Yes, everyone loves Stephen Curry and what Davidson is doing … remember that they’re in the same bracket as Kansas. Remember that they now go against a Wisconsin team that everyone undervalues. (How will Curry react/play when he suddenly goes against the most physical team he’s encountered since December?)

What about Western Kentucky? All they’ve got going for them is some late-game mojo (first true buzzer-beater since Drew Nicholas in ‘03)  and a UCLA team that has escaped three of their past five games with terrible non-calls from officials. How vulnerable is UCLA? They only scored 51 points against Texas A&M and clearly can’t shoot when someone’s not afraid to punch back.

Watch as all of the attention is directed towards Davidson, and even a West Virginia team that is as “dangerous” as anyone. The Hilltoppers are in the perfect position of being able to fly under the radar (as much as any 12-seed can right now) and finally take the stake to UCLA’s heart.

Doesn’t feel the same as a Belmont victory would have, but we can all feel a little better about ourselves because Duke won’t be going to the Sweet 16 for the second consecutive year.

West Virginia defeated the Devils 73-67 and will now be considered the most “dangerous” team left in The Tournament. “Dangerous” is code for teams that aren’t 1, 2 or 3 seeds, of course. (Because top seeds couldn’t possibly be deemed “dangerous!”)

The only bad part about the loss is that the more Duke loses and becomes less of an evil force (on a grander scale) in college basketball, the less hateable they become. We really need a Final Four run from the Blue Devils some time in the next three years to keep the hateability factor at a proper level.

To think we all laughed and mocked Dickie V in drag yesterday … all double-digit squads won down in the Sunshine State. The coincidental nature of the photo is more than troubling. And in case you hadn’t seen this picture, which was bouncing around the Interwebs yesterday, I apologize for such  a startling image to jumpstart your Tournament Saturday.

Only double-digit seed in play today is Beasley and Co. with K-State going against Wisconsin. Someone find a picture of Dickie dressed up in purple. It can’t be too hard, right?

I’m claiming this headline right now. Let the Anchorman references loose.

Since I had Drake going Elite Eight, this only means good things for my bracket. We can have a bunch of snoozers tonight, I don’t care. The drama in the first two days has been fantastic. Here’s the final moment of San Diego-UConn for those of you who were stuck at work or in your car.

My bracket is toast.

(Via AA)

San Diego has effectively thrown a big wrench into this bubble picture by winning the West Coast Conference tournament, defeating Gonzaga 69-62 on their home floor and probably wrapping up a 13 seed in the process. Let’s get on with this madness thing, right?

I turned off SportsCenter before Lunardi’s toupee came on and told us who was effectively kicked out, but by my calculations right now, this would bump Dayton out for the time being. (I don’t want to know what Lunardi said.)

Meanwhile, South Alabama loses to Middle Tennessee State 82-73, and I don’t know what we’re going to do with them. It’s great to debate, but I feel more and more apoplectic about this bubble, which is pretty damn weak. If it wasn’t necessary to take 65, I’d really suggest a 56-team Tournament this year.

And in case you were wondering, a Torero is essentially a bullfighter.

The sky is anything but falling in Durham. However, we’ve seen Duke lose back-to-back games now, so many will take plenty of glee in the ability to gasconade that their proclomations about the K’s have been confirmed.

Still, Duke will be, at worst, a 3 seed (count on it) so we can all just sit back and only hope they are felled by a 6 or and 11 in the second round.

As for Miami’s win…it probably is the one that gets Miami into The Tournament— if they don’t screw it up down the stretch. It’s also their second win against Duke in its history (the first one coming back in that memorable game in 1962).

Also, no floor storm for Miami last night. A commenter over at the Miami Herald’s website explains.

Still…this kind of loss for this kind of Duke team doesn’t feel quite as good as in years past.

What are your thoughts? Is Duke finally playing to their true ability, or are they still Elite 8 (or further) bound?

What a glorious photo. That’s surely making the Best of the Year post in April. Orlin Wagner is the photographer. Great capture.

Anyway, Kansas State just got done with its throttling of the Jayhawks at home, 84-75. Beastley guaranteed the Wildcats’ first home win against KU in 25 years and came through. It’s a shame that Manhattan fans will only get a few more games of seeing him before he never again returns to Kansas. Like, ever, because it’s Kansas and he will play professional basketball.

If KSU can go par for the course for the remainder of the season, then this win will easily get them an at-large berth.

As for the Jayhawks: The loss takes off any sort of weight they MIGHT have been feeling about the undefeated season. So what? This team is still Top 3 in the country and will have to play themselves out of a 1 seed. Almost every good team every year runs into a rough night on the road in conference. Kansas State was just up for the game and probably wasn’t going to lose to any team in that arena last night.

Much kudos to ESPN for bringing in all of the bonus coverage to those of us without satellite dishes and homes in the greater Midwest.

Indiana is a better team than Connecticut—they weren’t on Saturday, though. The Huskies beat the Hoosiers on Saturday, 68-63, despite having suspended two of their players for reasons unbeknownst to anyone outside the UConn program. Indiana lagged in effort at times, Eric Gordon passed up on a lot of scoring opportunities in a bizarre attempt to try and get others involved. (Note: You’re the best player on the floor, Flash.)

The win squarely puts UConn in the good graces of the selection committee and definitely has them on the better side of the bubble for the immediate future.

Oh yes: Jim Calhoun is becoming more and more fun to watch in his old age; he’s wily, really. I believe the photo above really depicts his uncanny ability in doing his best Elvis/James Brown impression.

So now, officially, the three teams that many considered to be the cream, remain. What a great game (made that much better by Gus Johnson play-by-play) in Lexington. UK had the lead for a large part of the game, but Vandy had plenty in them to get it to two OTs, eventually falling 79-73. Personally, I thought that UK was doomed once it got to the second overtime (following that ridiculous amount of second-chance opportunities Vandy had to tie it just before time expired), but they only gained momentum to give them a much needed win. A season-turner? Eh, we’ll see. Remember UK, you’re only 7-7 right now and many thought Vandy was winning with some smoke and mirrors.

As for Washington State, they were soundly defeated in a tame Pauley Pavilion environment (?) to lose their first game of the season. Many saw it coming, but UCLA played this one with a lot more preparedness of their behalf. That could be due to the quick turnaround that WSU had to handle (coming off of the USC win on Thursday night). Kevin Love had himself a career day in scoring 27 and grabbing 14. A ridiculous onslaught of 3s by WSU near the end of the game kept it as close as it was in an 81-74 final.