Time to see if NCAA tourney really up for grabs

PHOTOS

Click on image to view.

DISCUSS

Comments Comment on this story

After two more games on Wednesday, not to mention a reconfiguring of the Big East Conference, it's time for the NCAA tournament to really get started.

Sixty-four teams. Thirty-two contests. All going down in an exhilarating — and, yes, exhausting — two-day mosh pit of hoops.

By the time it's all done late Friday, we should have at least some of the answers to the most pressing story lines: Is this tournament as wide-open as everyone says it is? Can all those so-called little guys prove themselves worthy of the invitation? Will the refs call more fouls than they did during a low-scoring regular season that often resembled wrestling more than basketball?

This much is for sure — there won't be a repeat national champion. Kentucky's season is already over.