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It’s the third Thursday in March.
The NCAA Tournament starts today.
We made it, folks!
Please celebrate responsibly… (after clicking the ads in this newsletter because that gets me compensation and costs you nothing).
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Of course some of us have already been indulging in tournament basketball for a couple of days or even more.
I covered the Big Ten women’s basketball tournament two weeks ago and consumed lots more games from all over the country via my couch last week, but you know that’s not what I’m talking about now.
Another First Four is in the books, and it might have been the best one yet.
I’ve covered the last few of these, though I usually only go to the Monday interviews and everything on Tuesday.
This year I couldn’t miss the Miami University game against SMU, so I trekked back to UD Arena last night.
It did not disappoint, but does it ever?
I’ve been going to games at UD — mostly high school — since I was about 5-years-old, and there’s just something about it.
Even through multiple renovations, the energy permeates the building and the sound is unmistakable.
The smell is still the same, too, though maybe not as strong. Maybe that’s a relic of my past memories, but I prefer to think otherwise…
Anyway, what about that basketball?
I’m not a proponent of the all 3-pointer offense, but Miami makes it work.
That was literally the difference in their 89-79 win over SMU on Wednesday night.
Rebounding was even. SMU committed only four turnovers. Neither team did much in transition.
Miami was plus-3 at the foul line, but the RedHawks made 16 of 41 treys while the Mustangs made 5 of 21.
Sometimes it’s just about who makes more shots — especially in March.
More than that, though, the First Four was another great showcase of all college basketball has to offer.
Although Lehigh was dispatched by Prairie View A&M on Wednesday night, their coach Brett Reed got to brag about what he’s built in 19 seasons as the coach there — including a roster with no DI transfers this year.
Then Prairie View coach Byron Smith got to revel in leading his program to its first NCAA Tournament victory, just as Howard head coach Kenneth Blakeney did the night before.
Some folks believe teams like those who get autobids should not be troubled with the trip to Dayton, and they might be right.
I once felt that way, but now I’ve seen those teams come through here every year and talk about what an opportunity it is to be the only game going and get the feeling of triumph that comes with winning.
Blakeney might have done it better than anyone Tuesday night, so I wrote about it for PressProsMagazine.com:
He not only reveled in the RedHawks proving they deserved to be in the tournament even if their schedule lacked teeth, he also went to bat for the rest of the little guys out there who have been increasingly marginalized over the past few years by changes in the metrics the committee uses to select teams and the pressures of maintaining rosters in the age of name, image and likeness payments and nearly unfettered transfers.
“I think it just shows there's a lot of good teams out there. I mean, we had to basically be perfect in the whole regular season to get an at-large. But yet we’re going to go win a game tonight, and we can advance far into the tournament. I would say that the reason people love March Madness is they love to see, quote-unquote, upsets. This wasn't an upset tonight at all, but people are going to say that it was. That's what the outside world is going to say.
“And listen, there's a lot of good teams. Belmont was phenomenal this year. They lost in their conference tournament. They can win games. I have a ton of respect for Casey Alexander. Or UNC Wilmington. It goes on and on. Those teams can compete with anybody, but they don't get the opportunities in the regular season quite honestly to put them in a position to where they can get an at-large bid, and that's the challenge.
“Hopefully it shows, hey, listen, we're just as good as any of these other P5s or P6s that are going .500 in their leagues or whatever out there. There's some really good mid-major teams. Really good.”
All in all, the last three days were just a great celebration of basketball.
But it’s only just beginning!
This is why I always say if you want to skip the First Four, feel free. It’s a tournament bonus as far as I’m concerned, but I wouldn’t miss it.
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So great I haven’t even finished my bracket yet or dove deep into what Ohio State’s matchup with TCU looks like.
And since the Buckeyes and Horned Frogs play the first game of the first round and I want to get a little sleep, you’re going to have to settle for Steve Helwagen’s preview from Bucknuts.com.
Steve is a Buckeye Sports Bulletin alumnus like me and been following this team for longer than anyone.
Beyond today, the Ohio State women’s basketball team starts its tourney run on Saturday in Columbus against Howard and could play Notre Dame on Monday, so keep an eye out for coverage of that right here.
Until then, enjoy March Madness!
If you want to see more of what's being said during Ohio State interviews, check out my YouTube channel.
I’ve also got a new Facebook page you can find here.