I saw this last night when I saw my Yellow Jackets get dismantled by Coach K’s football team (they tackle players, foul, and are annoying as shit about it), and I must say: There should be some sort of athletic test for these guys that are mascots. Props to the Blue Devil for keeping a smile all the while writhing in pain.

As a huge Georgia Tech fan, it comes as sombering news to me to hear that Will Bynum, one of the better players on Georgia Tech’s near National Title basketball team, ran over a civillian in Israel after an apparent spat at a nightclub. The details below:

Police believe that Bynum arrived at the G-Spot nightclub just before midnight on Friday to celebrate his 25th birthday. He was accompanied by his brother and was joined by a few friends, including his Maccabi Tel Aviv teammate and former Philadelphia 76ers star Vonteego Cummings. Police say there were also players from other teams at the nightclub, which is popular with professional athletes.

“During the course of the night,” the officer in charge of the investigation, Rafi Regev, said, “some sort of spat developed between Bynum and another group at the nightclub - members of the Hebrew Israelite Community in Dimona.

Bynum rejected the youths’ claim that the argument began when he made advances toward a woman from the Dimona group. Bynum said he was provoked into a scuffle when one of the group pushed him over. The scuffle quickly died down and the club’s security staff were not called in. When Bynum, his brother and Cummings left the club at around 5:30, however, he was greeted outside by five youths from Dimona, and within minutes fists and stones were flying. According to eyewitnesses, Bynum and his brother ran to his car, which was parked nearby, got in and drove toward the group. After hitting one member of the group, Bynum sped off.

I’ve attached a highlight of Bynum above, trying to remember better times. I don’t condone what he did, but it’s hard to not at least try and support some of your favorite players (as bad as it sounds, I’m still kind of partial to Vick).

I wish the man who was hit the best in his recovery. As for Bynum: Leave Israel and come back to Tech. We need you. Bad.

I remember when I was a kid and loved watching the Georgia Tech games when Dicky V was broadcasting them. To me, it meant that your game was the most important game of the week and, besides that, I thought he was funny. He’s a real Diaper Dandy, baby!

I was eight. I’m not anymore. Now, to be completely truthful, I find it as hard to watch a Dicky V broadcasted game as I do watching MNF with Jaws (take that back: MNF is much harder to watch).

Well, Dicky V just had surgery on his vocal cords, so he may be out for a little while.

“College basketball fans will miss Dick’s enthusiasm in the coming weeks. But we are delighted to learn his surgery was a success and we all wish him a speedy recovery,” ESPN president George Bodenheimer said in a statement.

I echo part of that sentiment. I’m glad to learn his surgery went well — he’s a really nice guy, from everything I’ve ever seen — though I’m hoping when he comes back he’s maybe not at 100% strength, at least from a screaming-in-your-face standpoint.

(Just after writing this, while watching the Georgia Tech/Kansas game, they’re saying his surgery was more than a success and he’ll come back louder than ever. So there goes hoping against hope.)

Boston College 60, Georgia Tech 74: Outside of their game with UNC, this was GT’s most complete game of the year (and, like the UNC game, I was there — maybe I’m some sort of good luck charm). Javaris Crittenton played well enough to probably assure his early entry to the NBA, and the rest of the team was right in stride. Thaddeus Young had 10, Jeremis Smith 13 (with two nice alley-oops), Anthony Morrow 11, and our lone senior, Mario West, had 7. Tech fans are probably the only people out there who believe GT can be dangerous in the tournament, and you can count me in that group. They have the right mix of youth and maturity, and if they can get over this fixation they have with playing sloppy on the road, they can make some noise a week-and-a-half from now.

Clemson 75, Virginia Tech 74: This suddenly makes the ACC “teams that were in” list interesting. Zabian Dowdell had 25, but missed a jumper with 19 seconds left that would have given VT the lead. I know they’ve kinda sucked recently, but now Clemson has to be considered as a team to play in March.

Duke 72, UNC 86: The biggest rivalry in all of sports wasn’t much of a rivalry this year. And other than Tyler Hansbrough getting beaten up and bloodied, it really wasn’t that great of a game to watch.

Kentucky 72, Florida 85: I don’t know if this win means Florida’s back on track, but it helps. Kentucky kept it close at moments, but it seemed every time the Gators needed a basket they got one. It was Senior Day in Florida, which only means it was the last game their juniors will ever play there.

