What we've learned Day 2
By JASON LOGAN
The count is 24-10 for Jason Logan.
No, that's not his tournament picks record. That's how many hours he's spent watching basketball against how many hours he's spent sleeping over the first two days of the NCAA tournament. Covers.com's college hoops analyst is glued to the action, bringing you his thoughts and observations from Day 2 of the big dance.
--If a conference's overall success in the tournament is a fair statement of its strength, than the Big 12 is the best league in the country. The conference is a perfect 6-0 in the tournament with Texas A&M, Oklahoma, Texas, Kansas, Oklahoma State and Missouri all advancing to the second round.
Even more impressive is the Big 12's 6-0 mark against the spread. Compare that to your beloved Big East, which is 6-1 through the first two days of the tournament but just 2-5 ATS. Connecticut and Syracuse were the Big East's lone paydays.
--Sticking with the Big 12, Oklahoma State point guard Byron Eaton put early foul troubles behind him and led the Cowboys down the stretch with huge buckets in the crunch. The Pokes are a completely different team when he is on the sideline. Books have OSU set as an 8-point underdog versus Pitt Sunday.
--Not calling out a screen is like missing your block in football. There have been a couple nasty backcourt picks in the first two days. Washington's Venoy Overton was leveled by meaty MSU forward Brian Johnson Thursday and OSU's Keiton Page was blind sided by Tennessee at the end of the half Friday. Watching a good screen is like watching a quarterback sack. You cringe but can't take your eyes off it.
--As great as Johnny Flynn and Eric Devendorf are playing this postseason, Syracuse is getting a great lift from its frontcourt. Forwards Arinze Onuaku and Rick Jackson weren't much more than garbage men during the regular season, but both bigs have stepped up in March. They combined for 24 points and 17 rebounds in Friday's win. The Orange are early 2.5-point favorites against ASU Sunday.
--James Harden will hear his name early in this year's NBA Draft. But while the talented sophomore is the face of Arizona State basketball, he isn't the end all and be all for the Sun Devils. Harden got a little help from his friends, Jeff Pendergraph and Derek Glasser, in ASU's win over Temple. He went just 1-for-8 from the field but twin 22-point efforts from Pendergraph and Glasser proved the Devils aren't a one-man show.
--Chris Wright's 27 points and thundering dunks gave Dayton face time on Friday's plays of the day. But it was the Flyers' team defense that has them playing Sunday. Dayton held an explosive WVU offense in check, limiting the Mountaineers to 37 percent shooting. The Flyers will set their sites on Kansas as early 8-point underdogs Sunday.
--Everyone freaked out on Selection Sunday when Arizona got into the tournament over Creighton and St. Mary's. But those very same whiners used their brackets to dry their tears. They all had the Wildcats upsetting Utah in the opening round Friday. No harm no foul.
--In the debate between talent and experience, experience scored a heavy nod when Cleveland State upset a very talented but wet-behind-the-ears Wake Forest team. The Vikings were relentless in their attack, shooting 47 percent from the floor. They ran circles around the Deacs press and scored layup after layup. Senior-laden Cleveland State has the momentum to become this year's Cinderella.
--For those of you who stayed awake for the late action Friday, you were treated to the finest set of games in the first two days of the tournament. Cleveland State, Siena and Wisconsin's OT win over FSU put the madness back in March and quieted those who yawned their way through the opening round.