"The lopsided nature of the game made a strong case for not expanding the tournament, which already is diluted enough"

That is a curious statement. The oft proposed reason for expanding the tourney is not to let more schools in from the minor conferences via automatic bids, such as Portland St., but to allow more room for so-called bubble teams, which come largely from the major conferences.

The near depantsing of ESPN-darling Duke yesterday, (it will happen soon enough; and yes, it's fun when it is isn't happening to us), was more than enough reason to keep things exactly as they are in my IMHO, at least with regards to the auto-bids.

The first 4 teams left out will always cry, because
1. there will never be a definite difference between them and the last 4 to make the field
2. there will always be journo's looking for a story

Three 2 game weekends preceeded by another of conference tourneys provides plenty of opportunity for everyone to make the field and have a chance at the NC.

Some have mistakenly said that the selection committee should be seeding the 64 best teams. The tourney is about finding a national champion, and the present format does a great job of doing that.

Why did Duke pull out that game? Another "B" would have pulled through and it would have been against "DUKE". That is the difference between Duke and most of the rest of the basketball programs across the country. Duke is able to pull out wins like that when they most derservingly should lose. I don't understand it, but I was pretty bummed when they pulled out that win.

word is that the entire Duke team has the flu.

I disagree about the difference shaw. The only difference between Duke and Kansas was the fact that Duke's opponent totally crapped the bed in the last minute and a half.

I don't like "the word" very much. Word is... they stunk it up... should have lost.... got lucky, period.

I hate Dook.

The only reason Duke survived last night is because Belmont made two terrible plays in the last 15 seconds of a close game. First, nobody (NOBODY!) ever stopped the ball after Gerald Henderson got the rebound. He went coast to coast and not a single defender stepped in his way. He got all the way to the front of the rim for a layup. That's not a great play on his part. Most anyone can dribble up the floor and make a layup when no one steps in front of them. That's terrible defense, compounded by the fact that the game was on the line.

Then, with a chance to get the win, They just throw the ball up for grabs?! No one would have been hurt had the guy waited for a teammate to break open, or, if he was that panicked, he could have called their final timeout. Instead he lofts the ball into the middle of the lane before his guy had even gotten off the screen.

That's two plays that any coach would go crazy on. Back to back in a close game, you get beat... simple as that.

Belmont had them beat and gave the game away. Duke didn't have to make a single difficult play in the final minute. They made routine plays and watched Belmont wet the bed.

It's interesting with all the talk about how well Brandon has been shooting lately, but has anyone else noticed how much his rebounding has improved? It's been great to watch how aggressive he's gotten on the boards.