Last year, I declared Pittsburgh was ultra-vulnerable and could be toppled by Wright State in Buffalo, where I happened to be deployed for the first weekend.

That one didn't work out too well.

So I wasn't falling into that trap this year. And sure enough, Pittsburgh is here in Denver. And the Panthers are drilling Oral Roberts 47-24 at halftime.

That's not atypical for the tournament's first seven games. Three are in the books, with the favorite (by seed, anyway) winning all three. There are three more routs in progress at halftime --- all with the better seed ahead. Sixth-seeded Marquette up five on Kentucky in the lone remotely compelling game of the second set.

Could we be looking at a rerun of last year, when those who were waiting for upsets were left hanging the entire tournament? Maybe I'll go ask Jerry Palm what he thinks.

--- Patrick Stevens