Player of the Round: Despite playing from behind yet again, the Pittsburgh Panthers performed well in crunch time to hold off Xavier. Levance fields made two big plays at the end of the game to secure the victory: A 3-pointer with 56 seconds left to give Pitt a one point lead, and on the next possession a fast break layup off of Dejuan Blair's steal. He proved that experienced guard play does make all the difference in the NCAA tournament.
Best Team Performance: The Villanova Wildcats used their athletic advantage over Duke to win a second straight game by at least 20 points. The Blue Devils were a step behind the Wildcats for the duration of the game, as they led for only 1 minute, 36 seconds of the first half. Duke lost yet another tournament game because of poor 3-point shooting (5-27 from downtown), which was a direct result of Villanova's perimeter defense.
Who is Going to Detroit?: Of all the elite eight matchups, this one presents the most realistic opportunity for an upset. Villanova beat Pittsburgh 67-57 earlier in the season, a game in which Dejuan Blair scored only 7 points. The Wildcats are on a hot streak and Pittsburgh has needed to come back in both of its last two games. I believe that Villanova will be the first team to knock off a number one seed in this tournament.
Saturday, March 28, 2009
Midwest Region: Elite Eight Recap (By David Gentile)
Player of the Round: Michigan State's Goran Suton excelled against Kansas, leading the Spartans to victory in a game they trailed most of the way. He finished the day with 20 points, 9 rebounds, and 5 steals, playing well at both ends of the court. Despite a slow start against Kansas center Cole Aldrich, Suton played solid post defense that neutralized Aldrich's presence in the second half. He helped limited Kansas to a remarkable 1-2 in the paint in the final 20 minutes.
Best Team Performance: Louisville bounced back from suspect performances in the first two rounds with a 103-64 victory over Arizona. The Cardinals shot the lights out, going 38-66 (57.6%) from the floor, 14-29 (48.3%) from 3-point range, and 13-14 (92.9%) from the free throw line. The Wildcats had a difficult night shooting, going 24-63 (38.1%) from the floor and 7-24 (29.2%) from 3-point range. Louisville's largest win in NCAA tournament history was also Arizona's worst lost in tournament history. Once the Cardinals took a 29-17 lead with 7:13 remaining in the first half, they went on a roll that left Arizona on the wrong end of a 39 point blowout.
Who is Going to Detroit?: Michigan State proved it can win close games against lower seeds, yet USC and Kansas do not compare to the powerhouse Louisville they will have to face in the next round, who just hit its stride against Arizona in the sweet sixteen. Certainly the Spartans will keep it closer than 39 points, but they have not proven that they can play 40 minutes of solid basketball on both ends of the court in this tournament, and Louisville will exploit this inconsistency to make a big run at some point in the game. The last time Michigan State played a team worthy of a number one seed? They lost 98-63 against North Carolina at home in December.
Best Team Performance: Louisville bounced back from suspect performances in the first two rounds with a 103-64 victory over Arizona. The Cardinals shot the lights out, going 38-66 (57.6%) from the floor, 14-29 (48.3%) from 3-point range, and 13-14 (92.9%) from the free throw line. The Wildcats had a difficult night shooting, going 24-63 (38.1%) from the floor and 7-24 (29.2%) from 3-point range. Louisville's largest win in NCAA tournament history was also Arizona's worst lost in tournament history. Once the Cardinals took a 29-17 lead with 7:13 remaining in the first half, they went on a roll that left Arizona on the wrong end of a 39 point blowout.
Who is Going to Detroit?: Michigan State proved it can win close games against lower seeds, yet USC and Kansas do not compare to the powerhouse Louisville they will have to face in the next round, who just hit its stride against Arizona in the sweet sixteen. Certainly the Spartans will keep it closer than 39 points, but they have not proven that they can play 40 minutes of solid basketball on both ends of the court in this tournament, and Louisville will exploit this inconsistency to make a big run at some point in the game. The last time Michigan State played a team worthy of a number one seed? They lost 98-63 against North Carolina at home in December.
Monday, March 23, 2009
East Region: Second Round Recap (By David Gentile)
Player of the Round: The Pittsburgh Panthers survived yet another scare in the second round, defeating Oklahoma State 84-76. Senior Sam Young put the Panthers on his back, scoring 32 points and pulling down 8 rebounds. Young played all 40 minutes of the game and did not record a single foul.
Best Team Performance: Villanova left no doubt against UCLA, starting fast out of the gates with a 19-2 run en route to a dominating 89-69 victory. The Wildcats received good scoring production from just about everyone, as six of their players finished the game in double digits, including Dante Cunningham, who led the team with 18. They outperformed UCLA in every aspect of the game, winning the rebound battle 39 to 26, and the turnover battle 11 to 20.
Looking Ahead: The top four seeds have all arrived at the sweet sixteen, and the first game features Pittsburgh and Xavier. Xavier had some impressive wins early in the season, and they have good height, but they lack solid guard play needed to beat Pittsburgh. And that's the least of their troubles, because Pitt's two leading scorers are its big men.
Duke takes on Villanova in a matchup of teams capable of lighting up the scoreboard. Villanova enters the game averaging 77 points on the season, and the Wildcats have eclipsed the 80 point mark in 8 of their last 14 games. How will Villanova come out after narrowly escaping against American and then blowing out UCLA? Duke has only reached one elite eight in the last seven seasons, but history may also benefit them. Duke's only tournament loss to Villanova came in 1955, and the the Blue Devils have beaten the Wildcats in their last two tournament contests.
