Alright… Well, that was boring.
If you find yourself thinking this way after the first weekend of the NCAA tournament, I can guarantee that you aren’t alone.
The “Madness” part of the tournament’s nickname represents more than the sheer volume of single-elimination playoff basketball we get exposed to in a short amount of time. Additionally, it is referred to this way because of the upsets, particularly during the early rounds. This is probably the primary reason the average sports fan loves the tournament. You don’t have to be a college basketball fan to enjoy March Madness, and everyone loves a Cinderella.
No such story line exists as we head into week two of the event.
Only two of the top-16 seeds failed to advance into the second week, a Kansas State team that has often struggled to score throughout the season, and their elite in-state rival Kansas (and it was a relatively poor year for the usually dominant Jayhawks). Point being, no one should be surprised that this pair of Big-12 squads fell victim to early exits.
Furthermore, the two teams from outside the top-16 that managed to break through are fifth-seeded Auburn, which just won the SEC tournament the week prior, and twelfth-seeded Oregon, which had to do the same in the Pac-12 tournament just to get into the 68-team field.
Two major programs from big time conferences that were also two of the hottest teams in the country entering the tournament… hardly Sister Jean and the Loyola-Chicago Ramblers of 2018…
If the preeminent programs all getting through wasn’t monotonous enough for you, the matter in which they did so, I imagine, most definitely was. After half the field was eliminated Thursday and Friday without a single shocker to be spoken of, the stronger teams went 16 for 16 on the weekend, with 11 of those games being decided by at least 12 points.
More like March Mundane, am I right?
If you find yourself feeling disappointed by the first week, you are absolutely not alone. Duke and Central Florida gave us a game for the ages, and Iowa almost completed a historic comeback against Tennessee, but outside of that this was as uninspiring an opening week of March Madness that has ever been witnessed.
However, I implore you, don’t give up on this tournament. So many top teams dominating their way into the Sweet Sixteen, while frustrating fans through the first couple of rounds, carries a phenomenal silver lining…
The rest of the tournament is going to be really freaking good.
Watching blowout after blowout over the weekend took its toll on me. I was extremely frustrated watching the higher seeds just bully their opposition, over and over again. But this silver lining has got me very excited. Non-stop blowouts early in the tournament can only mean that the best teams in the nation are all playing their best basketball when it matters most. Which sets up for what could be the most exhilarating final fifteen games that this tournament has ever produced.
The problem with having Cinderellas making deep runs is that more often than not they get thoroughly outclassed when they finally do lose. Remember George Mason and their miraculous run as an eleven seed in 2006? It was such an amazing time watching those guys. They took down North Carolina and Connecticut in their region to break into the Final Four, but then got absolutely decimated by the eventual champions Florida. Loyola-Chicago turned in a much better performance in last year’s Final Four, but Michigan also got off to a horrific start in that game. Once the Wolverines kicked it into gear in the second half, the Ramblers simply had no answer.
This is something we don’t need to worry about in any of the remaining games in the tournament. I’m not saying all the blowouts are definitely behind us. What I am saying is that if it does happen, it won’t be because the opponent isn’t talented enough to keep up. The final sixteen teams in the tournament are those that are playing their best at the right time, and this year, fortunately for us, those teams just happen to be the most talented in the country.
So if you’re like me and you were completely disappointed by the opening week of March Madness, take a deep breath, and don’t give up on this year’s installment of the tournament. A boring week of favourites making a mockery of their opponents leaves nothing but elite teams in the field, a rarity this early in the proceedings. A painful start to the tournament can only mean that fireworks are sure to ensue.
Pay close attention this week folks. This thing is just getting warmed up.