What the hell was that? That’s what I looked forward to all year? Where was the excitement? Where was the intrigue? Where were the upsets, the buzzer beaters and the Gus Johnson head exploding moments? Where were the shots that will live in tournament history with the Bryce Drew’s, the Drew Nicholas’, the Tyus Edny’s and to a lesser extent the Chris Loften’s? Where were the Hampton’s, the Santa Clara’s, the George Mason’s, the Road Island’s? They were all the same place Kent State’s game was, no where to be found. I, for one, was disappointed with the first day of the tournament.
The better seeds went 14-2. Last year, on day one, they were 13-3. Both times the lowest seed advance was an 11. Are the days of mammoth upsets over? I sure hope not. Not only were there no upsets yesterday, there were almost no close games. The biggest upset was an 11 over a 6. Kansas State over USC. Well, my bracket is done. At least I keep my streak up on having no good predictions. I blame this on everyone who jumped on the USC bandwagon after I did. When I saw Graig and Damman say they liked USC, I knew I should have picked Kansas State. Now K-State will go at least to the Sweet 16, possibly beyond. The other “upset” No. 9 Texas A&M over No. 8 BYU. WEEEEEEEEEEE!!! Feel the excitement.
The day could have been salvaged. The messed up brackets be damned, all could have been right and Belmont just made one more shot or stopped the ball on Dukes winning basket. Duke losing in the first round again would have made the day. I wouldn’t have cared about my Final Four team losing on the first day. Hell, I wouldn’t have cared if I didn’t pick a single game right if it meant Duke losing. If only the Belmont Bells (I know that’s not their name but I was calling that them last night and I like it) could have made one more shot. And how do you not stop the ball? Isn’t that one of the first things you are taught in basketball? The guys without the ball can’t score, so stop the ball. Duke should have lost. The should have been saved.
Instead we were left with games that the winning margin was by almost 16 points. That’s not exciting. The games were so not exciting, that I had more fun scoreboard watching when I was at work then I did actually watching the games after work. I even kept some running thoughts as I scoreboard watched instead of work. At the point, I was still excited about the games. Here’s what I wrote from 12:20 to 2:30.
The first basket of the 2008 NCAA Men’s basketball championship was scored by Xavier’s Derrick Brown. And it begins. Yippy.
Game updates are looking like this: Georgia is leading Xavier 23-17 with 7:10 in the first half, Michigan State up on Temple 11-9 with 11:51 to play and Kansas beating Portland State 15-22 with 9:50 left.
Strange, the scoreboard on CBS just had Temple take 12-11 lead then dropped them back to 11-11. Temple is getting screwed. It’s a conspiracy. Where’s Tim Donaghy at?
Oh and how ironic, MSU now leads 12-11. Weird.
Portland State was close at 21-18 to Kansas. It’s now 36-18. So there goes that historic upset. Congratulations to Kansas on being the first team to advance to the second round.
We’ve reached halftime of two games. Georgia, somehow, someway, continues to play good ball (I’m assuming since I can’t see it) and leads Xavier 35-26. It’s all but a formality for Kansas as they lead Portland State 49-26.
At 1:20 it’s halftime of all the game and MSU leads Temple 35-26. This is the one reason I’m glad I’m not watching the games. At least when it’s halftime of all the games I don’t have to hear Clark Kellogg talk.
Early in the second halves, every team has increased their leads, Georgia by 1, MSU by 5 and KU by 1. Seems like a good wave of games to miss. By the way, who coined the phrase “wave of games”? I would like to punch that person in the face. It had to have been Jim Nantz, Greg Gumble or Brent Mustberger. And if, like today, there are three noon games and only one 4 o’clock game, do they both count as a “wave?” What if there is five games tipping off at the same time. Does that classify as a “tsunami of games?”
Three boring games may turn into two boring games and one good one. X has cut the lead to 4, 46-42, 11:44.
OK we got a game. X just tied up the Bulldogs (or is it Bulldawgs?) 49-49 with 7:33.
Wait, a three, X leading 52-49 at the 7:18 mark.
Georgia starting to play like a .500 team that is tired (again, not sure since the only thing I’m watching is numbers on a computer screen). X leading 61-53.
Kansas is up by 184. Michigan State by 53. (actually 29 and 18)
The first final is in. Kansas 85, Portland State 61. Kent State is now set to tip off in 30 minutes. About 2:53.
Temple has cute the lead to ten with 3:50. X still up six with 2:41.
Bucket by Georgia, 63-59, 2:09. One for two from the line for X, 64-59, 1:45. (How do you like reading a gamecast of a gamecast?)
Bucket Georgia, 64-61, 1:24. Foul, X to the line. Made both, 66-61, 1:07. Missed shot, foul, made free throws, game over.
I think I’m about to kill someone at work. You see, in my office, there are four of us, each a desk facing one of the walls. Over my left shoulder there is this man who has to way 400 pounds, smells, stinks, talks way to much and is just an overall embarrassment of a human being. The problem is during this whole scoreboard watching, he’s been grabbing the back of my chair, leaning on my chair and desk and breathing his gross breath on me talking about the games. Go away. I’d rather take a shit with ten gay guys and then having them take turns whipping my ass than have him touch me one more time.
OK, well that’s enough. I’m sure you’re bored reading the game updates. But before I go, Marquette leads Kentucky 18-14 with 7:21 and UNLV is up 9-2 with 15:50 to play.
See, the best parts weren’t even about basketball and the day only got worse from there. Today needs to be a better day. Today will be a better day. At least it can’t be any worse. I have faith. I’m still out of work at noon and know we’ll see some better games today. As bad as yesterday was, it could be worse. Instead of blowout, boring basketball games on, there could be none. I’ll take boring game over no games. After all, it’s still Christmas. The first present you open is never the best. The good stuff is always saved for later.
Fratello