Creighton 67, Southern Illinois 61: I hate to sound like the guy who whines and moans about the small teams being ranked so high, but I think this justifies my bitching about the Salukies. And this win by Creighton is going to have a dramatic effect on my bracket: One way or another, the Bluejays always manage a win in March.

Seton Hall 71, Louisville 86: I remember when Louisville was being talked about as a team that had no chance of making the tournament. A month later, they’re in the top 25, and are probably a 5 seed.

UNC 77, Georgia Tech 84: Well, I’m hoping I can save up some money over the next week so I can splurge at the mall on some “dancing shoes.” Well, I may be getting a little ahead of myself (like you couldn’t tell that from the title), but a win on Sunday against Boston College pretty much makes my Yellow Jackets a lock. Tyler Hansbrough had as many points as he had complaints. I’ve never seen a player cry so much. Thaddeus Young had 25 points and was 5-6 from beyond the arch. Javaris Crittenton had 13 points and 11 assists, as the freshmen really helped carry the load.

VT 56, Virginia 69: You never know what Hokie team is going to show up: The one that goes on the road and beats Duke, or the one that loses to Virginia by 13. Every time I convince myself to pick VT as my sleeper in the tourney, they go off and lay a total egg. I know it’s on the road and all, but I at least like to see raod losses that are close and hard fought. I really like Zabian Dowdell, who led the Hokies with 17 points. Sean Singletary, the prick who beat up on GT last week, led the Cavaliers with 17, as well.

Nevada 77, Utah State 79: Nick Fazekas scored 20 points, but also fouled at the end of the game to give Utah State the winning two free throws. Chaz Spicer had 17 points, Jaycee Carroll had 18, and Stephen DuCharme led the way for Utah State with 20.

Memphis 78, UTEP 67: It looks good for Georgia Tech, but if Memphis is really a one seed, then the Committee is about as dumb as the BCS. Wake me up when this team actually plays somebody.

USC 70, Washington 85: It’s probably too late for Washington, but if they can beat UCLA on two day’s rest, they might have a shot of sneaking in.

UCLA 53, Washington State 45: You’ve gotta like the way UCLA plays defense. They may not always show up offensively, but that defense of their’s is suffocating.

Wake Forest 61, Georgia Tech 75: Were you really expecting me to headline another college game over my Yellow Jackets? This was win number 18 for Georgia Tech, who has games left against UNC and Boston College at home, and Virginia on the road. GT will need to beat Boston College and play UNC close, I think, to make sure they get a bid. Nineteen wins in the ACC is generally enough, but with teams like Michigan State — who thought to be out, according to most of the bracketology stuff I read — beating Wisconsin, things get a little trickier. Oh yeah. Javaris Crittenton, a freshman I’m quite fond of, had 22 points, 9 assists and 6 rebounds.

South Carolina 49, Florida 63: It’s never good to have to play Florida after they’ve lost, something the ‘Cocks just found out firsthand. It also doesn’t help South Carolina’s chances when they only score 13 points in a half. Al Hortford scored 20 points, and Joakim Noah didn’t punch anybody. He’s gone after cheerleaders and coaches now, so we’re thinking the next road game, maybe a fan.

NC State 64, UNC 83: The Tar Heels got their revenge from their loss to the Wolfpack earlier in the season. Hansbrough dropped 20 and freshman Brandan Wright led the team with 24. I wasn’t able to watch this game, but I get the feeling that in person Ty Lawson looked a lot better than his five points in the box score would indicate.

Vanderbilt 70, Mississippi State 83: So much for that big win against Florida. It’s usually hard to win games, though, when you allow the other team to shoot 54% from the field.

Penn State 60, Ohio State 68: Jamar Butler was 4-6 beyond the arch, and Greg Oden had a double-double (17 and 14) to help — number one? — Ohio State win its 12th straight game. While that’s impressive, the teams they’ve beaten aren’t (Tennessee was the only tournament team they beat — Michigan State and Purdue, bubble teams, were the other quality wins).

Alabama 66, Tennessee 69: It’s hard to win when your best scorer, and maybe best shooter in the nation, goes 3-15 from beyond the arch, but Tennessee found a way. Chris Lofton played like garbage, but still managed 20 points. JuJuan Smith scored 16 to help the Vols get a much needed win.

