2008 Woodie Awards
March Madness Surprisingly Predictable
By Mike Stone
3/28/07 - Sports
For something called "March Madness," it is not that mad in 2007. In years past, basketball playoffs are a time for upsets and big wins. No such thing this year. Yes, games are good and nail-biting at times, but there's no snap! There's no pop! There's not even any crackle!
Of all the teams that made it to the "Sweet Sixteen," the lowest ranked was UNLV at seed 7. All the number one seeds are still in the game. All the number two seeds are still in the game except for Wisconsin, because they lost to UNLV! There's excitement and anticipation, but there's just no excitement or anticipation!
Last year, number three seed Florida won the Championship over number two UCLA 73-57. This was Florida's first win in university history. Anyone can tell you that 2006 was a great year for the Gators, for basketball and even for Cinderella stories!
In 2006, George Mason College was the main focus after several upsets as a number 11 seed. This was a team that no one expected to go anywhere and yet, they beat number six, Michigan St., number three, UNC, number seven, Wichita St., and number 1, UConn to make it to the final four! A number 11 team in the final four! If you're not a fan of basketball, it's alright, because this doesn't happen in ANY sport let alone NCAA Division I Basketball. George Mason ended up losing to Florida.
Fast forward to 2007 and fans, coworkers and Facebook addicts are filling out their NCAA brackets as RANDOMLY as possible trying to predict the next big underdog. No such luck this year. This year's Final Four includes number 1 seeds Florida and Ohio State and number 2 seeds UCLA and Georgetown. Looks like you lost the pool, buddy. But, hey - there's always hockey!
Several other key events happened this year. One included the absence of Duke in the "Sweet Sixteen." The Blue Devils lost to VCU in the first round 79-77. Losing to VCU meant the first time Duke had lost in the first round since 1996 and it broke a 9-year streak of appearing in the "Sweet Sixteen." This was the second longest in NCAA history.
The next big thing on everyone's mind is whether the Florida Gators can repeat a National Championship this year. If they can pull it off against UCLA and the winner of the Georgetown-Ohio State game, they will become the first school to repeat as champions in 18 years. The only other team to win back-to-back championships in NCAA history was Duke in 1991 and 1992.
No matter how excited or upset you get this year, it will all be said and done on April 2nd when four of the top ranked teams in the nation will battle it out in what is sure to be a couple of games for the record books.
Of all the teams that made it to the "Sweet Sixteen," the lowest ranked was UNLV at seed 7. All the number one seeds are still in the game. All the number two seeds are still in the game except for Wisconsin, because they lost to UNLV! There's excitement and anticipation, but there's just no excitement or anticipation!
Last year, number three seed Florida won the Championship over number two UCLA 73-57. This was Florida's first win in university history. Anyone can tell you that 2006 was a great year for the Gators, for basketball and even for Cinderella stories!
In 2006, George Mason College was the main focus after several upsets as a number 11 seed. This was a team that no one expected to go anywhere and yet, they beat number six, Michigan St., number three, UNC, number seven, Wichita St., and number 1, UConn to make it to the final four! A number 11 team in the final four! If you're not a fan of basketball, it's alright, because this doesn't happen in ANY sport let alone NCAA Division I Basketball. George Mason ended up losing to Florida.
Fast forward to 2007 and fans, coworkers and Facebook addicts are filling out their NCAA brackets as RANDOMLY as possible trying to predict the next big underdog. No such luck this year. This year's Final Four includes number 1 seeds Florida and Ohio State and number 2 seeds UCLA and Georgetown. Looks like you lost the pool, buddy. But, hey - there's always hockey!
Several other key events happened this year. One included the absence of Duke in the "Sweet Sixteen." The Blue Devils lost to VCU in the first round 79-77. Losing to VCU meant the first time Duke had lost in the first round since 1996 and it broke a 9-year streak of appearing in the "Sweet Sixteen." This was the second longest in NCAA history.
The next big thing on everyone's mind is whether the Florida Gators can repeat a National Championship this year. If they can pull it off against UCLA and the winner of the Georgetown-Ohio State game, they will become the first school to repeat as champions in 18 years. The only other team to win back-to-back championships in NCAA history was Duke in 1991 and 1992.
No matter how excited or upset you get this year, it will all be said and done on April 2nd when four of the top ranked teams in the nation will battle it out in what is sure to be a couple of games for the record books.
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