USC May End Oregon's National Championship Hopes

The Ducks have never been too saddened by misfortunes in Southern California however USC's problems may cost Oregon a shot at the title.  Thanks to NCAA sanctions USC is not eligible, among other things, to be ranked. This means when the Ducks and Trojans get together for what may be the Ducks toughest test the men of Troy will not be ranked. So, if the Ducks can get by the Trojans and run the table thier strength of schedule and ultimate computer rating may be hurt by the NCAA sanctions. Certainly Auburn & Oklahoma may look to have tougher schedules than Oregon and may in the end be chosen if all three are undefeated at seasons end so ultimately even with a loss the Trojans may still cost the Ducks a shot at the National Championship.

All I want is a little SEC...PLEASE!

So I have moved from Arkansas to Utah and now have an hour commute each way every day.  Needless to say I spend an two hours listening to sports talk radio.  I understand that I live in Utah & BYU country and I am okay with that.  What I am not okay with is that all I have heard about in the well over 100 hours of radio coverage is only one mention of the SEC.  That was the great conference divide and was a side note about how Texas A&M might go to the SEC.  I get it we are focused on the Mountain West & now the PAC-12, but seriously the national champs are still in the SEC along with about 10 other great teams (sorry Vandy).

I just do not understand how a sports talk show can talk about Jake Heap, BYU's freshman quarterback, and whether he will start or not for 12 hours a day.  I get it already he is supposed to be good.  The SEC has a couple good quarterbacks too & they aren't freshman.  The SEC also has a Heisman Trophy Winner.  Don't worry he has also NOT BEEN MENTIONED.  However, on the brink of going insane I found something great.  Sports Talk with Bo Mattingly is on the WEB.  I listened.  I laughed.  I cried.  It was a good day.  Today I will listen to Bo and the crew and try and find a little serenity in this hectic world.  Sporst Talk covers the University of Arkansas, the SEC, and other national stories (imagine that).  If anyone else is stranded starving for SEC football coverage you can catch it here.  The show airs live from 1-4 PM CT.  Thanks Bo for keeping us stranded Hog fans alive.    

NCAA: Inspector Of Persons (& Universities)

The NCAA is in the appeal process with USC, but that hasn't slowed their efforts to find more violations.  NCAA officials are currently investigating Florida, Alabama, South Carolina, North Carolina, and now Georgia. Chris Mortensen is now reporting that it may be as many as 25 players and up to 10 SEC teams involved in this Memorial Day bash.  All SEC fans including us are holding our breathe until these investigations are completed hoping we aren't next.

For a complete run down of the issues and facts in great detail go to one of the Four6Three's favorite blogs BYLAWBLOG.COM the unofficial compliance blog of the NCAA.  

Starting to feel light headed.

The Tide in Miami: Some Kinda Party

What can bring together the Alabama, South Carolina, North Carolina, and the NCAA? A really great party!  Apparently there was one in Miami and allegedly Alabama star Marcel Dareus attended along with tight end Weslye Saunders from South Carolina and players from UNC including defensive end Marvin Austin.  On the heels of the Florida allegations and the USC penalties this situation will likely be dealt with swiftly and strictly by both the NCAA and each school's compliance department.  How will this effect the Tide's chances to repeat as National Champs? That is as of yet to be seen, but it is definitely an unwanted distraction.  Does this open the door for another team to trip them up in the SEC West? That will be decided on the playing field the question is whether Dareus will be there to help decide it.  

Preseason All-American Teams

The Four6Three gives you a sneak peak of what the college football insiders are saying for this coming year.  Our latest sneak peak is for Sporting News and Blue Ribbon Yearbook.  

Blue Ribbon College Football Yearbook announced its preseason top-25 rankings this week, which features Boise State as the No. 3 overall team heading into the fall. The only teams earning higher rankings than the Broncos were Ohio State (No. 1) and Alabama (No. 2). Blue Ribbon also honored Boise State junior quarterback Kellen Moore by selecting him as one of five players to be featured on the publication cover. Moore was joined by Mark Ingram (Alabama, RB), Ryan Mallett (Arkansas, QB), Case Keenum (Houston, QB) and Terrelle Pryor (Ohio State, QB).

Ryan Mallett was also voted as Blue Ribbon College Football Offensive Player of the year.  

