After trudging through the reams of predictions for the tournament, my
initial reaction is that the words "blowout" and "rout" are used far too
liberally.  I think it's a sign that at this difficult point in the
season for fans of tournament teams, we have begin to lose a little
perspective ;-)  I would like to think that at the very least, the results
of last nights games will quiet some of the people who said things like
"Providence doesn't *belong*" or "Cornell doesn't *belong*".  The
simple fact is that at this point in the season each opponent is to be
feared and dealt with.
 
And after *that* little sermon, I will dismount the soapbox and predict
simply that the top 2 seeds in the east and west will advance to the
final four *regardless* of who wins the games this weekend.  The most
"interesting" series should be the one in Orono, ME.  As for predicting
the final four, it's kind of like kissing your sister; you just don't
want to do it unless someone *makes* you.  At that point anyone could
win it, which to me, is the only thing that makes the weekend interesting
in the first place.
 
I do, of course, hope to be there.
 
-dug