Quit your bitching about your brackets and take a quick few minutes to re-watch the final seven seconds of this game (I knowwwww, my bracket got pounded, too -- I really thought year nine of the last 10 with a top 5 seed was the year for Pitt). Tim Brando and Mike Gminski are on the call and Brando says he doesn't think he's ever seen a game end like this ... before the second, potential game-winning free throw clanked off the rim and Pittsburgh's Nasir Robinson reacted by committing quite possibly the most undisciplined foul in the history of NCAA basketball since the foul right before it.

You have to admire the refs for letting their plums hang low, making the right calls, and letting this round of 32 game be decided by free throws even if it's not how we all dreamt it up in our pretty little heads. I don't think you can deny its exciting finish, though, unless you're a Pitt fan (or had a lot of money riding on Pitt making it to the Finals ... argghhhhlkajgklsjfas).

Can you imagine if that last 75-foot heave by Pitt was released on time and actually went in? 1. CBS possibly would've missed it; 2. I think Tim Brando would've had to morph into Gus Johnson; 3. Our brackets wouldn't be so screwed; and 4. Oh dear, I've gone cross-eyed.

[video via bubbaprog]

Below are the updated tip times for Saturday's action. For the second games being played at one of the four venues, the tipoff time may be pushed back depending on the length of the first game. Usually, the second game of a double header at one of the four locations tips off  2 hours 30 minutes- 3 hours after the first game. Best of luck to your team and your bracket.

"Round 3"

Sunday, MARCH 20 (12:00 Noon-12:00 AM, ET)- All Times are ET.

12:15 PM     CBS    Charlotte      (2) North Carolina vs. (7) Washington  -   Jim Nantz, Clark Kellogg, Tracy Wolfson

2:45 PM       CBS    Charlotte      (1)  Duke vs. (8) Michigan -  Jim Nantz, Clark Kellogg, Tracy Wolfson

5:15 PM       CBS    Cleveland    (1) Ohio State vs. (8) George Mason -   Gus Johnson, Len Elmore, Marty Snider

6:10 PM       TNT      Tulsa           (4) Texas vs. (5) Arizona -  Marv Albert, Steve Kerr, Craig Sager

7:10 PM       TBS     Chicago      (3) Purdue vs. (11) VCU - Spero Dedes, Bob Wenzel, Jamie Maggio

7:45 PM      Tru TV Cleveland    (3) Syracuse vs. (11) Marquette -   Gus Johnson, Len Elmore, Marty Snider

8:40 PM       TNT      Tulsa           (1) Kansas vs. (9) Illinois - Marv Albert, Steve Kerr, Craig Sager

9:40PM       TBS      Chicago      (2) Notre Dame vs. (10) Florida State - Spero Dedes, Bob Wenzel, Jamie Maggio

Gus Johnson thrives in announcing the dramatic plays, back and forth battles, and endings. When calling a rather lackluster game, it's just not the same experience. But when given a gem of a game, it's the best home viewing experience a sports fan can have. 

Today, the stars aligned as George Mason staged a late comeback to beat Villanova. The final five minutes were put on a tee for Johnson to showcase his uncanny style and pace that has made him a fan favorite and staple of March Madness. If you can re-watch later, the game, in addition to Johnson's announcing, is probably worth watching. 

In the end, it came down to the final few seconds and Johnson delivered by putting his stamp on the game with a great classic call. Vintage Gus. Vintage March Madness

With March Madness comes a great opportunity for a new Create the Caption.  Last time, we featured the one and only Charlie Sheen, back when he was actually a big deal.  The winner was ismusbe with, "When I need that 3'oclock afternoon pick me up on my 7th day of coke binging, I turn to kookoo for cocoa milk! Keeps my tiger blood pumping..its Grrrrrreat!"  Thanks for participating!  Today's CtC comes from the best upset of yesterday and Morehead State's victory over Louisville.  Lots of fun places to go with this one.  The picture comes from Deadspin...

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Links of Madness 

The first night of the tournament was a great success for the NCAA and the quadrilateral of networks that televised them.  They had their best ratings in 20 years.  [Washington Examiner]

The pilot of Mark Schlereth's TV show is out.  Again, this looks like a reaaaaaal winner.  [Deadspin] 

In other horrifying TV news.  Damon Wayans will play Cowherd's character in his sitcom.  Maybe that's a convenient way to step around the racist things Cowherd said about John Wall.  [Yahoo] 

This lockout stuff is serious - Ocho is trying out for an MLS team [KC Star] and Donovan McNabb is moonlighting as a college basketball analyst.  [DC Sports Bog]

MLS' season opener was way up in the ratings department.  In other news, look for an AA Q&A with the top soccer blogger on the web coming up very soon.  [SMW]

Finally, here's a nice feature on Celtics broadcasters Mike Gorman and Tommy Heinsohn celebrating their 30 years in the booth together.  We had the privilege of talking to Mike this week in a great interview.  [Boston Globe]
 

Below are the updated tip times for Saturday's action. For the second games being played at one of the four venues, the tipoff time may be pushed back depending on the length of the first game. Usually, the second game of a double header at one of the four locations tips off  2 hours 30 minutes- 3 hours after the first game. Best of luck to your team and your bracket.

