By tomorrow night, we’ll be down to a Sweet 16; Stu Jackson is settling in as head of West Coast Conference

Weekend NCAA Tournament Games, times and broadcasters
Stan Van Gundy – always sounds comfortable – no matter the comment.
Andy Katz is best prepared of sideliners. He lives college ball and CBS wisely gave him a more prominent role, in Denver. I like the duo of color analysts too, Steve Smith and Avery Johnson. Neither is flashy. They both know the game. Years ago, Smitty, 54 at the end of the month, made a significant contribution to his alma-mater Michigan State.
Avery Johnson doesn’t scream or yell, yet makes simple explanations, demonstrating a love for the game. Johnson, 57, went to Southern University and later coached the Dallas Mavericks.
Ran into Stu Jackson yesterday here in Denver – He’s settling into his new gig in the Bay Area as commissioner of the West Coast Conference. I knew him a bit in his days with the Knicks as a coach. A very humble and soft-spoken gentleman.
The one school the WCC is identified with first is Gonzaga.
If Houston advances, we’ll see how he expresses his emotions. Remember he went to school there and was on the school’s golf team. He says he was close with legendary coach there, Guy Lewis.
If you don’t feel for Purdue, you don’t have a heart.
Second Round Games – Saturday, March 18
12:10 p.m., CBS, Orlando, FL, (13) Furman vs. (5) San Diego St., Kevin Harlan / Dan Bonner / Stan Van Gundy // Lauren Shehadi 2:40 p.m.*, CBS, Orlando, FL, (5) Duke vs. (4) Tennessee Harlan / Bonner / Van Gundy // Shehadi 5:15 p.m., CBS, Des Moines, IA, (8) Arkansas vs. (1) Kansas Brian Anderson / Jim Jackson // Allie LaForce 6:10 p.m., TNT, Sacramento, CA, (15) Princeton vs. (7) Missouri, Brad Nessler / Brendan Haywood // Dana Jacobson 7:10 p.m., TBS, Birmingham, AL, (9) Auburn vs. (1) Houston Jim Nantz / Bill Raftery / Grant Hill // Tracy Wolfson 7:45 p.m., CBS, Des Moines, IA, (10) Penn St. vs. (2) Texas Anderson / Jackson // LaForce 8:40 p.m., TNT, Sacramento, CA, (7) Northwestern vs. (2) UCLA Nessler / Haywood // Jacobson 9:40 p.m., TBS, Birmingham, AL, (8) Maryland vs. (1) Alabama Nantz / Raftery / Hill // Wolfson |
Second Round Games – Sunday, March 19
12:10 p.m. CBS Greensboro, NC (11) Pitt vs. (3) Xavier
Ian Eagle / Jim Spanarkel // Evan Washburn
2:40 p.m.* CBS Greensboro, NC (6) Kentucky vs. (3) Kansas St.
Eagle / Spanarkel // Washburn
5:15 p.m.* CBS Columbus, OH (7) Michigan St. vs. (2) Marquette
Andrew Catalon / Steve Lappas // Jamie Erdahl
6:10 p.m. TNT Albany, NY (5) Saint Mary’s vs. (4) UConn
Spero Dedes / Deb Antonelli // AJ Ross
7:10 p.m. TBS Denver, CO (6) Creighton vs. (3) Baylor
Lisa Byington / Steve Smith / Avery Johnson // Andy Katz
7:45 p.m.* truTV Columbus, OH (16) Fairleigh Dickinson vs. (9) FAU
Andrew Catalon / Lappas // Erdahl
8:40 p.m.* TNT Albany, NY (5) Miami vs. (4) Indiana
Dedes / Antonelli // Ross
9:40 p.m.* TBS Denver, CO (6) TCU vs. (3) Gonzaga
Byington / Smith / Johnson // Katz