Notes for today:
1. BYU is one step closer to playing their regional in Salt Lake City next weekend. All they have to do is beat Kansas State tomorrow.
2. The world was introduced to Jimmer Fridette yesterday...
3. ...and the world will be introduced to Marqus Blakely today. Difficult to imagine Vermont beating Syracuse, but this kid is a bona fide player. Tough underneath, very strong, skilled, and he can jump through the roof. Could be the best player on the court tonight, unless the Orange zone can bottle him up.
4. That poor Robert Morris coach looks like he's still in pain.
5. Remember when I said the bracket buster games should be the big conference schools at the mid/small conference schools? Think about how crazy it would have been at...
Ohio, with them upsetting Georgetown in their own gym.
San Diego State, with them almost upsetting Tennessee in their own gym.
Old Dominion, with them upsetting Notre Dame in their own gym.
Robert Morris, with them almost upsetting Villanova in their own gym.
You have to think San Diego State and Robert Morris could have won those games at home, too.
6. Omar Samham from St. Mary's. Kid can play. Now you see what happened to Gonzaga in the West Coast championship game.
7. Is anyone picking Purdue to beat Siena? Anyone at all? It's a 4/13 game, with almost zero love for the four!
8. Utah State/Texas A&M is the 'hidden' 5 PM game. Bummer.
9. Seems like Lottery Pick University is the only team that dominated yesterday from start to finish. Going to be interesting to see how they hold up if/when they are tested. The kids have never played in this kind of pressure situation, and Calipari, for all his virtues, is not the best in-game coach.
10. Here is what I would like to see today:
New Mexico State hit all of those insane shots today against Michigan State that they hit Saturday night against Utah State in the WAC championship game.
Minnesota beat Xavier. I like Tubby Smith, and Xavier could be a soft 6.
Gonzaga winning, to set up a game with Serracuss on Sunday. When the 'Zags are good they tend to disappoint in the tournament. When they are bad they sometimes have a run in them. They have been bad at times.
Whether the 'good' or 'bad' teams of the following inconsistent teams show up...Maryland, Pitt, West Virgina, Clemson, Louisville
Sandra