Let’s examine the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament Reid Roundup style … Congratulations to the SLU Billikens for a gutsy four-game run that ended with a scintillating come-from-behind win over St. Bonaventure to win the Atlantic 10 title and a ticket to the tournament … Hey Earl Austin Jr., SLU analyst, bring your boy a souvenir from Salt Lake City … SLU could bat Virginia Tech, the East Regional No. 4 seed – but I couldn’t convince myself to wonder how long it will be before the “SLU coach Travis Ford should replace Mizzou coach Cuonzo Martin” talk begins … At 15-17, I doubt the NIT was going to invite Missouri. Martin announced last week that the Tigers would not participate in the NIT or the College Basketball Invitational, even if invited. Is money that tight at Mizzou? … The extra practice days would be worth the investment of the Tigers playing in the CBI … North Carolina beat Duke twice when the Blue Devils were without Zion Williamson for all off about a minute of the first match up. Williamson then turned in a superhuman effort to lead Duke over the Tar Heels in the ACC Tournament – thing is Duke won by all of one point. Tar Heels take three-of-four and the title … Is any reporter covering Duke the next three weeks going to dare ask Williamson if anyone in his family, a friend or adviser sought or received money from a shoe company, as is suggested on a FBI wiretap call between a convicted Adidas representative and KU assistant coach Kurtis Townsend? … My Jayhawks will be tested by a solid Northeastern team, prevail and then lose to New Mexico State – who will have stunned Auburn in the first round … The NCAA will celebrate coach Bruce Pearl and scandal-plagued Auburn making the earliest of exits … I’ve got Florida State making a run for coach Leonard Hamilton, one of the most underrated coaches in the nation. They lose to Michigan in the West Regional final, though … Prairie View and North Carolina Central are the HBCU teams in the tournament – regardless of winning the respective SWAC and MEAC conference tournaments, both were relegated to playing in “First Four” play-in games … Liberty will beat Ole Miss in another first round upset … Tennessee in the Final Four? Either I’m an idiot or really smart … I’m looking forward to finally seeing Ja Morant of Murray State play. The talented guard averaged 24.6 points and 5.5 rebounds per game and led the nation in assists (10.3 per game). He will become the first Division I player to average 20 points and 10 assists and become the first Division I player in 20 years to tally 40 points, 11 assists and five steals in a regulation game. He’s a for-sure NBA first-round draft pick, probably in the first five selections … Houston coach Kelvin Sampson was labeled a disgrace after his tenure at Indiana, but he’s now the repeat American Athletic Conference Coach of the Year. His Cougars are 31-3, a No. 3 seed and should reach the Sweet 16.
