Gus Is Out...

((HT: CBS/youtube))

But it's not all bad...

Gus and CBS couldn't agree on a new deal, so they've gone their separate ways...

There's talk he'll end up somewhere very high-profile, sometime very soon...

We always have this...


And this...
((HT: NFL on CBS))


And this...
((HT: NFL on CBS))


Looks like Gus has "running away from CBS speed..."

DEVELOPING: UConn Gets National Title

Steve Kerr punctuated the TNT crew's run on the national broadcast with the following line to Jim Nantz: "You sure this isn't Steelers-Ravens...?"

Kerr wasn't too far off as horrible shooting and good defense made for one of the ugliest national championships in recent memory.

UConn's Jim Calhoun, at age 68, gets a title by beating Butler who appeared in the last college game of the year for the second year in a row.

This out of focus bucket was, probably, the last good thing to happen to Butler from the field on Monday night in Houston...
((HT: youtube/NCAA on CBS))


Here's some Butler fans lamenting outside the arena...
((HT: Fox59 Indianapolis))
 

More when we know more...

BREAKING: Okay, How Many Of You Had Texas A&M and UConn

First, Texas A&M knocks off Stanford in a frantic last thirty seconds in one semifinal for the NCAA women's title, and then Notre Dame follows that up with a 72-63 upset of UConn in the other semi-final.

It's the Irish and the Aggies in Indy...

Three-time Wade Trophy winner Maya Moore ((That's the Heisman for women's hoops)) bows out with her fourth career collegiate loss...

South Bend, Indiana native Skylar Diggins had a season-high 28, and Natalie Novosel had 22 to pace the winners.

"I thought they did a smart thing and drove it at us really hard, and they forced the officials to make a call one way or another. All the credit to them, and they made some incredible jumpshots. They've been a great team all year. It's their turn," UConn head coach Geno Auriemma admitted after the game.

Here's Notre Dame coverage from our friends at WSBT-TV in South Bend
 

More when we know more...
Here's early, quick coverage from our friends at KBTX-TV in Waco...

VCU Enjoying Time In Their Foursome

((HT: WTVR-TV Richmond))

The Rams got home and they partied...
Here's the early coverage...
 

Okay... So Who Had Butler And VCU

Playing each other...
In Houston...
For a chance at a national title...

That'd be none of us...
But how awesome is that Bill Self has lost to Northern Iowa and VCU in consecutive years...???

Jus' axin'
Here's early returns from downtown Richmond...


Here's Coach Smart with a demurely-dressed ((For him)) Craig Sager...
((HT: CBSSports/NCAA/SI.com))

Butler Does It Again... Another Foursome

((HT: Fox59 Indianapolis))

The Butler Bulldogs returned to Hinkel Fieldhouse in the middle of the night after beating ((notice the HQ didn't say "upsetting")) Florida in the Regional Final Saturday.

You figure a few people would show up...
It was more than a few...
 

The March Through The Madness: It's Butler And UConn

((HT: CBSSports/NCAA))

Although they're not playing each other... yet...

Butler outlasted Florida in one national quarterfinal...
It was another Gus Alert...


And UConn survived Arizona in Anaheim as we sampled another one and done in Arizona's bench...

The Politics Of Dancing: Your NCAA Grid

FIRST ROUND

Dayton, Ohio
Tuesday, March 15

No. 16 Seed Southeast: UNC Asheville (19-13) vs. UALR (19-16), 6:30 p.m.
No. 12 Seed East: UAB (22-9) vs. Clemson (21-11), 9 p.m.

Wednesday, March 16

No. 16 Seed East: Texas-San Antonio (19-13) vs. Alabama State (17-17), 6:30 p.m.
No. 11 Seed Southwest: USC (19-14) vs. VCU (23-11), 9 p.m.

EAST REGIONAL
Second Round

Thursday, March 17

Tampa, Florida

West Virginia (20-11) vs. UAB-Clemson winner
Kentucky (25-8) vs. Princeton (25-6)

Friday, March 18

Charlotte

North Carolina (26-7) vs. Long Island University (27-5)
Washington (23-10) vs. Georgia (21-11)

Cleveland

Ohio State (32-2) vs. UTSA-Alabama State winner
George Mason (26-6) vs. Villanova (21-11)
Syracuse (26-7) vs. Indiana State (20-13)
Xavier (24-7) vs. Marquette (20-14)

For the first time today, it's Right Reverend Rece...
((HT: ESPN))


SOUTHEAST REGIONAL

Washington, DC

Pittsburgh (27-5) vs. UNC Asheville-Arkansas-Little Rock winner
Butler (23-9) vs. Old Dominion (27-6)

Tampa, Florida

Florida (26-7) vs. UC Santa Barbara (18-13)
UCLA (22-10) vs. Michigan State (19-14)

Denver

BYU (30-4) vs. Wofford (21-12)
St. John's (21-11) vs. Gonzaga (24-9)

