Just a couple of quick comments about the first round of the First Four. The Alabama State-St. Francis was not supposed to be a March classic, but it sure became one. That game really explained what the NCAA Tournament is supposed to be about.

There was nothing San Diego State could do to stop what the Tar Heels did to them. They more than answered the doubts about being worthy in the best way possible. Now they get to prepare for #6 Ole Miss on Thursday, and if they get past the Rebels, they’ll likely face an Iowa State team with a critical player out with an injury. More on that later.

Quick note: the Brad Brownell to Indiana rumors are over as the Hoosiers have picked West Virginia’s Darian DeVries.

On Wednesday, the First Four continues with American vs. St. Mary’s, with the winner to face Duke, and Texas and Xavier squaring off to get a chance to play erratic #6 Illinois.

Most of us will be more interested in what we’ll see from the first game. If you didn’t know, American is coached by DMV native and former Maryland point guard Duane Simpkins.

This is his second year, and he’s done reasonably well, going 16-16 in his first year and 22-11 so far this season.

He’s paid his dues to get where he is, with a number of high school and assistant coaching jobs.

We think of him as a former Maryland guard, but he’s also a DeMatha grad, where he played for the legendary Morgan Wooten, so he’s very well prepared. And of course the whole Maryland thing can’t be overlooked. It’s not his players, obviously, but Simpkins will be excited to get a shot at Duke, and that’s going to be contagious.

His coaching opponent will be Donny Lind, and we don’t know much about him, but he’s in his first year and, like Simpkins, is 22-11.

He has worked for Jimmy Patsos at Loyola and also for Shaka Smart at VCU. Last year, the Mountaineers were 13-19, so he’s done a nice job, and it’s not like he has a ton of NIL money to spend.

American is in a better conference—Patriot vs. MAAC for Lind—and we think that’s going to give him an edge.

Matt Norlander describes America’s offense as methodical. As for Mt. St. Mary’s, the Mountaineers finished fourth in the regular season. Impressively, they beat Marist twice back-to-back as part of a four-game winning streak.

As it turns out, Mt. St. Mary’s looks like a pretty cool school in a great location.

We’re not really sure what to think here other than respect for Simpkins tilts us towards American.

Texas and Xavier seems like the sort of game the First Four is really about. Both teams are very marginal candidates. We don’t expect either team to necessarily go far if they win, but there is a distinct path: as we said, the Illini have been erratic, and that’s possible. And assuming Kentucky gets past Troy, the Wildcats have punched above their weight. We think that Mark Pope has done an incredibly good job, but that team has some limitations.

Tennessee is lurking at the bottom of the bracket. That would be a tough out, but it’s not impossible for either team to make a crazy run to the Elite Eight. And keep in mind that while Rick Barnes has had a great career, he hasn’t been the best post-season coach in the world