Blake's Think Tank

The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff Golden Lions take on Winthrop tonight is the b.s. NCAA tournament play-in game. 6:30 p.m. tip-off. Good news for the Lions: the game is nationally televised on ESPN. Bad news: it’s in Dayton. I don’t know much about Winthrop. They got crushed by Clemson, Appalachian State, Cincinnati and North Carolina State. The winner gets Duke. Go Golden Lions.

Also, thumbs up to the University of Arkansas at Little Rock women’s team. They received an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament. They’re an 11 seed in the Kansas City bracket. The Trojans play Georgia Tech on 03.21 at 7:16 p.m. in Norman, Oklahoma.

No Razorbacks in this year’s dance. Next year is the year, says Harry King.

The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff earned its first bid to the NCAA tournament. They got stuck in the play-in game against Winthrop tomorrow night in Dayton, Ohio. The winner faces Duke.

I like what Andy Katz of ESPN.com had to say about it:

Arkansas-Pine Bluff earned its first NCAA tournament berth. That’s why it’s a shame and a mockery of its achievement to continue to make these teams play an opening-round game in Dayton, Ohio. Pine-Bluff, which will play Winthrop, should be allowed to get the full experience of being a first-timer in the NCAA tournament by getting to play Duke. If the Golden Lions fall to Winthrop in the opening-round game, they will be cheated out of their first NCAA tournament experience.

If you’re going to keep the play-in game (which they shouldn’t) why not force the last two at-large teams given a birth to play. Why, after all, does it have to involve the two lowest seeded teams?

Here’s my thinking: UAPB and Winthrop won their respective conference tournaments thus gaining an automatic bid to the tournament. The last two at-large teams admitted – (arguably) Utah St. and UTEP – didn’t.

This, of course, begs a larger question: Is the 2010 NCAA tournament really better off with Utah State in the field? In a field of 64 they would be out.

As you treat yourself to the weekend, be sure to drop by Arkansas Sunday Edition (Sunday, 7-9 am, 103.7FM) for some old fashioned political talk. I’ll be joined by David Kinkade of The Arkansas Project, Jason Tolbert of The Tolbert Report, and Lance Turner of Arkansas Business. 338 candidates are running for office in Arkansas.

I see where Lt. Gov. Bill Halter hit back with financial information showing that Sen. Blanche Lincoln has taken money from labor unions in the past. I don’t think that will surprise people. I also don’t think the Lincoln campaign is framing the labor issue the right way. Tomorrow, Ms. Lincoln hosts a farming town hall in North Little Rock.

And . . . I’m out. I’m going to drop by Mark Abernathy’s restaurant “The Red Door” this weekend, hopefully catch Paul Greengrass‘ new film “Green Zone,” finish Dominick Dunne’s final novel “Too Much Money,” and settle in for Selection Sunday. If you’re looking for an enjoyable blog to follow, I recommend Zack Gets Down. Look for The Arkansas Election Line on Monday. U.S. Senate is up first.

Have at it, and thanks for reading.

Corliss “Big Nasty” Williamson is the new men’s basketball program at the University of Central Arkansas. I can’t much about Corliss as a coach; loved him as a player. Watched him in person at the Final Four in Charlotte in 1994.  Those were the glory days of Razorback basketball. Maybe the Hogs should have grabbed him.

Mr. Williamson’s been coaching at Arkansas Baptist for the past few seasons.  His hiring should inspire fans to attend and, I’d imagine, a few more players to look UCA’s way. It helps that UCA will be eligible for post season play in the fall.

I just hope for the Bears and their fans that this is better than the Sidney Moncrief experiment at UALR a decade or so ago.

Unless you’re following New York politics closely, you may have missed the news that Rep. Eric Massa, a freshman Democrat, decided not to seek re-election and faces an ethics investigation into language used by him to a male staffer.

Mr. Massa was one of the Iraq war veterans running for office that Craig and Brent Renaud of Arkansas followed in their documentary, “Taking the Hill.” Below is a clip featuring Mr. Massa and then DCCC chairman Rep. Rahm Emanuel from 2006.

It’s Oscar Sunday. Sam Blair, RJ Hawk and I broke down our ballots this morning on Arkansas Sunday Edition. Politico compiled a video of political figures weighing in with their Oscar picks.

The Arkansas Democrat Gazette was kind enough to publish my preditions in the main categories. In case you don’t have a subscription: Best Picture – The Hurt Locker; Best Director – Kathryn Bigelow; Best Actor – Jeff Bridges; Best Actress – Sandra Bullock; Best Supp. Actor – Christoph Waltz; Best Supp. Actress – Mo’Nique.

We’re taking a low-key approach to the ceremony this year. We’ll make some food and open a bittle of wine; a few friends may drop by. The official OSCAR party is at the Peabody Hotel benefitting the Wolfe Street Foundation. Red carpet, black-tie, and so on. Tickets are $150 and can be purchased here.

‘m still limping along after a pitiful effort in year one of the Arkansas Sunday Edition NFL Pick’em. I was trounced by my producer, RJ Hawk. You can tune in to Arkansas Sunday Edition this week and listen to him run his mouth. Resident smart-ass and political wunderkind David Kinkade of The Arkansas Project joins the show from 8-9 a.m.

The big news of the day is that Arkansas Razorbacks quarterback Ryan Mallett will be returning for his junior season. I thought he’d bolt for the cash, and I wouldn’t have blamed him. Thanks his return, Mark Schlabach of ESPN has the Hogs 16th in his way-too-early Top 25 for 2010.

I’d lay out for you all of the reasons why the Razorbacks could will make it to the BCS, but I’ll leave it to the Blog Hawgs. I’ll just say this: as a hog fan it’s impossible not to get fired up about the season, even if it is 8 months away. Arkansas v. Alabama on Sept. 25 in Fayetteville should be epic. You can book your tickets now, College Gameday.

Mrs. Think Tank is fired up for the NLF playoffs. She hates the bye-system (less inclusive), loves the Saints (Reggie Bush), and thinks the shine is about to come off Tom Brady’s undefeated record at home in the playoffs (to piss me off). Bill Simmons has his thoughts on the wild card weekend.

Stay warm.