Things You Should Know

In place of Looking Back, since I never can seem to get that done on Mondays. Out o Here's what you need to remember from last weekend, which was chock-full of sports. 

1. The Big East is really good at basketball. Oh, let's see. You have Connecticut at number 2, Pittsburgh at number 3, Notre Dame at number 7, Louisville at number 11, Syracuse at number 16, Villanova at number 17, Georgetown at number 20 and Marquette at number 25 in the latest AP Rankings.  That means, if you're keeping score at home, that the Big East has 8 teams that are better than the Pac-10's third best. Good Lord. 

2. Texas has every right to be terribly upset about what happened with the BCS. Why, you ask? Out of the three important games between the three important Big 12 teams (Oklahoma, Texas and Texas Tech), Texas had the closest loss (by 6 at Texas Tech). Texas also played through a stretch of playing four top 11 teams in a row. I'm not sure any other team in the country could have done that and been as successful as the Longhorns. And, oh, by the way, they beat Oklahoma. 

3. But ... You can't make an argument that Texas should definitely be in over Oklahoma. Oklahoma had by far the most convincing win of the three games. It is many people's opinions, as well, that teams should be rewarded for what they do out of conference. Oklahoma played Orange Bowl-bound Cincinnati and top 25 TCU - two opponents far superior to any that Texas had in their non-conference schedule - and beat them both convincingly. Both teams have star power, and both teams have a devoted fan base. Someone had to be left out. (But not if you had a playoff!)

4. The football team and basketball team may have had a terrible weekend, but two other Maryland sports deserve their recognition. First of all, congratulations to the field hockey team for their national championship, their third in four years. I know absolutely nothing about the field hockey team, so it would be disrespectful of me to just list stuff that you can find online yourself if you're really interested in them. They do deserve all the credit in the world, though. Second, congratulations goes to the men's soccer team for getting past the cursed third round and into the Elite Eight in the NCAA tournament. They beat number Cal 2-1, and will host Creighton on Saturday. Be there. 

5. NFL division races! Take your pick:

Jets or Patriots or Dolphins or Bills?

Steelers or Ravens?

Vikings or Bears or Packers?

Panthers or Buccaneers or Falcons?

It's exciting times to be an AFC East, AFC North, NFC North or NFC South fan. 

(Photo Credits: AP)

Looking Back

With so many sports going on at once, how can you keep track of them all? You don't have to, but I will. Every Monday I will look back and hit briefly upon the 5 story lines that stuck out from the previous weekend.

1. It stunk to be a University of Maryland fan this weekend. After being annihilated against an inferior opponent, all Maryland players had to say for themselves was pretty much exactly what they had to say after losing to Middle Tennessee State, along the liens of: "Oops. We weren't ready to play. Trust us, we're still really good, though." 

Combine that with men's soccer giving up 3 goals in 1:23, completing a collapse to Clemson in what coach Sasho Cirovski called one of the most embarrassing moments of his career, and the school's athletics really did us proud.

At least field hockey won.

2. That being said, it might be even worse to be a Cubs fan. Your team absolutely destroys for 162 games this season. You're playing the worst team to make the playoffs this year. 

And then you get outscored 20-6 and get swept.

I mean, I suppose they're used to it. But still, don't you feel for them a little bit? Just a little?

3. Meanwhile, the Phillies continue to be the most overlooked team in baseball after take the series 3-1 against the Brewers. They will have home field advantage in their next series against the Dodgers, and they have to be considered the favorites to win, even after what LA did to the Cubs. I understand Manny is elevating his team's hitting to a whole new level, but Manny doesn't pitch, and the Dodgers won't have enough firepower to overcome the Phillies bats.

4. Hockey begins! The 2008-09 NHL season is officially underway with a couple games in the Czech Republic and Sweden. With the Capitals last year becoming relevant in the NHL, there has been a renewed interest in the sport around the D.C. area. Of course, having the best player in the game certainly helps matters. Listen Wednesday for a hockey preview on the broadcast.

5. Do upsets even exist any more in the NFL? SI.com's Don Banks examines the question in this article. I recommend the read. If you don't have time, a quick look at the standings will tell you all you need to know.