As usual? The Dookies are always in the mix but have won only one championship since 1992. I am quite amazed how many Duke haters there are. I am not one of them; I like Coach K, despite his increasing pomposity and "referee management," and think they run a clean program. You can afford to run a clean program when you get the recruits they do! LOL

It will be interesting to see how J. J. Redick does in the NBA. He is about to set the NCAA career scoring mark but I think he will discover what Steve Alford and countless others have before him: it's harder when you don't have four guys setting picks for you.

One of the cool things about the tournament is we will again be hearing the word Pittsnogle. LOL


>I always root for Carolina but my best friend is a diehard Duke fan (so is my daughter sadly). As usual it will be Duke all the way....
>
>>I love it. It's probably my favorite sporting event, with the possible exceptions of the Olympics and World Cup soccer.
>>
>>Are there enough Americans here to start a NCAA hoops pool once the seedings are announced? Maybe so, and if so, I'm in. I will warn you I tend to get very lucky in NCAA hoops pools....
>>
>>
>>>The NCAA Tournament is bigger than the superbowl here.. :o) March Madness. It will be shown everywhere you go!
>>>
>>>
>>>>Student loans for college took one of the biggest hits in the most recent budget. That is sad considering the things we ARE spending money on. (Oh, wait, I'm not going to bring up Iraq with you again ;-) ). I know I would not have been able to attend the university I did if not for student loans. I had a 7% loan -- dirt cheap in the late 70s -- that was partially subsidized by the government.
>>>>
>>>>I completely agree with you that illegal immigrants should not be able to attend college for free. We could debate equal rights for illegals, especially health care, until the cows come home, but more-than-equal rights is nonsensical. I am sure the NC proposal will die on the vine.
>>>>
>>>>Getting excited about the NCAA tournament? Duke continues to sail along and UNC has been making fools of those who wrote them off prematurely. When you attract the kind of recruits the Tar Heels do year in and year out, sooner or later you're going to be good. I sure wouldn't want to draw them in an early round of the tournament.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>>Now I am really confused! :o)
>>>>>
>>>>>In America there is elementary, middle school, and high school. All for free. Americans only pay for uniforms (if required), school supplies, and immunizations. There can be additional costs for school sports and other extra-curricular activities but those are optional. Basically school through grade 12 (average age is usually through age 17) is free. Sometimes the grades are separated slightly different (middle school versus junior high):
>>>>>
>>>>>Elementary Grades 1-5
>>>>>Middle Schoole Grades 6-8
>>>>>Senior High School Grades 9-12
>>>>>
>>>>>or
>>>>>
>>>>>Elementary Grades 1-6
>>>>>Junior High Grades 7-9
>>>>>Senior High School Grades 10-12
>>>>>
>>>>>College is always referred to as higher education or university as well. It is not free anyplace that I know of in the U.S. other than California which I think still allows for two years at a state run college or technical school basically free for residents of California (hopefully someone from California can clarify). Costs run from 1200.00/yr to 40,000/yr depending on the college for tuition alone.
>>>>>
>>>>>It is not unusual for 4 years of college to run close to 100,000.00 and in some cases, double or triple that. There used to be more grants (free tuition) available when Jimmy Carter was President. I had a grant which I lost when Reagan became President in 1980.
>>>>>
>>>>>In North Carolina, there is a push for Illegal immigrants to attend college for free. School through grade 12 is already free for everyone. The problem is that U.S. citizens cannot attend college for free. American children typically try for scholarships, obtain student loans, there are some few grants still for lower income, or their parents pay.
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>>>Illegal immigrants receive education for free in our country. The debate is over FREE higher education (college). U.S. citizens don't receive 4 years of college for free and so neither should illegal immigrants. Yet in many states they do. Are you saying that if I show up in Netherlands illegally I can go to college for free for four years?
>>>>>>
>>>>>>You're asking a question I really don't know. Every citizen is able to receive higher education, by getting a loan (not sure if this stillis the case) from the government and a monthly fee, depending on the income of the parents. This applies to students up to a certain age (26?). I have no idea how illegal aliens fit in this.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>But every citizen has the obligation to go to school to a certain age (18?) until then illegal immigrants receive education. Remember that our system is a bit different. What you regard as ' high school' is funded by the dutch government. Parents only pay little (compared to the US). Our high school (your university) and university probably (at least AFAICS) is not for free for illegal immigrants, though each city can have their own rules.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>Walter,