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Two teams earned automatic bids to the NCAA Tournament last night, and both teams did it in the fashion that epitomizes what March Madness is all about.
First, Portland State got into the tournament by beating Montana State in the Big Sky Championship Game. This is the second straight tournament appearance for Portland State, and they are the first Big Sky champions to repeat since 2005-2006. Their game came down to the final few seconds, as Montana State tied the ball game up at 77-77 with 11 seconds left in the game. But Portland State’s Dominic James brought the ball down the court, hit his the defender with the killer crossover and found Julius Thomas under the basket for the go-ahead dunk with 3.5 seconds left in the game. Montana State’s last ditch effort did not go in, and Portland State started to celebrate on the court.
The Northeast Championship Game between Mount St. Mary’s and Robert Morris was just as exciting. With just over 3 minutes left in the game, Mount St. Mary’s went up 4 points. However, a couple of major shots, including a big time 3-pointer from NEC Player of the Year Jeremy Chappell, put Robert Morris back on top with 1:41 to go. The game was soon tied again, and the ball was put back in Jeremy Chappell’s hands for the final shot of the game. However, Chappell lost the handle on the ball, and on off a fortuitous bounce, the basketball ended up in the hands of Robert Morris’s Dallas Green, who promptly put up a shot that put Robert Morris ahead with just 2.5 seconds remaining in the game. Robert Morris would go on to win the game, and naturally, the fans stormed the court to celebrate the NEC Champion Robert Morris Colonials and their NCAA Tournament bid.
Those two games are what March Madness is all about. Big time plays, by big time players, in big time moments. And it really doesn’t get much better than that. If you saw the heart and determination these four teams were playing with down the stretch, then you know exactly what I’m talking about. Throughout those games, players were diving on loose balls, finishing their shots, and giving it their all on defense. Each championship game had the feel of an NBA Finals game—just with lesser-known players.
You know, I heard Collin Cowherd say that once you start watching NBA Basketball you can’t really enjoy the product that college basketball gives you. But in watching Portland State, Robert Morris and their opponents go at it with passion, execution and fury, like they did last night, I think Cowherd may have gotten this one wrong.
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