By George B. Eichorn of the New (Detroit) Monitor

Like spring fever, March Madness has infected the nation. From Albuquerque,
New Mexico, to Zenia, Ohio, and all other points from A to Z, college
basketball frenzy has struck America.

Fans at the O’Rena on the campus of Oakland University cheered wildly last
Sunday when CBS Sports’ Selection Show announced that the Golden Grizzlies
would travel to Milwaukee to face Pittsburgh in an NCAA Tournament
first-round game.

Crowds on the East Lansing campus of Michigan State University celebrated too
as Tom Izzo’s Spartans were placed as a No. 5 seed and headed to faraway
Spokane to face No. 12 see New Mexico State.

Celebrations were the rage nationwide as 64 (plus one play-in opponent who
won’t make the cut) teams battle to the Road to the Final Four in
Indianapolis April 2-4.

Yet there was no celebrating at Crisler Arena in Ann Arbor nor Calihan Hall
in Detroit nor at Eastern Michigan, Central or Western Michigan, as they all
failed to make the cut. Maybe next year.

Top overall seed Kansas is probably the odds-on favorite to cut down the nets
in the Hoosier State but I will go with Kentucky to win it all.

Kansas (32-2), Kentucky (32-2), Duke (29-5) and Syracuse (28-4) are the top
seeds in their regions and rightfully so. One could make the case for West
Virginia and Ohio State to be right up there too.

Both MSU (24-8) and Oakland University (26-8) open up Friday. The Spartans
are in the Midwest Regional and tip off against the 22-11 Aggies at 7:25 p.m.
(CBS/Ch. 62 & WJR-AM 760).  Izzo cannot be happy at his team’s hasty exit
– once again — from the recent Big Ten Tournament. The Spartans were
bounced by the Minnesota Golden Gophers in the quarterfinals. Minnesota made
it all the way to last Sunday’s Big Ten championship game but lost to OSU.
The Golden Gophers finished 21-13 and earned a ticket to the Big Dance.

Sparty was a co-champion of the Big ten along with OSU and Purdue, yet played
very suspect basketball on occasion. This inconsistency has worried their
coach and their fans to the point of wondering just how far this team can
really go.

Kalin Lucas led the team with a 14.9 scoring average and 3.9 assists per
game. Draymond Green is MSU’s top rebounder. MSU needs more consistent play
from guards Chris Allen and Durrell Summers.

Izzo is a nifty 31-11 in his 15 year career in the Big Dance and won it all
in 2000. Marvin Menzies of the Aggies is making his first tournament
appearance. He is 60-40 lifetime while Izzo is 360-145.

Oakland has a tough opener on Friday (2:45 p.m. on CBS/Ch. 62) in Milwaukee
against the University of Pittsburgh (24-8). Coach Greg Kampe is 1-1 in his
NCAA Tourney career. Pitt coach Jamie Dixon is 9-6 in the NCAA post-season.

The Golden Grizzlies are led by top scorer Keith Benson (17 points per game).
The top rebounder is also Benson at 10.5 boards per contest. The team
deserved better than a 14 seed, especially after winning the Summit
Conference at 17-1 and the post-season tournament too.

Pitt is a No. 3 seed and was 13-5, tied for second in the Big East. They lost
in the quarterfinals of their tournament — just like Michigan State did.
Ashton Gibbs leading Pitt’s scoring at 15.9 points per game while Gary McGhee
is the top rebounder with a 6.9 average.

Fill out your brackets if you have not done so already and get ready for some
hoops action like only the NCAA Tournament can offer.

Buy George Eichorn’s book, "Detroit Sports Broadcasters On the Air"
for $19.99 or less at www.amazon.com. Reach him at geichorn@yahoo.com.

Categories: Uncategorized -- Trackback