Retro Video of the Week: "Closing Time" by Semisonic

This Friday will be the 25th anniversary of the release of Minneapolis rock trio Semisonic's second studio album, Feeling Strangely Fine.  It was the band's biggest album, reaching #43 on the Billboard album chart and #16 on the UK album chart, eventually going platinum in the U.S.  Of course, if there's only one Semisonic song you know, it's their ubiquitous hit from this album, "Closing Time."  The song, though seemingly about last call at a bar, was actually written by lead singer and guitarist Dan Wilson as a song the band could play to close out their live shows.  However, his girlfriend was pregnant with their first child at the time, so he has said the song is also actually about birth.  So it's likely the only song about both getting booted from a bar at the end of the night and escaping the womb.

Though the song did not chart on the Billboard Hot 100 -- presumably because it wasn't officially released as a single or whatever weird rules the Billboard Hot 100 had at the time -- it topped the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart, and went to #4 on the Billboard Adult Alternative Songs chart, #11 on the Billboard Hot 100 Airplay chart (which is based on radio play), #13 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks chart, and #25 on the UK pop chart.  It was also nominated for the Grammy for Best Rock Song. Needless to say, it is the band's signature song.

The video is really cool, with two side-by-side continuous shots, as Wilson and his video girlfriend try to meet up with each other, but keep missing each other, eventually going to the same club, where they fail to run into each other.  This is what life was like before cell phones when you tried to meet up with people at bars.

Tuesday Top Ten: Fun Facts About This Year's NCAA Tournament

What a first weekend of March Madness!  We had two 1-seeds, two 2-seeds, one 3-seed, and two 4-seeds fail to advance to the Sweet 16.  Of course, the story of the weekend was 1-seed Purdue losing to play-in 16-seed Fairleigh Dickinson.  This is the biggest upset in NCAA Tournament history.  Purdue had 7'4" Zach Edey -- the national player of the year -- and FDU is the shortest team in Division 1, without any player taller than 6'6", and many of them were D-II transfers who came to FDU this year from St. Thomas Aquinas with first-year head coach Tobin Anderson.  Purdue won the Big Ten regular season and conference tournament titles.  FDU only got a bid to the NCAA Tournament on a technicality, losing in the Northeast Conference Tournament title game to Merrimack, who is ineligible to play in the postseason because they are still in the transition period from D-II.  It was the first time an NEC team won a Round of 64 game in the NCAA Tournament.  For more in-depth commentary on why this was the worst loss in NCAA Tournament history, check out this article, which is now my favorite article about college basketball ever written.

Aside from that, we had an amazing three pointer with 2.2 seconds left from 13-seed Furman's JP Pegues to give the Paladins a 68-67 win over 4-seed Virginia and their first NCAA Tournament victory since 1974.  Also, 15-seed Princeton became the 11th 15-seed to upset a 2-seed, with their 59-55 First Round win over Arizona, followed by their dominant 78-63 win Sunday over 7-seed Missouri to advance to the Sweet 16.  Between the First Four and Second Round, there were 14 games where the margin of victory was five points or fewer.  Madness!

Six of the Sweet 16 teams are repeats from last year, but none of last year's four Final Four teams made it (more on that below).  Here are the Sweet 16 teams, along with the last time they made the Sweet 16 (and their region, seeds, game time, and what station is televising the game):

East Region (New York)

(3) Kansas State (2018) vs. (7) Michigan State (2019) - Thursday 3/23 6:30 p.m. ET CBS

(4) Tennessee (2019) vs. (9) FAU (never) - Thursday 3/23 9:00 p.m. ET TBS

West Region (Las Vegas)

(4) UConn (2014) vs. (8) Arkansas (2022) - Thursday 3/23 7:15 p.m. ET TBS

(2) UCLA (2022) vs. (3) Gonzaga (2022) - Thursday 3/23 9:45 p.m. ET TBS

South Region (Philadelphia)

(1) Alabama (2021) vs. (5) San Diego State (2014) - Friday 3/24 6:30 p.m. ET TBS

(6) Creighton (2021) vs. (15) Princeton (1967) - Friday 3/25 9:00 p.m. ET TBS

Midwest Region (Kansas City)

(1) Houston (2022) vs. (5) Miami (2022) - Friday 3/24 7:15 p.m. ET CBS

(2) Texas (2008) vs. (3) Xavier (2017) - Friday 3/24 9:45 p.m. ET CBS

If you're like me -- and you better pray to Odin that you're not –- you not only love the NCAA Tournament, but you are fascinated with the history and statistical minutiae associated with the tournament.  Like I've done the last couple years, I'm going to drop knowledge bombs on your mind.  Here are 16 fun facts about this year's NCAA tournament.  You know, 16.  For the Sweet 16.

16.  Purdue becomes the first school in NCAA Tournament history that has lost to both a 15-seed and a 16-seed, and they are the first school to ever get knocked out of the NCAA Tournament three years in a row by teams seeded 13 or worse (13-seed North Texas in 2021, 15-seed St. Peter's in 2022, and 16-seed Fairleigh Dickinson in 2023).  You have no idea how much joy I took in writing that sentence.

Since Rick Mount led the Boilers to their first Final Four and only national title game appearance in 1969 -- where they were crushed by Lew Alcindor, Sidney Wicks, and the rest of the UCLA Bruins, 92-72 -- Purdue has made only one Final Four (1980), while four other schools from Indiana have made it to a total of 10 Final Fours, finished national runners up four times, and won three national titles:

-Butler (2010**, 2011**)

-Indiana (1973, 1976*, 1981*, 1987*, 1992, 2002**)

-Indiana State (1979**)

-Notre Dame (1978)

*won national title

**runner up

15.  With Pitt's 59-41 win over Iowa State in the First Round, a First Four team yet again advanced to the Round of 32.  Since the First Four format started in 2011, the only year in which none of the First Four winners advanced to the Round of 32 was 2019.

14.  Two teams got their first-ever NCAA Tournament win:  

• 9-seed FAU, which beat 8-seed Memphis in the First Round and 16-seed Fairleigh Dickinson in the Second Round
• 16-seed Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, which beat fellow 16-seed Southeast Missouri State in the First Four

13.  For only the 6th time since the NCAA Tournament expanded to 64 teams in 1985, no 12-seeds beat any 5-seeds.  Here are the years it has happened:  1988, 2000, 2007, 2015, 2018, and 2023.

12.  Not only was FAU's exciting win over Memphis Friday night the Owls' first-ever NCAA Tournament win, but their win over Fairleigh Dickinson in the Second Round put them in their first-ever Sweet 16.  It's the second year in a row and the 25th time since the tournament was expanded to 64 teams in 1985 that a team is playing in its first Sweet 16.  Here is when it has happened (and the seed numbers of the teams), and to be clear, I am excluding teams that advanced further than the Sweet 16 when the tournament was 16 or fewer teams from 1939 to 1952, but have only advanced to the Sweet 16 once since 1985 (for instance, Washington State was the runner-up in 1941, but has only made it to the Sweet 16 once since 1985):

-2023:  FAU (#9)

-2022:  St. Peter's (#15)*

-2013:  Florida Gulf Coast (#15)

-2010:  Northern Iowa (#9)

-2005:  Wisconsin-Milwaukee (#12)

-2004:  Nevada (#10)

-2002:  Kent State (#10)*

-2011:  Mississippi (#3), San Diego State (#2), VCU (#11)**

-1999:  Gonzaga (#10)*, Southwest Missouri State (now known as Missouri State) (#12)

-1998:  Valparaiso (#13)

-1997:  Tennessee-Chattanooga (#14)

-1993:  George Washington (#12)

-1992:  UMass (#3)

-1991:  Eastern Michigan (#12)

-1990:  Xavier (#6)

-1989:  Seton Hall (#3)**

-1988:  Rhode Island (#11), Richmond (#13)

-1987:  Florida (#6)

-1986:  Cleveland State (#14)

-1985:  Auburn (#11), Louisiana Tech (#5)

*Advanced to Elite Eight

**Advanced to Final Four

11.  All in all, 7 higher-seeded teams upset lower-seeded teams in the First Round, and 5 higher-seeded teams upset lower-seeded teams in the Second Round.

