By Staff
I miss Cindy!
This year's NCAA men's basketball tournament has lacked the drama and excitement of previous tournaments.
Each year, I look forward to following the tournament and all of its last-second shots and monumental upsets. But the 2007 version of the tournament has left me wanting. It has left me wanting more than I have been provided through the first weekend.
It took until Saturday before games started coming down to the final minute. Sure, there were a couple 11th seeds that knocked off sixth seeds, but where was that famous 12th seed upsetting a No. 5 seed with a buzzer-beater?
It just hasn't happened.
In fact, if you look at the Sweet 16, there isn't a seed lower than seventh and all four No. 1 seeds are still alive.
I guess that's good if you took all the favorites in your bracket and you are looking to cash in. But for those of us who don't fill out those brackets or care that much about winning anything, this tournament has been a bust.
There is still plenty of time left to save the tournament.
Beginning on Thursday night we could see a rash of upsets that leave us breathless on Monday morning when we return to work.
In a flash, the No. 1 seeds could all go down. But then again, if the tournament goes according to Hoyle like is has, then there won't be much to say.
The closest thing we have to a Cinderella heading into the second weekend of play is Butler, and the Bulldogs are a No. 5 seed.
They are the smallest school still left in the tournament, so I got to believe that a lot of people will be cheering on the Bulldogs when play resumes.
What happened to the Big 10 and ACC?
Those two power conferences have been all but erased from the tournament.
Top seeds Ohio State and North Carolina have been left to carry the torch.
One of those schools can uphold the dignity for their conferences by going the distance and winning the championship.
Both teams certainly have the talent to do so and I wouldn't be surprised if one of them didn't leave Atlanta with the title.
If I could script the Final Four I would have the Buckeyes and defending national champion Florida play in the title game.
Perhaps the Ohio State basketball team could avenge the loss to the Gators in football last January.
Let's hope the drama picks up this weekend. I would love to see all eight games be close.