12:48am Update

Our NCAA Tournament trek is all but over at this point.  The alarm is set for 6:00am so we can head for the airport.  Then it's time to head home.  I'm ready to see the wife and kids...especially after having to miss spending Easter with them.

The attitude in the locker room after the game was somewhere between sad and proud.  The Racers represented themselves well, and have every reason to leave College Park with their head held high. 

With OVC player of the year Ashley Hayes and Amber Guffey returning next year, the Racers have a strong foundation to build upon for the future.  They'll need to find some guard play to replace the graduating duo of Alaina Lee and Shaleea Petty.  We'll get to see how good of a job Jody Adams can do recruiting and if she can keep this program moving in the right direction.  So far, she's done a great job.

It will also be interesting to see if Adams' name gets linked to any job openings around the country.  After walking in and leading this team to the best season in its history, you'd think she could be a hot commodity.  Especially when one of her references is "Pat Summitt", I'm guessing Jody would probably be able to get her foot in the door for an interview at most schools.  I know Murray would love to be able to hang on to her for a few more years.

I'm off to bed.  The floor is yours.

9:09pm Update

Duke 78, Murray State 57 Final.

The Racers have nothing to be ashamed of after this one.  It was a surreal scene early in the 2nd half when they made their run to get within five points.  Duke called timeout and anybody that wasn't wearing Duke colors was 100% behind the Racers...and that was 95% of the people in the building.

Ashley Hayes had a monster night with 26 points, but in the end Duke showed why they were a Top 10 team this year.  Too big, too strong and too good. 

I'm trying to pound out my stuff for the 10pm news.  I'll be back a little later on tonight.

7:02pm Update

Duke 35, Murray State 23 at the half.

The Racers aren't out of the game by any means, and at least they've forced Duke to talk about them at the half...instead of looking ahead to their next game.  But...Murray has to feel fortunate to be this close, because they have struggled mightily at points in the game.

• The Racers seem determined to live or die by the jump shot.  On one hand, you can't blame them.  Duke has them by 3 or 4 inches at nearly every position on the floor.  But on the other hand, Murray hasn't been able to throw it in the ocean...just 25.7% in the 1st half.  Long scoring droughts have killed them too...4:00 to start the game...then another 6:30 stretch after that.  They have to find some consistency.
• Murray can't get a rebound to save their life.  Again, it's a size thing.  Duke has outrebounded them 26-12...including 7 offensive boards.  It'll be interesting to see if Coach Adams goes zone, because they've played man for most of the half. 
• Ashley Hayes got off to a slow start but has shown she can play with anybody.  She's got 11 points, but 3 fouls.  She'll need to be able to stay on the floor if Murray wants to stay within striking distance.

Remember earlier how I said the locals here in College Park hate Duke?  Yeah, they REALLY hate Duke.  This is essentially a home game for Murray.  A good chunk of the Maryland faithful gave the Racers a standing ovation during introductions, and have done their best to simply will the team to win.  Duke is being booed at every turn.  It's fun to watch.  Hopefully the Racers will give everybody a reason to get excited in the 2nd half.

More later.  The floor is once again yours.

5:55pm Update

A couple of quick notes before tip-off.  The arena is pretty empty at this point, although some Murray folks did make the trip.  I'm not totally surprised about the crowd size.  The four teams playing tonight are MSU, Duke, Arizona State and Temple.  Not exactly four local schools...and everybody in these parts HATE Duke.  Maybe the locals will root for the Racers tonight.

I actually saw a guy trying to scalp tickets outside the building.  That made me laugh.  I'm not so sure he understands the concept of supply and demand.

Since 1997, teams seeded 1, 2 or 3 are 138-1 in the first round of the women's tournament.  Not good news for Murray.  But...16-seed Coppin State gave 1-seed Maryland a run for their money earlier today.  45% of you voting in our poll question think Murray will win.  I love the optimism.

One personnel note...we'd heard yesterday freshman Tanjala Wynn had gotten into a little hot water with the coaching staff.  She practiced yesterday with the team, so we thought maybe she was in the temporary doghouse.  Today, she not only isn't dressed in uniform, she's not sitting on the bench with the team.  Ten minutes before the game, Wynn was sitting in the stands.  She hasn't played in a game in more than a month, so her not playing won't have an impact on the game...but her NCAA tournament experience certainly hasn't turned out as she, or the coaches, would have hoped.

OK...back at the half.

5:00pm Update

Today has been the best day of the trip, by far.  Chad and I had some time to burn earlier this afternoon, so we drove to Washington, DC to do some sightseeing of our own.  We hit all of the major places, and one that was most important to me.  I'll have more on that visit and post some pictures from the day later on tonight.

Speaking of time to burn...I had flesh to burn today.  It was 47 degrees out today, and yet I got cooked walking around DC.  It shouldn't be surprising, since I can usually get sunburned in a dark room...yet I was surprised.  The last thing I was worried about packing was sunscreen in March.  It's not like we were headed to Florida.

As for the basketball today, the men's games were fantastic this afternoon...although I admittedly slept through some of the best parts.  After we probably walked 5 miles today, I was a bit whipped.  It'll be interesting to see if either Mississippi State or Arkansas can rally today...or will it, in the end, be only Tennessee to represent the SEC in the Sweet 16.

As for the women here in College Park, we're getting ready to make our way out to the arena.  I hope the Murray fans were able to make the trip to support the women.  After seeing nobody here yesterday during their practice session, I'm not sure I'm holding my breath for a sudden change today. 

I'll be back at the half with more.