NCAA Tournament Weekend 1 Awards: Florida State and VCU Take a Bow

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I finally have a chance to sit down and put down all my thoughts from the first weekend of the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament 2011. Who were the winners? The Losers? The Surprises? The Disappointments? Let's get right into the breakdown.

Take a bow Award:

Florida State and Virginia Commonwealth

These two teams turned NCAA on its head, with runs that had far more reaching effects than just big upsets. Not only did Florida State put on the best lock down defensive performance of the NCAAs by stifling high-powered Notre Dame, but they also validated their program and the ACC.

The much-maligned conference has taken a beating all year. An 11-5 conference team making it into the NCAAs as a 10 seed was a slap in the face to Florida State, the country's best defensive team and the ACC. The rest of the ACC salutes you, Seminoles!

Virginia Commonwealth, congratulations for playing the best basketball of the tournament this side of Ohio State and Kansas. VCU inclusion into the field was ripped apart by all kinds of so-called experts. I'll admit I even questioned why they were invited. All VCU has done was destroy two top 25 Coaches's Poll teams in Georgetown and Purdue. They also defeated USC in the second round.

Coach Shaka Smart and his team used the criticism as motivation to play some fantastic basketball, and erased any doubts they belonged in the tournament. Smart is now one of the hottest coaches in America. Mid Major Bubble teams salute you, VCU!

Oh, FSU and VCU play each other in the next round.

Overhyped Award:

How can this not be the Big East? 11 teams down to two before the Sweet 16 has to be a bitter disappointment. Every Big East team with possible exception of Villanova deserved to be in the field. The conference was deep and played great in the non-conference portion of their schedule, but no one will care because the conference flamed out when it really counted. Louisville losing to Morehead State was the biggest upset of the tournament thus far.

Gimme some Respect Award:

The Seminoles, by defeating Notre Dame, gave the ACC a nation-leading three teams in the Sweet 16 along with Duke and North Carolina. Who says they can't still play a little basketball in the ACC?

You are who we thought you were. (Good Way) Award:

Ohio State and Kansas looked like they are on a collision course. The number one seeds are simply mowing down opponents. With the rest of the upsets, controversial endings, etc etc going on the Buckeyes and Jayhawks look every bit the two best teams in the country.

You are who we thought you were. (Bad Way) Award:

Texas, Pitt, Vanderbilt, Georgetown all again underachieved in the Big Dance. Pittsburgh, in particular, I felt was a little unlucky because they actually played great against Butler and still lost, but you know it's still a loss. Next year I propose these four be put in the same bracket so one of these teams makes it to the second weekend of the tournament.

I didn't know you before, but now I do Award:

Shaka Smart, head coach of VCU, and Chris Mooney, head coach of Richmond, are likely to parlay these Sweet 16 runs into either a big pay raise at their schools or a new job with a big pay raise. Both teams are fundamentally sound and well-coached. I knew of Smart a little because of his time as an assistant Clemson, but I wasn't that familiar with Mooney until now. Georgia Tech, NC State and Tennessee are playing close attention.

Glad you’re gone Award:

Bruce Pearl, Head Coach of Tennessee, you know I find you kind of slimy and I'm really not sorry you got fired or that your team got plastered by Michigan in the first round. Pearl will get a deserved second chance, but for now, I'm glad he's gone.

Glad your back Award:

Welcome back North Carolina and Connecticut. It’s nice to see these basketball powerhouse programs back in the NCAA's and back in the Sweet 16. I love the VCU and Richmond too, but the tournament just seems to have a little extra when there are some traditional powers with a chance to win it all too. Kansas, you were in last year's field, but lost in round of 32, glad you're back too.

The (Butler) Most Dangerous Mid Major Left Award:

Yeah it's still Butler. In the highest quality game of the tournament, Butler beat a Pitt team playing near their very best. If you're looking for head coach Brad Stephens is your dream choice. Shelvin Mack is right there in the category with UConn's Kemba Walker, BYU's Jimmer Fredette, and Duke's Nolan Smith as guys that can simply carry their teams. With the South East bracket now wide, Butler could be headed right back to the Final Four.

On to next week!