Will Upsets Rule the Day??

                                                                           

HERE WE GO AGAIN!

     Think the Madness is done?  Think again.  In this 75th anniversary edition of the Tournament; when the top ranked team in the land goes down in it's second game, you  get a  9 seed versus a 13 seed for a berth in the Elite Eight, and you get your very first 15 seed into the Sweet Sixteen...don't bet your rent money on it.

Here's a glimpse of what to expect:

     Marquette and the UMiami will get us started tomorrow night....and should set the tone early. The Warriors barely hung on in wins over Davidson and Butler by a total of three points.  'Win and Advance' is the theme here and Marquette is seriously tough enough and resilent enough to get the job done.  Reggie Johnson is out for Miami...the pressure cooker is turning up for the Hurricanes as the ACC champs move into the Regional Semis...unchartered territory.  Result:  Remember the name, Vander Blue.  Another narrow Warrior win.

     Arizona's overrated Wildcats have some new found confidence after dispatching Belmont and Harvard in the first two rounds.  Ohio State's 'goat turned hero' point guard, Aaron Craft, who scored the Buckeye's last seven points in a buzzer beating triumph over sharpshooting Iowa State; is the difference here.  Expect Craft to find his teammates open shots and for OSU to convert on them.  Says here it is a double-digit romp for the Buckeyes in a game that will be over by halftime.  

     The Indiana-Syracuse matchup is probably the most anticipated game Thursday night.  Syracuse played up to the level of their competition in a victory over Cal where neither team deserved to win.  Expect the Orange to again, play up to the level of their competition here. Indiana will be forced to hit some open jump shots against the famous matchup zone.  Expect the Hooisers to be up to the challenge...but not before some very nervous moments...maybe even an overtime.  Indiana prevails behind their effort from behind the arc; next up:  Marquette..

    Wichita State and LaSalle are both really glad to be here.  Coach Gregg Marshall's Shockers are coming off a well-earned upset of the West Region's top seed, Gonzaga.  They are 'junkyard dog' rebounders.  The Explorer's guard play has been fabulous, real matchup problems.  This is LaSalle's fourth game...they were in the 'First Four'.  It's also their last.  Wichita State makes a living from the free throw line and wins ugly to set up a shot at the Final Four on Saturday against Ohio State.