Saturday Recap and Sunday Preview:

Now that's more like it. Two great Elite Eight games on Saturday that came down to the wire. Let's start off with the first game. Missouri gave a game effort. After the first couple minutes it was looking like it was going to be a blowout. But the Tigers forced UConn into as many turnovers as I've seen the Huskies commit. Missouri had great efforts from several role players to keep them in it, but in the end UConn was just too talented. Kemba Walker and Stanley Robinson in particular had great games (up until last week I thought his name was Kendall Walker). I've got to hand it to Calhoun and his team -- a lot of people were doubting them after the way they closed out the season with losses to Pitt and Syracuse. But they have risen to the challenge and played to their potential.

In one of the best games of the Tournament, Villanova edged out Pitt with a driving runner by Scottie Reynolds with 0.5 seconds left. Whether you call it the hook and ladder or the picket fence, Jay Wright drew up a great final play. But how much would Villanova have been kicking itself if it lost the game after blowing a 2 point lead with the ball with 10 seconds left? It was a colossal mistake to throw a full court pass that went awry then fouling Levance Fields. I've got to hand it to both teams: neither one would let go until the very end. And what an effort from DeJuan Blair: he was 9 for 9 from the field and grabbed every rebound near the basket. I'd love to see him come back next year.

Let's hope today's games hold up their end of the bargain.

#1 Louisville vs. #2 Michigan State (2:20) - This is a matchup that isn't very sexy, that few people are talking about, but it will be a war. Tom Izzo is not going to let Louisville jump on them like they did Arizona. I could see this one going either way, but I think it will ultimately come down to Louisville having more offensive weapons than Michigan State.

#1 North Carolina vs. #2 Oklahoma (5:05) - This is the matchup everyone is talking about: Blake Griffin against Tyler Hansbrough. Oklahoma's effort against Syracuse was very impressive, but they are going up against a whole different animal. Griffin vs. Hansbrough will certainly be very fun to watch but if the Sooners have a chance they must have another shooting night like they got from Tony Crocker against Syracuse. Because you know Ellington and Lawson are going to bring it for UNC.