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. 

Monday's Marquee Matchup

Finally, the matchup we have been waiting for... Villanova at West Virginia. Three weeks ago, all anyone could talk about was the Big 12 matchup of Kansas and Texas in Austin on the 8th of February. Texas has since lost 4 of 6 and is tied with Missouri for fourth in the Big 12. After being drubbed Saturday by a 13-9 Oklahoma team, tonight is a real test for the Longhorns. It is not a must win, but they must be competitive to try and get things back on track.

The matchup between Villanova and West Virginia is another Big East brawl. It should be a dandy as Villanova looks to get back on track after losing only their second game of the year to Georgetown on Saturday. The Mountaineers of West Virginia last lost January 16, to first place Syracuse. The Mountaineers are not always pretty, but just seem to find ways to win behind their great frontline while the Wildcats thrive on their backcourt play lead by Scottie Reynolds. With a victory, Villanova will join Syracuse atop the Big East, but a loss and the Mountaineers will tie the Wildcats in second place.