Xavier, Ohio St, Cincy all win, move on; Georgia St shocks Baylor; Which local kids are shining in March Madness?

With the round of 64 starting up yesterday, it was excitement personified in March Madness. Here's the SELive Hot 5 topics for first day of round of 64.

(1) All the Ohio teams won - making them 4-0 in the tourney so far.
Ohio really is the hot state for hoops, so how fitting that Ohio St, Xavier, Cincy, and UD all won their first round games? The Buckeyes was led by freshman sensation D'Angelo Russell who dropped 28, and survived OT with win over VCU; Xavier cruised, while Dayton survived and Cincy won a thrilling game in OT vs Purdue.

(2) Multiple 13 seeds upset 4 seeds, send them packing.
Georgia St pulls off improbable W with hobbled coach as Miami (Ohio) grad Ron Hunter coached his boys - with a torn Achilles no less -to a magical win over Baylor. Wayne grad and Forward Marcus Crider had a very solid game, with double figures in scoring, and being a "Point Forward", and battling the bigs for Baylor, despite being undersized. R.J. Hunter scored 12 of last 13 pts for Georgia St. After struggling all game, he hit a 26-footer to win the game.
  UAB also pulled off a major win as well, defeating Iowa St in a close one.

(3) Local kids having major impact in March Madness
Every year it seems like a kid from Dayton area is balling out in the tourney. This year is no different at you look at the list of players who are in the tounament - and having a major impact. Here's the list:

Juwan Staten - PG - West Virgnia
Marcus Crider - F - Georgia St
Vince Edwards - F - Purdue
Jordan Sibert - G - Dayton
Travis Trice - G - Michigan St

Thats a nice group of players, wouldn't u say?
All starters, key players

(4) March Madness Hooper of the day
D'Angelo Russell - PG - Ohio St
The smooth lefty dropped 28 & was key in the OT win over VCU, as they move on to play Arizona. Can u say NBA Top 10 pick?


(5) Key games today for Locals

#5 West Virginia vs #12 Buffalo
#11 Dayton vs #6 Providence
#7 Mich St vs #10 Georgia


Note:
Upset Special - Dayton over Providence

NCAA Committe screws and hooks up Dayton Flyers at the same damn time

When the Dayton Flyers name popped up in the bracket to play in first four, there were two types of facial expressions from the Flyer players and coaching staff, who had just lost in the A-10 Championship Game to VCU.
The players? Pissed.
The coaches? Excited.

And that's how to explain how the Flyers faithful feel as well. Lets first examine the Flyers resume;
On one hand, the Flyers (25-8) was:

(1) One win away from a Atlantic-10 Conference and tournament championship;
(2) Played well in the early season tourneys, and even lost to strong opponents.
(3) Had a strong RPI - Top 50
(4)Finished in Elite 8 last season with most players coming back
(5) Record never wavered despite losing 2 biggest post players to disciplinary action

Looking at this resume, u think a 6 seed maybe, or a 8 or 9 at worst right?
A 11 seed.
That damn committee.
But why? How were they not convinced after this season?
But here's the catch Dayton fans.

You play at home. The first time in NCAA history. In front of 13,000 fans, mostly in blue and red for the joyous occasion.
And they're quite knowledgeable, so I'm sure UD Arena will be a rowdy spectacle.
Not even the #1 seeds have played on their home court for a game in the men's tourney.

And if you win that vs a very respectable Boise St team, you head 50 miles up the road - to Columbus- to play a team (Providence) who hasn't won any games in the tourney for a while.
Now while most fans for UD are salty, feeling like they got screwed, it will serve as more ammo for a team who has been counted out from the jump, called a Cinderella team last year.
 Former Flyer Big Man Nate Green feels like the home game could be a "Blessing in disguise."

How about the arrival of the newest big time "Mid Major" in the country? And another Elite 8 Appearance?

Only March Madness knows.
That damn Committee.

Win or lose today, Flyers deserve a high seed in NCAA Tourney

If last season the Dayton Flyers Hoops team felt like they were on a roller coaster, what could this season possibly feel like?

Feeling pretty good right now, it seems.

The Flyers battle VCU today for the #Atlantic - 10 Championship in Brooklyn (1pm). The Flyers held off Rhode Island in the semifinals.

While the Flyers aren't ranked (close to it) they have been for half the year, and have shown since last season, that when faced with adversity, they can rise to the challenge.

Last season they were a game away from the Final Four, and with a lot of key players still on the team they looked primed for another run.

They are 25-7, have one the 5 hottest coaches in the game (Archie Miller), a rabid fan base that travels, and have shown that even without height (losing their two tallest players for personal reasons) they still have thrived.
So Joe Lunardi, the bracket master or whatever you wanna call him, here's a message to you.

Respect the Flyers.
Give them a 4 or 5 seed.
The numbers justify the means.

Sincerely
FromThe best basketball in the country
Dayton