The Most Wonderful Time of The Year........in sports.

March is here, Dick Vitale is screaming, and Digger Phelps is dancing; it sounds like Christmas to me.  I’m just waiting to fill out my bracket right hot out of my printer following Selection Sunday.

This is the point of the year in which practically every big time sport is in its prime time or headed towards it.  Spring Training is heating up for the Red Sox and the World Baseball Classic has featured a Netherlands team of no-names that has continued to upset talented major league talent.  Mel Kiper and Todd McShay (NFL Draft Scouts) have already had a couple fierce battles on ESPN recently over potential and skill for the NFL Draft coming up next month.  The NBA playoff race is tight as well, especially in the Western Conference with the difference among the 2^nd to the 8^th seed only pans a couple games.  And last, but not least the college basketball scene looks crazier than ever following a solid season last year led by talented freshmen O.J. Mayo, Eric Gordon, and Derrick Rose.

            Even though Spring Training, the NFL Draft, and upcoming playoff NBA basketball bode well for sports fans, March Madness and college basketball are the most anticipated.  The Big East Conference looks to be from top to bottom the most talented it’s been since the days of Allen Iverson and Ray Allen.  This conference might actually get eight seeds into the “Big Dance” this year carried in by powerhouse UConn, Louisville, and Pittsburgh.  With the Big East being packed with possible seeds, universities such as Providence that has previously upset top seeded Pittsburgh as well as a Notre Dame that has not played up to their potential may be watching from home this year. 

The ACC looks to represent the other higher seeds with rival squads, North Carolina and Duke.  Also, the hometown Boston College may go under the radar if the get a possible bid into the tourney as the have already taken off the highly touted UNC off from the top this season.  Maryland as well has faced a rollercoaster year so if they are able to make it in and get past the adversity, the fiery Gary Williams could lead with two an unsuspected run.  This is make it or break it time for many teams in their respective conferences tournaments before the cast of 64 teams are chosen to make a last impression.

            This is an exciting time for college basketball especially with the deep group looking to make it to the “Big Dance.”  The amount is really good teams is pretty shocking looking back at those who had left early to go onto the NBA.  The best player in America, forward Blake Griffin leads an Oklahoma team surrounded with young coaching, which this inexperience could hurt them in the end.  Teams that are the middle of the road type such as, Syracuse and West Virginia I feel may catch fire being back in the spotlight and the pressure situation will allow their veteran coaching staffs to shine.  Upsets and thrilling basketball are a sure thing as usual for this March Madness and I’m seeing Pittsburgh and Sam Young hoisting the title at the end of the month of constant basketball action.