A Word on Tony Bennett:
The news just broke this afternoon that UVA has hired Washington State coach Tony Bennett as its replacement for Dave Leitao. The names that had been mentioned in this coaching search were many, from Tubby Smith to Jeff Capel (both not very realistic). I even heard Bob Knight's name mentioned. But in my opinion this is a solid hire from Craig Littlepage. Tony Bennett has done a great job with Washington State, inheriting the team from his father Dick Bennett, who was a great coach at Wisconsin.
What to expect with Tony Bennett's UVA squad? The game will be slowed down to a crawl. Bennett's teams are the type where the first to 50 wins. His Washington State teams had some of the lowest scoring games among major conference schools. They trying to shorten the game by taking their time on offense and building their foundation on solid defense. The question will be how that style will work in the ACC. There are certainly great defensive teams in the conference, but most teams like to run. The key certainly will be recruiting. I think it will take a couple years to get the type of players that he wants in his system. It won't be an instant turnaround.
Monday, March 30, 2009
Sunday, March 29, 2009
Sunday Recap:
Today's pair of Elite Eight games both ended up in double digit margins, although they took different routes to get there. Michigan State turned in a great defensive performance as Tom Izzo outcoached Rick Pitino and won going away. This game was very tight in the first half, but you could tell that Michigan State was playing the way they want to play. Louisville's press was ineffective and Goran Suton was as hot as Terence Williams was cold. Then in the second half other people got involved for the Spartans as they gradually built an insurmountable lead. What has to be disturbing for Louisville fans is how they basically gave up near the end. They obviously thought a 14 point lead with about 2 minutes left was too much and quit trying to get rebounds or play with any sense of urgency.
Oklahoma was able to slow their game with North Carolina down to their tempo, but could not hit any shots at all and fell behind big early. At the beginning, UNC kept doubling Blake Griffin, forcing other Sooners to shoot, and they just kept missing 3 after 3. Then finally Griffin started to get into the act but still no one else helped him out. Oklahoma missed something like their first 15 threes of the game. And even with Tyler Hansbrough basically being a non-factor in this game, UNC pretty much coasted to a double digit win.
Today's pair of Elite Eight games both ended up in double digit margins, although they took different routes to get there. Michigan State turned in a great defensive performance as Tom Izzo outcoached Rick Pitino and won going away. This game was very tight in the first half, but you could tell that Michigan State was playing the way they want to play. Louisville's press was ineffective and Goran Suton was as hot as Terence Williams was cold. Then in the second half other people got involved for the Spartans as they gradually built an insurmountable lead. What has to be disturbing for Louisville fans is how they basically gave up near the end. They obviously thought a 14 point lead with about 2 minutes left was too much and quit trying to get rebounds or play with any sense of urgency.
Oklahoma was able to slow their game with North Carolina down to their tempo, but could not hit any shots at all and fell behind big early. At the beginning, UNC kept doubling Blake Griffin, forcing other Sooners to shoot, and they just kept missing 3 after 3. Then finally Griffin started to get into the act but still no one else helped him out. Oklahoma missed something like their first 15 threes of the game. And even with Tyler Hansbrough basically being a non-factor in this game, UNC pretty much coasted to a double digit win.
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.
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.
Saturday, March 28, 2009
Friday Recap and Saturday Preview:
With all the top seeds making it through the first weekend, you would think we would have had better games than these. Out of the 8 Sweet 16 games, only 2 were really good games. We had one Thursday night with Pitt/Xavier and one tonight with Kansas/Michigan State. The Spartans made some good plays down the stretch, with a big and one from Kalin Lucas. And Kansas missed the front end of a critical 1 and 1.
The other three winners Friday really came to play. Louisville just killed Arizona, winning by 39 points. To win a Sweet 16 game by 39 points really is remarkable. It makes you wonder if this game was an aberration for Louisville or a sign they are really the team to beat.
Oklahoma played a very impressive game, making Syracuse's zone look silly. The final margin was not an indication of how much the Sooners and Blake Griffin dominated this game. Syracuse couldn't do anything offensively and at times in the last 10 minutes of the game looked disinterested.
And North Carolina had few problems with Gonzaga, using a blistering shooting display to build a lead that grew to 20+ in the second half. This just was not a good matchup for the Zags, with UNC having more talent at every position.
So with that, we are now to the Elite Eight, with hopefully some more competitive games this weekend. Here's what you can expect Saturday:
#1 UConn vs. #3 Missouri (4:40) - Connecticut has looked very good in this tournament, having no trouble dispatching their first two opponents and shutting the door on Purdue. But Missouri is probably the story of this Elite Eight, with their great offensive performance and frenetic defense. The story of this game will be who can force the other to play at their tempo. If Missouri can speed the game up and force turnovers, they can effectively negate the impact of Hasheem Thabeet and have a good shot at winning. If UConn is able to slow it down and work in their half court offense it might be a long day for the Tigers.
#1 Pittsburgh vs. #3 Villanova (7:05) - If you judge by how these two Big East teams have fared in the first three rounds, you'd have to give Villanova the edge. They have been dominating in their last two victories over UCLA and Duke, two big time teams. The big matchup of the game will be Dante Cunningham against DeJuan Blair. Pitt doesn't play pretty at times but just finds a way to win. Villanova won the regular season meeting between these teams, but that was in Philly. I expect a good, close battle in this one.
With all the top seeds making it through the first weekend, you would think we would have had better games than these. Out of the 8 Sweet 16 games, only 2 were really good games. We had one Thursday night with Pitt/Xavier and one tonight with Kansas/Michigan State. The Spartans made some good plays down the stretch, with a big and one from Kalin Lucas. And Kansas missed the front end of a critical 1 and 1.
The other three winners Friday really came to play. Louisville just killed Arizona, winning by 39 points. To win a Sweet 16 game by 39 points really is remarkable. It makes you wonder if this game was an aberration for Louisville or a sign they are really the team to beat.
Oklahoma played a very impressive game, making Syracuse's zone look silly. The final margin was not an indication of how much the Sooners and Blake Griffin dominated this game. Syracuse couldn't do anything offensively and at times in the last 10 minutes of the game looked disinterested.
And North Carolina had few problems with Gonzaga, using a blistering shooting display to build a lead that grew to 20+ in the second half. This just was not a good matchup for the Zags, with UNC having more talent at every position.
So with that, we are now to the Elite Eight, with hopefully some more competitive games this weekend. Here's what you can expect Saturday:
#1 UConn vs. #3 Missouri (4:40) - Connecticut has looked very good in this tournament, having no trouble dispatching their first two opponents and shutting the door on Purdue. But Missouri is probably the story of this Elite Eight, with their great offensive performance and frenetic defense. The story of this game will be who can force the other to play at their tempo. If Missouri can speed the game up and force turnovers, they can effectively negate the impact of Hasheem Thabeet and have a good shot at winning. If UConn is able to slow it down and work in their half court offense it might be a long day for the Tigers.
#1 Pittsburgh vs. #3 Villanova (7:05) - If you judge by how these two Big East teams have fared in the first three rounds, you'd have to give Villanova the edge. They have been dominating in their last two victories over UCLA and Duke, two big time teams. The big matchup of the game will be Dante Cunningham against DeJuan Blair. Pitt doesn't play pretty at times but just finds a way to win. Villanova won the regular season meeting between these teams, but that was in Philly. I expect a good, close battle in this one.
Friday, March 27, 2009
Thursday Recap:
There certainly were some interesting results from Thursday's slate of Sweet 16 games. Let's start with the best game of the day, Pittsburgh coming from behind and beating Xavier. Levance Fields did not have a very good game but hit a clutch 3 in the final 2 minutes and then had a critical steal and layup shortly thereafter. DeJuan Blair had a terrific second half, gobbling up every rebound in sight even if his shooting touch was off. And speaking of shooting touches being off, both teams had really poor performances from the field pretty much the whole game.
The other "early" game saw UConn hold off Purdue. This was the first game of the Tournament where you could see UConn have a little chink in their armor. Purdue could not make shots, but were still able to stay within arm's length of UConn the whole game.
The late night games certainly were surprising. My disappointment of the day had to be Duke's second half performance against Villanova. This was a bragging rights game between the Big East and ACC and Duke wilted under the pressure. I thought they were lucky to be down only 3 points at the half, and came out in the second half completely flat. None of Duke's stars could get the ball in the basket. It was definitely an embarrassing performance for a #2 seed in a Sweet 16 game.
Another surprise was Missouri just taking it to Memphis, using a halftime buzzer-beater to build up a 20+ point lead before Memphis made it semi-interesting at the end. I thought coming in Memphis was the more athletic and talented team, but they could not stop Missouri from playing the style they wanted to play. Tyreke Evans was terrific for Memphis but the rest of the team did very little. And Missouri just made too many shots. It will be interesting to see how they match up with Thabeet and the Huskies.
There certainly were some interesting results from Thursday's slate of Sweet 16 games. Let's start with the best game of the day, Pittsburgh coming from behind and beating Xavier. Levance Fields did not have a very good game but hit a clutch 3 in the final 2 minutes and then had a critical steal and layup shortly thereafter. DeJuan Blair had a terrific second half, gobbling up every rebound in sight even if his shooting touch was off. And speaking of shooting touches being off, both teams had really poor performances from the field pretty much the whole game.
