Oh, what could have been.  Only four 15 seeds have ever won a tournament game.  Tonight, we nearly saw number 5.  Pop question, hot shots.  Who was the last 15 seed to win?  Bzzzzt.  Time’s up.  It was the Hampton Pirates in 2001, who defeated a supremely overrated and overseeded Iowa State team.  This, though, would not have been anything like that.  Duke is not overrated, nor overseeded.  Belmont nearly pulled off a miracle the likes of which hasn’t been seen since Villanova beat Georgetown in 1985.  (Wierdly, the team that won the national championship in 2001, the last time a 15 seed won a game?  You guessed it – Duke.)

Grape Ape – Did anyone ever watch that cartoon with the gigantic purple gorilla?  Me either, but I remember seeing one or two episodes as a young person, probably during periods of near catatonic boredom.  Anyway, Grape Ape’s canine pal was Beegle the Beagle, whom Grape Ape called Beegley Beagley.  By now you’re wondering what in the world this has to do with basketball, and the answer is nothing, of course, BUT watching Kansas State’s Michael Beasley makes we want to put on my best Grape Ape and say, “Score the rock, Beasley, Beasley”.  Actually, I think the comparison between Beasley Beasley and a 40 foot purple gorilla rather appropriate, don’t you? 

Wow, Missed That One – I thought I had a chance at a shocker by picking number 13 Winthrop over number 4 Wazzou. (aka Washington State.  While we’re on the subject, what’s the deal with “Wazzou”, anyway?  I mean, I can understand shortening Missouri to Mizzou, but how does Washington arrive at such an abbreviation?  Is it because they have Starbucks out the Wazzou?  I know this line of questioning is going nowhere, but these are the things that keep me awake at night.)  The only thing shocking about this game was the abominable final score of 71 – 40.  Maybe it’s points they have out the Wazzou.

Speaking Of Washington – I received a phone call yesterday from a random gentlemen in Walla Walla, Washington.  I, at age 37, honestly believed that Walla Walla was a purely fictional place until someone called me from there.

This Is Why 64 Teams Is At Least 4 Too Many – This is NCAA, Division I Men’s basketball, right?  So how is it that Mississippi Valley State managed to score 29 points against UCLA.  29 points, not in the first half, but in the entire game.  I saw the last 60 seconds of this game.  If that’s the best the South West Athletic Conference has to offer…

Ok, on to the important stuff.  With 16 games in the books, we have five contestants with perfect records.  It is impossible for me to know for sure, but I don’t recall that many players picking the first 16 games perfectly.  So, let’s begin by giving the Fab Five award to those five gentlemen: KJ Afterkirk, Ralph Forey, Brian Gaffney, Ryan Mathews, and Joey Inskeep.

The It Happens Every Year award goes to Bob Hillman, who, I know, already received an award, but I just have to recognize that he picked a 16 seed, Texas-Arlington, to go all the way.  Reference earlier comment about chimpanzee.

The So Far, You Missed award goes to Fess “Shootin’ For Last” Bryson.  So far, he is tied for 6th.

The You’re Still My Number One, sponsored by Verizon Wireless (it’s the network, of course), goes to my oldest daughter, Andrea Little.  She is going to need a little encouragement in the morning if she checks her picks with bright-eyed excitement only to find she’s in last place.  Andrea likes to win, and I know that comes as a great surprise to those of you who know me well.

The Victim Mentality award goes to 371st place Max Southern, whose alias seems to indicate a real problem with personal responsibility.

One award that I traditionally give out at the end of the contest is the rookie of the year award.  In order to do that, I need to know who all the rookies are.  If this is your first year ever to enter the contest, lease shoot me a quick email.

That’s all for now.  More news tomorrow.

Jeff “I Should Write For ESPN” Little