10.  Let's not forget about 15-seed Princeton upsetting 2-seed Arizona in the First Round and 7-seed Missouri in the Second Round to reach the Sweet 16 for the first time since 1967.  It's also the Ivy League's first Sweet 16 appearance since Cornell went in 2010 and only the second Sweet 16 appearance for the league since Penn went to the Final Four in 1979.  The 56 years between Sweet 16 appearances ties Princeton for the second-longest drought between Sweet 16 appearances.  Here are the droughts between Sweet 16 appearances of 35 or more years (since the NCAA Tournament expanded to 16 teams in 1951):

-58 years:  LaSalle (1955-2013)

-56 years:  Cornell (1954-2010); Princeton (1967-2023)

-52 years:  Virginia Tech (1967-2019)

-51 years:  Bradley (1955-2006), St. Mary's (1959-2010)

-46 years:  Penn State (1955-2001)

-44 years:  South Carolina (1973-2017)

-42 years:  Oregon (1960-2002)

-41 years:  Butler (1962-2003)

-40 years:  USC (1961-2001)

-39 years:  Davidson (1969-2008), Oregon State (1982-2021), Tulsa (1955-1994)

-38 years:  Ohio (1964-2002)

-35 years:  Houston (1984-2019), West Virginia (1963-1998)

As long as we're looking at droughts, let's look at which schools have current Sweet 16 droughts of 50 or more years.  Again, it's since the NCAA Tournament expanded to 16 teams in 1951.  I'm adding a year, since they obviously aren't in this year's Sweet 16 -- and, of course, teams that are no longer Division 1 teams are not included, nor are teams that have never made the Sweet 16.  Here they are:

-73 years (1951):  Montana State, San Jose State

-71 years (1953):  Holy Cross

-70 years (1954):  Rice

-67 years (1957):  Canisius, Lafayette, St. Louis

-66 years (1958):  Dartmouth, Manhattan

-65 years (1959):  Boston University

-64 years (1961):  Morehead State

-61 years (1963):  Bowling Green

-60 years (1964):  Seattle (although they were not D-1 from 1980 to 2008)

-57 years (1967):  SMU

-56 years (1968):  Columbia, East Tennessee State, TCU

-55 years (1969):  Colorado, Colorado State, Duquesne

-54 years (1970):  Jacksonville, Niagara, Santa Clara, St. Bonaventure, Utah State

-53 years (1971):  Drake, Fordham, Pacific

-52 years (1972):  Weber State

-50 years (1974):  Furman, New Mexico

9.  Back to FAU and Princeton.  They are the first Conference USA and Ivy League teams to make it to the Sweet 16 since 2009 and 2010, respectively.  Here's every conference's last Sweet 16 team.  Note that, with all of the conference realignments over the years, this is for the conference itself and teams playing in that conference when they made the Sweet 16, and not necessarily for teams currently in each conference.  I'm going to do it by how many years it's been since the conference's last Sweet 16, listing the relevant teams.  For conferences with no Sweet 16s ever, I'll list the year they were founded.

• Zero years (2023):
• AAC:  Houston
• ACC:  Miami
• Big 12:  Kansas State, Texas
• Big East:  UConn, Creighton, Xavier
• Big Ten:  Michigan State
• Conference USA:  FAU
• Ivy League:  Princeton
• Mountain West:  San Diego State
• Pac-12:  UCLA
• SEC:  Alabama, Arkansas, Tennessee
• West Coast:  Gonzaga
• 1 year (2022)
• MAAC:  St. Peter's
• 2 years (2021)
• Missouri Valley:  Loyola (IL)
• Summit:  Oral Roberts
• 9 years (2014)
• Atlantic 10:  Dayton
• 10 years (2013)
• Atlantic Sun:  Florida Gulf Coast
• 11 years (2012)
• MAC:  Ohio
• 12 years (2011)
• Colonial:  VCU
• Horizon:  Butler
• 15 years (2008)
• Southern Conference:  Davidson
• Sun Belt:  Western Kentucky
• 19 years (2004)
• WAC:  Nevada
• 31 years (1992)
• Big West:  New Mexico State
• 38 years (1985)
• Southland:  Louisiana Tech
• 41 years (1982)
• Big Sky:  Idaho
• 50 years (1973)
• Ohio Valley:  Austin Peay
• Never
• America East (founded 1979)
• Big South (founded 1983)
• MEAC (founded 1970)
• NEC (founded 1981)
• Patriot League (founded 1986)
• SWAC (founded 1920)

8.  The ACC, Big Ten, and Pac-12 each only had one team advance to the Sweet 16 (Miami and Michigan State).  Since the NCAA Tournament expanded to 64 teams in 1985, here are the major conferences –- which I define as the ACC, SEC, Big Ten, Big 8/Big 12, Pac-10/Pac-12, and the Big East (until 2013) –- that only advanced one team (or no team) to the Sweet 16:

-ACC:  6 times (one team in 2007-2008, 2010, 2014, 2017, and 2023)

-Big East (until 2013):  5 times (no team in 1986 and 1993, and one team in 1988, 1992, and 2001)

-Big 8/Big 12:  13 times (no team in 1990 and 1998, and one team in 1985-1986, 1992, 1996-1997, 1999, 2001, 2006, 2011, 2013, and 2021)

-Big Ten:  9 times (no team in 1995-1996 and 2006, and one team in 1985, 1997, 2004, 2007, 2021, and 2023)

-Pac-10/Pac-12:  22 times (no team in 1985-1987, 1993, 1999, 2004, 2012, and 2018, and one team in 1988-1992, 1994, 1996, 2000, 2003, 2009-2011, 2016, and 2023)

-SEC:  14 times (no team in 1988 and 2009, and one team in 1990-1992, 1997-1998, 2002, 2005, 2008, 2013, 2015-2016, and 2022)

7.  Princeton became only the fourth 15-seed ever to advance to the Sweet 16 -- but the third in a row! -- and only the 12th team ever seeded 13 or higher to advance to the Sweet 16. Of those, only St. Peter's (last year) advanced to the Elite 8.  Here are all ten:

2023: #15 Princeton

2022: #15 St. Peter's

2021: #15 Oral Roberts

2013: #13 LaSalle, #15 Florida Gulf Coast

2012: #13 Ohio

2006: #13 Bradley

1999: #13 Oklahoma

1998: #13 Valparaiso

1997: #14 UT-Chattanooga

1988: #13 Richmond

1986: #14 Cleveland State

6.  Defending champ Kansas got upset by Arkansas in the Second Round, losing 72-71.  It was the sixth tournament in a row that the defending champ lost before the Sweet 16 and the 26th time since seeding began in 1979 that the defending champ failed to make it to the Sweet 16.  If you're counting, that means a defending champ is more likely than not to fail to make it to the Sweet 16.  Setting aside that grammatical garble, here is a breakdown of defending champions who have lost before the Sweet 16 or failed to make the NCAA Tournament since 1979:

2023:  Kansas (lost in Round of 32)

2022:  Baylor (lost in Round of 32)

2021:  Virginia (lost in Round of 64)

