COLUMN: What a fun opening weekend!

Bracket Challenge standings

One point per correct pick.

1. Mikayla Kennaugh — 40 points

2. Matt Miracle — 40

3. Justin Wood — 38

5. Linda Kennaugh — 37

5. Tori Fantozzi — 37

10. Mike Kennaugh — 35

10. Lori Bunde — 35

10. Kyrsten Kennaugh — 35

10. Karin Sullivan — 35

10. Ryan McDonald — 35

11. Caleb McDonald — 34

Not playing but, Josh McDonald — 35

We are about to jump into the Sweet 16, but really, anyone who loves basketball loves the first two rounds of the NCAA Tournament more than anything.

The best four days in basketball wrapped up this past Sunday and to say that there was only a little bit of madness would be doing March an incredible amount of injustice.

From big upsets to narrow escapes, the first two rounds were everything we dream about and left many of our brackets in a muddled mess, mine included.

While the road to the Sweet 16 may have been paved with some truly amazing moments, no major upsets have rocked the top contenders who are all still there.

SportsLine had their top 10 in probability to win as (in order) Duke, Gonzaga, Virginia, Michigan State, Houston, North Carolina, Tennessee, Texas Tech, Kentucky, and Virginia Tech.

Each and every one of them are still dancing.

Along with them is ACC power Florida State, Purdue, LSU, and Auburn, who were all ranked for much of the season, and the Michigan Wolverines were the No. 1 team in the country for a time this season.

In fact, all of the 1, 2, and 3 seeds are still in play which hasn’t happened since 2009.

In all honesty the only true Cinderella this season is 12-seeded Oregon, which played in the Final Four just a couple years ago.

This weekend has the potential to be an absolute bloodbath and I can’t wait.

Now, in the spirit of good fun, I assembled a small panel discussion between me and two other March Madness nuts like myself.

We’ll all answer a few questions that might provide some insight into some of our favorite moments from our favorite weekend.

A couple introductions though …

Joining me will be Caleb McDonald and Matt Miracle, both are local guys with wildly differing thoughts and philosophies pertaining to basketball.

Now, I am Josh McDonald, Silver Valley sports writer, Gonzaga doubter, and fan of Syracuse (ouchie).

Caleb is also my annoying baby brother, a Duke fan and fellow Gonzaga unbeliever.

Matt is a relative newcomer to the Silver Valley by way of Michigan, Iowa, and the entire Midwest essentially … He is also a diehard Michigan State fan.

- • •

Question 1: Best Team Performance from the first two rounds?

MATT – Best team performance of the week for me was Auburn over Kansas. Auburn jumped all over Kansas early and got the most from their team top to bottom having nine players score during the game, four of which went into double figures.

CALEB – I thought the best team performance was North Carolina against Washington. UNC had three starters in double digits and got 20 from a non starter.

JOSH – For me it was the best performance, but it was a losing effort. UCF played their guts out against Duke. After getting their first NCAA Tournament win ever, the Knights gave Duke everything they could handle. Aubrey Dawkins’ 32 points and Tacko Fall’s 15 points (as well as his defensive presence). UCF was one bad roll from the biggest win in the tournament and in program history.

Question 2: Best Individual Performance from the first two rounds?

CALEB – I thought Duke freshman Zion Williamson grabbing 32 points and 11 rebounds against UCF was the biggest and best individual performance of the tournament.

JOSH – For me I think it was more of a combination of two games than just one. Purdue’s Carsen Edwards has scored 68 points in two games, including 42 points against defending champs Villanova in the second round.

MATT – Best Individual performance would have to be Ja Morant against Marquette. We got to see the entire bag of NBA level tools that he will get to utilize at the next level following this season. Ja showed why scouts are drooling over him by controlling the game and switching between talents based on the needs of the team. He also racked up the tourney’s 17th triple double and became Murray State’s all-time scoring leader.

Question 3: Biggest/Most Important Upset?

MATT – Most Impressive upset would have to go to Liberty over Mississippi State. Liberty had hung with the Bulldogs for most of the game until late in the second when MSU started to pull Liberty was able to rally and close out the game.

CALEB – UC Irvine going over Kansas St. was big for me because it was totally unexpected. K-State was up by 10 and about to run away before they rallied and gave UC Irvine their first Tournament win in school history.

JOSH – I know a 5 beating a 4 is hardly an upset, but the manner in which Auburn beat Kansas was the biggest upset for me. Auburn pummeled the Jayhawks for 40 minutes and continued to be the hottest team in NCAA not named Oregon.

Question 4: Lowest seed remaining that you have the most faith in?

CALEB – 5 Auburn for sure. They had a crazy start against New Mexico State, but showed that they are a good ball club by dominating one of college basketball’s bluebloods in Kansas.

MATT – The lowest seeded that I have the most faith in would be Oregon. They are a 12 seed but have talent that ranks much higher. Kenny Wooten has been playing at an all-conference level. Pair that with Payton Pritchard, Paul White, and Louis King and you have a potential Final Four team.

JOSH – I’m going to have to agree with Matt here. Oregon entered the Pac12 Tournament as the 12-seed … and won! Now, in the midst of a 10-game winning streak in the weakest section of bracket in the tournament, I think the Ducks are very capable of getting back to the Final Four.

Question 5: Highest remaining seed that you have the least faith in?

JOSH – The Gonzaga Bulldogs have been thrilling thus far in the tournament, largely due to favorable matchups, 3-point shooting, and Brandon Clarke balling out. Against Florida State though, the team that eliminated them in the Sweet 16 last year, they are about to meet a team of freak athletes that competed in the toughest conference in America. The only way the Zags pull this out is by continuing their insane 3-point shooting.

CALEB – I can’t decide on Tennessee or Virginia for this one. Virginia seems to struggle against everyone once tourney time rolls around, meanwhile Tennessee has been all over the place lately. Tennessee blew a 25-point lead to Iowa before pulling the W out in OT though, so I’m going with Tennessee.

MATT – Caleb is right, Tennessee’s been exposed throughout the regular season at times and while they won today they allowed Iowa to force OT after being up 25 at halftime. This is concerning as they move forward.

Question 6: Is your champion still in play?

CALEB – Duke Baby!

MATT – Virginia is alive and well. Let’s see how they do against a hungry Oregon team.

JOSH – Duke is my champion and the best team in the tournament, but whoever wins the left side of the bracket (the East and West Regions) is going to be the champion.