The other "early" game saw UConn hold off Purdue. This was the first game of the Tournament where you could see UConn have a little chink in their armor. Purdue could not make shots, but were still able to stay within arm's length of UConn the whole game.
The late night games certainly were surprising. My disappointment of the day had to be Duke's second half performance against Villanova. This was a bragging rights game between the Big East and ACC and Duke wilted under the pressure. I thought they were lucky to be down only 3 points at the half, and came out in the second half completely flat. None of Duke's stars could get the ball in the basket. It was definitely an embarrassing performance for a #2 seed in a Sweet 16 game.
Another surprise was Missouri just taking it to Memphis, using a halftime buzzer-beater to build up a 20+ point lead before Memphis made it semi-interesting at the end. I thought coming in Memphis was the more athletic and talented team, but they could not stop Missouri from playing the style they wanted to play. Tyreke Evans was terrific for Memphis but the rest of the team did very little. And Missouri just made too many shots. It will be interesting to see how they match up with Thabeet and the Huskies.
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
And Then There Were 16...
We've made it to the second weekend of March Madness, and with a lot of top seeds still left in the Tournament there should be some great games to look forward to. Here's your second round viewing guide, with WDBJ games noted in parentheses.
Thursday:
#1 UConn vs. #5 Purdue (7:07) - I took a big chance in this one in my bracket, picking Purdue. But with the way Connecticut has played in the first two rounds, the probably of an upset looks pretty slim. Still, this should be by far the biggest test the Huskies have faced in the Tournament. If Purdue is hitting their 3s, watch out.
#1 Pittsburgh vs. #4 Xavier (7:27, WDBJ) - Pitt struggled in their first round game but came back to win a great game against Oklahoma State. Year in and year out Xavier is one of the most underestimated teams. So this one should be a good defensive battle. If DeJuan Blair is able to stay in the game Pitt should have the advantage.
#2 Memphis vs. #3 Missouri (9:37) - This is definitely the loaded time slot of the two days. Memphis looked terrific against Maryland, but faces a much different challenge in the run and gun Missouri Tigers. The Tigers were able to escape a close one over Missouri, and will need a good shooting day to overcome the length of Memphis.
#2 Duke vs. #3 Villanova (9:57, WDBJ) - This is the Sweet 16 game I'm looking forward to most. Villanova was impressive in a big win over UCLA. Duke struggled to put away Texas, but Coach K always comes ready to play. If Duke's defense can force Villanova away from dumping it in to Dante Cunningham they have a good shot.
Friday:
#1 Louisville vs. #12 Arizona (7:07) - Arizona has had the easiest road to the Sweet 16, which is odd considering they are a 12 seed. But you can bet Louisville is not taking Arizona lightly. A hot team is always a dangerous team, no matter the seed. I just think Louisville has the superior talent and coaching.
#2 Oklahoma vs. #3 Syracuse (7:27, WDBJ) - This should be a great matchup between Syracuse's 2-3 zone and Blake Griffin down low. If the Orange can slow down Griffin, they can make life very tough for Oklahoma's guards. The key for Oklahoma will be using Griffin to get Syracuse in foul trouble: the Orange are not very deep.
#2 Michigan State vs. #3 Kansas (9:37) - There isn't a lot of buzz for this game with some other great matchups but it should be a good one. The teams are fairly easily matched, and should play a fairly low scoring game. The battle between Goran Suton and Cole Aldrich should be the one to watch.
#1 North Carolina vs. #4 Gonzaga (9:57, WDBJ) - These two teams have very similar styles, and that doesn't bode well for the Zags. This game should go up and down, with defense being optional. I love the fact that Gonzaga was able to get back to the Sweet 16 but in the end UNC's superior talent will wear them down.
We've made it to the second weekend of March Madness, and with a lot of top seeds still left in the Tournament there should be some great games to look forward to. Here's your second round viewing guide, with WDBJ games noted in parentheses.
Thursday:
#1 UConn vs. #5 Purdue (7:07) - I took a big chance in this one in my bracket, picking Purdue. But with the way Connecticut has played in the first two rounds, the probably of an upset looks pretty slim. Still, this should be by far the biggest test the Huskies have faced in the Tournament. If Purdue is hitting their 3s, watch out.
#1 Pittsburgh vs. #4 Xavier (7:27, WDBJ) - Pitt struggled in their first round game but came back to win a great game against Oklahoma State. Year in and year out Xavier is one of the most underestimated teams. So this one should be a good defensive battle. If DeJuan Blair is able to stay in the game Pitt should have the advantage.
#2 Memphis vs. #3 Missouri (9:37) - This is definitely the loaded time slot of the two days. Memphis looked terrific against Maryland, but faces a much different challenge in the run and gun Missouri Tigers. The Tigers were able to escape a close one over Missouri, and will need a good shooting day to overcome the length of Memphis.
#2 Duke vs. #3 Villanova (9:57, WDBJ) - This is the Sweet 16 game I'm looking forward to most. Villanova was impressive in a big win over UCLA. Duke struggled to put away Texas, but Coach K always comes ready to play. If Duke's defense can force Villanova away from dumping it in to Dante Cunningham they have a good shot.
Friday:
#1 Louisville vs. #12 Arizona (7:07) - Arizona has had the easiest road to the Sweet 16, which is odd considering they are a 12 seed. But you can bet Louisville is not taking Arizona lightly. A hot team is always a dangerous team, no matter the seed. I just think Louisville has the superior talent and coaching.
#2 Oklahoma vs. #3 Syracuse (7:27, WDBJ) - This should be a great matchup between Syracuse's 2-3 zone and Blake Griffin down low. If the Orange can slow down Griffin, they can make life very tough for Oklahoma's guards. The key for Oklahoma will be using Griffin to get Syracuse in foul trouble: the Orange are not very deep.
#2 Michigan State vs. #3 Kansas (9:37) - There isn't a lot of buzz for this game with some other great matchups but it should be a good one. The teams are fairly easily matched, and should play a fairly low scoring game. The battle between Goran Suton and Cole Aldrich should be the one to watch.
#1 North Carolina vs. #4 Gonzaga (9:57, WDBJ) - These two teams have very similar styles, and that doesn't bode well for the Zags. This game should go up and down, with defense being optional. I love the fact that Gonzaga was able to get back to the Sweet 16 but in the end UNC's superior talent will wear them down.
Monday, March 23, 2009
Sunday Recap:
The first two rounds are in the books and now we have a few days to catch up on everything else in our lives. Overall, it was a very exciting four days. It's funny: it seems like every day the most exciting games were at the end of the day. And while so many games came down to the wire, you look up at the board and in every second round game except one (Purdue) the lower seeded team won. What this means is the Regionals will be terrific.
My vote for best game Sunday would go to Oklahoma State vs. Pitt. These teams played at such a high level, especially in the first half when nobody could miss. Oklahoma State stayed right with Pitt despite an incredible performance from Sam Young. And the game came down to the final minute and a Blair offensive rebound. I would give Marquette vs. Missouri the runner-up, with one of the biggest late game screw-ups I've seen with the Marquette player stepping over the end line.
Biggest disappointment of the day for me was James Harden. The superstar from Arizona State was way too passive against the Syracuse zone, especially in the first half, as he was content to just pass to teammates. The Sun Devils shot 20 3s in the first half, and got too far behind to catch up.
And how about some props for Siena? Every time the Saints looked like they were down and out against Louisville they came back and were in it until the end.
At this point, it's anyone's guess who is the favorite to win it all. Coming up later this week, I'll look ahead to regional action.
The first two rounds are in the books and now we have a few days to catch up on everything else in our lives. Overall, it was a very exciting four days. It's funny: it seems like every day the most exciting games were at the end of the day. And while so many games came down to the wire, you look up at the board and in every second round game except one (Purdue) the lower seeded team won. What this means is the Regionals will be terrific.
My vote for best game Sunday would go to Oklahoma State vs. Pitt. These teams played at such a high level, especially in the first half when nobody could miss. Oklahoma State stayed right with Pitt despite an incredible performance from Sam Young. And the game came down to the final minute and a Blair offensive rebound. I would give Marquette vs. Missouri the runner-up, with one of the biggest late game screw-ups I've seen with the Marquette player stepping over the end line.
Biggest disappointment of the day for me was James Harden. The superstar from Arizona State was way too passive against the Syracuse zone, especially in the first half, as he was content to just pass to teammates. The Sun Devils shot 20 3s in the first half, and got too far behind to catch up.
And how about some props for Siena? Every time the Saints looked like they were down and out against Louisville they came back and were in it until the end.
At this point, it's anyone's guess who is the favorite to win it all. Coming up later this week, I'll look ahead to regional action.
Sunday, March 22, 2009
Saturday Recap and Sunday Viewing Guide:
Saturday didn't start off so hot, with the first three games all being blowouts. But then things heated up a bit. Purdue and Washington came down to the final minute, with the Boilermakers pulling it out. The game of the day was the mid-major matchup between Gonzaga and Western Kentucky. The Zags had a 9 point lead vanish in the final 2 minutes only to win it with a driving layup by a freshman with 0.9 seconds left. It was great to see Gonzaga get back to the Sweet 16. And Duke pulled off a nice victory over Texas, in a game that was way to choppy with tons of fouls to be all that exciting, but nevertheless ended in the final minute. I have to give credit to LSU, too, for battling back and giving a scare to the Tar Heels.
