While there is much in terms of bracket implications today, I want to focus instead on the war of attrition, and how unfair March can be to players.
Yesterday, as Duke's Cooper Flagg crumpled to the floor holding his ankle, it was an echo to 25 years ago, when #1 Cincinnati's Kenyon Martin, the NPOY, broke his leg in the C-USA quarterfinal. That Cincinnati team never recovered, and an incredible season for the Bearcats came to a dispiriting end in the NCAA second round.
Fortunately, it turned out Flagg only sprained his anke, so he will play again this season. But he was not the only casualty of yesterday. His teammate, Maliq Brown, re-dislocated his shoulder. Elsewhere in the ACC, Clemson G Dillon Hunter, the super sixth man for the Tigers, broke his hand and is out for the season. In the SEC, Missouri F Mark Mitchell and Kentucky G Lamont Butler did not return to their games after injuries.
It is a part of March that is unavoidable, but still incredibly painful. Players working so hard during the season, only to be deprived of playing in March is a cruel fate, and one that is heartbreaking to see every season. So while watching the games, hope for great endings, amazing performances, but root for their health too. It's not to be taken for granted.
Also, go to http://www.bracketmatrix.com/ for more brackets.
1 Seeds
1 Auburn
2 Duke
3 Houston
4 Florida
2 Seeds
5 Alabama
6 Tennessee
7 Michigan St
8 St Johns
3 Seeds
9 Texas Tech
10 Kentucky
11 Texas A&M
12 Iowa St
4 Seeds
13 Wisconsin
14 Purdue
15 Clemson
16 Maryland
5 Seeds
17 Arizona
18 Oregon
19 Ole Miss
20 Louisville
6 Seeds
21 Michigan
22 Kansas
23 Illinois
24 UCLA
7 Seeds
25 BYU
26 St Marys
27 Gonzaga
28 Missouri
8 Seeds
29 Marquette
30 Memphis
31 Mississippi St
32 Connecticut
9 Seeds
33 Creighton
34 New Mexico
35 Georgia
36 Baylor
10 Seeds
37 Utah St
38 Arkansas
39 Oklahoma
40 Drake
11 Seeds
41 West Virginia
42 Vanderbilt
43 VCU
44 San Diego St
45 Indiana
12 Seeds
46 North Carolina
47 Xavier
48 UC San Diego
49 McNeese
50 Liberty
13 Seeds
51 High Point
52 Yale
53 Akron
54 Lipscomb
14 Seeds
55 UNC-W
56 Troy
57 Utah Valley
58 Montana
15 Seeds
59 Robert Morris
60 Bryant
61 Wofford
62 Omaha
16 Seeds
63 Norfolk St
64 Quinnipiac
65 Jackson St
66 American
67 SIUE
68 St Francis (PA)
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