Basketball is a stupid game.

You are dead to me.

Moonliners death to me aside, there was some incredible basketball last night. Love to see Syracuse lose and that was a great game, and the double overtime thriller of Xavier and Kansas State was amazing. My kids were in bed so I couldn't scream at all the amazing shots and plays....what a game.

As much as I found myself rooting for Xavier, that missed call when K-State tried to foul at the end of regulation was bad. The ref has got to know that the team up by three will probably foul to prevent the other team from getting a three-point shot off.

Yeah, that was pretty awful. But hats off to the kid who hit all three (granted, he shoots over 85%, but that's pressure). Also hats off to the other kid (Crawford?) who has seemingly unlimited range.

As a coach, though, I never want officials considering what the strategy of a team might be and have calls ready based on that. While impractical, they should be emotionless and be completely unaware of the score or situaiton.

I went and checked. Turns out my alma mater did make the tournament and they even won two games. But they're out now so I can continue not being aware of it.

I do like how looking at an NCAA Tournament bracket does feel like trying to follow cricket commentary. I'm not sure how I'm supposed to feel about AARP beating NAMBLA by 23. Oops, that was ARPB beating WIN (now that is a name just begging for an ironic ass kicking) by 17.

My father in law is a member of the North American Mortgage Brokers Association. He wears shirts that have large letters of NAMBA. I ALWAYS misread it and do a double take.

As a coach, I'd let the officials know we are going to foul in that situation.

Which brings up the question - why do they even bother having an "intentional foul" rule on the books anymore?

That is an interesting question. It should be reworded as a foul made without effort to make a play on the ball.