Natalie Nelson attends Halloween party in Oct., 2006, dressed in a Texas football jersey. Two months later, the USC song girl "mistakenly" cheers for Texas following a Longhorns touchdown. Wow. It's now your move, Oliver Stone.

Here are some other photos courtesy of Busted Coverage, who makes the very wise statement: "Never….ever….take photos of yourself in any jersey of a team you might be facing in the BCS Championship. Grab a Syracuse shirt. Then you’ll have no worries."

Bonus tidbit: Nelson ended up marrying former USC and current Carolina Panthers lineman Ryan Kalil.

Update: As a commenter points out, the 2006 Rose Bowl occurred before the Halloween photos were taken. Still, something is fishy ...

Answer Forum [Inside USC]
Busted Coverage Investigation: The USC Song Girl Who Cheered For Texas Back In The News [Busted Coverage]

Coed Magazine reports that she is a Baylor University senior majoring in athletic training. The McCoy connection? She's usually seen at Texas football games sitting next to his father.

Colt McCoy's Hot Girlfriend [Fandome]
Colt McCoy's Girlfriend Rachel Glandorf Uncovered [CoedMagazine]

• The top-ranked Texas Longhorns took care of #11 Missouri with relative ease last night, beating the Tigers 56-31. At one point, the score was 35-0. QB Colt McCoy starred as he toyed with the Missouri defense, abusing them for 337 yards, throwing for two scores, and running in two more on his own.

Oh, McCoy also set a school record with 17 straight completions. Afterward, his coach was sufficiently impressed.

"Colt was phenomenal," Texas coach Mack Brown said. "He's showing leadership, he's poised. He's really having a good time."

(We also have this dispatch from a reader who attended the game: "Derek Jeter was all over Minka Kelly during the Texas game today on the sideline. Even though she stars in a TV series about football, Minka played the dumb girl card many a time and Derek had to help her out with the rules of the game. When they were showed on the 'godzilla-tron' Derek got a resounding boo from the Texas crowd." Do with that information what you will.)

• #2 Alabama almost watched its lead completely evaporate, but managed to hold off Ole Miss with a late defensive stand to earn a 24-20 win.

• USC's 69-0 win over Washington State was their largest margin of victory since the '30s.

• Sam Bradford carried the Sooners in their 45-31 win over Kansas. Bradford passed for a school-record 468 yards and three TDs.

• Boston College surprised Virginia Tech with a 28-23 upset. Trailing by 10, the Eagles scored 21 consecutive points to notch the W.

• Penn State destroyed Michigan 46-17, much to the delight of Joe Paterno and the Lions fans. The 81-year old coach, who once again watched the festivities from the press box due to a sore hip and leg, liked what his saw from his elevated perch: "My being upstairs — it's funny, I'm not sure that's not the best place for a head coach," he said. "I mean you really get a view of things, I get a better view of football games from up there than I ever do on the sideline."

The No. 1 Oklahoma Sooners are riding the arm of sophomore quarterback Sam Bradford. In four of his first five games, he's completed over 74 percent of his passes. Everyone seems to be expecting another big day from Bradford against a Texas secondary with only one upperclassman: junior Deon Beasley.

The No. 5 Texas Longhorns will answer with Colt McCoy, whose heroic-sounding name matches his play under center. You wouldn't expect a dirty-looking white kid like McCoy to lead his team in rushing, but he does. He also has a very good receiver named Quan Cosby(32 catches, 416 yards, 3 TDs), and I really don't know whether to make a Cliff Huxtible joke or a Jerry Maguire joke hear.

Most people see this matchup as the best game to date, but somebody has to win (unless the game is tied before being postponed due to lightning and isn't re-scheduled, but, golly, that seems so unlikely). This game kicks off at noon, so get your breakfast down early and give yourself ample seating space to ignore everyone around you. This should be a good one.

(5) Texas (5-0) at (1) Oklahoma (5-0) [Yahoo! Sports]

Both teams can play a quick tempo game so at least this one promises to be one of the more high octane of the weekend's matchups.

-Rose already has problems with his eye. Billy Packer says he doesn't like stitches. Probably shouldn't be snitchin' then.

-And Augustin isn't getting the better of Rose today, not yet at least, as he airs a three and Memphis is on a 8-0 run early.

-And Rose is kind of owning D.J. thus far, adding a jam off a steal to put the Tigers up 24-13.

-Aaaaaand, it's starting to get ugly. Roberts picks up the and 1 to give Memphis a 16-point lead with 8 minutes left in the first.

-Augustin gets a steal and misses the lay-up, leading to an uncontested dunk for Memphis. This might not be close.

-Just before the wheels totally come off, the Longhorns narrow Memphis' halftime lead to 11 with a 6-0 run to end the first.

-And Texan comes storming out of the break with a quick six and Augustin is finally showing some life.

-The Tigers survived the early second half surge and it looks like the Longhorns are going to fouling with 8 minutes left, down 16. Is Davidson on yet?

-Guuuhhhh This game blows.

Davidson 73, Wisconsin 56

Well, so much for Cinderella Davidson's ride coming to an end when they had to face a big, bad Big Ten defense. That was a complete domination on both ends by the Wildcats against a Badger team that doesn't get dominated by anyone. While they may still be labeled a #10 seed, I don't think you'll hear an argument from anyone if you were to call Davidson a legitimate Top 10 team. They are really that good. And what Stephen Curry is doing is just getting more goddamn ridiculous by the game. Curry scored 33 against one of the best defenders in the nation in Michael Flowers, including a few three-point daggers to put the game away in the second-half. Curry's play has been so phenomenal in the postseason that he even has LeBron James in the stands cheering for the Wildcats. The win sets up the perfect David vs. Goliath showdown; the Wildcats' road to the Final Four will have to go through Kansas.

Memphis 92, Michigan State 74

I'm going to go out on a limb and say that all that talk about Memphis's shitty free-throw shooting making them the most likely number #1 seed to fall may have motivated the Tigers a wee bit. I mean, the first-half of this was a full-fledged ass whoopin'. When Memphis was in the midst of a 15-0 run at the end of the first-half to extend the lead to 30, Michigan State looked legitimately scared to bring the ball up the court. That is how hard the Tigers were playing in this one. Michigan State used 16-0 run early in the second half to make the score look respectable, but this one was over by the half. Derrick Rose continues his impressive March, leading the Tigers with 27 points and 5 assists. Michigan State's Drew Nietzel ends his 14-year Spartan career by scoring all six points of his points in the final 90 seconds.