Biggest disappointment for me was UCLA. They looked completely overmatched against Villanova, turning in their worst performance of the year. The offense looked lost and the defense couldn't stop anyone on Nova from scoring. And it could have been worse: Villanova missed a ton of 3s. This does set up what should be a great matchup between Villanova and Duke.
Most impressive teams on Saturday: UConn and Memphis. Both absolutely destroyed lesser opponents. Memphis looked like it was toying with Maryland.
So here's a look at Sunday's action:
#3 Syracuse vs. #6 Arizona State (12:10, WDBJ) - I am looking forward to this game between two strong defensive teams. Many people have Syracuse as a dark horse to make the Final Four after their performance in the Big East Tournament. But they first have to get by James Harden and the Sun Devils, who don't let teams run and hide.
#4 Xavier vs. #12 Wisconsin (2:20) - I was hoping this would be a great matchup between Xavier and Florida State, but the Badgers spoiled those plans. I would think Xavier's tough defense and balanced scoring would be too much for Wisconsin, but counting Bo Ryan out is not a smart thing to do.
#3 Kansas vs. #10 Dayton (2:30) - Dayton played well in an upset over West Virginia and a lot of people are not sold on the defending champs. That being said, I think Kansas has too much talent inside and outside for an inexperienced tournament team like the Flyers.
#12 Arizona vs. #13 Cleveland State (2:40) - Oh the vaunted 12/13 matchup. Arizona didn't play like a 12 seed Friday and Cleveland State certainly didn't play like a 13 seed. I could honestly see this one going either way. If Cleveland State plays like they did against Wake they will be in the Sweet 16.
#1 Pittsburgh vs. #8 Oklahoma State (2:50, WDBJ) - I am sounding the Upset Alert for this one. Pitt has not played well in their last two games and Oklahoma State is playing very well, coming off the high of their last second win over Tennessee. If Pitt does not bring its A game it could be watching the Tournament from home next week.
#3 Missouri vs. #6 Marquette (4:50) - Marquette hung on to pull out a nice win without their best player against Utah State. But I'm not sure that's going to be enough against a Missouri team that has exceeded expectations this year. This game should be very high octane, played in the 80s.
#2 Michigan State vs. #10 USC (5:00) - USC played pretty well in the second half against Boston College and has a lot of confidence coming into this one. But Tom Izzo is not going to let the Spartans lose to an inferior squad in the first weekend.
#1 Louisville vs. #9 Siena (5:20, WDBJ) - Siena has got to be tired after playing a double overtime thriller late Friday night and having to take on Rick Pitino's squad is no easy task. That being said, I expect the Saints to hang with Louisville for at least the first half.
Saturday didn't start off so hot, with the first three games all being blowouts. But then things heated up a bit. Purdue and Washington came down to the final minute, with the Boilermakers pulling it out. The game of the day was the mid-major matchup between Gonzaga and Western Kentucky. The Zags had a 9 point lead vanish in the final 2 minutes only to win it with a driving layup by a freshman with 0.9 seconds left. It was great to see Gonzaga get back to the Sweet 16. And Duke pulled off a nice victory over Texas, in a game that was way to choppy with tons of fouls to be all that exciting, but nevertheless ended in the final minute. I have to give credit to LSU, too, for battling back and giving a scare to the Tar Heels.
Biggest disappointment for me was UCLA. They looked completely overmatched against Villanova, turning in their worst performance of the year. The offense looked lost and the defense couldn't stop anyone on Nova from scoring. And it could have been worse: Villanova missed a ton of 3s. This does set up what should be a great matchup between Villanova and Duke.
Most impressive teams on Saturday: UConn and Memphis. Both absolutely destroyed lesser opponents. Memphis looked like it was toying with Maryland.
So here's a look at Sunday's action:
#3 Syracuse vs. #6 Arizona State (12:10, WDBJ) - I am looking forward to this game between two strong defensive teams. Many people have Syracuse as a dark horse to make the Final Four after their performance in the Big East Tournament. But they first have to get by James Harden and the Sun Devils, who don't let teams run and hide.
#4 Xavier vs. #12 Wisconsin (2:20) - I was hoping this would be a great matchup between Xavier and Florida State, but the Badgers spoiled those plans. I would think Xavier's tough defense and balanced scoring would be too much for Wisconsin, but counting Bo Ryan out is not a smart thing to do.
#3 Kansas vs. #10 Dayton (2:30) - Dayton played well in an upset over West Virginia and a lot of people are not sold on the defending champs. That being said, I think Kansas has too much talent inside and outside for an inexperienced tournament team like the Flyers.
#12 Arizona vs. #13 Cleveland State (2:40) - Oh the vaunted 12/13 matchup. Arizona didn't play like a 12 seed Friday and Cleveland State certainly didn't play like a 13 seed. I could honestly see this one going either way. If Cleveland State plays like they did against Wake they will be in the Sweet 16.
#1 Pittsburgh vs. #8 Oklahoma State (2:50, WDBJ) - I am sounding the Upset Alert for this one. Pitt has not played well in their last two games and Oklahoma State is playing very well, coming off the high of their last second win over Tennessee. If Pitt does not bring its A game it could be watching the Tournament from home next week.
#3 Missouri vs. #6 Marquette (4:50) - Marquette hung on to pull out a nice win without their best player against Utah State. But I'm not sure that's going to be enough against a Missouri team that has exceeded expectations this year. This game should be very high octane, played in the 80s.
#2 Michigan State vs. #10 USC (5:00) - USC played pretty well in the second half against Boston College and has a lot of confidence coming into this one. But Tom Izzo is not going to let the Spartans lose to an inferior squad in the first weekend.
#1 Louisville vs. #9 Siena (5:20, WDBJ) - Siena has got to be tired after playing a double overtime thriller late Friday night and having to take on Rick Pitino's squad is no easy task. That being said, I expect the Saints to hang with Louisville for at least the first half.
Saturday, March 21, 2009
Second Day Recap and Saturday Viewing Guide:
Friday was a great day of high drama in the Tournament, including two overtime games going on at once. There were classics all over the map, including a great end to the Tennessee/Oklahoma State game. And Wisconsin coming back to defeat Florida State in overtime on a great drive and one. Plus Pitt getting a scare for 90% of the game in their 1/16 game. But the game of the day had to be Siena beating Ohio State in double overtime. This was a game that neither team would relinquish, and it took clutch 3s by the same guy for Siena to tie it in overtime and win it in double overtime (as Bill Raftery said: Onions! Double order!). All in all a great day of action.
Biggest Disappointment: The ACC, specifically second half performances. Boston College was ahead by 4 against USC at halftime and ended up losing by 17. Florida State was up 12 on Wisconsin at the half and didn't score a point in the first 5 or 6 minutes of the second half. And Wake Forest was down 9 at halftime but only saw their deficit grow in the second. I know Cleveland State played a very good game, and I wish I had picked them like I almost did. But what is the deal with Wake Forest? They had a terrific start to the season and closed well in the last week of the regular season with wins at Maryland and Clemson. Then they looked totally flat in an ACC tournament game against Maryland and looked just as bad last night against Cleveland State. It's a shame.
Ok, time to look ahead to Saturday's second round. There should be some great games. Once again, games on WDBJ in Roanoke/Lynchburg are so noted.
#3 Villanova vs. #6 UCLA (1:10, WDBJ) - This is probably the game I want to see most today, and the only one in this time slot. Villanova looked shaky against American and needed a second half comeback to win. UCLA edged one out over always dangerous VCU. I picked the Bruins to win this one, which will be tough in Philadelphia. The matchup to watch will be Villanova's guards against UCLA's tough defense.
#2 Memphis vs. #10 Maryland (3:20, WDBJ) - Before Thursday I would have thought this wasn't going to be much of a game. Memphis is just too powerful and good defensively for the Terps. But after Memphis' scare against Cal State Northridge, who knows? Maryland has been playing really well the last couple weeks and at this point an upset wouldn't shock me.
#1 UConn vs. #9 Texas A&M (3:35) - The Aggies had one of the most impressive wins of Day 1, but then against UConn won by nearly 60 points. The Huskies to me are the shakiest #1 seed but they have too much talent for A&M.
#4 Washington vs. #5 Purdue (5:40) - This should be a great battle between two very solid teams. Washington had little trouble dispatching of Mississippi State, and has several different weapons with Jon Brockman and Justin Dentmon. For Purdue, if they are hitting their 3s they are very hard to beat. Robbie Hummel has been great since coming back from injury. Expect this one to go down to the wire.
#1 North Carolina vs. #8 LSU (5:45, WDBJ) - The Heels looked very impressive in a thrashing of Radford, and of course all anyone is talking about is whether Ty Lawson will be able to play. LSU has some offensive weapons and a tough defense but I don't think they can match up in a track meet in UNC's backyard.
#2 Oklahoma vs. #10 Michigan (5:50) - Michigan had a nice win over Clemson, and with Beilein's 1-3-1 zone can give anyone fits. The question is can it slow down Blake Griffin? Oklahoma had no problem in their first game but will definitely have more of a challenge here.
