Just a quick recap of what I saw in my Sportz Room -- filled with TVs that I can watch all games going on at the same time.
GAME OF THE DAY: Nebraska vs Vanderbilt. To have these two programs play with a Sweet 16 berth on the line was great for the NCAA tournament. While much has been made about the lack of Cinderellas (read: mid-major representation) it is nice to see programs who aren't seen as powers who reside in power conferences play for something important. This game lived up to what a 4-5 matchup should be. Back and forth with big shots and the biggest rolling around the rim and falling out. Nebraska had never won a tournament game when the week started and now they're in the Sweet 16.
UPSET OF THE DAY: Texas vs Gonzaga. Texas is the latest First Four team to win three games and reach the Sweet 16. Gonzaga had a great season, entering the game 31-3, but was overwhelmed by a Longhorns team that is streaking at the right time. Graham Ike dropped 25 points for the Zags but the rest of the team had an off day and wilted late in the game. Texas moves on.
CONFERENCE OF THE DAY: BIG TEN. The Big Ten won half of the games played on Saturday, going 4-0 and instantly becoming a quarter of the Sweet 16. Michigan and Illinois dominated, while Michigan State controlled their game against Louisville. With Nebraska's win, the Big Ten had one of the best second round days in quite some time. With Purdue and Iowa playing on Sunday, the league has a chance to put six teams in the next round.
CONFERENCE WITH A BAD DAY: Atlantic 10. VCU and Saint Louis pulled off epic upsets on Thursday night, with the Rams making a massive comeback to beat North Carolina while the Billikens absolutely spanked Georgia. Neither team was in their second round games, as VCU didn't have any juice left for Illinois and Michigan flexing all over Saint Louis. The A-10 is a really good lead and among the top mid-major conferences, but sees their season end today.
DUD OF THE DAY: Michigan vs Saint Louis. I don't think anyone believed Michigan would go down in this game, but after Thursday's showing we all wanted to see that high scoring Billikens team show up once again. It didn't. Robbie Avila ... the man with 1,000 nicknames ... had a bad afternoon, scoring just 9 points on 3-of-13 shooting.
DOMINANT PERFORMANCE OF THE DAY: Houston vs Texas A&M. Texas A&M isn't in Houston's class, but no one expected the Aggies to get absolutely pummeled in this game. The Cougars jumped on A&M early and never let up, making this a snoozer fairly quickly.
UPSET OF THE DAY: Texas vs Gonzaga. Texas is the latest First Four team to win three games and reach the Sweet 16. Gonzaga had a great season, entering the game 31-3, but was overwhelmed by a Longhorns team that is streaking at the right time. Graham Ike dropped 25 points for the Zags but the rest of the team had an off day and wilted late in the game. Texas moves on.
CONFERENCE OF THE DAY: BIG TEN. The Big Ten won half of the games played on Saturday, going 4-0 and instantly becoming a quarter of the Sweet 16. Michigan and Illinois dominated, while Michigan State controlled their game against Louisville. With Nebraska's win, the Big Ten had one of the best second round days in quite some time. With Purdue and Iowa playing on Sunday, the league has a chance to put six teams in the next round.
CONFERENCE WITH A BAD DAY: Atlantic 10. VCU and Saint Louis pulled off epic upsets on Thursday night, with the Rams making a massive comeback to beat North Carolina while the Billikens absolutely spanked Georgia. Neither team was in their second round games, as VCU didn't have any juice left for Illinois and Michigan flexing all over Saint Louis. The A-10 is a really good lead and among the top mid-major conferences, but sees their season end today.
DUD OF THE DAY: Michigan vs Saint Louis. I don't think anyone believed Michigan would go down in this game, but after Thursday's showing we all wanted to see that high scoring Billikens team show up once again. It didn't. Robbie Avila ... the man with 1,000 nicknames ... had a bad afternoon, scoring just 9 points on 3-of-13 shooting.
DOMINANT PERFORMANCE OF THE DAY: Houston vs Texas A&M. Texas A&M isn't in Houston's class, but no one expected the Aggies to get absolutely pummeled in this game. The Cougars jumped on A&M early and never let up, making this a snoozer fairly quickly.
UNDERLYING STORYLINE OF THE DAY: Big Ten's performance. The Big Ten has earned a reputation for not truly showing up in the NCAA tournament. They haven't won this even since Michigan State cut down the nets in 2000 ... though they've been runner up several times since. Now, reaching the Sweet 16 isn't winning a title just yet, but the way the league's teams have performed so far in this tournament, they do look like they have a few candidates to do some damage over the next two weekends.
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