1. The single most impressive performance I have seen in the tournament so far – and there have been a lot to chose from – was from Louisville’s Terrence Williams today. The guy plays a bizarre role – a forward who essentially commands play like a point guard. Today he did that to absolute perfection – he had 24 points and 15 rebounds, he dished out four impressive assists, and he had two steals that were like a punch inSiena’s gut. The Saints played a very good game, and they may have been able to pull off the miracle if it weren’t for Williams. Some people might be turned off by the scare that Louisville got today, but I have them picked to win it all, and the game to day only makes me happier that I did so.

2. I really, really don’t trust Pitt. Sam Young was very good today, and DeJuan Blair had his moments, but they didn’t look nearly as dominant against Oklahoma State as they should have. That’s the second straight game in which they haven’t had the killer instinct I’d like to see from them, and in which they have had to work far too hard to get the win. Things only get tougher as the tournament progresses, and I just don’t believe that they want it badly enough to go all the way. I picked Pitt togo to the final four, but I’m not feeling as good about that now as I wish I was. Villanova, for one, is a team playing very well and which could cause real problems for Pitt.

3. Again, Syracuse was very impressive. I’m struck again, though, by how bad James Harden was. I watched him play four or five times during the season and was impressed every time by how good he was. In both tournament games he was invisible. He couldn’t shoot at all, and he couldn’t help his team out when they very badly needed the boost from their best player.

4. I like Xavier a lot, so I am very happy by what they have done again this year. I am intrigued by their matchup against Pitt. On paper it doesn’t look good – Pitt has size and strength advantages in a big way, and Xavier’s lack of a press plays into Pitt’s hands nicely. Still, Xavier just finds a way to get things done. They should have beenoutsized and outmatched by Wisconsin today, but they totally set the tone and dominated the Badgers throughout. I’m not sure what will happen, but my first gut reaction is that the opening line gives Pitt too much credit.

5. Again, Arizona very much looks like they belong. I think that they are in tough against Louisville, but they will definitely make it interesting.

6. Michigan State makes me proud to be a big Big Ten fan.

7. Cole Aldrich was very, very impressive, but I just can’t believe that Kansas is a legitimate contender beyond this point.

8. All of the one, two, and three seeds are still alive, along with two fours and a five. Who says playing the chalk can’t be profitable?