No.1 seed Kansas is out. The mighty have fallen. As the match progressed, the warning signs became clear. University of Northern Iowa (UNI) played a calm game, didn’t look overawed by the fancied opponents. Even when they went 12 points ahead, we were sure of a Kansas win. Kansas is athletic, they would rebound. And they did. They brought down the deficit to 63-62.
Then it happened. Ali Farokhmanesh of UNI who got a second glance only in the previous UNI match against UNLV decided to do the “three-score-trick”. From the three-point line, he swished and buried the ball in the hoop. Panthers won with an overall score of 69-67.
These shots will be the highlights of the 2010 March Madness. Panthers proved to be too much for Jayhawks. They will now be remembered for the biggest upset in recent memory. Villanova and New Mexico are out too.
Several theories have been advanced for the upset. I have my own two. The panthers went off like arrows from the word “go”. They kept emotions out and went for the opposite hoop. Theirs was a confident, attacking game.
The Jayhawks played  the “confident” part too much.  They forgot NUI’s consistency, remembered only their own reputation as the unbeatable. They underestimated UNI’s game plan, its strength, and paid for it.
So, who will be the men’s champion now? Kentucky?
I am not guessing anymore.