Daily Madden: Experience Is Trumping Prestige In NCAA Tournament
(KCBS) - Stanford's victory over Kansas and Mercer's win over Duke were two of the NCAA Tournament upsets over big name basketball programs.
"You hear Duke playing Mercer and you say 'ho-hum,' that's what happens when you get a top team and a bottom team, and that can be a nothing game," John Madden told the KCBS Radio morning crew. "(But) when you hear them explain it, that Mercer had all seniors and that Duke had all freshmen -- there's still something to that. These guys are four years older. They're four years more experienced. And even at a smaller level, and the competition not as good, they still had four years of it."
In the Cardinal-Jayhawks game, Stanford started third and fourth year players. Kansas started two freshmen, including star Andrew Wiggins, who was held to four points.
Madden said the improbable victories are what makes the NCAA Tournament so exciting.
"All these pundits who pick it and the lock of the week - when it doesn't happen, that's the best thing for the sport... That's really why we watch it." (7:25)
Listen to the John Madden segment live weekday mornings at 8:15 on KCBS All News 740 AM/106.9 FM.