The Charlotte Bobcats play their very first playoff game today against the Orlando Magic. The first goal of this franchise was to make the playoffs. In year six, they accomplished that goal. With Michael Jordan taking over ownership, a good young team and Larry Brown stating that he plans to stay in Charlotte, the future looks bright.

The Bobcats will be heavy underdogs against Dwight Howard, Vince Carter and the Orlando Magic. The Magic have taken 3 out of their 4 games this season but the Bobcats did win the last meeting between the two which was in Orlando. But they have no answer for Dwight Howard inside. Of course, many teams can say the same thing but the Cats will use a center by commitee against Howard. They will throw Tyson Chandler, Naz Mohammed and Theo Ratliff against him. Charlotte has the advantage on the wings with All-Star, Gerald Wallace and Stephen Jackson who have played well together this season. But one of the keys will be whether they can contain the Magic's prolific three point shooting which seems to come from everywhere and everyone.

Gerald Wallace leads the Bobcats in their first playoff series

It will be a good litmus test of the level of interest Charlotte has in the Bobcats with this series. If it is a sweep, will the community who have appeared to finally warmed up to the team, remain on board. Charlotte is a city who was left with a bitter taste after the departure of the Charlotte Hornets to New Orleans and many did not want a new arena built in the City. It is a city in which many washed their hands of the NBA after George Shinn pulled up stakes and left town. We are seeing a slow momentum build again starting with the hiring of Larry Brown and now the new ownership lead by Michael Jordan. The city is on the verge of all-in if the Bobcats did something spectacular.

Spectacular in this case would be to upset the second seed and move into the second round. That is very unlikely but possible. My question is how will the city feel about the team if it is a competitive series but the Bobcats lose? Will the city and the momentum remain going into next season or will the Bobcats be an after thought behind the Carolina Panthers? First things first, Game One begins shortly and we will know much more after the two games in Orlando followed by the two in Charlotte. If ticket sales are any indication, Charlotte is ready to rock the two games here as tickets went very quickly for both games. The Bobcats have met one goal, let's see where it goes from here.

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Finally, after months of TMZ, gossip, tabloid reporting, Tiger Woods returns to Golf at the Masters in Augusta. We have heard everything that we will be allowed by Woods in regards to that night late last November. We know about the affairs and the arguments with his wife. By now, everyone has formed an opinion on the Woods' situation and as to Tiger in general. Some do not care, some have completely changed their view of him after this incident. Some will never look at him the same way again. And for some, the incident will be part of the legacy of golf's greatest of all time.

Most people have had it up to here with news of his off course incidents and are now ready to focus on his golf game again. Much like many athletes, it is best not to know their actions away from their sport. In many cases, you will be disappointed. So this week, we bring Tiger back to who and what he is to most people. He is a spectacular professional golfer and we will finally see him back in his environment. The question now is how will he fare in his return from the game of golf. Woods jumped right into the fire choosing The Masters to make his return. I am fascinated as to how well he will perform in one of golf's greatest treasures after the actions of the last 4 plus months.

Tiger Woods finished with a -4 opening round score

Tiger Woods returns to Golf today

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South Regional

BAYLOR ROLLS ON

Baylor put a stranglehold on St. Mary's and never let go winning in a blowout, 72-49. The Bears were led by Lacedarius Dunn's 23 points. The Gaels could never get a handle on Baylor's athletic attack and their stifling defense kept St. Mary's Omar Sanham in check while the game was in question. The Gaels were held to 34 percent shooting from the field. Baylor will move on to the Elite 8 where they will face either Duke or Purdue.

Lacedarius Dunn led the Bears to the Elite 8

DOOKIES ADVANCE

Duke and Purdue were engaged in a defensive slugfest but the Blue Devils finally got some separation in the second half and held on to a 70-57 win. They were able to find their offensive rhythm after struggling most of the first half. The Blue Devils will take on Baylor in the regional final on Sunday. Duke was led by Kyle Singler's 24 points.

Kyle Singler led the Blue Devils

Midwest Regional

VOLS TO THE ELITE 8

Tennessee and Ohio State played a great game that came down to the last possession. With Ohio State down three, the Buckeyes went to Evan Turner who had a couple attempts at a game tying three put thanks to J.P. Prince's defense, he could not get his shot to the rim. The Buckeye's defense had a difficult time guarding the Vols slashing offense. The final was, 76-73. Tennessee was led by Wayne Chism's 22 points, 11 rebounds. Evan Turner finished with 31 for Ohio State. The Vols will face either Michigan State or Northern Iowa on Saturday.

Bruce Pearl received a tremendous effort from his Vols

SPARTANS TO REGIONAL FINALS

Northern Iowa and Michigan State battled in a tough game but the Spartans were able to shake NIU and take a 59-52 victory. Michigan State got 19 points from Durrell Summers and the team was able to overcome an assortment of injuries to advance. Tom Izzo moves on to the Regional Finals again, a place he is quite used to. The Spartans had trailed for much of the first half and into the second half but were able to make the big shots. Michigan State will meet Tennessee on Sunday.

Tom Izzo and the Spartans are back in the Regional Finals

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We are down to the Sweet 16 and by the end of the weekend, we will know who the Final Four participants are. There are some very intriguing matchups that start tonight with 4 games, as the regionals start.

