The eight elite is old money against new money – and that new song of money: ‘sec! Sec! Sec! ‘

We were so close. Purdue had linked Houston in the last seconds before the incoming game listened to the whole Texas and completely missed by the team from the Indiana. Arkansas guided the 13 -point Tech Tech late. Michigan guided Auburn 48-39 in the second half. Ole Miss led the Michigan State 48-39 in the second half. Arizona has even pushed Duke, a little.

We were so close. So close to not having the most excellent result possible.

And if we have difficulty agreeing, this is this – a ncaa eight -eight man tournament with a number 1 against a n. 2, a n. 1 against a n. 2, a n. 1 against a n. 2 and a n. 1 against a n. 3 – It is, then I will need someone who shows me other sports in the world where the best teams playing in the most important times are a problem.

The best television assessments in more than 30 years for the first weekend, with the best news for the NCAA and its television partners probably available, would suggest that these are the strong complaints of some.

This does not invalidate complaints or worries. The transfer portal. No Cinderella at a time when the Majors in the middle do not have the funds to keep their best players. Swollen championships. Stupid speech on the expansion of the tournament. Greed, myoppyness, The coaches feel that they are their right to swear In the sacred media area known as tunnel. All things, all valid.

But come on already. The Sweet 16 compensated for a first weekend that came short of classic games with Texas Tech in some way, managing to beat Arkansas in extraordinary; The cougars that pull away an incoming inbounds to stun the boilers; Michigan State and Auburn Ruggono to reject the upset offers; and spectacular performances, from The methodical dissection of Cooper Flagg of the Wildcats, To mark Sears that affects 10 of the Alabama record 25 3 episoders in Byu, at the Catalyst of the Tennessee Zakai Zokii, at 18 points, 10-axis Dismissal of rival Kentucky.

In no way 🤯

Houston takes command in the last second 😱 #MarchMadness pic.twitter.com/l2wcpq34gd

– NCAA March Madness (@Marchmadnessmbb) March 29, 2025

And Eight Eight is simply the best of the best, going to each other for the first prize. They are eight of the first nine teams in Kenpom (Gonzaga is the exception) still playing. It is linked to the total of the lowest seed (adding the numbers of the seeds together) since the seeding started in 1979. The total of 13 games of the 2007 tournament – the same year began on the representation of Tim Burton of what was the most famous portal in the world, that of “Alice in Wonderland”.

Maybe someone should send some flowers to the selection committee. Did we forgive them for North Carolina?

You have Duke n. 1 to the east and n. 2 Alabama, the most fearsome team that still plays-no only due to Flagg-check the fastest group and along the long bomb from the “Greatest Show on Turf” by St. Louis Rams.

You have the midwest n. 1 Houston and n. 2 Tennessee, who might seem a sport other than Duke and Alabama, because the over/under the points in this game and the blood pints necessary for the fighters later are in the same range.

You have West No. 1 Florida and No. 3 Texas Tech. There is our Cinderella. A seed n. 3 crazy. The way the gator can cook makes you ask if this is what ends up forgetting. But this would be to forget what the Red Raiders of Grant McCasland has just done, and they did it all year round and do it because they are so difficult.

You have the South No. 1 Auburn and the n. 2 Michigan State, a delicious matchup of the samples of the century and the big ten. Is an opportunity for Bruce Pearl to return to Tom Izzo for having lost with him 15 years ago with the possibility of bringing Tennessee to the Final Four. It is an opportunity for each of them to reach Final Four for the first time since 2019.

And remember a theme. More specifically, Pearl did, jumping around and screaming with his players during the post-match interview of the CBS after ending with a victory of 78-65 over Michigan. It was all chaos, no formality. It ended with the group of them singing: “sec! Century!

Has anyone else seen Rodney Dangerfield at that moment? If you liked the 1980 comedy “Caddyshack”, in which Dangerfield plays a developer named at Czervik who tries to make his way into an exclusive golf club and at some point explodes a travel song outside the stereo implanted in his golf bag and screams, “Let’s dance!” While everyone on fairway dance, then you know exactly what I’m talking about.

Otherwise, it is not important. Just think of new money against old money. And check the matchup again. Duke with its 25 Elite Otto, 17 Final Four and five national championships against Alabama with its three, one and zero. Nate Oats has two of eight and the elite and the only one four, last year.

Michigan State has 15 Elite eight, 10 Final Fours and two national championships. Auburn, like the rival Alabama, has three, one and zero. Pearl, like oats, has two of eight and only four finals.

The next in line of Florida after Duke and Michigan State with 10 elite eight, five Final Fours and those consecutive national titles in 2006 and 2007 under Billy Donovan. Texas Tech has three eight eight, all from 2018 and a Final Four.

Even Houston can boast of eight Eights Eights, two now under Kelvin Sampson, with six Final Four – one for Sampson, five for the deceased Guy Lewis, whose incredible teams of Phi Salama Jamma should have won at least one championship. The Tennessee has three eight eight, the aforementioned 2010 race under Pearl and two in a row now under Rick Barnes. No Final Fours.

Now everything we need on Sunday is a review of Replay extra-long in Atlanta so that Izzo can put his hands on his hips and bark against officials: “Well … we are waiting for!”

Three of those festive crashes come from the same place, of course. The sec continues to support its historically dominant regular season in the tournament. After recording a record of seven teams in the Sweet 16, he equaled the Big East ACC of 2009 and 2016 by claiming half of the Eight Elite.

But those championships did not have a team in every game, as the century does this year. San Antonio and the Final Four could actually be the site of a semifinals of the sec tournament, except with the matchups changed to Florida against Auburn and Tennessee vs. Alabama in the national semifinals.

He perishes thought, the haters of the century. And forget the Czervik. It can also go to Ricky Bobby and enjoy this basketball party with a little Kfc and Taco Bell.

(Photo of Bruce Pearl and Auburn: Brett Davis / Imagn images)