2010 Bracketology: So Many Shining Moments

It is hard to get a handle on life.

Things happen and there is never really a reason. We try to find reason and it is as fulfilling as all pursuits in life.

The National Championship Game was a picture of controlled chaos as Duke and Butler played at a high level for every second of the 40 minutes they earned by each winning five tournament games.

The game was played, coached, and officiated at the highest level, befitting the epic stature of the contest itself.

And as Gordon Hayward's shot hung in the air, as the buzzer sounded, as every breath in the packed arena stopped for one shining moment, the ball bounced off of the rim.

Is there a reason why that shot didn't drop? What does life mean in those moments when your fate is soaring through the air?

I might be too simple a man to know anything about anything, but I would like to venture a thought as to the why.

I think that life is really all about getting into a position to put that shot up, to see your fate out of your hands for a moment, to know that you used your head and your heart to earn that moment. The ball might go in and it might go out and we may never no why.

I would simply like to be in the position, powerless to the physics and fate of a greater moment, and be able to hope.

When the tournament started, there were 65 teams with a hope.

We saw Murray State win on a buzzer beater for one shining moment.

We watched the end of the Michigan State/Maryland game where the moment lasted a blissful 20 seconds.

The moment when a guard from Northern Iowa hit the shot of the tournament can still be seen shining.

We saw many games like Xavier/Kansas State when the time ran out and one team had more points but there were only winners on the court.

We saw Coach Bob Huggins hold his star player, DaSean Butler, in a moment that epitomizes the heart it takes to compete in sports and how the pain can come so quickly.

It can only last for one shining moment so all we can do is put up that final shot and watch it with everyone else.

And as Gordon Hayward's shot bounced off of the rim and the dance came to an end, we will always say that we saw it. We will always know why we watched. We watch because we are inspired by so many shining moments.

The 2010 NCAA Tournament is an instant classic, a shining moment that lasted three weeks and we were all able to share in it. We all watched that final shot soar through the air and we all hoped.

Some final thoughts...

Duke hired Coach K in 1980 when Butler coach Brad Stevens was three years old. 30 years later, only the legendary coach John Wooden has more national titles.

I hope that the NCAA Tournament does not expand to 96 teams. There is no need for it.

One way to expand would be to make four play-in games for the 16 seeds. Instead of giving the smaller conferences an automatic bid, give them a berth in one of four play-in game.  

If a team from your conference makes the Final Four then your conference will get an automatic bid. Bigger often proves to not be better so let's not follow this pursuit this one time and keep the tournament as close to 64 as possible.

As I look forward to Bracketology 2011, I hope that it will be as inspiring and shine as bright as it did in 2010.