NCAA Basketball kicks off!!!

NCAA Basketball is Back!!!

The excitement returns in earnest this week after a smattering of games over the last week or so.

Firstly, I will not openly be anti-Duke this year!! Not necessarily a fan but now have family there so good luck to Josh Hairston and Coach K’s Blue Devils, except maybe in your two games versus the Tar Heels!!!

Do not be surprised to see the ACC take its third NCAA tile in a row come April 2011. May not necessarily be the Duke squad though. North Carolina is looking for blood after a sub par season by lofty Tarheel standards.

Elsewhere around the country, Michigan State looks solid again and should go deep into the post season. Ohio State will be good, Kansas will be solid, and Kansas State may be better than their in state rivals.

As the season progresses look for St. Mary’s, CA and Gonzaga to pop up as always from the West.

Inevitably there will be mid major and small conference surprises so look out big time programmes, it only takes one game to change a season.

My Current NCAA Top 10

1. Duke
2. Michigan State
3. North Carolina
4. Pitt
5. Kansas State
6. Kansas
7. Villanova
8. Ohio State
9. Florida
10. Syracuse

The season cranks up big time tonight on ESPN….can’t wait!!!

Half of Kansas Contingent ….. Gone!!!

The highly fancied Kansas Jayhawks were shocked by little known Northern Iowa

69-67 in the latest upset of this years NCAA tournament. The Northern Iowa Panthers looked like the favourites down the stretch as they calmly made their shots and free throws to preserve the win.

Meanwhile, the Kansas St. Wildcats put away the pesky Brigham Young Cougars

84-82.

It was a day that also saw the surprising Washington Huskies top New Mexico 82-64, Kentucky blow out Wake Forest 90-60, Tennessee ease by Ohio 83-68, Baylor trip Old Dominion 76-68, and Butler eek out a 54-52 win over Murray St.

The other big one of the day saw St. Mary’s send Villanova packing 75-68.

Today’s action reminds me of something a wise man (my grandfather) once said to me when I complained about having to show up for a game against a fellow baseball team in younger years, after getting our hats handed to us, he simply said, “that is why you play the game, you just never know when surprises are gonna happen and teach you a little humility”.

As for my predicting, ouch, I had a 2 right, six wrong day!!!!

There is always tomorrow!!!