alone the Super Bowl. The Arizona Cardinals. How did that happen? A 9-7 regular season, a quarterback that was considered over the hill 4 years ago, and a franchise that was known for being the laughing stock of the NFC. Remember when there would be less than 20-thousand fans in the stands when they played at a college stadium in Tempe? Yes those Cardinals.

On paper, its not a game. Pittsburgh better D. Steelers with more tradition, and an offense that is just about as balanced as you can get. That is, with a healthy Hines Ward.  Ward is not, and that could be the difference. Throw in the big play capabilities of Cards WR Fitzgerald, and we may have a ball game.

Pittsburgh is currently a 7 point favorite. The game Feb 1st on Channel 2, 5:30.

What do you make of OU's latest adventure in the BCS Championship game? The national media has been relentless on the Sooners, and in particular Bob Stoops. Some deserved, some not.

Some calls were questionable. The play-calling on the goal line..4 straight Chris Brown runs in basically the same hole. A field goal try from 49 yards. A few others. Keeping Brody Eldridge in the lineup may have helped. Did you notice when he was a blocking Fullback, brown got his biggest gains?

But in my opinion, you can not criticize a coach for going to 4 BCS title games, and a Bowl every single year he has been Head Coach. OU fans may be feeling as is they were Buffalo Bills fans, and will hear it from the peanut gallery.

The biggest concern, right now, who will leave and who will stay. Gerald McCoy is staying for his Jr. year, and thats a good thing. He may be more important to his side of the football than Sam Bradford is to the offense.

Here is my guesstimation as to who will leave and who will stay.

Bradford 50-50, TE Gresham 90-10 leaving, OL Williams 50-50, RB Murray 60-40 leaving..McCoy already said he was staying.

your thoughts are welcome