Live from the Living Room: NCAA Thursday First Afternoon Session

Rather than doing a "live" blog from the living room I will comment on the games as they happen while interspersing thoughts as my bracket collapses. 

FIRST BLOCK OF GAMES - GEORGIA V. XAVIER, KANSAS V. PORTLAND ST., MICHIGAN ST. V. TEMPLE

Wonder how the Vikings like the treatment in their first dance?  Instead of warming up with a simple foxtrot they get the early morning wake-up call to do the mirengue with a heavily favored Jayhawk squad. 

Now we're set from palatial Marcadia Arena.  Got the old-school TV with Georgia-Xavier then Michigan State-Temple on the computer. 

Georgia could cool off today because they only have one game to play and they've had some rest.  Of course, winning three games in 24 hours has a marked effect on an athletic director's personnel decisions.  Dennis Felton went from putting his head in the guillotine to earning an extension with a team that was missing two of its best players who couldn't conduct themselves like law-abiding citizens.

Sundiata Gaines hasn't been able to avoid foul trouble despite the Dogs recent streak. That has to change for them to have a chance.

And we're off!!

Emphatic dunk by X's Derrick Brown.

Gaines hits a layup while X's C.J. Anderson takes an eye-poke. 5-2 Xavier.

Jeremy Price off the Dogs bench with 6. Georgia 11-8.

Look for some stops and starts to this action. 13:05 left in the 1st half and a time-out is called. No media timeouts as of yet.

Meanwhile, Kansas is cruising 9-3 over the undermanned Vikings.

Michigan State down by one to Temple 7-6.  Drew Neitzel has missed his first four shots.

Groundbounder Dave Bliss picks up a silly foul trying to block a shot for Georgia.

Georgia is rebounding very well on the defensive end. No second chances for X. Dogs up 17-12.

Portland State shook off the early jitters and are down only 19-12.

Nice give and go by Xavier's Drew Lavender.

Price has been a monster off the bench. Georgia 23-17.

Meanwhile the Vikings only down 7, 22-15.

Temple star Dionte Christmas and Neitzel are a combined zero for six.

Xavier is starting to win the battle of the boards. 23-21 Georgia.

An defensive battle between Temple and MSU.  Spartans up 17-15 with under 8.

Kansas doubles up PSU 36-18.

Christmas has 2 fouls for Temple. Meawhile Drew Maynick is pursuing a free throw and a Ph. D for Michigan State.  Spartans 22-15. 21% shooting for the Owls.

My bracket has its first worry wrinkle with Georgia up 33-24 nearing the half.  I only have Xavier getting to round two but still I want it all.  Now 35-26 at the half thanks to six straight Bulldogs buckets.  Even Vince Dooley is hitting threes. So is Herschel Walker, who has six points, two for each personality.

15 from Mario Chalmers and 10 from Brandon Rush as the Jayhawks are cruising.

Ryan Brooks has 10 for Temple but they are down 35-26.

Bliss tips it in for Georgia to start the second half.  Georgia has nine points off  turnovers, Xavier has none.

This has been a clean game in terms of fouls as well.  The 'Dawgs didn't go to the line until 17:34 was left.  Drew Lavender just had his pocket picked by Gaines.  41-30 'Dawgs. I might be starting off with a loss.

Of course that depends on Kansas finishing before this game.  I say it's safe to mark the Jayhawks in round 2.

Temple has yet to score in the second half and the Spartans have rattled off seven to go up 42-26.

Gaines just blew by Stanley Burrell and Billy Humphrey nails a trey to go back up by ten.

Albert Jackson nearly gets a T for Georgia after fouling Josh Duncan.  Duncan is a Greek God who keeps getting to the line, which could be huge for X going down the stretch.

Billy Humphrey picks up 2 quick fouls for Georgia.  Xavier has cut the lead to four.

Dionte Christmas has still not scored for Temple and there's 15:44 left in the game.

Now he scores with 13:20 left.  Temple is down 14.

Sundiata Gaines reminds me a lot of Alvin Robertson.  Excellent thief who can score, rebound and pass.  He will have a bright NBA future.

Humphrey ends a five-minute drought with a three.  But Gaines picked up his third whistle.  Georgia is now clinging to a three-pointlead thanks to some tenacious Xavier D. Jack Black and Kyle Gess are leading the charge.

Don't expect much more from the Kansas game barring a miracle.  They are up by 24 with 7:39 left.

Dante Jackson ties it with a three.

Stanley Burrell puts X up with a three.  Georgia may have hit the wall.  They're getting beat for loose balls and are very tentative on offense.

Alex Tiefenthaler is taking to the hole for Portland State.  This has no difference on the outcome.  But we need a Tiefenthaler sighting.

Xavier is up by five.  11 points on 11 Georgia turnovers.

Dave Bliss needs a shave and a Valium.  He picks up his fourth foul.

Derrick Brown has a chance for 3 for the X-Men.  The 'Dawgs are coming apart.  59-51 Xavier.

Drew Lavender pulls a Marques Haynes and hits a floater.  Sure poetry.

Michigan State is comfortably ahead as well, 64-46.

One last comment for Kansas-Portland State.  Jeremiah Dominguez leads the Vikings today.  He's only 5-6.  Pretty impressive kid.

First final!  Kansas wins 85-61.

Xavier up six with 2 1/2 to play.  But I don't think Gaines has anything but fumes to run on now.

And as I write this he hits a tough layup.

Bliss dunks it and Georgia is down by three heading into a timeout.  64-61 with 1:16 left.

Gaines picks up his fourth.  Xavier is 18 for 23 from the line.

Woodberry shoots a three with the "Clockwork Orange" effect - the old in-out. 

Duncan may have just saved the game with a tightrope save off the missed free throw.

2nd final.  Michigan State 72-61.

Georgia's run is about to come to an end.