Stillman is supposed to be writing this from my living room, but the Heels baseball team isn’t cooperating with that plan…currently they trail Virginia 6 to 2 in the top of the 11th and he’s at the game. So he’ll be here at some point, and may even take over typing duties, but for now it’s myself, the wife, and the wife’s friend Natalie.

7:50 – The games today have been about 200 times better than the games Thursday and Friday. Not just because they’ve all been competitive, but also because I’m currently four for four. Don’t worry, while I’ll definitely come in first in the Dick’s Bracket Challenge, I’m inelegible to win a gift card.

7:53 – Washington State just won’t die. And I wish they would, since I picked Vandy.

7:56 – WHAT A BLOCK BY SOME GUY FROM VANDY! Sorry, I don’t really follow the Commodores, but number four just saved the game. Double overtime.

7:58 – What the heck? Pitt was up like 40 on VCU (you know, the team that beat Duke) wifth five minutes left, and now it’s a three point game with under three minutes to play. I don’t have time for that game to get interesting, I’m already too emotionally invested in the Vanderbilt contest.

8:04 – Wow, CBS just up and switched us from Vandy to Pitt with no warning. Then they switched us right back. They aren’t even bothering with having Greg Gumbel give us background info. Pitt is going to overtime, by the way. Vandy’s up four. Excuse me while I pace.

8:08 – I hope our game doesn’t start before the Pitt game ends, but I don’t think there’s much chance of that happening.

8:11 – Vandy wins! And I’m still perfect. Stillman just called. He might get a ticket on the way here, but he’s going to try to make it before we tip off.

8:14 – I can’t help but notice that Woody is announcing the game, but I can’t see it on my television. Oh…here it is. Meanwhile, Causey’s calling. I don’t know why, he knows that I don’t answer him when he calls before a game. Last time I did that we lost to Virginia Tech (the first time, not the second time).

8:16 – Two minutes in and we still haven’t scored. Oh…now we have. Maybe if I just keep typing things that I wish would happen they’ll keep happening before I’m done typing.

8:24 – Neitzel has 23 of Michigan State’s nine points.

8:26 – Pitt just won. And Stillman just got here. I’d say he brought my bracket good luck, but I was getting all the games right before he got here, too.

8:30 – Tyler’s taken his mask off before I’ve even had a chance to predict when he’d take his mask off.

8:32 – I think the plan is for Stillman to take over this View, but his laptop is still firing up and Kristin has offered him food. He took her up on the offer so quickly I’m wondering if he’s eaten since he moved to Fayetteville.

8:40 – Ok, I’m up and running. (This is Stillman, by the way). My afternoon/evening has been something akin to a nightmare so far. My spirits are now slightly boosted by the fact that Brandan just dunked all over somebody’s face.

8:44 – Big discussion here about the Drew Neitzel situation. In case you’re not aware of the situation, it’s this: his name doesn’t follow any of the rules (e.g. “I before E except after C”). And Kristin just informed us that there’s another rule that I evidently didn’t know about: “The first one does the talking, the second one does the walking.” This means that the “E” sound should be pronounced, not the “I.” And at this point, the length of this conversation is waaaaaay out of proportion to my interest in it.

8:55 – Dick Enberg just said, “The blistering pace of this game really favors North Carolina.” All the TV goons evidently learned their lesson in 2005 when they said that we couldn’t run with Michigan State in the Final Four. Actually, it might have just been Clark Kellogg that said that. It’s halftime, by the way.

9:13 – In an epic battle of offensive ineptitude, UCLA leads Indiana 10-9 with 7:30 to play in the first half. Only those two teams could pull that off. And speaking of pulling things off, I desperately need the Hoosiers to win this game. That would be the only good thing that’s happened to my bracket since Winthrop beat Notre Dame.

9:23 – My goodness, these tourney halftimes are loooooooooong.

9:29 – And the Spartans take the lead.

9:31 – And we get the lead back.

9:32 – And the Spartans lead again. I can’t take this.

9:40 – Not saying we’re going to lose, but this has the back-and-forth feel of one of those tourney games that doesn’t pan out well for us. As I type this, Tyler once again shows what a beast he is, and I feel a little better.

9:51 – I’m growing weary of vowel boy. That’s Neitzel, by the way.

9:56 – Did Dick Enberg just tell us that Neitzel brushes his teeth with his off hand? Yes, after backing up the DVR (is that an actual term, backing up the DVR?) we can, in fact, confirm that Drew Neitzel brushes his teeth with his off hand.

10:01 – If your name begins with the letters “T-Y,” we’re very glad you’re on our team right now. I can’t remember anything happening recently that didn’t involve Tyler or Tywon. In fact, Tyler is outscoring UCLA. Wish we were playing them.

10:05 – BOOM!! Steal by Marcus. Three by Tywon. Six point lead. Somewhat less uncomfortable shifting in my seat.

10:14 – I see Reyshawn would like his college career to continue after tonight. Good to know.

10:18 – Yes sir, that’ll do it. Big block by Brandan (where has that dude been, by the way?), a free throw from Tyler (who now trails UCLA by two points), and now free throws from Tywon.

10:23 – What an eye-popping, mind-bending, gut-checking, bone-crushing, foot-stomping, nose-breaking, butt-kicking game for one Tyler Hansbrough. What a beast of a human being.

10:24 – If Dave doesn’t shut up about his stinkin’ 8-for-8 day with his bracket, I’m going to stick him in the eye. With my laptop.