Welcome to the fourth edition of The Buzzer-Beater, my weekly Monday column about college basketball and what’s going on around the country. This week’s column comes to you from Tuscaloosa, where rain made this weekend’s Easton Bama Bash one of the longer couple of days of my life. Major props to Alabama softball, who split two meetings against top ten-ranked Florida State. Alexis Osorio continues to pitch like an All-American, and the timely hits are coming along as well (shout-outs to Sydney Booker, Gabby Callaway, Kaylee Tow, Elissa Brown, and Reagan Dykes). Stay tuned, this team will be very special. I watched as much basketball as I could when I wasn’t at Rhoads Stadium, but we all know the real story this week came off the court. With that being said, let’s dive right in to this week’s edition of The Buzzer-Beater.
The Room is recognized by many as the worst movie of all-time, perfectly fitting into the “so bad it’s good” category. Tommy Wiseau, who wrote, directed, and also stars in the film, plays some guy trapped in a love triangle with his best friend and the woman he loves, and it’s all a big tangled mess. Seriously, this movie sucks, but it does give us some classic scenes like this one:
So how does this tie into college basketball and the revealing articles that listed the names and programs involved in the FBI probe? Well, like The Room, college basketball is a tangled mess right now with no idea how this season will be perceived in the next few years once the dust settles (the movie is now labeled as a cult classic, but at the time everybody was really confused). There’s a main character named Mark also trapped in a love triangle, except in this case it’s NCAA President Mark Emmert, who now has to decide how to act when the two most important things to his organization–the integrity of college sports and the money that fuels 90% of the NCAA–clash together in an ugly mess. There’s also a pretty girl trapped in the crosshairs (metaphorically), and that’s college basketball itself. The sport has been exciting, unpredictable, and pretty dang fun over the last five years. We’ve seen tournament games go down to the wire, Cinderella teams rise up and shock the country, and an overall breadth of classic postseason battles. Now, all of that is (potentially) about to go down the drain.
Let’s start with Emmert, who has been President of the NCAA since 2010. Fair warning, I know Emmert and consider him a very nice, smart human being. We had a fantastic conversation at the CFP National Championship that opened my eyes to what he and his staff have to deal with on a weekly basis (for example, being president doesn’t mean working just with athletics; in fact, he told me only 15% of his duties actually deal with sports and more of his focus is on the academic side). That being said, this is a sticky situation for the NCAA and for Emmert. The organization has had to take a backseat while the FBI conducts its investigation, and I know Emmert is crossing his fingers that whatever comes out isn’t too damaging. The NCAA Tournament provides the overwhelming majority of the association’s income, which in turn is spread out to pay for other NCAA events like the Women’s College World Series, the College World Series, and every other tournament that colleges participate in (except the CFP and bowl games–those are independently owned and operated). So whatever bomb drops in the next few weeks or months, the NCAA is praying that it doesn’t ruin college basketball or put a stigma on the NCAA Tournament because the association will have to act once the news hits. They’ve already worked with schools to help determine whether or not players and coaches mentioned should be allowed to participate, and those decisions are based on reports, not the actual FBI evidence that has yet to be presented. Once everything does become public, the punishments will be harsh at an unprecedented level for college basketball, and that will almost certainly impact the NCAA Tournament and it’s legitimacy. Can you imagine if Kentucky, North Carolina, Duke, Kansas, and Arizona are forced to stay out of the postseason for an extended amount of time? The NCAA doesn’t want to face that fact either. Mark Emmert is stuck between a rock and a hard place, but he’s about to have to make some of the most important decisions in his tenure. I’m intrigued to see what he’ll do once the time comes.
As for the pretty girl, college basketball is about to be dragged through the mud. Is it good for the game long term? Definitely, and these things should be cleaned up (although whether they’ll actually come to a halt in the future is impossible to determine). Short term, though, this is a disaster. Everything that we as fans love about college basketball is about to change dramatically, and that’s going to be tough for a lot of people. Programs that we love, coaches that we admire, players that we adore, they’re all about to face some harsh realities. That’ll change the game, and it’ll leave a heavy cloud over the sport and the postseason for a long time. We’ve already seen one national championship revoked this year, and that doesn’t even stem from this FBI investigation. How many more vacated titles are coming?
So yes, college basketball right now is like The Room. It’s a complete crap show, and fans will have to get used to it for a while. Decisions will have to be made, heroes will fall, and it’s all going to happen in the coming months. My only hope long term is that this sets a precedent, especially for the good, clean coaches in the sport. Maybe everybody will do the right thing in the future, even if it means not making a Final Four. For now, though, I’ll let Tommy Wiseau speak to how I feel seeing all of these reports tear down a sport I love.
