Mike Bullard's Bullseye

I must be a star?!?

Yes - it's me... You may have seen my big, ugly mug out there near Covington Pike. You may have seen my scary eyes staring at you from the side of a MATA bus. My face may have scared you when you were perusing your latest copy of the Daily Helmsman, RSVP, or the Memphis Business Journal. I may have even invaded your radio waves a few times. Yes, it's me in the Southwest Tennessee Community College ads all over town.

But just in case you have seen or heard the ads, I have included an image of the famous billboard below... and you can listen to my radio commercial HERE. I know what you are thinking, but everyone can't be lucky enough to be me.

Tigers in the Sweet 16

The Tigers have played in the Sweet 16 nine times. They have a 5-4 overall record in the Sweet 16, including 3 overtime games (in overtime they are 1-2). 3 teams the Tigers have faced in the Sweet 16 have gone on the National Championship game (Houston in 1983 and 1984, and Arkansas in 1995). All three teams lost in the Final. Overall the game has been decided by a margin of 6.6 points. In the five Tiger wins, Memphis has won the Sweet 16 games by an average of 7.4 points.

Sweet Sixteen Games
1973 Memphis vs. South Carolina - Won 90-76, leading Tiger scorer: Larry Kenon with 34 points
1982 Memphis vs. Villanova - Lost 70-66 (OT), leading Tiger scorer: Keith Lee with 14 points
1983 Memphis vs. Houston - Lost 70-63, leading Tiger scorer: Bobby Parks with 17 points
1984 Memphis vs. Houston - Lost 78-71, leading Tiger scorer: William Bedford with 21 points
1985 Memphis vs. Boston College - Won 59-57, leading Tiger scorer: William Bedford with 23 points
1992 Memphis vs. Georgia Tech - Won 83-79 (OT), leading Tiger scorer: Anfernee Hardaway with 24 points
1995 Memphis vs. Arkansas - Lost 96-91 (OT), leading Tiger scorer: Mingo Johnson with 32 points
2006 Memphis vs. Bradley - Won 80-64, leading Tiger scorer: Rodney Carney with 23 points
2007 Memphis vs. Texas A&M - Won 65-64, leading Tiger scorer: Jeremy Hunt with 19 points

Big Dance - Round One Results (Day Two)

My picks are underlined... See my earlier posts for pre-game comments...

TENNESSEE 72 vs. American 57 BULLSEYE -- my record so far: 1-0

Gonzaga 76 vs. DAVIDSON 82 BULLSEYE -- my record so far: 2-0

St. Mary's 64 vs. MIAMI (Fl.) 78 BULLSEYE -- my record so far: 3-0

Western Kentucky vs. DRAKE MISSED THE MARK -- my record so far: 3-1

BUTLER 81 vs. South Alabama 61 BULLSEYE -- my record so far: 4-1

GEORGETOWN 66 vs. UMBC 47 BULLSEYE -- my record so far: 5-1

Austin Peay 54 vs. TEXAS 74 BULLSEYE -- my record so far: 6-1

UCONN 69 vs. San Diego 70 MISSED THE MARK -- my record so far: 6-2

NORTH CAROLINA 113 vs. Mount St. Mary's 74 BULLSEYE -- my record so far: 7-2

St. Joseph's 64 vs. OKLAHOMA 72 BULLSEYE -- my record so far: 8-2

VANDERBILT 62 vs. Siena 83 MISSED THE MARK -- my record so far: 8-3

MISSISSIPPI STATE 76 vs. Oregon 69 BULLSEYE -- my record so far: 9-3

INDIANA 72 vs. Arkansas 86 MISSED THE MARK -- my record so far: 9-4

LOUISVILLE 79 vs. Boise State61 BULLSEYE -- my record so far: 10-4

CLEMSON 69 vs. Villanova 75 MISSED THE MARK -- my record so far: 10-5

MEMPHIS 87 vs. Texas-Arlington 63 BULLSEYE -- my record so far: 11-5

Not a great day today... but overall 23-9 for the first round.. it could be worse...

