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Back in February, all the NCAA division I teams had the ability to cut down that net, even DU.

First they had to make their conference playoffs and from then on it was single-elimination only. Every team who won their conference received an automatic bit to the tournament with the rest of the bids handed out at an at-large basis. This gives teams in stronger conferences a chance to still make the tournament. The seeds for all teams are revealed during a selection show.

Once the brackets are set, it is time to begin the office pools.

People on chair lifts taking a vacation with the little ones are calling the office not to check up on work, but to pick their teams in the pool. Even members of the DU coaching staff and administration have set up a pool. However, due to NCAA rules, they are just playing for pride. Picking teams can often be viewed as a crap shoot. You know there will be at least one Cinderella team in the sweet sixteen, but which one?

This year it was the story of the Alabama teams, the University of Alabama making it to the elite eight before losing to Connecticut and the University of Alabama at Birmingham who lost to Kansas in the round of 16.

Both teams making the cover of Sports Illustrated after the first weekend.

Turns out that the curse still exists.

While no team seeded lower than third made it to the final four, Xavier and Alabama came oh so close.

You know at least one top seed will go out early, but again, one mind as well flip a coin. This year Kentucky lost in the second round to UAB and Stanford lost to Alabama also in the second round.

Imagine working all season to attain a great record, being awarded a No. 1 seed giving you the easiest route to the final four and being quickly eliminated.

The most feared game of the first round has to be the 12-5 game. This year it was Florida’s turn to bow out to Manhattan in the first round as the five seed.

No one could have predicted this final back in February.