Best Team Performance: Villanova left no doubt against UCLA, starting fast out of the gates with a 19-2 run en route to a dominating 89-69 victory. The Wildcats received good scoring production from just about everyone, as six of their players finished the game in double digits, including Dante Cunningham, who led the team with 18. They outperformed UCLA in every aspect of the game, winning the rebound battle 39 to 26, and the turnover battle 11 to 20.
Looking Ahead: The top four seeds have all arrived at the sweet sixteen, and the first game features Pittsburgh and Xavier. Xavier had some impressive wins early in the season, and they have good height, but they lack solid guard play needed to beat Pittsburgh. And that's the least of their troubles, because Pitt's two leading scorers are its big men.
Duke takes on Villanova in a matchup of teams capable of lighting up the scoreboard. Villanova enters the game averaging 77 points on the season, and the Wildcats have eclipsed the 80 point mark in 8 of their last 14 games. How will Villanova come out after narrowly escaping against American and then blowing out UCLA? Duke has only reached one elite eight in the last seven seasons, but history may also benefit them. Duke's only tournament loss to Villanova came in 1955, and the the Blue Devils have beaten the Wildcats in their last two tournament contests.
Midwest Region: Second Round Recap (By David Gentile)
Player of the Round: It was an exceptional homecoming for Kansas center Cole Aldrich, who recorded the first triple double in an NCAA tournament since Dwayne Wade in 2003. Aldrich scored 13 points, grabbed 20 rebounds, and blocked 10 shots as Kansas defeated Dayton 60-43 in the Metrodome, only a few miles from where he grew up. His defensive presence helped the Jayhawks hold the Flyers to a remarkably low 16 of 72 (22 percent) shooting.
Best Team Performance: In a battle of true warriors between the Spartans and the Trojans, Michigan State banded together as an army and relied on exceptional team play to hold off USC 74-69. Offensively, four Spartans finished the day in double figures, and the team shared the ball well, recording 20 assists on 22 field goals. Defensively, Michigan State held USC to 1 of 10 from downtown, which made all the difference in a five point victory.
Looking Ahead: Arizona is in for a rude awakening. The lone remaining Pac 10 team will face its first tough test against Louisville. A team that many believed should have been in the NIT now has a chance to shock college basketball by upsetting Louisville.
Michigan State faces off against Kansas in a rematch of a game the Spartans won 75-62 on Jan. 10th. They exploited the two dimensional attack of the Jayhawks and controlled play from the very beginning. What's new this time around? Kansas has recorded a 16-3 record since that loss, and the young team has come together to play its best basketball of the season.
Best Team Performance: In a battle of true warriors between the Spartans and the Trojans, Michigan State banded together as an army and relied on exceptional team play to hold off USC 74-69. Offensively, four Spartans finished the day in double figures, and the team shared the ball well, recording 20 assists on 22 field goals. Defensively, Michigan State held USC to 1 of 10 from downtown, which made all the difference in a five point victory.
Looking Ahead: Arizona is in for a rude awakening. The lone remaining Pac 10 team will face its first tough test against Louisville. A team that many believed should have been in the NIT now has a chance to shock college basketball by upsetting Louisville.
Michigan State faces off against Kansas in a rematch of a game the Spartans won 75-62 on Jan. 10th. They exploited the two dimensional attack of the Jayhawks and controlled play from the very beginning. What's new this time around? Kansas has recorded a 16-3 record since that loss, and the young team has come together to play its best basketball of the season.
Saturday, March 21, 2009
West Region First Round Recap (by Anthony Gentile)
Player of the Round: Roburt Sallie almost singlehandedly helped Memphis avoid a first round upset to Cal State Northridge. The sophomore came off the bench to score 35 points (10-for-15 3-pointers) including a number of clutch jumpers with Memphis trailing in the second half. Sallie’s previous season-high was 13 points.
The Unexpected: In the only upset of the round, 10-seed Maryland soundly dismantled seven-seed California 84-71. The Terrapins ended any debate as to whether they should have been invited by pressuring the Golden Bears into 14 turnovers and holding them to 29.2 percent from beyond the arc.
Best Team Performance: Without injured point guard Dominic James, six-seed Marquette watched a double-digit lead evaporate and erased a six-point deficit in the final 4:18 to beat 11-seed Utah State 58-57. Three Golden Eagles players finished in double figures and Marquette outrebounded the Aggies 27-22 to advance to the second round.
Looking Ahead: With all top seeds except for one advancing, expect close games on Saturday and Sunday. With the exception of the Purdue-Washington game, the West should hold true to form.
The Unexpected: In the only upset of the round, 10-seed Maryland soundly dismantled seven-seed California 84-71. The Terrapins ended any debate as to whether they should have been invited by pressuring the Golden Bears into 14 turnovers and holding them to 29.2 percent from beyond the arc.
Best Team Performance: Without injured point guard Dominic James, six-seed Marquette watched a double-digit lead evaporate and erased a six-point deficit in the final 4:18 to beat 11-seed Utah State 58-57. Three Golden Eagles players finished in double figures and Marquette outrebounded the Aggies 27-22 to advance to the second round.
Looking Ahead: With all top seeds except for one advancing, expect close games on Saturday and Sunday. With the exception of the Purdue-Washington game, the West should hold true to form.
