Thursday Wrap: Things Are Eerily Quiet...
by Peter Bean on Mar 21, 2008 12:59 AM CDT
in Texas Longhorns Basketball
Email
PrintDay one of March Madness is in the books and....
Wait. Let’s back up. Today was pretty damn orderly, wasn’t it? Not only were there no upsets, but a quick tally reveals that five of our first six games today ended with double-digit victory margins. The evening’s final four games? All double-digit wins. And among the six sandwiched in between, four more were double-digit wins, with the two close games – at least to me – each dissatisfying in their own way. The A&M-BYU game was ugly (as AW called it on Tuesday, a "race to 60."), while the Duke-Belmont game (admittedly terrific) left a bad taste in the mouth of every fan without a stake in a Duke victory. Had Belmont hung on, it would have been one of those games we all remember for a decade. As is... just another high seed advancing to the weekend.
It’s always tempting to wonder whether a calm like we saw today foreshadows tomorrow’s storm, but we know better. The odds of any one team beating its opponent tomorrow are the same at this moment as they were before today’s games tipped.
As Texas fans, of course, that should be reassuring. Still, as we all know, the beauty of March Madness extends far beyond rooting for our own team’s success. We invest ourselves in the tournament as a whole. We become engrossed with upsets, compelling teams we don’t normally get to watch play, and the drama that necessarily accompanies single-elimination tournaments of this kind. And in the end, few college basketball fans tune out the tourney when their home team is eliminated.
In that sense, today just didn’t give us much of the stuff that causes us to invest in the tournament in the first place. No upsets. And just three close games all day, among which only one was dramatic. The highlight game between USC and Kansas State was a quality basketball game to watch, but even there, one team was better enough on this particular day to preclude an exciting finish to the contest.
But... with all that said, days like today always motivate me to try and focus on the potential upside; namely, that when all the higher seeded teams advance there’s a potential payoff in high quality match ups between the nation’s best teams. A Cinderella is irresistible, but in her absence, a showdown among the teams everyone considered to be the year’s best is nothing in which to be disappointed.
And anyway, Texas is still alive...
Update [2008-3-21 2:21:31 by HornsFan]: I was so buried yesterday that I didn't get around to reading this until just now, but the timing is perfect: Card Chronicle with a post on the tournament I couldn't like more. Go. Read.
--PB--
11 comments
|
0 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
Minor correction
Not only were there no upsets...
#9 A&M and #11 KSU were the only 2 upsets. Pretty cool that both of them were Big 12 teams.
by goingforthecorner on Mar 21, 2008 1:33 AM CDT reply actions
Although my brackets are completely shot....
I am pleased to see the Big 12 having a great showing so far in the tourney. With a Texas and Oklahoma win today (Friday), the Big 12 Conference will be 5-1 and the first round. Knock on wood. If teams like K-State and Oklahoma can hang on for a round or two more, it would be really good for the conference..... Baylor...well, Baylor was Baylor, they've really fallin apart this year. Remind me of Texas Tech last year in the tourney- They have no fire and just kind of showed up.
Kansas State can potentially beat Wisconsin with a performance like yesterday. Although Texas lost close games to Michigan St. & Wisconsin, I think the Big 10 Conference is pretty shit. Neither of those teams have a chance. A&M will most likely be crushed by UCLA, but here's to hoping. Oklahoma with a win over St. Joe's could potentially beat Louisville.
I never really get it.
All the fuss the media makes about "Bubble teams" and "Bubble watch" who are the last teams to get in blah blah blah.
In the first round all all those teams are gone, usually they are so over matched those games suck.
Out of 32 games only 2 or 3 are the underdogs gonna win. That second tier of teams are just awful. They are like the pre-conference's games the big teams schedule to pad their record.
Just 30 or so pointless ass whippings
The A&M-BYU game was beautiful to me
Not that I'm biased or anything ;-)
I'm just happy that Josh Carter decided to come out and play tonight.
I know about the Mormon missions, and I know they have older players than most schools, but seriously.....BYU has to be the most melanin-challenged team I've ever seen on the basketball court.
Where are you staying in Vegas?
The Kansas fans had a huge contingent in Caesars sports book last year, so if you get lonely for some Big 12 talk, you can always head over there.
Whirlwind tour
Orson's got the whole thing planned out. We're hitting every book in town.
And to be fair, there's no such thing as an ugly win in March.
But that didn't really fit with my point...
true dat
And to be fair, there's no such thing as an ugly win in March.
You may laugh, but I'm actually partial to the Excalibur's sportsbook now.
They renovated it, so you have the odds boards and desks on one side, and the big screens and seats facing the other way.
This is in contrast to every other Strip sportsbook, that has the odds boards cutting right down the middle of the big screens, so you get distracted all game when someone walks up to the desk to make a bet.
I was under the impression that Orson didn't care about college basketball? He's said that several times on EDSBS. Or is he just in Vegas for the hookers and blow? ;)
yeah, pretty slow day
Most of my upset picks ended up playing today, KState, Baylor, Georgia, and Winthrop. I even had Baylor moving on to 16 because they'd get Winthrop next round. Obviously I had no idea how good Xavier was. If only we could change it to a pick who's leading at halftime bracket, I'd be cleaning up :)
Nice day for the Big XII
3-1 on Thursday. (I only care because it makes Texas looks good.) I expect the Horns to win today, of course. O.U.? I questioned their dance card from the start, but a 6 seed? Come on. I hope St. Joe wipes the floor with them.
Disheartening First Day For Me
We're only halfway through the 1st round, but I always judge my picks with what would have happened if I just picked the higher seeds.
Higher seeds went 14 of 16 and I went 12-16. You obviously have to pick some upsets if you have any real desire to win your pool, but it's disheartening to know that if I'd only picked the higher seeds, I'd still be at the top of my office pool.
As for Belmont, didn't see that coming, but I'm sure Duke having to play in three time zones away didn't help. I feel bad for those Belmont kids though as they'll be kicking themselves for a long time. Four seconds is an eternity in basketball and their in-bounds play that got picked off seemed very low percentage and more desperate than it needed to be...more like an in-bounds play you'd run when you only had one or two seconds on the clock.
Too bad, no doubt if Belmont had pulled the upset, we'd probably view yesterday differently.
Let's see what happens today.
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Certain photos copyright © 2012 by Associated Press or Getty Images. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of Associated Press and Getty Images is strictly prohibited.