Kansas 72, Villanova 57

Give the Wildcats credit for playing hard throughout, but the Jayhawks were simply way too talented for the young Nova squad. The Jayhawks used a balanced scoring attack and a vast array of alley-oop dunks to put this one to rest early on. It was almost like pick your poison for the Wildcats, as one minute it was Brandon Rush (16 points) connecting on a fast break dunk, the next it was Mario Chalmers (14 points) drilling a three-pointer. I actually feel pretty bad for Bill Self and Jayhawks as they now advance to the Elite Eight to face Davidson. Here is Self and his Jayhawk squad, in the perfect position to erase all of the recent bad memories of early exits and regional final defeats, and now they have to play freakin' Davidson. The only people rooting for the Jayhawks on Sunday will be KU students, alums and people who live in the state of Kansas.

Texas 82, Stanford 62

The epic clash of styles between the Texas guards and Stanford big men turned into one dud of a game The Cardinal had this one down to a one-point game at 52-51 mid-way through the second-half, but the Longhorns then proceeded to go on a 20-3 to break the game open. Much credit goes to Longhorn center/fatman Dexter Pittman, who used his entire 300-pound frame to hold Brook Lopez scoreless in the final 15 minutes. The Cardinal struggled defensively all night against the quicker Longhorns, as D.J. Augustin scored 23 and Damion James scored 18. Following the game, the Lopez twins could be heard sobbing in the locker room while listening to old Michael Jackson records.

Your Elite Eight match-ups...

Xavier vs UCLA Saturday 6:40 p.m.
X-men actually create quite a few match-up problems for the Bruins, but there is no way anyone should go against UCLA's luck at this point.

North Carolina vs Louisville Saturday 9:05 p.m.
Each team has gotten to the Elite Eight with three blowout wins. We're guessing that changes here.

Memphis vs Texas Sunday 2:20
Ok, so this has to be the game where the Tigers lose because of free-throw shooting, right?

Davidson vs Kansas Sunday 5:05
If you're not excited about this game, college basketball probably isn't for you.

Getty Images Photo

It all happened this past August, in Oklahoma City; although the repercussions have stayed with many of us to this day (crosses legs uncomfortably).

A judge has ordered a man to stand trial on a felony assault charge for a bar confrontation that escalated from football trash talking to a near castration. Allen Michael Beckett will be tried on a charge of aggravated assault and battery. The 53-year-old man is accused of tearing the scrotum of 32-year-old Brian Thomas after Beckett taunted Thomas for wearing a University of Texas shirt into a bar popular with fans of the Oklahoma Sooners. The trial is set for April 16.

If you haven't clicked on the original story yet, it's much more graphic. Sorry. Enjoy the rest of your day, guys!

(ABC News Graphic)

The Appropriate Way To Showcase Your Team Loyalty [Deadspin]
Oklahoma Fan To Stand Trial For Injuring Texas Fan In Bar Fight [Dallas Morning News]

TEXAS LONGHORNS

1. The First Date. If you're not familiar with the Texas Longhorn bench, you're not alone. The five starters average a combined 165 minutes per game, typically seeing rest only when they're in foul trouble. Well, friends, you're about to get a heaping helping of Dexter "Death Star" Pittman (6'10", "299" pounds, sophomore), a slice of Alexis Wangmene (6'7", 241 pounds, freshman), and maybe even a dash of Clint Chapman (6'10", 245 pounds, freshman). It doesn't take a stretch of the imagination to envision Rick Barnes preferring a big line-up to his usual three-undersized-guards set when he takes on Stanford's versions of Beauty and the Beast. Look for A.J. Abrams and Justin Mason to be rotated much more frequently than they usually are (pretty much never) in order to get three burnt orange big men on the court and for the 2-3 zone defense, which the Longhorns ran extremely well against Miami of Florida, to be used for nearly all forty minutes.

2. The Long-Term Relationship. The fine folks at CBS and ESPN can tell you all about the guys who will play huge on-court roles in the success of the Longhorns. To get the full picture of the team, though, you need to know about the seniors: Ian Mooney and J.D. Lewis. Look, it's not likely that either of these guys will see more than a couple of minutes each in any of the remaining games this season and it's even less likely that they'll score actual points. Still, as graduating Longhorn basketball players — Mooney in advertising, Lewis in business — they deserve to have their names mentioned. Mooney's story, in particular, is a great one and should be required reading for anybody who thinks sport can reflect or influence life. Even in this SportsCenter world where uplifting stories are seemingly a dime a dozen, there's always something satisfying about seeing — or, at least, reading about — a prototypical student-athlete.

3. The Break-Up. Speaking of those seniors, though Mooney and Lewis are the only ones which just about instantly begs the question that Texas hoops fans have come to abhor recently: "So who's leaving early this year?" The consensus is that D.J. Augustin and Damion James are the only players in the running. For what it's worth, Augustin has said that he's definitely coming back and many aren't convinced that James is ready for the NBA. Then again, T.J. Ford was "110% sure" he would stay for his junior year and not many people thought that Daniel Gibson was ready for the NBA, either. If both of those guys end up sticking around, it's pretty hard to imagine the Longhorns as anything but strong favorites to show up in Detroit this time next year. But come on. Nobody in Austin will be shocked if they bolt — indeed, we've almost come to expect it. Everybody knows that you can't trust the kids these days. Especially not ones who are presented with million-dollar contracts. — Patrick Nance

STANFORD CARDINAL

1. Michelle Wei Loves Her Some Lopez Twin. Leave it to pro golfer Michele Wei to hook up with one of the Lopez twins, and pick the wrong one. Wei, a Stanford student, is dating Robin Lopez, one of the 14 feet, 2 inches of Lopez brothers who will guide the Cardinal in their third-round game against Texas on Friday in Houston. From Sports Illustrated, via SportsbyBrooks: "Robin is dating Stanford's current most famous female coed, golf phenom Michelle Wie, although both have tried to keep things as quiet as possible." Doesn't she know that Brook is the good twin? Although, Robin is picking it up in the NCAA tournament, perhaps inspired by Michelle. He's averagging 16.0 points and 6.5 rebounds over the two games, up from his regular season output of 8.1 points and 5.7 rebounds. But Brook (19.0 points, 10.3 rebounds in he regular season) had 30 points in the OT win over Marquette. Might Michelle be tempted to switch?

