I love, love, love the first 2 days of March Madness, and no, I’m not talking about the play-in games. That Thursday and Friday… man… so good. And then the second round begins on Saturday; party over right? Maybe… maybe that’s why I don’t remember much about the second round of March Madness in Vegas. Maybe it was because I consumed enough alcohol and/or lost enough money in those first 2 days, I didn’t get to enjoy the weekend as much; don’t remember. My memory of the second round takes us back in the day. It must have been 1994, when I was figuring out where I was going to college. I just happened to be on the University of Illinois’ campus for the start of the second round that year… IF that was the year. I remember just waking up in time for the start of the games… I think the previous night was when we were up almost all night partying…. regardless if it was that night or not, I had a great time down in Champaign. But back to March Madness… don’t think Illinois was even in the tournament that year, but Purdue was. I remember thinking how good Glenn “Big Dog” Robinson was with the Boilermakers. I believe they were a #1 seed that year. He was so good; he remains one of the best college players I’ve ever seen play. I think Purdue made it to the Sweet 16, but not much after. Anyways…
The 2022 NCAA Second Round started Saturday with North Carolina and Baylor. UNC had a 25 point lead!!! And they blew it!!! Baylor, with I believe some help from the officiating in their home state playing as a #1 seed, tied it up and sent it to OT. Kind of shocked that the Tar Heels beat them anyways…which is good news. You see, if I haven’t told you already, we’ve adopted UCLA as our college team. Ever since birth, which was escalated last year during UCLA’s Final Four run, my wife has my son going to UCLA. I know it’s her way to get back to California, as if my college aged son is going to want his parents to follow him… it’s all good though. Hopefully, he’ll do well enough with his grades and anything else he chooses to do, where he’ll have options. We got a little time to go there… But yeah, we’re rooting for the Bruins; I even picked them to win it all in my bracket. Kind of a long shot, considering only 3 teams seeded below a #3 seed have ever won the National Title; I think I read that right. But why not? I know if they DO win, I will win some bucks.
UCLA did win against St. Mary’s in a game I felt pretty good about. The only problem was that one of their star players got hurt; hoping he can recover from that ankle injury enough to play in the Sweet 16 game. Man, if he didn’t get hurt, and seeing how that quadrant of the bracket is playing out… I would have really liked them to go all the way, at least to the Final Four. It was a fun game. My son, with his early birthday present UCLA jersey on, was hyped up, as was my wife. Next up a matchup with the above mentioned UNC with the winner advancing to the Elite Eight.
Really back into March Madness this year, full force. I did take off early from work on Friday to stop by my parents’ house to watch some of the game with my dad, the original March Madness pool runner; I remember helping him grade sheets when I was a young kid. I just found out that one of the regions is coming here next… yeah, crazy, just like the ticket prices. If it was UCLA coming here, we’d go; since they’ll be playing at the same time these games at the UC would be… I’m going to stop looking. Maybe for Sunday’s game with a trip to the Final Four on the line??? Let the Madness continue!!!
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