Gray’s Top 10
- Virginia
- Michigan State
- Gonzaga
- Villanova
- Xavier
- Kansas
- North Carolina
- Duke
- Purdue
- Cincinnati
The teams in my Top 10 remain intact, with a few shifting positions here and there.
Celebrate, Wahoo Fans. Your team is a lock as a number one seed.
Virginia continues to look like the best team in the country because of their stifling defense. I’m super excited to see if they can score with an opponent who’s making shots come tournament time. I still don’t think Michigan State will make the Final Four, but they continue to battle and win, so they’re the number two. Gonzaga moves up to third because that’s how these polls work. No, I don’t think they’re the third best team in America, but their loss is the least recent, so here we are. Villanova fell at Creighton, a loss that you certainly can’t fault them for, but I can’t move them lower than a team that they’ve beaten twice. Duke looks really good right now, especially with Grayson Allen suddenly finding his form. A loss at Virginia Tech isn’t unforgivable, and I don’t really see it as a step back. Kansas won its 14th straight Big 12 title, which will caution anyone to pick against the Jayhawks ever again, no matter the strength of the conference. North Carolina has won six in a row, and suddenly they look like a Final Four contender. Next Saturday’s game at Duke will say a lot about where the Tar Heels are right now. Purdue comes in at ninth, but I still don’t love this team. I just don’t see them as a legitimate Final Four contender. Same with Cincinnati, who I have at tenth this week. Is a Mick Cronin coached team making it to San Antonio? No, but their defense is really good and they have a gaudy record. That’s why they’re ranked here.
Random Rankings
As most of you who read The Hangover know, I’m a big movie guy, and for the last few years it’s been my mission to watch all of the Academy Award-nominated films before the ceremony. Well, the Oscars are this Sunday, so it’s time for me to give you my rankings of the movies I have seen. Here were the films on my list back when this started:
Fair warning, I still have two left that I’m going to knock out this week (The Post and Darkest Hour), but they’ll have to miss out on inclusion in these rankings. And yes, I will be providing some Oscar thoughts on the winners next week, so stay tuned for that. For now, here are my rankings of all Academy Awards-worthy movies that have at least one major nomination. *Usual Disclaimer*: once Random Rankings are posted, they aren’t changing. So if you’re one of the buffoons who actually enjoyed Phantom Thread, then this list isn’t for you. Spoiler Alert: Some clips shown may contain spoilers for the films. Watch at your own peril.
1. Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri
Wow, this movie. Three Billboards takes my top spot, a position that it’s held since I watched it in my hotel room on National Championship Weekend back in January. Everything about this movie hits hard. Telling the story of a mother trying to get the local police in a small Missouri town to continue the investigation into her daughter’s murder, Three Billboards gives Frances McDormand a chance to shine. Her performance as Mildred is riveting, and we get to see the lengths that a mother will go to get justice for her daughter. One of those lengths, of course, is putting up three billboards in town that call out the police chief (played by Woody Harrelson at his best). This naturally causes a stir in Ebbing, Missouri, as locals urge Mildred to take down her messages. Her responses make for a riveting watch, with no scene hitting home more than this one that will surely earn McDormand a Best Actress Oscar:
But as good as McDormand is in the movie, Sam Rockwell isn’t too far behind. Playing a police deputy who’s a vulgar, racist bigot, Rockwell’s performance hits home in a completely different kind of way. It’s raw, it’s complicated, it’s disgusting, and it’s superb. This beautifully done tracking shot that shows Rockwell’s Dixon losing his mind is tough to watch, but it’s a major turning point for a character who finally becomes unhinged.
And the scenes when Rockwell and McDormand share the screen? They’ll be showing those tapes to acting classes for years. Martin McDonagh gives us a real treat with this movie, and everything about it is amazing. The script is raw and heart-breaking, the performances are career-bests by the entire cast, and the music choices and cinematography are second to none. Three Billboards stayed in my head for weeks after watching it, and it’ll surely be a big winner on Oscars night.