2. What Can Brown Do For You?. Although only a junior, Kenny Brown won't be around for the Cardinal next season; he's giving up his final year of college eligibility to attend dental school. A non-scholarship player, Brown rarely plays more than three or four minutes, and hasn't played at all in four games this season. However, he's made six of eight 3-point attempts in Stanford's two tournament games, including a key 3-pointer late in the first half ofthe second game that ended a 10-1 Marquette run. Ad he had 18 points in the win over Cornell.

3. Gone Baby Gone. Curtis Shaw, the ref who ejected Stanford coach Trent Johnson from the Marquette game, may have himself a temper problem. Shaw leads all of college basketball in both technicals called and ejections; the former by 10 over the second-place guy ... Candace Wiggins should be playing for the men's team. She scored a school-record tying 44 points on Monday in Stanford's 88-54 win over UTEP, as the Cardinal women advanced to the NCAA tournament's round of 16. That was the third most points scored in women's tournament history. — Rick Chandler

Stanford vs. Texas, 7:27 pm, Friday

#3 Stanford Cardinal

Last Weekend: Defeated #14 Cornell 77-53, defeated #6 Marquette 82-81.

How Stanford Got Here: Brook Lopez. The Cardinal big man scored 28 of his 30 points against Marquette in the 2nd half Saturday. Including the game winner with 1.3 seconds left on the clock that sent the Cardinal to the Sweet 16. Brook, one half of the Cardinal's twin towers, has emerged as the go-to-guy in Palo Alto this season and if they are to reach the Final Four, he'll have to continue to cash in with the game on the line. Just as importantly, Mitch Johnson dished out a career-high 16 assists and hit 3-3 from three point land against the Golden Eagles. If he's doing that the Cardinal are going to be tough to beat.

What the Sweet 16 Means to the Cardinal: That they're back. After spending the last few years as a non-factor nationally, Trent Johnson has the Cardinal back where they belong among the west coast's elite teams and national title contenders. That said, getting any further would be just a bonus for this Cardinal team whose most important players are underclassmen. Though, they're far from likely to be back next year so they might want to make this run count.

Chances to Reach San Antonio: Roughly 25 percent. The Cardinal are a virtual pick 'em against Texas on Friday, and their odds are likely to be the same regardless of who they meet next. The Longhorns provide a similar challenge to that of Marquette: great guard play, which happens to be the Cardinal's biggest weakness. If they expect to get past this one they'll need similar performances form their big men and an equally good performance from Mitch Johnson. And this time it'd probably be in the team's best interest if its coach wasn't sent to the showers before the first half even ended.

#2 Texas Longhorns

Last Weekend: Defeated #15 Austin Peay 74-54, defeated #7 Miami 75-72.

How Texas Got Here: Pretty much the normal way for a 2-seed. They cruised against an overmatched Austin Peay team, then had a bit more of a challenge against former Texas assistant Frank Haith and his Miami Hurricanes. The team effort is chugging along, with Augustin scoring an dishing, James scoring and rebounding, and Atchley chipping in 15 points on Easter Sunday. The real story was A.J. Abrams, who put up 26 to help beat the Hurricanes.

What the Sweet 16 Means to the Longhorns: They belong. Texas took the Big 12 regular-season crown from the Jayhawks this year, but couldn't grab the conference's auto-bid despite making the championship game for the third straight year. This is a team that beat Tennessee and UCLA this season, so they feel they can make the Final Four.

Chances to Reach San Antonio: Fair-to-middlin'. The Longhorns have a starting five that's tough to deny, but their bench is ridiculously short. If they can't get some quality minutes out of their role players, it's going to be very difficult to get past Stanford, let alone the winner of the Memphis/Michigan State game. D.J. Augustin is the key, whether as a scorer or dropping off sweet passes for his teammates. If he is stymied, the Longhorns are toast.

Michigan State vs. Memphis, 9:57 pm Friday

#5 Michigan State Spartans

Last Weekend: Defeated #12 Temple 72-61, defeated #4 Pitt 65-54

How Michigan State Got Here: Drew Neitzel and Raymar Morgan. Neitzel's senior leadership and clutch shooting has paced the Spartans all season long, and he showed up big against Pitt with 5-8 three-point shooting. Raymar Morgan carried the load when Neitzel struggled against Temple, which will be very helpful against a fast, deep Memphis team.

What the Sweet 16 Means to the Spartans: Delivery on Potential. Before the season began, many people predicted the Spartans would win the Big Ten and advance to at least the Sweet 16. As the season went on however, that opinion changed. The Spartans are finally playing the kind of basketball that fans have been waiting for - and just when it counts, too.

Chances to Reach San Antonio: Memphis' tourney time is winding down to a close. Their lack of free throw shooting and inability to safely put close games away will hurt them - but not in this game. Michigan State gives up too much athleticism to the Tigers, who should live for at least one more week. But credit Tom Izzo, he got his guys to play their tails off to finish out the year.

#1 Memphis Tigers

Last Weekend: Defeated #16 Texas-Arlington 87-63, defeated #8 Mississippi State 77-74

How Memphis Got Here: The emergence of Derrick Rose as the team leader and avoiding the upset bug. Just about everyone is going to focus on the atrocious foul-shooting, but the emergence of a freshman as the team's go-to guy in clutch games has been the difference. Starting with 23-point performance in the Tennessee game when no other Tiger could hit a shot to save their life, Rose has been the difference maker. He scored 17 points in each of the Tigers' wins last weekend and turned the ball over only twice for the weekend. The Tigers were also able to survive against a Mississippi State team that matched up against them perfectly.

What the Sweet 16 Means to the Tigers: More than any other team still playing, the Sweet 16 means absolutely nothing to Memphis. Hell, the Elite Eight really means nothing to the Tigers. This team needs to reach the Final Four for Memphis to legitimize its dominance over shaky competition over the past three seasons. No Final Four this season, no one is taking Memphis seriously again if they finish 30-2 next season.

Chances to Reach San Antonio: You have to think that it's the worst of the remaining #1 seeds, and not just because they are in the most difficult region remaining, but because they may also have to defeat Texas in Houston. Still, this team only lost one game for a reason, and no one seems to think they will be able to score on Michigan State. A wise college basketball writer once told me to never bet against a John Calipari-coached team when he has the team thinking no one believes in them or if there is a possible large sum or money or pay increase dependent on a victory. We'll go with Memphis for at least one more game.

Hope you enjoyed the regional breakdowns. Our ongoing March Madness coverage has been a group effort featuring much of the talented STF crew, including Brandon Darling, Mike White, and Matt Mattucci. Thanks, guys!

