The Road to One Shining Moment Begins Today

So I know I’ve mentioned this a few times (ok, in every other post), but this is REALLY and TRULY my favorite time of year. I can’t tell you how excited I get when CBS plays their NCAA music, and the clear scoreboard rotates the day’s score updates at the top of the screen.

When I was in college, I was a manager for the men’s basketball team, and I’m not gonna lie, it was the greatest four years of my life. My senior year, Boston College’s first year in the ACC, we went to the Sweet Sixteen, holding off a tough Pacific team in double overtime, and beating Montana two days later. But, we ended up losing to Villanova on a last-second goal-tending call in a tough battle in Minneapolis. While I’ve come to terms with the fact that the call was right, I still cry every time I think about it. March is emotional.

These same kinds of memories are starting today when Florida takes on BYU at 12:20 p.m. EST. I can’t wait for the buzzer beaters (ala Valpo’s Bryce Drew) and the upsets (Vermont over Syracuse/Bucknell over Kansas, same day, 2005); the Cinderella teams (think George Mason) and the triumphant cutting-down of the nets.

Keep checking NoMad blogger for game scores and updates, if you’re not among the lucky few who can catch the action live. Good luck to all the teams. And remember, if it’s March, its Madness.

Scoreboard: Thursday, March 18

Update, 12:20 p.m. EST: Here we go!

Update, 12:35 p.m. EST: I have BYU, ND and Nova in these first games.

Update, 1:35 p.m. EST: BYU up on Florida, 43-38; Notre Dame up one on Old Dominion; Villanova trailing Robert Morris by 6 at the half.

Update, 2 p.m. EST: ALL of these games are so close! Wish I was at EVERY single one!

Update, 2:10 p.m. EST: Um, I really need Notre Dame and Villanova to pull ahead. Especially, Nova. They’re in my final four.

Update, 2:21 p.m. EST: I can feel my bracket busting.

Update, 2:26 p.m. EST: ND falls to ODU; Nova still down to Robert Morris; Florida/BYU has headed into OVA-time!

Update, 2:43 p.m. EST: Scratch that. DOUBLE overtime for FL/BYU; BYU up by two; Nova/Robert Morris tied with a minute left to go.

Update, 2:53 p.m. EST: Villanova able to catch up, Wildcats take Robert Morris into overtime.

Update, 3 p.m. EST: BYU overtakes Florida is second OT.

Update, 3:08 p.m. EST: Robert Morris cuts Nova’s lead to 1 in OT.

Update, 3:16 p.m. EST: Villanova wins! Thank God! 73-70.

Update, 3:17 p.m. EST: Great first go-around everyone. Hit the showers and grab some water. We’ll be back in a few. Hint: Murry St. has a slight lead on Vandy late in the first half.

Update, 3:55 p.m. EST: Ok, so in these next set of games I have Vandy, Baylor, KSU and St. Mary’s. Murray St. is up on Vandy with 14:48 left to go in the second half; Sam Houston St. is up 1 on Baylor at halftime; Kansas St. is beating North Texas by three; St. Mary’s is down three to Richmond.

Update, 3:57 p.m. EST: Also, its gotten to the point where I can no longer sit at my desk. I am literally standing in my cubical, checking game updates and working at the same time.

Update, 4:05 p.m. EST: Kansas St. may have just taken the largest lead of the day at 10. 12.

Update, 4:30 p.m. EST: Vanderbilt down 2 with 2 minutes left; Baylor-Sam Houston tied; KSU dominating North Texas at the half; Richmond leading St. Mary’s by 4 late in the first.

Update, 4:40 p.m. EST: Vanderbilt ties game goes ahead with 12 seconds left!

Update, 4:45 p.m. EST: Vanderbilt loses a heartbreaker as Murray St. makes two-point bucket with 2 seconds left in the game to go ahead.

Update, 4:53 p.m. EST: Baylor pulls ahead by 8 with a minute left.

Update, 5 p.m. EST: Baylor eeks out a win against Sam Houston St., 68-59.

Update, 5:13 p.m. EST: St. Mary’s pulls ahead by 8.

Update, 5:21 p.m. EST: Time to leave work. But I’ll be back. KSU is manhandling North Texas; St. Mary’s is now up 12 with 8 minutes left to play; and Butler’s down three early to UTEP (I have Butler, everyone else in America has UTEP).

Update, 8:01 p.m. EST: Thought I’d be able to update from my bberry but no dice. But I’m back now. So what’s transpired in my absence? St. Mary’s, Butler and Kansas St. all pulled out wins. (Which is great for me.) Kentucky is having an easy go of it so far vs. E. Tenn St. And N. Iowa-UNLV is close at the end of the first. I really need Georgetown to start playing better, as they’re down 13 to Ohion (OHIO!), and Washington has an early lead on Marquette. In other news, I got my hair colored tonight. Just so you know I left you for a good cause.

Update, 8:30 p.m. EST: I’m not even going to discuss the Kentucky game because its such a debacle. Northern Iowa-UNLV and Washington-Marquette could be the makings of two great games. And seriously Georgetown, seriously.

Update, 8:52 p.m. EST: The Georgetown game was so bad CBS switched over to No Iowa-UNLV. Not that we can totally blame GTown, this game is close.

Update, 9 p.m. EST: I think the momentum is turning No Iowa’s way!

Update, 9:13 p.m. EST: Oh my goodness! Georgetown pulls within 9 7!

Update, 9:25 p.m. EST: Kentucky will take the most commanding win of the day so far, beating E. Tenn St. by 29.

Update, 9:34 p.m. EST: This Georgetown loss makes me sad. But Northern Iowa gets a W for my bracket.

Update, 9:34 p.m. EST: The San Jose crowd is going CRAZY for Washington, who just went ahead by 1.

Update, 9:57 p.m. EST: I didn’t realize how far behind ESPN.com was with their score updates. My apologies.

Update, 10:01 p.m. EST: Washington with a bucket to go ahead 2 with 1.7 seconds left!!!!!!!

Update, 10:06 p.m. EST: Marquette gets a good shot off but can’t sink it. Washington wins. I have no idea what this does for my bracket.

Update, 10:08 p.m. EST: I think that’s all from me tonight. My bracket took a hit, and its only the first day! Back at ’em tomorrow. Happy March Madness everyone!