As we march our way into the Sweet 16 round of the NCAA tournament, there are the usual casts of characters who have made their way to Regional Semifinal action. No one is surprised that North Carolina, Kansas, and UCLA have made their way to the third round of the tournament. There are, however, many compelling stories that need to be told. The resurgence of the Georgetown program under John Thompson III, the defense of the national title by the Florida Gators, the freshman phenomenon that is Greg Oden and Ohio State, and the birth of Texas A&M basketball behind a traditional old-school point guard in Acie Law IV.

However, as a Nashville, TN native, my number one story is the appearance of three Tennessee teams in the Sweet 16. The University of Memphis, Vanderbilt University, and The University of Tennessee have all reached this hoops crescendo in the same season for the first time ever. In a state of just over 6 million people that is better known for Hank Williams, B.B. King, Al Green, Three Six Mafia, and that other King, this is a feat of monumental proportions. All three programs have had some success in the past (Memphis with two Final Four appearances, Tennessee with the Ernie Grunfeld and Bernard King show under Ray Mears, and Vanderbilt with Clyde Lee, the F-Troop, and the Bomb Squad), but never have all of these institutions achieved such loftiness simultaneously.

What makes this even more impressive are the native Tennesseans who are key players for other teams on this road to a title. North Carolina's freshman phenom, Nashvillian Brandan Wright, is UNC's second leading scorer and leads the ACC in field goal percentage. Florida's Corey Brewer, a Portland, TN native, is the do-it-all component for the defending national champs and his sidekick, Maryville sharpshooter Lee Humphrey, is the guy that puts the dagger in opponents when they overplay against Al Horford, Joakim Noah, Taurean Green, and Brewer.

This is a monumental season for basketball in a state that, for some reason, is overlooked by national pundits that focus solely on ACC and Big Ten hoops. This is a state that has produced the likes of lottery picks Penny Hardaway, Ron Mercer, Shawn Marion, and slews of great college players in the last 10-15 years, but gets so little exposure as having quality basketball. For another example, this year's Southeastern Conference Player of the Year, Vandy's Derrick Byars, was a former high school Mr. Basketball out of Memphis Ridgeway.  There are plenty of other young stars such as Memphis' Willie Kemp, Georgia Tech's Thaddeus Young, Mississippi State's Jamont Gordon, and Tennessee's Wayne Chism who will carry on the legacy of hoop genius' from the Volunteer State in the near future.

I have always loved March Madness, but can't help but feel an extra sense of pride in the three flagship basketball programs of my state having so much success this season. I just wish that Dukie Vitale and Billy PACCker would notice!!