2019:  Villanova (lost in Round of 32)

2018:  North Carolina (lost in Round of 32)

2017:  Villanova (lost in Round of 32)

2015:  UConn (did not make the NCAA Tournament)

2013:  Kentucky (did not make the NCAA Tournament)

2012:  UConn (lost in Round of 64)

2010:  North Carolina (did not make the NCAA Tournament)

2008:  Florida (did not make the NCAA Tournament)

2006:  North Carolina (lost in Round of 32)

2005:  UConn (lost in Round of 32)

2000:  UConn (did not make the NCAA Tournament)

1996:  UCLA (lost in Round of 64)

1994:  North Carolina (lost in Round of 32)

1993:  Duke (lost in Round of 32)

1990:  Michigan (lost in Round of 32)

1989:  Kansas (did not make the NCAA Tournament)

1988:  Indiana (lost in Round of 64)

1987:  Louisville (did not make the NCAA Tournament)

1986:  Villanova (lost in Round of 32)

1984:  NC State (did not make the NCAA Tournament)

1982:  Indiana (lost in Round of 32)

1981:  Louisville (lost in Round of 32)

1980:  Michigan State (did not make the NCAA Tournament)

6.  Speaking of which, with Kansas's loss to Arkansas and Duke's loss to Tennessee in the Second Round -- combined with the fact that North Carolina and Villanova did not make the NCAA Tournament -- all four teams from last years Final Four failed to advance to the Sweet 16.  This is only the 8th time this has happened since the tournament expanded to more than 16 teams beginning in 1953, though the second time in the last three years.  Here's a list of the other years it happened, with the prior year's Final Four teams that didn't make it to the Sweet 16, and since the 2020 tournament was canceled because of COVID, I'm counting the 2019 tournament as the one before 2021 (the order of the teams is champ, runner-up, and other two Final Four Teams):

-2023:  Kansas, North Carolina, Duke, Villanova (2022)

-2021:  Virginia, Texas Tech, Auburn, Michigan State (2019)

-2006:  North Carolina, Illinois, Louisville, Michigan State (2005)

-1988:  Indiana, Syracuse, Providence, UNLV (1987)

-1986:  Villanova, Georgetown, Memphis State, St. John's (1985)

-1981:  Louisville, UCLA, Iowa, Purdue (1980)

-1980:  Michigan State, Indiana State, DePaul, Penn (1979)

-1978:  Marquette, North Carolina, UNC Charlotte, UNLV (1977)

4.  Five double-digit seeds won their first round games, which is the fewest since 2017 and below the average.  In the 37 tournaments since the NCAA Tournament expanded to 64 teams in 1985, there have been 236 double-digit seeds that have won their first round games, which is an average of 6.38 per year.  Here is a year-by-year list of every double-digit seed that has won its first round game since 1985:

2023:  5 (#10 Penn State, #11 Pitt, #13 Furman, #15 Princeton, #16 Fairleigh Dickinson)

2022:  7 (#10 Miami, #11 Iowa State, #11 Michigan, #11 Notre Dame, #12 New Mexico State, #12 Richmond, #15 St. Peter's)

2021:  9 (#10 Maryland, Rutgers, #11 Syracuse, UCLA, #12 Oregon State, #13 North Texas, #13 Ohio, #14 Abilene Christian, #15 Oral Roberts)

2019:  8 (#10 Florida, Iowa, Minnesota, #11 Ohio State, #12 Liberty, Murray State, Oregon, #13 UC Irvine)

2018:  6 (#10 Butler, #11 Loyola (IL), Syracuse, #13 Buffalo, Marshall, #16 UMBC)

2017:  5 (#10 Wichita State, #11 Rhode Island, USC, Xavier, #12 Middle Tennessee State)

2016:  10 (#10 Syracuse, VCU, #11 Gonzaga, Northern Iowa, Wichita State, #12 Little Rock, Yale, #13 Hawaii, #14 Stephen F. Austin, #15 Middle Tennessee State)

2015:  5 (#10 Ohio State, #11 Dayton, UCLA, #14 UAB, Georgia State)

2014:  6 (#10 Stanford, #11 Dayton, Tennessee, #12 Harvard, North Dakota State, Stephen F. Austin)

2013:  8 (#10 Iowa State, #11 Minnesota, #12 California, Mississippi, Oregon, #13 LaSalle, #14 Harvard, #15 Florida Gulf Coast)

2012:  9 (#10 Purdue, Xavier, #11 Colorado, North Carolina State, #12 South Florida, VCU, #13 Ohio, #15 Lehigh, Norfolk State)

2011:  6 (#10, Florida State, #11 Gonzaga, Marquette, VCU, #12 Richmond, #13 Morehead State)

2010:   8 (#10 Georgia Tech, Missouri, St. Mary's, #11 Old Dominion, Washington, #12 Cornell, #13 Murray State, #14 Ohio)

2009:  8 (#10 Maryland, Michigan, USC, #11 Dayton, #12 Arizona, Western Kentucky, Wisconsin, #13 Cleveland State)

2008:  6 (#10 Davidson, #11 Kansas State, #12 Villanova, Western Kentucky, #13 San Diego, Siena)

2007:  2 (#11 Winthrop, VCU)

2006:  8 (#10 Alabama, NC State, #11 George Mason, Wisconsin-Milwaukee, #12 Montana, Texas A&M, #13 Bradley, #14 Northwestern State)

2005:  5 (#10 NC State, #11 UAB, #12 Wisconsin-Milwaukee, #13 Vermont, #14 Bucknell)

2004:  3 (#10 Nevada, #12 Manhattan, Pacific)

2003:  5 (#10 Arizona State, Auburn, #11 Central Michigan, #12 Butler, #13 Tulsa)

2002:  7 (#10 Kent State, #11 Southern Illinois, Wyoming, #12 Creighton, Missouri, Tulsa, #13 UNC-Wilmington)

2001:  9 (#10 Butler, Georgetown, #11 Georgia State, Temple, #12 Gonzaga, Utah State, #13 Indiana State, Kent State, #15 Hampton)

2000:  3 (#10 Gonzaga, Seton Hall, #11 Pepperdine)

1999:  8 (#10 Creighton, Gonzaga, Miami (OH), Purdue, #12 Detroit, Southwest Missouri State, #13 Oklahoma, #14 Weber State)

1998:  8 (#10 Detroit, West Virginia, St. Louis, #11 Washington, Western Michigan, #12 Florida State, #13 Valparaiso, #14 Richmond)

1997:  5 (#10 Providence, Texas, #12 Charleston, #14 Tennessee-Chattanooga, #15 Coppin State)

1996:  6 (#10 Santa Clara, Texas, #11 Boston College, #12 Arkansas, Drexel, #13 Princeton)

1995:  6 (#10 Stanford, #11 Texas, #12 Miami (OH), #13 Manhattan, #14 Old Dominion, Weber State)

1994:  5 (#10 George Washington, Maryland, #11 Pennsylvania, #12 Tulsa, Wisconsin-Green Bay)

1993:  4 (#11 Tulane, #12 George Washington, #13 Southern, #15 Santa Clara)

1992:  5 (#10 Iowa State, Tulane, #12 New Mexico State, #13 Southwest Louisiana, #14 East Tennessee State)

1991:  8 (#10 BYU, Temple, #11 Connecticut, Creighton, #12 Eastern Michigan, #13 Penn State, #14 Xavier, #15 Richmond)

1990:  5 (#10 Texas, #11 Loyola Marymount, #12 Ball State, Dayton, #14 Northern Iowa)

