After stealing the glass slipper from Cinderella Davidson, then toppling the mighty Tarheels, the Jayhawks faced off with the Memphis Tigers last night, and you all know the story from there. For the first time since 1988, when Danny Manning led a 6-seeded Jayhawk team to victory in the National Championship, the Hawks cut down the nets and are bringing the trophy home to Lawrence once again, where we’re all in a state of suspended euphoria.

In a game that was as exciting as any I’ve ever seen, our emotions were on a rollercoaster ride until the final buzzer sounded, sending Lawrence into a frenzy.

Things looked pretty grim in the final two minutes of the game, as the Jayhawks were down 60-51 with just over two minutes remaining in regulation. We were with friends, watching the game, and you could feel hope trying to slip out the back door. But the Jayhawks ended up taking a gamble that worked, slowing down the game by sending Tigers to the free throw line and and banking on misses by a team famous this year for their poor free-throw percentage. It worked. Superstar guards Derrick Rose and Chris Douglas-Roberts missed 4 out of five of their final free throws in regulation, giving the Jayhawks the only window they needed — a three point deficit and 10 seconds to tie the game.

Even so, people were starting to leave the party, camcorders packed up, coats on, tears in eyes.

“Guys, 10 seconds is plenty of time. This is the National Championship — they can do something with 10 seconds. . . ”

And, as people started filtering toward the door, the rest of us watched the final possession in regulation unfold. After Sherron Collins bobbled ball, and then got enough control to get it to (Super) Mario Chalmers, I just knew that when Chalmers launched his shot, it was gonna go in. It had to!

And it did.

Out party erupted, grown-ups and kids running around like fools, hugging and kissing each other, like we had just won the game.

In fact, we had. The wind went out of the Tigers’ sails, and the Jayhawks took advantage, jumping out to a six point lead in overtime and controlling the pace in OT. Looking back, I can see the outcome in overtime was never really in question. But we all held our breath, doing superstitious things like standing in the exact place we were in when Chalmers’ shot went down, willing the Hawks to victory.

When the final buzzer sounded, we all jumped into cars and headed for Massachusetts street, along with 40,000 other people, where controlled and joyous chaos reigned.

I walked the streets with my son, Anthony, a kid who plays basketball and would love nothing more than to someday have people rioting in the streets after HE wins a national championship. We were with another mom and three of her kids. We lost my husband, and our teenagers were on their own, but that was OK, because the trip up and down Mass. Street was nothing but constant entertainment. Music was blaring; people were dancing on top of cars; huge groups were breaking out into chants and cheers; random strangers were hugging, kissing (and I mean REALLY kissing). We let the boys lead the way, and they got their fair share of college girl hugs and kisses, plus all sorts of high-fives and “bro’s” from guys.

It was all good, too. Everyone was just happy to be there, and no one was causing any trouble or grief. Even the cops were high-fiving and taking pictures with fans. And I don’t think I’ve ever seen so many drunk people who were so NICE to be around! In fact, it was almost hard to tell who was drunk and who wasn’t.

Anthony and I ended up hitching a ride home with our friends at 1:15AM — the rest of the family filtered home over the next hour, all curfew rules suspended for the night.

As you may suspect, school attendance is waaaaay down today in the Lawrence public schools (KU just flat-out cancelled classes). And plenty of people took the day off work to recover and/or welcome the Jayhawks home. Me? I’m going about my normal day, because those of us who are out and about can’t talk about anything else and I’m lovin’ every minute of it!

First of all, check out this little McSmarty who picked the correct Sweet Sixteen on his bracket for the ESPN Tournament Challenge. He’s in first place, out of the more than 3-and-a-half million people who took the Challenge. Doesn’t even have cable, just did his research.

I did the ESPN bracket challenge, too. I’m in about 2,987,489th place.

But I’m starting from scratch with the Sweet Sixteen. Here goes.

