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Roche: Random Boston Sports Thoughts With March Madness In Full Swing

BOSTON (CBS) – Some random Boston sports thoughts with March Madness in full swing:

- As much as I applaud Northeastern and Harvard for showing they belong, it would be fun to have a local men's college hoop team make a deep run in the NCAA Tournament. It was a blast as a student at Syracuse years ago to go along for the three week ride. There was an extra bounce in everyone's step around the school and city.

- With that said it's always fun to hitch your wagon to college hockey this time of year. And we have some of the best in the country to watch.

- Here's hoping Ben Cherington finds a way to keep as many of his outfielders as he can come Opening Day. Over the course of 162 games you're going to need six or seven and the Sox have a good stable of them right now.

- Jackie Bradley Jr. looks comfortable in the batter's box again. I know it's only spring training, but even in watching his at-bats Saturday against tough leftie Francisco Liriano of the Pirates, JBJ looked to be in command. No lunging or swinging at bad pitches. A very good sign for one of the best defensive outfielders in the game.

Rusney-Castillo
Red Sox outfielder Rusney Castillo. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images)

- There's still plenty of time for Rusney Castillo to get ready.

- Red Sox fans will love what Wade Miley showed Saturday against the Pirates:  5IP, 2 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 5 K on 61 pitches.

- If Clay Buchholz can stay healthy...if Clay Buchholz can stay healthy...if Clay Buchholz can stay healthy.

- I don't worry about David Ortiz's swing. One of my concerns is can he stay away from the nagging type of injuries? Leg pulls, back tweaks, etc. can slow a hitter his age down.

Bergeron Game 7 Bruins-Maple Leafs
Patrice Bergeron, Brad Marchand and Tyler Seguin celebrate Bergeron's game-winning, series-clinching overtime goal against the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2013. (Photo by Jared Wickerham/Getty Images)

- I've grown tired of people telling me there's no way something can happen (upsets, rallies, etc.) then watching them happen every day. Why watch sports or your team play if you don't think they can win?

- The Bruins win three straight and they've "figured it out." But if they lose three straight they're "an embarrassment."

- Please stop with the 'Peter Chiarelli and Claude Julien should be fired' talk. Does anyone remember what it was like before they arrived?

Brad Stevens
Boston Celtics head coach Brad Stevens. (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images)

- I think Brad Stevens probably wishes he could take his Celtics team, line up on the other side of the NCAA men's bracket and see if he can take down Kentucky.

- I am all for the Celts getting into the NBA playoffs. But I'm also curious to see how many of the players on the roster will be here when they open up the regular season next November.

Malcolm-Butler
Malcolm Butler (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

- If Malcolm Butler doesn't make that play, do we look at the Darrelle Revis and Brandon Browner departures differently?

- I'm trying to remember what it was like around here right after the Logan Mankins trade last year.

- Bill Belichick always figures it out.

- Just wondering when the high school baseball and softball teams will all be able to get outside and play games?

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