The great thing about these tournament games, well, depending on how much you like to read, is that you can find a couple thousand previews for each contest. This internet thing is grrreat, isn't it? Here's my pitiful attempt (try to save the boos until the end):

This game's big question: Can an Atlantic-10 team out-athlete a Big East squad? That's what Dayton'll have to do in order pull off the upset in Minneapolis. And it is possible. Chris Wright, Marcus Johnson, Charles Little... these guys can fly. They boast big-program athleticism, and have stepped up in Dayton's few big wins this season (see: W vs. Marquette, W vs. Xavier). But Dayton is not your typical NCAA tournament upset team. They don't have shooters, like a 2008 Drake or San Diego. And they don't have a great big man, like your typical Kent State team or that 2006 George Mason squad. Dayton just needs to get up and down the court faster than the Mountaineers and build momentum with wild, high-flying dunks. And maybe throw in some alley-oops. Seriously. That might sound like the worst assessment in college basketball history, but I'm dead serious. Dunks. Alleys. Oops.

It has become an overused cliché in the basketball world, but the mid-range jumper is definitely a lost art… especially in Southwestern Ohio. Dayton rarely makes, fuck it, rarely even tries shots from beyond 12 feet. They won't win this game with three pointers or jump shots. Dunks will have to be the bread and butter. Dunks, baby.

As for West Virginia… Their flood of forwards (alliteration!) could pose a real problem for the Flyers. Da'Sean Butler and Devin Ebanks can, and probably will, tear apart Kurt Huelsman and/or Devin Searcy down low. I'm picturing Huelsman's blood and body parts strewn across the Metrodome. Kurt is terrible, by the way. Like, Jimmy Fallon Late Night bad. Or Adam Dunn throwing home bad. Or Pittsburgh Pirates scouting department bad. Fuck it, the gloves are off. Kurt Huelsman is West Virginia family vacation bad.

That Alex Ruoff cat plays like a forward too when he's not hitting threes, doesn't he? After all, this is a Bob Huggins team. Everyone's a damn forward. And a punk. Do I dare deem this Catholics vs. Convicts II? I won't, mainly because I'm not sure of London Warren's criminal past, but I could. Keep that in mind, West Virginia commenters. I'll do it. Anyway, back to this "so-called" preview. Wright and Little will need to stay aggressive on every defensive possession and have the wherewithal to slide in where help (or a massive block) is needed. Blocks. And Dunks. Tugh. That's how the Flyers swing a victory.

I think we can all agree on the theme of this tournament so far: The smaller teams have made nice runs, but tend to run out of gas in the last eight minutes or so. That's one thing that won't happen to Dayton. They run a 10-11-and sometimes 12-man rotation. It's ridiculous, and might remind you of a hockey game, if you've ever watched that sport. I'm talking line changes and shit.

I have a strange inkling that UD will go underrepresented in the comments section. Here's to hoping I'm wrong (chug). I don't want to homer it up too much, but that seems to be the standard around here. Then again, it's hard to feel really confident in the Flyers this afternoon. Let's just get this party started, and I'll try not to leave the room crying.

Three o'clock on a Friday? Definitely not too early to start boozing. Oh, and we have Gusss Johnnsonnnn on the mic!

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2:41p I think I'll go in descending order here. It's better for those who want to join in late. You know, the band wagoners.

2:46p We're getting Temple-Arizona St. bonus coverage here. Dayton-WVU tip should be coming up in about 10 minutes.

2:47p I guess I should go ahead and admit that I'm live blogging on campus at the University of Dayton. That might have been apparent in the preview.

2:50p According to CBS, tip is at 3:04pm EST. Yee-haw! (That was for you WVU bastards.)

2:51p Damn. Play hasn't started and I'm already throwing out the bias. I do feel kind of bad. On the other hand, I don't feel bad about railing Suss's (drop some S's, bro) sister to land this gig.

2:54p I grabbed a Dayton Daily News while I was out grabbing some lunch. That fine publication is all over the upset chatter. Worst paper in America? I'll go ahead and nominate it.

2:59p Apparently West Virginia's team charter to Minneapolis broke down in Clarksburg, W.Va. so the team didn't arrive at their Minnesota hotel until 4 a.m. on Thursday. Bob Huggins was none too pleased. "I'd have been ready to choke somebody before, literally, choke somebody," said the WVU coach. Classy.

