Underdogs

Wow was that Belmont game exciting last night? To me it's pretty easy to root for an underdog, especially in the NCAA tourney and even more especially when it's against a favorite like Duke who always seems so "perfect." If it wasn't for Demarcus Nelson on Duke, who is from SacTown, I would have been cheering even louder for Belmont. I did find myself raising my hands in the air, gesturing the three pointer was good, after the dude for Belmont hit the 3 pointer in the last minute or two of the game. What a big shot. If only they could have played defense.... I imagine that would have been THE biggest upset in the history of the NCAA tourney? I found a nice review of some big tourney upsets if you care to look at more, http://www.collegehoopsnet.com/Onions/031804.htm

I have been to many NCAA tourney games in my life. Probably 20 or 25 games. Upsets happen and when they do the crowd turns. The crowd loves an underdog... ANY underdog. I remember a few years ago they had the NCAA's here in Sac and we had a few good first round games. I guess it might have been 2002... damn, time is flying, and the UNC-Wilmington Seahawks were playing against the Trojans of USC. It was a 13 v. 5 seed game so I am sure SC was favored by 10 or 15 points. Plus the game was in Cali with lots of Trojan fans and Pac 10 fans in attendance. If memory serves the Seahawks had a lead for much of the game. This created a swell in the crowd as we all became Seahawk fans! I was with my boy Petaluma Mo that day at Arco. Of all coincedences his wife had gotten a masters degree from UNC Wilmington. We thus were on the bandwagon from the opening tip! Anyway, game went into OT before the Seahawks held on to win. It was a big upset. We almost had another upset that day as Pepperdine lost in the closing seconds to Indiana or some other larger school. Really nothing like an underdog winning to bring the crowd together!

Hopefully we will get some upsets today.

peace out.