Today's Big Winner: NCAA tournament regional finalists
In the end, after being ignominiously bounced from the NCAA tournament in the Sweet 16, yes: Indiana's season was a failure -- with one huge exception. It is no small feat to go from a program in shambles -- which is really where Indiana was when Tom Crean arrived -- to a place where the expectation is "championship or bust." I will take perennial "title or fail" stakes -- and the crushing "fail" that typically comes with it -- over perennial "just happy to be here" stakes every time, and I say that with the authority of someone who went to Northwestern but adopted Florida. There is no shame in acknowledging this season as a failure for Indiana. In fact, it is precisely the opposite: The frustration for IU fans is the most accurate signal that the program is back near the top. ***** Looking ahead to tonight: "Schadukefreude" Last week, I said that the best day of the sports year was the first day of the NCAA tournament. Let's amend that: Clearly, one of the best days of the sports year is the day that Duke is eliminated from the NCAA tournament. It is the unofficial -- but universal -- Moment We All Wait For during the Tournament. Occasionally, Duke wins the national title -- the ultimate reminder that our loathing is based on their wild success. But in every other year, there is the schadenfreude-y anticipation for the moment Duke is bounced. Tonight may be that night. Michigan State fits the profile of teams that give Duke trouble in the tournament -- the ones that punch them in the mouth, unapologetically. It also happens that if there is one coach just as successful in the regional round of the NCAA tournament as Coach K, it is Tom Izzo. Maybe it happens tonight. Maybe it happens Sunday against Louisville. But if you feel a giddiness in the air, it is because we are on the verge of Duke's annual tournament exit. Tonight's hoops schedule (picks in bold) 7:15 1 Louisville vs. 12 Oregon (Midwest - Indianapolis) 7:37 1 Kansas vs. 4 Michigan (South - Arlington, TX) 9:45 2 Duke vs. 3 Michigan (Midwest) 10:07 3 Florida vs. 15 Florida Gulf Coast (South) Want a great read?Eric Prisbell makes the link between the zany antics of Florida Gulf Coast's bench and the 1.0 version 25 years ago, Arizona's "Gumbies." (And Rubie Edmondson put all of this season's best sideline moves in one awesome stream of GIFs.) Bonus! Looking ahead to Saturday's regional finals: East: Syracuse over Marquette | West: Ohio State over Wichita State (Rooting interest? The opposite: Marquette and, obviously, the Shockers.) ***** More of today's winners: Syracuse's 2-3 zone: Absolutely stymied Indiana's nationally top-ranked offense. Buzz Williams: New holder of "tournament coach you should bet on" title. Whew. LaQuinton Ross: What a shot. Name achieves immortality with Ohio State fans. Wichita State: No shock last night -- if you took the name off the jersey and took the seed from next to their name on the bracket, you would swear you were watching a 1-seed. UCLA: Must be pleasant to be so delusional you think you can hire away Brad Stevens. Penguins: Evgeny Malkin is back, Jarome Iginla is in the fold and the team won its 14th straight last night. Baseball fans: MLB Opening Night is Sunday. (Texas at Houston? Ehh. Well, at least it's regular-season baseball! Check out an AL West preview here.) Baseball-Reference.com: Aligns with FanGraphs on key WAR input. Huzzah! Milwaukee Bucks: Put yet another dent in the Lakers' playoff push. (And adding injury to insult, Kobe left the game on crutches.) Aaron Rodgers: Worth every penny of pending mega-extension with Packers. Game of Thrones: Back on Sunday! Enjoyed this "Around the Horn" parody. Quote of the Day: "You've got to accept the player." (Rob Gronkowski, asked how he would feel about having a gay teammate) Great read: Today's "Bracket Briefing," topped by Scott Gleeson's analysis of why the seemingly better teams don't win in the NCAA Tournament. Must-flip gallery: Fans around the NCAA Tournament. Read the Morning Win every weekday morning. Follow Dan Shanoff on Twitter at @danshanoff 
Source : http://www.usatoday.com/story/gameon/2013/03/29/ncaa-tournament-indiana-syracuse-fgcu-duke-win/2030381/