Sticks of Fire: a Tampa blog

Pop question, which one will last longer: Florida’s NCAA run, FSU’s NIT run or the USF coaching search? I’ve got Florida listed as the favorite but don’t over look the USF coaching search as the underdog here. You never know how long that could take.

• Word is that VCU’s Anthony Grant has taken his hat out of the ring for the USF job. I had Grant as the number one seed which means USF is left with a fairly unimpressive list of canidates to choose from. It looks like USF will have to decide between picking a former coach who could add some name recognition to the program (i.e. Mike Jarvis, Pete Gillen), or going with a coach who has been successful in the mid-major ranks (Travis Ford, John Pelphrey).

• FSU is doing their best to prove the NCAA Selection Committee wrong by advancing to the third round of the NIT Tournament. If the Noles can win tomorrow night against number one seed Mississippi State then they will advance to the Final Four at Madison Square Garden.

• And finally, there is this team called the Gators which are pretty good, from what I hear. I hate the Butler draw on Friday for Florida since the Gators struggle against teams which slow the game down and force them to score out of a half court set. Billy Donovan’s team is at their best when they are running and playing at a fast pace.

I love March. It is a highly underrated month considering considering it has college basketball, St Patricks Day, spring training and warm weather (which Floridians take for granted but you def appreciate when live in DC). And today is my second favorite day of March (right after the first day of the NCAA tourney). Two Florida teams are in, the Gators and the (surprise) Rattlers, while FSU remains squarely on the bubble.

• First off, big props as the kids say, to the Rattlers (recognize). Who would have known that when I jokingly replaced Miami with the FAMU band that the FAMU basketball team would win the MEAC?

• Congrats to the Gators as well for winning the SEC, and likely clinching a #1 seed in the NCAA Tournament. Vegas is giving Florida the best odds to win the Tourney.

• Robert McCullum is out as the Bulls head coach after four consecutive losing seasons, and McCullum is not taking the firing well. I think Anthony Grant, current VCU coach and former Florida assistant, should be number one on USF’s radar.

• Finally, we are roughly two hours away from the Selection Show and the outlook does not look good for the Noles. ESPN’s Lunardi has FSU as one of the last four teams out, as do many brackets. FSU has a better resume this season compared to last season when they where one of the last four teams out. But with the deeper field and teams like Nevada and Southern Illinois failing to win their conference tournaments it is more difficult to get into the tournament this year.

With three weeks to go until Selection Sunday the Tournament picture has cleared up for some Florida teams and become even murkier for one. USF and Miami are out, Florida will be a #1 or #2 seed. FSU remains the biggest question mark, and for the second straight year the Noles may be on the wrong side of the bubble.

USF: lost to Syracuse, DePaul

With their loss to DePaul on Saturday the Bulls are out of the Big East Tournament (barring a miracle) which means, much like the Bucs and Rays, it has come down to next year for the Bulls. When asked what was to blame for the Bull’s defeat, coach Robert McCullum pointed towards the turnover gap, “Nineteen to 11 on the turnovers,” McCullum said. “I think that was a difference in the ballgame.”

Up Next: at Seton Hall (Sat, 8:00)

UF: beat #25 Alabama, lost to #17 Vandy

First Joakim Noah takes a swipe at a Kentucky pom pom, then the Gators lose their first in conference game, and now guard Brandon Powell might have hit a Vandy fan. And I say bully to all three. Gators are still the best team in the nation, and should be the favorites to win the Tournament even if they lose their conference tournament.

Up Next: South Carolina (Wed, 8:00), at LSU (Sat, 3:45)

FSU: Lost to Georgia Tech, UVA

FSU should be the most interesting bubble team in the country. The Noles have a top forty RPI (#39), and two quality wins (Gators at home, Duke away), but the Noles also have a 5-8 conference record. Joe Lunardi (the Mel Kiper Jr. of March Madness) says FSU is one of the last eight teams out of the Tournament.

Up Next: at Maryland (Wed, 9:00), NC State (Sat, 1:00)

Miami: lost to Wake Forest

In a battle to decide the worst team in the ACC, the Demon Deacons came out ahead. At least Hurricane fans always have their football team to fall back on.

Up Next: UVA (Wed, 7:30), at Virginia Tech (Sat, noon)

If you stay home, you are gonna run up the electricity bill.

So you head to the course to pick up wayward golf balls. You are into the pond to gather a few more when a gator decides that you will be his lunch.

It’s scary enough to give you the hiccups for three weeks straight.

The trick to getting rid of hiccups - eat a tablespoon of peanut butter.

You may want to avoid the peanut butter that includes a free dose of salmonella.

Of course, you can get salmonella just by visiting the beach.

As long as you can afford $500-a-night hotel rooms in Clearwater.

But then again, you can get sick at the office, too.

Might as well stay home.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) annually receives more than 18,000 alligator-related complaints.  It is pretty clear that gators are here to stay:

Alligators have inhabited Florida’s marshes, swamps, rivers and lakes for many centuries, and are found in all 67 counties. In recent years, Florida has experienced tremendous human population growth. Many residents seek waterfront homes, and increasingly participate in water-related activities. This can result in more frequent alligator-human interactions, and a greater potential for conflict.

For those of you who recently moved to Florida, the FWC has a few tips on how to get along with your new neighbors.  Read the page entitled Living with Alligators.  Not “getting rid of gators,” or ”staying away from gators,” or even “if you happen upon an alligator.”  For those of you that still don’t understand, there is also a Power Point Presentation:  Living with Alligators.