1) Tennessee Defeats Louisville

Why? ‘Cause I like Bruce Pearl’s wardrobe, that’s why.

2) Memphis Defeats Michigan State

I think Memphis is the Number 1 seed that won’t make it to the Final Four. Why? The law of averages. They’ve only lost 1 game this year. It’s time to lose, guys.

I’ll give ‘em this one, because Michigan State has been super flaky this year. But they’re not gettin’ by Texas after. . .

3) Texas Defeats Stanford

I waffled on this one a little, but I keep coming up with Texas winning it. And if Stanford does win it, Memphis doesn’t get by them, either.

4) UCLA Defeats Western Kentucky

The Western Kentucky Whatevers are like lambs to slaughter. Not. Even. Close.

5) Xavier Defeats West Virginia

Because I picked them to.

6) North Carolina (Yawn) Defeats Washington State

But I don’t think I can take much more of the waxing poetic about the Tarheels and their balls-of-brass leader, “Psycho T.”

7) I Really Want Davidson to Win

So I’m picking them to beat Wisconsin. But the buck will have to stop there. Because they’ll have to play the Jayhawks after. . .

Kansas Defeats Villanova

Payback is a . . . well, you know.

North Carolina sails past Washington State, while Tennessee edges Louisville. While I’d love to see Tennessee beat North Carolina, I don’t think it’s gonna happen.

I already said that I’m not going to jinx my Jayhawks by making assumptions about KU beating Villanova and then Davidson (getting one more game out of their Cinderella run with a win over Wisconsin), but I’m definitely predicting both as Jayhawk victories. The Jayhawks are so deep and such a complete team that I don’t see either team keeping them from the Final Four. But I can tell you this: if Davidson was in any other region other than ours, I’d be cheering like crazy for them to get to the Final Four.

What I’m really hoping to see is the media-favored Tarheels going down at the hands of the Jayhawks in the Final Four. Now THAT would/will be a game.

And I can just see the T-Shirts on KU Fans: “We still don’t give a s**t about North Carolina”

In the South, I’m predicting that Texas gets past Stanford and Memphis gets past Michigan State. Then Texas beats Memphis. Yep.

UCLA doesn’t have much to worry about in the West. They should beat Western Kentucky, and then either Xavier or West Virginia (I’m leaning toward Xavier to beat WVa.).

So I’m sticking with my original Final Four: North Carolina, KU, Texas and UCLA. And I’m still predicting an all-Big 12 Final, with KU beating Texas in the championship game.

As predicted. Now the Jayhawks face 12-seed Villanova next weekend in the third round. That looks good on paper. But this is March and I’m not gonna jinx my ‘Hawks by making assumptions.

All is right in the state of Kansas. Not only did KU win, but the KState Beasleys lost to Wisconsin, in a game that was never really in question after half-time. Early in the day, before the games began, commentators were gushing fantastic about how Michael Beasley and Bill Walker were capable of carrying the Wildcats into the Final Four. Anyway.

KState’s brush with greatness is over. Beasley can start looking for a condo in Miami.

And then there was the one who got away from KState. After leaving KState at the altar last year, Bob Huggins went to West Virginia, where his Mountaineers sent Duke packing, and punched themselves a ticket to the Sweet Sixteen.

Stanford beat Marquette in OT yesterday, with their coach watching from the locker room after being ejected after two technicals.

Texas A&M ALMOST killed their giant. But UCLA squeaked by them with a 4-point win, after being down by as much as 10. It would have busted my bracket completely, since I have UCLA in the Final Four, but I wouldn’t have minded seeing Turgeon’s boys pull out the win. I like what Turgeon did at Wichita State, and think he’s headed in the right direction at A&M. Plus he’s a former Jayhawk. What’s not to love?

And speaking of giant-killers, how about Davidson? Took down the mighty G-Town Hoyas today. I’ll be lovin’ these guys until KU has to face them in the Elite 8. Until then…

Stephen Curry, will you marry my daughter?

