NCAA Tourney: Day 1 in the Books

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Day one is done. Upsets abound. Hearts broken. Survive and advance, that's the motto at this time of year. If you win, you continue playing. Lose and you go home. Tough biz this NCAA tourney.

Some thought as I look over the action...

Morehead State: Now the country is aware of Kenneth Faried. The guy is an absolute beast on the boards, but he can score as well. He didn't have his best offensive effort (4-17 shooting) against Louisville, but the Eagles didn't need it. The game was won at the stripe believe it or not. Louisville only made 7 of 16. But they can reach the Sweet Sixteen.

Why? Read on...

Vanderbilt: Three straight bids, three straight round of 64 exits (or first round if you're used to calling it). I hope Kevin Stallings isn't waiting on a so-called big job. Oh, he'll get you to the tournament. You just won't play a second game. The Commodores were bitten by the Spiders from Richmond.

The biggest winner from those two outcomes was Kansas. No Louisville and no Vandy. If the Jayhawks get by Boston University, they will play a double digit seed (either a 12 or 13 seed). Their road just became a little easier.


Michigan State: What the hell happened to Sparty this season? They end the season with a 19-15 record? I could never imagine a Tom Izzo team looking so completely lost. They did manage a whale of a comeback in a losing effort. Makes you wonder if the shine is starting to fade. As one tweeted, at least Izzo isn't coaching the Cavs.

Kentucky: I know they won on a last second bucket, but I am impressed. This team is young. Very young. To keep some composure in such a pressure-packed situation is encouraging. If John Calipari could get these guys to hang around for a couple of years, they would be scary good.

Butler: You can go one of two ways with the Bulldogs. You either felt they got too much respect because of last year's remarkable run or you felt they were a bit under the radar. Or you could choose both which does seem like a contradiction. That's me. I don't think they're under Pitt's radar.

Florida: I doubted that they deserved a #2 seed. They proved me wrong in a workman like effort against UCSB. They shot 54.7% from the field and hit 76.5% of their free throws. They also outrebounded the Gauchos 33-24. UCLA, who beat Sparty, will have its hands full.

It was a pretty good day. It's called March Madness for a reason. And today, especially early on, proved the moniker to be true.