BEST OF THE MADNESS
During the regular season, I reviewed each week with my Best of the Week awards. During the NCAA Tournament, I'll hand out best-of-the-day awards, baby!

Sunday, March 30 | Elite Eight
PLAYER/DIAPER DANDY OF THE DAY: Carmelo Anthony, Syracuse
He is not really a freshman any more ... he is playing like a man. Anthony has been an impact player ever since he stepped on the court for the opener against Memphis at Madison Square Garden.

Anthony set the tone early against Oklahoma, scoring inside, rebounding and passing. Just like Derrick Coleman did as a freshman in 1987, he has led the Orangemen to the Final Four in New Orleans

COACH OF THE DAY: Jim Boeheim, Syracuse
Boeheim is going back to the Final Four for the third time (1987, 1996) and he is doing it with a team that has three key freshmen -- Anthony, Gerry McNamara and Billy Edelin.

SHOCK OF THE DAY: Syracuse's margin
It was not a total surprise that the Orangemen won in Albany, but the ease of the victory was surprising. Syracuse dominated from the start, leading by 10 at halftime before applying the knockout punch with an 8-0 run to start the second half.

TEAMS OF THE DAY: Texas, Syracuse
The Longhorns won despite the pressure of playing close to home in San Antonio. Tom Izzo said that his Spartans felt pressure when they beat Iowa State in the regional final at Auburn Hills a few years back. T. J. Ford and Co. got the job done against a tough Michigan State team.

The Orangemen prevailed over a top-seeded Oklahoma team thanks to the 2-3 zone and solid play by Anthony and Co.

=======

Saturday, March 29 | Elite Eight
PLAYER OF THE DAY: Dwyane Wade, Marquette
In Marquette's 83-69 victory over Kentucky, junior superstar Dwyane Wade posted his first career triple-double (29 points, 11 rebounds, 11 assists). It was one of the most dominant performances of the tournament.

DIAPER DANDY OF THE DAY: Steve Novak, Marquette
Freshman forward Steve Novak shot 5-of-8 from 3-point range and scored 16 points in the big win over Kentucky.

COACH OF THE DAY: Roy Williams, Kansas
Kansas lost to Arizona by 17 points at home earlier this season, and Roy Williams had his club ready for the rematch. The Jayhawks' depth has been questioned ever since super soph Wayne Simien was lost for the season with a shoulder injury, but Williams just keeps on coaching. Kansas is in back-to-back Final Fours.

SHOCK OF THE DAY: Marquette over Kentucky
Kentucky came in as the nation's No. 1 team with a 26-game win streak. Marquette just came to play, baby -- and the Golden Eagles pulled off a W that was easier than even they must have expected.

=======

Friday, March 28 | Sweet 16
PLAYER OF THE DAY: Ebi Ere, Oklahoma
Senior Ebi Ere was brilliant in the Sooners' 65-54 win over Butler, scoring 25 points on 11-of-19 shooting.

DIAPER DANDY OF THE DAY: Carmelo Anthony, Syracuse
Syracuse held on for a 79-78 win over Auburn, thanks to freshman Carmelo Anthony, who scored all 18 of his points in the second half.

COACH OF THE DAY: Rick Barnes, Texas
Rick Barnes coached his Longhorns to a hard-fought 82-78 victory over Connecticut, coached by Jim Calhoun, who already has what Barnes is chasing -- a national title.

SHOCK OF THE DAY: Michigan State over Maryland
TEAM OF THE DAY: Michigan State
The seventh-seeded Spartans built a big lead and hung on to defeat the defending-champion and sixth-seeded Terps.

=======

Thursday, March 27 | Sweet 16
PLAYER OF THE DAY: Nick Collison, Kansas
Jayhawks big man Nick Collison had a sensational game, scoring 33 points and grabbing 19 rebounds in Kansas' 69-65 win over Duke.

TEAM OF THE DAY: Arizona
Arizona was the most impressive, dominant team Thursday, posting an 88-71 win over Notre Dame. The 'Cats looked like the team many picked when the season began to win the national title.

COACH OF THE DAY: Tom Crean, Marquette
Crean was the architect of Marquette's big-time victory over Pittsburgh.

DIAPER DANDY OF THE DAY: Steve Novak, Marquette
Freshman forward Steve Novak gave the Golden Eagles some solid 3-point shooting. He hit three key trifectas, scoring nine points, in Thursday night's win over Pitt.

SHOCK OF THE DAY: Marquette over Pittsburgh
The Golden Eagles scored a 77-74 win over the Big East champions, who bowed out in the Sweet 16 again (last year Pitt lost to Kent State).