At this point, it wouldn't be any more surprising to see Michigan State, Texas or Stanford in the Final Four than Memphis; of all the regions, the South seems the most up in the air despite it (mostly) falling according to seed. Memphis went 6-1 against NCAA Tourney teams this year. Their loss was to Tennessee — the only one of those teams still left in the tournament. (And wobbling.) Sorry: We're not gonna believe in Memphis anymore. Uncle.

Besides, anything that keeps the Stanford Tree hanging around.

TEXAS LONGHORNS

1. Never Gonna Give You Up. Strangely, after last year's second-round loss to USC (which is almost fitting, really), the people least confused by the Texas Longhorns' early exit were their own fans. The prevailing opinion was one of satisfaction that was unexpected six months prior. Who can blame them? The 'Horns started four freshmen and a sophomore and carried virtually no depth on their bench. It's certainly no secret that a Texas hoops fan's expectations aren't Duke- or Kansas-sized, but maybe they had a notion that this was all part of Rick Barnes's long-term plan. To that end, Kevin Durant and Craig Winder were the only two departures from last year's squad. If you're not up to speed on the starting five: D.J. Augustin is among the best players, let alone point guards, in the nation, A.J. Abrams has evolved into an effective pick-and-pop shooter, Justin Mason plays defense as well as anybody, Damion James is a double-double magnet, and Connor Atchley can score from anywhere and is the Big XII's best shot blocker. Off the bench: Gary Johnson provides the skill down low which the Longhorns have lacked since Lamarcus Aldridge split for The Association.

2. Never Gonna Let You Down. After losing one of the best players in college basketball history, the fans assuredly would've forgiven Barnes for a Dance-less season. The play on the court, however, has rendered that a moot point. The Longhorns "share" this year's regular season Big XII title with Kansas (although we'll happily remind everyone that UT beat KU in Austin this year) and will have the #1 seed in the Big XII tournament. Additionally, this year's team has set a school record for regular season wins at 26, breaking the 2005-2006 squad's mark. The Pomeroy ratings have the 'Horns 3rd in offensive efficiency, 35th in defensive efficiency, and 9th overall — each one is an improvement from last year — and, if that weren't enough, it's all been done playing against the 9th most difficult schedule in the country. The 'Horns boast quickness and deadly outside shooting which helps them beat the UCLAs and Kansases and Tennessees but the flip-side is the lack of depth and undersized guards. Four of the five starters average over 30 minutes per game; all the three guards average over 32. When Mason, Abrams, and Atchley pick up two early fouls, teams like Wisconsin and Missouri and Texas Tech have been able to take advantage.

3. Never Gonna Run Around and Desert You. Years like these — teams like these — make Longhorn fans think back to the dubious era of Tom Penders and his Runnin' Horns. Although his success will always be overshadowed, even tainted, by the Luke Axtell debacle, he is credited as the man who renewed interest in Texas hoops — a tall order for a school with a football addiction and a baseball dependence. Barnes, however, has done something that Penders never did: he's made the fans think and believe that the Real-Actual-Accept-No-Substitutes National Championship, something that has eluded UT for its entire history, is just around the corner. — Patrick Nance

AUSTIN PEAY GOVERNORS

1. Name to know. Drake Reed: Austin Peay's best player is an Academic All-American and was the Ohio Valley Conference player of the year as a sophomore in 2007. Averaging about 15-5 for the second year in a row, Reed has a good chance to go pro. And by that I mean "play basketball in Turkey."

2. The governors that don't pay ho's*. Austin Peay's team is named the "governors," honoring the former Tennessee chief executive that hailed from the same town where the school was founded. They are the only D-I basketball team with that nickname. Before 1937, Austin Peay was nicknamed the "normalities."I looked up that word online, and I still don't know what it means.

3. Favorite team of six-year olds everywhere. Schools have designated cheers unique to their institution. Kansas sings "Rock Chalk Jayhawk." Duke chants the number of opposing player's cell phones. The Governors have "Let's go Peay." Peay. As in "urinate." C'mon, that's funny. Bonus Video: Not sure why I'm including this, but Dick Vitale hasn't changed a bit.

*Might not actually be true. — Slick Bomb

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#1 Memphis vs. #16 Texas-Arlington.
• UTA Mavericks are making their first trip to the NCAA tournament.
• Mavs got here by playing schools named Schriener, Hardin Simmons, and Texas-Permian Basin.
• Memphis has gone 8-1 against other teams who made the Dance.
The Pick: Memphis

#2 Texas vs. #15 Austin Peay.
• Longhorns have beaten top-seeded tourney teams Tennessee, UCLA, and Kansas this season.
• One of the teams they lost to, Michigan State, is in this bracket. WEVENGE!!!
• Peay is loaded with upperclassmen, and led by wily coach Dave Loos (18 years at AP). The Govs ran up 82 points against bracket-mate Memphis this season, but yielded 104 on the other end.
The Pick: Texas

#3 Stanford vs. #14 Cornell.
• Cornell drew the first NCAA bid this season by going 14-0 in the Ivy League.
• The Big Red have their own giant in seven-foot St. Bonaventure transfer Jeff Foote, but they drew a school that puts both 7' Lopez brothers on the floor at the same time.
• Neither team scores in bunches, so this could be like watching a Teddy Bear climb a Tree for forty minutes.
The Pick: Stanford.

#4 Pittsburgh vs. #13 Oral Roberts.
• Pitt began the season on an eleven-game winning streak. If they can finish it the same way (five and counting as of today), they'll have a snazzy new trophy for their case.
• The Panthers tore through three ranked and higher-seeded teams to take the Big East tournament auto-bid.
• Oral Roberts hasn't fared too well against power-conference teams this season, losing to tournament-bound Texas A&M, Arkansas, and Texas in the early season.
The Pick: Pitt.

