Hey, that Notre Dame-Arizona game was great. Running and gunning. Both teams throwing in threes. Both teams shooting better than 60 percent from the field—for the first ten minutes.

And then, we really don’t need to get into what happened after that, do we?

Why did Notre Dame try and run with the nation’s most explosive team? Because Notre Dame can score, but can’t defend. And it was their only chance. But they had no chance.

Still, Chris Thomas showed again that he’s a stud, and Torin Francis ate up the Mildcats big men (too bad he let Channing Frye shoot over him all night). The future in South Bend is good.

Just not as good as Arizona’s present.

The Kansas-Duke game lived up to the hype. Although, my body rejects both teams like a bad clam. I did learn something last night, though. I hate Kansas worse. I really do. I have no idea who to pull for in the wretched Kansas-Arizona game. Though I have a feeling I hate Lute most of all.

Marquette-Pitt was a bad game with an exciting ending. How did the Warriors—sorry, Golden Eagles (whatever)—blow a 70-59 lead with three minutes to go? Yikes.

But when it was 73-72, Dwyane Wade took his misspelled first name to the hoop in one of the best moves you’re liable to see all tournament. Dwyane had 20 in the second half. Nicely done.

As for Wisconsin and Kentucky, the BADgers had a shot when Keith Bogans fell down and hurt himself. But even with him out, you got the feeling that Kentucky was playing with Wisconsin like a bored cat with a mouse. They let them think they were in it. But Kentucky was never going to lose.

Bogans will be hobbled on Saturday and Marquette might just have enough to sneak into the Final Four. Who knew?

We need one more owner for the Desipio fantasy baseball league at ESPN.com. Be a hero! Step up and sign up to play with us. The draft is at 11 a.m. tomorrow (Central Time). It’s National League only (because American Leaguers are wussies). Our league name is Desipio League Baseball and the password is flannelboy.

And, don’t forget that in addition to our American and National League scouting reports, we will be posting our fearless predictions for the 2003 baseball season today, and our preseason Cubs Report.

Monday. Cubs-Mets. Desipio. Be there. Noon.

The Irish season ended with a thud. But at least it ended on the second weekend of the tournament.

Apparently, Mike Downey’s NCAA Tournament assignment is to write boring historical accounts of Illinois and Notre Dame’s previous losses. Is anyone else as disappointed in Downey as I am?

The Cubs bench is…uh…old?

Just horrible news about Don Baylor.

Jalen mocks the Pacers for brining in the fossilized version of Tim Hardaway. I think it’s funny, too. They might as well have just suited up Isiah.

I think Steve Martin summed up HDTV best when he said, “So to the three guys watching us at Circuit City–hello!”

Greg Couch on the surprising state of Wisconsin hoops.

Mariotti puts down the doughnut to urinate on the Irish.

Get your playoff tickets now! The exciting Mark Grudzielanek will be leading off on Monday. Blecch.

I feel bad that it ended this way for Jim Harrick. I was hoping he’d go out in handcuffs.

Jayson Stark forces more Philadelphia crap down our throats.

Spanish-yes.com’s John Donovan on the “real” stories this spring.

EW clears up some Oscar questions.

A (then) five year old girl saved her kitten from a python. (We’re not making this up.)

The world’s greatest newspaper gets it from Hitler’s son. Really.