The title of this post pretty much sums up the day at the St. Pete Times Forum as the two #12 seeds went head to head with the #13 seeds in an unprecedented second round doubleheader.

Cinderella’s clock struck midnight here(if you want to see it that way) as the two higher seeds won out. Villanova’s stifling interior D picked up right where it left off from the Clemson game as they suffocated MAAC Champion Siena to 36% shooting from the floor in an easy 84-72 win.

Game two was a bit more enticing as Western Kentucky raced out to a big second half lead, yet unlike Siena the Toreros of San Diego would make a bit of a game of it. They rallied to take a lead with about six minutes left, but two quick threes by the Hilltoppers gave the lead back to Western Kentucky and they never relinquished it holding on for a 72-63 win.

Villanova and Western Kentucky now head to their respective regional semifinal matches playing the role of giant killers. Each gets a #1 seed for their next game (’Nova/Kansas and WKU/UCLA). The road probably will end for both with their next game, yet that’s the magic of March Madness and the NCAA tournament. You never know until the games are played.

And like that it was over, another great subregional in the books. It was our fifth and quite frankly it’s one that’s highly unlikely to be matched anywhere anytime soon. Two overtime buzzer beaters, two double digit seeds heading out to the regionals, four really competitive games (all not involving Siena). It was more than worth the price of admission.

So now its on to a few days of spring training ball, an intermission before we head back north with stops in Charlotte (still no tix for regional semis yet, yikes!!!) and Norfolk before returning to Buffalo next weekend. Stay tuned for more!

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