"Round 3"

SATURDAY, MARCH 19 (12:00 Noon-12:00 AM, ET)- All Times are ET.

12:15 PM     CBS    Tampa      (4) Kentucky vs. (5) West Virginia-   Ian Eagle, Jim Spanarkel, David Aldridge

2:45 PM      CBS      Tampa     (2) Florida vs. (7) UCLA -   Ian Eagle, Jim Spanarkel, David Aldridge

5:15 PM       CBS     Denver     (12) Richmond vs. (13) Morehead St-  Verne Lundquist, Bill Raftery, Lesley Visser

6:10 PM       TNT      Tucson     (2) San Diego St. vs. (7) Temple -   Kevin Harlan, Reggie Miller, Dan Bonner, Sam Ryan

7:10 PM       TBS       DC           (1) Pittsburgh vs. (8) Butler-   Tim Brando, Mike Gminski, Lewis Johnson

7:45 PM       CBS      Denver    (3) BYU vs. (10) Gonzaga -  Verne Lundquist, Bill Raftery, Lesley Visser

8:40 PM       TNT      Tucson     (4) Wisconsin vs. (5) Kansas State -  Kevin Harlan, Reggie Miller, Dan Bonner, Sam Ryan

9:40 PM       TBS      DC            (3) UConn vs. (6) Cincannati -   Tim Brando, Mike Gminski, Lewis Johnson

This is unreal.  5 March Madness games down.  No less than 4 have been won on shots in the last five seconds.  The latest entrant is Brandon Knight's first field goal of the game coming at the most important time.  Here's his game-winner for Kentucky with two seconds left against Princeton and Ian Eagle with a great call.  We're on pace for the most exciting March Madness ever!  We've got to have something saved for Gus tomorrow, right?

Quite the morning session on the real opening day of the tourney. Here is the thrilling end to the Temple vs. Penn State game as called by Kevin Harlan and Reggie Miller. Probably just the way they drew it up

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Morehead (heh) shocked the fighting Pitino's in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. You can tell Bill Raftery is already in mid-tournament form with the emphatic "ONIONS!" call in this clip.

[Video Via Mocksession]

Type your random exclamations! March Madness is back and we had our first buzzer-beater coming in just before 3 p.m. eastern time of Day 1. Not bad. Here's the Tim Brando with his call of Butler's last-second layup for the win over Old Dominion [video via Bubbaprog]:

Happy St. Patty's Day!  Grab yourself a Guinness and have fun with all the action of the NCAA Tournament.  Thankfully, both of my grad school classes were cancelled today and I'm now on Spring Break!  That means 12 hours of couch potatoing it up, watching March Madness, and praying that Belmont and Mizzou come through and get to the Sweet 16.  Here's the entire schedule of today's games with announcing assignments, start times, and networks to guide you throughout the day.

Thursday, March 17

12:15, Tampa: (5) West Virginia vs. (12) UAB/Clemson (CBS) -- Ian Eagle, Jim Spanarkel, David Aldridge

12:40, Wash D.C.: (8) Butler vs. (9) Old Dominion (truTV) -- Tim Brando, Mike Gminski, Lewis Johnson

1:40, Denver: (4) Louisville vs. (13) Morehead St. (TBS) -- Verne Lundquist, Bill Raftery, Lesley Visser

2:10, Tucson: (7) Temple vs. (10) Penn State (TNT) -- Kevin Harlan, Reggie Miller, Dan Bonner, Sam Ryan

2:45, Tampa: (4) Kentucky vs. (13) Princeton (CBS) -- Ian Eagle, Jim Spanarkel, David Aldridge

3:10, Wash D.C.: (1) Pittsburgh vs. (16) UNC Ash./UALR (truTV) -- Tim Brando, Mike Gminski, Lewis Johnson

4:10, Denver: (5) Vanderbilt vs. (12) Richmond (TBS) --Verne Lundquist, Bill Raftery, Lesley Visser

4:40, Tucson: (2) San Diego State vs. (15) Northern Colorado (TNT) -- Kevin Harlan, Reggie Miller, Dan Bonner, Sam Ryan

6:50, Tampa: (2) Florida vs. (15) UC Santa Barbara (TBS) --Ian Eagle, Jim Spanarkel, David Aldridge

7:15, Denver: (3) BYU vs. (14) Wofford (CBS) --Verne Lundquist, Bill Raftery, Lesley Visser

7:20, Wash D.C.: (3) UConn vs. (14) Bucknell (TNT) -- Tim Brando, Mike Gminski, Lewis Johnson

7:27, Tucson: (4) Wisconsin vs. (13) Belmont (truTV) -- Kevin Harlan, Reggie Miller, Dan Bonner, Sam Ryan

Leave us some comments throughout the day in this open thread on how your bracket is doing, buzzer beaters, games to watch, and any announcing snafus or great moments that you may hear on this first real day of the NCAA Tournament.  Also, make sure to follow us on Twitter and Facebook by clicking on the links there or at the right side of the page.  Enjoy the day!