East Region: First Round Recap (By David Gentile)
Player of the Round: Texas took what was a close game with Minnesota in the first half and made it theirs. A.J. Abrams led the way for the Longhorns, leading all scorers with 26 points, and shooting 8 of 15 from downtown. In what was a relatively even game in non-scoring categories, Abrams proved to be the difference, as he took Texas on his back and carried them to the second round.
The Unexpected: The only lower seed to win a game in this bracket was Wisconsin, but that was less of a surprise than American University's performance against Villanova. The Eagles kept the score close throughout the first half and built a 10 point lead by halftime. A 19-2 run by Villanova in the latter part of the second half secured the win for the Wildcats. American senior guards Garrison Carr and Derrick Mercer combined for 39 points in the losing effort.
Honorable Mention: East Tennessee State had the best performance by a 16 seed in recent memory, giving Pittsburgh quite a scare.
Best Team Performance: Wisconsin trailed Florida State by 12 at halftime, only scoring 19 points in the first half. The Badgers came out strong defensively in the final 25 minutes, holding Florida State to fewer combined points in the second half and overtime than in the first half. Wisconsin did a great job of sharing the basketball, as four Badgers ended the day with double figures, despite the team only scoring 61 points.
Looking Ahead: Each of the second round matchups features a higher seeded team east of the St. Louis arch against a team west of the arch (I'm counting Wisconsin in the west, they are very close in terms of east-west to the arch). Will the underdog west step up its game and overcome the higher seeded east? Can Pittsburgh, Villanova, and UCLA shake off poor first round performances and continue their run for an NCAA title?
The Unexpected: The only lower seed to win a game in this bracket was Wisconsin, but that was less of a surprise than American University's performance against Villanova. The Eagles kept the score close throughout the first half and built a 10 point lead by halftime. A 19-2 run by Villanova in the latter part of the second half secured the win for the Wildcats. American senior guards Garrison Carr and Derrick Mercer combined for 39 points in the losing effort.
Honorable Mention: East Tennessee State had the best performance by a 16 seed in recent memory, giving Pittsburgh quite a scare.
Best Team Performance: Wisconsin trailed Florida State by 12 at halftime, only scoring 19 points in the first half. The Badgers came out strong defensively in the final 25 minutes, holding Florida State to fewer combined points in the second half and overtime than in the first half. Wisconsin did a great job of sharing the basketball, as four Badgers ended the day with double figures, despite the team only scoring 61 points.
Looking Ahead: Each of the second round matchups features a higher seeded team east of the St. Louis arch against a team west of the arch (I'm counting Wisconsin in the west, they are very close in terms of east-west to the arch). Will the underdog west step up its game and overcome the higher seeded east? Can Pittsburgh, Villanova, and UCLA shake off poor first round performances and continue their run for an NCAA title?
Midwest Region: First Round Recap (By David Gentile)
Player of the Round: One of the much talked about potential upsets in the first round was North Dakota State over Kansas. While the Bison fell short, Ben Woodside proved that they could compete with the Jayhawks. The senior guard who came in averaging 23.2 ppg, played all 40 minutes on Saturday, scoring 37 points. Experience and guard play are the two key elements to winning in the tournament, and although NDSU lost 84-74, it was not for a lack of effort from Woodside.
Honorable Mentions: Taj Gibson of USC went 10-10 from the floor and scored 24 points as USC continued its hot streak, beating Boston College 72-55.
Chris Wright scored 27 in Dayton's upset of West Virginia.
The Unexpected: How often does a very overmatched team come out, and not only upset, but dominate, a much higher seed? 13 seed Cleveland State set the tone early against Wake Forest with a 9-0 run to start the game, and held roughly a 9 point advantage for the rest of the game. J'Nathan Bullock, Cedric Jackson, and Norris Cole combined for 62 of the Vikings's 84 points. They took much better care of the basketball, with 6 turnovers to Wake's 18, and were able to put up 15 more shots as a result. My pick for the spoiler of this region ended up on the wrong end of a spoiler role.
Best Team Performance: The Siena Saints did not hold a lead at any point from 18:12 in the first half until 4:46 into the first overtime, before pulling out the win in the second overtime. In order to do so, the Saints needed a 3-pointer from Ronald Moore with 12 seconds to go, and then had to lock down defensively to hold the lead as time expired. All of Siena's starters finished the game scoring in double figures and the Saints beat Ohio State 74-72 in the most exciting game of the first round.
Looking Ahead: Three games in round 2 will feature majors versus mid-majors, more than the other three regions combined. The 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8 seeds were upset in the first round, and the 1 and 2 seeds played close first halves with their respective opponents, while 3 seed Kansas pulled away from North Dakota State down the homestretch. It was the most competitive region in round one, and look for more of the same in round two.
Honorable Mentions: Taj Gibson of USC went 10-10 from the floor and scored 24 points as USC continued its hot streak, beating Boston College 72-55.
Chris Wright scored 27 in Dayton's upset of West Virginia.
The Unexpected: How often does a very overmatched team come out, and not only upset, but dominate, a much higher seed? 13 seed Cleveland State set the tone early against Wake Forest with a 9-0 run to start the game, and held roughly a 9 point advantage for the rest of the game. J'Nathan Bullock, Cedric Jackson, and Norris Cole combined for 62 of the Vikings's 84 points. They took much better care of the basketball, with 6 turnovers to Wake's 18, and were able to put up 15 more shots as a result. My pick for the spoiler of this region ended up on the wrong end of a spoiler role.
