Springing Ahead with the Wearing of the Green

A little of this and a little of that as we get set to spring ahead this weekend:

No fireworks at last night’s Republican Presidential Debate on the campus of the University of Miami. As a matter of fact those looking for sound bites of candidates ripping one another came away clearly disappointed as civility was on display for the first time in recent memory. I watched most of it and thought it was by far Marco Rubio’s best debate performance but it’s likely a case of too little, too late for the Florida senator.

As has been the case many of the questions asked by CNN were not answered and Donald Trump is the best at that but when you’re the front-runner you can get away with just saying you’re going to make America great again.   I think you can call last night a “draw” and the end result is it will not change much of anything.

It looks like Saturday will be a perfect day for the annual Ocean County St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Seaside Heights. Temperatures in the 60s are a blessing in mid-March and thousands will make their way to Seaside. Marchers begin strolling down the boulevard around noon but those planning to attend are advised to arrive early as only one lane of the bridge will be open heading to the barrier island.

Those associated with the Monmouth University basketball program will likely be doing plenty of tossing and turning this weekend. Like the rest of the country the Hawks will have to wait until Sunday around 6pm to find out if they’ve received a bid to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in ten years.

Monmouth’s 27 win resume is an impressive one but it might not be good enough to overcome Monday’s loss to Iona in the MAAC Tournament championship game which would have given them an automatic spot in the 68-team field. The consolation prize for the Hawks would be a trip to the less prestigious NIT.

The Pine Belt Arena, which has become the mecca of high school basketball in New Jersey, will be a busy place beginning this weekend. Tomorrow it’s four non-public championship games including a marquee matchup between the state’s top-ranked boys team St. Anthony and Roselle Catholic at 5pm. Sunday its four girl’s group championship games with Manasquan and Middletown South seeking titles and then next week from Tuesday-Friday it’s the Tournament of Champions. Those games will draw thousands of basketball fans from all over the state to the Toms River area.