#4 Gonzaga vs. #12 Western Kentucky (8:10) - The Zags have had one of the best draws, playing in nearby Portland and facing an Akron team that few people thought would make any noise. Now they get a Western Kentucky team that is good, but not athletic enough to match up with them. It would be a nice step for Mark Few's team to get back to the Sweet 16.
#2 Duke vs. #7 Texas (8:15, WDBJ) - A lot of people seem to be smelling upset here. And if Texas had played up to potential all year they certainly would not have been a 7 seed. Texas has the pieces to put together an upset but Duke's discipline and outside shooting should be enough to get them to next week.
Friday was a great day of high drama in the Tournament, including two overtime games going on at once. There were classics all over the map, including a great end to the Tennessee/Oklahoma State game. And Wisconsin coming back to defeat Florida State in overtime on a great drive and one. Plus Pitt getting a scare for 90% of the game in their 1/16 game. But the game of the day had to be Siena beating Ohio State in double overtime. This was a game that neither team would relinquish, and it took clutch 3s by the same guy for Siena to tie it in overtime and win it in double overtime (as Bill Raftery said: Onions! Double order!). All in all a great day of action.
Biggest Disappointment: The ACC, specifically second half performances. Boston College was ahead by 4 against USC at halftime and ended up losing by 17. Florida State was up 12 on Wisconsin at the half and didn't score a point in the first 5 or 6 minutes of the second half. And Wake Forest was down 9 at halftime but only saw their deficit grow in the second. I know Cleveland State played a very good game, and I wish I had picked them like I almost did. But what is the deal with Wake Forest? They had a terrific start to the season and closed well in the last week of the regular season with wins at Maryland and Clemson. Then they looked totally flat in an ACC tournament game against Maryland and looked just as bad last night against Cleveland State. It's a shame.
Ok, time to look ahead to Saturday's second round. There should be some great games. Once again, games on WDBJ in Roanoke/Lynchburg are so noted.
#3 Villanova vs. #6 UCLA (1:10, WDBJ) - This is probably the game I want to see most today, and the only one in this time slot. Villanova looked shaky against American and needed a second half comeback to win. UCLA edged one out over always dangerous VCU. I picked the Bruins to win this one, which will be tough in Philadelphia. The matchup to watch will be Villanova's guards against UCLA's tough defense.
#2 Memphis vs. #10 Maryland (3:20, WDBJ) - Before Thursday I would have thought this wasn't going to be much of a game. Memphis is just too powerful and good defensively for the Terps. But after Memphis' scare against Cal State Northridge, who knows? Maryland has been playing really well the last couple weeks and at this point an upset wouldn't shock me.
#1 UConn vs. #9 Texas A&M (3:35) - The Aggies had one of the most impressive wins of Day 1, but then against UConn won by nearly 60 points. The Huskies to me are the shakiest #1 seed but they have too much talent for A&M.
#4 Washington vs. #5 Purdue (5:40) - This should be a great battle between two very solid teams. Washington had little trouble dispatching of Mississippi State, and has several different weapons with Jon Brockman and Justin Dentmon. For Purdue, if they are hitting their 3s they are very hard to beat. Robbie Hummel has been great since coming back from injury. Expect this one to go down to the wire.
#1 North Carolina vs. #8 LSU (5:45, WDBJ) - The Heels looked very impressive in a thrashing of Radford, and of course all anyone is talking about is whether Ty Lawson will be able to play. LSU has some offensive weapons and a tough defense but I don't think they can match up in a track meet in UNC's backyard.
#2 Oklahoma vs. #10 Michigan (5:50) - Michigan had a nice win over Clemson, and with Beilein's 1-3-1 zone can give anyone fits. The question is can it slow down Blake Griffin? Oklahoma had no problem in their first game but will definitely have more of a challenge here.
#4 Gonzaga vs. #12 Western Kentucky (8:10) - The Zags have had one of the best draws, playing in nearby Portland and facing an Akron team that few people thought would make any noise. Now they get a Western Kentucky team that is good, but not athletic enough to match up with them. It would be a nice step for Mark Few's team to get back to the Sweet 16.
#2 Duke vs. #7 Texas (8:15, WDBJ) - A lot of people seem to be smelling upset here. And if Texas had played up to potential all year they certainly would not have been a 7 seed. Texas has the pieces to put together an upset but Duke's discipline and outside shooting should be enough to get them to next week.
Friday, March 20, 2009
First Day Thoughts:
As always, it was an interesting day one. There were not many upsets, but definitely a few scares for some teams. How about Cal State Northridge? The Matadors had a six point lead on Memphis halfway through the second half. That certainly scared anyone who had Memphis going far in the Tournament. And American put a real scare into Villanova, up by double digits for a good portion of the second half before the Wildcats were able to recover and put them away.
The game of the day had to be VCU against UCLA. The Bruins were seemingly in control for much of the game but a late VCU rally gave them a chance at the end. And it set up a great matchup: Eric Maynor's offense vs. Darren Collison's defense. And Collison won out.
Biggest disappointment for me would have to be Clemson. The Tigers looked totally overwhelmed for much of the game, and lost their composure, as Terence Oglesby threw an elbow and got ejected. The Tigers could have used him down the stretch as they mounted a comeback and lost by just 3 points. This is the second straight year Clemson has looked great early in the year and then flamed out in the Tournament to a lesser opponent. I don't understand it.
The other eye-opener was the margins of victory for UNC and UConn. Both looked unstoppable in huge wins.
Here's to another great day of action!
As always, it was an interesting day one. There were not many upsets, but definitely a few scares for some teams. How about Cal State Northridge? The Matadors had a six point lead on Memphis halfway through the second half. That certainly scared anyone who had Memphis going far in the Tournament. And American put a real scare into Villanova, up by double digits for a good portion of the second half before the Wildcats were able to recover and put them away.
The game of the day had to be VCU against UCLA. The Bruins were seemingly in control for much of the game but a late VCU rally gave them a chance at the end. And it set up a great matchup: Eric Maynor's offense vs. Darren Collison's defense. And Collison won out.
Biggest disappointment for me would have to be Clemson. The Tigers looked totally overwhelmed for much of the game, and lost their composure, as Terence Oglesby threw an elbow and got ejected. The Tigers could have used him down the stretch as they mounted a comeback and lost by just 3 points. This is the second straight year Clemson has looked great early in the year and then flamed out in the Tournament to a lesser opponent. I don't understand it.
The other eye-opener was the margins of victory for UNC and UConn. Both looked unstoppable in huge wins.
Here's to another great day of action!
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
NCAA First Round Viewing Guide (Friday):
I tackled Thursday's games, now here's a look at what you can expect on Friday. Games on WDBJ in Lynchburg/Roanoke will be so noted.
#3 Syracuse vs. #14 Stephen F. Austin (12:15) - The Orange were the story of last week with their 6 overtime win over Connecticut. A lot of people will be watching to see if they come out tired and exit early or make another March run.
#8 Oklahoma State vs. #9 Tennessee (12:25, WDBJ) - Tennessee is one of those teams where you never know which team is going to show up. They can play like a Top 25 team or an NIT team. Oklahoma State had a big win in the Big 12 Tourney against Oklahoma. Either one of these teams can give Pitt a scare.
#6 Marquette vs. #11 Utah State (12:30) - Marquette should be on upset alert, as they have not played well without star Dominic James. Utah State has flown under the radar all year in compiling a 30-4 record. Any team with 30 wins can not be taken lightly.
#3 Kansas vs. #14 North Dakota St. (12:30) - North Dakota State is a great story, in the tournament in their first year of Division 1 eligibility. I don't think that will be enough to beat last year's champs though.
#6 Arizona State vs. #11 Temple (2:45) - Arizona State should be a tournament dark horse with James Harden. They have a tough first round test against a hot Temple team that won the A-10 Tournament. Expect this to be one of the better games of the day.
#1 Pittsburgh vs. #16 East Tennessee State (2:55) - Oh the vaunted 1/16 game. Not much reason to watch Pitt romp in this one.
#3 Missouri vs. #14 Cornell (3:00) - The Big Red are in the Tournament for the second straight year. But they face the tough task of beating a Missouri team that has far surpassed expectations this year and is a trendy pick to surprise some people this March.
#6 West Virginia vs. #11 Dayton (3:00, WDBJ) - The Mountaineers have a very good record in recent years in March, but if they want to make another tournament run they must beat a tough Dayton Flyers team.
And the night games...
#1 Louisville vs. #16 Morehead State (7:10) - Morehead State comes in this game off the high of winning the Play-In game. But they played Louisville already this year and lost by more than 30 points. That doesn't bode well for the rematch.
#5 Utah vs. #12 Arizona (7:10) - Arizona is the favorite as a 12 seed in this game, and while many people debated their Tournament merits, they have more talent than the Utes. Still, this should be a compelling 5/12 game.
#7 Boston College vs. #10 USC (7:20, WDBJ) - This is probably the Friday game I'm looking forward to the most. I'm curious to see how BC's offense does against USC's tough defense. The Trojans had a very inconsistent year but played very well in the Pac-1o Tournament.
#4 Xavier vs. #13 Portland State (7:25) - Xavier made a good Tournament run last year, and shouldn't have any trouble in this one. But I have to admit, I don't know anything about Portland State. They did beat Gonzaga though!