Best Team Performance: The Siena Saints did not hold a lead at any point from 18:12 in the first half until 4:46 into the first overtime, before pulling out the win in the second overtime. In order to do so, the Saints needed a 3-pointer from Ronald Moore with 12 seconds to go, and then had to lock down defensively to hold the lead as time expired. All of Siena's starters finished the game scoring in double figures and the Saints beat Ohio State 74-72 in the most exciting game of the first round.
Looking Ahead: Three games in round 2 will feature majors versus mid-majors, more than the other three regions combined. The 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8 seeds were upset in the first round, and the 1 and 2 seeds played close first halves with their respective opponents, while 3 seed Kansas pulled away from North Dakota State down the homestretch. It was the most competitive region in round one, and look for more of the same in round two.
Thursday, March 19, 2009
Breaking Down the NCAA Tourney: East Region (By David Gentile)
Overview: The East is perhaps one of the most wide open in the NCAA tournament. One of the reasons for this is the amazing collection of coaches: Jamie Dixon, Mike Krzyzewski, Ben Howland, Rick Barnes, Bruce Pearl, and Tubby Smith. Many potential sweet 16 matchups are rematches of close games played earlier in the year, such as Pittsburgh and Florida State, which the Panthers won by eight last December. It also features one of the best first round games, Oklahoma State and Tennessee, both of whom average better than 78 points per game.
Spoiler: Big East tested Villanova lost five games this season by less than 10 points, including a one point loss to top seeded Louisville. The Wildcats have a potential matchup with Duke for an elite eight bid, which Duke has only reached one time in the last seven tournaments. If they make it to a showdown with Pittsburgh, the Wildcats will have a chance to knock off the Panthers for a second time this season.
Under the Radar: Texas has to be licking its chops, having defeated potential East opponents Oklahoma State, Wisconsin, UCLA, and Villanova. If the Longhorns manage to get past the first and second rounds, they will have a chance at a rematch with any one of those four teams, and the opportunity to prove that they are better than their 9-7 Big 12 record. Texas gets good scoring production from both its frontcourt and backcourt, with senior guard A.J. Abrams leading the way at 16.3 ppg.
Upset City: Does history repeat itself? Virginia Commonwealth sure hopes so. The Rams faced a similar situation two years ago against Duke as an 11 seed. Just like UCLA in 2008, Duke was heavily favored as a one seed in 2006 and fell short of expectations. The following season, The Rams defeated the Blue Devils 79-77. This time around, VCU will need a big game from senior guard and CAA leading scorer Eric Maynor (22.4 ppg, 6.2 apg). Don't be fooled by UCLA's bounce back from losing three of four in the middle of conference play, as four of their last five wins came against the bottom half of the Pac 10.
Pick: Pittsburgh has been the most consistent of all the teams in this regional all year long, so look for them to continue their winning ways. When the Panthers win, they typically do it in dominating fashion, and of their 28 victories this season, 25 came by double digits. With the solid guard play of Levance Fields (10.7 ppg, 7.6 apg), post presence of DeJuan Blair (15.6 ppg, 12.2 rpg), and scoring ability of Sam Young (18.7 ppg), Pittsburgh poses a menacing three-headed horse (or Panther?) to any opponent.
Spoiler: Big East tested Villanova lost five games this season by less than 10 points, including a one point loss to top seeded Louisville. The Wildcats have a potential matchup with Duke for an elite eight bid, which Duke has only reached one time in the last seven tournaments. If they make it to a showdown with Pittsburgh, the Wildcats will have a chance to knock off the Panthers for a second time this season.
Under the Radar: Texas has to be licking its chops, having defeated potential East opponents Oklahoma State, Wisconsin, UCLA, and Villanova. If the Longhorns manage to get past the first and second rounds, they will have a chance at a rematch with any one of those four teams, and the opportunity to prove that they are better than their 9-7 Big 12 record. Texas gets good scoring production from both its frontcourt and backcourt, with senior guard A.J. Abrams leading the way at 16.3 ppg.
Upset City: Does history repeat itself? Virginia Commonwealth sure hopes so. The Rams faced a similar situation two years ago against Duke as an 11 seed. Just like UCLA in 2008, Duke was heavily favored as a one seed in 2006 and fell short of expectations. The following season, The Rams defeated the Blue Devils 79-77. This time around, VCU will need a big game from senior guard and CAA leading scorer Eric Maynor (22.4 ppg, 6.2 apg). Don't be fooled by UCLA's bounce back from losing three of four in the middle of conference play, as four of their last five wins came against the bottom half of the Pac 10.
Pick: Pittsburgh has been the most consistent of all the teams in this regional all year long, so look for them to continue their winning ways. When the Panthers win, they typically do it in dominating fashion, and of their 28 victories this season, 25 came by double digits. With the solid guard play of Levance Fields (10.7 ppg, 7.6 apg), post presence of DeJuan Blair (15.6 ppg, 12.2 rpg), and scoring ability of Sam Young (18.7 ppg), Pittsburgh poses a menacing three-headed horse (or Panther?) to any opponent.
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Breaking Down the NCAA Tourney: South Region (By Anthony Gentile)
Overview: Never has the weight of an entire regional – and tournament – rested entirely on one toe. The troublesome toe in question is that of North Carolina point guard Ty Lawson. If Lawson is healthy, North Carolina is the favorite to win the tournament. If not, the Tar Heels might not escape the South, which includes Oklahoma, Syracuse and Gonzaga.
