Shaka Smart at the exact moment he realized Texas is soooooo not back
Following on the heels of #2 Ohio State and #4 Purdue getting bounced on day #1, the bar was set high for day #2. It didn’t disappoint, as both Texas, and the reigning NCAA champs, Virginia, both got sent packing.
Texas, the East Region’s #3 seed, lost a 53-52 nail-biter to #14 Abilene-Christian. Trailing by 1 with 1.2 seconds left, Abilene-Christian’s Joe Pleasant, a 58% free throw shooter on the season, calmly sank both attempts to give the Wildcats the lead and then intercepted the Longhorn’s desperation inbound pass to put the icing on the cake:
Also going home a tad earlier than expected was the West Region’s #4 seed, the defending champion Virginia Cavaliers, who lost a 62-58 thriller to the Ohio Bobcats. Pool participant Eliot Bloomberg, friend from high school and a Virginia alum, points out that the Cavaliers did however win their first ever NCAA Women’s Swimming and Diving championship yesterday though. So, they have that going for them, which is nice.
Here ya go, Eliot! Show this to all the haters!
While those games were certainly shockers, the biggest surprise of the day was no doubt the news that VCU, the #10 seed in the East, was forfeiting their game vs #7 Oregon due to violation of COVID protocols. I’ve got the Ducks going to the Elite Eight, so I’m more than happy to take the “W.”
Also happy to take the “W” is longtime participant, Mark Mitchell, a long snapper on their 1995 Rose Bowl squad:
A mustachioed Mark Mitchell (L) hoisting coach Rich Brooks
When all the dust settled, first year participant Tanner Erpenbeck emerged as the winner of the $25 prize for Best 1st Round score with an impressive 27 points. Tanner isn’t playing with house money yet though, as he went “all in” with a whopping 10 brackets this year! Congrats, Tanner. Check Venmo for your winnings.
So, I brought this up on my Facebook page, but anyone else weirded out by these new “Unbelievably Delicious” Coke commercials that are airing non-stop during the games?
“Unbelievably Delicious”? More like “Unbelievably Stupid.”
Don’t know what kind of drugs the Coca Cola advertising team is on, but the Coke Zero commercial with Pinocchio, and the one where the goth-looking wolfgirl (?) buys a Cherry Vanilla Coke from the centaur (?) in the convenience store? Man, that is some weird stuff right there.
Coke really needs to hire the GEICO guys because “Scoop, there it is!” just never gets old, amirite?
Since we’re on the subject of commercials, we really we need to discuss the trailer for the new “King Kong vs Godzilla” movie. I mean, Kong has to win this in a rout, right? The guy’s a primate, for cryin’ out loud! He’s got opposable thumbs and uses tools, man! Yeah, yeah, I know Godzilla’s got that radioactive breath thing (hand up … some mornings, feels like I do too) but Kong’s primate brain allows him to use strategy, man! Strategy! Plus, Godzilla’s got no reach with those tiny little T-Rex arms. I’m going with Kong in a 2nd round TKO.
Okay, enough about commercials. Here’s today’s TV schedule for ya:
- 12:10 p.m. (1) Illinois vs. (8) Loyola Chicago (CBS)
- 2:40 p.m. (1) Baylor vs. (9) Wisconsin (CBS)
- 5:15 p.m. (3) West Virginia vs. (11) Syracuse (CBS)
- 6:10 p.m. (3) Arkansas vs. (6) Texas Tech (TNT)
- 7:10 p.m. (2) Houston vs. (10) Rutgers (TBS)
- 7:45 p.m. (7) Florida vs. (15) Oral Roberts (truTV)
- 8:45 p.m. (5) Villanova vs. (13) North Texas (TNT)
- 9:40 p.m. (4) Oklahoma St. vs. (12) Oregon St. (TBS)
And, hey, let’s get those entry fees in, people!
The Commish