You're stuck at work, unable to watch the opening games of the Tournament.
Luckily, we have TVs. Lots of them. We can watch all the games. Coast to coast.
So, as a service to you, Page 2 stuck Graham Hays in front of a bank of tubes in snowy Bristol and gave Eric Neel a bird's-eye view of the games from his stompin' grounds in northern California. Their Tournament Blog will be your eyes and ears for all the action while you're glued to a cubicle typing up TPS reports.
5:33
EN: Heck of a day, G. This was fun. Let's do it again tomorrow, eh?
GH: I'll be here, but with lunch this time.
EN: You bring the lunch, I'll bring the drinks. Here's hoping the kids bring it the way they did today.
5:30
EN: Another almost upset, a tantalizing first round. Except of course in Florida, where it was just bitter.
GH: McNamara has missed as many from the line (10-14) as from the 3-point line (9-13).
5:27
EN: BYU down 2 with 48 seconds ...
Live by the three, die by the three ... Bigelow is off and McNamara goes to the line.
GH: I don't fault them going for the 3, considering Araujo has four fouls. And it was an open look.
5:22
GH: Anything you can do, I can do better. Warrick misses the oop-dunk, Araujo slams home the follow.
The inevitable bias of the present, but I can't remember many opening afternoons better than this one. Close games all over the place.
With arguably the most absurd shooting performance in recent memory -- McNamara hits his ninth 3.
EN: If BYU pulls this out, they've got a legit shot against Maryland, a team, like Syracuse, that is long and lean, but not big enough to hang with Araujo.
5:17
GH: When you consider Maryland and UTEP was an 86-83 game, someone really needs to look at the rims in Denver.
And them ship them to whoever plays the Pistons next.
EN: You know how teams like to get a little bit of a test in the first round, to keep them sharp? That's not going to happen for Stanford today, unless they have trouble with Seattle traffic on the way back to the hotel. 23-9, 8:31 left in the first half.
5:12
GH: And Wake breezes through their first-round game ...
EN: They had the look of a champion if ever I've seen it.
5:10
EN: Here comes BYU ...
VCU scores a runner, down two ... 5.6 left ...
5:08
GH: Odd, VCU was really good at fouling for the first 39:40 of the game, and then they forget how, Too much wasted time.
Wake hits both for a 77-73 lead with 11 seconds left.
EN: VCU kids weren't prepared for what to do when they missed a late shot. That's on Caple, coming out of the timeout.
5:06
EN: The hoop gods might give you the Wake win for that Big Fella line alone, G. Nice work.
5:04
EN: If the Blue Devils go down early, his phone will ring off the hook.
Meanwhile, Josh Childress' hair is off to a 6-2 lead over Texas San Antonio.
GH: If the Stanford tree falls during the 5 p.m. ET game and there is nobody around to watch it, does it make a sound? More importantly, are Tiger and Elin at the game?
If not for the dumb fouls, VCU might already have this game in hand. They're putting up some clutch shots on the other end. Wake grabs a 75-73 lead with 57.9 seconds left. Timeout.
VCU may have to finish this game with three players and a couple of student managers at the rate they're fouling out.
EN: BYU is slipping against Syracuse. They miss the big fella.
GH: Liberty is slipping against St. Joe's. They miss the Big Fella.
5:02
EN: Any chance this whole St. Joe's season is actually a deal with the devil?
GH: He's certainly not with the Demon Deacons, so maybe he's a free agent. VCU by one, 1:40 left.
4:59
GH: VCU down three with the ball and three to play. This is the point where bracket busters either get a big bucket to hang in, or go down in a blaze. Based on earlier comments, I'll refrain from guessing which happens here.
Jameer Nelson with 33 points. Not to mention he's dodged three lightning bolts.
4:57
GH: Very dangerously if Wake doesn't figure out a way to keep VCU from doing a poor man's impersonation of the shooting in Denver.
