Sunday Thrills And Spills
After a Saturday devoid of upsets, Sunday provided a bit more drama and three upsets en route to completing this year’s Sweet 16.
Nothing Could Be Finer…
Just as the old folk tune says, being from Carolina proved mighty fine today. North Carolina had a relatively easy time with Creighton, and North Carolina State provided the day’s first win and the Sweet Sixteen’s biggest upset when they toppled 3 seed Georgetown. The news is not all good for Tarheel fans, however, as it was announced post game that star guard Kendall Marshall has a fractured wrist. At this time it is unknown if he will be able to play any more games in this year’s tournament.
…Or Could It?
Two teams from North Carolina are in the Sweet Sixteen. So what? The state of Ohio boasts four teams in the field of sixteen, a feat never before seen in March Madness. Three of those Ohio teams played today, to wit…
X Marks The Spot
Of the two unprecedented 15 seeds playing in the round of 32, only Lehigh made a respectable attempt to win. Sadly, after roaring to an early lead, their second half shooting looked an awful lot like the awful shooting performance Butler put on in last year’s championship game. (For those of you who had purged that awful memory from your consciousness, I am sorry.) Xavier won a game that was closer than the final score indicated, but the more important result of this game was that I have officially decided that I do not like Xavier. I am not sure if my dislike is rational, but who cares? I just don’t like them. I don’t like their hilljack beards. I don’t like their Great White Whale of a center who spent as much time whining (“Get off me! Get off me!” He could be seen yelling in a replay of a contested rebound with Lehigh’s Knutson. What are you, a girl? Shaddup!) as he did scoring. I don’t like all the woofing after making about a half-dozen “open your eyes next time” three pointers. Sour grapes? Maybe. But again, who cares? It’s sports? I can root against whomever I want, and I want to root against this bunch.
Taking the Bull by the Horns
Ohio provided a mild upset by defeating 12 seed South Florida in a rather entertaining, back-and-forth contest that was close to the very end. The Bobcats became just the seventh team seeded 13 or higher to advance to the Sweet Sixteen. No such team has ever advanced any further. I like Ohio’s chances, however, against a North Carolina team that could be without Kendall Marshall.
Somebody Call an Ambulance
Cincinnati provided the night’s final upset and the final team from Ohio in the Sweet Sixteen, beating Florida State in a bruising battle of bulk and brawn. Cinci’s success is unexpected given that the entire team was nearly sent packing after a mid-season brawl with crosstown rivals Xavier, who, oddly enough, remain in the tournament themselves.
The Spike Lee Choke Artist Award
If Reggies Miller had called the Purdue-Kansas game, he would have walked to center court and given the choke sign to Purdue’s bench when the closing horn sounded. Purdue led the entire game only to cough it up (literally) in the final 67 seconds. The Bone Headed Play Of The Day Award goes to Purdue’s Lewis Jackson, who after playing brilliantly on Friday and respectably on Sunday, inexplicably checked the air in the ball for 30 of the 35 seconds on the shot clock before dribbling into traffic and turning the ball over for the Kansas go-ahead basket. One thing is certain. Kansas is downright lucky they weren’t the third 2 seed to go home early, and I am none too impressed with them at this point.
Norfolk Who?
Florida played a game against somebody. Moving on.
Fish And Visitors
On a personal interest note, two of our contestants paid me a visit at home this weekend. Brock Zagel and his daughter Abigail stopped by on Friday night for some hoops and Chinese food. The more unexpected and more amusing visit came on Sunday when Trevis Litherland stopped by. It was unexpected because I had no idea he was even in Indiana. It was amusing because I had already left for Fort Wayne, the place from which I now write this commentary. My wife, Heather Little, sends me an instant message.
“Guess who just rang the doorbell and is sitting in our living room.”
I guess Trevis gets the Sorry I Missed You, Catch You Next Time award.
Alias Banter, Part Deux
I continue to be amused by clever aliases. Here are a few that I just can’t help but respond to.
- David “I’m ready for the madness” Brush – Apparently. 5th place.
- Brock “Now in 10th and need a cooler nickname” Zagel – Now in 12th. Cool nickname no longer required.
- Shane “(Read from R to L) bottom the from” Rose – Lowest rank was in the 60s. Not quite the bottom, but a clever alias nonetheless.
- Erica “I bleed scarlet and grey” Gallmeyer – I certainly hope that is not contagious.
- TheBigDeal – 29th. Not such a big deal.
- Jonathan “My wife is #1” Hand (waits one game) Jonathan “My wife was #1” Hand – That’s looking on the bright side.
- Heather “I love the contest manager” Little – I love you, too, babe.
- John “I bleed cubbie blue” Stephenson – Oh no! It IS contagious!!!!!
- Chad “Pickem” Wright – 69th. Chad pickem wrong.
- Dave “Not crazy, I just love Coach K” Hostler – You should call him. I hear he’s not busy.
- Nate The Great – Last place. Not so great.
Round Two Awards
And without further ado, the awards go to…
- The Upset Stomach award, brought to you by Pepto Bismol, goes to Sydney Miller, the only contestant to pick all three upsets in the round of 32. Syndey is currently in 38th place.
- The Sam, I Am award goes to Sam Glassley, Sam Bowen, and Sam Brauen who each won a contest-high 13 out of 16 games in the second round. Apparently, it’s good to be Sam. Honorable mention goes to Chad Bowen and Lewis Schafer who also won 13 games but are not named Sam.
- The Who Came Up With This Idiotic Scoring System? award goes to Joanna Snyder who has the same winning percentage as the contest leader and yet is in 59th place.
- The Most Appropriate Use of a 1980’s Fast Food Slogan award goes to Dylan “Where’s the beef?” Scheumann. Apparently, Dylan, it’s not in your picks. 463rd place.
- The Not Gonna Bow award, sponsored by Russ Taff, goes to Elliott “i refuse 2 bow 2 the unibrow” Murray.
- The Hot 100 award goes to 100th place contestant Tyler Drone.
- The What Can Brauen Do For Your? award, sponsored by UPS, goes to contest leader Sam Brauen who has put together a truly impressive collection of picks. With a 36 and 12 record and 107 points, Sam is clearly in the driver’s seat, but by no means out of reach, especially with the re-pick round coming up. Which reminds me…
Re-pick Round Starts Today
Today through Thursday at 6:00 PM you may re-pick any of the remaining 15 games you wish. I strongly, strongly encourage you to read the re-pick rules, as people get confused every year, it seems. One point of confusion is always this. Please do not email me complaining that your score is wrong because your bracket is showing red for a second round game where clearly the actual winner is listed. The bracket is showing red because your original pick was wrong. The only reason the real winner is listed there is so that the re-picking works properly in the pick grid. Your grid will revert to the teams you actually picked after the re-pick deadline on Thursday. If you are still confused, ask your 12-year-old, or send me email.
You have nothing to lose in re-picking remaining games where your original winner has already lost! You might as well give yourself a chance to win those games, so re-pick them.
And with that, I step behind the curtain once again. I hope you have been enjoying the madness so far, and I will see you again, virtually speaking, on Thursday, unless of course you show up at my house unannounced.
The Wizard of Whiteland