Hoops Highlights – Day 2
I was going to post this late last night, but it was too late and I was too tired.
The first two rounds are always the most fun to watch. My brackets are still fairly intact (I only got six wrong – that might be a personal best for the first round), with my upset bids from Thursday being the only ones I got wrong. Had a little scare there for a while when Texas, one of my Final Four teams, almost got beat by New Mexico State. But that’s what makes it fun – and the most wonderful time of the year!
Some more thoughts from the opening round:
* Stanford got blown out by Louisville on Day 1. I would much rather have seen one of the “mid-major” schools, like Drexel or Appalachian (pronounced “Apple-at-cha” – like “I’m throwing an apple at ya,” to those in the national sports media who can’t get that through their heads) State get a shot, since Stanford decided not to show up. Sometimes it’s nice to see the little guy play – even if he’s gonna get blown out. The game would have meant more to them.
* If Kentucky had gotten beat, this tourney would have been heavenly. Both Duke and Kentucky going down and the Hoosiers winning in the first round is like a dream come true. Too bad Nova couldn’t follow through. Two out of three ain’t bad, though.
* IU vs. UCLA – a game steeped in tradition and maybe a few ghosts.
* North Carolina plays at the same time as IU again tonight. Guess I’ve gotta go to Bailey’s again.
* Ohio State vs. Xavier in Lexington, Kentucky. Don’t tell me the selection committee doesn’t look ahead to round 2 matchups. This is the state of Ohio’s dream game.
* It seems to me that most Big Ten teams got a break by playing in Big Ten arenas for the first round. I mean – the lower seeded Illinois had to go “all the way” to Columbus, Ohio to play in Ohio State’s gym. That seems about as fair as North Carolina playing the opening round at Wake Forest, a stone’s throw from Chapel Hill.
* It will kill my bracket, but I don’t care. Go Hoosiers!!!
