Team on the decline: Rhode Island won every close game for most of the season. Just when they were on the cusp of the NCAA, the Rams lost five of seven before beating St. Joe's in the first round on Tuesday. They probably overachieved to get so close to a bid, but reality has intervened.
Worth noting: There are a number of worthy national Coach of the Year candidates - Jim Boeheim (Syracuse), Steve Alford (New Mexico), John Calipari (Kentucky) and Brad Stevens (Butler) among others. I recently filled out my basketball writers' ballot. I voted for Temple's Fran Dunphy.
To me, the best coaches look at their personnel and then play a style that best fits their talents. Nobody did that any better this season than Dunphy. The Owls' strengths are basketball IQ and defense. And that is exactly how they won all those games.
Sunday's final will be on CBS. Tomorrow's semifinals can only be seen on CBS College Sports TV. That is part of the pay sports tier on Comcast.
Dark horse to win it all: I really don't see one. St. Bonaventure coach Mark Schmidt has done a terrific job reviving a dead program, but just getting by Temple today is going to be a really tall order. Massachusetts needed two upsets just to get here. Can't imagine them getting by Richmond tonight. Dayton, which has serious trouble winning outside Ohio, is probably going to have to beat Xavier, Richmond and Temple to win it. The Flyers have the talent, but I just don't see them pulling off that trifecta.
Team that needs help to make the NCAAs: Dayton needs to win a game or two and hope that all the favorites win the conference tournaments. The Flyers are still alive because the at-large field is so weak.
