A Primer For Round One

This past Sunday was about hope and hurt in the world of the NCAA. Selection Sunday could be considered one of the most anticipated, and nervous, days in an annual calendar. But now that the crying of elation and disappointment have had a couple of days to run their course, it's time for fan and pool junkie alike to make their eyes hurt.

The first two days of the tournament are the best, plain and simple. There are so many games, so many matchups, and so many chances for "magic" to happen. And how do we get there? Through a selection committee that sifts through papers and game tape to find and place the field of 65.

The brackets are out, and now the selection committee gets to sit back and watch the fruits of their labor. By the way, if you consider labor being locked in a boardroom and watching college basketball, I must say, "bravo!" For days, the expert and complete novice are giving their best guesses at who will eventually take home the trophy.

"Who's your sleeper?"

"Which bracket is the toughest one?"

"What you got for the Final Four?"

"So, what's the answer? Who's your champ?"

Everybody and their momma is trying to figure out the upsets, dark horses, and the big boys that just can't lose. But I'm a near-sighted kind of guy. Actually, I do wear glasses, but that's beside the point. I'm here just to focus on two aspects of the tourney, how the committee did and what to watch for in the first-round.

One of the opening thoughts observers have after looking at the brackets involve those teams that shouldn't have been invited to the party. Overall, I thought the guys in Indy did a good job of picking this year's participants. Looking at the list of snubs (Miami [OH], Notre Dame, Maryland, etc.), I didn't see any team that should have been put in over another squad.

I guess a case could be made for Notre Dame, but when you choke against Rutgers in the conference tourney, the taste of a bad impression might not get cleared so easily.

The closest thing to a snub in this bracket was the treatment of Louisville. A 29-4 team that wins both conference titles and they get a four-seed? Sure, Conference USA isn't the Big East or the ACC, but to survive encounters with Charlotte, Cincinnati, DePaul, TCU, and more deserves better.

There were a couple of surprises on my list, Washington getting a one-seed and Northern Iowa just getting in. The Huskies have had a great season to follow up on a Madness bid last year. But with a weak Pac-10 in '04-'05, I wasn't sure that the best team, U-Dub or Arizona, would be a top seed. Shows what I know.

The Panthers finished strong in the Missouri Valley regular season, but after a loss to SMS in their conference playoff, I didn't think they had enough to get in. Again, the committee proves me wrong.

Okay, the griping is out of the way. Let's get to the games. In the pit of my stomach, there are a couple of games that just seem to be set up for an upset.

UAB vs. LSU

The Blazers, as many remember from last year, play a run-and-gun style with lots of defensive pressure. That can cause trouble for the Tigers, who might have issues with depth, especially in the scoring column. Can UAB prove to the naysayers that they belong ... again?

Northern Iowa vs. Wisconsin

Another 6-11 game, it's a classic clash between a rapid-fire offense and a stalwart defense. UNI hits around 39% from outside the arc and 48% of their shots, while the Badgers only score two players in double digits. For Wisconsin, can they avoid the scoring droughts of the Big 10 final? Or will the Panthers be able to control the flow of the game?

I'll also be keeping an eye on the Alabama vs. Wisconsin-Milwaukee game. There's got to be one 12-seed winner.

Then there are those games that should be broadcast everywhere. They're the ones that are intriguing not just for the teams, but for their star players. I think these three contests will provide that more than any of the Thursday/Friday games.

Syracuse vs. Vermont

A chance for Northeastern braggin' rights for the Catamounts and their two-man wrecking crew of T.J. Sorrentine and Taylor Coppenrath. However, they'll have to solve the 2-3 zone of Jim Boeheim's Orange. That means a third scoring threat will probably have to come through. Will Vermont limit the damage of the 'Cuse long bodies (Hakim Warrick, Louie McCroskey, Terrance Roberts, and Craig Forth)?

Southern Illinois vs. St. Mary's

One mid-major team that reaching household name status meets another one that hopes to start on the same path. The Salukis continue to win the Missouri Valley, this year with the performance of the guard. Although the Gaels have eight losses, this team is no joke. They play 7-8 deep and have good balance on the interior (Daniel Kickert) and outside (E.J. Rowland and Paul Marigney). Just because the teams aren't terribly familiar, don't give up on this one.

Villanova vs. New Mexico

New Mexico is hot and loaded with scoring (five players in double figures). 'Nova is riding a lot of hype into the tourney, but it's well-deserved after slugging their way through the Big East. Allen Ray, Randy Foye, and Curtis Sumpter have emerged to lead a small and athletic Wildcat team. The talented Villanova trio takes on Danny Granger and his pack of Lobos. This one will be fun!

With that, I leave you to watch as the events unfold over the weekend. Enjoy the crazy, insane, nutty Madness of the season.

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