INDIANAPOLIS — I’ve thoroughly enjoyed the NCAA Tournament up to this point. I’ve especially enjoyed the fact that the entire tournament has been played in the Hoosier state. But getting beyond the nostalgia of basketball in Indiana. It’s been a very competitive mind-blowing experience for everyone watching.
Now we’re down to the Elite Eight and there’s not one traditional college basketball power on the bus. Well…can we still include UCLA in the ranks of the blue blood programs? I guess if we’re counting national championships. Thanks to good ole Indiana native John Wooden, a Purdue grad, that led them to 10 national titles during his tenure as head coach. The program has won 11 in all.
Okay…there’s only one Blue Blood program left standing, technically. However, UCLA hasn’t been worth two dead flies smashed in 20 years.
We’ve got an Elite Eight without such powerhouse programs as Duke, Kansas, Kentucky or North Carolina for the first time since the late 1970’s. That’s NUTS!!!
However, having a crop of programs that aren’t usually in the mix adds to the excitement of the tournament. Tonight we’ve got No.2 Houston taking on No.12 Oregon State and then No.1 Baylor bumping heads with No. Arkansas. On Tuesday night No.1 Gonzaga meets No.6 USC and the night cap features No.1 Michigan runs up on No. 11 UCLA.
Not your traditional Elite Eight by any stretch of the imagination but it’s been darn good to watch. What’s been great for me is that I didn’t fill out a bracket. For more than 30 years it has ruined my NCAA Tournament experience. Once I fill out the bracket I’m pulling for the bracket instead of simply enjoying the tournament.
Two years ago I decided that I wouldn’t fill one out and it was amazing to watch the games because I could simply watch them with no bias. I’m never filling out a bracket again.
Put your seat belts on and enjoy this final week of college hoops. Stop me when I start lyin’!