#8 Ohio State vs. #9 Siena (9:40) - Siena had another good year after a nice Tournament last year. They will face a tough test in a Buckeye team that is always well-coached. I could see this one going down to the wire.
#4 Wake Forest vs. #13 Cleveland State (9:40, WDBJ) - Wake Forest has had an interesting year to say the least. They certainly have a lot of talent and can beat anybody, but have also lost to less talented teams. I could see Wake losing here or winning 3 games.
#2 Michigan State vs. #15 Robert Morris (9:50) - Michigan State always plays well in March, and I am picking them to do good things this Tournament. They shouldn't have a tough time in this one.
#5 Florida State vs. #12 Wisconsin (9:55) - Many people have Florida State as a sleeper team, but they must get by a tough Wisconsin squad that always plays good defense. This should be one of the best games of the day that is played in the 50s.
I'll try to post a First Round recap after Thursday and Friday's games.
I tackled Thursday's games, now here's a look at what you can expect on Friday. Games on WDBJ in Lynchburg/Roanoke will be so noted.
#3 Syracuse vs. #14 Stephen F. Austin (12:15) - The Orange were the story of last week with their 6 overtime win over Connecticut. A lot of people will be watching to see if they come out tired and exit early or make another March run.
#8 Oklahoma State vs. #9 Tennessee (12:25, WDBJ) - Tennessee is one of those teams where you never know which team is going to show up. They can play like a Top 25 team or an NIT team. Oklahoma State had a big win in the Big 12 Tourney against Oklahoma. Either one of these teams can give Pitt a scare.
#6 Marquette vs. #11 Utah State (12:30) - Marquette should be on upset alert, as they have not played well without star Dominic James. Utah State has flown under the radar all year in compiling a 30-4 record. Any team with 30 wins can not be taken lightly.
#3 Kansas vs. #14 North Dakota St. (12:30) - North Dakota State is a great story, in the tournament in their first year of Division 1 eligibility. I don't think that will be enough to beat last year's champs though.
#6 Arizona State vs. #11 Temple (2:45) - Arizona State should be a tournament dark horse with James Harden. They have a tough first round test against a hot Temple team that won the A-10 Tournament. Expect this to be one of the better games of the day.
#1 Pittsburgh vs. #16 East Tennessee State (2:55) - Oh the vaunted 1/16 game. Not much reason to watch Pitt romp in this one.
#3 Missouri vs. #14 Cornell (3:00) - The Big Red are in the Tournament for the second straight year. But they face the tough task of beating a Missouri team that has far surpassed expectations this year and is a trendy pick to surprise some people this March.
#6 West Virginia vs. #11 Dayton (3:00, WDBJ) - The Mountaineers have a very good record in recent years in March, but if they want to make another tournament run they must beat a tough Dayton Flyers team.
And the night games...
#1 Louisville vs. #16 Morehead State (7:10) - Morehead State comes in this game off the high of winning the Play-In game. But they played Louisville already this year and lost by more than 30 points. That doesn't bode well for the rematch.
#5 Utah vs. #12 Arizona (7:10) - Arizona is the favorite as a 12 seed in this game, and while many people debated their Tournament merits, they have more talent than the Utes. Still, this should be a compelling 5/12 game.
#7 Boston College vs. #10 USC (7:20, WDBJ) - This is probably the Friday game I'm looking forward to the most. I'm curious to see how BC's offense does against USC's tough defense. The Trojans had a very inconsistent year but played very well in the Pac-1o Tournament.
#4 Xavier vs. #13 Portland State (7:25) - Xavier made a good Tournament run last year, and shouldn't have any trouble in this one. But I have to admit, I don't know anything about Portland State. They did beat Gonzaga though!
#8 Ohio State vs. #9 Siena (9:40) - Siena had another good year after a nice Tournament last year. They will face a tough test in a Buckeye team that is always well-coached. I could see this one going down to the wire.
#4 Wake Forest vs. #13 Cleveland State (9:40, WDBJ) - Wake Forest has had an interesting year to say the least. They certainly have a lot of talent and can beat anybody, but have also lost to less talented teams. I could see Wake losing here or winning 3 games.
#2 Michigan State vs. #15 Robert Morris (9:50) - Michigan State always plays well in March, and I am picking them to do good things this Tournament. They shouldn't have a tough time in this one.
#5 Florida State vs. #12 Wisconsin (9:55) - Many people have Florida State as a sleeper team, but they must get by a tough Wisconsin squad that always plays good defense. This should be one of the best games of the day that is played in the 50s.
I'll try to post a First Round recap after Thursday and Friday's games.
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
NCAA First Round Viewing Guide (Thursday):
It's the most exciting time of year for College Basketball fans...March Madness is set to begin! Forgive me if I skip over tonight's play-in game and go right to Thursday's 1st Round action.
Here's what you can expect that day. The games that will be shown on WDBJ in Roanoke/Lynchburg are so noted.
#8 LSU vs. #9 Butler (12:20, WDBJ) - An intriguing 8/9 game between the SEC's best team (which doesn't count for much) and a Butler Bulldog team that is always strong in March. Don't be at all surprised if Butler pulls off the win.
#2 Memphis vs. #15 Cal St. Northridge (12:25) - Not a whole lot of reason to watch this one. Memphis has been rolling and will continue to roll.
#8 BYU vs. #9 Texas A&M (12:30) - The Tournament is starting with a bang with two 8/9 games in the first time slot. BYU has been excellent this year out of the Mountain West, and Texas A&M has hit its stride in the second half of the year. Should be a good battle.
#5 Purdue vs. #12 Northern Iowa (2:30) - Purdue is one of my favorite teams in the Tournament, and I think they'll do good things this year. They should get it started with a win over the Missouri Valley's only entrant.
#1 North Carolina vs. #16 Radford (2:50, WDBJ) - This is worth seeing to see just how long Radford can stay with the much more talent and much deeper Heels, even if Lawson can't play.
#7 California vs. #10 Maryland (2:55) - Should be a compelling game between two teams that have good guard play. Look out for Jerome Randle of Cal against Greivis Vasquez of Maryland.
#1 UConn vs. #16 Chattanooga (3:00) - 95% of the time the 1/16 games are not interesting past the first 20 minutes. This should be no exception.
#4 Washington vs. #13 Mississippi State (5:00) - Every year there is one lone game from a West Coast spot in this time slot. It actually has the possibility to be down to the wire with Mississippi State playing great ball in the SEC Tournament.
And the night games:
#7 Texas vs. #10 Minnesota (7:10) - The Longhorns have underachieved this year. I saw them play in Maui and at no point thought they would be a 7 seed this year. Minnesota is a nice story but doesn't have near the talent of the Horns.
#7 Clemson vs. #10 Michigan (7:10, WDBJ) - A contrast of styles with Beilein's 1-3-1 zone at Michigan against Clemson's press. This has the potential to be a very entertaining game. My money's on Clemson.
#3 Villanova vs. #14 American (7:20) - Villanova is playing in their own backyard against an inferior talented team. I wouldn't be surprised if this one was over by halftime.
#4 Gonzaga vs. #13 Akron (7:25) - The Zags have been knocked out of the Tournament in the first round the last couple years, but have more talent this year. I don't know much about Akron, and I know the MAC has had decent teams in the past (see: Kent State), but Gonzaga should win easily.
#2 Duke vs. #15 Binghamton (9:40, WDBJ) - Tony Kornheiser's Binghamton Bears will be hoping to pull off a Belmont, who played Duke very well as a 15 seed last year. But Duke is much more talented and driven to succeed this year.
#2 Oklahoma vs. #15 Morgan State (9:40) - Blake Griffin and the Sooners have something to prove in this tournament after struggling at the end of the year. Many people (including myself) have them being upset early, just not in this game.
#6 UCLA vs. #11 VCU (9:50) - This is the game I am looking forward to the most out of at least Thursday, probably the first two days. UCLA has gone to 3 straight Final Fours, and while they have lost a lot of talent from last year, I think they are still a very dangerous opponent. VCU pulled off one of the more memorable upsets two years ago over Duke.
#5 Illinois vs. #12 Western Kentucky (9:55) - Western KY is the trendy pick to win this game, and I am going with them as well. They pulled off a memorable upset of Drake last year and are one of those mid-majors who always plays well against the big conference teams. Illinois is struggling with injuries.
It's the most exciting time of year for College Basketball fans...March Madness is set to begin! Forgive me if I skip over tonight's play-in game and go right to Thursday's 1st Round action.
Here's what you can expect that day. The games that will be shown on WDBJ in Roanoke/Lynchburg are so noted.
#8 LSU vs. #9 Butler (12:20, WDBJ) - An intriguing 8/9 game between the SEC's best team (which doesn't count for much) and a Butler Bulldog team that is always strong in March. Don't be at all surprised if Butler pulls off the win.
#2 Memphis vs. #15 Cal St. Northridge (12:25) - Not a whole lot of reason to watch this one. Memphis has been rolling and will continue to roll.
#8 BYU vs. #9 Texas A&M (12:30) - The Tournament is starting with a bang with two 8/9 games in the first time slot. BYU has been excellent this year out of the Mountain West, and Texas A&M has hit its stride in the second half of the year. Should be a good battle.
