Don’t want to close my eyes … don’t want to miss a thing

To sleep or not to sleep? … that is the question.

No time of year is this quandary more relevant or pressing than during the NCAA tournament opening weekend, the sports enthusiast spoiled to the tune of 12 consecutive hours of non-stop hoops action.

The equivalent of what Christmas is to a young child, sports enthusiasts like myself spend the month following the Super Bowl counting down the days till the gift that is “March Madness” presents itself in all its glory. And with its sudden arrival, the desire to savor every passing moment is immense, knowing it only comes around once a year.

So I, like so many others late last week eschewed the notion of sleep, for the sudden thrill of last-second tip-ins and the buzzer-beating shots from half-court that make this pit stop on the sports schedule so awesome.

On most nights as the clock prepares to strike midnight, I’m typically in wind down mode and getting myself mentally prepared for the sheep soon to play a starring role in my dreams.

Not the past few days, though … not with the madness that transpired. In particular, this past Friday night.

In the span of a couple minutes, we saw:

▪  Texas seemingly send its first-round game with Northern Iowa to overtime when Isaiah Taylor’s layup tied the game with 2.7 seconds to play. With the time remaining, Paul Jesperson heaved a prayer from half-court that banked in for the win – and a play that will likely live on in NCAA tournament lore.

▪  After St. Joseph’s Isaiah Miles knocked down a 3-pointer to give his team the lead, Cincinnati’s Octavius Ellis appeared to have sent the game to overtime when his dunk went through the net as time expired. But after a lengthy discussion by referees and a review of video footage, the basket was waved off, giving the Hawks a 78-76 win.

Missing a few winks has never been more worth it.

And that’s not to mention the upset of Middle Tennessee State over national title favorite Michigan State in the first round, or Arkansas-Little Rock overcoming a large second-half deficit to defeat Purdue. Or if we’re just talking about good basketball, the quality stuff we saw from Indiana and Kentucky on Saturday night, a game that lived up to the hype.

But the first round is about the little guys and their ability to pull off shocking upsets. But the NCAA also knows where its bread is buttered, and this upcoming week is for the blueboods, big boys and perennial contenders.

Among those headed for play in the tournament’s second weekend include reigning national champion Duke, its hated rival North Carolina, the nation’s top-ranked team in Kansas, as well as ACC powerhouse Virginia. The aforementioned Indiana squad will also be there, in addition to the underdog most love to hate, Gonzaga.

While a lot of the shock and awe from the tourney’s first weekend won’t be present, the quality of basketball will likely take a step up as the college hoops season draws ever closer to its conclusion.

And maybe … just maybe, your brackets will find some sort of saving grace.

Of note

Coastal Carolina continues its push through the CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament, this after beating New Hampshire 71-62 on Saturday. The Chanticleers look to further prolong their season on Wednesday against Grand Canyon. … Week one of the Mingo Bay Classic will be played this week, with as many as 18 schools from five states competing. The first games will be played at 10 a.m. Monday morning on the campuses of Carolina Forest, Conway, Myrtle Beach and Socastee high schools. Two more Mingo Bay Classic sessions will follow in the coming weeks.

This story was originally published March 21, 2016 at 2:00 AM with the headline "Don’t want to close my eyes … don’t want to miss a thing."