Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

March Madness has affected my life in three different ways.

During my 26 years as a sportswriter with the Biloxi Sun Herald, I covered the NCAA Tournament five times. We had someone assigned to Ole Miss and Mississippi State in the field and I usually covered the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) teams, Alcorn State and Jackson State. 

Traveling to places like Salt Lake City, Utah and Memphis, Tenn., were always enjoyable for me. Can’t believe it has been almost 30 years since I covered March Madness. Guess somebody is getting old.

Part two involves me and the bracket, which millions of people across the fill out every year. The percentage of me winning a bracket is about the same chance as pigs flying. My bracket gets blown up after two days. One of these days, I am either going to let a 6-year-old fill my bracket or let a 75-year-old complete it.

The third and final part involves me watching the state teams competing in the Field of 68. The state of Alabama has four teams in the tournament: Alabama, Auburn, UAB and Samford. Not many states can say that.

 

While we do not have Selma or Dallas County players on these teams, several local kids attend those schools. For me, that means something because I always love seeing college students root for their teams. Auburn coach Bruce Pearl and his son, assistant coach Steven Pearl, both have spoken at the Selma Quarterback Club in recent years.

When I was watching Selection Sunday, some things did baffle me.

-After Auburn wins the SEC Tournament, the Tigers get sent to Spokane, Wash., for a first-round matchup against Yale on Friday. Should Auburn advance, the Tigers could get UAB in the next round if the Blazers beat San Diego State.

“They made their mind up before we got to the SEC Tournament,” Auburn coach Bruce Pearl said. “So it makes it really hard for us as coaches to find a way to tell our guys… Obviously it’s amazing to have a championship, but it doesn’t do anything for our team to show up and win three games in three days if we’re not going to be rewarded for it. We get shipped out to Spokane, Wash., and have to play in that game.”

I do not expect Samford to beat Kansas on Thursday in Salt Lake City. When the Jayhawks are healthy, they can win the whole thing. The Bulldogs got a bad draw in my opinion.

From where I sit. Alabama will be fortunate to reach the Sweet 16. I like the Crimson Tide’s chances of beating Charleston on Friday and St. Mary’s two days later. Awaiting Alabama in the Regional semifinals will be North Carolina, the team I am picking to win a national title.

Good luck to those filling out tournament brackets. While the chances of winning are slim, just enjoy watching the games.

James Jones is the Managing Editor of The Selma Times-Journal. He can be reached at 334-410-1716 or James.Jones@selmatimesjournal.com.