The writer at CIV that champions the Blue Devils has just learned a lesson in karma.  Apparently, if you go to great lengths to constantly dog Clemson for its mediocrity, it will eventually catch up to you.

Seriously, if you type in “Clemson” in the search box for the site, you get about 7 or 8 posts - none of which were complimentary.  So I guess it was coming.

This does not mean that I enjoy taking the medicine.  Nor does it mean Clemson will advance any further than the first round of the NCAA Tournament.

I’m just glad I don’t cheer for a team whose fans feel the need to rush the court every time it’s school wins a conference home game (see: every ACC team other than Duke or UNC).

We have just received word that not only was Tar Heels’ reserve Will Graves suspended for the season by Roy Williams, but the UNC head coach also suspended the team’s defense.  No word on if, or when, the defense will be reinstated.  But after giving up 91 points to Maryland last night, Tar Heel fans better hope the defense can get its GPA up sooner rather than later.

AP photo.

It’s been bugging us since we saw the clip as to what Pat Knight’s tirade on Saturday was similar to.  Then we realized it - his double-court run was just like Dr. Evil when he’s on the Jerry Springer Show.  Watch as both men make an initial run at the target, only to get pulled back.  Then, they play the “I’m calm now” card, only to burst back through security for another romp.  You have to love finding a way to show a clip from an Austin Powers’ movie.  Fantastic.

One thing we hate here is when a referee is defended by saying “he had no choice” but to make a certain discretionary call.  The ref who flagged Washington quarterback Jake Locker for excessive celebration when he tossed the ball over his head against BYU had no choice but to flag him.  Because, God knows, we didn’t see one other play all season where a guy tossed the ball up in a similar fashion and was not penalized.  Actually, we saw plenty.  It’s up to the referee whether or not to throw the flag.  And he really shouldn’t after a game-tying score with 3 seconds left in the game.

And now, we have read about Michigan’s Manny Harris being ejected over the weekend for throwing an elbow.  Here’s the play from the best clip we could find.  It seems to us, he was pivoting with his elbow extended and clocked the guy.  A foul?  Certainly.  Ejection?  Absolutely no way.

According to Andy Katz’s article, here’s what John Adams, the NCAA coordinator of officials, had to say about [horrendously awful] ref Jim burr calling for the ejection:  “There was no intent to injure Kramer, but he makes contact.  The only option for Burr is to call a flagrant foul and to eject him. [Harris] makes contact.”

Adams went on to say: “As soon as there is an excessive use of the elbow, there is no option for the official — he must call a flagrant foul and eject the player by rule.  You can’t read intent. How would we read intent?”

Our question is this - how can he read excessive?  If there is an excessive use, then the ejection occurs.  Essentially, there is an option, and Adams is talking out of his behind.  Burr could decide that the elbow hit, was not excessive since it was just in the flow of play, and let the game continue without ejection.  Simple as that.

But to say there is no option is a total lie.  There’s always an option.  By rule, if a coach walks past a certain line on the sidelines, it shoudl be a technical foul.  If you watch a game for 30 minutes, you’ll see both coaches cross that line 5 or 6 times.  Yet no technical foul is ever called.  How does happen, Mr. Adams?  Do refs have some discretion there?  Or do they just decide not to make that mandatory call?

Just say that [horrendously awful] ref Jim Burr made a deicison.  In his incorrect opinion, the elbow was excessive.  Don’t feed us that same BS line about a ref having no other option.

Reason number 2,351,683 why we are thankful that the college basketball season ends with a tournament that has nothing to do with polls.

This past Wednesday night, Wake Forst defeated Duke 70-68.  The Deacons won at the buzzer, but has a 13-point lead midway through the second half.  Wake turned around and lost a letdown game at Georgia Tech at the buzzer on Saturday.  Yesterday, Duke cruised past Virginia in Durham.

So where are they ranked?  Duke checks in at 4 in the AP and 3 in the Coaches poll.  Wake is ranked 7 in Ap and 6 in the Coaches poll.

Both teams have two losses.  Wake has already beaten UNC.  Yet, the Deacons are ranked behind them both.

Fortunately for Wake and college hoops fans, a much wiser group will determine where Wake should be seeded in the NCAA Tournament, and the Deacons will have a chance to prove their worth on the court - not with the idiot voters.