Roundtable: March Madness Storylines

Florida Gulf Coast University became the first #15 seed to reach the Sweet 16 in the 2013 tournament

Roundtable compiles the views of various ILRSMC bloggers and e-board members. If you have a suggestion for a future roundtable topic, email Geoff at gjr52@cornell.edu.

As always, March Madness has given sports fans some of the craziest and most memorable moments of the year. From Florida Gulf Coast University's shocking run to the Sweet 16 to Kevin Ware's horrifying injury, the tournament has provided plenty of memories and images for CBS' "One Shining Moment.

Last week, we asked several ILRSBS club members what they felt was the biggest March Madness storyline so far. Check out their answers after the jump.


Gabe Cassillo: The reemergence of Syracuse's vaunted 2-3 zone. The way the Orange are playing, could this be Jim Boehiem's last dance? [Editor's Note: Question asked BEFORE Syracuse's loss]

Robbie Cohen: I think the biggest storyline is the success of the Big East in its final season as we know it. Two of the Final Four teams are currently playing their final seasons in the Big East - Louisville and Syracuse. The Big East also featured Marquette, who will join the new Big East after the season, in the Elite 8, giving it more teams than any other conference. Great way to send out a great conference, and we can only hope that it stays strong as a basketball-centric conference.

Chizoba Ibeanusi: The BIGGEST storyline of March Madness so far was definitely when Florida Gulf Coast #15 beat Georgetown #2. Practically everyone I knew thought Georgetown would win and no one even knew who Florida Gulf Coast was. It's crazy that a new school could beat out a known winner such as Georgetown. I definitely think that was the first major bracket upset.

Adam Kirsch: You can't talk about March Madness without discussing Wichita State. While the national media was obsessed with Florida Gulf Coast, the #9 Shockers dispatched #1 seed Gonzaga, fresh off a 32-3 season, and easily beat La Salle. With the Cinderella spotlight all their own, they took down a dangerous Ohio State team and punched their ticket to the Final Four.

 John Rodriguez: I think the storyline for the March Madness so far has been: Cinderella Story Florida Gulf Coast and the rise of mid major schools busting everyone's bracket this year. The balance of power in college basketball seems to be evening out.

Zach Schelberg: Up until Sunday night [3/31], I would have had to highlight The University of Michigan's historic second-half comeback against the top-seeded Kansas Jayhawks as one of the most memorable moments of the tournament. Trey Burke's ability to take over the game and hit clutch shot after shot to come away with a victory, will truly be something to remember. However, after witnessing Kevin Ware's gruesome injury against Duke, it is one moment that I unfortunately will not be able to get off my mind.