March Madness Living Up To The Name and Then Some

What an incredible three days we have seen in the NCAA Tournament. A #1 seed and by most, a favorite to win it all, Kansas, was gone by Saturday night. Most people had Georgetown going to at least the Sweet 16, but they get bounced, or trounced, by Ohio U, not Ohio St. The Racers of Murray St. topple Vanderbilt and very nearly made it to the Seed 16 but fell just short to Butler.

The tourney is playing out just as I like it. Mid Major schools are sending the giants home early. St. Mary's, led by forward Omar Samhan and guards Mickey McConnell and Matthew Deladova beat a strong Richmond team who some thought could make the Sweet 16. But they didn't stop there. They toppled #2 seed Villanova, led by Scottie Reynolds. The Wildcats were fortunate to even be playing the Gayles since they were nearly taken out in the first round by 15 seed Robert Morris. St. Mary's faces Baylor in the Sweet 16. Who would have thought of that. The biggest upset of all so far was the Panthers of Northern Iowa shooting down, literally, the top dog in the whole thing; the mighty Kansas Jayhawks. I, like many people, had them cutting down the nets in Indy. Just like Ali/Frazier, it was Ali/Kansas. Down goes Kansas! I'm referring to Northern Iowa's Sharpshooting Guard Ali Forukmanesh. He shoots the winning shot to beat UNLV in the first round, and then, with 36 seconds left and UNI with a tenuous 1 point lead on the Jayhawks. He shoots what most coaches would call an ill-advised three pointer and makes it to go up by four. It was the shot of the game and the knock out punched that sent Kansas to the canvas.

The upsets continued as 13 seed Cornell knocked out Temple, Ole Dominion toppled Notre Dame before falling to Baylor in the second round. Could we be seeing another "George Mason" in the Final Four. Some think Northern Iowa might be this year's George Mason. Why Not? They beat the overall No. 1 seed Kansas. Kansas St. needs to be considered now as a possible national title contender. The Wildcats, led by shooting guard Jacob Pullen and PG Danny Clemente, put on a show as they knocked out BYU. The Cougars themselves faced K St. as a result of their double OT win over Florida. K State's Pullen had 34 points and connected on 7 three pointers. The state of Kansas may yet have a national champion, just not the one most thought it would be.

There is still a lot of ball to be played. Today, Syracuse, a No. 1 seed and picked by many to win it all, takes on Gonzaga. Cornell tries to continue their upset ways as they face Wisconsin. Duke faces a tough California team. Georgia Tech, who is peaking at the right time, faces red hot Ohio St. Pitt faces Xavier, Michigan St. takes on Maryland. Many more chances for madness, buzzer beaters and upsets. I love it!