NCAA Tournament Day 1 Running Blog

9:20

For whatever reason, I’m less into the tournament as today goes on. I think I need to wait and see how tomorrow goes before I make a judgment on this year’s first round.

That being said, I want to be clear: I’m still calling the round of 64 the FIRST round. I get that the “First Four” are technically the first round, but I’m not calling today’s round the second round if everyone but four teams left have not played a game yet. Sorry, NCAA.

Also, I think the first round is an OK thing, but just like I’ve had less interest in the Bowl season, the “first four” makes the 3-week tournament just seem overextended. Sixty-four teams and 3 weeks is plenty.

As I write this, UNLV is balling. The Rebels are coming back on Colorado like Grandmama was still on the court. And I’m pretty pumped because I picked UNLV to go to the Sweet 16. I guess it all comes down to how healthy my brackets are…

5:15

New Mexico is a SOLID team. Their ability to make free throws down the stretch was the key. Louisville better watch out vs. Los Lobos.

Casper Ware looked tired toward the end of the game. I know there are some really great players returning in the Big West, but with Ware and Orlando Johnson (among others) leaving, I’m interested to see who steps up. Eversley on the all-Big West first team next year isn’t out of the question.

I picked Southern Mississippi to beat Kansas State earlier. Kansas State’s Rodney McGruder was a stud, scoring 30 points for the Wildcats. If Kansas State plays as good on Saturday as they played today, I think they’ll upset Syracuse. The ‘Cuse almost lost today without their ridiculously-named big-man Fab Melo, and if K-State plays solidly, they will probably beat them.

One more thing -Baylor’s neon uniforms are awful. Sorry.

3:23

Long Beach State’s in a tough game. Love watching Casper Ware. With Drew Gordon on New Mexico and two former UCLA Bruins on UNLV, the Bruins are pseudo represented in the tournament… I guess….

Also, New Mexico is making ALL their free throws right now. That’s a good way to win a ballgame.

12:55

I just looked at who was winning/who won. No Big surprises yet. I picked K-State to lose to Southern Mississippi based on their coach’s rant earlier in the season. I know K-State played great defense, but if Southern Miss. had shot the ball at all in the first 10 minutes, I would be undefeated in my bracket so far. I’m still confident though.

Still wondering when the first major upset will be. I will guess tomorrow morning. -OM

9:45

Seriously though, I have Murray State into the Sweet 16. They better beat CSU.  – OM

9:40

I’m going to start off the day by being “Brackets already busted guy” … My brackets are busted… AHHHHHH 🙂 Welcome to March Madness! – OM