Apr 5, 2013; Atlanta, GA, USA; NBA former player Bill Walton speaks during the 75 years of March madness press conference in preparation for the Final Four of the 2013 NCAA basketball tournament at the Georgia Dome. Mandatory Credit: Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports
I see you admirin’ my bracket, brah. We’ll keep you updated here with live alerts and upsets throughout the day, so if you’re too busy during the work week to follow along, keep us tabbed. Let us know in the comments how your bracket’s doing or if you even have a bracket.
12:30 Update
Dayton and Ohio State are underway, and about halfway through the first half the Flyers are beating Ohio State 21-17. The Flyers are such an active team defensively, and even though they went through a slump midway through the season, they’re playing good basketball right now. Ohio State is going to have to earn every point during this game if they want to win it. That said, Thad Matta isn’t going to let his least talented team bow out in the first round…I think,
If you’re interested in watching a blowout, American University and Wisconsin is about to get underway on TBS. So if you’re reading this and you’re a Terps fan, this is scouting material for next season.
1:00 pm Update
Well this is March, so naturally everyone is focused on their bracket and freaking out. They’re probably starting a little earlier now that Dayton is beating Ohio State at halftime 33-30 after a very strong first half of some great transition basketball. Aaron Craft has yet to make his mark on the game yet, but Ohio State is giving up a lot of points (they give up less than 60 per) and needs to get that defense back in check.
Meanwhile, American is repping Washington D.C. pretty hard right now, as they’re up on Wisconsin 19-15 with about five minutes left in the first half. That game has been hard to watch, and both teams don’t look anywhere near prepared to play. What’s worse, this game is being played IN WISCONSIN. How do you even do that?
1:30 Update
Ohio State, what’s your problem? The Buckeyes are still trailing the Dayton Flyers 43-35 thanks to some extremely poor shooting. They’re missing dunks alley oops, anything on a basketball court as they’ve not even scored ten points in the second half. Meanwhile, Dayton isn’t even playing that well, they’re just playing better than Ohio State. Brackets, prepare to get thrashed.
Meanwhile, Wisconsin is finally pulling away from American the way that they always should have. They’re up 32-22 at halftime and have already forced American into eight turnovers this half.
2:20 Update:
Admit it: Dayton just busted your bracket. Aaron Craft and the Buckeyes went down to Dayton in what is the definition of March madness. The 6 vs 11 game to end Aaron Craft’s career finished with Dayton hitting a last second shot to beat Ohio State. The Flyers took care of major business by playing just well enough to pass over the Buckeyes. They’ll advance on to play the winner of Syracuse and Western Michigan, which is actually coming up next!
Meanwhile, Colorado is showing exactly why the selection committee needs to stop factoring in RPI so much. They’re down 42-16 against Pittsburgh with about three minutes left in the first half. Yes, 42-16! It took them almost fifteen minutes to score even seven points. That’s a joke for a team that is an eight seed. Colorado has no business even being in this tournament, and yet here they are.
Speaking of no business in the tournament, do yourself a favor and don’t tune into American vs Wisconsin. It’s 63-28 over halfway through the second half. Wisconsin has made American look like a WNBA team, to be frank. Wisky will advance on to play Oregon or BYU.
3:00 pm Update
It’s finally over for American, who got absolutely slaughtered by Wisconsin 75-35. That was a strong statement by Wisconsin (or an indictment on the Patriot League, depending on who you’re talking to), and it’s going to make Creighton sweat a little. Not next round (where Wisconsin will get either Oregon or BYU), but the round after that is the one they’re eyeing.
Syracuse and Western Michigan are just kicking things off, and it’s tied up 4-4. I’ll remind you that this Syracuse team stumbled late in the year, while Western Michigan played pretty well. Don’t be surprised if this one becomes an upset…
Speaking of which, Matt Damon’s team (Harvard) is up against Cincinnati late in the first half 31-27. I had Harvard, who is incredibly well coached and has tournament experience, with the upset here, so great for me. People continually sleep on them, but they’re deep with lots of guys who buy into their roles. More on them later