Spoiler: Gonzaga rolled to an unbeaten WCC campaign and won their two conference tournament games by a startling 30-point average. The Zags have top-10 talent, and a balance of inside-outside scoring with the likes of Jeremy Pargo, Matt Bouldin, Austin Daye and Josh Heytvelt. Gonzaga can run but also plays air tight defense, allowing an average of only 61.3 points per game. And motivation won’t be an issue – the Bulldogs should have last year’s first round exit fresh in their minds.
Under the Radar: Arizona State struggled towards the end of Pac-10 play and the Sundevils received a six-seed despite being ranked 19th in the nation. The Sundevils have a great inside-outside combo in James Harden (20.8 ppg) and Jeff Pendergraph (14.5 ppg, 8.4 rpg). If Arizona State can share the ball, they have the potential to advance through the lower part of the South bracket over both Syracuse and Oklahoma, who both have questions entering the tournament.
Upset City: Illinois enters the tournament with an ailing point guard. To make matters worse, the Fighting Illini received the dreaded five-seed in the South. What could be worse than that? Facing off against Western Kentucky in the first round. Those factors could spell upset for the Hilltoppers, a surprise sweet 16 team from a year ago. Western Kentucky has the upset pedigree and has four players average in double figures, led by A.J. Slaughter’s 15.8 per game.
Pick: Although it could go one of four or five ways, North Carolina should get back to the Final Four for the second year in a row, especially if Lawson is healthy. If not, things will be tougher for the Tar Heels, and the Zags could zig their way to Detroit.
Spoiler: Gonzaga rolled to an unbeaten WCC campaign and won their two conference tournament games by a startling 30-point average. The Zags have top-10 talent, and a balance of inside-outside scoring with the likes of Jeremy Pargo, Matt Bouldin, Austin Daye and Josh Heytvelt. Gonzaga can run but also plays air tight defense, allowing an average of only 61.3 points per game. And motivation won’t be an issue – the Bulldogs should have last year’s first round exit fresh in their minds.
Under the Radar: Arizona State struggled towards the end of Pac-10 play and the Sundevils received a six-seed despite being ranked 19th in the nation. The Sundevils have a great inside-outside combo in James Harden (20.8 ppg) and Jeff Pendergraph (14.5 ppg, 8.4 rpg). If Arizona State can share the ball, they have the potential to advance through the lower part of the South bracket over both Syracuse and Oklahoma, who both have questions entering the tournament.
Upset City: Illinois enters the tournament with an ailing point guard. To make matters worse, the Fighting Illini received the dreaded five-seed in the South. What could be worse than that? Facing off against Western Kentucky in the first round. Those factors could spell upset for the Hilltoppers, a surprise sweet 16 team from a year ago. Western Kentucky has the upset pedigree and has four players average in double figures, led by A.J. Slaughter’s 15.8 per game.
Pick: Although it could go one of four or five ways, North Carolina should get back to the Final Four for the second year in a row, especially if Lawson is healthy. If not, things will be tougher for the Tar Heels, and the Zags could zig their way to Detroit.
Breaking Down the NCAA Tourney: West Region (By Anthony Gentile)
Overview: Perhaps no region is better at the top then the West, with little separation between top-seed Connecticut and second-seed Memphis. Both of the tournament’s two 30-win teams – the Tigers (31-3) and 11-seed Utah State (30-4) reside in the West Region. The West also features an interesting first round rematch from 2008 – the 8-9 game between BYU and Texas A&M. In 2008, the Aggies beat the Cougars 67-62 in the first round.
Spoiler: Purdue finished tied for second in Big Ten, which sent seven teams into the tournament. After losing three of four to end the regular season, Purdue captured the Big Ten Tournament title and may be peaking at the right time. The Boilermakers have three players averaging in double figures, including now healthy guard Robbie Hummel (12.7 ppg). That coupled with a defense that allows only 59.1 point per game could lead to a deep tournament run for the West’s fifth-seed.
Under the Radar: California has lost four of their last six headed into the tournament and their first round opponent, Maryland, overshadows the seven-seed. But California averages 75.0 points per game and has two great guards in Jerome Randle (18.4 ppg) and Patrick Christopher (14.6). Bears head coach Mike Montgomery has lots tournament experience and will have California ready to go.
Upset City: Has a 30-win team ever received less notoriety than Utah State? That will change if the Aggies can upend Dominic James-less Marquette in the first round. The Aggies won the WAC and are led by forward Gary Wilkinson (17.1 ppg, 6.9 rpg). If Wilkinson can get going inside enough Aggies fans make the four and a half hour drive to Boise, Utah State has a shot at dispatching Marquette.
Pick: Memphis has the depth to reach the Final Four for the second straight season, a nice blend of youth and experience. If the Tigers meet Connecticut in the regional final, that game could be one of the best of the tournament.
Spoiler: Purdue finished tied for second in Big Ten, which sent seven teams into the tournament. After losing three of four to end the regular season, Purdue captured the Big Ten Tournament title and may be peaking at the right time. The Boilermakers have three players averaging in double figures, including now healthy guard Robbie Hummel (12.7 ppg). That coupled with a defense that allows only 59.1 point per game could lead to a deep tournament run for the West’s fifth-seed.
Under the Radar: California has lost four of their last six headed into the tournament and their first round opponent, Maryland, overshadows the seven-seed. But California averages 75.0 points per game and has two great guards in Jerome Randle (18.4 ppg) and Patrick Christopher (14.6). Bears head coach Mike Montgomery has lots tournament experience and will have California ready to go.