Sporting News released their preseason All-Americans as well.  They are listed below.

SPORTING NEWS PRESEASON ALL-AMERICAN TEAMS

FIRST TEAM OFFENSE

QB Ryan Mallett, Arkansas

RB Mark Ingram, Alabama

RB Dion Lewis, Pittsburgh

OL Mike Pouncey, Florida

OL Jason Pinkston, Pittsburgh

OL Rodney Hudson, Florida State

OL Stefan Wisniewski, Penn State

OL Jake Kirkpatrick, TCU

TE Kyle Rudolph, Notre Dame

WR Ryan Broyles, Oklahoma

WR A.J. Green, Georgia

K Kai Forbath, UCLA

KR D.J. Monroe, Texas

 

FIRST TEAM DEFENSE

DL Jared Crick, Nebraska

DL Robert Quinn, North Carolina

DL Von Miller, Texas A&M

DL Adrian Clayborn, Iowa

LB Greg Jones, Michigan State

LB Vontaze Burfict, Arizona State

LB Luke Kuechly, Boston College

CB Patrick Peterson, LSU

CB Brandon Harris, Miami

S Rahim Moore, UCLA

S DeAndre McDaniel, Clemson

P Drew Butler, Georgia

PR Greg Reid, Florida State

 

SECOND TEAM OFFENSE

QB Kellen Moore, Boise State

RB LaMichael James, Oregon

RB Jacquizz Rodgers, Oregon State

OL Matt Reynolds, BYU

OL Chase Beeler, Stanford

OL Kyle Hix, Texas

OL Dan Hoch, Missouri

OL Butch Lewis, USC

TE Ben Guidugli, Cincinnati

WR Julio Jones, Alabama

WR Michael Floyd, Notre Dame

K Grant Ressel, Missouri

KR Chris Owusu, Stanford

 

SECOND TEAM DEFENSE

DL Marcell Dareus, Alabama

DL Sam Acho, Texas

DL Greg Romeus, Pittsburgh

DL Ryan Kerrigan, Purdue

LB Akeem Ayers, UCLA

LB Travis Lewis, Oklahoma

LB Don't'a Hightower, Alabama

CB Kendric Burney, North Carolina

CB Prince Amukamara, Nebraska

S Mark Barron, Alabama

S Tyler Sash, Iowa

P Tress Way, Oklahoma

PR Jeremy Kerley, TCU

 

THIRD TEAM OFFENSE

QB Case Keenum, Houston

RB Ryan Williams, Virginia Tech

RB John Clay, Wisconsin

OL Caleb Schlauderaff, Utah

OL Anthony Castonzo, Boston College

OL Barrett Jones, Alabama

OL Zach Hurd, Connecticut

OL Clint Boling, Georgia

TE D.J. Williams, Arkansas

WR James Cleveland, Houston

WR Jonathan Baldwin, Pittsburgh

K Alex Henery, Nebraska

KR Tyron Carrier, Houston

 

THIRD TEAM DEFENSE

DL Allen Bailey, Miami

DL Jurrell Casey, USC

DL Cameron Heyward, Ohio State

DL Jeremy Beal, Oklahoma

LB Tank Carder, TCU

LB Lawrence Wilson, Connecticut

LB Kelvin Sheppard, LSU

CB Trevin Wade, Arizona

CB Curtis Brown, Texas

S Jeron Johnson, Boise State

S Deunta Wiliams, North Carolina

P Derek Epperson, Baylor

PR LaVon Brazill, Ohio

Let us know what you think....Tweet us @ Four6Three or leave us a comment.  

Formal Apology

The Four6Three would like to issue a formal apology. The Four6Three prides itself in accurate analysis & honesty devoid of emotion to cloud or slant our judgement. This evening my brother made some negative comments on Twitter about the home plate umpire in the Arizona State vs. Arkansas Super Regional. Those comments were not completely true or accurrate. I am afraid my brother let his emotions get the best of him. In order to be a 100% honest & accurrate I will clarify. ESPN announcers did not complain about calls 10 times, it was atleast 18. They also said the umpiring was "shady". My brother was also far too cruel to state the umpire should be sent to little league. The Four6Three believes that children are the world & the future. In order to make it a brighter day for the children we must not expose them to an umpire like this the pain & suffering could require counseling. Again we would like to apologize & hope that our fans will forgive our mistakes concerning this matter.
Sincerely,
your nonbias emotionally controlled friends @ the Four6Three

PAC-10 EXPULSION!

