There were some unexpected outcomes in day one of the NCAA tournament, otherwise referred to as March Madness. Nowadays however, it seems that it’s not such a big upset when a high seed goes out in the first round. It is quite clear that there is more parity than ever before in college basketball, which plays out in the kinds of results we saw in day one action of the event. Almost any school can get on TV, so there is no need to attend a big name conference or school, if a players desire is to be seen on the small screen, and be scouted by the NBA. ESPN and the respective conferences have seemingly hundreds of games televised every year. The bottom line is that almost any school these days can get pretty good players. Most student athletes want playing time, so a commitment to a smaller school, as opposed to a high profile basketball program, might guarantee a freshman or sophomore greater playing time, and a chance to develop their game against other teams and players, and maybe get noticed by a professional scout, sooner than would be the case at one of the traditional college basketball powers.
There were a lot of eyebrows raised after day one, pertaining to the tough start for Big East schools, with Georgetown, Notre Dame, and Marquette all losing on day one, and Villanova getting off to a very slow start, and just getting by their tough opponents from Robert Morris, by 73-70. My theory on the Big East and its first day struggles in the NCAA tournament, are that the conference is so tough and competitive, that there are no easy games once the conference schedule begins. It seems to me, that some of the schools from this always tough conference, run out of gas when the NCAA tournament begins. They had more of the same the week before, having played in the Big East tournament, at Madison Square Garden. This is not an excuse, but it is a fact that almost every analyst who covers college hoops agrees, that the Big East is the toughest conference to play in. With that in mind, I can’t say that I’m surprised at all the upsets of the Big East schools. This year was one of the most competitive the conference has ever had.
As an alumnus of Syracuse University, there is only one team in the tournament that I care about. I watch the other games and other schools with complete detachment, and without concern for the outcome. Whether the favorite or the underdog prevails, is of no interest to me, and once the game is over, so is my feeling for it, and that is no feeling at all. That will much different Friday night, when I sit in front of my own TV set around 9:30, to watch the Orange in their first round match with Vermont. The Catamounts upset Syracuse in the 2005 NCAA tournament, when Orange guard and 2003 NCAA championship hero, Gerry McNamara, struggled with a leg injury of some kind, and could not elevate to properly execute his shot. Vermont had a great day and received superb performances from players like T.J. Sorrentine and Taylor Coppenrath. That’s the way it goes in this type of tournament. The least talented team can win, and the most skilled team can lose in March Madness. That is what makes it so compelling. Hopefully, Friday night at HSBC arena in Buffalo, it will be Andy Rautins and Wesley Johnson, who will be hitting the three point shots, and getting the rebounds, or anybody else who plays for the ‘Cuse.