Upset City: Has a 30-win team ever received less notoriety than Utah State? That will change if the Aggies can upend Dominic James-less Marquette in the first round. The Aggies won the WAC and are led by forward Gary Wilkinson (17.1 ppg, 6.9 rpg). If Wilkinson can get going inside enough Aggies fans make the four and a half hour drive to Boise, Utah State has a shot at dispatching Marquette.
Pick: Memphis has the depth to reach the Final Four for the second straight season, a nice blend of youth and experience. If the Tigers meet Connecticut in the regional final, that game could be one of the best of the tournament.
Baylor Vs Georgretown: Media Timeout Update (By David Gentile)
13:52 !st Half: Both teams get off to a strong start offensively. Baylor looks a little more crisp at both ends of the court. A high scoring game will favor the Bears. Hoyas use a 7-0 run and sharp shooting to take the early lead. GU 16, BU 12.
11:44 1st Half: Georgetown is taking control, hitting just about every shot against the Baylor zone. Conversely, the Bears are having trouble creating shots against the Georgetown defense. GU 23, BU 15.
7:55 1st Half: The Hoyas started off the game 11-13 from the floor and are having much more ease creating shots that the Bears. Their defense has been stellar thus far, steadily slowing down Baylor's offense. GU 29, BU 19.
3:54 1st Half: Baylor set the tone early in this stretch with a three pointer off the inbound. After a Georgetown turnover, Quincy Acy threw down a forceful dunk to cut the lead to five. But the Hoyas refused to let it get the better of them and held a steady lead. GU 35, BU 26.
Halftime: Since the Hoyas took a double digit lead early in the half, Baylor has not been able to generate enough momentum to go on a run. The Hoyas may be one of the best six seeds the NIT has ever seen. GU 44, BU 34.
14:09 2nd Half: Baylor responded to the call early in the second half, going on an 8-0 run to cut the Georgetown lead to two. The Bears went on to claim the lead just over three minutes into the half. The game is turning into a fast paced chess match. Looks like we're in for a great second half. GU 51, BU 51.
10:55 2nd Half: The teams are about as statistically even as possible in this stage of the game. Whoever can pull this one out is going to ride a huge wave of momentum into the game against Virginia Tech in the second round. GU 60, BU 57.
7:11 2nd Half: Baylor continues to use the alley oop play out of timeouts, which Georgetown has not been able to stop all night. Baylor has risen its level of play to match Georgetown this half and is making more shots than in the first half. GU 65, BU 63.
3:34 2nd Half: The Bears have seized the lead, locking down on the defensive end and showing good patience on offense. They have been able to work the ball into the low post and get easy buckets. BU 70, GU 67.
End of game: Kevin Rogers put on a dunk show in this one, a combination of alley oops and driving dunks that will stay in my memory for a long time to come. College Basketball is a 40 minute game for a reason. Baylor hung around just long enough to take the lead late in the game, winning in an impressive fashion. BU 74, GU 72.
11:44 1st Half: Georgetown is taking control, hitting just about every shot against the Baylor zone. Conversely, the Bears are having trouble creating shots against the Georgetown defense. GU 23, BU 15.
7:55 1st Half: The Hoyas started off the game 11-13 from the floor and are having much more ease creating shots that the Bears. Their defense has been stellar thus far, steadily slowing down Baylor's offense. GU 29, BU 19.
3:54 1st Half: Baylor set the tone early in this stretch with a three pointer off the inbound. After a Georgetown turnover, Quincy Acy threw down a forceful dunk to cut the lead to five. But the Hoyas refused to let it get the better of them and held a steady lead. GU 35, BU 26.
Halftime: Since the Hoyas took a double digit lead early in the half, Baylor has not been able to generate enough momentum to go on a run. The Hoyas may be one of the best six seeds the NIT has ever seen. GU 44, BU 34.
14:09 2nd Half: Baylor responded to the call early in the second half, going on an 8-0 run to cut the Georgetown lead to two. The Bears went on to claim the lead just over three minutes into the half. The game is turning into a fast paced chess match. Looks like we're in for a great second half. GU 51, BU 51.
10:55 2nd Half: The teams are about as statistically even as possible in this stage of the game. Whoever can pull this one out is going to ride a huge wave of momentum into the game against Virginia Tech in the second round. GU 60, BU 57.
7:11 2nd Half: Baylor continues to use the alley oop play out of timeouts, which Georgetown has not been able to stop all night. Baylor has risen its level of play to match Georgetown this half and is making more shots than in the first half. GU 65, BU 63.
3:34 2nd Half: The Bears have seized the lead, locking down on the defensive end and showing good patience on offense. They have been able to work the ball into the low post and get easy buckets. BU 70, GU 67.
End of game: Kevin Rogers put on a dunk show in this one, a combination of alley oops and driving dunks that will stay in my memory for a long time to come. College Basketball is a 40 minute game for a reason. Baylor hung around just long enough to take the lead late in the game, winning in an impressive fashion. BU 74, GU 72.
Breaking Down the NCAA Tourney: Midwest Region (By David Gentile)
Overview: Of the top nine seeds in this bracket, four of them (Louisville, Michigan State, Kansas, Siena) were the outright champions of their respective conferences, and one of them (Utah) tied for first in the MWC. Each of these five has had a strong regular season and will look to prove itself in the tournament. What sets the Midwest apart from the other three brackets is that it has the best collection of defensive teams in the tournament. Keep an eye out for close, low scoring games in the latter rounds.
