Now for some musings on a weekend vacationing in the Land of Overinflated Balls.
Otherwise known as the Greatest Weekend in Sports, the opening two rounds of the NCAA tournament.
Have no comments on the testicularity of it all. But can say from a personal standpoint, my eyes are crying for a rest, and my stomach is yelping, “Enough with the popcorn.”
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As for the hoops, a significant dialog has been the lament over the demise of Cinderfellas.
Which is, frankly, the foreseeable and inevitable Now
of college hoops, given NIL and Transfer Portal machinations.
You think 20-12 Alabama Birmingham might have had a few more dubs and been dancing had one of the Blazers’ starting forwards gone by the name Yaxel Lendeborg?
So, yeah, it’s the way of world these days.
We still had High Point. And VCU coming back from 19 down to beat North Carolina, biggest deficit overcome in 1st round history. And St. Louis turning Georgia over under sideways down.
And Furman and Siena and California Baptist making things interesting.
But, for the second straight year, no 13-15 seed won a game.
Decry if you must, it’s still the greatest show this side of Barnum & Bailey.
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Let’s consider Iowa for a second or two.
Not just for taking down the defending champion Gators, and doing so by outcoaching (and outplaying) them at the critical moment.
The Hawkeyes are now mentored by Ben McCollum, who two years ago was at Northwest Missouri State, where he won a quartet of DII championships.
Last season, he moved on to Drake, bringing along his star, Bennett Stirtz. The Bulldogs went 31-4, won the Missouri Valley, and upended Mizzou in the Round of 64.
So, after a lone season of extreme success there, he was snatched up by Iowa, which finally tired of Fran McCaffery’s crankiness.
Stirtz followed him to Iowa City, along with fellow Bulldogs, Cam Manyawu, Tavion Banks and Kael Combs. Smaller college dudes who fashioned the biggest upset of this opening weekend.
Oh yeah, there’s that other guy.
Alvaro Folgueiras. The fellow who made the shot.
He’s a portal mover from Robert Morris, a school still beloved by UK Wildcat dislikers hither and yon.
Yes Iowa is still Iowa, from the Big Ten, the league with the most schools standing, six of 16, but that gang would probably be here if they were Drake.*
*A history lesson for you youngsters. Drake gave UCLA the biggest scare of the Lew Alcindor run to three straight titles. In the ’69 national semi, contested at Freedom Hall. The Bruins survived 85-82. The refs let Drake sub and future world class decathlete Rick Wanamaker batter UCLA’s famous center, who still got 25 and 21. But that allowed Willie Wise and Dolph Pulliam and Willie McCarter to make it a game.
Texas is the other P4 afterthought that still survives, from the First Four actually.
Iowa may be somewhat, arguably cute and lovable.
Texas, uh, no.
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Iowa’s next foe is conference pal, neighboring Nebraska.
The Nebrasketballers are a nice story actually.
The Huskers won their first NCAA game ever. Had so much fun, they did it again, surviving a last second halfcourt bounceout heave from Vandy’s Tyler Tanner.*
*Over inflated Wilson Evo NXT conspiracy theorists have at it.
The OKC arena was packed to the gills with Cornhusker fans. Giving Fred Hoiberg’s troops the proverbial home court advantage.
I couldn’t help but think back fondly to Market Square Arena on March 24, 1980.
The Cardinals, with a significant home court advantage in close by Indy, prevailed as we know, 59-54. Freedom Hall North we called the gym.*
*Which was also the site of Elvis Presley’s last concert.
So, Nebraska, if not exactly an underdog, or a Cinderfella, is a pretty neat story too.
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My favorite moments from the first weekend:
Watching St. John’s vs. Kansas with my ex-, the Film Babe, a huge RP fangirl. While partaking in some deepdish from Chicago’s famous Lou Malnati’s. (You can get it here in Louisville at Fresh Market.)
The final 10 seconds of regulation of Kentucky vs. Santa Clara. Three lead changes. Three clutch shots, including that midcourt make that sent the game to OT.
Herb Sendek, your players should have known from practice to foul three points up.
* * * * *
A last thought on the whole darling underdog George Mason thing.
When it gets to Weekend II, I like the cream to have arrived at the top.
I want to see the Big Boys slug it out.
And, ladies and gents, that’s what we got coming up.
* * * * *
Especially in Friday’s East Regional.
Where the participants have an estimable 15 national titles (kinda) amongst ’em.
UConn with six crowns faces two-time titleholder Michigan State.
Duke with five championships will battle St. John’s, still looking for their first crown, but coached by Brioni- wearing Rick Pitino, who has a couple and is fully capable and desirous of adding a third at a third school to his resumé.
That regional alone should have hoopaholics on OD alert.
I’m not going to go through the other games. Other than to say there are reasons that very matchup is compelling.
Illinois O vs. Houston D.
Arizona vs. Whatever Calipari and Acuff can pull out of their hat.
Etc, etc.
— c d kaplan
