Sleet

Got a solid 3/4-inch of ice and sleet at the house. Surprisingly, the power did not go out.

This close up gives you a better idea of how pretty it is with ice over all the bare tree limbs.

Can not get out of the neighbourhood. The street is completely ice covered. Even my neighbours, whom almost all of them, have huge 4x4 trucks are not driving. Of course, where you can slush through snow - ice has a friction angle of almost zero. So we're just going to have to wait till it melts some before trying to venture out.

Naturally, just when I could use 4-wheel drive, my little 4x4 Escape is in the shop getting the alternator replaced.

I expect I'll be able to get out tomorrow. I will probably wait till about 9 or so before heading to work. Let the sun have some time to work on the ice and let other, more adventurous, folks break up the ice on the roads ahead of me.

In the meantime, the local teenagers are having a blast with their ATVs.

Basketball

Huge win on the road at Louisville. Back on the bubble. Actually, most bracketology web sites have us solidly 'in' the NCAAT. But - with 5 games left - anything can happen.

Of our 11 losses - 7 were by 5 points or less. And of those 7 close games - 3 were against ranked opponents - top 5 ranked UVA, top 10 ranked ND and UNCheats in the top 20.

This was supposed to have been a rebuilding year for State with basically an all freshman and sophomore team. Best case season would have been slipping into the NIT. And yet, turns out, we can play with anybody.

Who knew that Abu and the Martin twins were going to get so good so fast? Cat Barber has seemingly 'found' himself the last 5 games and is becoming the player we all hoped he'd be. Anya continues to block shots. Washington, Lee and Freeman are solid big guys in the middle. This team has so much (long term) potential - it's just amazing.

We consistently play hard and close games. If we can just get over the hurdle of losing close games to winning them - we could really do some damage in the NCAAT. The Louisville close win is a great start.