Let the madness really begin. When Xavier and Georgia take the Verizon Center court in Washington, D.C., this afternoon at 12:20, it will mark the first of 63 games to determine which college basketball team reigns supreme. But no portion of the tournament is a hectic ? and exhilarating ? than the first round, when 32 games are played in two days, meaning, it?s all basketball all the time. Unless you plan on living at a sports bar or have four televisions side-by-side, you can?t see all the games, so here?s a guide at what you should look for during today?s games.
UPSET ALERT
No. 3 XAVIER (27-6) vs. No. 14 GEORGIA (17-16), 12:20 p.m.
Xavier?s Musketeers are 10-2 in their past 12 games, but are coming off a loss to St. Joseph?s in semifinals of the Atlantic 10 Tournament. The Musketeers average 75.3 points per game behind a balanced offense featuring six players who average at least 10 points per game, led by forwards Josh Duncan (11.7) and Derrick Brown (10.7). Georgia, however, is coming off perhaps the greatest run in any conference tournament in NCAA history. The Bulldogs, who won just four of 16 games in Southeastern Conference play, won four games in as many days to win the conference tournament. The Bulldogs, led by senior guard Sundiata Gaines (14.8 ppg), defeated Ole Miss and three NCAA Tournament teams ? Kentucky, Mississippi State and Arkansas ? to go from worst to first and earn their first berth in the NCAA Tournament since 2002.
KEEP AN EYE ON
vs. Kentucky, 2:30 p.m.
Remember the last time a Marquette junior guard guided the Eagles to greatness in the NCAA Tournament? Eagles fans do. His name was Dwyane Wade. Is James next? The 5-foot-11, 185-pounder contemplated jumping to the NBA last year, but he pulled his name out of the draft. Gooddecision. If James (13 ppg, 4.3 apg) leads Marquette to the Final Four like Wade did in 2003 before becoming a first-round draft pick, the next time James plays in Milwaukee it may be for the Bucks.
DREW NEITZEL, MICHIGAN ST.
vs. Temple, 12:30 p.m.
The 6-foot, 190-pound senior guard could improve his draft stock exponentially by finishing his career where his freshman year ended: in the Final Four. But the pressure clearly is on Neitzel to lead a team that hasn?t gotten past the second round in each of the past two years. If Neitzel (14.2 ppg, 4 apg) wants his career to continue when his college days are over, he has to prove his capable of carrying a team. He?s shown he can do that at times this season, but can he do it for six straight games?
vs. Belmont, 7:10 p.m.
At Duke, a player?s legacy is defined by how many times he reaches the Final Four or how many times he wins the last game of the season. Nelson is Duke?s lone senior, and has accomplished neither. Can the 6-foot-4, 200-pounder follow in the footsteps of Shane Battier, J.J. Redick, Christian Laettner and Elton Brand by getting Duke to the Final Four? Nelson (15.2 ppg, 4.1 apg) was Duke?s only player to be named first-team All-ACC, so there?s no question he has the talent to lead the Blue Devils to their first national title since 2001.
