The last game before the selection show was the American Conference Final between Cincinnati and Houston.  With less than 10 second left in the game, Houston has the ball in a tie game, and misses a three point shot to take the lead.  And then things spiraled downhill quickly – on the rebound, Houston was called for going over the back.  In the true sense of the definition of the foul, he did go over the back – but there wasn’t anything that prevented the Cincinnati player from securing the rebound, and quite frankly, there was a lot worse of that violation that was not called during the game.

Because Cincinnati is in the bonus, that actually sends the Bearcats to the free throw line – where they hit one of two free throws to win the game.  Houston did get one more chance – but they turned it over.

So – the Selection Committee needs to thank that referee.  Because had the call not happened, the game was very likely going to overtime.  And then, there became the possibility that the final game of the season wouldn’t end before the Selection Show was supposed to happen.   While both teams were likely in the tournament, you can’t honestly start the selection show before the game ends – can you?  But thanks to an over the back call, we will not find out what happens in that nightmare scenario.    Considering they already had to drop a team from the bracket thanks to Davidson upsetting Rhode Island to win the Atlantic 10, having a delay would have made this a rough day for the committee.

My crazy bracketology is out – where I have Virginia, Villanova, Kansas and Xavier as our top 4 seeds, with St. Bonaventure, USC, Texas and Oklahoma being the last 4 teams to make the tournament.  Of course, that is just my crazy guess of what happened.  And to be fair (although neither team cares what the Lunatic thinks), if some of my judgment rules were in place, neither Oklahoma nor Texas would be in.  I don’t like the idea that teams who go under 500 in conference can get an at-large bid.  But I am trying to match what I think the committee will do.  And I think the Sooners and Longhorns will be given a bid based on their profiles.

We shall see in a few minutes.  And then, the games begin – it will be time to Stomp the Lunatic!!!!