Right now you're in one of four places:
- Las Vegas: There's only one way to properly celebrate basketball amateurism -- Putting your entire 401(k) on the line by taking the "under" on Butler-Old Dominion.
- Home: You called out of work this morning. "Basketball Flu," you said. Your boss didn't catch the message because he's out, too. Something about the virus going around the office.
- Work: You're a schmuck and took a Basketball Flu shot back in January. Sucker.
- Dive Bar: It's Saint Patrick's Day ("Amateur Hour," as I like to call it) and you're doing work towards a "Disturbing the Peace" violation. It'd be a "Reckless Endangerment" citation if today wasn't the start of the NCAA Tournament.
In any circumstance, your focus is almost entirely on hoops; the rest of existence -- proper hygiene, sympathy for others, whatever dopey errand your girlfriend wants you to run (something about "pick up the medicine I need in order to live") -- is all on the back burner.
The only issue you have, though, is how you're going to process all that hot hardwood action. Good thing I exist in order to help you out. Here's today's television schedule, separated by broadcast blocks, and accompanied by Ken Pomeroy's "Thrill Score" rankings in order to help you a) find the games on television, and b) help you pick the most exciting ones to watch.
THURSDAY: MARCH 17, 2011
BLOCK A
-
(5) West Virginia v. (12) Clemson -- 12:15 (CBS)
-
(8) Butler v. (9) Old Dominion -- 12:40 (truTV)
-
(4) Louisville v. (13) Morehead State -- 1:40 (TBS)
-
(7) Temple v. (10) Penn State -- 2:10 (TNT)
Ken Pomeroy "Thrill Score" Rankings:
-
West Virginia v. Clemson: 75.1
-
Temple v. Penn State: 69.8
-
Butler v. Old Dominion: 65.9
-
Louisville v. Morehead State: 39.8
BLOCK B
-
(4) Kentucky v. (13) Princeton -- 2:45 (CBS)
-
(1) Pittsburgh v. (16) UNC-Asheville -- 3:10 (truTV)
-
(5) Vanderbilt v. (12) Richmond -- 4:10 (TBS)
-
(2) San Diego State v. (15) Northern Colorado -- 4:50 (TNT)
Ken Pomeroy "Thrill Score" Rankings:
-
Vanderbilt v. Richmond: 71.6
-
Kentucky v. Princeton: 38.7
-
San Diego State v. Northern Colorado: 30.5
-
Pittsburgh v. UNC-Asheville: 26.1
BLOCK C
-
(2) Florida v. (15) UC-Santa Barbara -- 6:50 (TBS)
-
(3) Brigham Young v. (14) Wofford -- 7:15 (CBS)
-
(3) Connecticut v. (14) Bucknell-- 7:20 (TNT)
-
(4) Wisconsin v. (13) Belmont -- 7:27 (truTV)
Ken Pomeroy "Thrill Score" Rankings:
-
Wisconsin v. Belmont: 77.4
-
Brigham Young v. Wofford: 45.9
-
Connecticut v. Bucknell: 43.7
-
Florida v. UC-Santa Barbara: 33.0
BLOCK D
-
(7) UCLA v. (10) Michigan State -- 9:20 (TBS)
-
(6) St. John's v. (11) Gonzaga -- 9:45 (CBS)
-
(6) Cincinnati v. (11) Missouri -- 9:50 (TNT)
-
(5) Kansas State v. (12) Utah State -- 9:57 (truTV)
Ken Pomeroy "Thrill Score" Rankings:
-
Cincinnati v. Missouri: 75.2
-
St. John's v. Gonzaga: 73.9
-
Kansas State v. Utah State: 73.6
-
UCLA v. Michigan State: 67.9
Hat Tip: Noah P.