Best Sports Day of the Year

Happy NCAA Tournament Day, the best sports day of the year and one of the three best days on the calendar (Thanksgiving and Super Bowl Sunday are the other two).

And we get to do it all again tomorrow. Sixteen games on the card today, including the four in Greensboro, with 16 more tomorrow.

The Perfect Bracket (patent pending) is still alive with Tuesday's Morehead State selection (need to bask in the glory of the PB while I can).

A last-minute preview of today's 16 games (we'll do this again tomorrow and the next day and the next day ...):

Note: All games are on CBS (Time Warner Cable carries all the games on 1051, 1052, 1053 and 1054.)

GREENSBORO

Butler (9) vs. LSU (8)
Time: 12:20
Regional: East

The Bulldogs handled South Alabama in last year's first round before losing to Tennessee, a No. 2 seed, in the second round.

That was a completely different lineup for Butler and coach Brad Stevens, who's not old enough to run for President.

Trent Johnson's LSU team has two strong perimeter scoring options in Tas Mitchell (16.3) and Marcus Thornton (20.7). Always go with the better guards. Pick: LSU

Radford (16) vs. UNC (1)
Time: 2:50
Regional: South

Next. Pick: UNC

Minnesota (10) vs. Texas (7)
Time: 7:10
Regional: East

Both coaches, Minnesota's Tubby Smith and Texas' Rick Barnes, once worked for Rick Pitino.

And that's where the similarities end. The Horns play a 2-3 zone and love to shoot the 3. Smith made his name with man defense.

The Gophers have lost six of nine (including wins over an awful Indiana team and Northwestern) and haven't played their best basketball since December. Pick: Texas

Binghamton (15) vs. Duke (2)
Time: 9:40:
Regional: East

Never good when you can't discern a team's worst loss. Binghamton dropped games to Central Connecticut State and Utah Valley. At least the Bearcats beat Quinnipiac.

No Belmont-like scare for the Devils. Pick: Duke

KANSAS CITY

CS-Northridge (15) vs. Memphis (2)
Time: 12:25
Regional: West

The Matadors lead the league in famous alums — and in scope — ranging from hot (Eva Mendes) to funny (Phil Hartman) to 70s icon (Daryl Dragon, aka The Captain half of Tennille).

That's not going to help them against Memphis, which hasn't lost since Dec. 20, but it's interesting nonetheless. Pick: Memphis.

Maryland (10) vs. Cal (7)
Time: 2:55
Regional: West

There's nothing on paper to like about Maryland. Cal, which led the Pac-10 in 3-pointers, can at least shoot.

But there's something about the combination of Greivis Vasquez and Maryland coach Gary Williams — and the fact that Maryland has been fighting for this tournament spot for three months — that makes me want to pick the Terps. Pick: Maryland.

Michigan (10) vs. Clemson (7)
Time: 7:10
Regional: South

Big believer in last year. Clemson wants that first-round Villanova loss back. The Tigers let an 18-point lead slip away. There are too many returning pieces for Clemson to go out the same way.

Michigan, in the second season under John Beilein, is surprisingly ahead of schedule, and plays a derivative of the Princeton offense and quirky 1-3-1 zone defense, but the Wolverines are just happy to be here. Pick: Clemson

Morgan State (15) vs. Oklahoma (2)
Time: 7:10
Regional: West

Morgan State, with once-banished coach Todd Bozeman (for his NCAA transgressions at Cal), beat Maryland earlier this season. Maryland doesn't have Blake Griffin. Pick: Oklahoma

PORTLAND

Northern Iowa (12) vs. Purdue (5)
Time: 2:30
Regional: West

Purdue's recent tournament past — pushing Florida in 2007 and losing to Xavier in 2008 — gives you reason to believe this veteran group can make a run.

Certainly the Boilers can handle Northern Iowa, the Missouri Valley champions who were completely overmatched outside the conference (losing to both Iowa and Iowa State). Pick: Purdue

Mississippi State (13) vs. Washington (4)
Time: 4:55
Regional: West

Most people picked the Huskies (UConn) to go the Final Four, just not these Huskies. Washington's high-scoring and fits the "Rule of Three." That's enough for me.

Surprise conference tournament winners (Miss. State in the SEC) rarely last long in the real tournament. Pick: Washington

Akron (13) vs. Gonzaga (4)
Time: 7:25
Regional: South

Loved the Zags last year, in fact, ridiculed to this day for it after they lost to Davidson in the first round. Well, the tables are turned. The Zags are relatively close to home and should skate through the first two rounds with a veteran team. Pick: Gonzaga.

Western Kentucky (12) vs. Illinois (5)
Time: 9:55
Regional: South

Western Kentucky won two NCAA games last year. The Hilltoppers coach moved on to South Carolina and their best player is in the NBA.

Even if Chester Frazier (bruised hand) isn't completely healthy, Illinois' painful-to-watch style will drag the Hilltoppers down with them. Pick: Illinois.

PHILADELPHIA

Texas A&M (9) vs. BYU (8)
Time: 12:30
Regional: West

A rematch from the first round of last year's tournament. The Aggies won that one. Don't like the travel or the start time for BYU, but if Lee Cummard is awake, the Cougars will win. Pick: BYU.

Chattanooga (16) vs. UConn (1)
Time: 3
Regional: West

Next. Pick: UConn.

American (14) vs. Villanova (3)
Time: 7:20
Regional: East

One of the only things I don't like about the NCAA Tournament. This isn't some rec-league tournament where you have to sell cupcakes at halftime to pay the officials and make ends meet.

It's the NC-freakin'-A Tournament. CBS pays you billions (with a "b") to televise it.

PLAY THE GAMES AT NEUTRAL SITES.

What did Villanova do to deserve two home games anyway? Pick: Villanova

VCU (11) vs. UCLA (6)
Time: 9:50
Regional: East

Lots of love for the Rams and Eric Maynor, who knocked off Duke in a similar spot (6-11 game) in 2007.

UCLA's Darren Collison is better than any guard Duke has had since Jason Williams. The Bruins win once before going back to L.A. Pick: UCLA.