MarchMadnesslivesuptoitsnamewhentopseedsfall

by Jim Martin sports editor

St. Joseph's continues on while Villanova can only watch.

The craziness lives on.

Critics who have argued that the National Collegiate Athlettc Association tournament should consist of the top 64 teams in the nation instead of taking some tt?ams from less superior leagues have had their arguments blow up in their face this weekend.

Only the NCAA tournament would have Duke watching the tournament next weekend while Tennessee-Chatanooga _goes against Providence.

In a weekend full of upsets, many people saw their office pools go up in flames.

The four No. 1 seeds all survived the first two rounds, but they still had their troubles.

Fairfield University, who won their conference tournament despite t)le fact they finished in eighth place during the regular season, led North Carolina at halftime of their first-round game.

Fairfield continued to lead until the last couple minutes of the game, when North Carolina's superior talent took over.

This was another game that proved the beauty of the NCAA tournament.

Tennessee-Chatanooga has been the Cinderella story of this tournament.

They jumped out to a huge lead in their first-round matchup against Georgia and held on for a victory.

Many people. including myself, probably figured that UTC had the game of their life against Illinois and would lose in the second round to IUinois.

• H o w e v e r, T e n n e s .s e eChatanooga, showed what makes the tournament so special by rallying in the final 10 min_utes of the game to def~at Illinois.

Among the other upsets were number two seed South Carolina falling to Coppin· State. South Carolina w~s one of the top teams this season; but they lost by 13 points against .Coppin

State.

Duke, looking to advance to the Sweet 16 for the first time in three years, fell to a Providence team that was too physical for Duke to handle.

As for our local teams, St. Joseph's is the only team going to the Sweet 16.

If someone had told me before the season that St. Joe's would have made the NCAA tournament, I wou_ld have thought they were crazy.

However, St. Joe's now finds itself in the Sweet 16, where they will face mighty Kentucky.

The Hawks have been a major surprise this season. Everybody knew they had terrific guards but nobody figured they would be . this good, because of their lack of an inside game.

Everybody thought the Hawks were a fluke in the beginning of the season, but not anymore.

St. Joe'~ started their tournament by defeating Pacific University.

Their second round game against Boston College was typical of the Hawks season. St. Joe's trailed Boston College by 10 points with less than 10 minutes left in the game.

Then they went on a huge run • to take a four point lead with less than a minute remaining.

Just when St. Joe's fans thought they could breathe easy, the Hawks decided to give them another heart attack by blowing the lead.

However, the Hawks regrouped in overtime and went on for an 81- 77 victory, in a game where they launched 43 incredible three-pointers.

On the· opposite side of 'the spectrum are the Vill.anova Wildcats.

There is little doubt that Villanova bas more talented • players than St. Joe's, but for the third year in a row, the Wildcats choked in the NCAA tournament.

Villanova was.supposed to be one of the best teams in the nation this season with sel)iots Alvin Wilt'iams and Jason

Lawson and with freshman sensation Tim Thomas leading the way.

However, Villanova was a major disappointment all season. They fell to California University, a team that was less talented than Villanova, but had much more heart.

If Villanova had as much heart as St. Joe's, then they probably would still be playing today.

Temple University thrashed Mississippi in the Opening round before falling to number one seed Minnesota. •

As March Madness continues this week, many more upsets are sure to follow.

Upsets are what the tournament is ·all about.• Teams come out of nowhere and capture your heart as they play the role of David taking on Goliath.

Tennessee-Chatanooga and St. Joe's will be in action this week while Duke and Villanova can only watch.

March madness continues.