1989:  8 (#10 Colorado State, #11 Evansville, Minnesota, South Alabama, Texas, #12 DePaul, #13 Middle Tennessee State, #14 Siena)

1988:  4 (#10 Loyola Marymount, #11 Rhode Island, #13 Richmond, #14 Murray State)

1987:  6 (#10 LSU, Western Kentucky, #12 Wyoming, #13 Southwest Missouri State, Xavier, #14 Austin Peay)

1986:  5 (#10 Villanova, #11 LSU, #12 DePaul, #14 Arkansas-Little Rock, Cleveland State)

1985:  5 (#11 Auburn, Boston College, UTEP, #12 Kentucky, #13 Navy)

3.  The average seed number for Sweet 16 teams this year is 4.875, which is a little above average.  Of course, if the seeding played out as it should (i.e., all teams seeded 1-4 advancing to the Sweet 16, which has never happened), the average seed number would be 2.5. Here is the average seed of Sweet 16 teams since 1979 (with the years when the average seed number was 5 or higher bolded):

2023:  4.875

2022:  5.3125

2021: 5.875

2019: 3.0625

2018: 5.3125

2017: 4.0625

2016: 4.125

2015: 4.375

2014: 4.9375

2013: 5.0625

2012: 4.5625

2011: 5

2010: 5

2009: 3.0625

2008: 4.375

2007: 3.1875

2006: 4.4375

2005: 4.5

2004: 4.5625

2003: 4.1875

2002: 4.6875

2001: 4.5625

2000: 5.3125

1999: 5.5

1998: 4.75

1997: 4.8125

1996: 3.6875

1995: 3.1875

1994: 4.25

1993: 4.0625

1992: 4.1875

1991: 4

1990: 5.5

1989: 3.125

1988: 4.3125

1987: 4.25

1986: 5.5625

1985: 4.875

1984: 3.8125

1983: 3.5

1982: 3.1875

1981: 4.5625

1980: 4.125

1979: 3.8125

2.  We have five mid-majors in the Sweet 16 -- FAU, Gonzaga, Houston, Princeton, and San Diego State -- which is the most since 2011 and tied for the highest amount with five other years for the most since the tournament expanded to 64 teams in 1985.  (I consider schools in conferences other than the ACC, Big East, Big 12, Big Ten, Pac-12, and SEC to be mid-majors, even if a school is now in one of those conferences, so, for instance, Butler and Xavier were mid-majors before joining the Big East a couple years ago, but are no longer mid-majors. It's not a perfect science. Deal with it.)  27 mid-majors have advanced to the Final Four since 1979.  Here is a year-by-year breakdown of the number of mid-major teams that made it to the Sweet 16 since 1979:

2023:  5 (FAU, Gonzaga, Houston, Princeton, and San Diego State)

2022:  3 (Gonzaga, Houston, St. Peter's)

2021:  4 (Gonzaga*, Houston*, Loyola (IL), Oral Roberts)

2019: 2 (Gonzaga, Houston)

2018: 3 (Gonzaga, Loyola (IL)*, Nevada)

2017: 1 (Gonzaga*)

2016: 1 (Gonzaga)

2015: 2 (Gonzaga, Wichita State)

2014: 2 (Dayton, San Diego State)

2013: 3 (Florida Gulf Coast, LaSalle, Wichita State*)

2012: 2 (Ohio, Xavier)

2011: 5 (Butler*, BYU, Richmond, San Diego State, VCU*)

2010: 5 (Butler*, Cornell, Northern Iowa, St. Mary's, Xavier)

2009: 3 (Gonzaga, Memphis, Xavier)

2008: 4 (Davidson, Memphis*, Western Kentucky, Xavier)

2007: 4 (Butler, Memphis, Southern Illinois, UNLV)

2006: 5 (Bradley, George Mason*, Gonzaga, Memphis, Wichita State)

2005: 2 (Utah, UW-Milwaukee)

2004: 4 (Nevada, St. Joseph's, UAB, Xavier)

2003: 2 (Butler, Marquette*)

2002: 2 (Kent State, Southern Illinois)

2001: 2 (Cincinnati, Gonzaga, Temple)

2000: 2 (Gonzaga, Tulsa)

1999: 4 (Gonzaga, Miami (OH), SW Missouri State, Temple)

1998: 3 (Rhode Island, Utah*, Valparaiso)

1997: 3 (St. Joseph's, Utah, UT-Chattanooga)

1996: 3 (Cincinnati, Massachusetts*, Utah)

1995: 3 (Massachusetts, Memphis, Tulsa)

1994: 2 (Marquette, Tulsa)

1993: 4 (Cincinnati, George Washington, Temple, Western Kentucky)

1992: 5 (Cincinnati*, Memphis State, Massachusetts, New Mexico State, UTEP)

1991: 4 (Eastern Michigan, Temple, UNLV*, Utah)

1990: 4 (Ball State, Loyola Marymount, UNLV**, Xavier)

1989: 2 (Louisville, UNLV)

1988: 4 (Louisville, Rhode Island, Richmond, Temple)

1987: 3 (DePaul, UNLV*, Wyoming)

1986: 5 (Cleveland State, DePaul, Louisville**, Navy, UNLV)

1985: 3 (Louisiana Tech, Loyola (IL), Memphis State*)

1984: 6 (Dayton, DePaul, Houston*, Louisville, Memphis State, UNLV)

1983: 4 (Houston*, Louisville, Memphis State, Utah)

1982: 6 (Fresno State, Houston*, Idaho, Louisville*, Memphis State, UAB)

1981: 5 (BYU, St. Joseph's, UAB, Utah, Wichita State)

1980: 2 (Lamar, Louisville**)

1979: 8 (DePaul*, Indiana State*, Louisville, Marquette, Penn*, Rutgers, San Francisco, Toledo)

*Advanced to Final Four

**Won NCAA title

1.  There are 3 teams seeded 8 or lower that advanced to the Sweet 16, which seems to be about the average.  Fifteen teams seeded 8 or higher have advanced to the Final Four (Villanova in 1985 was the only national champion).  Here is a year-by-year breakdown of the number of teams seeded #8 or lower that made it to the Sweet 16 since 1979:

2023:  3 (#8 Arkansas, #9 FAU, #15 Princeton)

2022:  5 (#8 North Carolina*, #10 Miami, #11 Iowa State, #11 Michigan, #15 St. Peter's)

2021:  5 (#8 Loyola (IL), #11 Syracuse, #11 UCLA*, #12 Oregon State, #15 Oral Roberts)

2019: 1 (#12 Oregon)

2018: 4 (#9 Florida State, #9 Kansas State, #11 Loyola (IL)*, #11 Syracuse)

2017: 2 (#8 Wisconsin, #11 Xavier)

2016: 2 (#10 Syracuse*, #11 Gonzaga)

2015: 2 (#8 NC State, #11 UCLA)

2014: 4 (#8 Kentucky*, #10 Stanford, #11 Dayton, #11 Tennessee)

2013: 4 (#9 Wichita State*, #12 Oregon, #13 LaSalle, and #15 Florida Gulf Coast)

2012: 3 (#10 Xavier, #11 NC State, and #13 Ohio)

2011: 5 (#8 Butler*, #10 Florida State, #11 Marquette, #11 VCU*, and #12 Richmond)

2010: 4 (#9 Northern Iowa, #10 St. Mary's, #11 Washington, #12 Cornell)

2009: 1 (#12 Arizona)

2008: 3 (#10 Davidson, #12 Villanova, #12 Western Kentucky)

2007: 0

2006: 2 (#11 George Mason*, #13 Bradley)

2005: 2 (#10 North Carolina State, #12 UW-Milwaukee)

