The Hype Train is Stalled on the Tracks

The quest for perfection is getting less attention than facial hair. What gives?

March 23, 2021

Tipoff

When did Gonzaga go into the Witness Protection Program? The Bulldogs are a well-known commodity. They long ago moved past underdog status in the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament and have entered the rare air of elite teams. This program has won 30 games in 5 of the past 6 seasons. With two more wins, they can notch 30 wins on this season and their second Final Four appearance. Oh yeah, there is also that big, round 0 in the loss column. Yet, when Gonzaga reached the Sweet 16 for the 6th consecutive tournament, silence.

ESPN had no breaking news alert about the ‘Zag’s quest for perfection after defeating Oklahoma. The big story on Gonzaga from Sports Illustrated? Drew Timme’s new mustache. Breaking a 108 year-old World Series drought, this is not. Still, the #1 team in the nation is undefeated, playing in the Sweet 16, and has a chance to tie Indiana University’s 1976 record of 32-0 should they cut down the nets in Indianapolis in less than two weeks. Call me crazy, but that is a huge story. It is hard to imagine that, were Kansas or Duke or North Carolina in this position, the story would be all over the place. The collective response has been similar to seeing a post on social media that your high school crush got her vaccine. Click like and move along.

There are multiple factors at play, no doubt. First and foremost, watching sports during a pandemic is a duller experience. One team, VCU, had to withdraw from the tournament due to a COVID outbreak. The tournament feels less than normal. Second round games are being played on Monday. There are few opportunities to walk into the bar and see the game on the big screen. Having fans in the stands this March has been a nice boost, even if the crowd reaction shots show more seats than fans. Perhaps we have all been here before, with the 34-1 UNLV Runnin’ Rebels team of 1991, the 35-1 Wichita State Shockers in 2014, or the 38-1 Kentucky Wildcats of 2015. We’ve been here before, and recently. Maybe we still doubt Gonzaga, a team that spends 2 ½ months playing unranked conference opponents late at night while the East Coast and Midwest teams hog the primetime slots on the major sports channels. Out of sight, out of mind? Whatever the reason, it is time to pay attention. One of the sacred achievements in sports - an undefeated college basketball season - is right in our faces if we only take a look.

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Tournament Tracker

It’s The Big Dance! Let’s take a look at NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament action and what lies ahead.

NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament 2nd Round

  • #1 NC State vs. #8 South Florida (3:00 p.m. EDT on ESPN2)

  • #4 Kentucky vs. #5 Iowa (3:30 p.m. EDT on ESPNU)

  • #3 Tennessee vs. #6 Michigan (5:00 p.m. EDT on ESPN2)

  • #4 West Virginia vs. #5 Georgia Tech (5:30 p.m. EDT on ESPNU)

  • #2 Baylor vs. #7 Virginia Tech (7:00 p.m. EDT on ESPN2)

  • #1 South Carolina vs. #8 Oregon State (7:00 p.m. EDT on ESPN)

  • #1 UConn vs. #8 Syracuse (9:00 p.m. EDT on ESPN)

  • #1 Stanford vs. #8 Oklahoma State (9:00 p.m. EDT on ESPN2)

The Mixtape

The Field of 68 team puts out lots of great content each week. Let’s take a look at some of the highlights.

  • There’s a top freshman blazing her way through the college basketball season, but most likely not the one you are thinking about. Iowa’s Caitlyn Clark has been a revelation for the Hawkeyes this year. On Sunday, Clark recorded 23 points, 7 rebounds, and 7 assists to help Iowa take down Central Michigan in the first round of the NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament. Maryland Hall of Fame member Christy Winters Scott spoke with Clark on the Christy’s Court podcast to discuss her season, her game, and her preparation for the Big Dance.

  • The NCAA men’s basketball tournament has been rough for the B1G. After sending a record 9 teams into the Field of 68, only 1 team remains - Michigan - entering the Sweet 16. All season, Illinois, Iowa, Ohio State, and others battled it out for conference bragging rights and the chance to earn a top seed in the tournament. Were the teams overrated or just exposed to the randomness of the tournament? Rob Dauster and Jeff Goodman take a post-mortem look at the conference.

  • While Rob Dauster believes the Eastern Time Zone is the only legitimate one, Da’Sean Butler makes a good point: The West Coast has some teams. The Pac-12 plus Gonzaga form a juggernaut. Rob and Da’Sean break down the first two rounds of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament, with a little help from Jeff Goodman and John Fanta, and they join in on this deep dive into the incredible action. Stick around for the ending to see each of these experts pick 5 “Legends of March” from this year.