That was quite a fun first day, wasn’t it? It wasn’t chock full of upsets, but a couple double-digit teams (UWM and UAB) did advance. Even though the seeds say otherwise, I’d also consider Pacific’s win over Pittsburgh, because anytime a team from a power conference loses to a team like Pacific, it’s an upset in my book.
Day 2 should be even more fun for the local folks, because due to some odd scheduling, four of the five ACC teams play today. Duke and Carolina should both roll, although you may have noticed that neither of the #1 seeds yesterday won in blowout fashion. I have a hunch the Tar Heels and Blue Devils (read this article about the troubles of Delaware State’s coach. Tough story) will be different.

The tougher games are for NC State and Georgia Tech. Both are in games I’d consider toss-ups. State plays just after noon and I’ll be in a packed sports bar cheering them on against the cross-state Charlotte 49ers. Tech plays late tonight against an erratic George Washington team. When you get two schizophrenic teams like the Yellow Jackets and Colonials playing, you never really know what you’re gonna get.
Some thoughts from yesterday’s games:
Wake looked shaky, but that’s not unusual or terribly worrisome. Many high seeds struggle in their first game and then go on to roll for the next couple of games. I do worry about Chris Paul though. As good as he is, he seems to have a problem with consistently exerting his will on games. He didn’t really take over last night’s game until the middle of the second half. The great point guards control games from start to finish. Think about Mateen Cleaves. He had half the talent of Paul, but he always dominated games from the opening tip. If he wanted a fast tempo, the game was fast. When he wanted to slow down, the game slowed down. Paul could learn from that.
By the way, I was impressed with Chattanooga’s game. They played some tough defense. I admit that as Virginia fan, I’m watching these games like an offensive lineman at a buffet table. I’m keeping my eye out for tasty coaches who might be suited for the Cavaliers. I liked what I saw of John Shulman’s team.
Speaking of potential Virginia targets, Rick Barnes is now available for interviews!
In the Sports Shack, someone asked me about UAB’s coach and whether he’d fit in Charlottesville. While he’s obviously doing a great job down there, making the Sweet Sixteen last year and spanking LSU last night, I don’t think that 40 Minutes Of Hell style would work in the ACC. Sure, it might be effective for a half season or so, but once the ACC coaches and players got some time to learn it, they’d tear it up. Unless you have superior talent, which is very hard to have in the ACC, you can’t run that constant pressing style against top teams. Pete Gillen learned that lesson the hard way. You’ll notice that Gary Williams doesn’t press too much anymore either.
I think Washington fans should be concerned that their team raced out to a 13-0 lead over 16 seed Montana – and then won by 11. Do the math (I hate that expression, but it actually makes sense here).
Congrats to Bobby Knight and Bob Huggins for actually winning first round games this year. When’s the last time they both won? I actually picked Cincinnati this year because I had no faith in Iowa winning without lover boy Pierre Pierce. I got the Texas Tech game wrong because I learned years ago to stop picking Knight’s teams to win any games in the NCAAs. I guess playing the perennial underachieving UCLA did the trick for them.
Caulton Tudor has an article today on how the tournament is a coach’s tournament. I’m not so sure I agree with him. Over a span of years, sure, but in one year, I think talent matters more. Tudor’s own example is a good one for my argument – Tom Crean at Marquette. Sure, he took them to the Final Four and was everybody’s favorite hot coach, but that team had Dwyane Wade, who is now one of the 20 best players in the NBA. What has Crean done since then, even though he still has Travis Diener and Steve Novak? Talent wins.
Like yesterday, I’ll use the comments from this post as a running thread on the day’s games. If you’re watching the games, or just watching the scores online, drop in and write what you’re thinking.