Oh, that time of year when flowers begin to bloom; the nights get shorter; days of sunshine start to be plentiful; the sound of horns going off with young men either in a state of jubilation or shock, depending on which sideline you’re on.  Yes, it’s that wonderful madness called March.  Or, as the college basketball world is concerned it’s the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament.  Yes, March Madness has certainly earned it’s moniker….and it’s been only the first day.  If the rest of the tournament lives up to the intensity of the first half of the first round, it will be the best tournament ever.  Yes, EVAH!

There have been plenty of these in the past that have held some wonderful memories for so many.  Who can forget the ’85 Villanova team upsetting a seemingly unbeatable Georgetown squad and Patrick Ewing?  Or Jim Valvano running around the court like a lunatic after his ’83 NC State club beat Houston’s Phi Slamma Jamma?  1998 Bryce Drew for Valparaiso hitting a buzzer beater in a first round upset of Ole Miss?  Buzzer beaters have become synonymous with the tournament.  Does Christian Laettner mean anything to you?  Let’s bring into focus what has occurred in just 16 games so far.

Out of the very first three one went double overtime, one single overtime and the other was decided by just one point in regulation.  Of those 16 games, 7 were upsets.  The most shocking was #14 Ohio putting the wood to #3 Georgetown.  I know this ruined many a bracket as the Hoyas were thought of to do deep this year.  Well, so much for that.  #1 Kansas had all they could handle from 16th seed Lehigh before beating the Mountain Hawks (as opposed to a valley hawk?) by 16.  The average margain of victory for these 16 games was just under 9.5 per game.  7 by 5 or fewer points and 3 by 1.  Some of those that were double digit wins were quite close until the victor managed to pull away.  Just ask New Mexico how lucky they feel in their 5 point win versus #14 Montana.

Any more, the game of basketball and I are growing further and further apart.  The NBA is almost unwatchable with the inconsistency of calls and how much the players dance and mug for the crowd and cameras.  This type of behavior is trickling down to the college level.  During Championship Week where most conferences held their tournaments, there was so much pre-game posturing occurring that I had to remind myself it wasn’t the state high school dance competition but the March to the Madness.  Why can’t grown men act just that: grown?  Oh, I’m all for getting excited and celebrating when one has done well, but act like you’ve been there before.

In any event, this year’s version of the madness has given me some hope for the future of men’s college basketball.  A lot is being made of the “one and done” players such as Kevin Love and Kevin Durant that some “experts” have called the game ruined.  I strongly disagree based on what I saw yesterday.  It doesn’t matter that Georgetown doesn’t win everything every time or that Florida isn’t still winning consecutive championships.  Yes, those teams did it with senior-laden teams.  To me, this is much more exciting.  I may not remember the names of those participating….but I don’t care.  I’m enjoying this for the shear pleasure of watching such a wonderful spectacle.

My bracket is still somewhat intact, though I hold no illusions of winning the first round.  My final four of Kansas, Syracuse, West Virginia and Villanova (barely) is still intact.  But if this special madness continues it very well could be in jeopardy.  Got that Wildcats?  So enjoy this for what it is and let’s hope the rest of the games prove to be as much fun as we’ve seen so far.  Who knows.  Maybe it’ll make a convert of you too.