Tucson, Arizona

Kansas State (22-10) vs. Utah State (30-3)
Wisconsin (23-8) vs. Belmont (30-4)

Here's your analysis from Bristol...
((HT: ESPN))


SOUTHWEST REGIONAL

Denver

Louisville (25-9) vs. Morehead State (24-9)
Vanderbilt (23-10) vs. Richmond (27-7)

Chicago

Notre Dame (26-6) vs. Akron (23-12)
Texas A&M (24-8) vs. Florida State (21-10)
Purdue (25-7) vs. St. Peter's (20-13)
Georgetown (21-10) vs. Southern Cal-Virginia Commonwealth winner

Tulsa, Oklahoma

Kansas (32-2) vs. Boston University (21-13)
UNLV (24-8) vs. Illinois (19-13)

And to the table once again...
((HT: ESPN))


WEST REGIONAL

Washington, DC

Connecticut (26-9) vs. Bucknell (25-8)
Cincinnati (25-8) vs. Missouri (23-10)

Tucson, Arizona

San Diego State (32-2) vs. Northern Colorado (21-10)
Temple (25-7) vs. Penn State (19-14)

Friday, March 18

Charlotte, North Carolina

Duke (30-4) vs. Hampton (24-8)
Michigan (20-13) vs. Tennessee (19-14)

Tulsa, Oklahoma

Texas (27-7) vs. Oakland, Mich. (25-9)
Arizona (27-7) vs. Memphis (25-9)

And one more time...
((HT: ESPN))

What Butler's Reaction To Monday Night Should Be...

((HT: Paramount Pictures))



Gordon Heyward as Tanner Boyle...???
The HQ likes that idea...

NCAA Basketball Tourney is looking like the Final 96...

Well, it is all done but the official announcement at this point. The NCAA stopping short of saying that it is official, but is dropping some big hints that we are going to a 96 team tournament.

We would ask why, but we know the answer to the question. There is not a public groundswell for this. There is not a question that the best teams make the tournament. No, this is one thing...plain and simple, it is a quest for more money. Not from paying fans, from the TV Networks.

Read more from the Indianapolis Business Journal RIGHT HERE

Perhaps the funniest line in the story comes from the NCAA VP of Basketball and business strategies, Greg Shaheen who said that "Money isn't the only factor". Yeah...right.

The idea is generating pretty universal disdain, not only from the blogging community but most every mainstream sports person is against it as well.

Check out Jay Mariotti of aolfanhouse...RIGHT HERE

USA Today has 2 of their columnists debate it RIGHT HERE

An opinion from Dave George of the Palm Beach Post is RIGHT HERE

Here at the OSG we feel that the whole thing is stupid. Sure, we get the NCAA wants more money from their TV deal...doesn't everyone? No, there just aren't a whole lot of "Deserving" teams that are being left out. Really, it is true.

One door that they are opening is that the 1st round of the Tournament will become like the lesser College Football bowl games. Sorry, there just isn't a groundswell of support to see North Carolina A&T playing SW Missouri State in 1st round Tournament action. I would add that it would make conference tournaments completely meaningless which would be true except for the fact that the conferences and the NCAA make a lot of money off of them.

The other is purely a hypocritical argument. The NCAA has long taken the alleged high road in their explanation of no college football playoff saying that it would "Take too much time away from school", despite the fact that most colleges don't have school in December and most bowl games don't happen for at least 2 weeks after the regular season ends. If that were true, then how can you justify adding another week or round to this. The debate traces back to 1 issue and really it is the only issue...MONEY!

All the bitching in the world isn't going to change what is about to happen. It is inevitable. The NCAA is saying they "haven't decided", but in reality, it will be done. They will exercise their "

opt out" window in their TV deal with CBS and open bidding on a new deal. That new deal, will include an extra round of games and more than 1 broadcast partner. The NCAA will make Billions on the deal. The players....nothing.

So, enjoy this coming weekends Final Four. It will be the...or one of the last in its current form.

While you ruminate on this, here are the best dunks from the 2009 Final Four. Thanks CBS/NCAA and You Tube:

St. John's And Hewitt Talk

((HT: NYPost/Robbins))

Johnnies AD Chris Monasch and Hewitt talked in Atlanta Tuesday evening as Monasch was returning from a women's tournament game in Tallahassee, Florida.

If a deal is reached with Hewitt it could be announced before the return of St. John's president, Father Donald J. Harrington, from a meeting in Rome.

Yes... Rome, Italy...

Hewitt, who recently moved his parents and brother to Atlanta and has three daughters in school, would have to weigh the idea of uprooting his family versus the idea of a higher-salaried gig back home.

Numbers are floating around from $1.6-to-3 million per season if Hewitt were to sign a five or six year contract.

Here's more of a reminder of what Hewiit did the last time he went deep in the March tournament...
((HT: CBS Sports/NCAA))


Yes, it was six years ago...