#5 Michigan State vs. #12 Temple.
• The Spartans are an enigma this season. They scored just 36 points at Iowa in January, then hung 103 on Indiana in March. Lord knows which team shows up.
• Everybody knows Drew Neitzel, but sophomore Raymar Morgan is Michigan State's most prolific scorer (14 ppg) and rebounder (6.3 rpg).
• It's Christmas time in Philly, as local hero Dionte Christmas has racked up a 20-point-plus scoring average this year and can bomb from deep. But the gifts are also coming from another local, Mark Tyndale, who dishes out 4.2 assists per game.
The Pick: Temple

#6 Marquette vs. #11 Kentucky.
• Freshman sensation Patrick Patterson was averaging over 35 minutes per game for the Wildcats before suffering a stress fracture that has shelved him for the postseason.
• Marquette's tallest player is Ousmane Barro, a 6'10" Senegalese who averages 5 points per game, just over one block per game, and has five fouls to give.
• Kentucky head coach Billy Gillispie hasn't had to remove a flaming bag of dog poop from his front porch since February's blowout loss to Vanderbilt. So that's nice.
The Pick: Marquette

#7 Miami vs. #10 St. Mary's.
• Hurricane fans are really hoping we won't have to see that (FL) thing any more, since Miami (OH) didn't make it to the tournament.
• Aussie Patrick Mills gets all the press, but St. Mary's is loaded, with Diamon Simpson scoring (13 ppg) and rebounding (9 rpg), Omar Samhan clogging the lane, and Todd Golden playing the role of annoying white jump-shooter.
• Picked to finish last in the ACC this year, Miami instead knocked off tournament teams Duke and Clemson en route to a 22-win season.
The Pick: St. Mary's

#8 Mississippi State vs. #9 Oregon.
• Why I'm Warming Up to Oregon: I have my reasons.
• Tyler Hansbrough's younger brother Ben plays for the Bulldogs. Isn't that cute?
• Mississippi State's tenacious rebounding is, well, Bulldog-esque. Jamont Gordon, Charles Rhodes, and Jarvis Varnado have each notched double-figure rebounding games this season.
The Pick: Mississippi State

Predictions

Round of 32: Memphis gets past the Bulldogs. Temple succumbs to Pitt. Stanford dominates inside to get past Marquette. Texas handles St. Mary's.

Sweet 16: Pitt continues to surprise by taking down Memphis. Texas ekes out enough offense against Stanford's elite D to move on.

Regional Final: Texas vs. Pitt, with the Longhorns heading to the Final Four, where they party like it's 2003.

Regional MOP: D.J. Augustin.

2. Never Gonna Let You Down. After losing one of the best players in college basketball history, the fans assuredly would've forgiven Barnes for a Dance-less season. The play on the court, however, has rendered that a moot point. The Longhorns "share" this year's regular season Big XII title with Kansas (although we'll happily remind everyone that UT beat KU in Austin this year) and will have the #1 seed in the Big XII tournament. Additionally, this year's team has set a school record for regular season wins at 26, breaking the 2005-2006 squad's mark. The Pomeroy ratings have the 'Horns 3rd in offensive efficiency, 35th in defensive efficiency, and 9th overall — each one is an improvement from last year — and, if that weren't enough, it's all been done playing against the 9th most difficult schedule in the country. The 'Horns boast quickness and deadly outside shooting which helps them beat the UCLAs and Kansases and Tennessees but the flip-side is the lack of depth and undersized guards. Four of the five starters average over 30 minutes per game; all the three guards average over 32. When Mason, Abrams, and Atchley pick up two early fouls, teams like Wisconsin and Missouri and Texas Tech have been able to take advantage.

3. Never Gonna Run Around and Desert You. Years like these — teams like these — make Longhorn fans think back to the dubious era of Tom Penders and his Runnin' Horns. Although his success will always be overshadowed, even tainted, by the Luke Axtell debacle, he is credited as the man who renewed interest in Texas hoops — a tall order for a school with a football addiction and a baseball dependence. Barnes, however, has done something that Penders never did: he's made the fans think and believe that the Real-Actual-Accept-No-Substitutes National Championship, something that has eluded UT for its entire history, is just around the corner. — Patrick Nance

Yahoo points out some fun baseball-related Obama merchandise. Though we're still a little concerned about Emmitt Smith supporting him. He's absolutely going to call him Osama at some point, without question.

Finally, Obama Campaign Wear For The Baseball Fan [Yahoo! Sports]
Obama Hooks 'Em In Visit With 'Horns [Austin American-Statesman]

(By the way, enjoy the comments on that Stateman story.)

Our favorite part of the incident is that Jessie, with a straight face, seemed to think that reporters should be talking more about the otherwise dull bowl game than his ridiculous play. Not likely.

"It was definitely not real comfortable at the time,' " Jessie acknowledged after the game. "But the guys came out and played a great game. That's all that matters. It (attention) shouldn't be focused on this."

We also enjoy that he, in fact, didn't touch the ball. It's one thing to instinctively reach for a live fumble. It's another thing to try, and miss. Video of the "play" can be found here.

Yes, we do like us some Chris Jessie.

There's a piece in this month's Philadelphia magazine about Eagles fandom, the lunacy, the sadness, the love, and, well, more lunacy of it that captivates the city all year round. One of the many amusing anecdotes in the 5,000-word story is about a woman from the Delaware Valley, baptized in Eagles green, whom told her father about her intentions to marry a boy. The father stopped her short, questioning the decision because her future husband was a Cowboys fan. Her dad said it was going to be a problem.

It's a sweet story in that treacly, Mitch Albom-type of way, but it got me thinking about how the rest of that wedding day played out: the dusty church ceremony, the VFW reception hall, the drunk father shit-talking his new son-in-law at the bar, the son-in-law pointing to his hands to show off how many rings the Cowboys have, and the father subsequently grabbing his new son-in-law's scrotum and yanking it to shreds. Once, that was a far-off, unimaginable type of occurrence, only fathomable in the context of an Eli Roth movie. Now, it's an unsettling reality, thanks to the actions of one Sooner fan named Allen Michael Beckett and his redneck rage, who did just that to an unsuspecting Texas Longhorn supporter who was just stopping by a bar for a beer.

Who hasn't had nightmares about this? I can't even fall asleep with my jeans on because I'm always afraid that I'll roll over the wrong way, get my sack tangled, and riiiiip. Thinking about it gives me that swallowed-a-rotten-oyster indigestion and forces me to run around the room, shaking my hands like they were just sprayed by pansy gas. Yaghaghahgaghaggah.

And that's why I sleep in a kimono.

What's even more disturbing is the more national attention this gets, the more the likelihood of copycat instances. Just like high school shootings, there's also the one-upsmanship factor that makes this even more terrifying to think about.

So this week, I'm putting on my Rotten.com pajamas, flipping through my auto de fe handbook, and placing odds on the next horrific brutality to happen between rival sports fans.

Don't come if you're squeamish: Brace yourselves for the disturbing images and methodology, after this MORE.

Pakistani Frog Stuff: 2/1

Originated at the blood-thirsty cricket matches in the Middle East, this is sometimes the only way to settle your differences in a heated battle on the pitch. Mets fans: Don't get too obnoxious during the next Subway Serie,s or you may find your David Wright jersey burned off your body and your mouth stuffed with frogs. Fifteen frogs, to be precise, because that's what the Yankee faithful insist it will take to get a moronic Mets fans to shut the fuck up.