Is the PAC-10 growing in competitiveness or shrinking. Don't get me wrong the conference will grow leaps & bounds if the expansion rumors ultimately are true, but for now the PAC-10 might as well be the Whack-10, no dis on the WAC who at least has a reliable powerhouse team in Boise State. What about USC you say... well thanks to a compliance director's worst nightmare come to life USC will be receiving a post season ban. According to ESPN The USC football program will receive a two-year postseason ban, a reduction in scholarships with reports indicating possibly more than twenty, and a forfeiture of wins from at least the 2004 season. There are also rumors of television bans. It looks like Pete Carroll had John Calipari like timing in leaving town.
To say this hurts the PAC-10 is like saying getting hit with a cannon ball might leave a mark. Anyone have any cannon ball ointment for the PAC-10? Well in fact the Big 12 or what is now the Big 11, 10, 9 .... Let's call it the countdown conference for now. The Countdown Conference has the secret ointment in the form of Texas & four of its closest friends & its step sister (Colorado). This could be just what the Dr. Ordered. In fact speaking of Drs. maybe Pepper will move his sponsorship west as well.

College Conference Realignment

The Big Ten is rumored to have offered membership in the conference to Nebraska, Missouri, Rutgers, and Notre Dame. 
This got us thinking if they all accepted what would this do to the rest of the conferences.  Below is our possibilities of what would happen within about 2-3 years if the conference realingment snowball starts rolling. 

Pac-10 would add:
Colorado
Utah

SEC would add:
Oklahoma
Texas
Texas A&M
Oklahoma State

Big 12 would add:
TCU
BYU
UNLV
Boise State
Houston
Memphis or Tulsa or possibly Fresno State.  If they added all 3 they could be the Big 14.

WAC & what is left of the Mountain West would basically merge.  Some teams like Louisiana Tech may fill possible voids in Conference USA. 

This is just our thoughts let us know what you think.  It is a fun conversation anyway!

Friday Farewells for April 23, 2010

This weeks edition of Friday Farewells is brought to you by higher education or lower education depending on where you attend. 

First Round Hopes. Many draftees saw their hopes and dreams of being a first rounder or even a first day draft pick disappear last night.  Among those were quarterbacks Jimmy Clausen and Colt McCoy, but not Tim Tebow who looked as surprised as everyone else when he was drafted by Denver.  Other notable prospects that were not drafted in the first round this year, ME.  Goodbye Ginormous Signing Bonus! A box of tears for all the stuff I could have bought.

Games.  Big Ben will be missing 6 games with a possibility to have it reduced to 4 while Edison Volquez, pitcher for the Cincinnati Reds, will miss 50 games for use of performance enhancing drugs.  The difference between the two suspensions is that Ben will actually miss his games.  Volquez is on the disabled list recovering from surgery and his suspension will be over long before he ever is ready to pitch again.  So if your going to cheat kids, do it while your on the disabled list.  Sad to miss games you won't miss?!? Ben can't complain!

Sweep.  The two number one seeds: the Lakers & Cavs both had hopes of resting up for second round matchups after sweeping the eight seeds, but that was before the Bulls and Thunder came to play.  Can these teams win more than one game and actually make it a series? Time will tell, but my money is on the Thunder to win at least one more game.  As for the Bulls you better enjoy this one.  One tiny tear is forming on the west coast of my face...never mind that is a bead of sweat.

Self Respect. In the middle of the night the Pittsburgh Pirates search for something they never lost something that somebody stole.  That somebody was the Millwaukee Brewers, who beat every ounce of pride out of the Pirates with a 20-0 win (Yes, this is baseball). I know some like to be humble, but there is a difference between being humble and being humiliated.  Sorry this was the latter.  20 tears of pain! 

65.  The NCAA has signed a $10.8 billion contract deal with Turner and CBS to broadcast every Men's Tournament game live.  The Tourney will also likely expand for next year to 68 teams giving us not one, but four play in games.  This expansion is better than the alternative of 96 teams which would have diluted the tournament and killed the NIT.  The 65 format was foolish anyway having one of the one-seeds play a team that already played and the other three not.  It was confusing who played it (it was not always the number one overall seed), when it was (Tuesday night?), and why?  At least this will work equally in all four regions.  A little nervous anytime you mess with perfection.

