Daily News staffers bracket breakdown

With two grueling losses at the end of the day (three if you count Wake Forest, but that was hardly grueling, just ugly), I have fallen into second place, one game behind Josh Krueger. Here's how it looks:

Josh 25-7
Scott 24-8
Rick 21-11

Here's to hoping Louisville and Memphis lose their second-round games.

I hate life

.....................................

YOU CAN'T BE SERIOUS!

CBS just cut to the Wisconsin game for the last shot, then cut away just as a UW kid attempted the game-winning shot. He missed, and they're in overtime. But seriously, who's in charge over at CBS? How do you cut away from a game as a kid takes a potential game-winning shot? 

Wake must be asleep

Every time I look up at the other scores (because I'm still stuck with the Siena-Ohio State game), I expect to see that Wake Forest has figured it out and taken a lead against Cleveland State. 

It hasn't happened yet. Cleveland State is up 11 with 7:44 left. 

Step it up, Siena

Siena looked awful in the first few minutes of the second half, but now they're mounting a comeback. I need this win, especially since Wisconsin is letting me down, just as I thought they might. 

We'd like to interrupt these commercials to bring you a game

I realize CBS has to get paid for this coverage, but the frequency of commercials is starting to drive me nuts. They go to commercial, come back, show 10 seconds of the game and then another commercial.

Or, coming back from commercial, Greg Gumbel will say, "We'll get you back to your game in a bit, but first let's take a look at," another game. Then they'll cut to that game just before a timeout and go to commercial again. 

What the hell?

Big Ten-style game in Boise

Wisconsin is down by seven with three minutes left in the first half, but the pathetic point output from both sides bodes well for the Badgers. Big Ten teams thrive in defensive struggles, a.k.a. boring, low scoring games. 

You've got to be kidding me?

Wake Forest, one of my Final Four teams, is down by 17 points to Cleveland State, a No. 13 seed. I know it's early, but this would be devastating!

Late game updates

Some interesting scores in the early going of some of the late games. The stunner, right now, is Cleveland State leading No. 4 seed (and one of Scott's Final Four teams) Wake Forest 29-12. The other three games are close, with FSU leading Wisconsin by two (lots of time left), Ohio State up five on Siena (lots of time left) and Michigan State leading Robert Morris by three.

USC is on fire

The Trojans are shooting 54 percent and lead BC by 13 with four minutes left. It seems as though USC hasn't missed a shot this half. 

Good call going against your roots, Scott.

90 minutes

until another 5-12 upset. Wisconsin is taking down Florida State. To be honest, Scott, I'm a little surprised you're not rooting for my Badgers, given that you're a Florida guy and, therefore, loathe FSU. 

Going against my roots

If you don't know, I'm a Massachusetts guy. But I've been stung too many times by Boston College in the past, and I'm going with USC. Yes, BC plays in a tougher conference, but they always seem to choke in the tournament (didn't they lose to Pacific one year?).

Anyway, I need this win, Ohio State over Siena (Krueger picked the Saints) and Florida State over Wisconsin (Krueger's home state). And if Wake Forest loses tonight, I might as well just throw away my bracket.

Ouch

Two losses in the last four games, including WVA, which I had going to the Sweet 16. This puts me at 19-5 and potentially behind Josh Krueger.

I'm embarrassed.

20 minutes to go

Two of my teams, West Virginia and Cornell, are down at the half, and while I'm not nervous, I'll admit that I'm concerned. Especially with West Virginia, which I have beating Kansas and getting to the Sweet 16. I mean, it's not like Bob Huggins is coaching the team drunk, right? Ouch.

I've already lost a Sweet 16 team in Arkon and nearly lost another in Marquette. Let's go Big East, step your game up!

Bragging time

I'm not sure I can compare with Scott's bravado, but I'd just like to point out that I'm 4-0 so far today. And I believe I'm now only one game behind Scott in The Daily News pool. 

Go Sun Devils!

Spoiler alert!

I noticed while watching the Kansas-North Dakota State game that CBSsportsline is just a little bit ahead of the TV with its live updates. So if you want to see the game unfold live, don't go on the internet. By the way, how lame is that?

Also, is the blog running slow right now? It must be the huge influx of readers who are dying to read what Josh and I have to say about the tournament.

