Project OSPREY
N.C.A.A. Tournament, Elite Eight
East Regional Final
(4) Syracuse 55-39 Marquette (3)

There was no joy in watching the pathetic slog through forty minutes by the epithetless Orange(men) or Syracuse & the epithetless Golden Eagles of Marquette. Instead of flipping back & forth from one delightful, unexpected tournament treat to another, there was no other game but the sad, dreary affair 'twixt offensively-challenged Big East contenders. Watching this afternoon's game felt like work, not recreation; work for which I was poorly compensated.

West Regional Final
(9) Wichita State 70-66 Ohio State (2)

Once again, the hated Buckeyes fell into a deep hole, & for once they were not able to haul themselves out again, not before time expired. I knew this day would come, & cursed them for fools for not taking the epithetless Shockers seriously as opponents! Ohio State could have won tonight's game—should have won tonight's game—but they were clearly unprepared for Wichita State. Why did those Scarlet & Gray jerks wait 'til halfway through the second half to start driving to the basket? Once they did, they were drawing fouls left & right & making up significant ground on Wichita State at the free throw line. Had the done that from the first, had they put forth an effort instead of blithely expecting last-second heroics to be their salvation yet again, a Big Ten club would be in the Final Four. (My head wanted the hated Buckeyes to prevail, but my heart soared whenever the epithetless Shockers made Craft & co. look hapless.) For pity's sake, Ohio State! Why didn't you take Wichita State seriously?