(Image Source: Kansas City Star)

BY TONY BILLMEYER

College basketball fans got a taste of March Madness with Saturday’s wild slate of games. Three of the nation’s top five teams lost -- shaking up the top. Without center Fab Melo, No. 1 Syracuse was handled by Notre Dame in South Bend. Sporting News’ Mike DeCourcy discusses ‘Cuse’s depth.

“The irony of Syracuse’s struggle at Notre Dame is that so much praise had been directed toward the Orange regarding their incomprable depth, with 10 players averaging at least 12 minutes and none as much as 30. When just one player was removed from the operation, though, it was undeniably altered and obviously diminished.”

After several difficult early season losses for Florida State, the Seminoles are playing with the best of the ACC. Florida State’s upset over North Carolina last weekend gave the Seminoles a spark of momentum that helped lift them over the Blue Devils in Durham.

“Down 2, ties it at 73. The Seminoles however with a chance to win it in regulation. Final seconds, they work it down the court to who else, the junior Snaer who buries it."

Snaer and the Seminoles snapped Duke’s 45-game winning streak on Coach K court, and now share the ACC lead with the Blue Devils with a 4-1 conference record. Florida State has never won the ACC.

“The scheduling is now in FSU’s favor. Florida State doesn’t play Carolina again. Duke has to go to Tallahassee on Feb. 23. The other contender may be Virginia, which does play the Seminoles twice.”

And finally, the Big 12 battle between No. 3 Baylor and No. 5 Mizzou managed to live up to all its hype. Tigers big-man Ricardo Ratliffe powered the team with a career high 27 points, as Mizzou held off a late Bears rally.

“Michael Dixon on the drive with the uncontested layup. Missouri makes their free throws down the stretch and win 89-88.”

After two consecutive losses, the Bears are now 17-2 and looking up at Missouri and Kansas in the Big 12. Nick Fasulo of SB nation talks about Mizzou as an elite team
 
“The fear is that Mizzou is doomed because they don’t have a true big man and as a result struggle against bigger, more physical teams. … Sure nothing’s a guarantee, but with the media searching high and low for a few more Final Four caliber teams to join Kentucky and Syracuse, I think this team is more than adequate to claim the ‘elite distinction.”

No. 2 Kentucky moved to 19-1 with a win over Alabama. The Wildcats are likely to regain their No. 1 ranking.