I feel like rambling.

The Big East had a great record last weekend at the NCAAs, but don’t forget how highly those teams were seeded. When you’ve got three #1s and two #2’s, all you did so far was avoid being upset — something that those teams did by some fairly narrow margins. I’m not calling the conference overrated, just saying let’s wait one more weekend before we say that the tournament has validated the Big East’s dominant status. . . . So, of course, tonight’s UConn-Purdue matchup, along with a possible Sunday matchup between Michigan State and Louisville, provides the Big Ten with a nice chance to make its own point. The Big Ten’s 6-5 record is better than it looks because the conference has only been favored in five of its games. . . . The Big East is 11-2, but 0nly once has one of its teams been an underdog, and Marquette lost that second round game against Mizzou; the conference’s other loss was Dayton’s upset of West Virginia in the first round.  . . . So the Big Ten has pulled three upsets by seed (Michigan and Wisconsin in the opening round, Purdue in the second) and been upset twice (Illinois and Ohio State, the latter a toss-up 8-9 game) while the Big East has pulled no upsets and been upset once.  . . . Again, I’m not ready to argue for Big Ten supremacy, just saying that to praise the Big East on the basis of its 11-2 record seems a little sketchy . . . .

Poor Scott Williamson, the veteran reliever that the Tigers brought in as a non-roster invitee. He looks better than he has in years and has generally pitched well, but one bad outing threw off his numbers. His stats were coming back into line after several good games in a row, but yesterday he had another disaster (five earned runs in one inning). Ironically, he picked up the win in Detroit’s 10-6 comeback victory over the Mets. . . . The Tigers’ other veteran non-roster FA pickup, Juan Rincon, seems to have earned himself a spot on the team. He hasn’t given up a run all spring, a streak he extended yesterday. I get the feeling some fans — and columnists — would rather see as many prospects as possible in the Pen, but to me another solid veteran would be ideal. So the fact that Rincon is making himself impossible to cut is nice. . . .

You may have noticed I haven’t written much about the Pistons or Wings. . . . Me, too. . . . In the Wings’ case, it’s because I’m not much of a hockey fan. . . . In the Pistons’ case, that’s not true. I love the NBA and I love the Pistons. But this season has been painful to watch, and I feel perfectly justified in ignoring it as a fan and a writer. . . .

It’s no revelation that I don’t want the Lions to draft Georgia QB Matthew Stafford, preferring that the team draft any of the other candidates for the spot — OTs Jason Smith (Baylor) or Eugene Monroe (Virginia) or LB Aaron Curry (Wake Forest). But the Detroit media seems resigned to Stafford as the best choice, apparently persuaded by the likes of Mel Kiper and Gil Brandt, both of whom seem strangely invested in Stafford. Well, not so strange considering that Kiper’s been touting Stafford as a future #1 pick since Stafford was in high school, and Brandt and Stafford were neighbors in Dallas. . . . I don’t buy the need-based argument that Lions must take Stafford because he’s the top QB available and he’s not doing anything to disqualify himself (which sounds kind of like the Big East argument). Not only do the Lions have the opportunity to draft a franchise player at a different position, but let’s not forget about Sam Bradford, Colt McCoy and all the top prospects coming out next year. Considering that I still expect the Lions to be drafting in the Top 10, it seems likely they’ll have a crack at one of those guys. And that QB’s chances to succeed will be much higher if he’s playing next to a franchise left tackle. . . .