Spoiler: Wake Forest, a former number one ranked team, has the potential to shake up the bracket. The Demon Deacons are a young group with no seniors in the starting five, and have an impressive collection of victories, including upsets of North Carolina and Duke. Sophomore guard Jeff Teague leads an offensive minded team that can match anyone in the tournament shot-for-shot.
Under the Radar: Despite being as high as a nine seed, Siena has not received the attention of many major conference teams in the tournament. The Saints have a more experienced team than Ohio State, and are fresh off an upset of four seed Vanderbilt one year ago. Siena had four players averaging in double figures in 2008-2009. Their combination of balance and experience make them a tournament ready team that will give Ohio State a run for its money. In four tournament appearances, the Saints have won their first game three times.
Upset City: Arizona has been an inconsistent team all season long. But with inconsistencies come surprises, including wins over Gonzaga and LSU. The Cats will have to be on top of their game, but I believe that they will rise to the challenge and upset the Utes. With all the talk about Arizona not deserving a spot in the tournament, the Wildcats have something to prove, and this will be a time when their inconsistent play is a plus.
Pick: Although this is a very talented group of teams, I don't believe any of them can match up with the Cardinals and shut down Clark, Williams, and Samuels in one game. Louisville has one of the most talented frontcourts in all of the NCAA, and it should lead them to Detroit.
Spoiler: Wake Forest, a former number one ranked team, has the potential to shake up the bracket. The Demon Deacons are a young group with no seniors in the starting five, and have an impressive collection of victories, including upsets of North Carolina and Duke. Sophomore guard Jeff Teague leads an offensive minded team that can match anyone in the tournament shot-for-shot.
Under the Radar: Despite being as high as a nine seed, Siena has not received the attention of many major conference teams in the tournament. The Saints have a more experienced team than Ohio State, and are fresh off an upset of four seed Vanderbilt one year ago. Siena had four players averaging in double figures in 2008-2009. Their combination of balance and experience make them a tournament ready team that will give Ohio State a run for its money. In four tournament appearances, the Saints have won their first game three times.
Upset City: Arizona has been an inconsistent team all season long. But with inconsistencies come surprises, including wins over Gonzaga and LSU. The Cats will have to be on top of their game, but I believe that they will rise to the challenge and upset the Utes. With all the talk about Arizona not deserving a spot in the tournament, the Wildcats have something to prove, and this will be a time when their inconsistent play is a plus.
Pick: Although this is a very talented group of teams, I don't believe any of them can match up with the Cardinals and shut down Clark, Williams, and Samuels in one game. Louisville has one of the most talented frontcourts in all of the NCAA, and it should lead them to Detroit.
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
NIT First Round Picks (By David Gentile)
San Diego State over Weber State: The Aztecs have caught fire at the right time, and came within a few points of winning the MWC tournament. Senior Lorrenzo Wade is playing the best basketball of his college careers right now.
Illinois State over Kansas State: Illinois State coach Tim Jankovich comes back to Manhattan, where he played his college basketball. He has Illinois State playing very well the last two years, and they should be able to repeat last year's first round NIT victory.
Davidson over South Carolina: The Wildcats can compete with the best of them, and Stephen Curry will be eager to bounce back from his injury and make a statement in the NIT.
St. Mary's over Washington State: Very much a carbon copy of the above game. St. Mary's feels it belongs with the best teams in the nation, and came close to beating Gonzaga twice, with Patty Mills only playing three of the four halves in those games. Victories by them and Davidson would make for a very intriguing matchup in the second round.
Auburn over UT-Martin: Although the SEC was not very strong this year, Auburn finished the season strong by knocking off tournament bound Mississippi State and LSU before falling to Tennessee.
Tulsa over Northwestern: Tulsa only lost to Memphis by one at home earlier in the season. They have played a very tough schedule and finished second in the underrated Conference USA.
Baylor over Georgetown: Even though Georgetown defeated Memphis and Uconn early in the season, they have been snakebit since late January, and Baylor will unleash its offensive attack and keep their recent hot streak going.
Virginia Tech over Duquesne: Very simple. ACC tested Virginia Tech takes on a Duquesne team that has very few quality road wins.
Creighton over Bowling Green: The Blue Jays are playing with a chip on their shoulder after losing by 24 in the MVC tournament and failing to make the NCAA tournament. Senior Guard Booker Woodfox is leading the NCAA in three-point percentage (not to mention having one of the best names in sports).
Kentucky over UNLV: Jodie Meeks and Patrick Patterson are quite a tandem, and now that they face a slew of mid-majors, they will have a chance to go deep in the NIT.
Nebraska over New Mexico: The Cornhuskers played great basketball this year under Doc Sadler, and finished .500 in the Big 12, with four close losses. Not usually known as a basketball school, Nebraska will turn some heads with this one.
Notre Dame over UAB: My pick to win the NIT, coming out of the Big East, Notre Dame skidded to a halt at the wrong time in Big East play, but is vastly more talented than many of the NIT teams. Don't count on the Fighting Irish losing to a lower seed.
Florida over Jacksonville: Florida lost quite a few close conference games to the best teams in the SEC, and they'll be ready to knock off the regular season champ from the Atlantic Sun conference.
Providence over Miami (FL): Both teams have faced some of the best competition in the country, with Providence finishing with a better record in the Big East that Miami had in the ACC. I like Providence because they get to host as a lower seed.