Back to mascot fights

Why isn't there a mascot fighting video game? Instead of Sub-Zero and Scorpion, you could have the Stanford tree go toe-to-toe (or root) with the Syracuse Orange. With mascots from college and the pros, plus a create your own mascot fighter option, this game could be great fun. Mortal Kombat for mascots. Who wouldn't buy this game? 

Savor the flavor, kid

OK, I was wrong. It doesn't happen often, but I admit that I was a bit premature in calling Ben Woodside a nerd. He's single handedly keeping North Dakota State in this game against highly favored Kansas.

At the same time, Sherron Collins from KU is just nasty. Reminds me of myself on the court.

Sweaty Bruce Pearl

Before the tournament, he was kind of complaining that his Tennessee team got the No. 9 seed. Well, right now they aren't even living up to that, losing 42-37 to No. 8 Oklahoma State. I can't decide who's the dumber coach, him or Lane Kiffin.

Lumberjacks are gettin' chopped down

Syracuse 46-24 early in the second half. Hopefully a lot of people in The Daily News pool took my intentionally bad advice and picked Stephen F. Austin to go far in the tournament. 

The CBS commentators just mentioned how Jonny Flynn always plays with a smile on his face. If I could break a defender's ankles like he just did before draining a mid-range jumper, I'd be smiling, too.

This is how it should be settled

No games. No scores. Just pure, unadulterated violence.

The best mascot ever

No one can top WKU's Big Red (apparently that's his name). 

FOUND IT!

This year's Mascot list:

South Region:
#1 UNC - Tarheels
#2 Oklahoma - Sooners
# 3 Syracuse - Orangeman
# 4 Gonzaga - Zags
# 5 Illinois - Illini
# 6 Arizona State - Sun Devils
# 7 Clemson - Tigers
# 8 LSU - Tigers
# 9 Butler - Bulldogs
# 10 Michigan - Wolverines
# 11 Temple - Owls
# 12 Western Kentucky - Hilltoppers
#13 Akron - Zipps
# 14 SF Austin - Lumberjacks
# 15 Morgan State - Bears
# 16 Radford - Highlanders
West Region:
# 1 Connecticut - Huskies
# 2 Memphis - Tigers
# 3 Missouri - Tigers
# 4 Washington - Huskies
# 5 Purdue - Boilermakers
# 6 Marquette -
# 7 California - Bears
# 8 BYU - Cougars
# 9 Texas A&M - Aggies
# 10 Maryland - Terrapins
# 11 Utah State - Aggies
# 12 Northern Iowa - Panthers
# 13 Mississippi State - Bulldogs
# 14 Cal State Fullerton - Titans
# 15 Cornell - Crimson
# 16 UT Chattanooga - Mocs
East Region:
# 1 Pittsburgh - Panthers
# 2 Duke - Blue Devils
# 3 Villanova - Wildcats
# 4 Xavier - Musketeers
# 5 Florida State - Seminoles
# 6 UCLA - Bruins
# 7 Texas - Longhorns
# 8 Oklahoma State - Cowboys
# 9 Tennessee - Volunteers
# 10 Minnesota - Gophers
# 11 VCU - Rams
# 12 Wisconsin - Badgers
# 13 Portland State - Vikings
# 14 American- Eagles
# 15 Binghampton - Bearcats
# 16 East Tennessee - Buccaneers
Midwest Region:
# 1 Louiville - Cardinals
# 2 Michigan State - Spartans
# 3 Kansas - Jayhawks
# 4 Wake Forest - Demon Decons
# 5 Utah - Utes
# 6 West Virginia - Mountaineers
# 7 Boston College - Eagles
# 8 Ohio State - Buckeyes
# 9 Siena - Saints
# 10 USC - Trojans
# 11 Dayton - Flyers
# 12 Arizona - Wildcats
# 13 Cleveland State - Vikings
# 14 North Dakota State - Bison
# 15 Robert Morris - Colonials
# 16 Morehead State - Eagles

Mascot talk

Well, this got me thinking what the best mascot in the tournament is. Because I'm lame and looked for about 5 seconds, I could only find the 2008 list. But let's hear what you think the best of the best is:

West Region:
#1 UNC - Bruins
#2 Duke - Blue Devils
# 3 Xavier - Musketeers
# 4 Connecticut - Huskies
# 5 Drake - Bulldogs
# 6 Purdue - Boilermakers
# 7 West Virginia - Mountaineers
# 8 BYU - Cougars
# 9 Texas A and M - Aggies
# 10 Arizona - Wildcats
# 11 Baylor - Bears
# 12 San Diego - Toreros
# 14 Georgia - Bulldogs
# 15 Belmont - Bruins
# 16 Mississippi Valley State -Delta Devils
Midwest Region:
# 1 Kansas - Jayhawks
# 2 Georgetown - Hoyas
# 3 Wisconsin - Badgers
# 4 Vanderbilt - Commodores
# 5 Clemson - Tigers
# 6 USC - Trojans
# 7 Gonzaga - Bulldogs
# 8 UNLV - Rebels
# 9 Kent State - Golden Flashes
# 10 Davidson - Wildcats
# 11 Kansas State - Wildcats
# 12 Villanova - Wildcats
# 13 Siena - Saints
# 14 Cal State Fullerton - Titans
# 15 UMBC - Retrievers
# 16 Portland State - Vikings
South Region:
# 1 Memphis - Tigers
# 2 Texas - Longhorns
# 3 Stanford - Cardinal
# 4 Pittsburgh - Panthers
# 5 Michigan State - Spartens
# 6 Marquette - Golden Eagles
# 7 Miami - Hurricanes
# 8 Mississippi State - Bulldogs
# 9 Oregon - Ducks
# 10 St. Mary's - Gaels
# 11 Kentucky - Wildcats
# 12 Temple - Owls
# 13 Oral Roberts - Golden Eagles
# 14 Cornell - Big Red
# 15 Austin Peay - Governors
# 16 Texas-Arlington - Mavericks
East Region:
# 1 North Carolina - Tarheels
# 2 Tennessee - Volunteers
# 3 Lousville - Cardinals
# 4 Washington State - Cougars
# 5 Notre Dame - Fighting Irish
# 6 Oklahoma - Sooners
# 7 Butler - Bulldogs
# 8 Indiana - Hoosiers
# 9 Arkansas - Razorbacks
# 10 South Alabama - Jaguars
# 11 St. Joseph's - Hawks
# 12 George Mason - Patriots
# 13 Winthrop - Eagles
# 14 Boise State - Broncos
# 15 American University - Eagles
# 16 Mount St. Mary's - Mountaineers

Also, give this a read ... pretty entertaining. I think this is how one woman (who shall remain nameless because I want to remain alive) in our office filled out her bracket.

http://mattwisdom.wordpress.com/2009/03/17/ncaa-tournament-mascot-fight-2009/

This goofball had a 60-point game?

North Dakota guard Ben Woodside (link below) had a 60-point game against Stephen F. Austin earlier this year. And it's obvious by today's game against Syracuse that the Lumberjacks don't play great defense. But still, this guy is a nerd.

Then again, if Josh Krueger can have 51 points in an over-30 league basketball game, anyone can put up those kind of numbers. HA!

http://www.gobison.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=11901&SPID=697&DB_OEM_ID=2400&ATCLID=77285&Q_SEASON=2008

Let's get it on

After what I call a stellar performance by me on Day 1, we're back for some Day 2 blogging. Syracuse, a team I now have a ton of respect for after knocking off UConn in six overtimes in the Big East tournaemnt, is up against an upstart in "Stone Cold" Stephen F. Austin.

As much as I'd like to see Syracuse and Jonny Flynn (who is going to be one heck of a pro) win and move on, you have to love the underdog, especially when they're equipped with the Stone Cold Stunner.

Day 1 is in the books

After more than 12 hours, the first day of the NCAA tournament is finished. Following an 8-0 start to the day, I finished 14-2. My upset special, Akron, led at the half but couldn't pull it out against an obviously overrated Gonzaga team. Tenth-seeded Minnesota and Tubby Smith were within striking distance of No. 7 Texas in the second half but couldn't keep pace. Overall a productive day.

Because I know you're all wondering, my cohorts, Josh Krueger and Rick McGowan didn't fare nearly as well. Rick McGowan, after a very slow start, finished a respectable 12-4, while my co-blogger Josh, who bowed out a little early tonight, also went 12-4.

It's 12:45 and I'm headed for bed.

A bunch of nailbiters here ...

It looks as though I'm about to suffer my first loss of the tournament, if Texas can hold onto its 14-point lead over Minnesota in the final two minutes. Michigan is struggling to hang on against Clemson in the final three minutes, and hats off to American, which put forth a great effort against Villanova but seem to be running out of gas.