East Regional

WEST VIRGINIA MOVES ON

Despite the absence of Truck Bryant, West Virginia was able to defeat Washington 69-56. Trailing a good portion of the game, the Mountaineers seized control midway through the second half and never relinquished. West Virginia pounded the boards out rebounding the Huskies by a 40-25 edge and were led by a balanced attack. It was an impressive win given the fact that this was the first game played without their starting point guard who is out for the remainder of the tournament. The Mountaineers will move on to meet Kentucky.

Kevin Jones and West Virginia advance to the Elite 8

YOUNG CATS ROLL

Keep waiting for the youth of the Kentucky Wildcats to play a factor in the tournament, but thus far, it has not. Kentucky beat a good Cornell team, 62-45. The Wildcats have yet to really be tested in this tournament as they roll on to the regional finals. Led by D'Marcus Cousin's 16 points 7 rebound effort, the Cats kept the Big Red at arms distance throughout the game. The Wildcats defense held Cornell to 33 percent from the field. Kentucky will meet West Virginia on Saturday.

DeMarcus Cousins led the Wildcats over Cornell

West Regional

ORANGE CRUSHED

The Butler Bulldogs kept this tournament continue it's unpredictable theme as they knocked off number one seed Syracuse, 63-59. Just when it looked like Syracuse was going to kick to another gear and take the game, Butler made all the right plays down the stretch. The Orange is the second number one seed eliminated, following the Kansas dismissal over the weekend. Gordon Hayward led the Bulldogs with 17. Butler will play this weekend in the Regional Finals with a chance to advance to the Final Four.

Gordon Hayward and Butler upset Syracuse

KANSAS STATE IN A THRILLER

It took two overtimes to settle, but Kansas State finally defeated Xavier by a score of 101-96. The Wildcats got 74 points from their trio of Denis Clemente, Jacob Pullen and Curtis Kelly. In a game that went back and forth pretty much the whole way, Kansas State survived a great effort by Xavier who got 32 points from Jordan Crawford. This was clearly one of the best games of the tournament thus far. It took three free throws by Xavier's, Terrell Holloway with 5 seconds left to send it to overtime. Then, it took a long three by Crawford to send it to the second overtime as both teams traded jabs. Kansas State survived and will move on to play Butler on Saturday.

Courtesy of CBS Sports, Highlights from Xavier-Kansas State, one
of the best games of the tournament

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East Regional

MOUTAIN MEN West Virginia were able to handle Missouri's pressure defense and defeat the Tigers, 68-59. Da'Sean Butler led the way for the Mountaineers with 28 points and 8 rebounds. The Big East has been struggling thus far but West Virginia has looked good in their wins. They will take on red hot Washington, the 11th seed in the round of 16.

BIG RED MACHINE Cornell systematically took apart Wisconsin by a score of 87-69 and if people are not paying attention to this team, they probably should. This is a team who came into the tournament knowing that they were capable of playing with anybody. They have not only played with, they have taken apart their first couple of opponents. They will move on to face their biggest test yet in number one seed, Kentucky. Louis Dale dropped in 26 and Ryan Wittman scored 24 to lead the Big Red.

Cornell's Louis Dale

South Regional

BOILERMAKERS SURVIVE AND ADVANCE Purdue got a layup by Chris Kramer with 5 seconds left and Texas A&M missed a three pointer at the buzzer, it was Purdue advancing 63-61 in overtime. Bryan Davis lead the Aggies with 17 points, 14 rebounds. E'twaun Moore had 15 for Purdue who will advance to meet Duke in the Sweet 16.

Chris Kramer hit the game winner for Purdue

DUKE MARCHES ON Duke has defeated California who were never able to cut into the deficit and make a run. The final was, 68-53. Nolan Smith led the Blue Devils with 20 points. Duke will face Purdue in the Sweet 16 in Houston.

Midwest Regional

BUCKEYES SWEET 16 BOUND The Ohio State Buckeyes got 24 points from Evan Turner and defeated Georgia Tech, 75-66. The two seed received 62 of their 75 points from their big three of Turner, Diebler and Lighty. The Buckeyes will face Tennessee in the round of 16 from St. Louis.

SPARTANS IN A BUZZER BEATER Michigan State defeated Maryland on a last second shot by Korie Lucious as time expired to propel the Spartans to a 85-83 win. The shot ended a great last sequence as seconds before, Maryland's Greivis Vasquez hit a floater in the lane but Michigan State drove down without a timeout and Lucious drilled the jump shot at the buzzer. The Spartans will face Cinderella, Northern Iowa in the Sweet 16. Durrell Summers led Michigan State with 26 points.

Durell Summers hit the game winner for the Spartans

West Regional

CUSE CRUISES Syracuse flexed their muscle and certainly look like one of the teams to beat in this tournament. They defeated a good Gonzaga team 87-65. The Orangemen made it look live Men vs. Boys. The Orange were led by Wesley Johnson who finished with 31 points and 14 rebounds. Andy Rautins finished with 23 in the win. Syracuse moves on to the Sweet 16 where they will face Butler from Salt Lake City.

Wesley Johnson had a huge day for Syracuse

X MEN Xavier held on to defeat Pittsburgh, 71-68. Pitt had a chance to tie but miss two three pointers with seconds to go and Xavier will move to the round of 16. Jordan Crawford led the Muskateers with 27 points. Xavier will face Kansas State in the next round.

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