McClellan: Recapping madness and projecting a new Final Four

It’s always fun to see sports’ history or sports’ milestones being made or being reached.

I remember watching Hank Aaron hit home run No. 715 to break Babe Ruth’s all-time record of 714. I remember cheering like crazy as Nolan Ryan collected strikeout No. 5,000. I remember watching Tiger Woods’ historic first Masters victory. I remember being distraught after Buffalo’s historic 32-point comeback to beat Houston in an AFC playoff game.

Just last season, I remember being as happy as can be when Adrian Beltre collected career hit No. 3,000.

I love everything that comes with March Madness and the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament. Over the years the tournament has become more competitive, and with the gap between the No. 1 seeds and No. 16 seeds shrinking every year, I knew it was just a matter of time before a No. 1 seed fell to a No. 16 seed in the opening round. I always expected to chuckle when that happened.

Well, that first historic upset occurred this year when No. 16 University of Maryland, Baltimore County shocked the country by knocking off No. 1 Virginia. However, it was no laughing matter. Not when the upset blew up my bracket -- my bracket that had Virginia winning the tournament.

Oh well, maybe I’ll have better luck next year.

Although Virginia’s loss in the first round was the biggest upset of the tournament, it was by no means the only upset. After all, there is a reason this is called March Madness.

With West Region No. 1 seed Xavier losing a 12-point lead in the final 10 minutes of their second round game loss to Florida State, this year will mark the first time since 2004 that two No. 1 seeds failed to reach the Sweet 16.

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The South Region No. 2 seed Cincinnati tied the second-worst collapse in tournament history Sunday when it blew a 22-point lead in 11 minutes on its way to losing to No. 7 Nevada. Also on Sunday, North Carolina, the No. 2 seed in the West Region and the defending national champion, was steamrolled by 21 points by Texas A&M. And, two No. 3 seeds, Tennessee in the South and Michigan State in the Midwest, have also bit the dust.

In fact, in the South Region No. 5 Kentucky is the highest seed left standing since Virginia, Cincinnati, Tennessee and Arizona have all bowed out. This marks the first time in tournament history that the top four seeds in one region were all eliminated before the Sweet 16.

It’s been total madness.

Of the 48 games played in the first two rounds of the tournament, 18 of them were decided by 5 points or less. That is an amazing 37 percent of games decided by two possessions or less. There have also been two overtime games and four buzzer-beaters.

The Big 12 was arguably the toughest and best conference during the regular season, and it has flexed its muscle in the tournament with Big 12 squads claiming four of the 16 spots remaining. 

If everything fell just right, there’s a chance the Big 12 could have three teams – Texas Tech or West Virginia, Kansas and Kansas State in the Final Four. That would be both awesome and amazing, but I don’t see that happening.

Kansas State has won two games, but the Wildcats have struggled in both. I have a feeling the Kentucky Wildcats will take care of the K-State Wildcats. West Virginia will tangle with the East Region’s No. 1 seed Villanova in the Sweet 16. The Mountaineers have cruised in their first two games, but Villanova appears to be a machine. I expect Villanova to put an end to the Mountaineers’ climb.

Kansas is the No. 1 seed in the Midwest Region and the Jayhawks should be able to reach the Elite Eight where they should square off against Duke.

It’s been a lot of fun watching Texas Tech this season. The Red Raiders have one of the best defenses in the nation and they’re going to need it Friday night against the Purdue Boilermakers. Tech has a great chance to reach the Elite Eight, but that should bring a showdown with Villanova and I don’t think the Red Raiders have enough firepower to take down the Wildcats.

So, my Final Four: Kentucky, Michigan, Villanova and Duke

Championship game: Michigan and Duke

National Champions: Duke

Let the Madness continue.