The Sweet Sixteen

Mr. NCAA sent out some invitations this week for a Sweet 16 party. No it's not for Mr. NCAA's daughter. The party is for the 16 survivors of last weekend's NCAA Tournament action.

And what a weekend it was, borrowing a line from CBS' Brent Musberger.

Mr. NCAA did not invite Bobby Knight and his defending champion Hoosiers. But who would want to invite Knight to any party?

He also crossed Syracuse off his mailing list. Who would want to see a team in orange at a party?

He said, "You can go home, now" to Loyola-Marymount, the media darlings of the tournament. Loyola is now a media dud.

Illinois, Georgetown, Pitt and UNLV--all good college basketball teams--forgot to put on their party clothes.

It's a sweet 16 party and in two weeks, only one team can get to blow out the candles.

Unlike other years, this year's Sweet 16 has its usual bunch of teams. There are the elite teams, the up-and-coming teams and the teams that would evoke a "well, alright" from the lips of Musberger. You know, those unknown teams that suddenly decide to play championship-style basketball.

The elite squads, the teams that always seem to be here, are still around:

North Carolina: No matter what year it is, the Tar Heels always seem to find a dress for the party.

This year, Dean Smith's Heels were on a reel against Loyola. They left the front door locked and sneaked into the back door all day. J.R. Reid was sizzling from less than two feet. He also has one of the best haircuts at the Sweet 16 party.

Kentucky: These guys are here, also. And it was because of guy named Rex, who was fouled by a Maryland player and still managed to make a three-point bucket.

Louisville: I always confuse them with Kentucky. But like Wildcats, Louisville, with a more mature Pervis Ellison, said yes to its invitation.

Duke: Those crazy blue guys, the team that demolished Harvard last December, has also done it again. Right now, the Devils are storming. Just ask the SMU Mustangs.

Kansas: Danny Manning, the NCAA Player of the Year, is college hoops' version of Aretha Franklin. He wants some respect, just a little bit, before he graduates. This is his last party.

Of course, there are the up-and-coming, the new guys on the block, who are just dying to overthrow the elites:

Arizona: Who-wee, partner, we're the Arizona Wildcats and we just blew through our first two opponents (Seton Hall and Cornell). We're some big hombres, some rough and tough outlaws.

Temple: Philly is buzzing because of this team. With Mark Macon, the Owls won't fall asleep at this party.

Vanderbilt: Same goes for this team. It likes to party.

Oklahoma: The Sooners score a lot of points in all their sports, whether it be football or basketball. They'll score a lot this weekend.

Don't forget those "how about that?" teams. The ones at the bottom of the Las Vegas odds charts:

Villanova: The classic underdog. Villanova always gets shipped out West and always seems to win a couple of big games. Just ask George-town Coach John Thompson.

Richmond: The best name for a team, the Spiders. They shut up Bobby Knight. They threw water balloons at Georgia Tech Coach Bobby Cremens. They might have a couple of more webs to spin.

URI: Coach Tom Penders hates orange. It doesn't clash with anything. Now Rhode Island, the team Brent Musberger wouldn't shut up about, is a party guest. I wonder how much Penders hates little Blue Devils.