#5 Purdue vs. #12 Northern Iowa (2:30) - Purdue is one of my favorite teams in the Tournament, and I think they'll do good things this year. They should get it started with a win over the Missouri Valley's only entrant.
#1 North Carolina vs. #16 Radford (2:50, WDBJ) - This is worth seeing to see just how long Radford can stay with the much more talent and much deeper Heels, even if Lawson can't play.
#7 California vs. #10 Maryland (2:55) - Should be a compelling game between two teams that have good guard play. Look out for Jerome Randle of Cal against Greivis Vasquez of Maryland.
#1 UConn vs. #16 Chattanooga (3:00) - 95% of the time the 1/16 games are not interesting past the first 20 minutes. This should be no exception.
#4 Washington vs. #13 Mississippi State (5:00) - Every year there is one lone game from a West Coast spot in this time slot. It actually has the possibility to be down to the wire with Mississippi State playing great ball in the SEC Tournament.
And the night games:
#7 Texas vs. #10 Minnesota (7:10) - The Longhorns have underachieved this year. I saw them play in Maui and at no point thought they would be a 7 seed this year. Minnesota is a nice story but doesn't have near the talent of the Horns.
#7 Clemson vs. #10 Michigan (7:10, WDBJ) - A contrast of styles with Beilein's 1-3-1 zone at Michigan against Clemson's press. This has the potential to be a very entertaining game. My money's on Clemson.
#3 Villanova vs. #14 American (7:20) - Villanova is playing in their own backyard against an inferior talented team. I wouldn't be surprised if this one was over by halftime.
#4 Gonzaga vs. #13 Akron (7:25) - The Zags have been knocked out of the Tournament in the first round the last couple years, but have more talent this year. I don't know much about Akron, and I know the MAC has had decent teams in the past (see: Kent State), but Gonzaga should win easily.
#2 Duke vs. #15 Binghamton (9:40, WDBJ) - Tony Kornheiser's Binghamton Bears will be hoping to pull off a Belmont, who played Duke very well as a 15 seed last year. But Duke is much more talented and driven to succeed this year.
#2 Oklahoma vs. #15 Morgan State (9:40) - Blake Griffin and the Sooners have something to prove in this tournament after struggling at the end of the year. Many people (including myself) have them being upset early, just not in this game.
#6 UCLA vs. #11 VCU (9:50) - This is the game I am looking forward to the most out of at least Thursday, probably the first two days. UCLA has gone to 3 straight Final Fours, and while they have lost a lot of talent from last year, I think they are still a very dangerous opponent. VCU pulled off one of the more memorable upsets two years ago over Duke.
#5 Illinois vs. #12 Western Kentucky (9:55) - Western KY is the trendy pick to win this game, and I am going with them as well. They pulled off a memorable upset of Drake last year and are one of those mid-majors who always plays well against the big conference teams. Illinois is struggling with injuries.
Sunday, March 15, 2009
ACC Tournament Final Recap:
Duke certainly came to play in the ACC Tournament final, knocking down a whole lot of 3s in what ended up being a fairly easy win against Florida State. When Scheyer, Henderson and Singler are all hitting 3s Duke is very tough to beat. They didn't even bother trying to go inside much against FSU's bigs and chose to light it up from outside. For Florida State, the big problem was a really long field goal drought that covered more than half the first half. They were trying to come from behind in the second, cut it to 6, but couldn't get any closer.
You've got to hand it to Duke. They raised their level of play against the best team they played in the tournament to capture their 17th ACC Title.
By the way, here's a sneak peek at the first round games for the ACC in the Big Dance (more analysis to follow):
North Carolina (1) vs. Radford (16) - Thursday in Greensboro, NC
Duke (2) vs. Binghamton (15) - Thursday in Greensboro, NC
Wake Forest (4) vs. Cleveland State (13) - Friday in Miami, FL
Florida State (5) vs. Wisconsin (12) - Friday in Boise, ID
Clemson (7) vs. Michigan (10) - Thursday in Kansas City, MO
Boston College (7) vs. Southern Cal (10) - Friday in Minneapolis, MN
Maryland (10) vs. California (7) - Thursday in Kansas City, MO
Duke certainly came to play in the ACC Tournament final, knocking down a whole lot of 3s in what ended up being a fairly easy win against Florida State. When Scheyer, Henderson and Singler are all hitting 3s Duke is very tough to beat. They didn't even bother trying to go inside much against FSU's bigs and chose to light it up from outside. For Florida State, the big problem was a really long field goal drought that covered more than half the first half. They were trying to come from behind in the second, cut it to 6, but couldn't get any closer.
You've got to hand it to Duke. They raised their level of play against the best team they played in the tournament to capture their 17th ACC Title.
By the way, here's a sneak peek at the first round games for the ACC in the Big Dance (more analysis to follow):
North Carolina (1) vs. Radford (16) - Thursday in Greensboro, NC
Duke (2) vs. Binghamton (15) - Thursday in Greensboro, NC
Wake Forest (4) vs. Cleveland State (13) - Friday in Miami, FL
Florida State (5) vs. Wisconsin (12) - Friday in Boise, ID
Clemson (7) vs. Michigan (10) - Thursday in Kansas City, MO
Boston College (7) vs. Southern Cal (10) - Friday in Minneapolis, MN
Maryland (10) vs. California (7) - Thursday in Kansas City, MO
ACC Tournament Final Preview:
Saturday was another day of great games, starting with a thriller between Florida State and North Carolina. Toney Douglas and Derwin Kitchen hit free throws in the final minute and two desperation 3s by Carolina were not good at the buzzer, and the Noles won by 3. Part of what makes North Carolina so successful is their ability to score a ton of points in their hurry-up offense, on fastbreaks. Take Ty Lawson out, and Carolina has to play their half-court offense. They still have an above average half court game, with Tyler Hansbrough, but they don't have that fastbreak advantage. That's what Florida State was able to exploit. I thought the Noles were dead because they had two fairly long scoring droughts in the first half, and you just can't have droughts against Carolina. But they forced Carolina to play a half court game, and it worked. Plus it doesn't hurt when you have Toney Douglas.
Duke had a nice win over Maryland despite still having woes on offense. The Devils just haven't looked sharp in the past two games on offense. I think part of the reason has been the ineffectiveness of Gerald Henderson. He just hasn't been as much of a scoring machine as in times past. In this game, they were able to win as the Terps showed signs of fatigue in the second half from playing three games in three days. But Maryland fans should be happy come 6:00 today.
So this sets up what for me is an intriguing final: Florida State vs. Duke. Duke has won both battles with FSU, but recently just beat the Seminoles by 3 points in Cameron. I don't expect this game to be played in the 80s; in fact it might be the first to 60 wins. It will be the clash of Duke's 3 point shooting against Florida State's inside strength. It's not that FSU has true big men like Hansbrough, they just have a ton of size and a great interior defense.
So where will the points come from for Duke? The Devils will need more than just Jon Scheyer hitting outside shots. If Duke has to go with a big lineup that has Lance Thomas and Brian
Zoubek spending a lot of time on the floor, they won't have much success.
For Florida State, it's all about Toney Douglas. Even if the rest of the team is cold Douglas can carry his teammates on his back. But he does need help. The Noles didn't get much out of Uche Echefu against Carolina, but they need contributions from him, as well as Chris Singleton.
This week Florida State has been playing better than Duke. There has to be some concern among the Blue Devil faithful considering how they ended the season last year, and an ACC Championship might help ease their fears. But Florida State is on a mission to win its first ever ACC Title. And in what should be a great game down to the wire, they won't be denied.
Saturday was another day of great games, starting with a thriller between Florida State and North Carolina. Toney Douglas and Derwin Kitchen hit free throws in the final minute and two desperation 3s by Carolina were not good at the buzzer, and the Noles won by 3. Part of what makes North Carolina so successful is their ability to score a ton of points in their hurry-up offense, on fastbreaks. Take Ty Lawson out, and Carolina has to play their half-court offense. They still have an above average half court game, with Tyler Hansbrough, but they don't have that fastbreak advantage. That's what Florida State was able to exploit. I thought the Noles were dead because they had two fairly long scoring droughts in the first half, and you just can't have droughts against Carolina. But they forced Carolina to play a half court game, and it worked. Plus it doesn't hurt when you have Toney Douglas.
Duke had a nice win over Maryland despite still having woes on offense. The Devils just haven't looked sharp in the past two games on offense. I think part of the reason has been the ineffectiveness of Gerald Henderson. He just hasn't been as much of a scoring machine as in times past. In this game, they were able to win as the Terps showed signs of fatigue in the second half from playing three games in three days. But Maryland fans should be happy come 6:00 today.
So this sets up what for me is an intriguing final: Florida State vs. Duke. Duke has won both battles with FSU, but recently just beat the Seminoles by 3 points in Cameron. I don't expect this game to be played in the 80s; in fact it might be the first to 60 wins. It will be the clash of Duke's 3 point shooting against Florida State's inside strength. It's not that FSU has true big men like Hansbrough, they just have a ton of size and a great interior defense.
So where will the points come from for Duke? The Devils will need more than just Jon Scheyer hitting outside shots. If Duke has to go with a big lineup that has Lance Thomas and Brian
Zoubek spending a lot of time on the floor, they won't have much success.