Big Dance - Round One Results (Day One)

My picks are underlined... See my earlier posts for pre-game comments...

MICHIGAN STATE 72 vs. Temple 61 BULLSEYE -- my record so far: 1-0

KANSAS 85 vs. Portland St. 61 BULLSEYE -- my record so far: 2-0

XAVIER 73vs. Georgia 61 BULLSEYE -- my record so far: 3-0

MARQUETTE 74 vs. Kentucky 66 BULLSEYE -- my record so far: 4-0

PURDUE 90 vs. Baylor 79 BULLSEYE -- my record so far: 5-0

UNLV 71 vs. KENT ST. 58 MISSED THE MARK -- my record so far: 5-1

PITTSBURGH 82 vs. Oral Roberts 63 BULLSEYE -- my record so far: 6-1

STANFORD 77 vs. Cornell 53 BULLSEYE -- my record so far: 7-1

USC 67 vs. Kansas St. 80 MISSED THE MARK -- my record so far: 7-2

DUKE 71 vs. Belmont 70 BULLSEYE -- my record so far: 8-2

Washington St. 71 vs. WINTHROP 40 MISSED THE MARK -- my record so far: 8-3

BYU 62 vs. Texas A&M 67 MISSED THE MARK -- my record so far: 8-4

WISCONSIN 71 vs. CS Fullerton 56 BULLSEYE -- my record so far: 9-4

WEST VIRGINIA 75 vs. Arizona 65 BULLSEYE -- my record so far: 10-4

NOTRE DAME 68 vs. George Mason 50 BULLSEYE -- my record so far: 11-4

Miss. Valley St. 29 vs. UCLA 70 BULLSEYE -- my record so far: 12-4

Not my best day of picks ever - but I am sure day two of round one will be much kinder to me...

Guide to the Big Dance - South

Ok, we have games in the South regional being played in Denver and Anaheim? Seriously stupid.

My picks are underlined in case your reading and comprehension is unbelievably bad.

MEMPHIS vs. Texas-Arlington I wish I had something to say for UTA. But they don't have a chance. They should wish for a tornado in Little Rock. It is really their only hope.

MISSISSIPPI STATE vs. Oregon this should be one of the best games in the entire first round. Miss. St. is consistent and methodical and Oregon is super efficient on the offensive end. But their lack of defense and presence on the defensive glass will hurt.

MICHIGAN STATE vs. Temple Michigan State looked like a Final Four team early in the season. They will look like one in this game as well.

PITTSBURGH vs. Oral Roberts Though Pittsburgh is an ugly team, they will pull through this game before losing to Michgan State in the second round.

MARQUETTE vs. Kentucky If Kentucky had a center or any size in the middle, Marquette would lose. They don't, but in the second round - Stanford does.

STANFORD vs. Cornell If this was shuffleboard or rowing or even chess, the Big Red might win.

MIAMI vs. St. Mary's Everyone is rooting for St. Mary's. Everyone is rooting in vain. Miami is a much better team.

TEXAS vs. Austin Peay This game will be alot closer than anyone thinks... Take Austin Peay and the points. But Texas will pull this one out.

Guide to the Big Dance - West

Who is Florida paying off to get into these brackets? Games in Florida are seriously in the West Bracket? C'mon!

My picks are underlined in case you don't like to read....

UCLA vs. MVSU: Earlier this season, Miss. Valley played #21 Wash. State. The outcome: MVSU scored 26 points in the ENTIRE GAME. Expect something similar here.

BYU vs. Texas A&M: A&M has five losses in their last seven games... This game will make that six losses in their last eight.

DRAKE vs. W. Kentucky: Everyone loves the Drake. I love the Drake. Besides, I refuse to pick any Sun-Belt teams.

UCONN vs. San Diego: What are the Toreros? Really. I don't know. Forget about it. Just go with UConn. Texas is playing Austin Peay at the same time. Watch that instead. It will be a better game.

PURDUE vs. Baylor: Purdue is not as strong as their seed would lead you to believe. Baylor isn't either.

XAVIER vs. Georgia: Georgia's record in January: 3-4... Georgia's record in February: 1-7... They are 17-16 overall... How did they get into this thing?

