"March Madness" is upon us as the brackets for the NCAA men's division I basketball tournament will be released this evening. Over the next three weeks we will all enjoy watching our favorite teams attempt to survive and advance in hopes of being the last team standing on the first Monday night in April (I make no picks, I am always wrong). My "March Madness" the last four years has involved the NCAA Division II men's basketball tournament. I have served as a member of the 8-man D-II national committee and chair of the Southeast Region. As I write, I am sitting courtside in Montevallo, Alabama as teams go through their shootarounds for this evening's semi-finals. Late Tuesday night I will hand the Southeast Region trophy to the championship team, make the six hour trip back to Due West and on Sunday board a plane to Cinncinati where the D-II Elite 8 will be decided. Two weeks from today I will fly back home with a new NCAA Division II men's basketball champion crowned and my term on the national committee at an end. It has been a great experience the last four years to play such an integral part in the national championship for NCAA D-II men's basketball.As most of the nation focuses on the Division I championship, the D-II tournament has provided plenty of excitement for me as young men have chased their dreams to be national champions. I have witnessed three awesome regionals in August, GA and one in Montevallo, AL. After three Elite 8's in Springfield, MA we will hold this year's at Northern Kentucky University. I have watched Findlay complete a perfect season with a double OT win over Cal-Poly on a buzzer beater, Cal Poly return a year later to dominate the tournament, and Bellarmine win their first national title last year. I have seen Augusta dominate the Southeast for three years before being upset by Anderson's magical run to the Elite 8 a year ago. I have witnessed some outstanding basketball and met so many people over the past four years who never would have come in contact with I had not been on the committee. It has been a ton of work and way too much time away from my wonderful family but the experience has been tremendous. I am sure I will miss it but I plan on being back at the Southeast regional next year. This time I won't be the NCAA representative with responsibility for overseeing the tournament but as the coach of the Erskine Flying Fleet who will be making their first regional appearance!
Have a great "March Madness." I hope it proves remarkable for you and your team of choice.