2004: 3 (#8 Alabama, #9 UAB, #10 Nevada)

2003: 2 (#10 Auburn, #12 Butler)

2002: 4 (#8 UCLA, #10 Kent State, #11 Southern Illinois, #12 Missouri)

2001: 3 (#10 Georgetown, #11 Temple, #12 Gonzaga)

2000: 4 (#8 North Carolina*, #8 Wisconsin*, #10 Seton Hall, #10 Gonzaga)

1999: 5 (#10 Gonzaga, #10 Miami (OH), #10 Purdue, #12 Southwest Missouri State, #13 Oklahoma)

1998: 4 (#8 Rhode Island, #10 West Virginia, #11 Washington, #13 Valparaiso)

1997: 3 (#10 Texas, #10 Providence, #14 UT-Chattanooga)

1996: 2 (#8 Georgia, #12 Arkansas)

1995: 0

1994: 2 (#9 Boston College, #10 Maryland, #12 Tulsa)

1993: 1 (#12 George Washington)

1992: 2 (#9 UTEP, #12 New Mexico State)

1991: 3 (#10 Temple, #11 Connecticut, #12 Eastern Michigan)

1990: 4 (#8 North Carolina, #10 Texas, #11 Loyola Marymount, #12 Ball State)

1989: 1 (#11 Minnesota)

1988: 2 (#11 Rhode Island, #13 Richmond)

1987: 2 (#10 LSU, #12 Wyoming)

1986: 4 (#8 Auburn, #11 LSU*, #12 DePaul, #14 Cleveland State)

1985: 4 (#8 Villanova**, #11 Auburn, #11 Boston College, #12 Kentucky)

1984: 1 (#10 Dayton)

1983: 1 (#10 Utah)

1982: 1 (#8 Boston College)

1981: 2 (#8 Kansas State, #9 St. Joseph's)

1980: 2 (#8 UCLA*, #10 Lamar)

1979: 2 (#9 Penn*, #10 St. John's)

*Advanced to Final Four

**Won NCAA title

Retro Video of the Week: "Pride and Joy" by Coverdale-Page

Thirty years ago today -- in the midst of the grunge boom -- the world got what they didn't know they needed:  the one-off collaboration of former Deep Purple and Whitesnake lead singer David Coverdale and Led Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page released their self-titled album, Coverdale-Page.  It's weird to say, but the combination of blues-based rock and blustery hard rock from two giants of classic rock and hair metal was a breath of fresh air.  

I was (and still am) a big fan of Zeppelin and Whitesnake -- and Deep Purple too, but not necessarily the Coverdale era -- and I wasn't one of those people who limited myself to one genre of rock, so I ate this up.  And I certainly wasn't the only one.  The album went to #5 on the Billboard album chart, #4 on the UK album chart, and Top 10 on the album charts in four other countries.  It eventually went platinum in the U.S.

The duo released four singles from the album in the U.S., and they were all pretty successful on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks chart, with "Pride and Joy" topping the chart, "Shake My Tree" reaching #3, "Take Me For a Little While" hitting #15 (and #29 on the UK pop chart), and "Over Now" going to #24.

I went with the video for "Pride and Joy" because I think the song is a perfect example of the collaboration.  It sounds like something that could have been on Led Zeppelin III, starting off with a swirl of acoustic guitars, but with Coverdale kind of sounding like Axl Rose, and then it bursts into electric, hard rock bombast.  The video shows Coverdale definitely looking more '80s hair metal than anything else that would have been considered acceptable in the era of baggy clothes and Doc Martens.  But dammit, it worked.

Tuesday Top Ten: NCAA Tournament Edition

This year's NCAA Tournament brackets have been announced, and like last year, I think this will be one of the most unpredictable NCAA Tournaments in recent memory.  With some teams dealing with injuries, other teams dealing with inconsistencies, other teams dealing with off-court distractions, and other teams with Achilles' heels, there is not one team or a handful of teams that stands head and shoulders above the rest.  This thing is wide open. There are about 15 teams who could legitimately win it all, and they could all lose before the end of the first weekend.  I have already filled out 119 brackets, and they're all terrible.  Here are a couple initial random thoughts:

• As with last year, I don't think any 1-seeds have an easy path to the Final Four.  I wouldn't be surprised if none of them make it to Houston or if all four of them do.
• As always, I would not be surprised if all of the 12-seeds beat all of the 5-seeds.  Or none.
• Of the 14 schools with 35 or more NCAA Tournament appearances (including this year) -- Kentucky, North Carolina, Kansas, UCLA, Duke, Syracuse, Indiana, Louisville, Villanova, Notre Dame, Texas, Michigan State, Arkansas, and UConn -- five didn't receive bids to this year's NCAA Tournament (North Carolina, Syracuse, Louisville, Villanova, and Notre Dame).
• One of the "First Four" 16-seeds is Texas Southern -- who won the SWAC Tournament for the 7th time in the last nine -- which was the 8-seed in the SWAC Tournament and has an overall record of 14-20.  The 20 losses are the most ever by an automatic qualifier.
• For the first time since 1977, there will be no team from Philadelphia in the NCAA Tournament, as Drexel, LaSalle, Penn, St. Joseph's, Temple, and Villanova all failed to make the tournament this year.
• Here are the ten teams in this year's NCAA Tournament with the most tournament appearances, but no NCAA championship.  I'm including the team's seed and region in this year's tournament, the number of NCAA Tournament appearances, the overall rank in number of appearances, and last Final Four appearance, if applicable (* means a team has lost in a national title game, ** means the furthest the team has gone is the Final Four, and *** means the team has never been to a Final Four):
• Texas** - 2-seed Midwest:  37 appearances (T-9th overall); 2003
• Illinois* - 9-seed West:  33 appearances (T-16th overall); 2005
• Purdue* - 1-seed East:  33 appearances (T-16th overall); 1980
• Kansas State* - 3-seed East:  32 appearances (22nd overall); 1964
• West Virginia* - 9-seed South:  31 appearances (T-23rd overall); 2010
• Iowa* - 8-seed Midwest:  29 appearances (T-27th overall); 1980
• Xavier - 3-seed Midwest:  29 appearances (T-27th overall); No Final Four
• Missouri - 7-seed South:  28 appearances (33rd overall); No Final Four
• Pitt - 11-seed Midwest:  27 appearances (T-34th overall); 1941
• Princeton - 15-seed South:  26 appearances (T-36th overall); 1965
• Fuck Purdue

Anyway, as I do every year, here are a couple lists of five teams each in a few categories that you should consider when filling out your brackets.  Expect there to be some contradictions, since that's the nature of predicting the NCAA Tournament.  Teams are in seed order.  So you don't think I'm entirely full of shit (or perhaps to prove that I am), I'll put in parentheses what I correctly predicted last years.