3:02p UD's Charles Little believes he can handle WVU's Devin Ebanks. "He's a little longer and a lot taller than me," Little admitted Thursday evening. "I think I'm stronger than him, and I'll try to push him out and not let him use his length to get around me." We'll see, Chuck. Or is it Chaz?

3:06p Here. We. Go.

3:07p What'd I tell you about Kurt Huelsman. Guy can't make a layup?

3:08p Truck Bryant — what a name.

3:08p Dayton has to "hit some free throws" to win. Nice, Len Elmore. Thanks for coming. (He's right though).

3:09p London Warren, the "Jacksonville Jet." I swear that's a self-anointed nickname.

3:10p "Dayton is working harder right now." - Gus Johnson.

3:14p Solid pressure defense from Dayton, but London Warren continues his regular season trend of making awful mistakes. First media timeout. 9-8, Dayton leads.

3:18p At least Huelsman appears to be trying against Ebanks.

3:20p Wright is learning that he can't pull those 1-on-1 moves against Big East defenders.

3:21p I can smell the Crown Royal on Bob Huggins' breath from here, in Dayton, Ohio.

3:23p A whole lot of Saturn commercials. Weird. Perhaps they're targeting the Mountaineer audience. Zing! Get it? You drive shitty cars.

3:28p "West Virginia looks out of sync" - Gus Johnson.

3:29p I'm really trying to avoid Dayton compliments, for jinxing-sake. But, other than KURT, they look composed. Nice defense, good decisions on the floor. Very odd to see for someone who has watched this team all year.

3:31p Timeout. 21-15, Dayton leads. From a roommate (I have 9. Ahh.): "Kurt (Huelsman) is really making his presence felt in the paint with 0 rebounds."

3:36p It's amazing that Dayton is having so much success on the offensive boards. Get your squad some inspiration, Huggins... No, Bob. Not liquid inspiration. Get that bottle of Korski out of here. This is a gaw-damn tournament game.

3:38p Chris Johnson bricks a jump shot from about 8 feet out. What'd I tell you? That's not UD's game.

3:39p Two lane violations by Dayton in the first half. F-ing wonderful.

3:41p I'd trust Donte Stallworth to jump his Bentley over my inclined body before I'd trust Kurt Huelsman with a mid-range jumper. Bada bing. Bada boom.

3:47p A bunch of girls just showed up, Dayton students mind you, and they're talking about their siblings. What in the — I can't hear Gus Johnson. I can't hear Gus Johnnnson. Do I move out of the living room? Can't. Too superstitious.

3:50p Kurt, I'm going to f-ing cut you.

3:51p Another timeout. Grabbing a beer. Anyone still feeling the pain from St. Patrick's Day? Egh.

3:55p No way Dayton was going to hit that last shot. I wish I was live-betting on Bodog right now.

3:56p Halftime. 33-28, Dayton leads.

3:57p A little halftime entertainment for you crazy kids. Ray LaMontagne performing "Trouble," live on the BBC. Because, you know... West Virginia's in trouble. Or something. I don't know. I had this whole thing planned out last night.

4:01p One of the roommates decided that blasting music Dr. Dre and playing beer die at halftime would be good fun. So, I'll see you all in about 10 minutes. It's been a blast so far.

4:13p And we're back. CBS returns with a nice shot of the Dayton pep band. Good looking bunch.

4:16p Sparse crowd at the Metrodome. I'm seeing a lot of yellow, not much blue and red. From a roomate: "Why did all the West Virginia fans have to dress up like their mascot?" It's like I have hired writers here.

4:17p After a shot of the UD Cheerleaders, a girl in the room goes "Oh my gosh! She's a Pi Phi!" So cancel that whole "hired writers" comment. Here's to hoping these chicks will leave soon (chug).

4:20p Alex Ruoff has four fouls. Wow. Queue up that halftime song again.

4:23p 41-33, Dayton leads.

4:25p Dayton has been great in close games this year, surprisingly. Me thinks this one goes down to the wire. But you already knew that... once Gus Johnson was slated to announce the game.

4:26p Again, Kurt Huelsman shows his ineptitude. KURT.

4:28p These scoring updates should probably be posted more frequently for those unable to watch. 41-35, Dayton leads with 15:25 left.

4:31p Timeout. So, how queer is Duke?

