On Wisconsin! Go Duke!

Wisconsin and Duke square off for the NCAA men's basketball championship Monday night at 8 p.m. Whom do I cheer for?

Gopher fans might find it hard to cheer for their archrivals. But isn't it a good thing for the conference if a Big Ten team wins the title? Michigan State was the last, in 2000. Plus a Badgers win means the conference will be reigning champion in football (Ohio State) and men's basketball. Even the Gophers' Twitter account sent out a congratulations to Bucky after their upset of previously unbeaten Kentucky on Saturday night. When it comes to high school sports, I don't have a problem cheering for the Big Nine Conference in the playoffs when Owatonna has been eliminated.

It's usually fun to cheer for the underdog (i.e. Wisconsin vs. Kentucky over the weekend). However, this morning the game is a pick-em according to the odds makers.

Duke has had a pretty good run lately. They won the national title in 2010, their fourth since 1991. The Blue Devils have a couple of runner-up finishes during that time as well. There is a Minnesota connection with Duke, of course. Apple Valley's Tyus Jones is their starting point guard. And you can extend that to an Owatonna connection. OHS graduate Greg Olson is an assistant coach for the Eagles and will be rooting for Duke. Wisconsin's previous title was 1941.

My daughter goes to school at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire. Some in her study group for a big test on Tuesday are planning to petition the professor for a delay. (They had better hope the prof isn't from Kentucky.)

I think I'll be cheering for overtime tonight. Then for a Badgers win.