And then there's my Cinderella, Akron. Down 50-49 with 11 minutes left. This is the one I want more than any other game in the entire tournament. LET'S GO ZIPS!!!

Great to be No. 10

Michigan, seeded 10th, is up by 8 on No. 7 Clemson (PS: I have the Wolverines) and No. 10 Minnesota is down only 4 to Texas (I have the Gophers). Then again, I guess I'm just all about the Big 10 teams (having already picked Purdue).

Whether is No. 10 or Big 10, I have a feeling I'm going to win both games.

American made

I know there's a lot of time left in the first half, but American is hanging with Villanova, leading 27-24 with 8 minutes remaining before halftime. If they keep shooting the way they are (6 for 10 from 3-point land), they'll send the partisan Philadelphia crowd home pretty unhappy.

Good first half ...

OK, with Washington's 71-58 win over Mississippi State, I've improved to 8-0 through the first half of the first day. I think either hell has frozen over or the Apocalypse is upon us. Anyway, eight down and eight more to go, with the best game being No. 10 Minnesota vs. No. 7 Texas.

Watch out for No. 15 Binghamton against Duke, and I have Akron as my tournament upset special, going all the way to the Sweet 16! Now let's see some buzzer beaters.

Break time ...

See everyone (crickets?) at 7ish ....

7-0!

Maryland has all but sealed the deal, and I'm not too concerned about UConn, which is up by about 40. This means that through 7 games, I have yet to lose. This is why you've chosen me as your leader (sports editor).

A break for more football

Instead of continuing to argue about football stuff from two seasons ago, why not something more current that also, sort of, has to do with the Patriots? 

What are the odds Josh McDaniels' days with the Pats are not over? This whole Jay Cutler feud has me wondering if he'll be fired before he ever coaches a game in Denver. Star quarterback vs. unproven rookie head coach. Who do you think wins that argument? 

TERPS!!!

With UNC and UConn nursing comfortable leads, Maryland is up next in my quest to go 63-0. They're currently on a 9-0 run and lead Cal 59-51 with 10 minutes left. Everything about my bracket screams perfection.

What's the deal?

I can't believe CBS is just ignoring the UNC-Radford game. Who cares about a tie game between Maryland and Cal? Everyone loves the Tar Heels, and they're only up 37. 

My perfect bracket hangs in the balance

Purdue up 55-51 with the ball and less than a minute to go.

$1.6 million? Really?

UConn is beating Chattanooga by 28 at the half with Jim Calhoun in a hospital bed. Could someone remind me why he's the highest paid state employee?

I wouldn't say I'm getting nervous, but ...

Northern Iowa is sticking around against Purdue .... Let's go Boilermakers, I'm still hoping to go 63-0.

How much does basketball mean to those in Indiana?

ELKHART, Ind. (AP) -- Elkhart police gave a high school boys basketball coach a lift to a game in Michigan City after he bonded out of jail following an arrest on a charge of driving while intoxicated.

Elkhart police said Wednesday that Assistant Chief Tim Balyeat authorized an officer to pick up Elkhart Memorial coach Mark Barnhizer from the jail Saturday and drive him to the regional tournament game about 45 miles away. The ride was given at the request of Elkhart Community Schools, said Lt. Ed Windbigler.

"We felt you shouldn't penalize 10 young adults for the mistakes of one person," Balyeat said. He said the lift was warranted due to the impact the schools and athletics have on the community.

Switching from the UConn game?

I'm sure moving from the UConn-Chattanooga game will infuriate some Connecticut fans, but I'm OK with it. I don't really enjoy watching UConn, and the Maryland-Cal game that's on now is much more intriguing. 

Although, in this day and age, is it too much to ask CBS to either share the tournament with other networks or create more channels so that any game can be seen at any time, anywhere in the country? 

Tournament in HD

This is the first year I've watched the tourament on my own HD TV ... I couldn't be much happier at this moment.

No Gus???

If CBS doesn't give us a Gus Johnson game, I'm going go nuts ... Jay Bilas always sounds sedated.

CBS is dropping the ball ...

While I like Purdue, I have a short attention span. I need to know what's happening in other games, although for about a 15-minute span, there was nothing. UNC and Radford are under way, so I'm OK now, but that was poor planning.

The most annoying commercial award goes to ...

Right now, it's a tie for the commercial that's irritating me the most. 

