I don't know if Jacob Pullen has an NBA future, but college basketball will miss him. This was a terrific player..

Leading off

Is Brad Stevens tempted to leave Butler now? After last year's title run he's taken the Bulldogs back to the Sweet 16 at least. I have to think Oklahoma or North Carolina State would offer huge contracts to woo him and you could certainly win at either of those schools if you can win at Butler. 

Fearless prediction:

I'm feeling fiesty. Washington over North Carolina.

What to look forward to today:

Duke vs. Michigan - On one level it's interesting because it's an opportunity for John Beilein who was a great tournament coach at West Virginia to be great again. But it's particularly relevant today because of all the Duke-Michigan attention tied to the Fab Five documentary.

Question I don't know the answer to:

How much self doubt is Jamie Dixon feeling? The Pitt coach, who has done as well as any coach in the regular season, has to be feeling cursed in the NCAA Tournament.

Recommended reading:

Bob Ryan has a column on a coach who looks like Curly, but whose coaching performance has been far from Stoogelike.

Buzzer beaters:

Has there ever been more defining blocked shots and fouls in the same NCAA Tournament? Kenneth Faried's was the biggest since Hakim Warrick's in Syracuse's championship, but since then there's been swat after significant swat.

...two hours til Washington-UNC...