 

University of Arkansas School of Law.  Third-year law students at this fine institution have attended their last classes EVER.  Congratulations and good luck on Finals and the Bar or whatever else you will be doing! Buckets full of tears of joy, laughter and happiness.

Do you feel about Friday Farewells the way first-year law students do about the law library, cannot get enough? Well we made it easy for you, just click here.

Friday Farewells for April 2, 2010

This Final Four edition of Friday Farewells is brought to you by the number 4 & the letter F (I have spent way too much time watching television with my 2 year-old daughter).

Farewell:

Freedom. Cleveland Browns tackle Shaun Rogers attempted to board an airplane, but was arrested. He was not however arrested because he took up two seats, but because his gun and bullets with him apparently did. So in a role reversal the tackle was tackled by airport security. Taking a loaded gun in your bag with you on an airplane produces the same results as a bad roll of the dice in monopoly, both land you directly in jail without passing go. Tears? Oh yes a few tears of laughter at his stupidity & at the thought of twelve TSA officials trying to take down this mammoth of a man.

Mind. Jim Playfair coach for the Abbotsford minor league hockey team bid farewell to his mind and self respect with his tirade.  I can't say more except if you have 53 seconds watch this meltdown. The only tears will come if you attempt to read lips.

John Wall’s Player of the Year Award. The AP apparently didn’t believe all the hype it was responsible for creating and made the correct decision choosing Evan Turner from Ohio State as the AP’s Player of the Year. Some may disagree with this decision, but they are wrong. Hard to feel bad when they got it right.

Privacy. The probe into Santonio Holmes alleged assault of a college student will be reactivated. The difference this time the victim will cooperate. Holmes is said to have thrown a glass at the student, hitting her in the face resulting in a laceration. TMZ has already reserved curbside parking at Holmes’ house along with the rest of the paparazzi. The upside his quarterback Ben knows a good attorney. Innocent until photographed looking guilty.

Championship Hopes. This just in UNC’s championship hopes vanished last night well at least for the NIT. Roy Williams stated what we all knew, that winning the NIT is not in his hopes and dreams. It is not in my hopes and dreams either Roy.

Security Guard. If you want to keep your job at Lucas Oil Arena, you probably should not mistake the coach of the Butler Bulldogs for a player. This is what a security guard did to Coach Brad Stevens on Thursday. Feel bad for the guy, but really Stevens doesn’t look old enough to play he looks like one of the player’s little brother. I feel your pain Brad, I got asked why I was skipping my Junior High Classes last Friday.

Olympic Roster Spot. USA Basketball managing director Jerry Colangelo has informed Dwayne Wade & Lebron James their roster spots for the Olympic Roster is not guaranteed if they skip this summer’s World Championships.  Both have indicated the plan to take this summer off.  No King, No Flash…No Gold Medal?Gulp!?!

Anonymity. Four6Three is no longer unknown as we received a comment from the Famous Dan Brown. No not the author of The DaVinci Code & Angel’s & Demons, but the one who runs podcasts and blogs. Yes Dan you are the famous one in our eyes and we would like to invite you to make a guest appearance on the Four6Three. Ecstatic someone famous is leaving comments, next stop ESPN.

Are you like Jo Dean Gates and can't get enough of Friday Farewells wll then here you go?

Strange Foursome

Ever showed up to the golf course as a single and gotten put in a foursome where you don't know any of the other three.  About halfway through the round you realize that the other three don't know each other either.  That is the kind of Final Four we have for college basketball completely different stories for each of these teams and none of them or their coaches would feel comfortable hanging out with the others. 

Duke is a basketball blue-blood who has not made the trip to the Final Four since 2004.  Why Duke will win it all? Teamwork, Talent, Toughness, Tenacity, and inTangibles.  Duke is the best balance of all facits of the game.  Although they may not be the best at any one thing Duke is really good at all of them. Also being the bigget name left in the tournament Duke won't be afraid of anyone. 

