At Least Brian Carlwell Is On A Winner

Nothing went right for Brian Carlwell when he was at Illinois. In February 2007, halfway through his freshman year, he was the passenger in a car driven by Jamar Smith that careened out of control and crashed. Both Smith and Carlwell were drunk. Smith thought Carlwell was dead and left him in the car while he tried to figure out what to do. Jamar never played for the Illini again.

A season later, still feeling the effects of the accident, Carlwell tore a knee ligament, all but ending his sophomore season. He decided to transfer and ended up playing for Steve Fisher at San Diego St. In Carlwell's first season of eligibility, the Aztecs made the NCAA Tournament while his former Illini teammates settled for the NIT. This season the Aztecs have only one loss and are fighting for a #1 overall seed in the tournament. Meanwhile the Illini are again riding the bubble.

I'll be rooting for Carlwell and the Aztecs in the NCAA Tournament. And on a geographical note, hopefully Brian is enjoying the Diago and dominating beach volleyball games in his spare time.

They don't have beaches in Champaign.