Now That’s More Like It
Posted by pauliesplatform on March 21, 2008
NCAA Tournament Day 2 was much different from Day 1 in terms of excitement. In the just-completed afternoon session we saw a buzzer beating 3-pointer by #12 seed Western Kentucky finally put away the #5 seed Drake 101-99 in OT in the game of the tournament so far. It was a stunning finish to a great game that set a tourney record for 3-pointers as the teams combined to make 30 of them. Also, #13 seed San Diego stunned an over-rated Connecticut team 70-69 in OT on a last second basket by De’ Jon Jackson of San Diego. UConn seemed to play very uninspired for most of the game as they lost point guard A.J. Price to injury and lost for the first time in the first round of the tournament since the program’s revival in 1990. Combine these two great games with Belmont’s near upset of another over-rated team, Duke, last night and now this tourney is really starting to cook. The Bruins fell a point short to Duke, 72-71, but showed that the Cinderellas are ready to finally crash this party. It took a while, but they are here to stay and at least one double digit seed, Western Kentucky or San Diego, will advance to the Sweet 16 because they will meet each other on Sunday as a result of their upsets today. In the night session, we saw two more Cinderellas step forward as #13 Siena shockingly crushed #4 Vanderbilt 83-62 and #12 Villanova overcame an 18-point first half deficit to defeat #5 Clemson, a team many felt could make it to a Regional Final, 75-69 as coach Jay Wright’s Wildcats had a complete turnaround in the second half to put away another over-rated ACC school. This sets up another 12 vs 13 matchup for the right to go to the Sweet 16 as Villanova and Siena meet on Sunday. I was shocked at how Siena dominated Vandy, a solid SEC team, all game. Vandy just could not get a shot to fall and it really cost them as the Saints had their way with the Commodores the entire game. This is what watching this tournament is all about: hoping for the unexpected and then actually getting it. There is no better sporting event in terms of excitement than these first 2 days of the tournament. It’s when the little guys have the chance to step to the forefront of the sporting world. Even if they lose these next games, it has been a great ride already for Western Kentucky, San Diego and Siena. Even Villanova, a Big East team, can feel good because they are doing it primarily with all sophomores and freshmen. They got a 12 seed and weren’t expected to do much, but look at them now. This is a tournament of dreams and for two of these double digit seeds, the dance will continue into next week. It’ll be a great ride to witness as the Madness continues this weekend.