4:32p "West Virginia, feeling a sense of urgency." - Len Elmore

4:33p Massive dunk by Chris "Top Flight" Wright. And 1. "Emphatic," says Gus Johnson.

4:35p AND ANOTHER. Chris Wright, throwing it down. Gus Johnson loves it. What'd I tell you about those dunks?

4:36p Dayton leads 48-42.

4:37p Devin Ebanks reminds Gus Johnson of Hakim Warrick, the former Syracuse star, now in the NBA.

4:38p 48-44, Dayton hanging on. 11:32 remaining.

4:40p Another roommate, on KURT: "He can't rebound, he can't shoot, he can't pass. All he can hope for is points via goaltending." Sorry to hate, Mr. and Mrs. Huelsman, but your son is terrible.

4:43p Huge three from West Virginia. 48-47, Dayton leads.

4:44p KURT misses two free throws. Predictable.

4:45p Hey, Gus. Let's pretend that Wright dunk was also "emphatic."

4:47p I don't want to jinx anything, or come off as too biased (HA!), but the Mountaineers look a little tired. No joke. No homo. All that sh-t.

4:50p Dayton 52 West Virginia 50. 8:17 remaining. You can hear the whole University of Dayton campus yelling in unison "tick. tick. tick. tick." But the clock won't move.

4:52p According to Gus Johnson, Charles Little is nicknamed "The Dinosaur," and has "Jurassic strength." I swear I'd go down on him right now. Gus... not Little. Well, both. No homo. Did I already use that?

4:55p 54-52, Dayton hanging on by the smallest of threads. 7:01 remaining.

4:56p Alex Ruoff is back in the game. Surprising. He'll be needed at the end of this one.

4:57p Ruoff proceeds to miss two free throws. I thought that kid was a shooter?

4:59p Back-to-back tie-ups, back-to-back jump ball calls. This is getting really good. If only these f-ing girls would shut the f-ck up. Huggins, any ideas?

5:01p Two white skinheads enter the game. Does West Virginia pull players from its student section?

5:03p KURT gets a rebound. And the whole campus erupts! Holy hell. "They should rush the court," says a roommate.

5:05p Dayton still leading, 57-54. 3:56 left.

5:06p I just orgasmed (sp?). That was sick-nasty for about five seconds. Unreal. That guy can fly. He is Christ Wright, as my friends at the Blackburn Review would say.

5:09p Dayton still... still hanging on. 61-56, 2:36 left.

5:10p The Dinosaur, Chaz Little, with the And 1. Alex Ruoff fouls out. Is this really happening? Oh my dear lord.

5:12p KURT gets the REBOUND! Ahhhh. And the team rushes the court to hug the big idiot. 63-58, Dayton leads with a minute remaining.

5:14p 65-58, Dayton leading with 42.7 seconds to go. Oh my god. Oh my god. Oh. my. GOD. A roommate we call Mad Dog yells "Let's get some tequila!"

5:16p Huggins calls a timeout, presumably to take a swig of Evan Williams. The burn helps, doesn't it, Bob? 65-60. 34 seconds left.

5:17p I'm freakinnng out. Freaking out. 66-60, Dayton leads, 26 seconds remaining. Timeout.

5:19p Dayton leads, 68-60. 25 seconds left. TICK. TICK. TICK. TICK.

5:20p Oh no. Girls in the room start singing "Gooo Dayton Flyyyerrs." Anyone got a grenade?

5:21p Chris Wright snags the final rebound to finish with a double-double. Game over. Unreal. F-ck my liver.

5:22p I'm going outside to scream hysterically.

5:35p Dayton has been overrun by Louisville fans since Thursday, but they're now joining in the fun of this Flyers victory. Louisville's band is rocking on Brown St. I never thought I'd say this... but there's no place I'd rather be right now than Dayton, Ohio.

5:40p First NCAA tournament win for the Flyers since 1990. I'm signing off to go get my Bob Huggins on, minus the driving part. It's been awesome, Deadspin. Thanks AJ. Thanks Suss.

2) Wear Gloves One of the university's most notable programs is in Forensic Science. The program was established with help from the FBI, and the biggest library repository for the biggest damn forensic organization on the planet—the International Association for Identification—has its official library repository here. So that Calleigh Duquesne-look-alike you gave a fake name to and hooked up with last night? Yeah, depending on what you, um, left behind, most likely she's already run it through a couple of machines at the lab, snagged your entire family's SS numbers and has, Andy Dufresne-style, created a phantom version of you who is currently transferring every dollar of your checking balance, 401(k), and the deed to your dad's Buick dealership into her account in the Caymans. Serves you right.