For Florida State, it's all about Toney Douglas. Even if the rest of the team is cold Douglas can carry his teammates on his back. But he does need help. The Noles didn't get much out of Uche Echefu against Carolina, but they need contributions from him, as well as Chris Singleton.
This week Florida State has been playing better than Duke. There has to be some concern among the Blue Devil faithful considering how they ended the season last year, and an ACC Championship might help ease their fears. But Florida State is on a mission to win its first ever ACC Title. And in what should be a great game down to the wire, they won't be denied.
Saturday, March 14, 2009
ACC Tournament Semifinals Preview:
It was a great Friday of quarterfinal action in the ACC Tournament, with three games going down to the last possession.
The day started off with a repeat of last year: Virginia Tech outplaying UNC for most of the game only to see the Heels close it out in the last minute with some clutch shooting from Hansbrough. Just like last year, the Hokies played some of their best ball of the year in the ACC Tournament, but will likely not get over the hump into the NCAAs.
Florida State just beat surprise team Georgia Tech on a Derwin Kitchen layup and one with 7 seconds left. I didn't see any of this game so I don't know how it transpired but it looked like FSU was pretty much ahead the whole game.
Wake Forest didn't show up in their quarterfinal game, playing very poor perimeter defense and hoisting up way too many 3s in their loss to Maryland. The Terps had a healthy double digit advantage for most of the second half and now look like they will be in the Tournament.
Duke and Boston College played a very entertaining game that hinged on a last second 3 by Rakim Sanders. Sanders missed, and Duke won. The Devils played very strong defense but had a bad shooting first half (Gerald Henderson picked up 2 fouls in the first minute of the game). They came back to hit some shots in the second half, but give BC credit, they never folded.
That sets up a great semifinal Saturday:
#4 Florida State vs. #1 North Carolina (1:30)
The Seminoles lost a heartbreaker at home to UNC earlier this year on a Ty Lawson buzzer-beating 3 and will be looking for revenge. And they have a great shot, as Mr. Lawson might not play. In the Virginia Tech game, UNC went with Bobby Frasor at point, which was effective, but changed the whole tempo of the game. Still, the Heels have Tyler Hansbrough, who can single-handedly will the team to victory. I think a big key in this game will be Danny Green, who really struggled against the Hokies. If he can hit 3s over Florida State's outstanding defense Carolina has a great chance.
For Florida State, it's all about Toney Douglas. He is also the kind of player that just wills his team to victory. I am pretty high on the Noles and think they will do well in March Madness. And they have a good shot at victory here.
#7 Maryland vs. #3 Duke (4:00)
These teams don't like each other all that much. And while Maryland has a good history against Duke, they haven't gotten it done this year. Their performance in Cameron was pathetic, down 25 at halftime. That being said, there's no question Maryland is a different team now. But will that be enough to topple Duke?
Much of what Maryland does is based on emotion. Greivis Vasquez is a very emotional player and when he pours in 25 points a game his teammates feed off of that. On the other hand, Duke is a team that doesn't let itself get too up or down. They succeed off of precision, being where they need to be when they need to be there. And of course they win with lockdown defense. If Duke can force Maryland to get frustrated and throw up bad shots it could be a long day for the Terps.
It was a great Friday of quarterfinal action in the ACC Tournament, with three games going down to the last possession.
The day started off with a repeat of last year: Virginia Tech outplaying UNC for most of the game only to see the Heels close it out in the last minute with some clutch shooting from Hansbrough. Just like last year, the Hokies played some of their best ball of the year in the ACC Tournament, but will likely not get over the hump into the NCAAs.
Florida State just beat surprise team Georgia Tech on a Derwin Kitchen layup and one with 7 seconds left. I didn't see any of this game so I don't know how it transpired but it looked like FSU was pretty much ahead the whole game.
Wake Forest didn't show up in their quarterfinal game, playing very poor perimeter defense and hoisting up way too many 3s in their loss to Maryland. The Terps had a healthy double digit advantage for most of the second half and now look like they will be in the Tournament.
Duke and Boston College played a very entertaining game that hinged on a last second 3 by Rakim Sanders. Sanders missed, and Duke won. The Devils played very strong defense but had a bad shooting first half (Gerald Henderson picked up 2 fouls in the first minute of the game). They came back to hit some shots in the second half, but give BC credit, they never folded.
That sets up a great semifinal Saturday:
#4 Florida State vs. #1 North Carolina (1:30)
The Seminoles lost a heartbreaker at home to UNC earlier this year on a Ty Lawson buzzer-beating 3 and will be looking for revenge. And they have a great shot, as Mr. Lawson might not play. In the Virginia Tech game, UNC went with Bobby Frasor at point, which was effective, but changed the whole tempo of the game. Still, the Heels have Tyler Hansbrough, who can single-handedly will the team to victory. I think a big key in this game will be Danny Green, who really struggled against the Hokies. If he can hit 3s over Florida State's outstanding defense Carolina has a great chance.
For Florida State, it's all about Toney Douglas. He is also the kind of player that just wills his team to victory. I am pretty high on the Noles and think they will do well in March Madness. And they have a good shot at victory here.
#7 Maryland vs. #3 Duke (4:00)
These teams don't like each other all that much. And while Maryland has a good history against Duke, they haven't gotten it done this year. Their performance in Cameron was pathetic, down 25 at halftime. That being said, there's no question Maryland is a different team now. But will that be enough to topple Duke?
Much of what Maryland does is based on emotion. Greivis Vasquez is a very emotional player and when he pours in 25 points a game his teammates feed off of that. On the other hand, Duke is a team that doesn't let itself get too up or down. They succeed off of precision, being where they need to be when they need to be there. And of course they win with lockdown defense. If Duke can force Maryland to get frustrated and throw up bad shots it could be a long day for the Terps.
Friday, March 13, 2009
ACC Tournament Quarterfinals Preview:
Let me first say that I stayed up to watch all 6 overtimes between Syracuse and Connecticut, and it was well worth it. I have never seen a game quite like it, with 6 end of game scenarios that came down to the last second. From Devendorf's incredible shot that was just a split-second too late to the countless times both teams had point blank shots at winning, it was just an awesome effort. That being said, if you look at that result, there were an awful lot of top teams going down. UConn joined the list of Pitt, Oklahoma and Kansas to go down Thursday, all were potential #1 seeds.
Here's a look at Friday's ACC Tournament games:
#8 Virginia Tech vs. #1 North Carolina (12:00)
The Hokies put forth a complete team effort in one of their best games of the year to dominate Miami. They held the Canes to 47 points and completely shut down Jack McClinton. It was clear they had the fire and wanted to win that game more than Miami did. But will that be enough against Carolina?
All indications are Ty Lawson will not play, leaving the point guard duties to Larry Drew. That is certainly a huge drop-off and could impact the outcome of the game. But North Carolina still has more talent than any other ACC team without Lawson. The question will be do they have that hunger and focus to compete for an ACC title knowing that their real goal is a National Championship. Expect a tight game.
#12 Georgia Tech vs. #4 Florida State (2:30)
Georgia Tech definitely pulled off the stunner of the first round, leading most of the game against Clemson and holding them off in the final seconds. I'm not sure if that game said more about Georgia Tech playing beyond their ability or Clemson choking. But in Florida State the Yellow Jackets will see a team that is built much like their own, except playing at a higher level with better fundamentals.
I expect Toney Douglas to have a great tournament in his senior year. Florida State is out to prove they are a force to be reckoned with this year. And Georgia Tech is probably a bit worn out from yesterday's emotional high of beating Clemson. The Jackets are playing for nothing other than pride.
#7 Maryland vs. #2 Wake Forest (7:00)
The Terps kept their postseason hopes alive yesterday with a come from behind win over N.C. State. The game was back and forth until the final 2 minutes, when Maryland hit some clutch shots and State just couldn't buy a basket. The Terps run into a much stiffer challenge here though.
Wake Forest has been somewhat of a mystery this year, but there's no denying they have a lot of talent. They won at Maryland last week and with Jeff Teague and his cast of characters they should be able to duplicate that feat today. The only danger I see is if they take Maryland too lightly while looking ahead to a possible matchup with Duke.
#6 Boston College vs. #3 Duke (9:30)
Boston College proved they were the better team in their rather easy win over Virginia. The supporting characters for BC helped out Tyrese Rice and they were able to shut down Sylven Landesburg. BC also has a win over Duke this year.
But Duke is certainly playing better than they were when they traveled to Chestnut Hill. They played at a high level at UNC before fading down the stretch and will be well-rested for this one. I expect Gerald Henderson to carry the team this week. Whether that will be enough to beat more talented teams remains to be seen, but Duke should win this one.
Hope you enjoy what should be a great Friday!
Let me first say that I stayed up to watch all 6 overtimes between Syracuse and Connecticut, and it was well worth it. I have never seen a game quite like it, with 6 end of game scenarios that came down to the last second. From Devendorf's incredible shot that was just a split-second too late to the countless times both teams had point blank shots at winning, it was just an awesome effort. That being said, if you look at that result, there were an awful lot of top teams going down. UConn joined the list of Pitt, Oklahoma and Kansas to go down Thursday, all were potential #1 seeds.