Georgia Tech 63, FSU 57: I hate to headline last evening’s games with one of the games that didn’t mean much to anybody who’s not me, but I’m going to anyway. The Yellow Jackets won their fourth straight game, and their first road win since February 2005. Yes, it’s been a while. Javaris Crittenton led the Jackets in scoring — as you probably knew from the not so subtle but very long title — with 29 points, and has flung himself into my exclusive list of Tech Players Whose Asses I’d Slap. Other members of this prestigious group include Chris Bosh, Jarrett Jack, Kenny Anderson, Dennis Scott, Will Bynum, Anthony McHenry, The Aussie, I’smail Muhhamad, Matt Harpring, BJ Elder, James Forrest, Malcom Mackey, Brian Oliver, John Barry, Drew Barry, John Salley. . . okay, maybe not exclusive, per se. But extensive, no less.

Texas Tech 77, Texas A&M 75: Texas Tech broke a five game losing streak, and A&M had its five game winning streak snapped when Jarrius Jackson hit a jumper as time expired to help Tech to its second win over the Aggies this year. This win helps Texas Tech out a lot, who was starting to slip off the edge of the NCAA tournament. I feel like a Bob Knight joke should be inserted here, but I’m not near clever enough at the moment.

Virginia Tech 81, UNC 80: That loss Georgia Tech had to VT at home this year is starting to look a little better. Zabian Dowdell is a name you might want to remember, because I have a feeling he’s going to be big in March. The kid is incredibly quick, and led the Hokies to victory with 33 points. Maybe now VT will be taken a little more seriously.

Florida Gulf Coast U 65, Butler 79: I’m not trying to squash the small fish, but c’mon. Butler is the 12th ranked team in the nation? They just beat Florida Gulf Coast U, who, outside of their student body, no one even knew existed.

Kentucky 85, Tennessee 89: Chris Lofton always dreamed of playing for Kentucky, and is now giving Tubby Smith nightmares for not recruiting him. In his three games against the Wildcats, Lofton has averaged 23.6 ppg. I’m starting to think Tubby wouldn’t say “you’re too small” if he still wanted to play there. . .

Duke 60, Maryland 72: Make it four straight losses for the Blue Devils. Who’s squirming now, Coach K? And as fun as this epic fall has been to watch, it won’t mean anything if this annoying team sneaks into the tournament, and annoyingly goes on a Duke-like Final Four run.

UCONN 52, Georgia Tech 65: It was one of the sloppiest games I’ve ever seen, but a win’s a win. And GT won. We’re 16-8 now, and really, really, really need to win at FSU and at Duke. Then beat UNC at home. It sounds daunting, sure, but it’s possible. Right? Right!?

In light of Georgia Tech totally sucking these days (see: yesterday vs. Virginia Tech), I’ve searched Youtube in hopes of finding a past highlight that captures the magic of three years ago, and also succeeds in boring you to tears.

Well, couldn’t find a great highlight (like the Ok. State game, where Will Bynum slashed through the lane, went under the rim and did a reverse layup just before tiime expired, helping Tech advance to the Finals), and couldn’t find something that I think will bore you to tears. What I found was an Isma’il Muhammad dunk, one of his best dunks while he was at Georgia Tech. There’s nothing quite a defender trying to draw a charge, and instead catching a face-full of Isma’il Muhammad’s hog.

Sorry these are being posted so late, but I woke up late as hell today. Couldn’t fall asleep last night. I was having dreams of Georgia Tech being dominated by Duke, only to wake up and realize that we beat them like they were our Sister of the ACC. Take that, Duke. It’s about time (it was only our 2nd win against them in the last 22 meetings. Not a very good percentage, since you had to ask).

Kansas 87, Ok. State 57: So much for Ok. State being a top ten team. Kansas had a 17 point lead at the break, and continued their wrecking-ball dominance through the second half. Now we’ll see if they can do this in March.

Butler 67, Illinois-Chicago 73: So much for this team to be a 3 seed in March. They had a nice little run, but a couple of more losses and they’ll go back to Cinderella status.

Marquette 73, UCONN 69: Jim Calhoun’s squad is starting to come back to earth after a nice start. This loss was most deflating because it came at home, where Uconn had a 31 game winning-streak.

Vandy 82, UT 81: Vandy has now beaten Georgia Tech and Tennessee, making them my least favorite team in the nation. Chris Lofton did his thing for the Vols, shooting 6/7 from beyond the arch, which actually turned out to be an off day.