64 no more

The best weekend in all of sports is over. What was once 64 teams is now only 16. Here are some casual observations about the tournament's exciting first weekend:

1. All Four No. 1's Still Alive

Texas and Arizona escaped near upsets, while Kentucky and Oklahoma relatively cruised into the Sweet 16.

2. Absence of Major Upsets

The highest seed to win a game was No. 13 Tulsa over Dayton (it really wasn't an upset anyway was it Vince?). NC-Wilmington and Wisconsin-Milwaukee were oh so close. Butler beating Louisville and Auburn surprising Wake Forest were the only classified "upsets." All the powerhouse teams are still dancing.

3. Timeouts

I don't know if anyone else noticed this, but what is with the players calling timeouts at the most ridiculous times, and worse is the referees actually granting some of these? It seems like now if a guy is being guarded close enough to warrant panicking, he goes for the timeout.

Two examples from the weekend (I can't recall the games):

* One guy dives on the floor with others in a stereotypical jump ball situation and he yells timeout. Somehow the referee who is behind the action knows the players voice and figures he has possession of the ball and gives him a timeout.

* Another player manages to save a ball that is going out of bounds by jumping over the sidelines. With his back turned, the referee knows he called timeout and gives it to him.

4. Anything Can Happen

Of the remaining teams, only Kentucky, Pitt and Michigan State have dominated both of their games this weekend. Most games were competitive throughout. Look for more of the same next weekend. The most important thing is just to move on, no matter how ugly. If you look at some of past championship teams, they have won a squeaker somewhere along the tournament trail to make it to the title. See UCLA 1995 as a prime example.

5. How Bad Are Your Brackets?

Probably not terrible because most teams "supposed to be there" moved on (9 of 16 teams seeded 1 to 4), plus three No. 5's and defending national champ Maryland. Mine would've been stellar if it wasn't for Tulsa collapsing in the final five minutes against Wisconsin, and Wake Forest crumbling. Hope no one had Louisville, Mississippi State or Wake Forest going far. If so, better pack up and start planning for 2004.

6. Big East

Syracuse, Notre Dame, UConn and Pitt all advance to the Sweet 16. I say at least one will go to New Orleans.

7. Committee Looks Good

So much for ripping the committee. Auburn and Butler, two of the last teams in, are in the Sweet 16 after defeating very formidable opponents in both rounds. This has to be good for the committee after the whole BYU thing.

8. Bests

Game: Arizona 96, Gonzaga 95, 2OT

Gonzaga nearly added to its tournament lore, while Arizona narrowly averted another early round upset.

Individual Performance: Darnell Archey, Butler

He was 7-8 from three-point range in Butler's upset of Louisville. He likened it to MJ in '92 versus the Blazers, when Jordan threw up his hands in a "I don't know what is going on" motion.

Unknown: Chris Kaman, Central Michigan

The seven-foot center was unstoppable for the Chippewas against Creighton and Duke. Too bad the rest of CMU wasn't up to the challenge against the Dukies.

9. Predictions

Elite Eight Kentucky vs. Marquette Arizona vs. Kansas UConn vs. Maryland Oklahoma vs. Syracuse Final Four Kentucky vs. Kansas Maryland vs. Syracuse

10. Mountain Dew Caps

This is about the time you weed out your NCAA Mountain Dew caps and see if you have a potential winner. But wait, this year they decided to create an asinine formula, which goes like this -- if you collect 32 "Two Point Shots," otherwise known as caps, you can win a far-from-stylish t-shirt. What no three-point caps?

They also advertise "millions of jerseys" and give a web site where you can peruse their collection of winnable jerseys. You would be better off buying one from your local Value City store, then buying a plethora of Dew in the hopes of winning one that they're offering -- they look so bad.

Maybe I am the only one that feels this way, but if you are like me, use the internet to your advantage and go to the Mountain Dew web site and send them an email letting them know how they ruined a March tradition for all the caffeine and basketball fanatics out there.