Michigan State is the next closest in basketball tradition and although does not have the titles that Duke does in recent history the Spartans have been to 6 of the last 12 Final Fours.  They are used to this atmosphere after all they are here every-other year.  Michigan State just finds a way to win.  If it is close with a few minutes left the Spratans like their chances and I do to. 

West Virginia sticking to their name has not won a championship since Jerry West played for them, now his son a reserve will try to be the West on this championship team.  This team is tried and tested.  The Big East Tournament Champions made it through that on-slaught and have since weathered even the likes of the great Kentucky Wildcats.  West Virginia will not play a team more talented than Kentucky, but the question remains can they stop a team that plays team basketball the way Duke does. 

Butler has been a great bracket buster program for the last few years, but steadily has been moving in on top ranked status.  This is different though this is the Final Four and Butler is the first little guy since George Mason to be there except Butler has a chance to win it all.  Home sweet home.  Butler will be playing in front of a home crowd in Indy.  The arena is 6 miles from Butler's campus.  This will either be a huge advantage or the pressure may cause the Bulldogs to crack. 


Later on in the Week the Four6Three makes our picks. 

Friday Farewells for March 26, 2010

This late edition of Friday Farewells is brought to you by Bricktown and the Mick (OKC knows what I am talking about).

Farewell:

Terrific Finish. Has there been a better game in recent memory than Xavier vs. Kansas State? Big shot after big shot with the game on the line. This was a fun one for sure. The only sorrow here is it had to end and someone had to lose.

Effort. Saint Mary’s apparently thought the season ended last week and packed it up before getting shellacked by the Baylor Bears. Don’t get me wrong Baylor is a great team, but they did not play the same team that beat Villanova last week. Sad when Cinderella leaves the Ball at least we still have Northern Iowa at least until the clock strikes midnight.

All but Eight. One by one they have been eliminated until after tonight there is only eight. It has been too much fun to watch them drop.

Best Player. The best player in the country Evan Turner is out of the tournament in a close loss to Tennessee. This proves once again in college hoops TEAM reigns supreme. This is sad because he is fun to watch.

One Seeds. There is only two one seeds left and Duke still has some work to do tonight against Purdue. Only one number one seed in the Elite Eight is crazy. Two down, two to go.

Nets attendance. Even though it left long ago Nets’ ownership is doing what they can to drive the few that remain away. As if watching the Nets wasn’t bad enough. Although, the Nets are now running a new promotion Friday Fight the CEO Night this should be exciting and bring Nets fans in droves. Aghhhhh!

Jack Bauer. Fox has cancelled 24 after 8 seasons. Apparently with the Trillion Dollar Healthcare bill the government can no longer afford the number one weapon in the war on terror. Yes, Jack will enter retirement and America will be taken over with a few weeks. No tears only fear that Axis of Evil has finally defeated us.

Bracket Domination. Butler sealed my fate by taking out my pick for national champion Syracuse. It looks like I will have to wait until next year. Well I can’t win them all. I am taking this harder than I let on, but I will do the mature thing and pretend like it didn’t happen and just remind everyone I won the Bowl Pick’em.

Want to read past Friday Farewells here you go.

And The National Champ is ….Iowa!?!

Saturday night a new national champ was crowned and the score was not even close, in fact it was decided long before the tournament was even over. For those of you now scanning your brackets franticly looking for Iowa and trying to figure out when you hit your head hard enough to miss the last two weeks of college hoops don’t fear. We are not talking about the big dance. No, the winners here would never call what they do dancing or use other terms like Sweet Sixteen or Cinderella (all though they do use the Honeymooner). These young men are all grit. No they are not in the military, but for some of them basic training might be considered easy, at least they wouldn’t have to monitor everything they eat by the ounce. Many of these young me wrestled several times a day and then had to still make weight the next day only receiving a one pound increase per day, which equals about one bottle of Gatorade.

College wrestling is still alive and well and hopefully growing. While most were watching second round tournament games, collegiate wrestling was crowning its national champions. It was impressive to see that the National Championship matches were shown in primetime on ESPN. Those who wanted to watch tough young men battle it out were finally able to. Where else can you get two undefeateds vying for a national title? Only in wrestling! Congratulations to Iowa and to College Wrestling.

SAY IT AIN’T GONE JOHN!