3) 1-2 Punch Da'Sean Butler and Alex Ruoff are a pretty potent one-two senior punch for this squad which has shown fine progression throughout the year. We all know Ruoff can drill the three and the team as a whole does a superb job in defending beyond the arc (13th nationally, with opponents shooting 30.1%). This is a group who went from dropping games to the likes of Kentucky and Davidson early in the season to beating teams like Villanova and Pittsburgh later in the year. Dayton's a good squad but they've got their hands full with this bunch. — Rush The Court

DAYTON FLYERS

1) It's all in the rear-view. Dayton's heyday, like America's, was back in the 1950s and 60s. The Flyers won more games during that span than any other division one program, racking up 435 wins (UCLA is second with 427). This has led to two distinct viewpoints among the Flyer Faithful. On one side, you have the folks who believe the program can return to its former greatness. On the other, you have people who realize that the last time UD was a prominent national power their fathers were knee deep in rice patties and yet-undiscovered venereal diseases—and things aren't likely to change. These opposing viewpoints have led to countless fights, fisticuffs, donnybrooks and melees.

2.) Take me home ... country roads Dayton plays West "Fucking" Virginia, made famous by couch fires and John Denver's karaoke inducing tune. Dayton fans wish the Flyers were playing in the friendly confines of UD Arena, where they went 18-0 this year. Picking Dayton to advance in your bracket? Caveat emptor, brothers and sisters. They are historically terrible on the road and have not won an NCAA Tournament game since 1990. The Flyers have struggled since point guard Rob Lowery went down with an injury in their victory against Xavier. Fan favorite, and current backup guard, Brad McEldowney provides pre-game entertainment with freestyle rapping and break dancing.

3) The Church of Izzo Dayton's current roster is hands-down the most athletic edition of the Flyers the Gem City (you heard me) has ever seen. Part of this can be attributed to the fact that UD no longer concentrates its recruiting efforts solely on guys with rattails. A larger part has to be ascribed to Brian Gregory's ability to bring in the type of recruits that routinely bypassed UD for bigger programs. Players such as forwards "Kountry" Chris Wright and Chaz Little, as well as junior guard Marcus Johnson, are freakish athletes that will make you question everything you know about physics and love. Dayton's system resembles Michigan State's, in the sense that defensive pressure is paramount to the Flyers success. This should come as no surprise, as Brian Gregory plied his trade as an assistant for Tom Izzo in East Lansing. Brian Gregory is also Michael J. Fox's twin...without the uncontrollable shaking of course. Unless he is arguing a call. Which is often. — Tom Blackburn and Don Donoher (Blackburn Review)

Join the Deadspin Pants Party Group Pool [ESPN]
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Not shown: All the comical question mark symbols over the writers' heads.

Your Photoshop challenge for today: Work up a West Virginia license plate with the words Enough Oil To Lubricate The World as the state motto.

It's like back before the Civil War when slaves had the right to buy their freedom. A penalty of $4 million is almost like a slave from Africa trying to buy his freedom in America. I think it's an outrageous amount. It's just not fair and it's not related to any damages the university is suffering."

Well said, Marv. And perfectly timed, considering it's the 40th anniversary of Martin Luther King, Jr's assassination. This is exactly the type of oppressive behavior Dr. King devoted his life to eliminating.

Rich Rod's lawyer uses slavery analogy in regard to coach's buyout [Charleston Daily Mail]

XAVIER MUSKETEERS

1. ESPN got something right? Prior to the start of this year's tournament, espn.com "experts" provided some insight into various players and teams in the tourney. Three of these so-called experts labeled sophomore forward Derrick Brown as the best dunker in the tournament. For once I actually agree with them because of this and this.

2. You Can Have The Logo. Xavier's sweet 16 opponent, the West Virginia Mountaineers often get associated with Jerry West as one of their most famous alumnus. Well, to that I say you can have your logo, and I'll keep my Mike Damone. Xavier alum Robert Romanus played Mike Damone in Fast Times at Ridgemont High.