WEST VIRGINIA vs. Arizona: Arizona fell apart at the end of the season, but the Mountaineers have not been a great team. Whoever wins this game WILL LOSE in the second round. This is a toss-up - so i will take the higher seed.

DUKE vs. Belmont: This will be a horse race and Belmont will not be involved in it.

Guide to the Big Dance - Midwest

Why does the North not get a bracket? Midwest? Really? And why are some of these games being played in Florida? Midwest? What's the point? Let's just call it the Norris Division!

My picks are underlined... but do me a solid and read it all anyway.

KANSAS vs. Portland St.: Portland State already had the pleasure of losing this season to UCLA and will lose to Kansas. Period.

UNLV vs. KENT ST.: Kent State may be a very underrated team. Pick them every chance you get.

CLEMSON vs. Villanova: Villanova should not even be in the tournament. Clemson should be seeded higher. Prediction: HUGE BLOWOUT.

VANDERBILT vs. Siena: The dog-saints from Siena will be put out of their misery early by the Commodores. Scene: The dog-saints legs are broken. There is nothing we can do. The commodore holds up his rifle and shoots the dog-saint in the head.

USC vs. Kansas St.: OJ Mayo vs. Michael Beasley. Other than the Memphis game, I am more excited by this game than any other. But this game will be decided on the bench. Tim Floyd is the MVP. USC wins.

WISCONSIN vs. CS Fullerton: Wisconsin's size is the key here. Cal State doesn't have a player in its' regular rotation taller than 6-6. But they are the Titans. I like the Titans. But not here.

Gonzaga vs. DAVIDSON: I am so tired of the Zags. I don't think Gonzaga can lose this game, but I am taking Davidson just out of spite. Stephen Curry will have 36 points and will hit 7 three-pointers.

GEORGETOWN vs. UMBC: The United Men of British Columbia - wait, no... The University of Maine at Bangor College... awwww.. who cares... Georgetown wins!

Guide to the Big Dance - East

Okay this is ridiculous. The East bracket features games played in Denver. Just makes no sense.

My picks are underlined.

UNC vs. Mt. St. Mary's: North Carolina's size and experience will put this game away in the first 5 minutes. With creampuffs like these in the bracket, you have to wonder why there are 65 teams in the bracket at all?

INDIANA vs. Arkansas: Aren't the 8 vs. 9 matchups always fun.... Well, this one won't be... Indiana in a landslide.

NOTRE DAME vs. George Mason: George Mason is back to make another strong Cinderella run through the tournament... Just kidding... Notre Dame wins.

Washington St. vs. WINTHROP: Winthrop's defense will give Washinton State fits. UPSET SPECIAL: Winthrop wins.

OKLAHOMA vs. St. Joseph's: Oklahoma wins. St. Jo's has no defense. Lots of St. Joseph's aspirin will be consumed by the losers.

LOUISVILLE vs. Boise St.: Is Boise's State's hardwood blue like their football field? It won't matter - they are playing in Birmingham. Boise will score lots of points... This game may go over 100 for both teams. Louisville will win in overtime.

BUTLER vs. South Alabama: Team USA (really, their initials are USA) will take on a Butler squad ready to do some damage in this tourney. Butler may be this year's Cinderella. Team USA will lose.

TENNESSEE vs. American: The most patriotic game in the tourney. The Tennessee Volunteers vs. the American Eagles. I think I am going to cry. Tennessee should run away with this one, but if American can succeed at slowing down the tempo, they have a chance. I say they lose big.

Mike Conley CAN handle the ball

Mike Conley Shows that he does in fact know how to handle the ball....

CLICK HERE!!!!

ESPN ignores the Tigers

There is no question that the Tigers would like for the rest of the country to not see last night's game at Arkansas State... The question is how did they get ESPN to ignore the game. The Bottom Line never showed the score, it never showed up on highlights on ESPNews and even their website this morning acts as if the game never happened. Check it out for yourself... http://scores.espn.go.com/ncf/scoreboard

Unbelievable!