NCAA Tournament = Productivity Killer

March 20 2008 12:28 PM -- Filed in: Basketball

I do not have the numbers in front of me but I am certain that today, as the first day of the NCAA Tournament, is the least productive day of the year for men ages 18-80, in the United States. Unless you are foreign born, have deep-seeded moral objections to gambling, or are a Buddhist monk you will most likely spend a considerable amount of time and energy following the games.

Maybe you are at work with the automatically refreshing online scoreboard, at home “sick,” or one of the lucky ones working in a restaurant surrounded by televisions. Whatever the case maybe be, you are locked in.

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*unofficial Buckeye Commentary data

Unlike last year, we do not have all of our energy invested in the Buckeyes’ championship run. It would be great for Ohio State to be in the hunt every season, but we get our fair share in football (hello, 2008!). As an Ohio State basketball fan, think of March 2008 as an equal opportunity month for college basketball viewing. You can spread your fandom more judiciously to more than one team instead of fixating on the Scarlet and Gray. This is your chance to cheer for your wife’s alma mater or a college from a city where you used to live. You get to do it with impunity, too. The good folks at Buckeye Commentary certainly are not going to hold it against you.

I like to think of this spring as a welcome break from the championship grind. After all, for three straight major-sport seasons (football 2006, basketball 2007, football 2007) Ohio State fans have been on the edge of their seats - nerves frayed, souls spent. And, the best part of this little time off? You have the knowledge that five months from now you will be right back at it, watching Tressel’s squad fight for another championship. I am going to need my strength.

NIT Second Round: In case you are interested (and judging by Tuesday’s attendance, you are not), tickets for Ohio State’s second NIT game went on sale this morning. The No. 1 seeded Buckeyes host a second round game on March 24 at St. John Arena. The Buckeyes will play the winner of New Mexico and California, a game scheduled for tonight at 11 p.m.

Buckeye Commentary Pool: It is too late to join but I believe ESPN allows you transfer teams into different leagues. Feel free to come over and show off your perfect bracket. Updates at the end of the night.