Teams with the best shot at winning it all (last year, I did not have Kansas on this list):

1.  Kansas (1-seed West).  The Jayhawks are the defending champs.  I realize how hard it is to repeat, but they are battle tested, winning the regular season title in the toughest conference (the Big 12).  Their "worst" losses this season were to teams who are 6-seeds in the NCAA Tournament (Iowa State and TCU), and they had one of the toughest schedules in the country.
Record against NCAA Tournament teams:  15-7

2.  Alabama (1-seed South).  As the #1 overall seed, the Crimson Tide has arguably their best team ever, even with the whole Brandon Miller kerfuffle, winning the SEC regular season and tournament titles.  They're one of the best scoring and rebounding teams in the country, which is usually a good combination in March.
Record against NCAA Tournament teams:  14-4

3.  Houston (1-seed Midwest).  With 29 wins, Kelvin Sampson's Cougars have won 27+ games five times in the last six years, and they are one of the best defensive teams in the country.  If Marcus Sasser is healthy, the Cougars could cut down the nets in their hometown.
Record against NCAA Tournament teams:  7-2

4.  Marquette (2-seed East).  It's been a while since the Golden Eagles have been in the national title conversation, but this team has defied expectations and won the Big East regular season title and tournament.  They are one of the best teams in the country in offensive efficiency and forcing turnovers, and there isn't anyone in the East Region they can't beat.
Record against NCAA Tournament teams:  8-5

5.  Gonzaga (3-seed West).  Behind forwards Drew Timme -- who seems like he's been at Gonzaga since the '90s -- and Julian Strawther, the Zags have been the most efficient offensive team in the country over the last month, on their way to tying for the WCC regular season title and winning the conference tournament.
Record against NCAA Tournament teams:  6-5

Final Four sleepers (teams seeded 4 or higher) (last year, I did not have North Carolina on this list):

1.  UConn (4-seed West).  After winning their first 14 games and reaching a #2 ranking, the Huskies lost 6 of their next 8 games, but have righted the ship since then, losing only two games since January 25.  They rank in the top 15 in the country in both adjusted offensive and defensive efficiency, which is a formula for a deep run in March.
Record against NCAA Tournament teams:  6-6

2.  Indiana (4-seed Midwest).  I'm obviously biased and cautiously optimistic with my Hoosiers.  They had some injuries and went through a rough patch in December and January, but have beaten Purdue twice and have two legit stars in Trayce Jackson-Davis and Jalen Hood-Schifino.  They have also played a tough schedule, both inside and outside the Big Ten.  If they can get a third scoring option to step up in the tournament, Mike Woodson could bring his alma mater back to the promised land.
Record against NCAA Tournament teams:  8-10

3.  Tennessee (4-seed East).  The Vols are the best defensive team in the country, and they have been ranked in the Top 10 in the AP poll for much of the year and have wins over Alabama, Kansas, Texas, and Gonzaga.
Record against NCAA Tournament teams:  10-7

4.  Virginia (4-seed South).  The Cavaliers tied for the regular season ACC title and were the runner-up in the ACC Tournament, and like any Tony Bennett team, they are one of the best defensive teams in the country and can control the pace of the game to the frustration of their opponents.
Record against NCAA Tournament teams:  4-4

5.  Duke (5-seed East).  In Jon Scheyer's first year at the helm, the Blue Devils have gone through some bumps and injury issues, but have been peaking at the right time, winning their last nine games, en route to the ACC Tournament title.  They're healthy now and have the talent to make it to Houston.
Record against NCAA Tournament teams:  9-5

Teams seeded 4 or better who may not make it to the second weekend (last year, I had Illinois on this list):

1.  Purdue (1-seed East).  The Boilermakers have a long and storied history . . . of underachieving in March.  Purdue has been a top-4 seed in the NCAA Tournament 15 times since seeding began in 1979, failing to advance to the Sweet 16 seven of those times.  Last year, they made it the Sweet 16, only to be ousted by 15-seed St. Peter's.  Zach Edey is the likely national player of the year, but if any team can limit his production and the role players on the team aren't hitting shots, the Boilers can be beaten, as shown by their four losses in six games during a stretch in February.  A second round matchup with either Memphis -- one of the hottest teams in the country over the last two months -- or FAU -- which won 31 games and is coached by Dusty May, a former Indiana student manager under Bob Knight, who will no doubt have the Owls hyped to play Purdue.
Record against NCAA Tournament teams:  12-4

2.  UCLA (2-seed West).  The Bruins have been a consistent Top 10 team this season, but they lost two key players -- guard Jaylen Clark and forward Adem Bona -- to injuries in the last two weeks.  That may end up costing them when facing upset-minded 7-seed Northwestern or 10-seed Boise State in the second round.
Record against NCAA Tournament teams:  6-5

3.  Kansas State (3-seed East).  The Wildcats have had a great season in the toughest league in the country, but they turn the ball over a lot, and either 6-seed Kentucky or 11-seed Providence could take K State down in the second round -- if the Wildcats aren't upset by Montana State in the first round (see below).
Record against NCAA Tournament teams:  7-7

4.  Xavier (3-seed Midwest).  The Musketeers are one of those teams that can't quite get over the March Madness hump.  They always seem to underperform come tournament time.  They have been a 5-seed or better five times since 2000, and they have made it to the second weekend only two of those five times (2008 and 2009).  Battle-tested 6-seed Iowa State or one of the two 11-seed play-in teams (Mississippi State or Pitt) could upend the Musketeers, assuming they get past 14-seed Kennesaw State in the first round.
Record against NCAA Tournament teams:  8-6

5.  Virginia (4-seed South).  In a down year for the ACC, the Cavaliers haven't really played that many quality opponents (only eight matchups with NCAA Tournament teams).  Their style of play can both stifle opponents or lead to disastrous results (see UMBC in 2018), and if they make it past Furman in the first round, a matchup with San Diego State -- a team with a similar style of play -- or Charleston -- who shoots a ton of threes -- could spell doom in the second round.
Record against NCAA Tournament teams:  4-4

Teams seeded 12 or higher with the best chance of pulling an upset in the first round (last year, I did not have New Mexico State, Richmond, or St. Peter's on this list):

1.  Charleston (12-seed South).  The Cougars have compiled a 31-3 record and haven't lost since Groundhog Day.  They shoot the three at a higher clip than any other team in the country, and they make 33% of their shots from behind the arc.  It's kind of like the old Loyola Marymount offense that was premised on the belief that the more shots you take, the more shots you make.  And they crash the offensive boards really well, while their first round opponent, 5-seed San Diego State, is not the best rebounding team.
Record against NCAA Tournament teams:  1-0

2.  Drake (12-seed Midwest).  The Bulldogs won the MVC tournament with a 26-point drubbing of regular season champ Bradley in the championship game, and they have only lost twice in their last 18 games.  They are a great defensive team and don't turn the ball over very much, which could cause problems for Miami.
Record against NCAA Tournament teams:  2-0

3.  Oral Roberts (12-seed East).  Two years ago, the Golden Eagles became the second 15-seed to advance to the Sweet 16 and came within 2 points of advancing to the Elite 8.  Star guard Max Abmas is still there and averaged 22.8 points per game this season, and they have added 7'5" Arkansas transfer Connor Vanover in the middle.  They are good enough that when they tried to schedule non-conference games with power conference teams, most refused.  They haven't lost since January 9 and swept the regular season and conference tournament in the Summit League.  On top of their scoring ability, they have the lowest turnover percentage in the country, and they will certainly pumped up to face one of college basketball's blue bloods in Duke.
Record against NCAA Tournament teams:  1-3

4.  VCU (12-seed West).  Yes, I realize it's a CYA move to list out all four 12-seeds, but they all really do have a chance at pulling off the upsets.  Plus, in five of the last ten tournaments, at least two 12-seeds have beaten 5-seeds, and in three of those years, three 12-seeds won.  VCU plays great defense, as does their first round opponent St. Mary's, so it could be a close game, and don't be surprised if the Rams come out on top.
Record against NCAA Tournament teams:  2-2

5.  Montana State (14-seed East).  This one is a longshot, as Kansas State has been a Top 15 team for most of the season.  Can a Big Sky team beat a 3-seed from the toughest conference in college basketball?  In March, anything is possible, and the Bobcats get to the free throw line really well and play great defense.  Meanwhile, after a 15-1 start, K-State has gone 8-8 over its last 16 games.  Granted, that was in the murderer's row that is the Big 12 this year, but the Wildcats have been one of the worst teams in the country in turning the ball over since the beginning of February, so they better not take Montana State lightly.
Record against NCAA Tournament teams:  0-2

Mascot Fight Bracket

It's been a few years since I've done a mascot fight bracket, but I have some time to kill between filling out brackets, so let's have some fun.  Tomorrow, I will give you my thoughts on the teams to help you win your pool, but today, it's all about the mascots.

