CBB Teams as pop songs, BCS observations and more

By Ty Hildenbrandt

I find it ironic that while every college basketball season ends with the playing of One Shining Moment, nobody pays any attention to the "music" as the season progresses.

With 6-8 Brian Zoubek out with a broken foot, the Blue Devils may look like ants compared to the rest of the ACC. AP

In transitioning from college football to basketball, you'll notice that the tune has changed from one of parity throughout the game to one of dominance by some of the country's most historic programs. And with no BCS to worry about, this season is already feeling more We Are the Champions than Pop Goes the Weasel.

So, with that said, let me offer a sneak peak at a few songs featured on this college basketball season's soundtrack...

'Ants Marching' - Dave Matthews Band (Duke)

While the Blue Devils will challenge for the ACC title against in-state rival North Carolina, the fact remains that they had an enormous size disadvantage even before Brian Zoubek, their lone player taller than 6-foot-8, broke his foot. Now that Zoubek's on the shelf indefinitely, the Dukies will almost certainly be a vertically challenged team -- comparatively speaking, anyway -- with no legitimate post player.

Other considerations: White and Nerdy -- Weird Al Yankovic; Over My Head -- The Fray

'Don't You (Forget About Me)' -- Simple Minds (Washington State)

Tell the average fan that Tony Bennett is coaching in Pullman and you're likely to get a perplexed look followed by "I thought he was in San Francisco?" Well, not this Tony. Likewise and despite being fourth in the latest AP Poll, the Cougars are just as anonymous a squad, playing bruising defense and solid team basketball to earn their ranking.

Other considerations: Where Is The Love -- Black Eyed Peas; Hard Knock Life -- Jay-Z

'Stronger' -- Kanye West (Kansas)

Whatever doesn't kill you can only make you stronger; and as both Brandon Rush and Sherrin Collins have recovered from knee and foot injuries, respectively, you can't help but admire the Jayhawks' depth, which is certain to serve them well in the NCAA Tournament. That is, until they learn that I picked them in the Final Four for the fifth straight year and inevitably tank my bracket.

Other considerations: Tubthumping - Chumbawumba; Sugar, We're Going Down -- Fall Out Boy

'Kissed By A Rose' -- Seal (Memphis)

For the record, I still have no idea what this song is supposed to mean. And I'll be the first to admit that it's not the most creative option here. But it's quite fitting -- you just can't overemphasize what freshman Derrick Rose has done for the Tigers only a few months into his first collegiate season.

Other considerations: Every Rose Has Its Thorn -- Poison; Run It! -- Chris Brown

'Wake Up Call' -- Maroon 5 (North Carolina)

As is the case with most elite teams, and especially those in the ACC, it is imperative that a squad remain focused -- and the Tar Heels have the talent to go unbeaten if they can do just that. Should Carolina finish with a perfect regular season, there's no doubt that Wayne Ellington's buzzer beater against Clemson will be regarded as the defining moment -- the "wake up call," if you will -- that put the Tar Heel season back on track.

Other considerations: Too Legit to Quit -- MC Hammer; The Great Escape -- Boys Like Girls

DEFINITIVE BEHAVIORAL ANALYSIS OF BOBBY KNIGHT

There's a soon-to-be-released Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman movie entitled The Bucket List in which two guys run off with a wish list of things to accomplish before they die. You know, I'm starting to wonder if Bobby Knight has a similar checklist pertaining to in-game blow-ups and post-game press conferences. It never fails -- the man is as crazy as he is genius.

The thing that gets me about Knight's histrionics is how he constantly adds elements of difficulty to better his previous performances, kind of the way an ice skater spins off a toe loop before attempting a quadruple axel. It was the same deal in the glorious days of Tony Hawk's Pro Skater when you could rely on "multipliers" to rack up monster point totals after grinding around all the railings in a mall and then soaring your way, through some wild combination of moves, into the rafters and beyond.

My theory is that Knight is such a competitive person that he's trying to better himself in every possible way. He's at the point now in his accomplished career where he's literally inventing new games for himself to win, and I'm guessing that was his thinking when he brought his 21-month old grandson to the stage with him after his 899th career victory. Sure, he's had run-ins with the media before ... but throw a kid into the mix and that's gotta be like, what, at least three times the bonus points?

THE QUICK SLANTS TRIVIA GAME

Welcome back to the Quick Slants Trivia Game, where you can correctly answer a reasonably challenging question for little or no reward. Today's test involves NCAA Tournament winning percentages...

Which Division I college basketball program has the lowest tournament winning percentage of teams that have won AT LEAST one tournament game? Answer in a bit ...