1. Watching Michigan lose today wasn’t much fun. I realize that I am not particularly unbiased in this regard, but I noticed something watching Oklahoma that I have seen in the other couple games I have seen them play – the refs give Blake Griffin a lot of leeway. Michigan got called for a lot of things today that Griffin in particular and Oklahoma and general didn’t. The foul calls were very unbalanced today, and when I looked back at Oklahoma’s stats that’s not uncommon. I’m not saying that that is why Michigan lost – the long scoring droughts didn’t help – but it sure makes it easier to win when you are getting the calls. Reputation and name has more impact in college basketball than it really should.

2. Gonzaga and Western Kentucky played one heck of a game just now. I was impressed by both teams, and I feel bad that the Hilltoppers had to lose it that way. It’s pretty bad when the refs missed a pretty obvious timeout call from the Western Kentucky coach right at the end, though.

3. I was nervous about my pick of Memphis in the championship game after the first round, but I’m really not anymore. They looked absolutely fantastic today against a team that had looked great in the first round. Memphis has an impressive mix of offensive talent and defensive intensity that makes them very tough to beat. Either Missouri or Marquette is in serious trouble next week, I think.

4. I guess Ty Lawson isn’t that injured after all. Or maybe he’s just heroic. Either way, that was one heck of a second half for him. I still don’t have a lot of faith in the Tar Heels, though – they just don’t look anything like champs to me.

5. As if you needed any proof, UCLA just isn’t a very good team right now.

6. UConn – Memphis is going to be one heck of a game. UConn looked about as good as the Tigers did today.

7. Seven of the eight games today went over. That puts the over at a profitable 23-17. That seems interesting, but the way these things work, six or seven games tomorrow will probably go under.