2. Call Me By Your Name
As amazing as Frances McDormand is in Three Billboards, Timothée Chalamet gives the best performance of the year in Call Me By Your Name. Admittedly, I wasn’t too excited to see this film to begin with because I thought the subject of the movie would be uncomfortable for me. I was very wrong. What makes Call Me By Your Name so stunning is the feeling it invokes once the final credits roll up (more on that in a second). As the movie came to an end, I recalled the first time I really liked somebody (seventh grade, she knows who she is) and I remembered how much it hurt when she turned me down. This movie reminded me how it felt to really care about somebody, to feel a strong connection, only for it to end in the blink of an eye. Luca Guadagnino treats this love story with such care, and his passion for the project is felt in every second of his direction. The images of the Italian scenery, the usage of Sufjan Stevens’ emotional songs, and the amount of weight in every single word spoken by each character hits you in different ways. There are no false moves in this movie; everything is deliberate and important. Plus, the performances are spectacular. Armie Hammer as Oliver the American graduate student gives a nuanced performance that’s easily the best of his career. Michael Stuhlbarg as the father of Elio (Chalamet) plays more or less in the background, until one of the final scenes where he gives a monologue so beautiful that it can connect with you in 1,000 different ways.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qzUV25pI1yg
But, as stated before, this movie belongs to Timothée Chalamet. His portrayal of Elio is relatable even if you don’t agree with where his affections lie. Chalamet’s performance is natural, and so much of what makes it work is his reactions. Every lingering touch, every quick glance, they all tell a story of a boy so desperately in love that it occupies every fiber of his being.
I saw myself as the Elio we see early in the film, the kid who just wants the person to whom he points his affection to notice him and love him back (that’s me right now, and this girl probably doesn’t even know that’s how I feel). Chalamet is breath-taking in this movie that I encourage everybody to watch. And even though it won’t win too many awards (although it seems like a shoo-in for Adapted Screenplay), it’s still very deserving of the number two spot on my list.
3. Dunkirk
The first movie that I saw of any of the Oscar contenders, Dunkirk is the passion project of my favorite director, Christopher Nolan. With every second of this movie, you can see how much Nolan cared about this work. From the opening scene all the way to the end, you can’t help but be transfixed by this interpretation of one of World War II’s most famous moments.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WYhZv7Ial9s
Dunkirk is one of the rare movies where I won’t rave about the performances, because it’s not great because of the acting. It’s great because of the technical mastery shown by Nolan. Every explosion, every image, and every close-up shot of a character hits home and makes you feel like you’re in the plane or on the beaches right there with them. It’s harrowing and spectacular, and it’ll be a big winner on Sunday night.
4. The Shape of Water
Going into The Shape of Water, I didn’t know what to expect. I wasn’t too hot on the trailer and the premise seemed hokey, but I wanted to see it because it’s one of the two or three frontrunners for Best Picture. Leaving the theater alongside my parents, I finally understood the buzz. First off, Guillermo del Toro is a genius, and his direction and world-building are extraordinary. Everything about the movie is gorgeous, from the costumes and the set design to even the look of the sea monster. The plot can get a little muddled, but those deficiencies are overcome by some fantastic performances by Sally Hawkins, Richard Jenkins, Octavia Spencer and, in particular, Michael Shannon. Shannon’s character is so terrifying and maniacal that it’s almost tough to watch, and all of his scenes were the ones I found replaying over and over in my head after watching this movie. Hawkins is spectacular, especially given how difficult it is to perform as a mute character. All in all, it was really good, and I understand the hype. Del Toro deserves all of the commendations coming his way.
5. I, Tonya
The sports movie on the list gives us two of the better performances of the season, courtesy of Margot Robbie and Allison Janney. Let’s start with Robbie, who plays controversial figure skater Tonya Harding. With every statement Robbie makes, there’s a pain behind the words that cuts deep. When she gets hit by her mother (Janney) and her husband (Sebastian Stan), you feel like you’re getting hit too. Plus, there’s this moment just before Harding skates in the 1994 Winter Olympics:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iY2NLPKpK1Q
This scene is such a great piece of acting, and Robbie doesn’t even have to say a word. The pain is the expressions. Tonya Harding’s feeling the weight of the world on her shoulders, and you feel it right along with her. Whether you think Harding is innocent or not, this movie will open your eyes to the life of abuse that she led. Lots of that abuse came from her mother, LaVona, who is played by the legendary Allison Janney. LaVona is crude and awful, but you can’t look away from her because of the terrific performance by Janney.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4mYB2g8TRcY
Janney and Robbie drive this movie and are worth the price of admission alone. Yes, the skating scenes are excellent and the movie’s format makes it even more enjoyable, but you’ll be struck most by the behind-the-scenes look at Harding and how that backstory made up her character.