3. It's All About the Blob. The Musketeers are a bit odd when it comes to mascots. As you would expect, D'Artagnan is prominently featured at Xavier games and around campus. Unfortunately, D'Artagnan is overshadowed by the greatest mascot in the history of sports, The Blue Blob. The Blob was once named Playboy's Mascot of the Month, has appeared in numerous SportsCenter commercials, has his own Bobblehead, er, Bobblebody, and was a memorable part of giving a man $1 million in the 2001 Crosstown Shootout; the Blob was tackled by Theo Nelson following his half-court shot at halftime of the game. — Brian Leibforth

WEST VIRGINIA MOUNTAINEERS

1. Giant Killers. West Virginia has advanced to the Sweet 16 for the third time in the past four seasons and the fourth time in as many tries. Over those trips, WVU has garnered the reputation as a sort of giant killer, toppling #2 seeds with some regularity. This year, of course, was the public "pantsing" of #2 seed Duke last round. Three years ago, the Mountaineers (with the unconscious Mike Gansey) knocked out Chris Paul's #2 seeded Wake Forest squad in double OT. And back in 1998, the Mountaineers beat #2 seed Cincinnati — under then-coach Bob Huggins — with a last second "prayer" from Jarrod West. While modern HDTV advancements would greatly improve the 1998 highlights, it's best any 2005 highlights featuring Kevin Pittsnogle be viewed on nothing larger than a Sony Watchman.

2. Huggy Bear, Yep. Bob Huggins, beside being a fantastic basketball coach and a good driver, is also a natty dresser. Just this year, he has run the entire gamut of fashion choices. Early this season, Huggins trotted out in a traditional coat and tie. Not satisfied with that, Huggins upped the ante, debuting his now infamous mustard accident. Obviously traumatized by the experiment, Huggins reverted to his later Cincinnati days, coaching each game in the same snazzy — in a Bill Belichick kind of way — gold and blue WVU pullover. Luckily the dark cloud that was the pullover has lifted, though it has been replaced with a sportcoat and mock turtleneck look that would make Mike Brey blush. Of course, it's the same color mock turtleneck for every game, meaning either he's bought a dozen of them or he's simply wearing the same one over and over. For the sake of my sanity — let alone anyone standing near him — let's assume it's the former.

3. The Xavier Connection. While there isn't much head-to-head history between WVU and tonight's opponent Xavier, there are plenty of connections between the two schools. While at Cincinnati, Bob Huggins regularly coached against Xavier in a fierce crosstown Cincinnati rivalry. Sean Miller, the current head coach at Xavier, was a four-year letter winner and Big East Freshman of the Year at Pitt. Miller, who still owns several records at Pitt, compiled a sparkling 1-3 career record against WVU. Given Miller's Pitt bloodlines, his career record against WVU, the fact that Xavier has never beaten the Mountaineers, and the fact that a #7 seed is favored over a #3 seed, WVU should start preparing for UCLA on Saturday. Considering the size of the jinx I just delivered, the Mountaineers may end up forfeiting. Tune in tonight. (I'm looking at you 17% of the country that's getting the game.) — Charley West

West Virginia vs. Xavier, Thursday 7:10 pm

#7 West Virginia Mountaineers

Last Weekend: Defeated #10 Arizona 75-65 , defeated #2 Duke 73-67

How WVU Got Here: In pretty impressive fashion, actually. No first-round patsies for a #7 seed, but Bob Huggins and his 'Eers didn't flinch. Alex Ruoff shot the lights out in the first round, and his team followed suit, hitting 58% percent of their three-point tries. Four starters ended up in double figures in that game, as a talented but directionless Wildcat team was sent packing. Against Duke, it was a somewhat different story, as Joe Alexander took advantage of the soft Blue Devils to the tune of 22 points and 11 rebounds. All that was missing was the sound of dueling banjos.

What the Sweet 16 means to the Mountaineers: It's time to throw out the "NIT Champs" T-shirts. It also means that the Morgantown faithful will feel completely justified in doing whatever it took to hire Bob Huggins, with all of the attendant slime. When Huggins uses this exposure to recruit his own guys, look out. That creep can roll, man.

Chances to Reach San Antonio: Assuming they get past X, it still seems incredibly unlikely, with UCLA looming as a possibility. If the superior talent doesn't get them, the referee malfeasance will.