EN: Just kidding. I'm with you. I just lit a votive and said three Wake Marys.
GH: By the way, are you knitting that sweater for Martelli?
EN: Yeah, to cover up the tie.
4:54
GH: VCU refuses to go away. Big 3 to reclaim the lead right beforte the under-four timeout. Wake is looking for Tim Duncan. Or at least Randolph Childress.
EN: Uh, Graham, do you happen to know what the mascot is at VCU? I'm knitting a sweater.
Wake to go all the way? That was your call? We gotta vet our bloggers a little more carefully around here.
GH: Hey, go ahead and take Kentucky. Some of us prefer to live dangerously.
4:51
GH: I think the last time I saw 8 of 11 from 3-point land on a court, Craig Hodges was involved.
EN: The forecast in Denver: Continued McNamara with intermitent periods of Gerry. He's got 33. And we have our first Craig Hodges reference -- now it's a party.
GH: And four fouls on Araujo; BYU is in big trouble.
4:47
GH: Jameer Nelson has scored like five baskets in a row. They might as well start doing close-ups of his ACL on every play. Why is he still in there?
4:45
GH: Bobby Knight, Phil Martelli, Manhattan and now possibly VCU? That's the part of the bracket I'm focusing on this weekend.
9-0 run by Wake puts them ahead, 66-63, with 6:06 left.
EN: The BYU-Cuse game is less electric than it was in the first half, but it's still tight: 50-50.
4:41
EN: Yeah, that double-elimination thing is an idea; they could run the tourney like the World Cup. Of course, we have no idea whether any of these guys can play soccer ...
GH: Hey, I'd be all for a running clock during the last few minutes of these games. Throw in some injury time, we're still out in an hour.
EN: Plus, think of the red cards for Bobby Knight. They'd match his sweater.
EN: Who gets your vote for starting center on the Pontiac All-Time Tournament team? I'll go with Lew Alcindor.
GH: And you're telling me I have to vote for someone else? Is Kareem Abdul-Jabar eligible?
EN: You can have Bill Walton, just don't get stuck with Christian Laettner.
GH: Or Jake Voskuhl.
EN: Right about now I'm thinking of Araujo.
4:37
GH: For those keeping track of my bracket, I need Wake to win six games.
EN: Do they all have to be in this Tournament, G? VCU up 3, 8:30 left ...
GH:: You're saying this isn't double-elimination?
EN: Halftime is the worst thing that can happen to a team like BYU. Halftime is where hot shooting goes to die.
GH: For those still keeping track, Liberty has "cut" the lead to 21 with 12 to play.
4:28
EN: The early story, except for Manhattan: Upsets that almost were: UTEP, SIU ... will BYU continue the trend?
GH: Great finish to Southern Illinois-Alabama ... and now everyone notices Wake is tied with 11 minutes to play ... to the team I said would end up an afterthought in Tourney history. I love this job.
EN: If VCU wins, you should be player of the game, Graham. Without your smackdown they probably never rally.
4:23
GH: And a game of horse has broken out in the final minute in Seattle. Southern Illinois gets the last shot after the teams exchange go-ahead runners in the lane. SIU has the ball at halfcourt with 2.8 seconds left ...
... and SIU misses at the buzzer. Alabama advances.
4:20
EN: 'Bama misses and SIU has the ball with 31 seconds left. What did I say? Never underestimate the Salukis!
4:17
EN: Excuse me, Graham, but when you say SIU "just keeps hanging around," do you mean that they "won't go away?"
Alabama up 63-62, 1:01 left, 'Bama with the ball. Timeout.
4:15
EN: Newsflash! McNamara missed two free throws.
Can a guy win Tournament MVP based on one game? McNamara's got 28 points on 6-6 from 3, and Syracuse has tied it with under a minute to go in the half. Ends up 42-42, as Cuse rallies from 11-point deficit.
