espn.com Ali Contest
Like Kramer proclaiming, "Well, I'm out!" after losing The Contest on "Seinfeld," Page 2 went down early in the ESPN.com office pool. But unlike 'SC and Gonzaga, we're getting another chance. Dan Shanoff has a re-evaluation of What's Hot and What's Not, and Ralph Wiley has the scoop on all the Sweet 16 matchups.
THE HOT LIST | WILEY: SWEET LOWDOWN

POLL RESULTS



ESPN TOOLS
 
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They're wise, they're witty ... and they're warped. They are the loyal readers of Page 2's Bill Simmons, and they've once again hijacked The Sports Guy's column. The latest batch of their random observations includes thoughts on "Bull Durham," the "Glutton Bowl," and the inane tradition of slapping five at the free-throw line.

Sportoon The All-Hair Team
The Big Dance isn't so big anymore. Forty-nine teams have been shown the door, and only those with the best moves remain on the floor. Page 2 cartoonist Kurt Snibbe examines the sweet steps shown by the Sweet 16 as the NCAA Tournament continues its waltz to Atlanta.
 The All-Tourney Team won't be out until April, but you don't have to wait to find the players with the best style in the NCAAs. Page 2's 2002 All-Hair Team highlights the players with the most dazzling 'dos and colorful coifs, while our All-Name Team offers a roster of names to remember.

THE BERMAN FILES
He's the best player in the college game, but you might confuse him with an NBA guard from Memphis or a troubled ex-Net. Page 2 is here to give Duke's Jason Williams a distinctive name of his own, so we're opening up another case of The Berman Files.


With March Madness in full bloom, it's time to ponder a tough question: If you could pick one college basketball coach for a game that you had to win, who would it be? Page 2 weighed in with its 10 choices, and now our readers have compiled a list of their own. Check out the readers' top 10 and then vote in our poll to crown college hoops' best big-game coach:
10]  Denny Crum
"No one used late-game timeouts better than Crum. No one drew up late-game situation plays any better than Crum. His best coaching performance? The 1986 championship game in which he flat outcoached Coach K of Duke."
9]  Rick Pitino
"He has amazing charisma and game-time coaching cool ... a combination that always strikes fear in me whenever I am pulling for any team he's coaching against."
8]   Al McGuire
"McGuire brought a pack of raw basketball talent (often recruiting in inner-cities where some coaches refused to go) together and brought them to win as a team and lose as a team, never sacrificing a 'team-first' attitude in exchange for individual accolades."
  • GET THE FULL LIST


NCAA MEN'S BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT
DAY FAVORITE LINE UNDERDOG O/U
Thursday Duke 12½ Indiana 149
Thursday Pittsburgh 1 Kent State 129
Thursday UCLA 1½ Missouri 155
Thursday Oklahoma 3½ Arizona 147½
Friday UConn 5 Southern Ill. 145
Friday Maryland 6½ Kentucky 156
Friday Oregon 3½ Texas 160
Friday Kansas 5½ Illinois 157
All Times ET -- Bold indicates home team
Complete Line


 
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PEARL VISION
Page 2's Ralph Wiley does something most hoop fans can only dream of -- go one-on-one with Earl "the Pearl" Monroe.

HEY, RUBE
The Good Doctor explains why his beloved Kentucky Wildcats are going to be in for a long night against Maryland.

THE WATER COOLER
Page 2's Brian Murphy is suffering from the mother of all hangovers after UCLA's epic upset of Cincinnati on St. Paddy's Day.

THE SPORTS GUY
Look inside the diary of a March madman as Page 2's Bill Simmons keeps a running log of his NCAA tourney adventures.

IT'S A DATE
It's hard for hoops fans to have much of a social life this month, so Dan Shanoff breaks down the dating styles of NCAA tourney watchers.
If your favorite writer isn't on Page 2 today, click here to check out our full roster of columnists.


It's UCLA coach Steve Lavin, whose Bruins play Missouri in the Sweet 16 on Thursday, and actor Andy Garcia. Page 2 has received 11 requests for this match. Browse our archives of past pairs or click here to submit a future duo.

NIT quarterfinals
7:30 and 9:30 p.m. ET, ESPN2
BYU-Memphis followed by Syracuse-Richmond.
 
Lakers at Spurs
8 p.m. ET, TNT
L.A. tries to avoid two-game skid in Texas.
 
Blues at Stars
8 p.m. ET, ESPN
Welcome to Big D, Jason Arnott.
 
• Complete TV Listings


If you missed Page 2 over the last week, check out our back issues:
• Tues., March 19: All-Hair Team
• Mon., March 18: Strange Bruin
• Fri., March 15: Holy Close!
• Thurs., March 14: Hog Heaven

Other featured content:
• What the Heck Are They Thinking?
• The Power Poll
• 10 Burning Questions for Mark Grace
• Page 2 goes to Washington
• 10 Burning Questions for Matt Stone
• 20 worst moments from 'Celebrity Boxing'
• Win, Lose or Draw: Ruben Rivera
• Page 2's All-Bizarre Injury Team
Wednesday, March 20, 2002
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