Well done, Donna! Unfortunately, Roy Williams only meets his former team in the semifinals. Too bad it couldn't be the final game. Kansas was ranked weakest of the #1 seeds so they draw the overall #1 in the semis. That's the way the basketball bounces.

Our picks are in .. now to review them one more time before they go on lockdown.

Joanna and Betty - you don't have to wait til next year. The GATORS are alive .. just creeping along alligator alley through the NIT back roads. I read Billy Donovan made the team practice in the old ratty gym during the selection show. They don't get back into their new gym til they SHAPE UP!

But I digress .. on to the important details. Florida is the #2 seed in the Arizona St. #1 bracket. They have home court advantage until they meet Arizona St. Their first matchup is with San Diego State Mar 19 @ 9 pm and scheduled for ESPN 2 telecast.

Suzanne - Cal's a #4 seed in the Ohio State bracket. They play March 19 at 11 PM (8 PM real time) at home against New Mexico. The game is also supposed to be telecast on ESPN2.

If you want to track the NIT (or find your favorite snub team left waiting at the Big Dance door), here's the link:

NIT 2008 Bracket

A third tournament for post-season is set to start this year. Sixteen teams who missed the NIT cut play in a weird new format known as the college basketball invitational. A few years ago the NCAA bought the NIT, agreeing to run it for five more years. This is year 3 out of 5. That provides an opening for a competing tournament to succeed - or forces the NCAA to keep the NIT going.
College Basketball Invitational Tournament Bracket

Virginia, Richmond and Old Dominion are all playing Mar 18 at 7 pm in this one.

Is the next 'enhancement' the parking lot playoffs, reserved solely for the lowest ranked 16 teams? The losers are the ones who advance to determine who is, in fact, the worst team out there. Ratty hoops on a ripped up abandoned parking lot - oh yea - and bring your own lawn chairs, refreshments and refs. :rolleyes: Hey, if ESPNU will run it, they will come.

Cheers, Anne