6B - The Michigan Daily - SportsMonday - March 13, 2006
Michigan Daily Ch
NCAA MEN's BASKETBALL
allenge
TOURNAMENT
First Round
Second Round
Sweet Sixteen
Elite Eight
Final Four
National Title
Final Four
Elite Eight
Sweet Sixteen
Second Round
first Round
1. Duke (30-3)
16. Southern (19-12)
8. Geo. Wash.(26-2
9. UNC-Wilm. 25-7_
5. Syracuse (23-11)
12. Texas A&M (21-8
4. LSU (23-8)
I
ATLANTA
Score the most points and receive a $50
gift certificate to Buffalo Wild Wings
13. Iona (23-7)
6. W. Virgina (20-10)
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1. Connecticut 27-3
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12. Utah State (23-8)
4. Illinois (25-6)
13. Air Force (24-6)
11. S. Illinois (22-10)
3. Iowa (25-7)
14 N V State~25-7
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WASHINGTON D.C.
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6. Michigan State (22-11)
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10. N.C. State (21-9)
2. Texas 27-6)h.. -
15. Pennsylvania (20-8)
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11. George Mason (23-7)
3. N. Car Tina (22-7)
J14. Murray State (24-6)
7. Wichita State (24-8)
10. Seton Hall (18-11)
..<....:t ,..:.............,,......<.<,_2. Tennessee (21-7)
15. Winthrop 23-7)
8Arizona 19-12_
- - - 12.Mgntana 236
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1. Memphis (30-3)
5. Arittsas (2-)
9. Bucknell (26-4) .:....:.:....
5. Pttsburh (24-7)
12. Kent State (25-8)
4. Kansas 25-7
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13. Bradley(-Ufl
-
6 Indiana (18-11)O KL I
11.San Diegorst. 24-8)
3. Gonzaga (27-3)
14. Xavier (21-10)
7. Marquette (20-10)1
10. Alabama (17-12)
2. UCLA (27-6)
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3. Florida (27-6)
To be eligible for the Michigan Daily's prize from Buffalo Wild
Wings, you must bring in your completed bracket (NCAA only
- NIT brackets are not included) to The Michigan Daily, 420
Maynard St., before the tournament begins Thursday morning.
Your Name
Total Points in
Championship game
E-mail
Phone
arch Madness looked like it was finally going to rear
its oh-so-heavenly head into seemingly uncharted
arts of the state of Michigan this year.
For the past eight years, Central Michigan,
Detroit Mercy, Michigan State, Oakland and
Western Michigan have all put their dancing shoes
on at least once. ONEO
But nowhere during that timespan did the fever with St
ever find its way to Ann Arbor.
Many of those years (when the Wolverines were actually eli-
gible to play), Michigan fans were worrying about just trying to
get in the NIT. Legitimate dreams of dancing in March were few
and far between. Only the 2004 NIT championship team had any
real chance to be the first Michigan team to dance since the 1998
squad earned a tourney bid.
So even after the Wolverines' inexcusable loss against Min-
nesota, fans still held on to hope, as slim as it seemed.
San Diego State coach and former Michigan villain Steve
Fischer was on Michigan's good side for a change. Students
stayed in on a Saturday night and rooted for
Nevada instead of drinking their sorrows away.
And Joakim Noah became a hero in Ann Arbor
i ROO yesterday with his game-winning shot that elimi-
ott Bell nated South Carolina.
All of college basketball seemed to be fighting
for Michigan.
But just like how things have gone for practically any Michi-
gan team this year, a bid just wasn't in the cards.
Now that reality has set in and the opportunity to participate
in March Madness was taken away - rightfully so - from
Michigan, it's time for students alike for refocus on what is really
important.
The Big Dance still starts this week.
Michigan may not be a part of it, but don't let it put a damper
on the best three weeks of any sane person's year.
It's freaking March Madness!
What other event causes people who normally don't bring lap-
tops to class to bring them along just so they can watch Thursday
and Friday's game on demand?
No other tournament allows you to argue with your friends for
hours upon hours about who got snubbed, who will win and who
will be this year's Cinderella team.
And the opening games of the NCAA Tournament happen to
fall on St. Patrick's Day? Coincidence? I think not.
Oddly enough, the best remedy to cure another Michigan
sporting disappointment is to watch the event the team threw
away a chance to play in.
A Michigan-less March Madness is still March Madness. And
it will provide you with excitement you haven't seen in a while.
You get to see teams play that actually seem to want to be on
the court. A definite change from the past few weeks around Ann
Arbor.
You get to see the birth of stars. Whether it's Bryce Drew mak-
ing game-winning shots and keeping a Cinderella team's hopes
up or a super-freshman like Carmelo Anthony taking his team
and his draft stock to a new level, someone will undoubtedly
make himself a household name in the next three weeks.
And hey, you guys out there get the luxury of getting to watch
drama and intrigue without putting your manhood on the line and
watching "The O.C." or "Grey's Anatomy."
So while most of the campus is probably planning a post-snub
bender, look at the bright side.
March Madness still goes on, with or without Michigan. For
me, at least, that means that life goes on.
0
Opening Round
Fini4 Round
Second Round
Quanrterflnals
Senifteoah Chamupionship
Semitnuals
Qanr najS
Second Round
First Rouad
Opening Rornid
.......... . --------
MARYLAND (918-910)
1
18rMm
i LOUISVILLE (18-12)
17Mar
MANHATTAN (18-190)
9
9 N. ARIZONA-(210)
WPM*
I
14-Mar
Fair Dickinson (20-11)
101
I r
14Mar
'a
COLORADO (20-9)
4
15Mar
Old Dominion (21-9)
ST: JOSEPH'S (18-13) 2
174Mar I
110 Delawar St (20-13)
4. CLEMSON (18-12)
16-Mar
5 LA Tech (20-12)
2 MISSOURI ST (20-8)
a
22-Mar
PENN ST (15-14)
7
17-Mar
7 STANFORD (15-13)
14-Mar
Rutgers (18-13)
I
r
U i-"I
14Mar
Virginia (15-14)
I
1s
e
-
HOFSTRA (24-8)
3
16Mar
Nebrabka (19-13) 61
MICHIGAN (18-10) 1
16Mar
MSG
Mareti 30, 7tO0pm
ESPN
Champion
S HOUSTON (20-9)
15Mar
6 Bruham Young (20-8)
I CINCINNATI (19-12)
17-Mar!
Madison Square Garden
March 28, 7:00pm / 9:00pm
ESPN2
Madison Square Garden
March 28, 7:00pm / 9:00pm
ESPN2
UTEP (20-9)
9
9 CHARLOTTE (18,12)
144-Mr
Lipscomb (21-10)
ail
Vande bilt (17-12)
4
1 5-Mr I
I~~~~4
to GSouem (20-)
4 MINNESOTA (15-14)
16-Mar
14Mar
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