Can’t stop the Madness

by Albert Greene
Courier Staff

The brackets are filled out, the first and the second round games have been played. Now it is getting down to crunch time, who will be crowned college basketball's national champion?

Some will say Duke, others Connecticut or even Memphis, all of which are legitimate picks. Duke only has the second leading scorer in the nation in J.J. Redick, and a program that has more NCAA tournament history than a museum.

Connecticut on the other hand is just solid all around. With Forwards Rudy Gay and Rashad Anderson posting fifteen and thirteen points a game; they establish a force down low that is a force to to reckoned with.

Finally there is Memphis, a team who last year was bowed out of the tournament, because Darius Washington Jr. couldn't make three free throws at the end of the game. However, this year they are stronger than ever. With Washington and senior Rodney Carney leading the way, this team has been surprising people all year long.

Duke, Connecticut, and Memphis are all teams that certainly have a chance of winning it all, along with other major programs like Villanova and Florida. The real story here lies in the mid-major schools. Everyone knows who they are but they don't really care. They are the little brothers to the big time schools.

Teams like Bradley, Wichita State, and George Mason are making sure that their "big brother" schools notice them. Who would have ever thought that these three teams would make it to the sweet sixteen, let alone have a chance to go to play for a national title?

Cinderella must definitely be dancing the night away, because these three teams are certainly having a storybook season. Peoria has to be in an uproar because their Braves are in the sweet sixteen for the first time since 1950. No one thought they would beat Kansas and definitely not Pittsburgh, but they did. Wichita State got here by beating Seton Hall and then upsetting second seeded Tennessee.

Finally George Mason, yes, eleventh seeded George Mason team made it to the sweet sixteen by beating a very good Michigan State team and then upsetting last years national champs, North Carolina. George Mason used their nationally ranked defense to hold opponents under their regular scoring averages.

So who is your pick? Whoever it may be, remember, this year’s tournament has had its share of upsets, so don't be surprised if you see one of those mid major schools in the Elite Eight, Final Four, or dare I even say, the National Championship.

All I know is that come April, 3, at the RCA Dome in Indianapolis, one team will have the opportunity to say they are the best in the nation, will that team be yours?