I’m not sure if even solace can be given by the Kansas Jayhawks, Villanova Wildcats or Georgetown Hoyas for breaking as many brackets as they did in the first four days of the NCAA tournament. I can never remember so many pre-tourney faves going down so early on. Heck, I can never remember a No. 1 seed – scratch that, THE No. 1 seed – being eliminated in the second round.
In the East region, both the 11 and the 12 seeds are still alive in the Sweet Sixteen. In the South, No. 10 St. Mary’s and their crew of Australians are yet to go down under – bad pun, I know. The only No. 3 seed left alive is Baylor.
If there’s one thing that has been reinforced by this year’s tournament, it’s that nothing can ever be taken for granted with these seedings and sometimes, going with Murray State over Vanderbilt because you live on Murray Street is the right thing to do – well at least in my girlfriend’s train of thought it was, RTP had Vandy taking that one.
So now the real question is: How many casual fans will continue watching? With a large percentage of brackets destroyed, those who cared simply for their pools will be put to the test when games get back underway on Thursday. Will the potential for more stunning upsets hold true? Only time will tell.
March MADNESS indeed !