I have UCLA winning it all, so you can imagine my joy seeing them win, but again: Sweating. Really, really bad. I hope the rest of the tourney isn’t this close.

This game saved my bracket, so I’m glad it happened, but jeez: Watching this guy chuck it up at the end, I’m still wondering how the ball went in.

What a day it was. I would hvae written this a bit earlier, but a bit earlier I was a bit drunker. Anyway, here’s the recap of yesterday’s action, minus the Duke game (see below).

Kansas State 55, Wisconsin 72: When I filled out my bracket, I was this close to picking Wisconsin to the Final Four, and then backed out. Watching them dominate K-State the entire game yesterday, and watching Kansas struggle a bit, I’m wishing I went with my gut.

Purdue 78, Xavier 85: Purdue started strong, and Xavier started sloppy. The Boilermakers mounted a comeback in the end, but Drew Lavender and C.J. Anderson’s 18-point performances were too much to overcome.

Notre Dame 41, Washington State 61: I picked Notre Dame, falling for the Big East Irish hype. After a 19 point first half and 22 point second half, I was left scratching my head.

Marquette 81, Stanford 82: I was sweating watching this one. My bracket was falling apart before my eyes. The lanky guy for Stanford that sunk the game winning shot? Well, he’s my hero now. Really.

UNLV 56, Kansas 75: This game was actually kinda close, but Kansas has just got too much offense for the Runnin’ Rebels.

Michigan State 65, Pitt 54: Don’t be surprised if MSU makes it to the Final Four. I have them beating Memphis in the Sweet 16, and then losing to Texas in the Elite Eight, but if they made it, I wouldn’t be at all surprised.

Texas A&M 49, UCLA 53: I’m still sweating from this one. . . .

Last year, Duke was out in Round 1. This year, they’re out in Round 2. The Blue Devils lost to West Virginia 73-67 in a game they looked solid in the first half, and awful in the second. Duke was just 5-22 from beyond the arch and only 19 of 50 from the field. West Virginia looked sluggish in the first half, often turning the ball over and incapable of dealing with Duke’s pressure D, but didn’t seem to have any problems after Bob Huggins’ inspirational, drunken halftime speech.

You know you’re an annoying team when someone picks you in their bracket (that someone being me), and is still rooting for you to lose.

In overtime. Clutch. Best game of the tournament thus far, by far.

Today featured our first upset, even though the King of Selection Sunday picked it right. Yes, I grabbed the Hilltoppers, partially because I’ve never been sold on Drake, and partially because I’m an NCAA 2K8 freak, and they’re very, very good from beyond the arch.

Here’s some finals from earlier, and some other games still in progress.

American 57, Tennessee 72: The score was closer than would indicate here, but take that for what it’s worth: Tennessee, which shoots over 40 percent on the season from beyond the arch, was wide open time and time again, only coming up short. The next time Chris Lofton is 0-5 from deep will probably be in the NBA. Don’t look for it to happen the rest of the tourney; that said, if they don’t play better, Butler will make certain that tourney will be short lived.

Davidson 82, Gonzaga 76: It used to be that the Zags were the sleeper team that everyone picked. Now they’re the team everyone expects to lose. Stephen Curry had 40 points for Davidson, who will meet Georgetown in the next round.

St. Mary’s 64, Miami 78: St. Mary’s held a five point lead at halftime, but were then outscored by twenty in the second half.

Western Kentucky 101, Drake 99: There’s a good chance there won’t be a better game played in this tournament. If you missed it, I’m sorry. And if you missed it, Youtube it. It’ll be there soon.

South Alabama 61, Butler 81: There were a lot of people picking South Alabama, being so close to home, but so much for that: Butler was up by 17 at the half, and never looked back from there.

UMBC 47, Georgetown 66: They didn’t look great, but they won in an ugly fashion that suits GU best.

Austin Peay 54, Texas 74: I wanted a more convincing win from my Final Four team, but a win’s a win.

In Progress:

San Diego 49, Uconn 46: It’s a good game going on right now, and since the tournament has lacked good games, I suggest you flip there while it’s still on. And still close.

As we still wait for that big “upset,” here’s some of the scores that are final and are still going on.

Finals:
-Georgia 61, Xavier 73
-Portland State 61, Kansas 85
-Temple 61, Michigan State 72
-Kentucky 66, Marquette 74
-Kent State 58, UNLV 71
-Oral Roberts 63, Pittsburgh 82
-Baylor 79, Purdue 90
-Cornell 53, Stanford 77

In Progres:

-Kansas State 44, USC 38: If K-State can pull it off, it’ll be the first underdog to actually win a game. In a tournament that’s known for surprises, we haven’t seen many so far on Day One.

-Belmont 52, Duke 56: Normally, I’d be cheering for Belmont as if they were my own team. But I’m not caught up in the West Virginia hype, and I”ve got the Blue Devils in the Elite 8. So let’s hope that upset doesn’t happen here.

-Winthrop 29, Washington State 38: The game was tied at halftime, but WSU has just opened up the half with a 9-0 run, giving them the lead.

-Texas A&M 29, BYU 29: It wouldn’t be an “upset” if BYU won, per se, given that this is an 8 vs. 9, but at this point, any lower seed winning would be nice to see.

. . . Not doing anything but watching a live feed of the Kentucky/Marquette game, I realize this article is absolutely right, and pretty funny, too.

We all know that no one really does anything during March Madness — especially the first couple of days — and this article here shows exactly how much damage March Madness really does do to businesses and the productivity of its workers.

According to the study, a shit-ton of money is lost.

Outplacement firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas in Chicago estimated this whole March Madness obsession at the workplace would cost more than $1.7 billion in lost productivity during this year’s tournament, but those numbers have the ring of exaggeration to them. True, close to 60 million Americans identify themselves as college basketball fans, but of course not all of their teams make the three-week tournament – nor do all of them work.

Based on what I make, I’m not much to contribute to the stat, but every little bit counts. Keep it up, lazy basketballaholics. Keep it up.

Scores and Updates:

Finals:
-Georgia 61, Xavier 73: It was a close game, a good game, and UGA almost pulled it out.

-Temple 61, Michigan State 72: I’ve got Michigan State in my Elite 8 — almost picked ‘em to the Final Four — so watching the first half as close as it was was kinda scrary.

-Portland State 61, Kansas 85: Like many who fall into the Kansas trap, I picked this team to go to the Finals. We’ll see if they can pull their annual choke-job.

In Progress:
-Kentucky 41, Marquette 48: It’s the only close game going on right now, so it’s the only one I’m watching. Both teams looked sloppy in the first half, but things have picked up a bit.

-Kent State 20, UNLV 45: Ballgame.

-Baylor 27, Purdue 26: See above.

-Oral Roberts 24, Pittsburgh 47: See both. Jeez.

The first day is underway, and there’s one surprise out there. Here’s the scores of the games in progress right now.

(3) Xavier 61, (14) Georgia 56: Georgia’s has the lead most of the game, but they’ve been outscored 35-21 in the second half. Keeping up their miraculous pace would be a good story, but it looks like the door if slamming shut on Georgia’s season right now.

(16) Portland State 61, (1) Kansas 85: You can bring the bench in for this one. The game was never close, never competitive, and Kansas shows again just how good they are at beating up on bad teams and choking in the Sweet 16.

(12) Temple 54, (5) Michigan State 64: There’s always a 5/12 upset, but it doesn’t look like this will be the one. The game was close most of the first half, but Michigan State closed the half with a burst, going up nine, and haven’t given up the lead since.