#3 Xavier Musketeers

Last Weekend: Defeated #14 Georgia 73-61, defeated #6 Purdue 75-68

How Xavier got here: The play of Josh Duncan and a balanced scoring attack that hit its stride at the right time. It appeared as if the Muskies were going to be the first high seed to flame-out of the NCAA Tournament on Thursday afternoon when The Muskies trailed Georgia by 11 in the second half of the Thursday game. Behind Duncan's 20 points (my pick for the most valuable player on Xavier), the Muskies mounted a 22-6 run to end the Bulldogs' miracle run. In the second round, Xavier's offensive attack was clicking on all cylinders, with Drew Lavender and C.J. Anderson each scoring 18 points, Duncan adding 16, and Stanley Burrell scoring 11 for the victory over a talented Purdue squad.

What the Sweet 16 means to the Musketeers: Since the Muskies have been in the Top 25 nearly all season and have done everything possible to dis their mid-major status and conference, a Sweet 16 appearance will no longer suffice. If Xavier really wants to be a big boy school, only an Elite 8 appearance will legitimize a season which saw Xavier attain the most wins in school history.

Chances to Reach San Antonio: Chances of reaching the Elite 8 are at 50%, with a tough upcoming match-up with a surging and very similar West Virginia squad. There is, however, a giant roadblock in the way of the Final Four called UCLA.

Western Kentucky vs. UCLA, Thursday 9:40pm

#12 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers

Last Weekend: Defeated #5 Drake 101-99 (OT), defeated #13 San Diego 72-63.

How WKU Got Here: By dominating their weight class. Some small part of the Hilltoppers probably balked at having to knock out brother mids, but then again, not that much. Passing the ball off to Ty Rogers for the last-millisecond shot on Friday was a gamble that electrified Hoops Nation, and the defeat of fellow upstarts San Diego was the Courtney Lee show, as the pro prospect scored 29 points with 7 rebounds.

What the Sweet 16 means to the Hilltoppers: Everything. The Hilltoppers have a proud history, but in the modern era of the tournament, the last time they made the grade was 1993. It's impossible to calculate what this means to the program and the Sun Belt conference, but we can guess it feels damn good, and that nobody will hang their heads too far if the ride ends here.

Chances to Reach San Antonio: Slim. Beating very good mids is nothing to sneeze at, but UCLA has multiple pro prospects vs. the Hilltoppers' one. The best WKU can realistically hope for is a close result that validates their run thus far. Their heart and hoops IQ have never been in doubt.

#1 UCLA Bruins

Last Weekend: Defeated #16 Mississippi Valley State 70-29, defeated #9 Texas A&M 51-49.

How UCLA Got Here: It started with the holding of Mississippi Valley State to a tourney record 29 points in round one, but got it a bit rocky in the round of 32. It took a late game rally for the Bruins to overcome a double-digit deficit and escape Anaheim alive. Albeit with many a questionable call and a bit of luck, but they escaped nonetheless. A big part of that escape was the play of their two biggest stars in Darren Collison and Kevin Love, while the role players seem to have forgotten what time of year it is. Josh Shipp has averaged just 3 points thus far and Luc Richard Mbah a Moute's still nursing his injured ankle. The defense, however, remains as strong as ever.

What the Sweet 16 Means to the Bruins: Nothing. The Bruins have reached two consecutive Final Fours only to be sent packing by the eventual champion Florida Gators. Sure, it's nice that they can tack up a third straight Sweet 16 banner, but it means almost nothing to these two-time bridesmaids. Nothing short of a Final Four will meet expectations, and a championship is almost necessary for a group that could be remembered for coming up short on the biggest of stages without it.

Chances to Reach San Antonio: Great. They're arguably the tourney's best defensive squad remaining, and anytime you play defense like the Bruins, your odds increase. Add that to their superstar tandem of Collison and Love, and it looks like the Bruins will be dancing to the tourneys final song for a third strait year. That said, if the trio of Shipp, Mbah a Moute and Russell Westbrook fail to show up on the offensive end the Bruins could head home shocked as early as Thursday.

Watch as Duke's Gerald Henderson runs over to clobber the Mountaineers' Cam Thoroughman from behind. Thoroughman (6-foot-7, 215) doesn't take to that too well, and ... whoa! Did you see that, ref? Air shove!

But we kid Duke. The tournament just would not be the same without you guys. It's already not, actually.