GH: Southern Illinois just keeps hanging around and hanging around, but they can't miss free throws like the front end of a one-and-one to take the lead with 3:12 left. Hard to believe, that was just their third FT attempt of the game.
4:10
EN: McNamara has 21!
4:09
EN: Cuse has switched to a man-to-man D. That's a big deal for Boeheim, who's usually devoted to the zone. Now let's see if their quickness compensates for the Cougars' size.
GH: McNamara has 19 points on 5-of-5 shooting and you trail by seven? Not good.
'Bama up 61-58 with 4:45 left after a steal and dunk.
4:06
EN: BYU is up 37-29 with 4:31 to play and they are moving the ball around the perimeter like they're in complete control. The story on defense is that their big men are proving tough to shoot over and around. Story of the game now: who will cool off from 3?
GH: The good news for Syracuse is Billy Donovan is on a plane for Denver to lend a hand in the second half.
4:01
EN: Warrick just got his third foul trying to keep Araujo off the boards. With 7:01 left in the first half, Syracuse is loooking lost for scoring options beyond McNamara.
GH: I think it's just all the red on the court that's distracting my concentration. I've been staring at this game for two minutes of game time and I can't recall a single play. Gerald Wallace still plays for Alabama, right? Just kidding! The Tide are getting great performances out of team stars Kennedy Winston and Earnest Shelton (combined 12-21 FG) but the team can't pull away.
3:55
GH: All right, that's it. I'm forcing myself to watch five uninterrupted minutes of the Alabama game. 'Bama's up six with 11:45 to go ...
EN: G, your read on VCU was clearly inspirational. Meanwhile, BYU has hit 8-12 from downtown, 29-24 Cougars.
BYU is poking holes in the Syracuse zone right now. Hitting that many threes will open things up for you, I guess.
P.S.: Jameer has 20 at the halftime. St. Joe's by 20.
3:50
GH: When numbers are abused: Stat from CBS during the Alabama-So. Illinois game. In the last six NCAA Tournaments, No. 8 seeds are 8-8. So wait, you're saying that the two teams grouped closest in the seedings tend to split games? Fascinating.
EN: My plan is working in reverse out in Denver: Warrick has two fouls for Syracuse and Araujo has none.
GH: VCU heads to halftime leading Wake by three. Wake Forest might not win one game, which is bad news for anyone who picked them to win six games. Not that I did ...
3:47
EN: McNamara is on fire for Syracuse. 12 points early.
GH: I'm nominating 6-9, 265-pound BYU forward Jake Shoff as the owner of the worst-looking headband in college hoops. Decent player, but he looks like the extra from an Olivia Newton John video.
EN: You talk big for a guy 2000 miles away, Araujo would wrap that band around your neck if you were in reach.
3:44
GH: St. Joseph's is sure living up to the No. 1 seed billing in terms of an opening rout. The statistics suggest a No. 16 seed is well overdue for a win, but every time you watch one of these games, it's get tougher to believe you'll see another Princeton or Western Carolina scare.
EN: Araujo, BYU's center, is much bigger and broader than anyone on Syracus, and he has a nice touch around the bucket. If Syracuse is smart, they'll go right at him early and try to rack up some fouls on him.
3:36
GH: What I just said about VCU? Yeah, nevermind. The ebb and flow has flowed in their favor, leaving them down just four with seven minutes left in the first half.
EN: Weird opening in the BYU/Cuse game: 3-pointers by Hall for BYU (a 30% shooter) and Nichols for Cuse (a 20% shooter beyond the stripe).
BYU draining threes early. 18-15 and they're not even at the five-minute mark yet.
3:33
EN: Hakim Warrick just did a spin-move two-handed dunk over BYU's center that ought to make NBA scouts sit up and take notice.
GH; BYU and Syracuse underway, as the defending champs look to build another sleeper run. Warrick's power move for the opening slam suggest he wants a shot at the same glory as Carmelo, but it's not happening without another offensive weapon to balance he and McNamara.
