Wow. Catch your breath yet? We were treated to a great slate of games today, as well as several big upsets. Just like this picture, it was crazy. The biggest upset of the day probably belonged to the Ohio Bobcats, and I will get to them in a minute. First, I have to talk about my alma malter, Murray State University Racers.
About half of the BBNR staff attended Murray State, so forgive us for the huge grin we have painted across our face's. I can't pretend to have lived and died with every Racer heart breaker over the years (and if you are familiar with the program, there have been many). I am not as emotionally invested in the Racers as I am with the Big Blue, but that didn't take anything away from today's win.
The experience of pulling for Cinderella is completely different than my normal fanhood with the Wildcats. There is nothing like going into a game and knowing you are going to win like you did with UK today. It is comforting to be able to have that level of confidence about anything. You are like a grown adult sauntering onto a playground looking to pick a fight with kindergartners. Yea, we are bad.
It is hard to compare that feeling to that of pulling off an upset in the big dance like Murray State did today. It is something a Cats fan can never experience while wearing the Big Blue. Even in our recent slump, the glass slipper really didn't fit. Thinking of UK as an underdog just didn't fit in with my preconceived, ego-driven notion of the Cats as the baddest team on the planet. It is fun to have lessened pressure or expectations and just root on a team like today with the Racers. I like having both of those fan experiences in my life, and God help me if Murray State ever plays Kentucky in March. Hopefully the Racers can keep the glass slipper on for a little longer.
You know it was a good day of March Madness when Murray State wasn't the biggest upset of the day. That belonged to the Ohio Bobcats and their big win over the Georgetown Hoyas. Congrats to my friends and Ohio Alum Brad Gough and Darren Dowd, and the rest of the Bobcats on their upset victory. I would have appreciated a heads up that Ohio was good, as I had GTown going to the Elite Eight. Thanks guys. Speaking of my brackets, luckily those things are mostly online now. Pretty much would be a waste of paper at this point. Two of my Elite Eight have been eliminated, although my Final Four has stayed in tact. This is exactly why I don't bet any money on the NCAA tournament. I enjoy being able to root against GTown even if it is going to destroy my brackets.
Speaking of the Hoyas, the Big East looks a little overrated right now, huh? I am not one to jump to conclusions, but the Big East is terrible and didn't deserve to have three bids this year. Okay, maybe that is a little strong, but they looked like they were sleep walking today. We will have to wait to see tomorrow if the other half of the league can answer, but wasn't a good start to the tournament when your only win came in OT against Robert Morris.
Speaking of struggling conferences, the SEC went 2-2 today. That is slightly misleading since the second best team in the league, Mississippi State, was left out of the field. I think we go 3-2 if you substitute Miss State for Utah State, but that is the breaks. Not going to cry over spilled milk, and it is something of an indictment on the conference if Mississippi State can make a claim for being the second best team in the league. Maybe Stansbury will stop scheduling Podunk State and actually play somebody. Have to give it up to the mid majors though. Eight teams outside the BCS have advanced to the Second Round on day one. You are going to hear the word "Parity" from talking heads an awful lot if this continues.
Watching Texas play right now against Wake. First off, both of these teams aren't all that great. Might take a team as bad as Wake to help give Texas some of their swagger back and make them a slightly dangerous team Saturday. I am still not going to get my panties in a wad. There is a reason they are in this position. I would have preferred to play Wake Forrest, but I am not about to get scared to death of Texas. They are coached by Rick Barnes. That is enough for me to sleep well tonight. In other news, there are tons of hot women that go to Texas. So we have that going for us, which is nice. (As I am typing, Wake just won on a last second play. Crazy, crazy day.)
In other news, tons and tons of entertaining games today. Florida missed two chances to win the game, once with a good look from Chandler Parsons that just missed, and the first overtime when they couldn't get off a shot before time expired. "Jimmer!" from BYU made them pay in the second overtime and the Mormons March on.
Also, Harongody showed today why many compare him to Frankenstein. Not because of his dorky haircut or his hulking frame, but because he played like he was a corpse in his last game for the Irish. Maybe it was too much to ask Notre Dame to play the day after St. Paddy's day? Irish go down to ODU. Old Dominion just sounds cool by the way. Moving on.
My other Elite Eight pick to go down, Marquette, lost to Washington. I think with all the hype given to the Big East tournament, these teams were mistaken. They thought the National Championship is played in Madison Square Garden every March. Seems like all the teams that do well in that tournament end up falling short in the big tourney. I am looking at you West Virginia.
Kentucky and Kansas State were the only two contenders that looked ready to go today. There were tons of good games, and on top of all the upsets, many good teams were pushed to the limit. Half of the worse seeded teams won today, and only four games were out of reach down the stretch of games. Great start to the Madness. Check in right here tomorrow for more coverage.
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