Running Commentary on Thursday Games

The commentary begins at 12 noon and goes until the end of the second set of games. There may be intermittent updates during the evening contests.

1202pm Counting down to Greg Gumbel ... the countdown is at 8 minutes. Davidson and Maryland is the first game of the day. Question for the masses: OVER/UNDER (1) -- How many suits will Gary Williams sweat through during today's game?

1233pm The Terps weather an early 8-4 Davidson lead with 9 quick points. Pressure seems to be the answer if they want to pull away. Texas Tech/BC and Louisville/Stanford are underway.

1241pm Louisville already has a 17-6 lead. Are my eyes deceiving me? They're playing in Lexington. Way to protect that 3 seed, NCAA. Meanwhile, Maryland is playing like the team that lost twice to Miami.

1249pm These Hanes commercials with Kevin Bacon and Michael Jordan are horrific. When was the last time Kevin Bacon was in a decent movie with an actual role?

107pm Louisville has a 41-13 lead. This one goes out to my brother who picked Stanford, citing "I like Lawrence Hill." Well, Lawrence Hill doesn't like the press or end-to-end basketball.

133pm A friend tells me, "I can't believe you didn't pick UNC to win." Neither do I. What can I say? I just don't like them with regard to the intangibles.

141pm Maryland needs to watch "Better Basketball". Yes, the video with Magic Johnson. Their passing is just plain awful in the 2nd half. And right as I say that, a pass (successful) out of a double team and a trey.

151pm The commentator reminds us that if Maryland loses, they're done for the season. Bambale Osby keeping Maryland in this game and actually ahead now. Stephen Curry is as good as advertised. And in case you're just joining us, he's the son of Dell Curry. If you're watching at home, you've heard it about 30 times and are probably feeling nauseous as a result.

217pm Mike Jones hits what might be the dagger to make it a three possession game with under two minutes left. We have our first final: Boston College 84 Texas Tech 75. Well, second if you count the Louisville game, which was over before it started.

233pm Maryland survives, but everyone is apprised of Stephen Curry's skills. Stanford wishes that their game can be over. Oral Roberts and Washington State are underway. Thus far, ORU is looking like that 14 who'll beat a 3. Three more games set to start in a few minutes.

304pm My brother's dog just demonstrated Stanford's performance a few minutes ago. Belmont up early and Oral Roberts outplaying Washington State.

311pm Butler and ODU is a defensive struggle and looks to be that way throughout. ODU head coach Blaine Taylor looks like he wants in on this game.

315pm Washington State closes the half with 4 points in the last two seconds to cut ORU's lead to 2 at the break.

356pm Washington State up 8 with Oral Roberts lurking. Meanwhile, Finnish phenom Gerald Lee (who I mentioned about yesterday) has put the Monarchs ahead of Butler by a point at the half in what has been an ugly game.

417pm The referees might as well wear white, because that's Butler's jersey color. Two blocking fouls called on the Monarchs that should've been player control fouls on Butler. Funny enough, as I mention this, two quick reach-ins called against Butler. Still an ugly game.

429pm Four straight 3-pointers for Butler and their lead is at 9 - the highest of the game.

433pm Penn has come back from double digits to take a 2-point lead against Texas A&M.

441pm ODU did exactly what it wasn't supposed to do and go into a coma. Butler rid itself of their Miss November status with its first victory in 2007 against a RPI top 50 team. In other news, Washington State won and Georgetown is coasting. A&M up 4 with 9 to go.

453pm ODU is delaying their fate with a flurry of timeouts. Vasylius (2 for 11) has put together one of his worst performances of the year. Disappointing to say the least.

502pm Butler defeats ODU 57-46. A&M is now pulling away from Penn at the under 4 timeout. All the higher seeds have advanced thus far despite a couple of scares.

529pm A&M wins comfortably after a scare halfway through the second half. I took a brief respite a la GW so far against Vandy, who looks absolutely determined. This game is disgusting. Vanderbilt up 25. The Commodores are rebounding well and playing good defense. More importantly, 10 for 18 from behind the arc. Insane.

619pm GW is DONE. | Meanwhile, Vanderbilt looks dangerous. Overall, a very disappointing first half of day one. Duke versus VCU headlines the first set of games which begin at 710pm.

937pm CAA champion VCU defeats Duke 79-77 in a hotly-contested battle. The last time Duke lost in the 1st round was 1996.

1020pm In the postgame press conference, Coach K says, "It's not our birthright to get in [the NCAA tournament]." I humbly disagree.

1040pm Wright State ties the game on the force of a 12-1 run after Pittsburgh started the game with 13 straight points. Who's Wright State's coach? Brad Brownell. Where'd he coach last season? UNC-Wilmington of the Colonial Athletic Association. There's some irony in store for Saturday if they pull off the improbable.

1058pm No Matt Nover for Indiana?

1120pm Eastern Kentucky is on a 32-9 run and are only down 4 to North Carolina. Can UNC be the first #1 seed ever to lose in the 1st round? Probably not, but it makes for a good story.

1141pm Indiana has pulled away and in line to win. Wilmont has answered the call and dominated the Pargo matchup. Lavender wins it for Xavier, setting up the all-Ohio matchup versus Ohio State. Pitt and UNC seemed to have also pulled away, so that should finalize things for this evening.