3:30
GH: And in the game I've managed to almost completely miss, Alabama has a 10-point lead on Southern Illinois. Schools like Southern Illinois (or Butler, East Tennessee State) can be bracket busters of their own. People hear the name and think sleeper, without really looking at that year's edition.
EN: It's not the school name that gets me, it's the mascot name: The Salukis, how can you not pick a Saluki?
Predictions are a terrible idea, but I'm going to say St. Joe's wins this game over Liberty by double-digits. Liberty is slower at every position on the floor.
3:23
EN: I like Phil Martelli's spunk. His scrape with Packer the other day was good TV. That said, his tie, a shimmery silver thing with some sort of Oscar-trophies or something on it, is a big mistake. And I won't even get into the fact that he's wearing it over a criss-crossed shirt.
GH: Do you think Martelli would rather have a berth in the Final Four or Matt Walsh's hair?
EN: Final Four, no doubt. Now, Josh Childress' hair might be another story.
3:21
EN: St. Joe's is looking like a team eager to prove people wrong. Jameer is blowing by guys. Of course, those guys do suit up for Liberty ...
GH: For every UTEP, there is a VCU. Nothing against Jeff Capel's team, but they aren't showing much in the early going against Wake Forest to suggest they'll be anything more than a footnote. But hey, it's a long game.
2:56
GH: And sadly for UTEP, Lorenzo Charles was nowhere to be found for the 3-point dunk. Classic opening-round thriller.
2:54
GH: Thomas hits two FTs. It's times like this you wish you had Dennis Hopper on the bench.
EN: 84-83 Maryland with 29 seconds to go. I'm too nervous to type...
GH: Terps fouled with 13 seconds left. Why not foul earlier if you're UTEP? Yes, it was a pretty clean jump ball, but you know the refs will never make that call in the final minute. Swish. Swish. 86-83.
EN: It's going like I figured ... UTEP's putting MD on the line, but the Terps are stepping up and hitting 'em.
2:49
GH: At least one Strawberry is clutch. Darryl's kid hits two FTs with 47 seconds left ...
2:46
EN: Thomas is picking up the slack for both of them; drew a foul down low and hit two throws ... Back comes Gilchrist for a 3 ... Back comes Tofi for a breakaway two ... Back comes Gilchrist with an and-one in the lane ... Yeah, baby, it's basketball o'clock in America!
Craig hits a 3 to tie for UTEP ... Maryland hits one FT ... turnover, Tech ... Maryland has the ball, 50 seconds ...
2:44
GH: You realize UTEP lost to Rice by 16 and Hawaii by 22, right? But at least they beat the stuffing out of Texas-Permian Basin.
Gilchrist nails a 3 from the corner and just completes a 3-point play. Timeout. 2:08 left ... Terps up, 81-78.
2:40
GH: This is really the only chance we get to experience the feeling our parents and grandparents had listening to World Series games on the radio. You know 80 percent of college hoops fans out there can't watch UTEP's rally right now, but they all know it's happening.
UTEP ties it up, 72-72 .. Caner-Medley hits a 3 ... UTEP cuts it to one ... three minutes left ...
EN: Things are interesting right now in Denver. If UTEP can get a lead, they could force MD to shoot some throws, and that could be the Terps' downfall. Of course, every single one of the Miners could foul out in the next minute or so, and that umm, you know, might be their downfall. So, as I was saying, it could go either way.
2:37
GH: Solomon Wilcots just introduced Texas Tech's Andre Emmett as freshman Darryl Dora in the postgame interview. Luckily, it wasn't live and they did a second take. Ah, the joys of satellite feeds. Emmett should have said, "Thanks, Mr. Cleveland Gary."
2:35
EN: Tofi for two! UTEP down just two.
