Musings from Bracketville

In between promos for Spring Break Shark Attack, CBS actually aired the games of NCAA tournament. Here are my observations:

* Even though Stanford's 23-point first-round loss on Friday was arguably its worst tournament performance in ten years, this loss bothered me the least of all of them. The repeated setbacks this team faced (Moore and Bradford leaving the team, Morris's ineligibility, the 0-3 Pac 10 start and Grunfeld's injury) had the effect of continually lowering expectations. Without any depth or reliable outside shooting (which was a problem even before Grunfeld went down) we really had no chance in the tourney. This was a rebuilding season by any measure and a 3rd place conference finish and an NCAA bid are nothing to be ashamed of.

* Louisville's drubbing of Georgia Tech today is easily the most impressive win of the tournament so far. And yes, I am kicking myself for picking Wake instead of Louiville to reach the Final Four.

* Speaking of Louisville, Francisco Garcia has the most deceptive three-point shot in the country. Here's tall, muscular foward throwing up a hiiiigh arcing bombs that look like they have no chance- yet in the basket they go.

* It really annoys me when analysts use a few tournament results to make generalizations about conference strength. The rationale goes: "Hey the Big East must be overrated because UConn, Syracuse and B.C. all lost." But that conveniently ignores the fact that Villanova and West Virginia pulled off upsets this weekend. The tourney is a hodgepodge of random events- let's not leap to conclusions just because they're convenient.

* For the second year in a row, UAB's Squeaky Johnson has claimed the tournament's Best Name award. Pops Mensah-Bonsu, JamesOn Curry, Rajon Rondo, Taylor Coppenrath and Jarrett Jack round out the Honorable Mention List.

* When Kansas set up for their final chance to win the game against Bucknell, I was torn. Do I root for the upset or for the buzzer-beater? It's hard to go against the little school when you know it would be the biggest win in school history. But on the flipside I had Kansas going to the Elite 8 in my bracket and I've always liked the Jayhawks. I ended up rooting for Simien to make that shot, mainly because it's been so long since we've had a true tourney buzzer beater. They're actually much more rare than the CBS promotional department would have you believe.

* I can't decide whether OSU-Arizona or Louisville-UW will be the best game of the Sweet 16. Either way, what could be more fun than rooting against two Pac 10 rivals?

* There is no doubt however, that Texas Tech-West Virginia is the worst game of the next round. I'm already bracing for the onslaught of stories on the resurgence of Bob Knight. I can't stand it when the media latches on to a familiar coach because they have no other reporting angles.

* As for my bracket, I've had my share of maddening blunders (especially picking Pitt to reach the Sweet 16) but overall I still have a chance. Wake and Kansas are my only Elite Eight teams that have been eliminated. It's easy to forget that you can't overreact to the first two rounds- as long as your title teams are still playing, you've got a shot to win the pool.