March is an amazing time for basketball.  In Nashville, Tennessee – top seeded Belmont finds themselves down 7 with just 2 minutes left to Murray State.  Before tonight, they were 23-6 with an RPI = 23.  When looking closer, their top victories are Middle Tennessee State and a road game against Stanford.   But then of course, they went on to win their conference’s regular season – making them an interesting bubble case if they lose.  Being down 7 and going against last year’s Cinderella team led by amazing guard Isaiah Canaan, that was becoming more of a reality.

Then March happened.  Belmont hit a three pointer, Murray State misses a few FTs, and suddenly with 10 seconds, Kerron Johnson from the Bruins drives with the ball and ties the game – eventually sending it to overtime.  Then, with the game tied and the clock running down in overtime, an amazing thing happens.  Murray State’s star – probably still destined to play in the NBA – catches a pass from a teammate being pressured, and accidentally dribbles the ball off his foot for a back-court violation.

The ball is now back in Kerron Johnson’s hands.  He runs the clock down to 5 seconds, drives into the lane and hits a well-contested jumper to win the game and send Belmont to the Big Dance – breathing a sigh of relief that they don’t have to sit on Selection Sunday wondering if they will get a chance to play.  And one of last year’s Cinderellas realizes that they will not likely get a chance to relive some of the magic from last year.

It is a harsh reality for these smaller conferences – but it is what makes March so amazing.  There is so much emotion and passion that happens on these courts around the country.  And that intensity is only going to continue to grow over the next few weeks…

Meanwhile, I need to mention two more important things.

• Congratulations also belong to the Harvard Crimson.  The combination of their victory against Cornell with Princeton’s loss to Brown awarded them the Ivy League’s bid.
• I have the most amazing wife in the world.  We have all these great TV shows taped that we enjoy watching – and yet, Elizabeth let me take the TV over and watch Belmont’s amazing comeback against Murray State.  I am very lucky to have such a wonderful person in my life.