Another Duke Flop Found [Awful Announcing]

Of course, guessing what would have happened if a foul would have been called, and how that would have all went down, is one of those empty games we all play with ourselves to pretend there's some sort of order to the chaos. But man, imagine if Texas A&M would have pulled this game out: Xavier, Texas A&M, West Virginia and Western Kentucky, battling for a shot at the final four. Billy Packer would never stop crying.

For all the Kevin Love, uh, love, we think the most compelling character left in the West Regional has to be West Virginia coach Bob Huggins. This guy has had an active few years; surely, you haven't forgotten the epic DUI video. In a way, West Virginia and Huggins have always been a perfect fit, and not just because he went to school there. We're not sure what kind of message it would send about academics in college basketball of Bob Huggins led WVU to the Final Four ... probably an extremely honest one, actually.

But hey: Cincinnati's athletic grade point average is up a tick or two, so there's that.

Pics Of The Night [Rush The Court]
Bob Huggins Suspended [Cincinnati Enquirer]

WEST VIRGINIA MOUNTAINEERS

1. Next Year, Buy Us Presents. West Virginia has played 99 illustrious years of basketball, compiling an impressive 61.4 percent winning percentage and a trip to the 1959 NCAA title game. WVU hasn't been as lucky with several opponents, however, owning overall losing records against Steubenville Athletic Club, Smith Skating Rink and the Parkersburg (W.Va.) YMCA. Though, in our defense, both losses to the Parkersburg YMCA came on the road.

2. He Can't Run For President. Over the last six games of the season, junior forward Joe Alexander torched opponents for 26.8 points per game. He was also named First Team All Big East. Alexander, despite having American parents, was born in Taiwan and lived eight years abroad while his father worked for Nestle. After some research, it seems Alexander is already the most successful Taiwanese basketball player in history, just besting Yulon veteran Chen Hsin-an.

3. Ann Arbor's A Woman of Questionable Morals. Michigan coach John Beilein, who left WVU after five seasons because he felt he couldn't recruit to Morgantown, recently failed to sign a top 100 recruiting class to play in Ann Arbor. This, of course, on top of the stellar 10-22 record he compiled in his first season. Bob Huggins, meanwhile, just put the finishing touches on a 24-10 record and a top 20 recruiting class. Did Beilein make a good decision? From WVU's perspective, he certainly did. — Charley West

ARIZONA WILDCATS

1. Depth That Rivals A Wading Pool. If we were comparing depth, a team like Tennessee might be an aging porn actress while the Wildcats are a young virgin, still contemplating how long "true love" actually lasts. The Wildcats have three (3!) players that are averaging over 8.8 points a game and only five players averaging over four points a game. Along with the problems of balanced scoring, only one player is averaging more than 5.3 rebounds a game and only two cheerleaders are charting more than six back-handsprings a game, down from last year.

2. Lutey Patooty. Lute Olson isn't coaching this year because he's traveling through the big D and doesn't mean Dallas. Olson has brought the Wildcats to the big dance 23 straight years, the longest active streak in the NCAA, but won't be on hand to see them shuffling their feet this year. His divorce from Christine has sidelined the 73-year-old coach for the season, with interim Kevin O'Neill taking over for those Silver Locks. The strangest part about it all - when his wife Bobbi died in 2001 Olson only missed six games, coming back to lead the Wildcats to his fourth Final Four.

3. Freshman Phenom. If you didn't know, Jerryd Bayless is good. He's Eric Gordon with the ability to finish. He's D.J. Augustin with a tremendous amount of confidence. He's Tyler Hansborough but shorter and not as much a center. The Phoenix native is averaging 21 points a game at 47 percent shooting. Bayless is a one-and-done candidate, already making waves in pre-draft boards that have him as high as the fifth pick to the New York Knicks (stay another year Jerryd!). The Wildcats are 11-4 when Bayless scores 20 or more points and struggled to a 1-3 record when Bayless was injured in the middle of the season. —Shane Bacon.

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2. He Can't Run For President. Over the last six games of the season, junior forward Joe Alexander torched opponents for 26.8 points per game. He was also named First Team All Big East. Alexander, despite having American parents, was born in Taiwan and lived eight years abroad while his father worked for Nestle. After some research, it seems Alexander is already the most successful Taiwanese basketball player in history, just besting Yulon veteran Chen Hsin-an.

