The Dance and Madness have begun!!!
Yesterday, on Selection Sunday, March 15, 2015, the 68 teams of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament were identified by name. That’s right — by name. For their followers, and they are many, these are exciting times in the land of hoops, dribbles and baskets.
This morning, my hopes were up. I grabbed the paper, turned to the Sports section, and began to trace a finger down the page.
My immediate concern was how many of “my” teams actually made the cut. Each year, some very good teams are snubbed and not selected to participate. It must be said that the process of selection is long, complicated and difficult. So, despite the time, effort and good will of the selectors, the outcome is never perfect — especially for those non-selectees with very good won-loss records. Last year, my hometown Dallas SMU Mustangs did not receive an invitation to the “Big Dance”. At that time, there was much sadness on the streets of Big D.
Like all good fans, I have to have “my” teams. And, for the Big Dance, I must define “my” broadly to capture as many teams as possible. Only by being generous in my loyalty and affections, can I increase the odds that some of “my” teams will remain through the seven rounds of play and possibly make the National Championship game on April 6, the Monday after Easter Sunday.
To paraphrase Ned Ryerson from the movie “Groundhog Day”, that first week is a doozy. Between the opening bell to start the first game of the First Round on Tuesday, March 17, St. Patrick’s Day, to the final buzzer of the game to mark the end of the Third Round on the following Sunday, March 21 (a span of a scant six days), the starting field of 68 teams will be pared to 16 remaining squads. This means that only 23% of the original selected teams will win their way to the Sweet Sixteen. That first week could be called “The Loud Lament.” The sadly departing are many, and the happily remaining are few. Truly, the frantic pace of those first six days merit the term “March Madness.”
So, I asked frantically, are “my” teams there?
Relief attended my dashing digit.
Yes, my original home state is well represented: Iowa (my alma mater), Iowa State (my brothers’ alma mater), and Northern Iowa (the old State Teachers College from our childhood hometown). That’s 3.
But, I must have more.
My adopted state of Texas is there also: Baylor (my wife’s alma mater – good move, selection committee), Texas Southern (from the town I lived in for thirty years), Steven F. Austin (in the Piney Woods), Texas (a niece went there and Pecan Street is there), and SMU (the Mustangs made it – the streets of Dallas are alive with the sound of cheers). That’s 3 plus 5 more, for 8.
I still need more of mine to make the run.
Wait, Iowa is in the Big Ten, and I am a Big Ten fan, and the Big Ten has six more teams in the race: Indiana, Maryland, Michigan State, Ohio State, Purdue and Wisconsin. That’s 6 to add to 8. I’m up to 14 teams.
Not enough. More are needed.
Wait again, Iowa State, Baylor and Texas are in the Big 12, and I’m a Big 12 fan, and the Big 12 has four more teams in the Big Dance: Kansas, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State and West Virginia. That’s 4 more to add to 14. I have 18 teams, a good start.
But, even more are needed.
Let me think. Yes, I have good reasons to clap and holler for others of those selected: Cincinnati (another niece lives there and her son plays basketball), Buffalo (a pretty place I visited in the summer), Butler (an exciting team we watched over pizza), Notre Dame (I have many friends who believe in leprechauns – especially this week), Wichita State (I’ve driven by the city many times), New Mexico St. (I love New Mexico), Arkansas (our little flower girl lives in Little Rock with her mother who is yet another niece), Lafayette (I like Cajun food), LSU (I’ve traveled often to the Red Stick, Baton Rouge), Louisville (I remember an exciting run for the finish), Boise State and North Florida (who doesn’t like an underdog – may be a few more in this category as the games progress), and Georgetown (they accepted me once, a long time ago, but I never forgot). There, you see, I have many good reasons to include at least 13 more schools. That’s 13 plus 18.
I’m up to 31 teams on “my” roster of schools to watch and wait and hope to see on April 6th.
You know, I’m sure there are more.
This is going to be fun.
Let’s see now.
Who else?
Grandpa Jim