Here’s what went down Thursday on the 620 Sportsline:

* Burnsy made a special exemption on the first day of the NCAA tournament for Jim O’Connell, the award winning college basketball writer for the Associated Press. The “gym rat” was allowed on the opening segment which Dave only does for people he really likes. Jim was in Raleigh, NC where Duke fans were sweating out a nail bitter against #15 seeded Belmont.

* Duke won 71-70 and avoided being the first No. 2 seed to lose in the opening round since 2001 when Iowa State was upset by Hampton. That Cyclone team was led by New York City PG Jamal Tinsley.

* Tick, Tick, Tick. Less than 24 hours until Burnsy loses his manhood. Dave is excited for the occasion because he is going to get to sit around and watch college basketball for three days. I think he has lost his mind. The topic leads to a discussion of the best excuse to skip work to watch the NCAA tournament. A caller stole the show when he said “that would put the sugar on the ice cream.”

* Steve Kerr called in for his weekly “Talk to the Suns” segment. The Raja Bell injury does not seem to be that serious as “the swelling was pretty minimal.” Bell will likely miss the Rockets game on Saturday and then it will be day-day.

* Kerr also said that “Bell was the heart and soul of this team.” Bell brings a presence and defensive intensity that no one else on the Suns brings. Burns and Kerr talked about Phoenix’s two dimensional game. With the addition of Shaq the Suns have “developed into a team that can play two different styles,” a half court game when O’Neal is on the court and a run and gun style when he is on the bench.

* The Arizona Republic sports columnist Paola Boivin also checked in. They talked about the field of 64, the Suns and if the NBA winding down is as exciting as March Madness. Both thought the tournament is much better.