1 day until Spring Break

Opening thoughts: Today was Green Beer Day in Oxford, where the bars open at the crack of dawn and the beer is green. Sadly, around 5am, a Miami student's car was hit by a train, sending him to the hospital in critical condition. Alcohol is a possibility. Remember, especially with Spring Break, DON'T DRINK AND DRIVE!!!!!

Due to my limited internet access at home, my updating won't be as frequent, but I will do the best I can. If you're looking for my Tournament Preview and weekend wrap-up, tune in Monday, I will have the longest post in history.

The Madness is in full gear, let's discuss:

• ACC. In today's 3 1st round games, 3 bubble teams were on display and only 1 took advantage and survived. Maryland is on its way to the NIT after losing to Clemson for the 3rd time this year. Even with a sweep of Duke, there's no way they can be chosen over an NC State team who beat them twice and has advanced to the ACC quarters. NC State held off a late Florida St. rally to get a rematch with Wake Forest tomorrow. Chris Paul is suspended for this game because of his altercation with Julius Hodge, so this will be an interesting affair. Finally, The U were upset by Virginia. Welcome to ACC Tournament bball Miami.
• Atlantic 10. The top 4 teams held serve to advance to tomorrow's semifinals. None of the teams were really challenged, except for Dayton coming back from an early 18 point deficit to get within 4 with 4 minutes left, but the Owls were too much in the end. The stage could be set for a St. Joe's/Temple final. Ohhh baby!!!!
  
• Big East. While many teams played their way out of the NCAA Tourney, West Virginia may have played their way in with their win over top seed Boston College. WVU ran out to a 22 point halftime lead, then held off a BC rally to advance to tomorrow's semifinals. The other top seeds won, although UConn made things interesting against Georgetown, continually letting them back in the game. The Hoyas had a chance to tie in the waning seconds, but couldn't. Syracuse/UConn will be an interesting semifinal.
• Big 10. No upsets in the 1st round, although Penn St. almost took advantage of Ohio St.'s hangover from beating Illinois. The Bucks had to rally from 15 down to beat the lowly Lions. In the other two games, Northwestern held off Michigan while Iowa sent Gene Keady off into retirement with yet another loss. The game of the tourney is tomorrow as Minnesota takes on Indiana in what could be an elimination game for the NCAAs.
• Big 12. While there were no surprises in the afternoon, the evening saw upsets as Kansas St. severly damaged any NCAA hopes for Texas A&M, and Colorado knocked off Texas. The Longhorns should be ok, but they would've certainly liked to have won this game. Meanwhile, Missouri and Iowa St. advanced, the Cyclones' win may have secured their NCAA berth.
• Big West. Cal State Fullerton has advanced to the semis to play Pacific tomorrow, while Cal St. Northridge leads UC Irvine in the 2nd half currently of the other 2nd round game. The winner will play Utah St.
• C-USA. In a potential elimination game, UAB came from behind to beat DePaul to advance to a semifinal date with Louisville. I think DePaul is in, but we'll see. In the evening, tourney host Memphis walked over Charlotte, again raising questions about the 49ers' toughness. Then, South Florida continued their run, upsetting a flat Cincinnati team. The Bearcats appeared as if they'd rather be somewhere else, getting outrebounded by the smaller Bulls. I said to be wary of Memphis before the tourney, and I will say it again, especially now that the draw has opened up for them.
• MAC. There were no real surprises in the quarterfinals, except for the way Miami and OU advanced to the semis. 7 seed Buffalo beating 2 seed Toledo isn't an upset, by any means. One more win for the Redhawks might get them in as an at-large, but it'll be Miami-OU in the opening semifinal, where anything is possible. Expect nothing less but a close game.
• MEAC. Coppin St. and South Carolina St. advanced to tomorrow's semifinals, meaning the top 4 teams in the league are still alive.
• Mountain West. No upsets thus far, Utah is the top seed here. Currently, 3 seed Air Force leads 6 seed San Diego St. at the half. The tourney is being played in Denver.
• Pac 10. Arizona advanced comfortably, but Washington needed overtime to beat Arizona St. UCLA fell to Oregon St, making the next couple of days a little more uncomfortable for them. The same could be true of Stanford if they continue to trail Washington St.
• SEC. Only Mississippi St. survived among the favorites in the 1st round. Mississippi knocked off South Carolina at the buzzer, Tennessee destroyed Arkansas, and Auburn knocked off Vanderbilt, ending the Commodores' slim NCAA hopes.
• Southland. The top 2 teams will square off in Sunday's final as Northwestern St. will take on SE Louisiana.
• SWAC. The semifinals will see top seed Alabama A&M play Jackson St., followed by 2 seed Alabama St. playing Southern, who upset 3 seed Grambling in overtime.
• WAC. So far, everyone has held serve, although top seed Nevada is currently in a dogfight with Boise St. UTEP will take on Rice in the other semifinal, where a win for UTEP may clinch an NCAA bid.

I apologize for no reality TV take tonight because I was doing more important things, like watching basketball. If you're going on Spring Break, may you have a great time and safe travels. I'll catch you after the great weekend of basketball. In less than a week, I'll be in Indy baby!!! It'll be awesome baby with a capital A!!!!