Grip on Sports: No matter how long you’ve watched, the NCAA Tournament continues to show you things you haven’t seen before

A GRIP ON SPORTS • Watched a lot of basketball yesterday. But decided, due to other commitments, not to sit at home and watch the night games. Did I miss anything? Read on.

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• OK, I know what happened. I didn’t see it live, but I saw it coming. Said so. And I have two people who could swear to it under oath.

Yes, Virginia lost, the first No. 1 seed to lose to a No. 16. It was bound to happen sometime. And the Cavaliers became that team. But the warning signs were there, especially when UVA lost its top reserve and defensive stopper, De’Andre Hunter, to a wrist injury.

Tony Bennett’s team has been really good this season, but depth was never its strong point. The Cavaliers counted on eight players in tight games and when Hunter went down, that rotation became even smaller. They played seven last night but none of them could slow University of Maryland, Baltimore County star Jarius Lyles.

And that’s where Hunter was missed. He was Bennett’s Swiss Army Knife. He didn’t start for UVA, but he had a role. An important role.

Bennett called on Hunter to supply a defensive spark. He would come off the bench, attach himself to the opponent’s most immediate offensive threat and change the pace of the game. Think Kyle Weaver in a more limited role, able to play all out for 20 minutes.

Last night that wasn’t available for the Cavs.

When Lyles started going off in the second half, Virginia had no answer. The Cavaliers, built on controlling tempo and the opponent’s offense, could do neither. And that flaw resulted in an historic loss.

It also allowed Bennett, who spent six years in our area, to display the attitude that endeared him to Washington State fans. He accepted responsibility. He praised the Retrievers. He talked about the lessons learned in such circumstances. He was, in the right way, a role model.

And now he and his team will be remembered always. Not the way he wanted, sure, but remembered nonetheless.

• One of the oddest reactions to any major event is the ability of some to take an isolated incident and make a sweeping pronouncement based off it.

Such was the case last night, when Yahoo’s Pat Forde – a national writer who I’ve spoken with before and like a lot – decided the Virginia defeat means:

“… it’s indicative of everything that is flawed in Tony Bennett’s approach to NCAA tournament basketball. A team cannot win it all this way. It cannot come close (emphasis mine). But it can make the worst kind of March Madness history.”

So what is the definition of “coming close?”

Is making the Final Four close? That would seem so to me. So didn’t Wisconsin, under Bennett’s dad, Dick, make the 2000 Final Four playing the same way? That didn’t prove you can win playing Bennett-ball. Just as last night’s loss (or the other Virginia NCAA losses) didn’t prove you can’t. 

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Gonzaga: Does a November game between two teams mean anything? Sure it does, even if only to the NCAA selection committee – and Arizona State wants to thank them for that. But affecting the outcome between Ohio State and Gonzaga today, probably very little. That 27-point blowout featured a much-different Buckeye team, as well as a finding-their-way Zag group. Jim Meehan’s game preview reflects that, as does his story about OSU’s best player. Jim also touches on the relationship between the coaches, a mixup by the NCAA and looks back at Zach Norvell’s big shot. … Whitney Ogden also has a story on Norvell as well as another Johnathan Williams milestone. Away from the Zags, Whitney has a story on former Lewis and Clark High player Riley Lupfer. … Theo Lawson focused on Ohio State and a couple of the Buckeye players. He also relays Gonzaga’s history in NCAA rematches. … John Blanchette reaches back into the past for his column today. … Speaking of alums, Jim has a story on David Stockton agreeing to sign a 10-day contract with Utah. … Dan Pelle and Tyler Tjomsland have a photo gallery from Boise. … If you didn’t like the TV view from Boise, and I didn’t, the NCAA and CBS heard your complaints. … The women begin NCAA play this afternoon with a familiar foe in a familiar place, the Stanford Cardinal at Maples Pavilion. Jim Allen and Colin Mulvany are there, with Jim handling subjects such as what the Zags need to do to win, the history between the schools and Stanford’s long-term success. Colin has a photo gallery from yesterday’s workouts and press availability. … Larry Weir’s latest Press Box podcast covers the women’s games as well. … Stanford is excited to face GU and its point guard. … The baseball team opened WCC play with a 1-0 win over Pepperdine. … Around the WCC, San Diego is still looking for a coach, but tonight it has a game with Portland State to worry about.

WSU: Fallout? Sure there is fallout. Especially in Tucson where a difficult year turned awful for Arizona. … The Pac-12 has its supporters. … There is also football news as some schools are almost done with spring.

Idaho: Former Shadle Park High and Vandal Bryan Braman was honored by Spokane Mayor David Condon yesterday. Ryan Collingwood was there and has this story.

Chiefs: Spokane was playing with a depleted lineup last night and it showed in a 2-1 home loss to Tri-City. Kevin Dudley was in the Arena and has this game story.

Preps: Central Valley’s Lexie Hull is the Tacoma News Tribune’s state player of the year.

Mariners: Daniel Vogelbach is having a spectacular spring. … Felix Hernandez hasn’t, but he’s headed back to the mound. … A former M’s reliever is trying to be a pro golfer.

Seahawks: The Hawks subtraction continued yesterday but they are finally beginning to add some players, including a wide receiver and a safety.

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• We’ll be back on this site sometime after 7 tonight with our TV Take from the Gonzaga game. Not sure what will happen but I can guarantee one thing: the outcome will be closer than the November game. Yes, I only go out onto limbs strong enough to hold the Swiss Family Robinson’s treehouse. And, hey, it is St. Patrick’s Day. If you are out on your bike today, do wear green. Until later …