Lakewood Coach — a Former Player at UK — Weighs in on March Madness

Phil Argento, the boys basketball coach, knows all about March Madness.

He’s participating in a few brackets this year, and he’s got the University of Kentucky picked to win the 2011 NCAA men’s basketball tournament in all of them.

Not only is the team that beat Ohio State University last week now a favorite, but Argento is also a graduate. While at UK in the late 1960s, he averaged 12 points per game and was captain of the team his senior year.

Argento makes no secret of rooting for his team.

He’s got a few thoughts about this year’s tournament — one where the underdog is boss.

“Of course with the brackets, I might as well throw them away,” he said.

“I still don’t know if anyone had ever heard of (Virginia Commonwealth University) before the tournament,” he said, referring to the 11^th seed, which has upset everyone it has played. “I am still in a state of amazement.”

“You have to give credit to a team that has stayed that focused,” he added.

VCU is set to square off April 2 against another underdog: Butler.

“What a tremendous thing it is for the sport and for the tournament,” Argento said.

Also April 2, Argento’s UK and the University of Connecticut are playing for the opportunity to play in April 4 championship game. That’s the game he’ll be paying attention to.

“It’s going to be another great game,” he said. “I thought OSU was a better team, but that doesn’t always translate into winning.”

“I am looking for Kentucky to win it all,” he added. “I’ve got to take the emotional side of a bracket."

As far as his brackets chances go, out of a pool 1,500, he’s in 48^th place — out of contention. Since last week, he did move up in the standings, from 703.

“It certainly is a fun part about the tournament,” he said. “Nobody could have picked how this has turned out.”