Final Four

The final four teams are set. The best game in the elite eight was far and away the Pitt versus Villanova game. It ended on a last second running shot in the lane by Villanova to advance them to the final four. It was simply incredible and if you missed it catch it on ESPN Classic in the next couple days...It'll be there I'm sure.

The Bracket looks like this:

The matchups in the final four are interesting. Starting with the Michigan State/Connecticut game we find a couple of smash mouth teams. Michigan State likes to slow ya down (like the rest of the Big Ten Conference, just better). UConn's Hasheem Thabeet will likely cause the Spartans to shoot a lot of jumpers which they are obviously going to have to hit to have a chance. The Huskies seem more able to get up and down the floor than Michigan State. However, there should be something said about the locale of the game. Michigan State doesn't have far to go to get to Detroit's Ford Field where the final four and national championship games will be played. This is essentially a home game for MSU and that could be a factor. That being said I still like UConn to take this game and play for the title.

The other game is a contrast of styles between Villanova and North Carolina. Villanova is a run and gun, spread you out, blow by you type of team. North Carolina, while not averse to running, will likely try to slow the game down and use their sive advantage with Hansborough and company in the paint. The team that imposes their style on the other will win this game and I think it is easier to slow a game down than to consciously speed it up. That leads me to believe that North Carolina will be playing for the nets in the national championship game.

That's my prediction for the final four, UNC will play UConn in the national championship game.

1 great game, 1 decent game, and 2 crappers

Let's start with the crappers.

The first crapper was obviously Louisville versus Arizona. This game was controlled wire to wire by the Cardinals who simply smothered Arizona in every possible way. Chase Budinger scored a game high 22 points and Jordan Hill added 14 points and 11 rebounds for the Wildcats. These efforts weren't enough to even keep it close against Louisville who had five players in double figures lead by the 19 points of Earl Clark. The final score was 103-64. Every player that saw the floor for Louisville scored at least 2 points in this game...ouch.

The other crapper is still being played but that certainly doesn't mean it isn't over. North Carolina is man handling Gonzaga by a score of 95 to 68 with 4:22 left in the game. Lawson is clearly getting healthier and Hansborough had another double-double, big whoop. See ya next year 'Zags have a nice summer vacation.

The decent game tonight was actually the game I was most excited for. Though my excitement stemmed mostly for the opportunity to see Syracuse knock off Oklahoma so that needed to happen for me to really enjoy this game. Jonny Flynn did his part scoring 22 points for the Orangemen and Andy Routins was the only other Orange in double figures with 12. That sounds like I probably didn't enjoy the game...Tony Crocker scored 28 points and the widely considered player of the year, Blake Griffin, had a 30 point 14 rebound double-double...now I know I didn't enjoy this game. The final score was 84 to 71. Good run for Syracuse at the end of the year but they were no match down low for Mr. Griffin.

Now for the great game! The rematch between Kansas and Michigan State. In the first game Michigan State edged Kansas by a narrow margin. Would the Jayhawks reap their revenge on the Spartans this time around? Sherron Collins was certainly trying to make it happen with his 20 point scoring effort and Cole Aldrich had a double-double with 17 points and 14 rebounds. They got little else from their teammates though. Michigan State's Goran Sutan scored 20 points with 9 rebounds and 5 steals to compliment Kalin Lucas' 18 points, 7 rebounds, and 4 steals. The 6 additional turnovers the Jayhawks had proved to be a deciding factor down the stretch. The game was then sealed as Kansas missed a late free throw that fell into the hands of a Spartan with less than 20 seconds left. This was the game of the night and none of the other games even came close.

The bracket heading into the weekend games, where the final four teams will be decided, looks like this:

See ya tomorrow for the games sports fans.

What time is it?!

Game time, WHOOP!

Arizona and Louisville up first, hopefully the 'Cats can figure out the press and at least make a game of it.

Tiger Supremacy

Missouri and Memphis battled tonight for the title of Tiger supremacy...oh, and a trip to the elite eight. Missouri was up big and the game looked like a route at times. All five Missouri Tigers scored in double figures including Leo Lyons' double-double of 15 points and 13 rebounds. Nobody could have expected that this game between two teems that run full court presses for much of the game would be so high scoring either. The final was 102-91. Senior Robert Dozier finished his career at Memphis with a double-double of 19 points and 16 rebounds to compliment sensational freshman Tyreke Evans scoring 33 on the night. But alas, it wasn't enough as Missouri ran away with it and earns the right to take on UConn in the next round.