6. The Florida Project
Where do I begin with The Florida Project. It’s gripping, it’s realistic, and it’s incredibly sad. Watching a single mother who leads a complicated life drag her daughter (a terrific Brooklynn Prince, who is eight years old) will emotionally destroy you. And yet, it’s the innocence of Prince’s Moonee that’ll also uplift your spirits. No other movie this year made me feel both sad and happy at the end, but The Florida Project somehow found a way to do so. Moonee finds ways to have fun and spend time with friends despite the roughness of her surroundings. Then, in the end when your worst fears are realized, Moonee’s desperate plea to a friend will shatter your heart.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VhiKhrJiClY&t=1s
Is this movie perfect? No. Does everybody need to see it? Absolutely. If anything to see the opening credits, which are the best of any film on this list.
7. Lady Bird
In my opinion, there’s a clear gap between six and seven on this list. Don’t get me wrong, I really liked Lady Bird, but it doesn’t have the well-roundedness of the other films. It’s a coming of age story starring Saoirse Ronan, who gives a great performance, as a teen growing up where she doesn’t fit in. Ronan’s character is always at odds with her mother, played by Laurie Metcalf, and the two have excellent scenes together.
And yet, when leaving the theater, I felt unfulfilled, like I was missing something. I wanted more. I wanted there to be some closure, something that told me everything would be okay. And while that uncertainty was probably what writer and director Greta Gerwig intended, I had to dock this movie a few points for that feeling.
8. Mudbound
Mudbound is on Netflix, so it’s a pretty easy film to get ahold of. I didn’t have high expectations going in, and I’d be lying if I said the first hour was the most thrilling piece of cinema I’ve ever seen. But boy oh boy, the second hour and fifteen minutes hits you hard. Another movie with stunning performances, Mudbound boasts all-timer performances from Garrett Hedlund, Jonathan Banks (in a terrifying role), Carey Mulligan, and Jason Mitchell.
Mary J. Blige is also quite good, although I don’t think she necessarily deserves all of the awards nominations she’s getting. With an ending that’ll bring you to tears and have you screaming at your TV/computer, I highly suggest seeing Mudbound.
9. Get Out
I’m expecting some blowback for having Get Out this low on the rankings. Look, I like the film. I found it strikingly well done in Jordan Peele’s first writing/directing attempt. It’s well-acted too, as Daniel Kaluuya is excellent in the movie. Bradley Whitford is chilling in this film.
This horror film is also pretty terrifying; the first time I watched it, I had to close my eyes a bunch (and yes I have had nightmares about The Sunken Place). That being said, I don’t think it’s as good as the two films above it, and I know as I watch more movies, Get Out will move down the list. It was a really, really good movie, but not my favorite.
10. The Big Sick
Based on his real-life marriage, The Big Sick focuses on Kumail Nanjiani’s relationship with a woman he meets at his stand-up show, Emily. When Emily gets sick, Kumail has to deal with Emily’s parents, played spectacularly by the feisty Holly Hunter and the ever-awkward Ray Romano.
There are lots of laughs in this one, but also some deep emotional moments, particularly with Hunter and Nanjiani. It’s a fun film that isn’t up for Best Picture, but I think it’s worth the watch.
11. Phantom Thread
How in the hell is Phantom Thread up for Best Picture? I don’t get it. I watched this film in Gulf Shores after Alabama softball’s games were cancelled that Saturday, and I felt like I wasted my money. Afterwards, I left the theater depressed, angry, and overall just disappointed. Daniel Day-Lewis is great, but he could’ve done so much better than this snooze-fest of a film.
Also, if I’m ever trapped in a relationship like these two, somebody please come and save me.
12. All The Money In The World
I saw this movie on Christmas Day, and I found it kind of meh. Christopher Plummer is fantastic as J. Paul Getty. Watching him in the role, you wouldn’t know that they reshot him for Kevin Spacey just weeks ago. That being said, the editing of the film is a bit choppy, showing just how hastily Ridley Scott put this movie together. The ending is also pretty disappointing, especially considering the intensity of the build-up. It’s an okay film that many will enjoy, but I probably won’t take the time to watch it again. Sidenote: I have no idea what the point of Mark Wahlberg’s character is in the movie.
SEC Bubble Watch
The SEC is one of the Top Two deepest conferences along with the Big 12, and there are plenty of tournament contenders. Let’s break down how each SEC team stands in terms of the NCAA Tournament Bubble. This week, Mississippi State moves back into contention, Alabama gets bumped down, and Florida gets bumped back up. Who knows how the last week of the regular season and SEC Tournament will shake things up? I sure don’t.
