NCAA March Madness 2010: St. Mary's Shocks Villanova: Hello, Cinderella

Had enough March Madness yet?

Things are just starting to get interesting—so sit back, relax, and watch the Cinderellas crush your bracket.

In an almost unfathomable scenario, 6'11" Omar Samhan led his Gaels to a 75-68 victory over the Final Four-projected, No. 2-seeded Villanova Wildcats.

Yes, you read that right. St. Mary's College just toppled a juggernaut—Jay Wright's Wildcats are finished, forced to watch the rest of this weekend's games from the comfort of their hotel. 

Samhan pounded his way to a game-high 32 points and looked nearly unstoppable in the paint. 'Nova had no answer for the Gaels' big man—none whatsoever, zilch, zero.

The Gaels are pushing the trend of tournament shockers, one Samhan post-move at a time.

The so-called "little guys" are showing up in a big way: Upsets seem to be a trend thus far, with each "Cinderella's" win more and more impressive.

Ohio stunned third-seeded Georgetown 97-83, a No. 14 slotted team over one of the Big East's top dogs (pardon the pun).

Louisville fell victim to California 77-62  in a No. 8 vs. No. 9 duel. The Cardinals' loss wasn't exactly a shocker, but it did turn some heads—the Pac 10 needed that one. 

These losses have turned heads away from the Big East. The conference was believed to be the nation's cream of the crop in regards to college basketball, but its upper-echelon teams like Marquette, Georgetown, and Villanova are taking a not-so-graceful early bow.

It is now up to West Virginia to right league's ship, and show the world of college basketball that it won't endure the same fate that its counterparts have—dropping like flies.

How many of these underdogs are going to keep riding their waves of confidence?

Murray State? Old Dominion? 

The aforementioned teams are precisely the reason why millions of college hoops fans watch the madness—to witness the incredible, improbable, and flat-out exciting double-digit seed teams slay giants.

And on the other hand, those giant-killers are precisely the reason why your bracket is likely in shambles.

How hot for how long?

That's the real question that the Gaels are facing. Will dominant play down low continue to trek them along?

What about the perimeter attack?

That all depends on how long its long-ball artists stay hot, how long the sharpshooters ride their momentum. Mickey McConnell stroked 3-for-6 from three-point range, and timely ones at that.

Samhan may have a little something to do with St. Mary's new found glory, too. The center posted his fifth 30-plus-point game of the season, and was just shy of that mark against Richmond in the opening round of festivities, with 29.

The San Ramon, Calif. native is beasting his way into March's calamitous limelight. Forget about guys like Scottie Reynolds, they are done.

Forget about Greg Monroe—there is a new tower looking to claim the nation's attention; and it's St. Mary's 6'11" monster in the middle, Samhan.

The Gaels are now officially one of the hottest tournament stories, thanks to their escapades against Villanova.

Let the madness ensue.