My friend, Brad, and I often exchange texts offering our solutions to the world’s problems. So, naturally, we’ve been burning up the internet, discussing the men’s college basketball tournament.
Then, on March 17, just when the tournament had hardly begun, came his stunner: “I picked Kentucky. My bracket is shot.”
I consoled him that one misstep wouldn’t destroy him. That most of the 20 million-plus people who submitted brackets to ESPN, CBS and Yahoo had taken No. 2 Kentucky over No. 15 St. Peter’s.
“Yes,” he wrote, “but I picked Kentucky to win the entire thing.”
I agreed. His bracket was shot.
St. Peter’s 85-79 overtime victory over Kentucky was a stunner. Maybe bigger than a 16 over 1 would be as there’s only been one of those.
St. Peter’s continued its mastery of the bracket by beating No. 7 Murray State, 70-60, in the second round. The Peacocks will now face No. 3 Purdue in the Sweet 16 at 7:09 p.m., Friday, March 25 on CBS.
If you can tell me where St. Peter’s is located, I’ll give you a prize. OK, you give up. I’ll save you the Google search.
Three years ago, St. Peter’s of Jersey City, New Jersey, had an enrollment of 2,316 undergraduate students. The coach is Shaheen Holloway. St. Peter’s has been to the NCAA tournament four times, but this is the first time it has won a game.
Somehow I ran out of time or something and did not fill out a bracket as I have done for many years. It has made my rooting easier, as in the past, I have rooted my bracket. This year, I’ve rooted where my fancies have taken me.
There have been several upsets this year and, while St. Peter’s is at the top of that list, close behind is No. 10 Miami, which has upset No. 7 Southern Cal and No. 2 Auburn.
At 9:59 p.m. Friday (let’s call it 10 p.m.) on TBS, Miami is favored as it faces No.
11 Iowa State, another underdog, which has defeated No. 3 Wisconsin and No. 6 LSU.
Of the 16 teams still playing, No. 11 Michigan (vs. No. 2 Villanova, 7:30 p.m. Thursday on TBS) and No. 8 North Carolina (vs. No. 4 UCLA at 9:39 p.m. Friday on CBS) are two of the four underdogs left.
I’ve been watching college basketball for a lot of years and I don’t believe there’s ever been this quality of teams. And I believe it’s because there are so many quality players and they’re so spread out.
Of the 16 teams left, I believe any of them could march to “One Shining Moment,” including St. Peter’s.
Speaking of commercials (we were, weren’t we?), there are several making their first appearances during March Madness. My favorite is “Lily” of AT&T 5G interviewing retiring
Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski about a job opening. Coach says he won’t be available in March: “It’ll be a week-to-week thing,” he adds. “I’ll get back to you,” says Lily. “You’re going to get back to me?” responds an incredulous Coach K. “You mean I don’t have the job?”
I also enjoyed the “retired” baby who is coaxed into packing his “onesies” for his return to investigative work. I like most of the mascot commercials, too.
Happy brackets!
