Starr raises a good point that we might as well acknowledge and get out of the way now, which is the way in which our interest in the tournament is tied up in our own emotions and backstory. The NCAA tournament is an almost perfect sporting event in that it draws a huge, passionately interested audience from all over the country. And, let's face it: They're not all tuning in for the basketball, but for the connection the tournament brings, back to a college experience they loved, forward to their new connections in the working world. After all, from a purely sport standpoint, we're watching minor league baseball here. And I somehow doubt we'll be doing this during the Pacific Coast League playoffs. Take the university connection out of the Duke Blue Devils and they're just the Durham Bulls. 

</SOAPBOX> Now, bring on those games!