AaronGleeman.com

I watched 2 phenomenal college basketball games tonight (or yesterday night for those of you reading this after about 5 am on Friday). The NCAA men's basketball midwest regionals were here at the Metrodome.

The Wisconsin Badgers pushed the Kentucky Wildcats to the edge, but just didn't quite get enough support for Kirk Penney and Devin Harris to topple the Wildcats, who played the majority of the game without their star, Keith Bogans. Marquis Estill, who averaged 11 points per game during the season, looked like Wilt Chamberlain down low and scored 28 points on 12-18 shooting.

It is was really amazing how many red shirts there were in the Dome. It was almost like a home game for the Badgers. I don't think it is an exaggeration to say that there were at least 25,000 people (out of 29,000) rooting for the Badgers in the first game of the night, and at least half of them were wearing red (or so it seemed).

Kentucky had some good fan support too. But during the starting lineup introductions, their cheers for the Kentucky players were completely overtaken by the chorus of boos coming from all over the arena. The Wisconsin fans even booed the Kentucky band when they were announced before the National Anthem!

The second game was just as good, although the crowd was much less into it after most of their hearts were broken in the first game.

Marquette beat Pitt behind great guard play from Dewayne Wade (22 points on 10-19 shooting) and Travis Diener, who only scored 4 points, but had 8 assists and just did a marvelous job running the offense.

At one point during the second half I turned to my uncle (who had graciously given me a ticket to the game) and started to ask why the Gophers can't get someone like Diener. Before I could get 2 words out he said, "I know, why don't we ever get someone like Diener."

Brandin Knight was also great. He scored 16 points, had 11 assists and just seemed like he could get into the lane and to the basket at any point he wanted.

By the way, in case you haven't noticed, this is not a preview of the NL Central division!

I have about half of it written and was planning on writing the rest of it before I went to the game or maybe even after I got home. Well, I didn't get it done before the game and a complicated bus situation prevented me from getting back to the dorm at a decent time, so I am way too tired to finish writing it.

If you want to check back later today, I might have it completed. Otherwise, I will definitely make a rare weekend post and have the NL and AL Central previews up here on Saturday and Sunday.

In the mean time, check out some of the archives over there on the left side of the page. This blog has been here since August and I've written some interesting stuff from way back that you probably haven't had a chance to read yet.

Or, if you haven't read my previews of the other 4 divisions yet, you can check them out too: