NCAA Tournament Opening Thursday in Review

Best game of the day – Syracuse 72, UNC-Asheville 65

For much of the game, it actually looked like Asheville was going to win. Then the zebras got involved. Let it be noted that the day a 16 finally beats a 1, it will be in a year when a non-Power Conference school happens to be a 1 seed. And in that year, it will be in part because the zebras did not get involved. As an aside, that this was the best game of the day shows how awful a day it was, and don't anyone trying to spin it make you believe otherwise. And for those that didn't see it, let's just say if you had either a rooting or betting interest in Asheville winning, you would be screaming... still... 12 hours after the fact.

Honorable Mention – Colorado 68, UNLV 64

Only notable because we got one of the very few frantic finishes with Colorado failing miserably down the stretch against the UNLV press but having just enough legs to avoid coughing up a 20 point lead.

Upset of the day – VCU 62, Wichita St. 59

Considering there were all of two seed upsets all day, one of them had to win. And considering some were thinking Wichita St. had the best chance of anyone to beat Kentucky in this tournament (ha ha to the people who have mancrushes on Pomeroy and his efficiency ratings, its only a tool, just like the RPI and our own eyes), this counts, even if it was perpetuated by upset king VCU (of the Final Four run from the First Four just last season).

Honorable Mention – Colorado 68, UNLV 64

The 22-4 run UNLV ran off to get back in the game after being down 20 was what everyone expected here. Not the other 35 minutes of play where UNLV looked like a bad Pac-12 team.

Player of the day – Jae Crowder, Marquette

25 points, 16 rebounds, 4 assists, 4 steals. That is one heck of game in an easy Marquette win over BYU. And if someone wants to question me, look at the stat line again.

Honorable Mention – Royce White, Iowa St.

Best player on the court in the Iowa St/Connecticut game. 15 points, 13 rebounds and playing the point from the power forward position, effectively. Great game for White.

Coach of the Day – Mark Few, Gonzaga

For all of Gonzaga's reputation as a bracket buster and powerful team in the tournament, the results really haven't been there for quite some time. Even the Sweet 16 runs in recent years have been expected because of seeding. While this was also an expected win, the margin and way it was done to poor West Virginia was eye opening.

Honorable Mention – Rick Pitino, Louisville

Nice job by Pitino getting his team ready to play. After losing in the first round last season, Louisville could have easily come out nervous and tight and lost again. After winning the Big East Tournament last week, Louisville could have easily come out lackadaisical and lost. The Cardinals did neither and played its most disciplined offensive game of the season for a workmanlike win over Davidson.

Bonehead of the Day – Roscoe Smith, Connecticut

Some context here:

Today:

I don't know why I'm surprised (also note Calhoun's reaction in both clips, exactly the same). UConn has alternately played like pinheads or selfish jerks all season and often both. This fits the pinhead category...

Honorable Mention – Jeremy Lamb, Connecticut

… and this one fits the selfish jerk category, especially considering this was in the final minute of a blowout loss.