UD Arena makes the play-in game feel big time.

Leading off

I love the first day of the NCAA Tournament and today is the real first day no matter how many days  of prologue play-in games they set up. It's unlike any other sports day because its an all-you-can-eat buffet of tournament action from noon til midnight.No other sport offers a day like this.

I love St. Patrick's Day too. I am Irish. I honeymooned in Ireland and I love the Irish connections to the holiday and all the Irish music.  But I love it too, because it's a holiday when people celebrate being festive and being happy. There's no presents or cards really. It's just a  a fun day for fun sake.

So I especially love it every few years when St. Patrick's and Tournament Day fall on the same day. 

It's a day of hoops and heritage, beer and brackets and a lot of missed work. I can't wait for it to get started.

So I'll tip off this day guide with some gaelic that I'm sure doesn't translate perfectly:

Sasta fonsai la ...Happy Hoops Day. 

Fearless prediction:

Richmond beats Vanderbilt

What to look forward to today:

Hopefully upsets and buzzer beaters.

Question I don't know the answer to:

Did the NCAA really have to make Clemson play at hoon?.

Recommended reading:

College hoopsters and majors.
A look at rebounding machine Kenneth Faried.
Pete Thamel looks at the officiating. 
How to throw a St. Pat's/NCAA Party. This is a lame article, but I felt obligated to throw them a link because I'm using their leprechaun graphic.

Buzzer beaters:

There isn't an elite job opening in college hoop yet. But there are several B+ jobs likely to offer a lot of cash. NC State, Georgia Tech and Oklahoma are all hunting and there's no better tryout spot than the NCAA Tournament. Win a game and you might get your next gig. 

...one days til it really starts...