Three thoughts as we head into the first Olympics-free day in more than two weeks:
• Less than a week ago in this space, we expressed optimism that the Gophers men's basketball team had a reasonably clear path to the NCAA tournament. Now? Well, the water is much muddier, and one game in particular could seal Minnesota's fate in the wrong direction.
Sure, any loss — including that second-half meltdown leading to an 18-point defeat at Ohio State on Saturday — could fall into this category, but right now that 82-78 loss at Nebraska stands out. The Huskers didn't look like too much of a threat at the time, but after beating Purdue on Sunday they are 8-6 in the conference and have a five-game winning streak (including a huge win at Michigan State).
The Big Ten feels like a six-bid league this year. Right now, you have to think Nebraska has the inside track over the Gophers.
• Some of the discussion around NFL prospect Michael Sam annoucing he's gay and now Jason Collins — who came out last April — joining the NBA's Nets has revolved around the question of "is this news?"
The conclusion drawn by most is that it will be nice when we reach a point in time when such things are not, in fact news. But the existing reality is that when something has never happened before, by its nature it is a big deal — and each subsequent example becomes less and less of a story.
• Coach Jim Boeheim's antics in the closing seconds of Duke's victory over Syracuse on Saturday would have been bad enough without his attempts to exonerate himself afterward.
Down 60-58 with 10 seconds left, Syracuse's C.J. Fair was called for a charge on a bang-bang play near the bucket during a made layup. A basket and foul would have given Syracuse a chance for the lead; a no-call would have been a tie game. So certainly it was a major play.
