Could this be the year that the Big Ten wins the NCAA mens basketball title. The Big Ten Tournament starts today and will go a long way to determine where all of the highly rated teams from the conference will be placed on Bracket Sunday coming up this weekend. I don't think anyone has a good idea how this tournament is going to shake out. These teams have spent the last 2 1/2 months beating each other and the 4 top seeds (Indiana, Ohio State, Michigan State and Wisconsin) could all win it and I would put Michigan, Iowa, Illinois, Purdue, Iowa and maybe even Minnesota into the mix to pull some upsets. The fun begins today with four games...Illinois vs Minnesota, Michigan vs Penn State, Pirdue vs Nebraska and Iowa vs Northwestern. Wisconsin plays either Michigan or Penn State tomorrow.

Bucknell earned another trip to the NCAA Tournament, winning the Patriot League title last night. Bucknell is coached by Dave Paulsen, a Wausau East grad who played Legion baseball for me back in the early 80's.

The Bucks lost ground on both Boston & Atlanta last night. they fell behind early in Washington and dropped their matchup with the Wizards. They obviusly know the importance of moving up from the 8th spot to avaoid a first round matchup with the Miami Heat. The Heat won their 20th in a row last night.

Milwaukee Brewer minor leaguer Hiram Burgos pitched 3 2/3 scoreless innings last night and picked up the win as Puerto Rico eliminated Italy at the World BAseball Classic. Team USA faces the Dominican Republic tonight.

The WIAA Girls BAsketball Tournament gets underway today at the Resch Center in Green Bay. Wausau Newman faces Rapids Assumption in a marquee matchup to start the tournament at 1:35 this afternoon

Wausau West is looking for a new boys basketball coach. Jeff Bruggink has stepped down after 8 years at the helm. The Warriors won two Valley titles in that time but have fallen on hard times winning just 1 conference game in the last two years. Bruggink will continue to teach at the school.

Songs Of The Day (from my I-pod)

Long Distance Runaround-Yes (1971) a Jon Anderson tune from the classic "Fragile" album.

Long Gone Lonesome Blues-Sheryl Crow (2001) from a collection of Hank Williams songs done by a wide variety of folks. It's called "Timeless" if you want to  check it out.