An against-all-odds Opening Day featuring Clemens and Pettite as Astros, A-Rod as a Yankee (why in the world is he wearing #13?), Schilling as a Red Sock and Maddux as a Cub, while entertaining and compelling, is still 47 days away. So while others will likely use this space today to wax poetic about what could be the greatest pitching staff ever assembled, you can consider this a simple reminder that we’re only 25 days away from the greatest day of the year—Selection Sunday.

A day of infinite dreams and endless possibilities that, maybe more than ever before, will also represent a realistic path to winning the last game of the season for no less than 8 teams, not all of which will carry a #1 or #2 seed. We’re talking Stanford, Duke, Pittsburgh, Mississippi State, Gonzaga, Oklahoma State, N.C. State, and Texas. Mark it down now, your 2004 NCAA Champion will come from this list.

Arguably absent is a capable roster of tough-outs in St. Joseph’s, Kentucky, Connecticut, Louisville, Kansas, North Carolina, Providence, Arizona, Cincinnati, Florida and any card-carrying member of the Big Ten. These will be the teams that will be on the losing end of any number of seemingly improbable upsets this year’s tournament will host. But since you’re now in the know, you won’t be surprised and you will have a leg up on everyone else in your tournament bracket pool.

I wasn’t on any ledge or contemplating a shower rod as the means to an end when Duke lost to a hungry N.C. State team on Sunday. Quite simply, because you have to lose sometime in February if you hope to peak sometime in March. This is why St. Joseph’s is at the top of my list of early exits.

Since Thanksgiving, Duke had only played from behind for a total of 28 minutes before heading to the RBC Center for their date with the Wolfpack. And even though they had two guys coming off hip pointers, and another two guys suffering flu-like symptoms, they battled back to keep the loss within two possessions and reminded themselves of the bitter taste of defeat. Yet the topic of playing at less than full strength was never broached in the post-game comments, instead giving all credit to N.C. State for being the better and hungrier team for 40 minutes. When you’re sleep walking your way through an undefeated season, you sometimes forget how to be hungry.

On their way to an impressive and unblemished 22-0 start, Phil Martelli’s Hawks have beaten two locks for the NCAA Tourney. Gonzaga and Dayton. They’ll end their season against 5 teams (Fordham, Temple, Mass, Rhode Island, and St. Bonaventure) whose spring break plans won’t be interrupted by an NIT invite. So, maybe they’ll get one more test in the Atlantic 10 tourney final against Dayton. Another relatively untested team with losses to Saint Louis and Wyoming on their record.

Forget Emeka Okafor, Jameer Nelson is every bit deserving of unanimous player of the year honors. He’ll also be deserving of a huge target on his back and receive even more deserved attention from opposing coaches with experience in game-planning for more than one scoring/play-making threat.

Kentucky makes the list because they’ll carry an inflated and unmerited seed, and even though Dennis Felton has the Bulldogs well ahead of schedule, you just can’t get swept by Georgia. Besides if Mississippi State could hit free throws, they’d have 5 losses.

Connecticut maybe raises the most eyebrows, as a lot of “experts” will have you believe their superb inside -out combination of Okafor and Ben Gordon, deep bench and Hall of Fame coaching, is a recipe for success in the NCAAs. But you’ve also got to be able to run off 6 consecutive victories. A feat they’ve been unable to manage since coming up short in Chapel Hill in mid-January. While the Huskies were tabbed the #1 pre-season, tourney-bound teams like Georgia Tech, Carolina, Pittsburgh, and even the little engine that could called Notre Dame, have emerged unimpressed.

The wheels are quickly falling off for both Louisville and Florida, whose rosters get thinner by the second…Kansas and Carolina are both a year away from fully accepting their new coaches’ philosophies…Arizona’s too small up front and suspect to an off-shooting night from Salim…Ryan Gomes isn’t quite capable of pulling off the everybody-on-my-back (a la Danny Manning) strategy for Providence…and Cincy is one off-court misdemeanor away from being a pesky #8 or #9 seed.

That said, before the majority of you settle in for the Illini’s drubbing of Penn State, do yourselves a favor and catch Manhattan on the deuce. If for no other reason than to impress your friends and family with your knowledge of Jaspers’ hoops.

In non-hoops related news, I’ve still been keeping it real. As in reality TV. As in just about everything except for The Littlest Groom, which seemed a bit absurd even for me. Though I’m all about Fox’s coming-soon offering where some chick has to successfully employ her gaydar to win a man and some cash.

My Big Fat Obnoxious Fiancee seems to get better by the week. I could use more of the freaky, death-obsessed sister (and the hot host), but the Coy “siblings” have to be in the running for biggest televised jackasses of all-time. So you don’t like who your sister is marrying? Big freaking deal! Forget about her happiness and think about yourself, you overly-righteous dweebs. As a young, not horrible looking 20-something, there is no ceiling to the upside you receive from the free publicity of a show that boasts a high-Nielsen rating. So long as you come off seemingly cool with a good sense of humor. This means having the opportunity to get in the homes of millions of reality-loving Americans on a weekly basis handed to you on a golden platter, should not be met with disdain, tears and a threatened exit. Instead, maximizing your screen time as an open audition for more “dates” than you AND your friends could possibly handle should be the goal, namely in the form of witty one liners, as opposed to any form of whining and self-importance. Oh well, maybe the conflicted, oldest Coy can star in The Littlest Groom-Part 2.

Look at the Real World kids. The guys there have it right. Jaquese, Brad and Randy will have no shortage of “opportunities” once their San Diego season is in the books, based on their fun-loving attitudes and ability to drop the occasional one-liner. Maybe the same goes for Cameran, Robin, Frankie, but that’ll be strictly based on looks and the male ability to sacrifice personality for an evening of fun. Too bad for poor Jamie, that she’s already become this season’s Simon.

Speaking of good-looking dumb chicks, this is a historic post. It will be the last post accompanied by a Britney appearance. As if the whole annulment saga wasn’t enough, getting beat to the breast-baring by Janet, followed by an open adoration for Ben Affleck—is just too much for me to stomach. Even worse, she’s given Red Bull a bad name, something that I cannot and will not forgive. I’ve finally come to the realization that she only looks her best in video-form and she’s even less bright than Jessica Simpson.

Instead, inspired by Sloth and TW’s Michelle Trachtenberg dialogue from yesterday, I will attempt to find diamonds-in-the-rough, the hard-to-find, unappreciated 4th and 5th round pick that can come in and contribute right away. When possible this will also take the form of a whatever-happened-to type that blossomed since last seen.

Today, feast your eyes on Josie Davis. If you missed her in NBC’s quickly cancelled Titans a few years back, then maybe you’ll remember her as the annoying, less attractive sister (Sara) from Charles in Charge. And you thought Nicole Eggert was the consensus #1 pick from that show. Silly rabbits.

I’ll be searching high and low, far and wide, and if you have a nomination for next week’s “upside,” drop me an email…

Until then enjoy a Duke win over Wake, an All-Star Survivor where Rob M., Amber, Jenna L. and Rupert remain unscathed, and an Apprentice where Bill continues his path to the victory circle and Nick continues his path to getting in Amy’s pants.

Finally, in keeping with the all-blonde theme, have a glimpse of the tight end, err, looker, err kicker, poised to be one of the final nails in the Colorado football coffin of Gary Barnett. Maybe 3 years too late on the allegations, next she’ll claim her teammate wanted her to watch Roots or something.