The Sphincter Dunk: 4/1

The dreaded Sphincter Dunk is something that was developed in the by the Gazi warriors of the Ottoman empire, as a way to force their Byzantine captives to switch their allegiance. Those who didn't stop screaming from the initial torture had their youngest daughter's faces stuffed into the gaping anal cavity of the most obese general. Unlucky for her, the general had a tube of hot water blasted inside him just seconds before the horrified little girl is inserted. Although it's complicated to perform, never underestimate the tireless passion of an angry, drunk Anaheim Mighty Ducks fan.

Ethiopian Torpedo: 1/1

One minute you're celebrating a nail-biting victory by Michigan in the final seconds, the next minute some Ohio State fan has taken off most of your clothes, painted you brown, upended you and buried your head two feet underground. The hatred between these two teams is both storied and violent, so it's best to make sure you keep your Buckeye heckling to a minimum if you're outnumbered by them.

Kitten Bombing: 3/1

It'll take a true maniac or a truly passionate fan to resort to this type of depravity. The unsuspecting fan of a rival team thinks he's involved in some good-natured ribbing, but they don't realize that while one hooligan was bombarding him with insults about his girlfriend's fidelity, his buddy was stealthily placing a kitten stuffed with quartersticks on top of his head. Just 30 seconds after this photo was taken, this Manchester United fan's brain was splashed all over the sidewalk.

An Oklahoma fan has been charged with felony aggravated assault and battery for attacking a man simply for wearing a Longhorns shirt into a bar. And when we say attack, we really mean attack. Beware, sports fans: It's about to get rather uncomfortable in your cubicle.

Thomas said Beckett, whom he had never met, called him "everything under the sun" for wearing a Longhorns T-shirt into the bar. He said he and his friend sat at a table in the corner and tried to ignore the other man, but other man kept screaming at him. Thomas said he decided he'd had enough after about 20 minutes of Beckett's abuse so he went to the bar to pay his tab. When he turned around, he said Beckett grabbed his crotch and refused to let go.

Thomas hit the other man several times before several bar patrons intervened, but Thomas said Beckett didn't let go until Thomas heard his scrotum tear and blood ran down his leg.

Uh, yeah ... Hook 'em Horns? Somebody? Anybody?

How Rivalry Became Violent [NewsOK]

(Illustration via this guy.)

The Starter Wife's father is the reason why you can't get her naked in strip poker, Clare shares some charming memories of her sweet, turkey-loving father, and Lady Andrea shares her dad's story of being forced to sit on the bench of a high school basketball game, shoeless.

And then there's this warm and sweet story at Kermit the Blog, about a father sharing his intense love of college football with his son. Even though he omits that Major Harris was injured in the 1989 Fiesta Bowl (and that changed everything), it's such a great post that I'll forget about that, and strongly point you in that direction.

Thanks for sharing, Ladies... and Precious Roy. Really.

Father's Day Aftershave - Who else is going to teach you how to keep score? [Ladies...]
To My Dad... It's Father's Day, So I Thought I'd Give Sincerity a Try [Kermit the Blog]

Word on the Street:

-According to multiple sources, both from the NBA and close to the player himself, Kevin Durant will be announcing in a press conference mid next week that he will be putting his name in the draft.

Not terribly concrete, I know... but for now, it'll have to do. I'm electing to trust DraftExpress.com on this one, mainly because they have a very handsome website and because it doesn't make sense for Kevin Durant to do anything but declare for the NBA Draft.

In related news, on today's NBA schedule, the Grizzlies play the Magic, the Celtics play the Pacers, and the Bucks play the Knicks. Don't kill yourself preparing for these, Magic, Pacers, and Knicks. I have a feeling you'll do OK.

Portsmouth Invitational Tournament: Day Three [DraftExpress]

It was a bad enough day yesterday for Texas fans, what with the whole "last time we're gonna see Durant" business. But for this sad Longhorns fan (note the hat), the day was just going to get worse. The guy who took this picture notes that this happened about half an hour after Texas' loss.

This is why, after that Illini game Friday night, it was good that we don't have a car.

One More Year? Why Rick And Kevin Should Stay Put [Burnt Orange Nation]

• Kevin Durant Is Not Carmelo Anthony. After inspiring Texas fans all season, Durant will now be able to head to the NBA, collect his millions and not worry too much about that whole Longhorns business. The NBA minimum age requirement made us think about him more than we would have if he'd been sitting an NBA bench all year, but that time is over.

• Big Ten, Not So Hot. All the Big Ten boosters talked themselves into thinking the league wasn't all that horrible this season when the league went 5-1 in the first round. (We're not discussing the one game the conference lost.) Well, everybody collapsed in the second round, and only Ohio State (barely) survived.

• Go Favorites. We can't remember the last time so many people in our tourney pool had all their Final Four teams left going into the Sweet 16. A few people had Wisconsin and Texas, but other than that, everything is still wide open.

• Salukis! If you're on the mid-major upset train, you have SIU vs. Kansas and Butler vs. Florida. After that, there are no upsets left. It has been that sort of year.

TEXAS LONGHORNS

1. Kevin Durant. The lanky six-foot-nine freshman phenom is averaging 25 points and 11 rebounds a game and has led this team of toddlers— the No. 15 Longhorns started the season with four fish and a sophomore— to its eighth consecutive 20-win season. In their Feb. 28 double-overtime victory over then-No. 7 Texas A&M, Durant scored 30 points, including a long jumper from basically out of bounds at the end of regulation that should have ended the game (damn you Acie Law).

2. Kevin Durant. No, seriously: Have you seen this guy? He thrives in all five positions on the floor, bombing 3-pointers, leading fast breaks or using his height to pull down rebounds and block shots. His work ethic is now the stuff of legend, complete with tales of him running up a Maryland hill long past sundown. And in this, his first— and probably only— NCAA season, he's up for virtually every major award short of a leg lamp, including National Player of the Year.

