We are now down to only 16 teams after starting with 65 last week. The matchups are below:

1 LOUISVILLE
12 ARIZONA

3 KANSAS
2 MICHIGAN STATE

1 PITTSBURGH
4 XAVIER

3 VILLANOVA
2 DUKE

1 CONNECTICUT
5 PURDUE

1 NORTH CAROLINA
4 GONZAGA

3 SYRACUSE
2 OKLAHOMA

3 MISSOURI
2 MEMPHIS

C! A! R! D! S!

CARDS! CARDS! CARDS!

The Louisville Cardinals will be 3 time champs this season. (Big East Reg season. Big east Tourney. NCAA)

So it's 1-2-3-4, 1-2-3-4, 1-2-3-5 and 1-2-3-12, with the only "Cinderella" being from one of the big conferences. It takes some of the fun out of it if there isn't a clear underdog to root for.

...and this is why I like the BCS. Sports media people love to gush over how the basketball tournament lets the players decide it on the court. But then they whine when there aren't enough upsets. Apparently, playoffs are only compelling when schools from small conferences are involved. Every year, the Final Four, inevitably full of blue-chip teams save for the George Mason aberration, is "boring" or "disappointing" or a "letdown." By then, brackets are busted and all that remains are three high-level college basketball games. CBS can't build up tension by cutting breathlessly back and forth between early-round matchups in search of close finishes and hackneyed cinderella stories. The average viewer likes March Madness because it's a freak show, not because it's great competition, and because of office pools. This is somehow the best three weeks in sports?

I don't know about that "best three weeks in sports" business but it's certainly better than the Baloney Crapfest Stupidity they use for football. And what's wrong with rooting for an underdog? Almost no one wants to see the Yankees and Dodgers play every year in the World Series, and the same goes for other sports.

I'm with Joe on this one. BCS system is a BS system. One sports commentator said it is like Christmas music. You can count on hearing the same songs sung every year.

It is hard to think of Arizona as a cinderella. Then again they could turn out like the Jimmy V's cardiac kids of NC State. I wish Davidson and their Curry were there. He spiced up the tournament by making it to the elite 8 last year.

While there may be no Cinderella, I see plenty of good match ups.

It's the 'best three weeks in sports" for COLLEGE BASKETBALL FANS who have been watching games all year long. It's a really fun and interesting first 2 weeks for the bandwagon-jumping office poolers, and it's great to have them along.

So who should the tournament cater to...the true fans of the game, who can't wait to see great b-ball match-ups played between great teams, or the office poolers who pay attention to b-ball during the early part of this tournament only?

This format proves that the BEST way to determine a champion is to let the teams play for it, hands down. There is a reason the top three seeds in each region have made it to the Sweet 16 -- they are GOOD. The cinderellas always have a chance to spoil the party --sometimes they do and when they do, it's fun-- but the purpose of the playoff is to see if the cream rises to the top, and in this tournament, it usually does. The same thing would happen in football if the powers-that-be would allow it!

I read an interesting theory in the paper yesterday: the writer's view was that there are, and will continue to be, fewer Cinderellas in the tournament because of the NBA rule change disallowing players from joining the league directly out of high school. Star high school players who go to college for just one year on their way to the NBA draft are going to the big schools, not the Sienas or Cleveland States. So those big schools get more talent.

Yes but if the big schools only get a player for one year than schools like Davidson that graduate all their players will produce more solid overall teams. Duke success use to be based, not on having the greatest talent, but the most veteran squad. Then it became just another NBA prep-school. This year's team has a few veterans. Without a superstar they are not consider a serious contender but they still have an outside shot.

I really hope Gonzaga can find a way to beat UNC and want Josh Heytvelt to outplay Tyler Hansbrough.

Seth Davis on CBS calls Levance Fields the most clutch player in the last 10 years. Who can argue? When he threw up a couple of bricks in the second half tonight, I said to my partner and our friends we were watching the game with, "He makes those with a minute left." And alas, he does. He ALWAYS does. This guy has received so much criticism in his career. I am so happy for him, and so happy for Jamie Dixon. The proverbial monkey is off our backs. LET'S GO PITT!!!!!

Memphis and Duke out. Bye Bye Dookies!!!

Was Duke that bad or Villanova that good, I mean a 23 point win? The Big East is really showing it's power with 3 teams already in the elite 8.

'Nova is that good. Don't be surprised to see an All Big-East FINAL FOUR...The conference has to be the best there ever was this year from top to bottom but it is a mega conference for sure!

Yeah, that might suit Big East fans fine & dandy but for the rest of us, zzzzzzzzzzzzzz!...

I am hoping that the above doesn't happen so that there can be interesting match ups in the final four & the championship game. Imagine, for i.e., the World Series between the Dodgers & Angels or the Lakers & Clippers in the NBA Final. Now tell me how boring that would be for the country!...But we'll just have to wait & see what transpires.

But you're right we just may see a championship game between 2 Big East teams.

Nice 65' three-pt shot by Denman of Mizzou right @ the buzzard yesterday!

Damn what a game! Thrilled that State got past KU (I attended both schools and have a lot of Jayhawk friends).....but we are totally going to get our asses handed to us by Louisville...
Hate to say it, but I think we are the weakest team left in the Elite 8....

GO TAR HEELS!

Gotta say that Josh Heytvelt is a hot man! Would love to see him shirtless (and more). Anyone found any shirtless shots of him?


Points from me on that post, man! Looking good! GO TAR HEELS!

Dream unfulfilled! GO TAR HEELS! GO TYLER!
Heytvelt is hot, of course, but he's done on the court....a new venue awaits (nice thoughts).

Villanova over Pittsburgh -- great game, especially the second half. Lots of lead changes, no lead larger than 5, last-second game-winner, etc. Hope someone found it exciting.

It was indeed very exciting- probably the best game I've seen this year. The only boring part about it was that it was won at the free-throw line, but at least it wasn't an endless parade to the line kind of game. UConn won with an outstanding performance from Kemba Walker, but needed alot of good things, including FT shooting, which sometimes deserts them, to win. Losing Dyson and the flat way they finished the season, I wasn't expecting much and have enjoyed the surprisingly good performances in the NCAA's. The seniors in this group have been through alot and I'm happy for them- even Price who I felt should have been kicked off the team with Williams in that laptop crap. Go Huskies!

Yeah! Great game.

NOVA!! NOVA!!! NOVA!!! NOVA!!! NOVA!!! As a Main Line brat...we are all very happy!!!!

Gotta admit I was happy 4 them!

FINAL FREAKIN' FOUR BABY!!!
IT'S MOTOWN TIME FOR THE SPARTANS!!!
Frankly, I'm completely shocked at how they shut down Louisville...
That makes 5 Final Fours in 11 years for MSU....more than any other school. period.

Well, we Pitt fans are heartbroken, so say the least. But if we had to lose, I am happy it was to a Big East team, and if it had to be a Big East team, I am even happier it was to Villanova. Both teams played well...we just had some miscues down the stretch that dearly cost us.

I had a BLAST watching the Panthers all season and am going to now switch my cheering from one big cat to another....Go Wildcats!