Barkley and 'Big Least' add to Madness

It was bad enough for the Big East that it got pummeled on the court during the NCAA Tournament's first weekend. But the TKO came in the CBS/Turner studio Sunday night, and it hurt nearly as much. By the time the conference's most vocal critic, Charles Barkley, was done with one of its most visible personalities, Louisville coach Rick Pitino was all but bowing in submission.

"Charles, you made some great points," the guest analyst said as Notre Dame fell behind Florida State by 20 points.

"I'm licking my wounds. I got knocked out in the first round; now the Big East is going under. I might as well just start swimming in the East River."

By that point, even Barkley was feeling merciful. "You know I love you," he said to Pitino.

That exchange was preceded an hour or so earlier when Barkley matter-of-factly said No. 2 seed Notre Dame would lose. When the Irish indeed fell far behind before the analysts' next appearance, Pitino grimly turned to him and said, "How do you spell 'gloat'?"

Barkley promptly reiterated that the Big East did not deserve 11 bids and lacks elite talent; he also derided "these other idiots on other networks" who praise the conference.

Pitino earlier halfheartedly tried defending the Big East but eventually threw in the towel and mostly clammed up.

The spirited give-and-take, spread over multiple hours and channels, illustrated a little-discussed side effect of the new tournament setup.

Fans have applauded the ability to watch every game in its entirety. But the four-channel format also has hugely increased the time studio analysts have to express themselves.

When one of those analysts is Barkley ... look out!

The network culture clash can be jarring, as when CBS' Greg Anthony stuck to sober analysis while seated next to TNT's raucous NBA frat house of Barkley, Kenny Smith and Ernie Johnson.

(Speaking of sober, Barkley said he had heard enough from NCAA officiating boss John Adams and was ready to switch to Sam Adams.)

But mostly the studio segments have been a welcome sideshow to the NCAA circus, even if things have gotten a little confusing at times.

On Sunday, the Atlanta and New York studios gave differing interpretations of a critical five-second violation against Texas. Atlanta-based Seth Davis later apologized on Twitter for getting it wrong.

The star as usual was Barkley, who has relished annoying Northeasterners with his negative takes on the Knicks and Big East. He is even more annoying when he is right.

VCU makes do

As on-target as Barkley was about the Big East, his ESPN counterparts were spectacularly wrong about VCU, which has used the Selection Sunday criticisms as motivation.

In fairness, Jay Bilas and Dick Vitale were doing their jobs by voicing bold opinions about the Rams' bid. And there is a difference between worthiness for selection and a worthy performance once in.

Still, Vitale was moved on SportsCenter Sunday to acknowledge the obvious: "I'm guilty; I'm guilty! I was one of those screaming about them being in the tournament. They lost five of their last eight games and were fourth in the Colonial Athletic Association.

"But you have to salute [coach] Shaka Smart. Stock way up for what he's done. For them to blow out -- are you kidding me? -- Georgetown and Purdue was unbelievable!"

Barack-etology

President Barack Obama, who correctly picked North Carolina to win it all two years ago in ESPN's bracket contest, is off to a strong start.

The First Bracket has 10 of the Sweet 16 correct and ranks 7,549th out of 5,923,829 entries, putting it in the 99.87th percentile.

It turns out Obama is much more conservative picking games than he is in his politics. None of his 10 survivors has a seed worse than No. 5. (Obama has Kansas winning the title.)

No ESPN.com entries got every Sweet 16 team right. Only one had 15.