3. Kevin Durant ... 's Ankle. Durant scored 25 points in the first half— the first half— of the Big 12 regular-season championship against No. 3 Kansas on March 3, but with 11 minutes to play in the second, he fell to the floor, clutching his left ankle (which he'd apparently injured in practice the day before). Durant returned with about seven minutes to play, but it was too late: The 'Horns had already blown a 16-point lead and were struggling to keep the game interesting. While they succeeded— D.J. Augustin's attempt at a game-tying 3 was blocked with five seconds to go, as the Jayhawks rock-chalked their way to a 90-86 win— Durant shot only 3 of 8 in the second half, and scared the bejeebus out of everyone. If he's not at full strength, this team's future is a giant question mark: The Texas bench scored only two points against Kansas. Which is, as even an Aggie could figure out, not good. (For what it's worth, Durant seemed fine in loss to Kansas in the Big 12 title game.) — Whitney Pastorek

NEW MEXICO STATE AGGIES

1. Their Coach Is Not In A Wheelchair. After years of coaching at Illinois, coach Lou Henson retired after the 1995-96 season, to much fanfare. (He even shook hands with Bobby Knight, the big bully.) But he ended up taking only one year off before returning to New Mexico State, where he had taken the Aggies to the Final Four in 1970, for yet another farewell tour at a salary of $1 a month. Henson stayed there for seven years before retiring again because of his diagnosis of non-Hodgkins lymphoma, a disease that had him coaching two games from a wheelchair. He is the all-time winningest coach at both NMSU and Illinois.

2. The New Coach Is Much More Handsome Than Lou Henson. The Lou Do was succeeded at NSMU by current coach Reggie Theus, the former NBA star perhaps most famous for his performance as coach Bill Fuller on the cutting-edge sitcom "Hang Time." My personal favorite act of Theus thespianism, however, is his work alongside Joe Piscopo and Julie Hagerty in the 2000 family comedy "Baby Bedlam," playing "Mosiah 'The Messiah' Jackson."

3. They're Cleaning Up Their Act. For years, New Mexico State fans have had a ritual after an opposing player makes a free throw: They chant, "Nice shot, asshole!" Theus is not a fan of the chant and has asked fans to clean it up, and the athletic department has undergone the "Bigger Man Project" in an effort to make fans stop. (It turns out, television broadcasts don't like open vulgarity.) In response, some fans have begun yelling "Nice shot, Pendejo!" which is almost the Spanish equivalent of "Nice shot, asshole!" but is actually worse; it literally translates as "nice shot, anal hair!" — Will Leitch

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2. Kevin Durant. No, seriously: Have you seen this guy? He thrives in all five positions on the floor, bombing 3-pointers, leading fast breaks or using his height to pull down rebounds and block shots. His work ethic is now the stuff of legend, complete with tales of him running up a Maryland hill long past sundown. And in this, his first— and probably only— NCAA season, he's up for virtually every major award short of a leg lamp, including National Player of the Year.

3. Kevin Durant ... 's Ankle. Durant scored 25 points in the first half— the first half— of the Big 12 regular-season championship against No. 3 Kansas on March 3, but with 11 minutes to play in the second, he fell to the floor, clutching his left ankle (which he'd apparently injured in practice the day before). Durant returned with about seven minutes to play, but it was too late: The 'Horns had already blown a 16-point lead and were struggling to keep the game interesting. While they succeeded— D.J. Augustin's attempt at a game-tying 3 was blocked with five seconds to go, as the Jayhawks rock-chalked their way to a 90-86 win— Durant shot only 3 of 8 in the second half, and scared the bejeebus out of everyone. If he's not at full strength, this team's future is a giant question mark: The Texas bench scored only two points against Kansas. Which is, as even an Aggie could figure out, not good. (For what it's worth, Durant seemed fine in loss to Kansas in the Big 12 title game.) — Whitney Pastorek

This video from last night's thrilling Texas A&M-Texas game is awfully shaky and, oh yeah, shot off a television, but it's still worth it, for one of the weirder moments of teammate camaraderie we've seen in a while.

As pointed out by One More Dying Quail, late in the second overtime, Texas freshman Damion Jones James, in an attempt to fire up fellow Longhorn A.J. Abrams, smacks him on the ass exceptionally hard. So hard, in fact, that Abrams juts forward and then turns around, ready to beat the ass of whoever just smacked him.

We understand that the ass slap is a fundamental part of any team's repertoire — though we haven't the foggiest idea why — but this is the first time we've ever seen it nearly slide into the sadomasochistic.

Damion Jones Is One Odd Duck [One More Dying Quail]

It seems like the sort of thing Ricky would have loved. These are Texas football fans and they are, according to the tipster, celebrating a win over Oklahoma.

It's easy to see how this could happen. Bunch of guys are standing around after the game, exchanging chest bumps and high fives, talking about the big plays, what it means in the rankings, drinking a few beers, discussing plans for the evening... and one brave man says, "Hey, let's fake jump rope." After all, everyone's been dying to unleash their inner 12-year-old girl all day long.

MVP: The guy who insists they twirl the ropes faster while he increases the tempo.

Well ... perhaps not. They've found Brantley's MySpace page, and the kids at Rumors & Rants have compiled the angriest messages.

I wouldn't show up for the All American game in SA this year. It won't be a warm welcome for you. So, what are you going to do when you sit behind Tebow for 3 years and your girlfriend breaks up with you? Yeah, like the other guy said, don't say your word is "solid as oak" when your lying. Also, take all the Longhorn stuff off your board. You're not a horn. ... I just wanted to let you know that my younger brother, who attends UF and is a Sigma Chi, boned your girlfriend a couple of months ago.

We don't know why athletes would ever have a MySpace page, we really don't. That said ... if Eric Gordon has a MySpace page, it's probably best you not tell us about it.

Texas Fans Are Classy [Rumors And Rants]

Schadendfreude, baby! Just in the email, "Get Your Alamo Bowl Gear!" Ha ha ha ha ha!

But later, on their message board ...

I think Vince Young just scored again. Scoreboard. — Comment by Matt

Fortunately, cooler heads are prevailing in Michigan. They will brook none of this nonsense ... it's on to the Rose Bowl!

Still angry over Michigan's exclusion from the BCS national title football game, a pair of state lawmakers are calling for a playoff system. Sens. Mark Schauer and Mike Bishop, the incoming Democratic and Republican leaders of the Senate, say subjectivity should be removed from a process that has financial and emotional repercussions. "The BCS system is clearly not working and consumers in Michigan and around the country are paying a very real price," said Schauer, D-Battle Creek.

Hmm. Wonder what's going on at Boise State? Potato riots?

Longhorns Ltd.: How The Mighty Have Fallen [Boi From Troy]
Lawmakers Call For Playoff System [Detroit News]

Anyone want to take a guess at what was in that prescription he picked up at the drive-thru?

