Big Dance: Top Seeds Kansas, Villanova Start to Restore Order

Up until now, chaos has been the refreshing stamp on this year's version of March Madness.

The hard fact, though, is that sooner or later, it was always gonna be the big brands asserting themselves as the tournament progressed.

That spear in the ground happened tonight.

The only upset wasn't really one at all, as it was 3-seed Texas Tech upending 2-seed Purdue.

Kinda hard calling something that isn't something that is.

 

First of all, can it, Boilermakers. You're not the only team to lose a key player. Start with Kansas State and Gonzaga -- even Virginia -- and note the long list from there. It's not a perfect world, so take the regular season and prepare.

Three of them did, making adjustments as necessity dictated, held serve in tonight's Sweet Sixteen slate.

 

Mike Krzyzewski came to the conclusion that not even a miracle could get this season's Dookies to learn how to do man-d, so he broke out a zone in the regular season.

It paid off in spades against, ironically, zonemeister Jim Boeheim and the offensively challenged Syracuse Orange, but barely, in a 69-65 decision.

 

Kansas, too, made adjustments in the regular season after a disappointing start. It paid off, as was evident when the Jayhawks were tested by 5-seed Clemson.

The Tigers kept it close, but the Jayhawks prevailed, 80-76:

 

If any of the night's underdogs could break through, even money would've tabbed West Virginia.

As usual, coach Bob Huggins had his squad battle-hardened and spoiling for the challenge. Unfortunately for the Mountaineers, this was a closely-officiated game, which rarely bodes well for Press Virginia.

Toss in the fact that Villanova's howitzers were on target, and their 90-78 victory was virtually pre-ordained:

 

As for Texas Tech going where no Red Raider had ever gone before, full marks to them:

 

Thus, the Elite Eight won't be short of favorites.

As usual.