It was a grand slam four-day weekend, the most exciting time in all of sports -- yes, that is open to argument -- when 52 college teams come and go during the opening week of the NCAA Tournament.
There were highs and lows, thrills and chills, yells and bells.
The opening weekend of the NCAA Tournament is now like most office pool brackets -- history.
After the first 16 games Thursday -- and the NCAA's First Four will always be considered play-in games as far as this space is concerned -- CBSsports.com reported that of the millions who filled out a bracket in its contest only 0.0025 percent still had not missed a game.
The East was a beast to pick. Oklahoma is the highest-seeded team left, a No. 3, and the Sooners are 25-1 odds to win it all. So is No. 4 seed Louisville, and No. 8 North Carolina State is 50-1. Ahead of them in their region is No. 7 Michigan State at 14-1 (Can you say Tom Izzo?). Incidentally, the Spartans are 0-3 against the other teams in the Sweet 16 this season.
Of course, the favorite to win it all is Kentucky at even money. Arizona is second at 13-2, and Duke and Wisconsin are 8-1.
Now all the experts are pontificating on the Sweet 16 and, believe it or not, some are explaining why the Wildcats may not win it all.
They are pointing to 2010 when Kentucky was a No. 1 seed and was beaten by West Virginia in the regional final. Well, that was five years ago and the Wildcats are still undefeated this season.
Some are saying the No. 1 seed can't shoot from outside. Don't tell that to Tyler Ulis, who has made 42 percent of his three-pointers; or Devin Booker, who has made 41 percent; or Andrew Harrison, who has made 39 percent. Aaron Harrison is shooting 31 percent.
So go ahead and clog up the middle and make the Wildcats shoot jumpers, just don't bother to unpack your bags.
Playing for a shot at Kentucky is Notre Dame and the Kansas state champions, Wichita State. The Fighting Irish are an impressive 7-1 against teams in the Sweet 16, but the loss was ugly (by 30 to Duke). The Shockers are 0-1 against the field, losing at Utah 69-68 in overtime. One of these teams has to make the Elite Eight and face Kentucky.
The East Region features the Spartans taking on the Oklahoma Sooners, and what a job Lon Kruger has done in Norman, Okla. Hired because he has a spotless record off the court with the NCAA, this is his third Big Dance with the Sooners in four years, and it is his record-setting fourth team to make the Sweet 16. He gets to take on Izzo, who is 13-1 in round of 32 games.
In the other game, look for Louisville to advance over North Carolina State, which has won its two games by a total of four points.
In the South Region, UCLA -- a No. 11 seed but not a Cinderella in the eyes of many because a long time ago it won a bunch of national championships -- has to find a way to slow Gonzaga's three-point shooters. The Zags attempted 631 three-pointers this season and made 259. That's 41 percent.
The Utes of Utah get Duke, which has won by 29 and 19 points.
The West Region is by far the toughest with the highest seeds still playing. No. 1 Wisconsin, No. 2 Arizona, No. 4 North Carolina and No. 6 Xavier will meet in Los Angeles.
The Badgers are much more physical than the Tar Heels. The only way North Carolina wins is if the officials make it a free-throw shooting contest again.
Arizona is 5-0 against teams in the Sweet 16; Xavier is 0-0. The Wildcats are very athletic and the second favorite with the oddsmakers to win the tournament. Xavier, like UCLA and North Carolina State, has 13 losses this season.
And Villanova still lost in the second round.
Sports on 03/25/2015