Like Belmont should’ve done Duke yesterday.

Jim Calhoun suffered his first 1st-round NCAA tournament loss as the Huskies coach. At the press conference after the game, he found about a thousand ways to say that his 4-seeded Huskies gave the game to 13-seeded San Diego by playing crappy defense.

Not very gracious. Looked to me like San Diego handled their business.

And that wasn’t the only upset in Tampa today. The 12-seeded Western Kentucky upset 5-seeded Drake.

That means UCLA, if (when) they get past Mississippi State, will face either a 12-seed or a 13-seed in the Sweet 16. Can’t get much sweeter than that for the Bruins. Although

THEN, 13-seeded Siena upset 4-seed Vanderbilt.

By nature, I’m a fan of underdogs, and I love games like these because they put the Mad in March. I can’t even feel too bad about my brackets being all busted up. Cause no one else in the family pool picked all those upsets, so we’re all in the same boat. (I’m sure there’s some geek out there who figured each of those upsets through some mathematical probability matrix or something.)

Now, we’ve got 5-seeded Clemson playing 12-seeded Villanova. In Tampa. And guess who’s ahead? Riiiiiight… Villanova’s up 56-55 with 8:24 left in the game.

Other news while I’m waiting to see if higher seeds are cursed in Tampa. North Carolina put up 113 points on Mt. St. Mary’s. The good news for the Mount, though, is that they actually scored 74 points.

Total dominance by Texas, Tennessee, and Memphis in their games.

The 10-seeded Davidson beat 7-seeded Gonzaga, which is an upset, but not a huge upset. The big news is that Davidson’s baby-faced point guard Stephen Curry (ESPN refers to him as “the guard the big schools didn’t want”) hit 40 points (read it and weep, Michael Beasley). He strapped his team to his back and carried them into the second round, where they’ll face – yikes! – Georgetown. Well, whatever. Davidson might not have an answer for Roy Hibbert, but Georgetown better have an answer for Mr. Curry or it might not matter.

In other news, Indiana fell to Arkansas. Not an upset. But you have to feel for Hoosier nation. After the Kelvin Sampson mess, the new guy, Dan Dakich, steps in and still gets the team into the tournament. Then, what does the University do? They announce this week that they’re putting together a search committee for a new head coach. That’s just bad mojo.

Back Villanova and Clemson. Clemson at the free throw line with 1:55 to go. Ties it up at 66-66. But Clemson’s James Mays just fouled out, following teammate Trevor Booker. So the Tigers’ leading scorers are on the bench. Ouch.

Villanova’s Scottie Reynolds has been the MAN. Not to mention, this has been one hell of a comeback for Villanova: Clemson had been up 36-18 at one point.

Villanova’s up 70-66, with 59 seconds left. Villanova’s got the ball. Missed shot. Rebound Clemson. Clemson misses a 3-ball, and Sykes goes for the tip-in instead of the rebound, but Villanova ends up with the rebound. Clemson foul, Villanova at the free-throw line. James Mays has tears in his eyes — makes ME want to cry, too. ‘Nova makes both free throws and the score is 72-66. Clemson’s Ogilsvie misses on two 3-point attempts. Villanova rebound and another foul. One foul shot made. Villanova up 73-66. Clemson finally sinks a 3-ball with 7 seconds left, and the score is 73-69. Villanova inbounds, Clemson fouls and puts Villanova at the line once again. Two more free throws made by Villanova.

Game over.

History made in Tampa, as four lower seeds move on. Brackets busted everywhere.

Any my Jayhawks, if/when they get past UNLV, will be in the same position as UCLA, facing either a 12- or a 13-seed in the Sweet Sixteen. I said before that it can’t get much sweeter than that, but the other side of that coin is this: any team that makes it to the Sweet Sixteen is for real, and all bets are off.

That’s why I love this tournament.