It’s the best two sports days of the year. Nothing in any
sport can rival the joy and intensity of watching the first week of
March Madness.
The Super Bowl is only one game, and it’s more about the
commercials and wardrobe malfunctions than the game itself.
But the first week of the NCAA Tournament is a single
elimination free-for-all. Games are being played all day that have
a huge impact on the tournament.
Still not convinced?
I haven’t even mentioned the bracket pools yet. Never have
so many people broken the law since Prohibition.
Here’s my latest invention ““ a “preview”
diary on what to expect over the next couple of days:
Thursday, 9:15 ““ 11:40 a.m.
Yes, it’s early. But the three early games are worth
waking up for the sleepyheads out there.
Florida coach Billy Donovan pulls out his annual “I am not
a crook and these recruits are legit” face. Everyone in the
country will fall in love with the Manhattan Jaspers.
If Charlotte’s Mike Blavich goes 8-for-9 with his
3-pointers like he did at Syracuse earlier this season,
they’ll beat Texas Tech and Bobby Knight will throw a chair
or two. Or three.
Thursday, 11:40 a.m. ““ 2 p.m.
Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim curses the NBA for stealing Carmelo
Anthony, as BYU becomes the annual No. 12 seed to win in the first
round.
St. Joseph’s plays Liberty and for a few minutes, will
look like the first No. 1 team to lose in the first round. Then
they’ll beat Liberty by 80.
Thursday, 2 ““ 4:10 p.m.
Only game going on is Stanford and Texas-San Antonio, which may
not even be televised. When Stanford has clinched victory at 2:10,
take this time to study. Remember, for some of you, finals start
Friday.
Thursday, 4:10 ““ 6:35 p.m.
Plenty of appealing games at this time slot. Vermont’s
Taylor Coppenrath will score 50 points. Unfortunately, Connecticut
will score 70 and the rest of Vermont will only score 10.
Las Vegas’ annual “will the No. 16 seed ever have
the lead?” game is Duke-Alabama State.
No. 3 Texas will either kill Princeton (beating them 50-20), or
lose 41-38 (remember that score, UCLA fans?).
Thursday, 6:35 ““Â 9 p.m.
Arizona will look toward Saturday’s game against Duke. One
problem ““Â they’ll lose to Seton Hall Thursday.
Air Force will beat North Carolina 39-37, setting up the lowest
shot-clock game ever against Princeton. I call 4-2.
Friday 9:15 a.m ““ 11:30 a.m.
The glory starts all over again. Even though N.C. State will be
blowing out the Rajin’ Cajuns, CBS will show highlights of
the 1983 Championship game about 1 million times. The public just
can’t get enough Jim Valvano.
Friday, 11:30 a.m. ““ 2 p.m.
Cincinnati coach Bob Huggins will make his annual early exit to
an underdog, this time to East Tennessee State. Western Michigan
will beat Vanderbilt by one (it’s March, and a MAC team is
playing).
Friday, 4:10 ““ 6:30 p.m.
Mississippi State will show up as the frauds they are and play
No. 15 Monmouth close. Wisconsin will smash the Spiders.
And Providence will lose at the buzzer when a Pacific player
shoots the ball after the clock reads 0.0 but before the final horn
sounds.
Kentucky will beat Florida A&M by 99.
Friday, 6:30 ““ 9 p.m.
Illinois-Chicago, everyone’s trendy upset pick, will lose
to Kansas by 30. Ben Howland’s old team will win their first
of six games the rest of the way.
Rick Pitino’s Louisville squad will continue their
heartbreaking season and lose by one to Xavier.
And the first round of the NCAA Tournament is over. Only 31
exciting games left.
I love March.
Like a million other bandwagoners, Gilbert is picking
Kentucky. E-mail Quiñonez at
gquiñonez@media.ucla.edu.