The Real McCoy [The Wizard of Odds]

An unhinged Texas Longhorn fan who blames Doug Flutie's televised analysis for the team's upset Saturday threatened the former football star and his family in an electronic mail message, police said.

Flutie, an analyst for ABC and ESPN, was working Saturday's game between the Longhorns and Kansas State, won by the Wildcats 45-42. What adds an extra helping of crazy to this story is that the threatening e-mail was sent to Flutie care of the Doug Flutie Jr. Foundation for Autism. We just get a kick out of that mental picture; wild-haired guy in his Longhorns' jersey, cursing because he has to pause to look up the word "autism."

Note to cops: We would also check the envelope for McConaughey's fingerprints.

Angry Fan Threatens Flutie, Kin [Boston Herald]
Failure To Launch [Deadspin]

I'm sure that USC fans find that not only comforting, but timely and helpful, as well. The replay officials at the time told the world that there was an equipment malfunction, but that wasn't the case. Someone just hooked up a monitor incorrectly.

And not only that, you want to know what kind of a high-tech system they were using? Two televisions displaying ABC's broadcast feed and a TiVo. The NFL uses a $125,000 system called "DVSport," while for the NCAA national championship game, they use something you can pick up at any Wal-Mart for a few hundred bucks. In fact, I suspect that many of you are using that very same high-tech Rose Bowl replay system right now. What did they have at the Independence Bowl, a courtroom sketch artist, and a Polaroid camera?

Rush to judgment [Yahoo! Sports]

Ta-da! It's the Oklahoma Suks beer, and apparently, according to Burnt Orange Nation, you can actually buy this at Austin supermarkets. It's rather steep — $16.99 for a 12 pack — but it's "dark, rich, very malty," just like Mack Brown.

We encourage other fevered sports rivalries to start producing their own booze. Eagerly, we anticipate the "Bartman Brew" in St. Louis, the Alex Rodriguez Cherry Mai Tai in Boston and, of course, Philadelphia's famous "T.O. Highball Cocktail." Use only as directed.

It's True: OU Sucks Beer Is Here [Burnt Orange Nation]

(UPDATE: There is, obviously, a Texas Sux beer too.)

A very good team is coming to our house and wants to steal something that we own . . . a national championship . . . when the University of Texas Longhorns play for the love of his brother lining up next to him, for the pride of giving his personal best every down, for the honor of every grandparent that could AND could not be at the game, the final whistle will blow and we will be victorious . . . the wannabe thieves will be sent home hurting, humbled, and with a respect for our character.

"Now who's with me? Let's Goooooooo!"

All Right, All Right, McConaughey In The House [Austin American-Statesman]

• The screen is 55 feet tall by 134 feet wide
• The university had to upgrade its utilities capacity to accommodate its power needs
• 40 5-ton air conditioning units are required to cool it
• The heads of the gounding bolts are 5 inches wide
• It is, for the next few months, the world's largest HDTV in existence
• Every visitor who sets foot in the stadium will be blind before February

That last one, I can't back up with any sort of medical proof.

For the amount of money they spent on it, they probably could've paid off enough people to get Vince Young five or six more years of eligibility, which probably would've been a better investment.

At some point, you know that some lonely stadium maintenance worker is going to break into the control room and fire up some porno on that thing. I only hope that the male star of the film can be there to see what I'd have to think would be an extremely flattering image of himself.

Longhorns' new Jumbotron is world's largest HD TV [SI.com]

The previous record holder? Michigan, which took in $6.2 million in 1993-1994, when Chris Webber, Jalen Rose, Juwan Howard, and two other guys comprised the Fab Five. It's amazing that that record stood for so long. Given inflation, the recent fashion trend of wearing jerseys, and the general availability of sports merchandise, it's remarkable that the Michigan record stood as long as it did. Looking back, that may be the single most impressive thing about that Michigan team. That is a lasting cultural impact.

Texas snaps North Carolina's five-year stretch at the top of the rankings. Go here to find where your team ranks among the Top 75.

The Collegiate Licensing Company Names Top Selling Universities and Manufacturers [CLC.com]

As you would probably suspect, many Oklahoma rivals are having some fun with this Rhett Bomar no-show job business, and nobody's going crazier with it than the Hook 'Ems of Texas. They've had a little photoshop contest on a Longhorns message board, and they're having all kinds of fun.

We suspect Sooners fans are not so amused, however.

Bomar'd Picture Thread! [HornFans Forum]
Oklahoma Bombshell [SI.com]

Taylor, as you might know, was recently busted for having five pounds of marijuana in the trunk of his car. (Or "getting his McConaughey on," as they say in Austin.) This is probably why the MySpace page was taken down.

There really isn't much too damning or horrible on Taylor's page; seems like a regular college kid having a good time, albeit one with five pounds of marijuana in the trunk of his car.

Meet Ramonce Taylor [Burnt Orange Nation]

• Police are called in response to a fight involving as many as 100 people.
• The fight was taking place on a pecan farm in Little River, Texas.
• Ramonce Taylor, running back for the defending national champion Texas Longhorns, was the one who called police.
• Officers at the fight scene say that Taylor was involved in the fight, left, and threatened to return to the fight with his gun.
• Taylor feels the handcuffs go on.
• Taylor gives police permission to search his vehicle.
• Police find a live round of ammunition.
• Police find over five pounds of marijuana in a backpack.

See, life's a little different on the pecan farms. It's not like your cushy suburban existance. The cats on the pecan farm are hard. Oh, and possession of marijuana over five pounds is a second-degree felony, by the way, which is punishable by up to 20 years in the joint. Uh-oh.

Texas RB Taylor arrested for felony marijuana possession [CBS Sportsline]

LSU has made themselves the 1st 1/4th of the Final Four after owning Texas in overtime, cruising to a 70-60 overtime win after a frantic end to the regulation period.

LSU jumped out to a quick 7-point lead in overtime after a Glen Davis three-pointer, and Texas never really recovered. I don't have a record-book in front of me, but I believe he might be the only man to ever hit a three-pointer in the NCAA tournament while battling tapeworms. He lead all scorers with 24, but great games were had by Davis, Tyrus Thomas, 42-year-old Brad Buckman, PJ Tucker, and just about anyone who played defense for LSU.

What an incredible run of basketball games we've had. The Sweet 16 round of games was jaw-droppingly amazing, and if the next three games of this round are as good as this one, then I'm going to have to stop liking girls and propose to Jay Bilas.

By the way, if anyone is at a computer and unable to watch the game, the GameCenter at CBS SportsLine.com updates incredibly fast. I recommend it.