I am not sure if I am referring to the suddenly, totally white ground outside or the NCAA college basketball tournament.  Actually, I live in upstate NY.  I know I am referring to the tournament.

I was excited as I drove home from the CHA Tournament last weekend and listened to the NCAA tournament selection show on the radio.  My initial shock wore off as I heard them name Cornell (the local team this year) a 14 seed as I was sure they were a 16 seed or the play-in game.  After all, their bid was an automatic one for winning the Ivy League, a league that doesn’t even have a championship tournament.  I was even more shocked to hear the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference champs Siena were a 13 seed.  Last year when Niagara University won the MAAC, they were forced to the play-in game which I didn’t think then, and don’t think now, they deserved.

Through three regions, the radio reception was excellent.  I still hadn’t heard the name West Virginia said.  I realize they didn’t win the Big East tournament.  I also realized that a lot of Big East teams had already been called into The Dance.  I was sure, though, that West Virginia was also going to play.  Finally, I heard it but barely.  We had driven past reception for this small ESPN radio station and I was straining to hear that WVU was a seven seed – not great but not bad either.

Now day one is over!  I watched some fantastic college basketball yesterday and last night.  I watch a 15-seeded Belmont almost beat 2 seed Duke, a team that has never lost in the first round.  I watched a 14-seeded Cornell get walked on by 3-seeded Stanford, a team whose players admitted that Cornell would hands down beat them in the grades category.  I wanted to watch WVU and Arizona go at it for several reasons.  Instead, I watch Notre Dame beat up on George Mason.  I did think, though, if George Mason stood a chance, it was due to the pre-game pep talk the coach gave.  CBS broadcast it and it was magnificent.

I ended the day with 12 correct picks out of 14 on my bracket.  Day two cannot possible be as good!!

PS.  Should you want to enjoy a little extra-curricular bracket talk, check out Yahoo! Sports writer Dan Wetzel who blogs live from a sports bar during the games today, which you should be able to find here.