cAn't gEt EnOUgH Of tHe Maaadness !

Not every division one basketball school having a good year can qualify for the NCAA Tournament.  Due to the fact that every conference tournament winner receives an automatic bid to the field of 64, every year there are well deserving school's that miss out on the big dance.

If great talent and crisp basketball is what your looking for than I suggest sticking with watching the big dance.  You'll save yourself a great deal of anguish.  If passion, hard work and devotion gets your juices flowing, than you may want to catch an NIT match-up.

The Illinois Fighting Illini and the Clemson Tigers played a highly contested game Sunday morning.  These two schools both have a rich and deep basketball tradition.  Clemson went 10-8 in the ACC this season.  The Tigers have a legitimate gripe at being left out of the NCAA Tournament.

In case you haven't noticed, Clemson has one of the best home-court advantages in all of college basketball.  The Tigers held a comfortable lead at intermission 28-19.  As expected, things would tighten up coming down the stretch.  Illinois forward Jon Ekey knocked down two late three's that helped put the Fighting Illini in position for the road victory.

Illinois held a one point lead on the games final possession.  Clemson's Rod Hall, crossed over from left to right and attacked the basket.  Hall avoided two defenders while laying the ball in to give Clemson the 50-49 victory.  Prior to that play Hall was only 1-7 from the field with seven turnovers.  Hall went from goat to hero in a matter of seconds.

Many coaches around the country would have passed on an NIT Invitation.  I definitely understand and respect the logic in that decision.  Every teams goal entering the season is to have a shot at the NCAA Tournament.  What schools like Indiana have to remember is that the fans and the kids who give blood, sweat and tears deserve to play.  These opportunities only come along once in life.  Instead of being a sour puss, coaches should suck it up and have fun.

The MADNESS continues!