March Madness 2013 Update

Every year, the first and second rounds of March Madness bring some surprises and 2013 has started out no different. If you’re like me, your bracket looked a little busted Thursday and Friday. Social media erupted in waves of “Go (insert underdog team mascot here)”, as a few lower ranked teams made some unexpected wins. Go Bears! Woot!

In the Midwest, the Oregon Ducks (#5) beat the Oklahoma State Cowboys (#12), and managed to trounce the #4 St Louis Billikens.  Watch them play the #1 seeded Louisville Cardinals in the Sweet Sixteen round. Go Ducks!

The West was more interesting, with Harvard Crimson (#14) holding off the New Mexico Lobos (#3), with only a 20% chance or less of winning in some betting pools. Thankfully, the “Not just Brains” Facebook posts ended when they fell to the Arizona Wildcats (#6). Surprisingly, the Gonzaga Bulldogs, a historically strong team seeded #1 this year, was electrified by the aptly named Wichita St. Shockers (#9). I may be rooting for Whichita St. this year just because I love their super power mascot!

In the South, Minnesota’s Golden Gophers (#11) chomped their way through the UCLA Bruins (#6), before falling to the Florida Gators (#3).  Reports swirled over the weekend that UCLA’s longest tenured coach Ben Howland had or had not been fired. Official word came in Sunday that UCLA would indeed be looking for a new coach for the first time since 1975. Ouch.

Also in the South, the Florida Gulf Coast Eagles (#15)  beat the #2 Georgetown Hoyas, and #7 San Diego Aztecs. Three facts that make this upset even more amazing! #1: This team has only existed since 2002. #2: FGCU only gained Division I basketball status in 2011. #3: This is FGCU’s first NCAA men’s basketball tournament. And while this is technically an “upset” of epic underdog proportions, any experienced bracketologist will tell you, NEVER bet against a Florida team. Like Texas with Football, Florida got game. More on this team next hour.

In the East, I happily watched my alma mater’s team, the California Golden Bears (#12), claw past UNLV’s Runnin’ Rebels (#5) in a squeaker of a game. And yes, I brazenly posted all over Facebook, only to watch it all end with the Syracuse Orange (#4) the very next round.

If late last week had the usual “shocking” upsets, the glee was predictably, and for the most part, over by end of the weekend. Early winning underdogs lost in the 2nd round to higher ranked teams, putting everyone’s bracket back on track. Except for Oregon, FGCU, and my new favorite team Wichita St, mostly all is right in the college basketball world (at least according to analysts, rankings, betting pools and my awesome bracket).

FIFA Do Over?

If basketball wasn’t enough sports news for you, Costa Rica is upset and asking for a replay of their Friday Soccer match with the USA. During the World Cup qualifying match in Commerce City, Colorado, the field was hit with a heavy bout of snow. We Coloradans know how, ahem, unpredictable, the weather can be here in the Spring. I’m guessing shoveling snow off the soccer field isn’t a common occurrence for the equatorial country.
Apparently the storm was bad enough that the Costa Ricans are claiming unfair interference in their 0 – 1 loss. It will be interesting to see how FIFA decides, and whether  “Do Over” is not just for playground dodgeball, especially since both teams urged officials to keep playing during the actual match.