One of the big reasons UTEP's been able to stay in the game is the poor play of Maryland's guards. Gilchrest and Caner-Medley have looked ragged. Both guys are trying to do too much, and neither one has shot well.
2:34
GH: The official timekeeper at the Tech game is wearing a zebra-striped vest over a button-down shirt. Can someone alert the guys at Queer Eye?
Tech advances ...
ESN: ... And the oldest, best cliché of all: UTEP will not go away! They're down four after a nifty left-hand layup in traffic from whisper-thin guard Chris Craig, who until this point had been shooting nothing but jumpers.
2:29
EN: One of the six Ibekwes just sent the lone Thomas' shot into the crowd. Prettiest defensive play of the day so far. Though, of course, if Bill Russell had made that block he would have caught the ball and kept it in bounds ...
GH: Yeah, but at 65 years old, he wouldn't have been able to get back up the court very quickly.
2:26
GH: Charlotte just played a five-point deficit with one minute remaining like they were down 25 to Athletes in Action. Bobby Lutz has a reputation as an underrated coach, but his team never really showed up against Tech. Not a good start for the heavily-bidded Conference USA.
Presumably, Bobby Knight won't be walking back to the hotel after this tourney game in Buffalo ... although the team bus may make a pit-stop if he spies a salad bar. Oh, how nice, he looks like he wants to hug Andre Emmett, and choke Neil Reed.
EN: UTEP's shooting percentage is down in the second half, and they're still down 8 (with 9:38 left to go).
UTEP's one Smallwood, whose name is no mean feat for the guy stitching the names, just fouled out. Cue the ominous music...
2:22
EN: Maryland's Ibekwe just drop-stepped Omar Thomas into next week. The difference between these two teams is that UTEP has one Thomas and Maryland has about six Ibekwes.
GH: I pity the guy stitching the names on the jerseys if they have six Ibekwes.
2:19
GH: It looks like Texas Tech and Saint Joseph's (sorry, Liberty fans) in the second round. And did you know Billy Packer once scored 75 points against Bob Knight's Ohio State team? And he was playing with his right arm in a sling.
2:15
EN: Maryland is up 8 and they're being much more deliberate on the offensive end now. UTEP is running with any missed shot or steal, and they're hanging tough by being aggressive.
2:12
GH: Charlotte is down seven despite hitting four-of-78 from behind the arc. They sort of look like a team full of DerMarr Johnson clones. And that's not a good thing.
EN: Atlanta Hawks fans everywhere just cringed.
GH: They are still Atlanta Hawks fans?
EN: Well, fans of Lou Hudson anyway.
EN: This Florida team has underachieved all year, and they're looking slow today.
GH: But the good news is they'll be back on campus in time to take that chemistry mid-term.
2:10
EN: Maryland keeps pushing the ball inside in the second half. Smallwood for UTEP just got his fourth foul. It seems like Maryland just keeps sending in fresh players, and the Miners keep looking over their shoulders at the refs.
EN: Omar Thomas of UTEP is great to watch. Lots of up and under, lots of and-one. He leads the team in scoring but doesn't even start.
2:03
GH: It's tough to tell if Florida or Instant Messenger is performing worse right now, but I'd like to pull a Matt Walsh on those little smiley face icons right now. Speaking of Walsh, he's looking pretty frazzled -- well, more frazzled than usual -- with the Gators on the ropes. Down 17 ... 7 minutes left.
1:46
EN: Can I just say "live look-in" is one of the three or four best phrases in the English language?
I don't know what a Jasper is, but I know I want to be one right now. Can somebody arrange one of them there honorary degrees?
GH: Eric mentioned it right off the bat in the first half, but the press after made buckets is working like a charm against a Florida team with a bunch of good ballhandlers, but no true point guard. Lead balloons out to 14 with 14 minutes left. Even when Manhattan doesn't get a steal, Florida can't start their offense until 20-25 seconds left on the shot clock. But don't worry Gator fans, Billy Donovan is pacing.
