There's a certain pleasure we amateur pickers get when we see an "expert" like Jay Bilas or a magazine like Sports Illustrated get their brackets busted by the sexy pick, a k a VCU, exiting early.
Here are some observations from the couch, and section 117 at Sprint Center:
- Bird mascots are faring well in the tournament thus far. That means my granddaughter's bracket is beating my rear end.
- Carolina versus Kansas/Roy versus Bill was expected; LaSalle versus Ole Miss was not. It's a buyer's market for tickets to tomorrow's action at Sprint Center.
- CBS color commentators: Wily veteran - Bill Raftery; up-and-coming rookie - Doug Gottlieb.
- Spotted at Sprint Center yesterday: NCAA President Mark Emmert sat on press row during the afternoon session; Angel Morris, mother of Marcus and Markieff, sat in the Kansas section last night; Wanda Williams, wife of Roy, was in her usual aisle spot in the North Carolina section.
- How can Kansas State not have Rodney Magruder touch the ball even once during its last two possessions yesterday?
- Mitch McGary was heavily recruited by Kansas but John Beilein of Michigan won that recruiting battle. McGary had a career game today and his energy was a difference maker for the Wolverines against VCU.
- Marshall Henderson of Ole Miss is a mercurial talent and one of the most emotional players I've ever seen. One of yesterday's refs did a good job when Henderson cursed after a questionable call, following Henderson into the Rebel huddle and warning him that the next such outburst would result in a technical.
- AT&T campaign with the children is endearing and the new basketball-themed spot about the pick-and-roll is good work. But, how in the world can the brand rationalize spending millions on its NCAA partnership, yet now using the designation in any way in this advertising?
- Big Red, the Western Kentucky mascot, drew audible laughter from the Sprint Center crowd when it made its appearance last night. The red blob is nothing if not unique.
- Those lucky enough to be in Sprint Center's Founders Club for a halftime cocktail and bite to eat were shooed out once halftime ended, given the NCAA's dictum to keep fannies in the arena seats.
- At some point, doesn't Georgetown have to question its propensity to schedule patsies during the non-conference portion of the schedule? The Hoyas dug a huge hole yesterday against Florida Gulf Coast and never could recover. Georgetown is a team, in recent history, who seldom seems tournament tough.
- On the clock: The Ben Howland watch is officially underway at UCLA. Conversely, Shaka Smart will be mentioned as a candidate once jobs begin opening up in the days and weeks ahead, as will Memphis' Josh Pastner. I wouldn't be surprised to see Pastner as the front-runner for the UCLA job, if Howland departs, given his experience in the Pac 12 while at Arizona.
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