The Duke and Villanova game just wrapped up as well. This was a great game for twenty minutes. Unfortunately for the Blue Devils they play forty minute games. A three point game at halftime turned ugly as the Duke offense continued to stall throughout the second half with the pressure of the 'Nova defense. Duke standout, Gerald Henderson, struggled all game finishing with 7 points on 1 of 14 from the floor...not the way you want to finish out your year. Highlights for the Wildcats include Dante Cunningham's double-double (14 points 11 rebounds) and Reggie Redding's 11 points with 9 rebounds and some amazingly stiffling defense on Henderson all game. A truly remarkable performance from Villanova in this one and if they play like this in the next round they could quite easily take down the Pittsburgh Panthers.

The tournament bracket looks like this:

More games tomorrow night to decide the remaining four spots in the elite eight. See you then.

Xavier/Pitt

Great game as a fan with no tie to either team. Pitt's Levance Fields hit a huge (and deep) three with just under two minutes to play to give his Panthers a 1 point lead. On the ensuing possession for the Musketeers DeJuan Blair poked the ball away leading to Fields picking up the ball on the run and laying it in on the other end for a 3 point lead. Xavier would be fouled at the other end and make 1 of 2 free throws. Pitt knocked down their two free throws after securing the rebound on the second free throw miss from Xavier. The three point attempt to tie the game hit back iron for the Musketeers and fell into the hands of a Panther. For the first time ever Pitt will advance to the Elite 8.

The Panthers will play the winner of the Villanova and Duke game to be played in a matter of minutes.

Sweet 16, Day 1

The first two games are winding down in this year's sweet 16 action.

The Purdue versus UConn game was never out of hand but after a well played first half that saw Purdue's Robbie Hummel keeping the Boilermakers in it with the jumper. Hummel would finish with 17 points and JaJuan Johnson had 13 as well. UConn was just too much for the overmatched Big Ten team down low though. Hasheem Thabeet tallied 15 points, 15 rebounds, and 4 blocks clearly controlling the paint. Three other Huskies finished in double figures including another double-double for Stanley Robinson. UConn advanced fairly easily by a final score of 72-60.

The more heatly contested of the two early games was that of Pittsburgh and Xavier. Close games are becoming a theme of this year's tournament for the top seeded Panthers of Pitt. Pittsburgh actually trailed at the half by 8 points and Xavier has kept them on the run all game. There is still 3:46 left in this game at the moment and the two teams are tied at 52. More to come at game's end.

NIT Update

The first NIT game of the night found Norte Dame hosting Kentucky. A hard fought game between two pretty evenly matched teams. The Wildcats were paced by the 21 points of Jodie Meeks and Patrick Patterson also had 18 points and 7 rebounds for UK. The Fighting Irish's Luke Harangody wasn't ready to end their season though. Harangody's double-double with 30 points and 11 rebounds lead Notre Dame who had three other players in double figures. The final was 77-67 in favor of the home Irish.

The second game to decide the final member of the foursome that would travel to New York was between San Diego State and Saint Mary's. The Aztecs are the only number one seed left in the NIT and hosted the Gaels in San Diego for this one. It was a rout early as the Aztecs found themselves up by as much as 16 at times in the first half. The teams headed to the locker room with SDSU up 11 at the half. Saint Mary's was down but certainly not out. They would battle back to tie the game late in the second half. Patty Mills lead the Gaels' attack with his 18 points and 5 assists. Diamon Simpson's 11 points and 14 rebounds along with Omar Samhan's 10 points and 12 rebounds were the games only double-doubles.

The Aztecs were lead by the 17 points of Billy White off the bench. Ryan Amoroso added 12, Kyle Spain had 11 and Lorrenzo Wade chipped in 10 for SDSU. Richie Williams was the story of this game though. The biggest man on the court stood all of 5 foot 10 inches. Williams was constantly in the pocket of Patty Mills forcing one of the best point guards to commit 5 turnovers. Williams, a 65% free throw shooter, also found 4 of his 8 points from the line with the game's outcome hanging squarely in the balance. This was a great game by both teams but as the clock ticked to zeroes it was the host fans joyously storming the court as the Aztecs nipped the Gaels 70-66.

The top seeded San Diego State team will face the lowest remaining seed in Baylor, a 3 seed. In the other semi-final in Madison Square Garden Notre Dame will take on Penn State, both teams are 2 seeds. These should be some great games coming up on March 31st.

Sorry gotta do it.

S-D-S-U...AZTECS FIGHT!

Bracket looks like this.