Call a Doctor, I'm Lightheaded.
I'm late to the wishing well tonight as the Michigan-N.C. State game has just started. The Wolverines are up big early but the most gratifying observation thus far is Tommy Amaker's abandonment of the mock turtleneck in favor of the unbuttoned white dress shirt.

If I had any notion of being impartial, a review of the ACC/Big 10 Challenge schedule sobered me up right quick. Upon first glance, I actually convinced myself that the Big 10 will win all of these games. I suspect this is why I've never come remotely close to winning anything resembling a NCAA Tourney bracket pool. I'll try to justify and rationalize my chronic delirium of a Big Ten sweep. Well, maybe Minnesota will lose.

1. If Michigan doesn't get lazy, they should beat N.C. State tonight.
2. Maryland at Illinois. I saw the Maryland-Michigan State game and a young, tough Spartan team, playing real defense, should have won absent a shot clock violation by Maryland at the end of the game. Not only is this game in Assembly Hall, but Illinois is well-coached, they have great talent on the wings and they play in your face defense. Jamar Smith is back and Chester Frazier isn't afraid of DJ Strawberry. McBride and Randall are tough matchups and I'm excited to see freshman Brian Carlwell. I like Illinois.
3. Florida State at Wisconsin. Give me Bo Ryan, his deep team of Upper Midwestern scrapers, Regent Street Brats, New Glarus Spotted Cow and a seat next to the fire in the Memorial Union Rathskeller. I love Madison.
4. Penn State at Georgia Tech. Tech is good but I like Eddie DeChellis, Danny Morrissey, Jamelle Cornley and Gerry Claxton. In my head I know this isn't a good pick, but in my heart, I want DeChellis to get this one. I really do. He's got good guards and their tough. They hustle. Nice wins over Bucknell and St. Joe's bode well.
5. Indiana at Duke. After losing to Butler, Kelvin Sampson needs this one to placate two contingents of Hoosier fans: those who agreed to sell their souls for Eric Gordon, and those who were amazed Sampson got the job in the first place. Despite his affection text messaging, Sampson will have the Hoosiers ready to play tough defense and Duke may not be ready for intense pressure on their backcourt. DJ White will be ready for the bright lights and that spells trouble for Josh McRoberts.
6. Miami at Northwestern. In case you haven't noticed, Welsh-Ryan is a tough place to beat the Kittens. Coupled with Willy the Wildcat, playing is Evanston is an equalizer. To win this one, Northwestern needs its guards to control the tempo. If that happens and if freshman Coble and Ryan can hit a few shots, Miami won't beat them. I'm also inclined to think Miami will underestimate Northwestern, which will be a big mistake. Nevertheless, like many Wildcat fans, I wish Coble and Ryan were juniors. Seriously, what's taken Carmody so long to recruit decent basketball players? If there's a decent excuse, I'd like to hear it. We've said it before, but within the Princeton system, Northwestern would win with guards who could shoot, e.g., the Butler Bulldogs.
7. Michigan State at Boston College. Could be a great game and the best this week. I love Izzo and I love the makeup of this year's team, replete with talent and deep. Old time Spartan basketball. Raymar Morgan is seriously good.
8. Virginia at Purdue. Virginia won't be able to stop Carl Landry, who'll be ready to show the country why he's the best player in the Conference. This is a huge home game for Matt Painter and he'll have the Boilermakers ready, Gene Keady style.
9. Iowa at Virginia Tech. Well, maybe I do indeed have delusions of sugarplum fairies. In a battle of two mediocre teams, I'll take Haluska and Alford.
10. Ohio State at North Carolina. I had second row seats to watch Carolina play Tennessee on Friday night at the Garden, which, in case you didn't know, is the World's Greatest Arena according to MSG knuckleheads. With Ohio State being promoted to Number 1 (which is ridiculous by the way) Chapel Hill should be loud and ready, but will it be enough, I think not. From their sloppy showing in New York last week, Carolina plays tacit defense, gives up too many open shots, doesn't shoot exceptionally well and is sloppy with the ball. That's a recipe for Ohio State to control the tempo of the game with Jamar Butler and Mike Conley, get good looks and make shots. Matta usually has his team ready to play defense and if he can convince Hunter, Terwilliger and Harris to block out, Ohio State should neutralize Hansborough. Make someone else beat you but pay close attention to Brandon Wright. Tennessee tried defending him with a 6'4" slow small forward with poor results. Perhaps the best player for Carolina might be Ty Lawson, who'll replace Bobby Frasor soon enough but, lucky for the Buckeyes not Wednesday night. Although this is their first true test (other than a win against a good Kent State team), Ohio State has better guards and at this point in the season that might be enough.
11. Clemson at Minnesota. Say goodbye to Dan Monson. As nice a guy as he seems to be, the Gophers continue to lose too many games to teams they shouldn't be losing to, and this is another one.

Well, thirty minutes after starting this absurd rationalization, Amaker's Wolverines have been outscored by twenty-two points. They've gone soft on defense and have become careless with the ball. Live by the quick outside shot, die by the quick outside brick. I hope Thad Matta is watching.