The regional semi’s and finals provided few stellar games but many stellar performances. For the first time ever all number 1 seeds made it through their respective brackets. Memphis may have been the most impressive by trouncing the Michigan State Spartans and Texas Longhorns. Neither game was close. Against the Spartans the lead swelled to as much 30 before taking their foot off the gas to win by 19. Against the Longhorns DJ Augustine could not get himself going or his teammates going. With the inside presence of Joey Dorsey and Robert Dozier along with super freshman Derrick Rose proved to be too much in a 82-64 win. (more…)
Muscle, muscle and more muscle. That is what this region is all about. Memphis, Michigan State, Texas and Stanford. In what I think will be the game of the night Texas takes on Stanford in Houston of all places. In the nightcap Calipara and Izzo can’t ask for anything more.
Texas vs Stanford
The Lopez twins seem to be ready for primetime. After coach Trent Johnson was ejected against Marquette the twins took it upon themselves to get the Cardinal to the Sweet Sixteen. Texas is led by DJ Augustine and BJ Abrams a dynamic backcourt. As you can see it will take a good defensive effort from Stanford’s backcourt and Texas’ frontcourt. I say the Lopez twins make it hard for Abrams and Augustine.
Memphis vs Michigan St.
If you were like me you didn’t think much of the Spartans coming into the tournament. And if you are like me you forgot what a great coach Tom Izzo is. With senior Drew Neitzel being the emotional leader and with their overall physical play Michigan St. outlasted Pitt to get here. Now for the Tigers Derrick Rose and Chris Douglas-Roberts will be key not on the offensive end but more defensively. Rose will need to take Neitzel out of the game while CDR will need to prevent slashers to hole to keep Dorsey and Dozier out of foul trouble. Speaking of fouls Memphis please hit your free throws. Maybe too much to ask.
Memphis and Stanford face off for the right to go to the Final Four.
Notre Dame dispelled any worries that they would be upseted in the first round for the second straight year. The Fighting Irish beat George Mason 68-50 to kept their dreams alive in the tournament. Back in 2006 George Mason was the ultimate Cinderella story as an 11 seed they made it to the Final Four but the this tournament they learned pretty quickly that there would be no repeat of the ‘06 dream. Luke Harangody led the Notre Dame attack with 18 pts and 14 boards. Will Thomas, for George Mason had a stellar performance with 25 pts, 7 rebounds and 3 assists. Notre Dame will face 4th seed Washington State in the second round of the East Regional.
Last night the rematch of last seasons Final Four National Championship game between the Tennessee Lady Vols and the Rutgers Scarlet Knights was a different kind of ball game. During the last second of this game the Scarlet Knights were up by one point. Then with 0.2 seconds left in the game Nicky Anosike was foul as she grabbed an offensive rebound. What was so tricky about this foul is that it was unclear if it happen before the clock expired. It seemed as if time stood still for just enoungh seconds for the foul to happen, Anosike to make two free throw shots and for the Lady Vols to walk away with the win 59-58.
Bobby Knight announced yesterday that he will step down as the Head Coach at Texas Tech. In Knight’s first six years at Tech, he led the Red Raiders to five 20-win seasons, a first at the school. Most people remember Knight as the coach at Indiana, were he led them to three National Championships. He is the winningest coach in Men’s Division I basketball. Knight has won over 900 games in 42 years at Army, Indiana and Texas Tech. Knight now hands the team over to his son, Pat Knight. Knight is 67-years-old.
The Kansas State Wildcats finally did it!!! They finally beat No. 2 Kansas 84-75 in a game that the Wildcats have been waiting 24-years to do. Now this is a true “Streak”, and they have never beat Kansas at home in that time frame. Michael Beasley had 25pts as he led the Wildcats to victory. Fresh meat guard Jacob Pullen and forward Bill Walker help out along the way. Pullen finished with 20 pts and Walker had 22pts.