3. Ann Arbor's A Woman of Questionable Morals. Michigan coach John Beilein, who left WVU after five seasons because he felt he couldn't recruit to Morgantown, recently failed to sign a top 100 recruiting class to play in Ann Arbor. This, of course, on top of the stellar 10-22 record he compiled in his first season. Bob Huggins, meanwhile, just put the finishing touches on a 24-10 record and a top 20 recruiting class. Did Beilein make a good decision? From WVU's perspective, he certainly did. — Charley West

Rodriguez, who took the time to shred every file in his WVU office before departing to become the head coach at the University of Michigan, will have the favor returned at the Nailers game on February 2. The Nailers are offering discounted tickets to any fan that brings in a newspaper article or picture of the former West Virginia University football coach to contribute to the industrial sized paper shredder that will be stationed in the concourse.

But that's not all.

Any fan who wears WVU apparel to the game will receive $2 off their ticket price. Ohio State fans will also receive the discount by wearing their gear to the game to demonstrate their mutual distaste for Michigan. Any fan caught wearing University of Michigan apparel will be charged double in order to help Rodriguez pay his $4 million buyout to WVU.

Let's tailgate! I've got a few sensitive documents that would make a lovely salad.

STILL UPSET: West Virginia Hockey Team Hosting A 'Shred Rich Rodriguez' Promotion [Detroit Free Press]
Wheeling Nailers [Official Site]

The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports that Stewart was fired from his only other coaching job, at Virginia Military Institute, because of a racial slur.

Stewart was accused in '96 of calling a Keydets player a racial slur in an October practice. The coaches and players cleared the air, many said afterward, but a school investigation resulted in Stewart's resignation."

One of Stewart's defenders at the time was a former VMI graduate assistant under Stewart, who claimed he never heard Stewart use a racial slur. That former GA was current Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin.

This, of course, makes Stewart specifically qualified to coach in West Virginia.

(Sorry. That was cheap. It's Friday.)

WVU Coach Quit VMI After Racial Slur Accusation [Sports By Brooks]

He's appealing to other West Virginia fans, so we'll just assume he's able to sell it. We appreciate the mindset.

My lovely beard would like a new home after the Fiesta Bowl, but we can make arrangements for after basketball season, if you would like. I will keep growing it for the lucky Mountaineer fan that has the highest bid. The beard has served coach Huggins well this season. I will try to get coach Huggins to touch it at the Oklahoma vs. WVU game on 12.29.2007. I will take a picture for proof of the touch, and you will get a copy.

We love the idea of him increasing the value of his beard by having Bob Huggins touch it. That increases the value of everything.

WVU Fan's Beard [eBay]

They also mention a crazy theory put out there by certain Mountaineering nutjobs:

The level of vitriol has surprised even Rodriguez, whose guilt and empathy are slowly turning into defiance. What irks him the most is a theory bubbling from the hollers to the Capitol to the campus bars in Morgantown. A theory that suggested he threw the Dec. 1 game against Pittsburgh — the school's traditional season-ending rival — to avoid a berth in the national championship game.

[I]f the school lost, the theory went, Rodriguez would be free to pursue the Michigan job, because no coach would walk away from a championship game.

The Freep continues on to discuss a heated meeting between Rodriguez and the WVU president, how his brother's kids are being threatened at school, and how embedded the football program was with the entire state of West Virginia. In short, I really hope these two meet in a BCS game next year.

How and Why Rich Rodriguez Left West Virginia For Michigan [Detroit Free Press]

Missouri and West Virginia are just one win away from reaching the national championship game, and that's such an insane notion that we can't help but embrace it. As much as we'd enjoy watching our Illini in the Rose Bowl — which will likely happen if either team loses, putting Ohio State in the BCS title game — we are smitten with the unconventional Mizzou-WVU game. It seems like a championship game you'd only see on a video game.

And if they both lose ... heck, chaos ensues. And that's all anyone wants, really.

What A Bunch Of Losers [Slate]

Yes, Pat White has made a new friend.

Patrick White's not one to kiss and tell. The West Virginia quarterback received what appeared to be a hug and a peck on the cheek from ESPN sideline reporter Erin Andrews a few seconds after a postgame interview Saturday at Puskar Stadium.

"That's between me and her," White said, a little shocked that someone caught the interlude, before breaking into a sly smile. A few seconds later, he volunteered, "I almost fainted when she came up to me."

Wait, is this Andrews' interviewing technique? Don't knock it: Jim Gray does the same thing, and don't get us started on Craig Sager.

WVU's White Still Unstoppable [The Journal]