Surprise – Blowout City

Who saw this coming? After dismantling four teams in unprecedented fashion on it way to the school’s 16th Final Four, did anyone think the overall #1 seed in a Final Four of 1-seeds would trail 40-12 with under 7 minutes left in the first half. Thanks to an 18-0 Kansas run that’s exactly where North [...]

Memphis Guards Dominate

It’s official, John Calipari can no longer play the underdog, we get no respect card with this Memphis team. Following up on last weekend’s dominance in the regionals, Memphis overmatched UCLA with its athleticism, speed, and size, advancing to Monday;s Championship Game with a 78-63 win.
The backcourt matchup, pitting a pair of NBA bound players [...]

Carolina Marches On Thanks to Hansbrough, First Half

Tyler Hansbrough never ceases to amaze. It’s no surprise he led Carolina with a vintage 28-point, 13 rebound performance in the most important game of year, and scored the two biggest baskets of the game. But how he did it – nailing back to back long jumpers from the top of the key with David [...]

Sour 16 Sets Up Potential Heavyweight Regional Finals

Outside the West Region, no Sweet 16 game finished with under a 15 point spread and all six were well in hand by the early second half. Even UCLA led Western Kentucky big in the first half until a furious Hilltopper rally cut the Bruin lead to 4, coming within one shot of really scaring [...]

Davidson Stuns Badgers, Officially America’s Team

Stephen Curry carried Davidson through the first weekend with back to back performances for the annals, dropping 40 on Gonzaga then carrying Wildcats back from a 17-point deficit with 25 second half points to beat Georgetown. A one-man show, matched against one of the top defensive teams in the nation, surely Wisconsin would find a [...]

Don’t Sleep on the 7-10 Winners

West Virginia struck on Saturday, driving the stake through Duke’s heart that Belmont put in place Thursday night. Three more two seeds take the floor today, don’t be surprised if another finds itself campus bound before the weekend is out. 15 times since 2000, and each year since 1996, at least one seven or ten [...]

Perplexing CBS TV Schedules

CBS, who annually gets criticized for what games they put on in local markets and how quick they leave blowouts for better games, makes decisions based on viewership and revenue. With the success of March Madness On Demand, not to mention the countless local bars that have every game on, few viewers are tied to [...]

NCAA Day Wrap-Up: One Big Scare and Lots of Favorites

Duke had never lost 1st Round NCAA tournament games in two consecutive years, and that streak was likely to continue drawing 15-seed Belmont in the 2008 opener. Yet, with under 30 seconds left, the Bruins stood with the ball up 70-69, Duke’s backs firmly against the wall, streak and season on the line. Trying to [...]

NCAA Committee Picks Right Teams, Wrong Seed; Georgia Caps Wild SEC Weekend

This year the committee gave us no Syracuse’s – teams inexplicably omitted, and no Arkansas’ – teams that came out of left field to make the field. In the selection process, no matter how many make the tournament, a few teams inevitably get left out. Debates follow, expanding the field will not solve it. Outside [...]

Who wants a bid? A-10 Steps Up, Others Continue to Walk Plank

Idle bubble teams continue to gain momentum as BCS conference fringe teams fall by the waste side. Forget expanding the tournament, I agree with Seth Davis’ proclamation, this year delivering 60 or 61 bids may be more appropriate than the full 65. Another day of wall-to-wall hoops, buzzer beaters reminiscent of Christian Laettner, a few [...]