Things we've learned from the madness
Off the Foul Pohl
Bart Pohlman
Issue date: 3/27/09 Section: Sports
As the second weekend of March Madness marches on, much has already been revealed about the tournament and the teams.
From glass slippers to the Salt Lake state, there's plenty to discuss.
And the best part about it?
There are still plenty more games left to be played.
But, for now, here are some things we've learned from the Madness so far.
The clock struck midnight on Cinderella this year.
There is one non-power conference team in the Sweet 16 this year. That team? Gonzaga.
But the Bulldogs don't exactly fit the profile of a mid-major anymore. The Zags have emerged as a perennial basketball power, advancing to the NCAA Tournament every season since their magical run to the Elite Eight back in 1999. During that time, the Zags have consistently been ranked in the top 25 and beaten its fair share of high-profile teams.
Aside from the Zags, however, there are no mid-major teams still dancing this year. In fact, only four other teams from mid-major conferences won first round games this year - Siena, Cleveland State, Dayton and Western Kentucky.
Part of the excitement of the tournament is following a Cinderella team as it beats all the odds and advances further than anyone thought possible.
Unfortunately, that won't happen this year. (And no, Arizona does not count.)
The selection committee showed no love for mid-majors.
Staying on the subject of mid-majors, this year's selection committee obviously didn't value them too highly.
Of the 34 at-large teams, only four (Xavier, Butler, Dayton and BYU) came from non-power conferences.
That's a horribly low number, especially when power conference teams with 12 and 13 losses were getting bids.
No wonder there isn't a Cinderella team this year. The mid-majors never had a chance.
The Big East is the best.
At the start of the season, many thought the Big East was the best conference in college basketball.
And with five teams in the Sweet 16, it's hard to argue that point.
If Dominic James had not missed the second half of the season, Marquette might have joined that group of teams and made it six teams from the same conference.
Entering the round of 16, it was still possible for the Final Four to be made up entirely of Big East teams.
How'd that be for a statement about conference superiority?
Teams from Utah are terrible.
If I were to rewrite the rules of making NCAA Tournament picks, I'd have to introduce the Utah Rule.
It'd read something like this: "Always pick against teams from Utah, unless that team is a No. 1 or No. 2 seed (And even then, buyer beware)."
This year, teams from Utah went 0-3 in the tournament. Utah, the No. 5 seed in the Midwest, lost to 12th-seeded Arizona in the first round. Eighth-seeded BYU lost to No. 9 seed Texas A&M in the West. Utah State, the No. 11 seed in the West, lost to 6th-seeded Marquette.
For the record, Utah State was 30-4 this season.
Apparently, 30 wins doesn't matter if the team comes from Utah (playing in the WAC doesn't help, either).
Bart Pohlman is the sports editor of The Arkansas Traveler. His column appears every Friday.
From glass slippers to the Salt Lake state, there's plenty to discuss.
And the best part about it?
There are still plenty more games left to be played.
But, for now, here are some things we've learned from the Madness so far.
The clock struck midnight on Cinderella this year.
There is one non-power conference team in the Sweet 16 this year. That team? Gonzaga.
But the Bulldogs don't exactly fit the profile of a mid-major anymore. The Zags have emerged as a perennial basketball power, advancing to the NCAA Tournament every season since their magical run to the Elite Eight back in 1999. During that time, the Zags have consistently been ranked in the top 25 and beaten its fair share of high-profile teams.
Aside from the Zags, however, there are no mid-major teams still dancing this year. In fact, only four other teams from mid-major conferences won first round games this year - Siena, Cleveland State, Dayton and Western Kentucky.
Part of the excitement of the tournament is following a Cinderella team as it beats all the odds and advances further than anyone thought possible.
Unfortunately, that won't happen this year. (And no, Arizona does not count.)
The selection committee showed no love for mid-majors.
Staying on the subject of mid-majors, this year's selection committee obviously didn't value them too highly.
Of the 34 at-large teams, only four (Xavier, Butler, Dayton and BYU) came from non-power conferences.
That's a horribly low number, especially when power conference teams with 12 and 13 losses were getting bids.
No wonder there isn't a Cinderella team this year. The mid-majors never had a chance.
The Big East is the best.
At the start of the season, many thought the Big East was the best conference in college basketball.
And with five teams in the Sweet 16, it's hard to argue that point.
If Dominic James had not missed the second half of the season, Marquette might have joined that group of teams and made it six teams from the same conference.
Entering the round of 16, it was still possible for the Final Four to be made up entirely of Big East teams.
How'd that be for a statement about conference superiority?
Teams from Utah are terrible.
If I were to rewrite the rules of making NCAA Tournament picks, I'd have to introduce the Utah Rule.
It'd read something like this: "Always pick against teams from Utah, unless that team is a No. 1 or No. 2 seed (And even then, buyer beware)."
This year, teams from Utah went 0-3 in the tournament. Utah, the No. 5 seed in the Midwest, lost to 12th-seeded Arizona in the first round. Eighth-seeded BYU lost to No. 9 seed Texas A&M in the West. Utah State, the No. 11 seed in the West, lost to 6th-seeded Marquette.
For the record, Utah State was 30-4 this season.
Apparently, 30 wins doesn't matter if the team comes from Utah (playing in the WAC doesn't help, either).
Bart Pohlman is the sports editor of The Arkansas Traveler. His column appears every Friday.
Be the first to comment on this story