The tourney had been going along just fine. After a tough opening round win against Akron, UCLA then went on to beat St. Mary’s handily to advance to the Sweet 16. The only problem with that game was that Jaquez sprained his ankle with about 7 minutes left. It looked bad. Wasn’t sure he’d be able to go on Friday night against UNC, but he did. Like the tourney, this game was going along just fine…
The path was paved. Kentucky went out first round. Baylor went out second round. Purdue went out earlier in the evening. The top 3 seeds from the bracket were eliminated, and for the first time ever, a #15 seed was waiting in the Elite Eight for the winner of the UCLA-UNC game. Shit, looking ahead, Gonzaga had lost too; the winner of Duke and Arkansas would be the Final Four opponent. I was feeling pretty good about my bracket champion, our adopted team UCLA.
I didn’t know much about North Carolina. Typically, I like them; you know, MJ went there, so… Although years back, I hated them for the first time, when Illinois met them for all the marbles. I thought that was Illinois’ year. Dee, Deron, and Luther. The great comeback against Arizona. They did make a nice comeback that night against UNC, that won me some serious 2nd half money, but… it wasn’t enough. There was the NC team that beat the Fab 5 back in the day; I didn’t like that either. But this Carolina team; weren’t they just all three pointers? Live by the trey, die by the trey? Well, when the 2nd half started in this one, I saw that wasn’t the case. The Tarheels were taking it to the hole too; they were playing tough defense. This team isn’t playing like an 8 seed, that’s for sure. Yet, UCLA still maintained a lead; heck, if it wasn’t for that one guy, Caleb Love, whose name I won’t forget, this game would be over. But, yeah, that Love kid… talk about on fire. He even missed a few in there, but kept firing, making the biggest shots of the game. I was feeling pretty good after the Jaquez steal and slam; we were pumped. But, it was all down hill after that; it almost feels like Jaquez re-injured his ankle on that play… not sure he made another bucket the rest of the game, missing shots he’d normally make. Nobody could make a shot down the stretch for the Bruins, even last year’s hero Juzang. Next thing you know, Love had brought the Tarheels into the lead, while time was ticking away. Over… ouch.
It was fun while it lasted. My son said no reason to wear his UCLA jersey any more; he was pretty bummed. I’m sure he’ll be wearing it plenty though. Between that and the DD Bulls jersey, he had a nice rotation going. Wish that the Bruins could have kept marching on. Besides rooting for them on a personal level, the money that they would have won me had they taken it all… would have been really nice. Oh well, bracket officially busted. You know who has the best looking bracket I know left: my wife. She has Arkansas, Villanova, and Kansas still alive for her Final Four, and the Jayhawks as champs. Should have turned hers in for the money… oh well. 7 more games to go to find out who the National Champ in 2022 will be…
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