The cold reality of March Madness is that almost everybody loses in the end. April 4 is the expiration date that will be defied by only one team in the NCAA men’s basketball tournament — the championship winner — and only 16 of 68 will last through this weekend (March 17-20). Duke’s Coach Mike Krzyzewski faces the probability that his estimable career will end in defeat, although it would be shocking if that happens Friday when his Blue Devils play their opener against Cal State Fullerton.
Upsets do happen, and these are trying times for teams with high expectations. Westmont College has such a team in the NAIA women’s tournament. The Warriors won last year’s national championship at Sioux City, Iowa, and they were ranked No. 2 as they entered this year’s 64-team fray last weekend.
Instead of being shipped out of state as in past years, Westmont was selected to host the first two rounds in its corner of the bracket. The Warriors struggled a bit in their opener Friday against Westcliff, a first-time participant from Irvine, but they went on a big run in the second half to win comfortably, 62-47.