EN: I'm thinking the only way Florida fans stop worrying is if Billy Donovan suits up.
GH: Charlotte opted against accepting an NIT bid at halftime, and they're trying to make a game of it against Tech. Still down eight.
EN: They may have been disoriented by the all-blue key and 3-point area on the arena floor. Someone should check that stuff before they award a city a host spot.
1:39
EN: 47-42 Maryland at the half. UTEP got a handful of free throws down the stretch. Key to the score, though, is that the Miners have shot the lights out and they're five down, plus they're not nearly as deep as Maryland, and they're in foul trouble. Bad, bad, bad.
1:32
EN: Smallwood's foul trouble is already an issue: Maryland's going inside and getting a couple of easy buckets against his back-up.
GH: Second half underway in Florida-Manhattan and the Gators score a quick bucket, but Manhattan answers with an easy two.
EN: Cliche alert: the tide has turned in Denver: Maryland quickly up 47-38 after 9.
1:22
GH: I'm having a tough time watching just one game. Luckily, Nolan Ryan is leading the Astros against the Dodgers on ESPN Classic. And suddenly, those UTEP uniforms don't look so gaudy.
EN: Maryland is 5 for 10 from the line, the last shot bounced so hard off the back rim it knocked the Coke out of a kid's hand in the third row.
GH: Hey, they're in Denver -- it must have been a Pepsi.
EN: Smallwood's got 3 fouls for UTEP ... could be trouble in the second half.
GH: Let the Page 2 All-Name team begin here and now, and let it begine with Filiberto Rivera, guard, University of Texas El-Paso.
Bad news for Florida fans ... your team is shooting 52 percent from the floor and losing by seven. Eric already broke the seal on cliches, so I'm going to mention that the first five minutes of the second half are crucial to Manhattan's upset chances.
1:18
GH: As always the tourney surprises. Who would guess the 8-9 game would be the blowout in the early session?
EN: A very big man named Smallwood just alley-ooped the Terps. Williams is furious. Timeout MD.
GH: Is Williams ever not furious on the basketball court? I'm pretty sure he was ticked about how the team cut down the net when they won the title.
EN: Say what you will, but they were sloppy. There were frayed edges.
1:13
EN: 35-28 Maryland with about seven minutes to go in the first half. Gilchrist just broke away for a dunk. He's been the fastest, hungriest guy in the coutnry these last couple weeks.
GH: I hear he's on Atkins.
EN: Speaking of which, did you know the menu at Sizzler is Atkins-friendly? Ain't life grand?
GH: Nothing helps take a few inches off the waistline like Mad Cow.
EN: That's Mad Cow and all the garlic toast you can eat, brother.
1:10
GH: One guarantee: win or lose, I'm watching the Texas Tech press conference.
EN: Maryland shoots 62% from the line on the year. If they're lucky enough to escape this game, they won't last long after.
GH: Texas Tech is just running away with their game. Charlotte is on its heels.
EN: I'm going to be the first to use the cliche: UTEP is "beating Maryland to all the loose balls."
GH: Yeah, but just because the Terps don't have their "backs against the wall."
EN: Not yet, but I smell "a sense of desperation" in their future.
1:04
GH: Florida is playing awful basketball right now, but Manhattan is going to regret not being able to extend this lead to double digits.
EN: Eight lead changes in the UTEP/Maryland game.
12:59
GH: Newsflash: A coach almost got T'ed up in the Charlotte-Tech game, and it wasn't Bobby Knight.
GH: Manhattan is up nine, and Billy Donovan looks a little lost. I think he needs to go recruit some more HS All-Americans and let one of the assistants draw up some plays.
EN: Maryland can't get separation on UTEP. The Miners are effective moving the ball inside -- they're shooting 73 percent with a timeout at 11:43 left in the first half.
GH: Harold Jensen just scored for UTEP.