The Howie Long Chevy commercials are really getting on my nerves. Howie, go ahead and enjoy your Chevy truck, but stop bragging about how it gets 21 mpg and belittling actors portraying owners of competing trucks. I'm not a truck guy, but I'll buy a Toyota before a Chevy (or any other American car, for that matter) 10 times out of 10. The difference is reliability.

Which brings me to the other frontrunner in the annoying commercial department. Bud Light. "The difference is drinkability." Translation: "You can drink it faster and thus, drink more in a given period of time, allowing your senses to dull to the point where you don't notice how awful Bud Light is."

Bartender ... Boilermakers!

I like this Purdue team. They're tough. I have them going to the Elite Eight, beating UConn.

Tigers win, but ..

... if a high-seeded team gets a big test in the first round, does it light a fire? Or is that a sign of things to come?

Butler is done

The first game of the tournament, and I picked it incorrectly. But it looks like I'll get the other two early games, and I had Butler losing in the next round anyway. 

Memphis appears to have finally woken up. They're up 11 with a minute left. Wish we could have seen some of that game. 

I have spilled nacho cheese on my bracket

It's no secret that I don't eat very healthy, but it's tenfold on this day every year. Right now, I have a bowl of nacho cheese and a bowl of soup in front of me. Solid.

Greyhound

The big man for Butler, Howard, is a traveling machine. He gets in the lane and just shuffles his feet, yet it hasn't been called once.

Memphis is struggling

With 12 minutes left, No. 2 seed Memphis is down two to No. 15 Cal State Northridge. 

This is a yearly reminder of why I dislike CBS's coverage of the early rounds of the tournament. Since LSU-Butler has been deemed worthy of broadcast in this region, we won't get a look at the Memphis-Northridge game unless it's still close in the last few minutes. I'd rather watch that one now. LSU-Butler is a good game, too, but when a No. 2 is losing in the first round, that's worth switching coverage. 

Uh oh ...

Cal-State Northbridge up by 3 with 13 minutes to go ... Timeout Tigers!

What commerical is Josh going to hate this year?

Every year during the tournament, CBS completely pounds one commerical into our brains, and it infuriates Josh to the point of near homicide. I find this to be more than humorous. Stay tuned to see which one it is ...

Breaking news

I thought I'd beat you to the punch on the Calhoun news. Nicely done, jerk.

Calhoun out ...

Connecticut coach Jim Calhoun won't coach the team's first-round game against Chattanooga because of an illness. He's currently in the hospital after saying he didn't feel well. It'll be the second game Calhoun (who apparently makes $1.6 million per year, if you hadn't heard that before) has missed this season.

Crazy dunk

It's not an NCAA tournament highlight, but if you haven't seen this dunk by Wyoming's Adam Waddell, you should. I've seen it dozens of times, and it's never enough. 

Why I love this tournament

Now I think it should be know that I picked Kansas to win it last year, the first time in recent memory I've picked the winner. This clip was taken from Allen Field House on the KU campus.

Any Memphis backers sweating yet?

Memphis is struggling in the early going with Cal State Northridge. How many brackets would be ruined if the Matadors knocked off the second-seeded Tigers? I know mine would be. I have Memphis in the Final Four.

Deja vu?

Last year, No. 8 BYU played No. 9 Texas A&M in the first round, with the Aggies pulling out a 67-62 win. This year, No. 8 BYU is playing No. 9 Texas A&M. And from the looks of it, the Aggies, who are up 24-8 in the first half, will end the season for the Cougars.

Who's No. 1?

Now that the tournament has officially begun, who does everyone have winning this thing? I don't see anyone beating UNC, as long as Ty Lawson is running the show and is healthy enough to do so.

But I could also see Louisville getting pretty deep only because of the nightly tests it faced in the Big East.

It's the most wonderful time of the year

Here we go ... Butler vs. LSU to start things off. The Bulldogs, who have been to the Sweet 16 twice since 2003, no longer sneak up on anyone, while the Tigers played in a fairly weak SEC this season. A perfect 8-9 matchup to start the day.

20 minutes left in PC's season

Unless the Providence College men's basketball team can get its act together, the Friars' season soon will be over. They're down 33-28 to Miami, at home, in the first round of the NIT. And, like a lot of the people in the stands, they look as though they can't figure out what they're doing here. 

Stay tuned ....

Less than 24 hours remain before tip-off to March Madness, so I hope you've all finished filling out your brackets. Join myself and Daily News sportswriter Josh Krueger tomorrow at noon for a full day of discussion.