SO WHAT IF our brackets, pristine just 2 weeks ago, are now serving as birdcage liner. This NCAA Tournament has been one of the most memorable, especially for most local college hoop fans.
With three games remaining in the madness, there are more questions than answers. How much of a disadvantage is it to be a Final Four rookie coach? Has anybody been more impressive away from home than Connecticut? And why does Michigan State coach Tom Izzo think the stars are aligned?
Here are 25 things to help survive and advance to Monday night's championship game:
1. Connecticut is the only team whose winning margin has decreased each round. The Huskies beat Chattanooga by 56, Texas A&M by 26, Purdue by 12 and Missouri by 7.
2. Villanova is 8-1 against ranked opponents since closing out the Spectrum with a win over No. 3 Pittsburgh on Jan. 28. UNC is ranked second.
3. North Carolina is trying to avenge an embarrassing loss to Kansas in the 2008 Final Four. "The way last year ended, it hurt everybody," said Deon Thompson, referring to the game in which UNC trailed, 40-12. "To get back there and know that we have a chance to redeem ourselves is a big-time feeling to have."
4. North Carolina thumped Michigan State at Ford Field, 98-63, in December, and Villanova lost a Sweet 16 game there to Kansas last year. UConn has never played there.
5. Following the MSU game, Carolina coach Roy Williams remarked at being uncomfortable with the view from the sidelines caused by the benches being lower than floor level. "It's a great arena," he said, "but I'm not used to looking at my guys' ankles."
6. Villanova coach Jay Wright broke out last year's Kansas tape a few times this season just to remind players how painful that season-ending loss was.
7. Whoever wins the opener between Michigan State and Connecticut will have more wins at Ford Field this sporting year than the Detroit Lions, which lost all eight home games en route to last year's 0-16 disaster.
8. Here's a quick little pronunciation guide for Michigan Staters Marquise Gray (Mar-QWEESE), Kalin Lucas (KAY-lin) and Goran Suton (GORE-on SUE-tahn). And remember, two syllables for North Carolina's Tyler Hansbrough (HANDS-bro).
9. Hansbrough needs one point to move past Austin Carr and into 10th place in career NCAA Tournament scoring. Hansbrough has 289 points in 16 career games (18.1 avg.). Christian Laettner's 407 points (23 games, 17.7 avg.) remains the standard.