12:57
GH: Charlotte is making a comeback against Texas Tech, but coach Bobby Lutz is still moving more on the sidelines than any of his players are on the court. Is there even a point in having a coach's box anymore?
EN: He figures 6-on-5 is his only shot.
EN: I like the T in the UTEP logo being a pick axe. If I had a pick axe and a snapping turtle come my way, things would get ugly for the turtle.
GH: Yeah, but a Jasper trumps a pick axe, every day.
EN: A Jasper with a pick axe -- I shudder to think.
12:50
GH: There is 7:45 left in the first half of the Florida-Manhattan game, and we haven't touched Matt Walsh's hair. We should be fined for this.
EN: The way I hear it, NOBODY touches Matt Walsh's hair.
EN: Maryland and UTEP are tied at 10, but Maryland looks a lot faster, like maybe they play in, you know, the ACC or something.
12:48
EN: Topflight teams distinguish themselves in the tourney on defense. The difference isn't that the smaller teams can't play, it's that the smaller teams have trouble getting shots off.
GH: Hey, Emmanuel Lewis grew up and became a 6-8 post player for UTEP -- oh wait, that's John Tofi.
Luis Flores just launched a shot from the ribbon on the floor, halfway between halfcourt and the college line. Manhattan isn't going to win if he doesn't play within the confines of his normal game.
12:45
EN: Looks like I'm switching over to the Maryland/UTEP game now.
GH: Eric's right on with that tip on Manhattan's Kenny Minor -- this guy is pure energy. Makes you wonder what they put in the water at Dunbar High School to get him and Mugsy Bogues.
EN: Let's just say this: UTEP is wearing orange, the color, that's right, of the defending NCAA champions.
GH: And they're in the house Carmelo built in Denver! It's fate!
12:40
GH: So is the advatage UTEP (elevation 3,762 feet) has in Denver offset by Maryland's familiarity with the Eastern time zone -- since the game is starting at 10:30 in Denver? Or have I spent a little too much time with the bracket since Sunday?
EN: You need to step away from the set, G. Get yourself a cold glass of water ... and pour it on your head.
GH: It's becoming apparent why Charlotte takes so many 3-pointers -- they don't concern themselves with details like getting open or setting their feet.
12:37
GH: The graphic for the UTEP starting lineup is accompanied by shots of the players in tuxedos. I've been to El Paso, and I can't think of a good reason for anyone there -- let alone a college student -- to own a tuxedo.
EN: My new favorite player, 5-8 Kenny Minor, the pg for Manhattan. He's disrupting passes, taking charges, getting rebounds, and taking the ball coast to coast for buckets.
GH: Texas Tech has an early six-point lead on the strength of some 3-pointers, but they don't want to get in a shooting contest with Charlotte. The 49ers took more 3's than 12 of CUSA's other 13 teams.
GH: Nothing says college basketball like the phrase, "We welcome you back to Buffalo"
12:29
GH: Oh good, Charlotte and Manhattan have nearly identical jerseys. As if someone needed to make it tougher to watch two games at once.
Manhattan takes an 8-7 lead to the first TV timeout, and roughly 45 percent of the viewing audience thinks they're a genius for picking the Jaspers. Luckily, CBS isn't projecting a winner just yet.
Eric Neel: Manhattan has smartly come out in a press after made baskets. You need to take it to the bigger, stronger team, set the pace, even if you can't keep it up all game.
One question, though: What is a Jasper? Does a Jasper have special powers? Are Jaspers good ballhandlers?
12:25
GH: Oh good, 5-8 Kenny Minor has checked in for Manhattan. At least he'll be easy to spot.
12:20 ET
Graham Hays: NYC geography aside, there's still something disconcerting about seeing "Riverdale, NY" listed as the location for Manhattan College.
The Jaspers are hanging with Florida early, even though they appear to be using a lineup of five 6-4 players. It's like an old video game, where the graphics aren't sophisticated enough to show different heights.