UMass and Memphis would like to let Kentucky in on a little secret. If John Calipari leaves Kentucky any Final Four trips that he makes while wearing blue might walk out the door with him. The NCAA has officially denied Memphis appeal to not vacate their 38 win season in 2007-08 including Memphis Final Four Trip. Calipari the famous recruiter, great motivator, and winning coach can now also be known as the only coach in NCAA history to have Final Four Trips vacated at two different schools. When Coach Cal leaves town he takes everything with him and we mean everything; recruits, victories and Final Four banners. Kentucky may enjoy the benefits of the kind of turnaround few if any besides Cal can manage in just one year, but what will be the long-term costs. The real question is whether anyone in Lexington even cares? Probably not, their heads are too high in the Kentucky blue clouds dreaming dreams of a spring trip to Indianapolis.

POLICE HELP MY BRACKET!

The stories are true, but the names have been changed to protect the innocent and sure why not let’s protect the guilty too.
A completely unknown sports blog writer spent Friday night of the NCAA tournament riding shotgun in a squad car. Have you ever tried to keep track which teams are winning and how your bracket is doing while going to a code 12 on the 265? Well it’s intense (or so I have heard and by the way that is not the real code either that is classified, but it is a number 1-100). There is nothing like trying to find out if Louisville is beating Cal while going to a noise ordinance call. Even better is finding out about Michigan State and New Mexico State while issuing a citation.

It was a cool night with a storm moving in and there was something strange in the air (possibly Cajun steak on the breath of the blog writer). It started with getting the attention of a police officer in his vehicle to let the writer into the police station. The writer waited in the breakroom until the sergeant came and asked if he wanted to sit in on a staff meeting. The staff meeting would be symbolic of the night in general, basketball mixed with police work. In the corner sat a giant big screen tuned to the only station played in work places during the month of March, CBS. As the officers learned about special areas to focus on and people and vehicles to be on the lookout for, the blogger was distracted by Michigan State vs. New Mexico State and the tiny ticker in the corner of the screen informing of all the recent and current scores.

The writer was assigned to his officer, who proved to be an all around great guy and great officer, and waited by the breakroom while the officer started the vehicle. Then they were off. First stop a side street off a main thoroughfare where the speed limit changes. This was radar gun paradise and sure enough Duke was up big. Five minutes in and they had the lights going that first stop is thrilling. Then as Georgia Tech was closing on Oklahoma State and they were leaving the stop they were dispatched to a car accident. There is nothing more thrilling than a double-digit seed making a run to the Sweet Sixteen and a full siren and lights run to a scene. As you are accelerating and cars are pulling to the sides the blood really gets to pumping and the adrenaline kicks in (or so they tell me).

Accidents are unfortunate even without injuries, because people have been scared, their property smashed, and embarrassment for having messed up. This was similar to the range of emotions the blogger was feeling as he received a text message informing him that Louisville, who he had making a run to the Sweet Sixteen, was losing to Cal. After the accident the officer was dispatched to a noise disturbance, as the officer went to check on the problem the blogger sat in the vehicle. Something eerie happened in two parallel worlds at what must have been the exact time a text informed the blogger that Louisville had been defeated the officer stepped in puke. Again all two similar the blogger’s bracket was puked on the same time as the officer. As disappointing as not being able to wear a bulletproof vest the blogger’s bracket was now destroyed.
What could possibly cheer up the officer and the distraught blogger, both feeling a little nauseas at this point? Surprisingly it was the police world that provided a lift to the spirits of both. A driver decided to run not one not two, but three stop signs in a row. It was something miraculous the third one ran as the lights were flashing, much like a last second shot hurtling through the air with lights flashing and horns sounding the triple non-stopper is a sight to behold.

It just goes to show you at the end of the day whether you win, lose, or step in puke there is something beautiful and exciting to hang your hat or police utility belt (yes it is just like batman's) on every day.  If you ever get the chance to take a ride along with the police or a last second shot don't pass. 

Friday Farewells for March 19, 2010

This week's edition of Friday Farewells is brought to you by the Big Dance (just don't tell them). 

This week we must say our so long to so many so let's get to it.

Farewell:

33 Teams.  Over one half of the 65 tams in the NCAA Tournament will be finished at the close of today (depending on your time zone).  We are glad they came and thrilled at their effort sadly they are one and done.  If only there was some way they could still be playing like a Consolation Bracket.  Too many tears to count, but the Buzzer Beaters that sent some of them home were pretty awesome.

