Real World Sports

NCAA Tournament Notes From the Southeastern Regional

Friday’s sites of Raleigh, Tampa, Little Rock, and Birmingham was not exactly the pinnacle of geographic diversity, was it? The Southeastern Regional continues when those sites hold two games each on Easter Sunday.The games in Tampa certainly deserve all the attention, and the Western Kentucky, Villanova, Siena, San Diego money line parlay paid better than 225-1 to those prescient enough to bet it (and resourceful enough to find a place that would provide an honest payoff). Those games guaranteed a pair of Sweet 16 Cinderellas (if a Big East team can be a Cinderella), but after a formful evening favorites and dogs split 8-8 to the number. The Little Rock and Birmingham games held significantly less drama than Tampa, all decided by 7 points or more.

The games were significantly higher scoring overall, with totals going over at a 10-5-1 clip if you call Villanova/Clemson a push.

Saturday presents some significant fast vs. slow pace battles, with Duke vs.West Virginia, Notre Dame vs.Washington State, Kansas State vs.Wisconsin, and (to a lesser extent), Marquette vs. Stanford. The team that can get the tempo they desire has a big edge in those matchups. Should be interesting to watch.

Enjoy the games and Happy Easter.