March Madness

Oh yeah, I am happy to write that my beloved Buckeyes won two very big games against ranked opponents this week. And thus begins one of my favorite times of year even as I look out to walls of snow outlining my driveway.

The end of this week will mean the start of the Big Ten tourney an my Buckeyes in an opening round rematch with today's opponent, the Michigan St. Spartans. This time the game will be on a neutral court and mean more to the Buckeyes' chances of making the big dance. I am not sipping the Kool-Aid enough to think the Bucks will make it quite yet. Nor do I think they will last too long in the NCAAs. But that doesn't mean I don't want them to play in the tournament anyway. I am thinking a win against the Spartans is required. After that, I would feel much better with one more win to follow it up. Obviously, I'd prefer winning the whole Big Ten Tournament, but two good wins should get them in.

Here is my argument as to why OSU only needs 2 more wins: They played a legitimate schedule unlike their football counterparts. They played every one of those good teams tough. They beat two ranked teams (Purdue and Michigan St.) and two "bubble" teams (Syracuse and Florida). If they get the two wins I am looking for next weekend, they will add at least one more ranked victory and 20 wins. Also, they have a winning conference record. I really would have like to see one or two of those close games to have ended in the left hand column (W column) whether it was Texas A&M, UNC, Indiana or Wisconsin.

Either way, this time of year is fun because we can discuss who deserves to go to March Madness and who doesn't. We can make our projections and argue why. We get to watch the action of the conference tourneys and the teams that need wins to make a run at the dance with the inevitable desperation and excitement that follows. It is always magical. It is nice that OSU is in the hunt enough to have a vested interest beyond the pure enjoyment of watching. We got a team that is part of the equation...for now. This is most likely just another example of the Huey Karma getting my hopes up high just to crush them into pain and agony this Friday evening.

Then, Sunday night will bring the Selection Show with the immediate bracket drafts and revisions and pools and more debate about who was left out and who should not be there. Even the marginal fans get in on the action. The following weeks of games during work and weekends satiated with basketball from noon to midnight are a dream come true for basketball fans like myself.

Ah yes, by the end of the tournament Spring will be here with the improved weather and weekly softball games and cookouts all around the corner. Life is good this time of year my friends, life is goooooooooood.