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What to look forward to on this Championship Week Saturday

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I often look most forward to the Saturday of Championship Week. Over Selection Sunday, over the traditional day one of the NCAA Tournament, over the release of the Boston Symphony Orchestra’s holiday performance schedule. So, in theory, I would naturally be elated to light a few candles, curl up with a nice blanket, and cook a pot of tea while an abundance of really important games play themselves out.

I’m kidding about all that soft stuff, but Saturday truly is the reason why Championship Week is the new March Madness. But with the continued parity playing out even in the bracket format, what I’m most looking forward to isn’t as entirely match-up focused as I initially planned. There’s still plenty of storylines teeming to play out this afternoon and evening, so here’s your high-level primer to make sure you know what to look for.


  • Dayton – This might be the first time “looking forward to” and Dayton have been penned together in the same sentence, but the Flyers - traditionally one of the most underachieving programs of the past 10 years - might actually be dancing this season following an upset of rival Xavier yesterday. With talented players like the brothers Chris (Wright and Johnson), it’s about time this crop of players position themselves to join the field of 68.
  • Illinois Fans – Just how can this team falter down the stretch for a second consecutive season? Back in October, on paper these guys looked like an Elite Eight team but here they are with a second consecutive dreadful close to the season, highlighted by yesterday’s blown opportunity against Michigan. Can’t wait to see how Champaign reacts to this mess. Oh wait, they’re already questioning Bruce Weber’s commitment.
  • A Pac 10 game worth watching – Is there a more less exciting BCS conference tournament than this one? After watching roughly 30 seconds of an early round game, ESPN’s Colin Cowherd said the Staples Center matched the energy level of an insurance convention. That’s not very nice, but so very true. With the finals finally set in place, Arizona-Washington should play out nicely, based on what we’ve already seen from them this season.
  • BYU-SDSU Round III – It’s always been deemed very difficult for a team of similar skill level three times in a season. Heck we saw BYU down nemesis New Mexico, proving just that theory. So now, the Cougars will try to tackle this challenge against the Aztecs, and its especially important with a fourth No. 1 seed still begging to be taken.
  • Kentucky – You can’t mask the fact that the Georgia Dome physically has zilch in common with Rupp Arena, and the Wildcats were pretty nervous when playing away from Lexington this season. They’re in the semis, and have a real opportunity to distinguish themselves from a fairly mediocre SEC field.
  • That game in the Garden – But you already knew that. And, besides, Dauster is blanketing the coverage.