Leave it to college b-ball’s best play by play guy Ian Eagle to put it in perspective.

During Sunday’s Great Lakes State Wolverines vs. Sparty take-no-quarter Gettysburg-ish bloodbath, Eagle proclaimed, “We’ve got here a serious case of March.”

There’s no vaccine.

Thank heavens.

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Since my readership consists mostly of the diehards of one team, let’s get the U of L Cardinal chitchat out of the way. Even though there’s really nothing of substance to report today Tuesday.

Other than that some of us obsessives will be tuned into the Syracuse vs. Southern Methodist encounter to see whom the Cards will be battling Wednesday at 2:30 in their ACC tourney opener.

But we’re conjecturing of course where the committee will place the Cards this coming Selection Sunday.

So, a placement update.

#14 in the NET. Undefeated in all the lesser Quads, and 7-9 in Quad 1.

A takeaway from that you might not have noticed is that only two schools in the Top 25 have played more games in that upper echelon. Duke and Arizona have played 17, and a number of others have matched the Cards’ 16 such battles.

Pat Kelsey wanted a strong Strength of Schedule. He got it.

As for the revered data dudes: KP #14, EM #18, and BT #13.

The Cardinals have also crept back into the human polls after Saturday’s conference road W at Miami (Fla).*

*Which must be so specifically ID’ed this season because that other Miami is without a setback and everybody’s talkin’. 

One other expoloration down this rabbit hole of conjecture.

To the Bracket Matrix we saunter.

Where the consensus of 123 self-proclaimed bracketologists project Louisville as a 6 seed along with Tennessee, Wisconsin and Brigham Young. Which leads to a c’est possible first round matchup with conceivable 11 seeds, Texas, Santa Clara,  Virginia Commonwealth or the aforementioned Miami (Oh) Red Hawks.*

*You know what discipline turns irrelevant immediately at a time certain yearly? Bracketology at 6:00 PM Selection Sunday.

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One more peripheral Cardinal-ish item.

The first team to earn a bid with a W on the court was OVC champ, 23-9 Tennessee State, with 93-67 bushwhacking of Morehead State. It’s the Tigers’ first dance in 32 years.

Under the tutelage of son of Cardinal great and former Cardinal assistant, Nolan Smith. Who didn’t even get the job until mid July last year, and crafted the turnaround without significant portal help. Aided by the assistance of another ex-Cardinal staffer, Vince Taylor.

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Of course I’ll be intaking doses of Championship Week in such quantities, it will be approaching toxicity.

Helped along by too much Black Jewell popcorn and Vernor’s.

The games I love are in the little conferences, where only the winner dances.

Small gyms. Rabid fans. Frantic pace.

Siena vs. Merrimack for the MAAC is my jam.

But I’ll watch the big guys with bids assured also. Because I’m a junkie.

What must be remembered is every school in the land is going to take an L this week, unless they win their league tourney.

Despite all the talking head jabberwock, I’m not sure that there are many instances when this week’s results matter much come Sunday evening. Can teams move up or down a line? Maybe. Beat the bubble, or see it burst? Perhaps.

I dunno.

So, I inquire for your consideration, is it better to play three or four days in a row, or take the L and go home to rest?

Does Mikel play or sit and rest?

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The Sun Belt did something fascinating this season with its true and actual playdown.

Regular season champ Troy got a bye all the way to semi finals. Obviously giving it a greater chance at making the NCAA. Along with the 2 seed.

While the other 12 schools had to earn their way that far, climbing parallel ladders.

The worst four teams met in a couple of opening round games. Then had to climb a rung at a time to make it to Troy.

Noticeably 10 seed Georgia Southern conquered 11 Old Dominion, 7 Arkansas State, 6 South Alabama, 3 Coastal Carolina, and 2 Marshall to land in the title game.

On Consecutive Days.

Where in their sixth game in six days, they fell to Troy.

It coulda woulda shoulda been a great story.

Instead, “Forget it, Jake, it’s March.”

— c d kaplan