Winthrop. After losing to Arkansas Pine Bluff your trip to the Big Dance was over before the music really ever began.  Ahh the joy of playing in the play in game, a game that CBS won't even show.  Gone is your chance to go .500 in the tourney oh well misery loves company and 31 more will join you as one and done. 

Big BEast.  The Big East was regarded as the Big BEast for most of the year yet in tourney time they have quickly been renamed to the conference formerly known as the Big BEast or the Big LEast whichever you prefer.  Always sad to lose a catchy nickname that required little to no creativity, but our sorrow is brightened by an equally lame nickname. 

Mike Bellotti. Oregon's Athletic Director, resigned today and will join ESPN as an analyst.  Maybe the prison visits to Duck football players were becoming too much.  One year as an AD we still think of him as Coach.

Boring Opening Day. Last years snooze fest is over as yesterday provided one of the best in recent memory with upsets, overtimes, and buzzer beaters.  No sorrow for this departure! YAHOOOOOOO!

Perfect Bracket. Like the fountain of youth always alluding me perfection left my bracket as Vanderbilt was making their departure.  Thanks a lot Murray State. Why...Why...WHY...! 

Missed Last Weeks Farewells get them here...

Day 2 Underway

The Second day of the Big Dance is off and rolling. 
Continuing with the theme from yesterday Cornell upset Temple, however they did so in undramatic fashion.
Xavier proved too much for Minnesota although the Gophers tested the Musketeers.
West Virginia showed why many think they have a legitimate shot at making a Final Four run defeating Morgan State by 27. 
Three down fifteen still to go!

Best Opening Day Ever?

Yesterday proved to be a terrific opening day even by March Madness standards, but was it the greatest ever?  It is difficult to say for sure, but it was definitely the best in recent memory.  The thing that made yesterday so great was not the fact that a 14 and a 13 both won.  It isn't the fact that 7 lower seeds beat higher seeds.  It wasn't the fact that the Big East took a big whooping, going 1-3 yesterday thanks to Nova's overtime defeat of Robert Morris.

So what made yesterday so special? It was the fact that 9 games were still in doubt with under two minutes to go in regulation.  Many of the other 7 games were competitive much of the way.  Was it the best day ever? I don't remember a more competitive day that provided more drama.  Let's hope that the rest of the tourney isn't a let-down after all of the excitement.  At this point it might take the Golden Lions of Arkansas Pine Bluff sending the Blue Devils of Duke packing for day two to surpass day one. 

Late Night Recap

Today's action concluded with 8 games this evening 6 of which were worth the price of admission.

Kansas acted like a number one overall seed with a 90-74 win over Lehi.
Kentucky followed suit with a blow out victory over East Tennessee State.
Texas and Wake Forest went to overtime where Texas grabbed the lead and control before the Demon Deacons stormed back and then hit a jumper with under 2 seconds left to win 81-80.
San Diego State and Tennessee battled to the very end before San Diego States desperation three fell short.
Northern Iowa beat UNLV by 3 in a well played well fought game that was close all the way.
Washington upended Marquette by a deuce 80-78.
In a day of close games the upset of the day was not close as the Bobcats of Ohio defeated Georgetown by 16.
In the night cap Montana was down big at half against New Mexico, but battled back to provide one more exciting ending, but ultimatley came up just short. This concluded a day that saw buzzer beaters, upsets, overtimes and great basketball.
Will tomorrow's games be as good as today...there is only one way to find out.

Today's Bracket Leaders are Nickster and The Ultimate Sheet of Integrity picking 12 out of 16.  In a topsy turvy day this is quite an accomplishment as a reward for their efforts we would like to offer them a Topsy Turvy Tomato Planter at a low introductory price.  Nice work, tomorrow we'll see if your luck holds. 

Second Session

The Second Session is in the books.  It provided us with this years first blow out and first buzzer beater.  Kansas State dominated North Texas while Vanderbilt was upset by Murray State by an 18 footer at the buzzer.  St. Mary's and Baylor both advanced by 9 in the South Region defeating Richmond and Sam Houston respectively.  Butler closed the late afternoon with a double-digit beatdown of UTEP. 

Let's hope tonight provides more drama, upsets, and great games.