Safely In
Auburn
Overall: 24-5
Conference: 12-4
RPI: 7
SOS: 43
Non-Con SOS: 66
Record vs. RPI Top-50: 6-4
Bad Losses (sub-100 RPI): None
Quadrant One Wins (Games at home vs teams ranked 1-30 in the RPI, Neutral vs 1-50, Road vs 1-75): 8
Kentucky
Overall: 20-9
Conference: 9-7
RPI: 15
SOS: 3
Non-Con SOS: 6
Record vs. RPI Top-50: 6-7
Bad Losses (sub-100 RPI): None
Quadrant One Wins: 3
Tennessee
Overall: 21-7
Conference: 11-5
RPI: 12
SOS: 35
Non-Con SOS: 26
Record vs. RPI Top-50: 6-6
Bad Losses (sub-100 RPI): None
Quadrant One Wins: 6
Texas A&M
Overall: 18-11
Conference: 7-9
RPI: 26
SOS: 9
Non-Con SOS: 16
Record vs. RPI Top-50: 7-8
Bad Losses (sub-100 RPI): None
Quadrant One Wins: 5
Florida
Overall: 18-11
Conference: 9-7
RPI: 50
SOS: 37
Non-Con SOS: 48
Record vs. RPI Top-50: 7-6
Bad Losses (sub-100 RPI): at Ole Miss, at Vanderbilt
Quadrant One Wins: 8
Feeling Good
Missouri
Overall: 18-11
Conference: 8-8
RPI: 42
SOS: 28
Non-Con SOS: 92
Record vs. RPI Top-50: 4-6
Bad Losses (sub-100 RPI): Ole Miss, vs. Illinois
Quadrant One Wins: 6
On the Right Side of the Bubble
Alabama
Overall: 17-12
Conference: 8-8
RPI: 44
SOS: 8
Non-Con SOS: 29
Record vs. RPI Top-50: 6-5
Bad Losses (sub-100 RPI): vs. Minnesota, at Vanderbilt, at Ole Miss
Quadrant One Wins: 5
Arkansas
Overall: 20-9
Conference: 9-7
RPI: 27
SOS: 50
Non-Con SOS: 110
Record vs. RPI Top-50: 5-6
Bad Losses (sub-100 RPI): None
Quadrant One Wins: 4
Work Left To Do
Mississippi State
Overall: 21-8
Conference: 9-7
RPI: 61
SOS: 134
Non-Con SOS: 303
Record vs. RPI Top-50: 4-6
Bad Losses (sub-100 RPI): at Ole Miss, at Vanderbilt
Quadrant One Wins: 3
LSU
Overall: 16-12
Conference: 7-9
RPI: 80
SOS: 54
Non-Con SOS: 136
Record vs. RPI Top-50: 7-6
Bad Losses (sub-100 RPI): at Vanderbilt, Stephen F. Austin
Quadrant One Wins: 6
Georgia
Overall: 16-12
Conference: 7-9
RPI: 70
SOS: 60
Non-Con SOS: 211
Record vs. RPI Top-50: 6-5
Bad Losses (sub-100 RPI): vs. San Diego State, at Vanderbilt, at Massachusetts
Quadrant One Wins: 4
No Shot: Vanderbilt, Ole Miss
W2W4 This Week
So what’s happening this week in college basketball? Here are the match-ups worth your attention (note: the Big Ten Tournament starts this week, so scheduled match-ups are only mentioned; pay attention to what other games are on the docket as the week progresses).
Monday
#5 Duke at Virginia Tech
Texas at #6 Kansas
#12 Texas Tech at #20 West Virginia
Tuesday
#16 Tennessee at Mississippi State
#14 Auburn at Arkansas
Florida at Alabama
Missouri at Vanderbilt
Wednesday
#4 Villanova at Seton Hall
Northwestern vs. Penn State
Texas A&M at Georgia
Thursday
#1 Virginia at Louisville
Western Kentucky at #24 Middle Tennessee
Saturday
#23 Kentucky at Florida
#18 Clemson at Syracuse
#9 North Carolina at #5 Duke
Alabama at Texas A&M
Arkansas at Missouri
Sunday
#10 Cincinnati at #11 Wichita State
That’s it for this week’s Buzzer-Beater! Enjoy the basketball and the Oscars, and get ready for next week’s special conference tournament edition! I’m headed to College Station Thursday for Alabama-Texas A&M this weekend, and then I’ll be propped up in front of a TV watching hoops the rest of the weekend (shout-out to my host, Mason Pelham). See you next week!
