1. Ohio State Buckeyes--- Curling
This first one doesn't take much explaining at all. Curling is a fan favorite for many people during the Winter Olympics. However, not a single fan, at least in the United States, actually understands the game. It may seem like shuffleboard on ice or frozen bocce, but the game is way more confusing than that. Back in middle school I wrote a research paper about curling, and I can't remember a single intricacy of the game. The sport makes absolutely zero sense, but that's what makes it so great to watch. Also, what better inspiration to clean your house than watching someone vigorously sweep ice as if his or her life depended on it! It should go without saying then that watching the Buckeyes this year gives me many of the same emotions I feel when watching curling. First, I'll watch Amir Williams dominate on the interior one possession only to commit a stupid foul, fail to box out, and/or turn the ball over on the next. Then, I'll watch Lenzelle Smith make a shot only to watch him miss seven more. Finally, I"ll watch Shannon Scott look like a great point guard one trip down the court only to make a horrible pass the next. I'm never quite sure what to get out of the Buckeyes. However, when you have Aaron Craft and play in the Big Ten, it'll definitely provide entertainment, no matter how unexpected and confusing it might be.
2. Florida Gators--- Alpine Skiing
I've been skiing a handful times in my life and absolutely love it. Am I any good at it? Not at all. That's exactly why watching people fly down a mountain at over 70 miles per hour while twisting, turning, and jumping absolutely marvels me. It's fast and agile, yet requires great mental precision and strength at the same time. It's my favorite event because of the various complexities and excitement. The Gators this year have many of the same qualities as this great event. They have a senior laden lineup that knows how to play together as a unit (Mental Precision). They have guards who can run the floor and attack opposing defenses (Speed) and players like Patric Young who can get crucial points in the paint (Strength). They have a new freshman in the mix in Chris Walker who is going to provide even more spark to this lineup (Agile, for the sake of my argument). They are also undefeated in SEC play heading into a big test at Kentucky this Saturday. No matter what happens Saturday, remember in March that the Gators know how to play their brand of basketball and will provide must watch television.
3. Kentucky Wildcats--- Snowboard Slopestyle
One of the new events to Sochi, slopestyle, has been in existence thanks to the Winter X-Games, but received the call up to the big leagues this winter. The sport can be incredible to watch when a rider makes a clean, crisp run down the mountain. However, at the same time, if one thing goes wrong, an ugly crash is bound to occur. That's exactly why it offers the perfect metaphor for the Kentucky Wildcats. Kentucky has the most members of my very talented recruiting class making them one of the youngest teams in the country. When the team is on a roll, I see very few teams in the country being able to beat them, as they conjure up memories of the 2012 NCAA champions. However, when something goes wrong, especially when they face adversity on the road, this team conjures up memories of what happened against Robert Morris. While the Wildcats will definitely get in the tournament this year, it will be interesting to see how deep of a run they can actually make.
4. Cincinnati Bearcats--- Cross Country Skiing
Cross country skiing, or I like to call it, 14th century winter transportation racing, is one of the most brutal events to watch. It bores you. It puts you to sleep. It makes you question why anybody would want to do this. You can find some of these same traits in the Bearcats, as they will defend you like very few teams in the country but struggle to score, which ultimately results in a boring game of basketball. However, Mick Cronin's team has a guy in Sean Kilpatrick (Remember this name. Etch it in your brain. He will make a difference one way or another over the next month and a half) who can lead this team to win their game of basketball. Last week, I was ready to channel my inner Troy Bolton and go singing and dancing around a golf course to let people know they should bet on the Bearcats come March. Now, I'm not quite as confident in that because they just got blown out on the road by SMU. This experienced group will continue to play their brand of basketball and continue to win games by a score of 48-44, but I have doubts about their brand of basketball equaling long tern NCAA tournament success.
5/6. Wichita State Shockers and San Diego State Aztecs--- Bobsled
You think I picked bobsled because of to make an analogy to the underdog Jamaican bobsled team portrayed in the film Cool Runnings (I know nothing about bobsled other than it's not the luge or skeleton. What's the difference between the three of those? I'm still trying to understand. The only thing I know is a different Scandinavian country will probably take gold in all three of them)? Well, you're absolutely right. It seems like both of these teams do not deserve such lofty ratings in the polls. Wichita State hasn't played an actual basketball team in over a month and will continue to show up to clobber local Midwestern YMCA rec teams until the tournament rolls around. Even San Diego State has played in a weaker Mountain West conference this winter, which should hurt them considering they never do anything in the tournament anyways. Both of these teams will be interesting cases to watch come March, but to predict if they win a gold medal and make it to the Final Four or pull a Bode Miller and get upset in the first round is too hard right now.
7. Duke Blue Devils--- Figure Skating
As much as I dislike the actual competition of figure skating, I have to respect the sport's history and pageantry. Obviously, I would be much more entertained if a male duo came out and performed an Iron Lotus to an Aerosmith song to capture gold for the Stars and Stripes, but for now, I guess I'll have to keep watching a teenage Russian girl doing triple axel after triple axel while simultaneously auditioning to be on Dancing With the Stars be the best the sport can offer. We can't always win and life isn't fair... As much as I dislike Duke University, I have to respect the team's history and pageantry. Jabari Parker has been playing out of his mind, Rodney Hood has been doing the same, and even the most under appreciated of the Plumlee brothers is coming out of his shell right now. This is one of Coach K's better teams, and the scary thing is, they only seem to be getting better and better. Obviously, I would be thrilled to see them lose to a 15 seed (a la Lehigh) again, but for now, I guess I"ll have to keep watching the Blue Devils develop into a team that could make a Final Four run.
8. Syracuse Orange--- Hockey
Hockey is THE Winter Olympic Sport. Have you head of this thing called the Miracle on Ice? Did you watch the Gold Medal game between the US and Canada in Vancouver in 2010? If you said no to either of those things, quit reading, and never come back (Actually, please do come back. Just after you watch those fantastic games). This year, with the Russians hosting, you know it's "win gold medals or off to Siberia for exile you go" for Ovechkin and Co., which will only make it that much sweeter to taste an American victory this Saturday. Anyways, just as hockey is the crown jewel in the Winter Olympics, Syracuse seems to be the king of the college basketball universe. They're still undefeated. They're still doing everything I mentioned when I gushed about them last month. They beat Duke in a fantastic game to show they're worthy of being the number one team in the country. Now, after writing about them a second time, it's almost a guarantee the Orange will lose a game here soon. Even if they suffer a setback or two, they're the clear cut favorites in my opinion to cut down the nets right now.
Fun Fact of the Week: Who do I actually think is the hottest female competitor in the Winter Olympics? I'd have to go with Silje Norendal. Don't believe me? Just look at how perfect, beautiful and flawless she looks in this picture FOLLOWING one of her runs. To reiterate she just snowboarded down a difficult course to keep her Olympic medal hopes alive and she still looks like this... If you need me, I'll be planning my study abroad trip to Norway for next semester!