Inspired by the 6- or 7-year-old son of a former co-worker, who filled out his bracket one year based solely on which mascot would win in a fight and ended up with an unwinnable NC State vs. Nevada –- Wolfpack vs. Wolf Pack -– matchup, every year I fill out a bracket on ESPN (not for money, of course) entitled "Mascot Fight."  Here is what it looks like this year, with explanations of my brilliant and sometimes contradictory reasoning.  (For the record, last year, my Mascot Fight bracket had Kansas losing in the first round.)

South Region

First Four:

(16) Texas A&M Corpus Christi Islanders vs. (16) Southeast Missouri State Redhawks.  I feel like people who live on islands can handle birds.  Winner:  Texas A&M Corpus Christi

First Round:

(1) Alabama Crimson Tide vs. (16) Texas A&M Corpus Christi Islanders.  Islanders can also handle themselves some tide.  Surf's up!  Winner:  Texas A&M Corpus Christi

(8) Maryland Terrapins vs. (9) West Virginia Mountaineers.  This is a tough one because mountain folk aren't too familiar with marine animals.  That said, it's a fucking turtle.  Winner:  West Virginia

(5) San Diego State Aztecs vs. (12) Charleston Cougars.  You think a bunch of MILFs are going to make it through Tenochtitlan alive?  Neither do I.  Winner:  San Diego State

(4) Virginia Cavaliers vs. (13) Furman Paladins.  A formidable battle between horsebacked fighters, but the paladins have the slight edge, if for no other reason than chainmail is more protective than those foppish cavalier hats.  Winner:  Furman

(6) Creighton Bluejays vs. (11) North Carolina State Wolfpack.  Ha!  Winner:  North Carolina State

(3) Baylor Bears vs. (14) UC Santa Barbara Gauchos.  What did the gaucho say to the bear?  I don't know.  Probably "dios mio!" before he got eaten.  Winner:  Baylor

(7) Missouri Tigers vs. (10) Utah State Aggies.  Whilst tending to their fields, the aggies were mauled to death by tigers.  Winner:  Missouri

(2) Arizona Wildcats vs. (15) Princeton Tigers.  A big cat battle goes to the bigger cat.  Winner:  Missouri

Second Round:

(9) West Virginia Mountaineers vs. (16) Texas A&M Corpus Christi Islanders.  I feel like we all know what happens when white people with guns interact with strangers on island.  Winner:  West Virginia

(5) San Diego Aztecs vs. (13) Furman Paladins.  Another really tough battle, as old world warriors clash with new world warriors.  It's a tough call, but I'm going with the Aztecs.  Winner:  San Diego State

(3) Baylor Bears vs. (11) North Carolina State Wolfpack.  Brute strength versus teamwork here, and I think the numbers in the pack overtake the bears.  Winner:  North Carolina State

(7) Missouri Tigers vs. (15) Princeton Tigers.  The smarter tigers use their cunning to defeat the SEC tigers.  Winner:  Princeton

Sweet 16:

(5) San Diego State Aztecs vs. (9) West Virginia Mountaineers.  Sure, they have the guns, but one thing they didn't count on was a gastrointestinal infection.  Montezuma gets his revenge.  Winner:  San Diego State

(11) North Carolina State Wolfpack vs. (15) Princeton Tigers.  Another brutal matchup, but it's hard to argue with the inspiration of the mascot fight bracket.  Winner:  North Carolina State

Elite 8:

(5) San Diego State Aztecs vs. (11) North Carolina State Wolfpack.  The wolfpack finally meets its match in tenacity, and they are reverently sacrifices to appease Xolotl.  Winner:  San Diego State

East Region

First Four:

(16) Texas Southern Tigers vs. (16) Fairleigh Dickinson Knights.  Tigers are pretty badass, but so is a flail.  Winner:  Fairleigh Dickinson

First Round:

(1) Purdue Boilermakers vs. (16) Fairleigh Dickinson Knights.  "Hey look, I'm making a train" were the last words the Boilermaker said before being run through with a lance.  Winner:  Fairleigh Dickinson

(8) Memphis Tigers vs. (9) FAU Owls.  Wisdom only gets you so far when staring into the mouth of a tiger.  Winner:  Memphis

(5) Duke Blue Devils vs. (12) Oral Roberts Golden Eagles.  Eagles, regardless of color, are pretty cool, but devils, regardless of color, are devils.  Winner:  Duke

(4) Tennessee Volunteers vs. (13) Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns.  Location makes all the difference here.  The game is in Orlando, so I think the Cajuns will be more comfortable with Florida's marshy topography.  Winner:  Louisiana

(6) Kentucky Wildcats vs. (11) Providence Friars.  "Dear God, it's a puma!" said the friar.  Winner:  Kentucky

(3) Kansas State Wildcats vs. (14) Montana State Bobcats.  I'd give the wildcat the slight advantage in this battle of North American predatory felines.  Winner:  Kansas State

(7) Michigan State Spartans vs. (10) USC Trojans.  Holy shit, what a first round matchup.  I'm giving it to Sparta in a bloodbath.  Winner:  Michigan State

(2) Marquette Golden Eagles vs. (15) Vermont Catamounts.  This is a big cat-heavy region, which isn't good for birds.  Winner:  Vermont

Second Round:

(8) Memphis Tigers vs. (16) Fairleigh Dickinson Knights.  Lotta tiger pelts over there at the castle in Hackensack, New Jersey.  Winner:  Fairleigh Dickinson

(5) Duke Blue Devils vs. (13) Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns.  Summoning Papa Legba, the Cajuns pull off the underworld upset.  Winner:  Louisiana

(3) Kansas State Wildcats vs. (6) Kentucky Wildcats.  Fuck Kentucky.  Winner:  Kansas State

(7) Michigan State Spartans vs. (15) Vermont Catamounts.  I'm pretty sure Spartans ride mountain lions to work.  Winner:  Michigan State

Sweet 16:

(13) Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns vs. (16) Fairleigh Dickinson Knights.  Not even chainmail and swords are a match for people with awesome accents chucking gators from fanboats.  Winner:  Louisiana

(3) Kansas State Wildcats vs. (7) Michigan State Spartans.  If Spartans beat catamounts, Spartans beat wildcats.  Winner:  Michigan State

Elite 8:

(7) Michigan State Spartans vs. (13) Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns.  It's hard to resist the lure of a good gumbo, and that's what will ultimately result in the Spartans' demise.  You see, the okra was poisoned.  Winner:  Louisiana

Midwest Region

First Four:

(11) Mississippi State Bulldogs vs. (11) Pittsburgh Panthers.  While tenacious and really good at snoring, bulldogs are no match for Panthers.  Winner:  Pittsburgh

First Round:

(1) Houston Cougars vs. (16) Northern Kentucky Norse.  I've never seen a cougar in Norway.  I've also never been to Norway.  Winner:  Houston

(8) Iowa Hawkeyes vs. (9) Auburn Tigers.  You know what tigers can eat like popcorn shrimp?  The eyes of birds.  Winner:  Auburn

(5) Miami Hurricanes vs. (12) Drake Bulldogs.  Bulldogs are not strong swimmers.  Winner:  Miami

(4) Indiana Hoosiers vs. (13) Kent State Golden Flashes.  I'm banking on the fact that these Hoosiers do not suffer from epilepsy.  Winner:  Indiana

(6) Iowa State Cyclones vs. (11) Pittsburgh Panthers.  Panthers are strong and agile, but still no match for a tornado.  Winner:  Iowa State

(3) Xavier Musketeers vs. (14) Kennesaw State Owls.  Guns > birds.  Winner:  Xavier.

