March 16, 2006

There were a few teams that survived scares during the first session of the NCAA Tournament. Boston College was taken to two overtimes before getting to the winner's circle against Pacific. Tennessee got a game-winning shot by Chris Lofton to edge Winthrop.

Oklahoma wasn't as fortunate as Kelvin Sampson's team lost to Wisconsin-Milwaukee. How about a salute for the Horizon League, which has won at least one game in six of the last nine NCAA tournaments. Rob Jeter has picked up where Bruce Pearl left off, as the Panthers advanced.

The bottom line is simple: Mid-majors are that in name only, and they can flat-out play. They may not get the exposure that some of the big boys do, and a lot of the power conferences don't feel they have anything to gain playing the mid-majors.

Selection committee chairman Craig Littlepage must be thinking, "The big boys can't dodge the little guys now, baby!"

The NCAA Tournament is the greatest three weeks in sports. Everybody loves March Madness and the Cinderella stories were in full force during the first afternoon.

The Eagles got out with a win because of the tandem of Craig Smith and Jared Dudley. The dynamic duo combined for 48 points, hitting 18 of 31 shots. More importantly, Smith hit the two key free throws to send the game into overtime. He was 3-for-7 from the foul line before converting the clutch shots.

The Vols now have a date vs. Wichita State, and that won't be easy. The Missouri Valley Conference got a big W over the Big East and Seton Hall.

Wow, if the whole tournament is exciting as the first afternoon …

Dick Vitale coached the Pistons and the University of Detroit before broadcasting ESPN's first college basketball game in 1979. Send a question for Vitale for possible use on ESPNEWS.