Niagara over Rhode Island: Someone needs to break through for the MAAC conference, and with only two home losses all year, Niagara is that someone.
Penn State over George Mason: Penn State is on the same level as most of the lower end Big Ten teams that made the NCAA tournament, and has seen and defeated better competition than George Mason. Watch out for round two, a potential rematch with Rhode Island, whom they lost to by five at home earlier this year.
Illinois State over Kansas State: Illinois State coach Tim Jankovich comes back to Manhattan, where he played his college basketball. He has Illinois State playing very well the last two years, and they should be able to repeat last year's first round NIT victory.
Davidson over South Carolina: The Wildcats can compete with the best of them, and Stephen Curry will be eager to bounce back from his injury and make a statement in the NIT.
St. Mary's over Washington State: Very much a carbon copy of the above game. St. Mary's feels it belongs with the best teams in the nation, and came close to beating Gonzaga twice, with Patty Mills only playing three of the four halves in those games. Victories by them and Davidson would make for a very intriguing matchup in the second round.
Auburn over UT-Martin: Although the SEC was not very strong this year, Auburn finished the season strong by knocking off tournament bound Mississippi State and LSU before falling to Tennessee.
Tulsa over Northwestern: Tulsa only lost to Memphis by one at home earlier in the season. They have played a very tough schedule and finished second in the underrated Conference USA.
Baylor over Georgetown: Even though Georgetown defeated Memphis and Uconn early in the season, they have been snakebit since late January, and Baylor will unleash its offensive attack and keep their recent hot streak going.
Virginia Tech over Duquesne: Very simple. ACC tested Virginia Tech takes on a Duquesne team that has very few quality road wins.
Creighton over Bowling Green: The Blue Jays are playing with a chip on their shoulder after losing by 24 in the MVC tournament and failing to make the NCAA tournament. Senior Guard Booker Woodfox is leading the NCAA in three-point percentage (not to mention having one of the best names in sports).
Kentucky over UNLV: Jodie Meeks and Patrick Patterson are quite a tandem, and now that they face a slew of mid-majors, they will have a chance to go deep in the NIT.
Nebraska over New Mexico: The Cornhuskers played great basketball this year under Doc Sadler, and finished .500 in the Big 12, with four close losses. Not usually known as a basketball school, Nebraska will turn some heads with this one.
Notre Dame over UAB: My pick to win the NIT, coming out of the Big East, Notre Dame skidded to a halt at the wrong time in Big East play, but is vastly more talented than many of the NIT teams. Don't count on the Fighting Irish losing to a lower seed.
Florida over Jacksonville: Florida lost quite a few close conference games to the best teams in the SEC, and they'll be ready to knock off the regular season champ from the Atlantic Sun conference.
Providence over Miami (FL): Both teams have faced some of the best competition in the country, with Providence finishing with a better record in the Big East that Miami had in the ACC. I like Providence because they get to host as a lower seed.
Niagara over Rhode Island: Someone needs to break through for the MAAC conference, and with only two home losses all year, Niagara is that someone.
Penn State over George Mason: Penn State is on the same level as most of the lower end Big Ten teams that made the NCAA tournament, and has seen and defeated better competition than George Mason. Watch out for round two, a potential rematch with Rhode Island, whom they lost to by five at home earlier this year.
Plight of the Mid Majors (By David Gentile)
After Selection Sunday, a few deserving mid-major programs will head to the NIT instead of the NCAA tournament. The only four mid-major programs that received at-large bids were Butler, Xavier, Dayton, and BYU. Of those four, Butler handed an automatic bid to Cleveland State by losing the Horizon Conference title game, and Xavier and Dayton allowed Temple, a team on the bubble all season, to win the Atlantic 10 title and secure a spot in the dance. With the number of at-large bids decreasing for the mid-majors since 2004, these teams have to do anything they can to impress the tournament committee.
Even with higher RPIs, Creighton (26-7) and San Diego State (23-9) did not make the tournament in favor of teams such as Minnesota, Michigan, and Wisconsin. These teams and analysts can argue all they want given the statistics of the regular season, but it will come to no avail. There is only one direction to go from here. If the Blue Jays and Aztecs want to prove the committee wrong, they have to go out and take care of business in the NIT, and beat major conference teams along the way. Creighton may have the chance to play Kentucky and Notre Dame in their regional, the toughest in the 2009 NIT field. Likewise, San Diego State may have the opportunity to play Kansas State, South Carolina, and Washington State in their regional. So if these two elite mid major programs want to avoid another year of heartbreak, the time for them is now. They are playing not only for the interest of their school; they are playing for the interest of mid-majors across America who want to show that they belong in the field of 65 in 2010.
Even with higher RPIs, Creighton (26-7) and San Diego State (23-9) did not make the tournament in favor of teams such as Minnesota, Michigan, and Wisconsin. These teams and analysts can argue all they want given the statistics of the regular season, but it will come to no avail. There is only one direction to go from here. If the Blue Jays and Aztecs want to prove the committee wrong, they have to go out and take care of business in the NIT, and beat major conference teams along the way. Creighton may have the chance to play Kentucky and Notre Dame in their regional, the toughest in the 2009 NIT field. Likewise, San Diego State may have the opportunity to play Kansas State, South Carolina, and Washington State in their regional. So if these two elite mid major programs want to avoid another year of heartbreak, the time for them is now. They are playing not only for the interest of their school; they are playing for the interest of mid-majors across America who want to show that they belong in the field of 65 in 2010.
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