(7) Texas A&M Aggies vs. (10) Penn State Nittany Lions.  Pumas eat people who try to genetically modify soybeans.  It's a fact.  Winner:  Penn State

(2) Texas Longhorns vs. (15) Colgate Raiders.  "Pardon me while I pillage your cattle," said the raider with no cavities.  Winner:  Colgate

Second Round:

(1) Houston Cougars vs. (9) Auburn Tigers.  It's a tale -- or should I say tail? -- as old as time:  tigers are bigger badasses than cougars.  Winner:  Auburn

(4) Indiana Hoosiers vs. (5) Miami Hurricanes.  Had this been a tornado instead of a hurricane, then the advantage would go to the Hoosiers.  They deal with that shit all the time.  Unfortunately, hurricanes don't hit Indiana, so the Hoosiers didn't know the eye was just a pause in the middle before the torrent started again.  Winner:  Miami

(3) Xavier Musketeers vs. (6) Iowa State Cyclones.  Guns < tornados.  Winner:  Iowa State

(10) Penn State Nittany Lions vs. (15) Colgate Raiders.  Dental hygiene is no match for really large sharp teeth.  Winner:  Penn State

Sweet 16:

(5) Miami Hurricanes vs. (9) Auburn Tigers.  Cats aren't great swimmers.  Winner:  Miami

(6) Iowa State Cyclones vs. (10) Penn State Nittany Lions.  Cats can't fly.  Winner:  Iowa State

Elite 8:

(5) Miami Hurricanes vs. (6) Iowa State Cyclones.  It's the coastal elite natural disaster versus the hardworking, Midwestern natural disaster.  I'm going with the one with more wind and rain.  Winner:  Miami

West Region

First Four:

(11) Arizona State Sun Devils vs. (11) Nevada Wolf Pack.  Wolves don't do well in extreme heat, or so I assume.  Winner:  Arizona State

First Round:

(1) Kansas Jayhawks vs. (16) Howard Bison.  Jayhawks are small but nasty.  Bison are large but generally pretty level-headed.  But all it takes is one errant step from a bison to take care of a jayhawk.  Winner:  Howard

(8) Arkansas Razorbacks vs. (9) Illinois Fighting Illini.  Seems like hogs are probably food for the Illini.  Winner:  Illinois

(5) St. Mary's Gaels vs. (12) VCU Rams.  Gaelic people are known for their ability to handle sheep.  Winner:  St. Mary's

(4) Connecticut Huskies vs. (13) Iona Gaels.  Gaelic people are not know for their ability to handle arctic dogs.  Winner:  Connecticut

(6) TCU Horned Frogs vs. (11) Arizona State Sun Devils.  "Oh yeah, it's so hot.  Hold my beer," says the horned frog to the sun devil.  Winner:  TCU

(3) Gonzaga Bulldogs vs. (14) Grand Canyon Antelopes.  If nothing else, an antelope would tire out a bulldog in a matter of seconds.  Winner:  Grand Canyon

(7) Northwestern Wildcats vs. (10) Boise State Broncos.  The hunted does not become the hunter.  Winner:  Northwestern

(2) UCLA Bruins vs. (15) UNC Asheville Bulldogs.  Bears step on bulldogs.  I think it was Kierkegaard who said that.  Winner:  UCLA

Second Round:

(9) Illinois Fighting Illini vs. (16) Howard Bison.  The Illini have bison pelts.  Bison do not have Illini pelts.  Winner:  Illinois

(4) Connecticut Huskies vs. (5) St. Mary's Gaels.  Did you think this dog-on-Gael matchup would end any differently than the first?  Winner:  Connecticut

(6) TCU Horned Frogs vs. (14) Grand Canyon Antelopes.  Horned frogs are actually lizards.  Lizards with horns.  Horns that aren't as big as an antelope's.  Winner:  Grand Canyon

(2) UCLA Bruins vs. (7) Northwestern Wildcats.  Look at the little kitty's guts strewn about.  Winner:  UCLA

Sweet 16:

(4) Connecticut Huskies vs. (9) Illinois Fighting Illini.  Mistaking the white fur of the husky for a sacred animal, the Illini let their guard down, only to be brutally mauled to death.  Winner:  Connecticut

(2) UCLA Bruins vs. (14) Grand Canyon Antelopes.  This game is in Las Vegas, a climate much more befitting of an antelope than a bear.  But it's still a bear versus an antelope.  Winner:  UCLA

Elite 8:

(2) UCLA Bruins vs. (4) Connecticut Huskies.  I feel like bears can probably handle the "dry heat" of Vegas better than huskies can.  Also, bears would kill huskies if it came down to it, and really, that's what it's all about.  Winner:  UCLA

Final Four

(5) San Diego State Aztecs vs. (13) Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns.  This is a tough matchup in Houston, which isn't too far from either the bayou or Tenochtitlan.  But that oppressive humidity is something the Cajuns grew up in, and it's hard to argue with that logic.  Winner:  Louisiana

(2) UCLA Bruins vs. (5) Miami Hurricanes.  True, bears are great swimmers, but you can only climb up a tree so quickly before the rising water gets you.  Winner:  Miami

Championship Game

(5) Miami Hurricanes vs. (13) Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns.  I think history has shown us what happens when hurricanes meet Louisiana.  Winner:  Miami

CoronaVinyl Day 451 (T): The Low Spark of High Heeled Boys by Traffic

For an explanation of CoronaVinyl, click here.

Today's CoronaVinyl category is "T," and I have been listening to Traffic's fifth studio album, 1971's The Low Spark of High Heeled Boys, off and on for the past week.  With college basketball and the like getting in the way, I haven't had a chance to post about it, but here we go.  This is one of the album covers hanging in my office, and the album sleeve is a funky parallelepiped-type thing.

The album is a nugget of prog rock/jazz fusion/post-psychedelic goodness, and in addition to Steve Winwood on the keys and guitars, Chris Wood on, well, woodwinds, and Jim Capaldi on percussion, it was the first Traffic album to featured percussionist Rebop Kwaku Baah, as well as the only Traffic studio album to drummer former Derek and The Dominoes and in-demand session drummer Jim Gordon and bassist Ric Grech, who had been in supergroup Blind Faith with Winwood (and Eric Clapton and Ginger Baker).  It's also the only Traffic album to feature two tracks with Capaldi on lead vocals -- the excellently named "Light Up or Leave Me Alone" and "Rock & Roll Stew."

The album was one of the band's most successful in the U.S., reaching #7 on the Billboard album chart -- their second of four consecutive Top 10 studio albums in the U.S. -- and eventually going platinum (their only platinum album stateside).

The version of the album on Spotify is an expanded version with one extra track, "Rock & Roll Stew, Parts 1 and 2."

Favorite Song on Side 1:  "The Low Spark of High Heeled Boys"
The title track is one of Traffic's signature songs.  It's a plodding and meandering, nearly 12-minute song that, in my mind, is kind of the essence of the jazz fusion genre.  One of my friends told me he and his buddies used to put this on the jukebox at college bars just to piss people off.  That kind of makes me like it more.

Favorite Song on Side 2:  "Rock & Roll Stew"
Penned by Grech and Gordon and, as mentioned above, featuring Capaldi on lead vocals, this is a gritty, bluesy, funky little number.