Here's a look at Friday's ACC Tournament games:
#8 Virginia Tech vs. #1 North Carolina (12:00)
The Hokies put forth a complete team effort in one of their best games of the year to dominate Miami. They held the Canes to 47 points and completely shut down Jack McClinton. It was clear they had the fire and wanted to win that game more than Miami did. But will that be enough against Carolina?
All indications are Ty Lawson will not play, leaving the point guard duties to Larry Drew. That is certainly a huge drop-off and could impact the outcome of the game. But North Carolina still has more talent than any other ACC team without Lawson. The question will be do they have that hunger and focus to compete for an ACC title knowing that their real goal is a National Championship. Expect a tight game.
#12 Georgia Tech vs. #4 Florida State (2:30)
Georgia Tech definitely pulled off the stunner of the first round, leading most of the game against Clemson and holding them off in the final seconds. I'm not sure if that game said more about Georgia Tech playing beyond their ability or Clemson choking. But in Florida State the Yellow Jackets will see a team that is built much like their own, except playing at a higher level with better fundamentals.
I expect Toney Douglas to have a great tournament in his senior year. Florida State is out to prove they are a force to be reckoned with this year. And Georgia Tech is probably a bit worn out from yesterday's emotional high of beating Clemson. The Jackets are playing for nothing other than pride.
#7 Maryland vs. #2 Wake Forest (7:00)
The Terps kept their postseason hopes alive yesterday with a come from behind win over N.C. State. The game was back and forth until the final 2 minutes, when Maryland hit some clutch shots and State just couldn't buy a basket. The Terps run into a much stiffer challenge here though.
Wake Forest has been somewhat of a mystery this year, but there's no denying they have a lot of talent. They won at Maryland last week and with Jeff Teague and his cast of characters they should be able to duplicate that feat today. The only danger I see is if they take Maryland too lightly while looking ahead to a possible matchup with Duke.
#6 Boston College vs. #3 Duke (9:30)
Boston College proved they were the better team in their rather easy win over Virginia. The supporting characters for BC helped out Tyrese Rice and they were able to shut down Sylven Landesburg. BC also has a win over Duke this year.
But Duke is certainly playing better than they were when they traveled to Chestnut Hill. They played at a high level at UNC before fading down the stretch and will be well-rested for this one. I expect Gerald Henderson to carry the team this week. Whether that will be enough to beat more talented teams remains to be seen, but Duke should win this one.
Hope you enjoy what should be a great Friday!
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
ACC Tournament First Round Preview:
This is my favorite time of year. The next three weeks I go into hibernation mode as we get the conference tournaments and the Big Dance. Let's start off the fun with an in-depth look at the first round ACC Tournament matchups:
#9 Miami vs. #8 Virginia Tech (12:00)
These two teams are fighting for their NCAA Tournament lives. Miami and Virginia Tech both need wins in this game and probably a win over UNC to get into the Big Dance, and that won't be an easy task. They matched up earlier in the year, with Virginia Tech winning down in Miami in overtime. You could probably classify both teams as disappointments this year. And both have faded down the stretch. But who will show up to win this first round matchup?
For Virginia Tech, the answer is simple -- get the ball in the basket. The Hokies' shooters need to have good games for them to have a chance at winning. Shooting 30% like at FSU will not cut it. Malcolm Delaney has been in a bit of a slump lately, the wrong time of year for that to happen. Virginia Tech also needs role players to step up and provide that spark off the bench. 10 points from someone like JT Thompson can go a long way.
For Miami, it's all about Jack McClinton. The best pure shooter in the conference needs to get the ball...a lot. Other players have shown flashes (Dwayne Collins played great against the Hokies in the first matchup) but McClinton's the guy who has to have the ball.
#12 Georgia Tech vs. #5 Clemson (2:30)
Clemson has faded a bit down the stretch, but still has a very potent lineup and a press that causes fits. They swept the season series from Georgia Tech, who had a very disappointing last place finish with only 2 conference wins.
When you're playing Clemson you have several weapons to deal with. Trevor Booker is a monster inside, but Georgia Tech has great length. So the key for this game will be the shooting of KC Rivers and Terence Oglesby. If those two have a good shooting game, forget about it.
Georgia Tech's only chance in this game is if they can limit turnovers. This team has been horrible holding onto the ball and Clemson's press can eat you alive if you are not prepared. Lewis Clinch has gone on a tear of late but guys like Gani Lawal and Alade Aminu have to step up and pour in double digit efforts to pull off the upset.
#10 N.C. State vs. #7 Maryland (7:00)
The Terps have an outside shot at the tournament, but it's not looking likely unless they make the finals. They won a key road game at N.C. State a couple weeks ago but followed that up with losses against Wake Forest and UVA.
Maryland has to have help from Greivis Vasquez to win. Vasquez is a dynamic player but he can't do it all himself, especially on a stage like this. Dave Neal has to continue his hot shooting and Eric Hayes or Landon Milbourne need to step up to help the Terps to victory. Maryland is in a similar situation to Clemson in that they are playing a turnover-prone team. If they can force the Wolfpack to turn it over frequently they should win.
So for N.C. State it starts with not turning the ball over. Javier Gonzalez has been a hot shooter as of late but he is not a good point guard in that he gets few assists and is a turnover machine. State has had some good ACC Tournament runs lately and doesn't shy away from the competition. But they have to get multiple guys involved to win. Brandon Costner must come ready to play.
#11 Virginia vs. #6 Boston College (9:30)
Virginia was embarrassed at home earlier this year by the upstart Eagles, falling into a deep 1st half hole they couldn't recover from. The Cavaliers are playing better basketball, but can they derail BC's tournament hopes?
Much like Maryland, Boston College relies heavily on one guy (Tyrese Rice) and needs support from other guys to win. Unlike Maryland, their supporting cast has more talent. Guys like Rakim Sanders and Joe Trapani have played very well for them this year. I think the key for BC in this game is landing that early knockout punch. Don't let Virginia hang around and let guys like Mamadi Diane get confidence.
I never know what I'm going to get from Virginia. Some games they come out and compete and lay it on the line and other times they look absolutely awful. One thing is for sure: Sylven Landesburg must have a good game. He is the best player on their team and can't have an 0-8 night. If Virginia can rebound the ball well and play good defense on Rice they have a chance.
It should be an interesting day of games...but really just an appetizer to Friday's action!
This is my favorite time of year. The next three weeks I go into hibernation mode as we get the conference tournaments and the Big Dance. Let's start off the fun with an in-depth look at the first round ACC Tournament matchups:
#9 Miami vs. #8 Virginia Tech (12:00)
These two teams are fighting for their NCAA Tournament lives. Miami and Virginia Tech both need wins in this game and probably a win over UNC to get into the Big Dance, and that won't be an easy task. They matched up earlier in the year, with Virginia Tech winning down in Miami in overtime. You could probably classify both teams as disappointments this year. And both have faded down the stretch. But who will show up to win this first round matchup?
For Virginia Tech, the answer is simple -- get the ball in the basket. The Hokies' shooters need to have good games for them to have a chance at winning. Shooting 30% like at FSU will not cut it. Malcolm Delaney has been in a bit of a slump lately, the wrong time of year for that to happen. Virginia Tech also needs role players to step up and provide that spark off the bench. 10 points from someone like JT Thompson can go a long way.
For Miami, it's all about Jack McClinton. The best pure shooter in the conference needs to get the ball...a lot. Other players have shown flashes (Dwayne Collins played great against the Hokies in the first matchup) but McClinton's the guy who has to have the ball.
#12 Georgia Tech vs. #5 Clemson (2:30)
Clemson has faded a bit down the stretch, but still has a very potent lineup and a press that causes fits. They swept the season series from Georgia Tech, who had a very disappointing last place finish with only 2 conference wins.
When you're playing Clemson you have several weapons to deal with. Trevor Booker is a monster inside, but Georgia Tech has great length. So the key for this game will be the shooting of KC Rivers and Terence Oglesby. If those two have a good shooting game, forget about it.
Georgia Tech's only chance in this game is if they can limit turnovers. This team has been horrible holding onto the ball and Clemson's press can eat you alive if you are not prepared. Lewis Clinch has gone on a tear of late but guys like Gani Lawal and Alade Aminu have to step up and pour in double digit efforts to pull off the upset.
#10 N.C. State vs. #7 Maryland (7:00)
The Terps have an outside shot at the tournament, but it's not looking likely unless they make the finals. They won a key road game at N.C. State a couple weeks ago but followed that up with losses against Wake Forest and UVA.
Maryland has to have help from Greivis Vasquez to win. Vasquez is a dynamic player but he can't do it all himself, especially on a stage like this. Dave Neal has to continue his hot shooting and Eric Hayes or Landon Milbourne need to step up to help the Terps to victory. Maryland is in a similar situation to Clemson in that they are playing a turnover-prone team. If they can force the Wolfpack to turn it over frequently they should win.
So for N.C. State it starts with not turning the ball over. Javier Gonzalez has been a hot shooter as of late but he is not a good point guard in that he gets few assists and is a turnover machine. State has had some good ACC Tournament runs lately and doesn't shy away from the competition. But they have to get multiple guys involved to win. Brandon Costner must come ready to play.
#11 Virginia vs. #6 Boston College (9:30)
Virginia was embarrassed at home earlier this year by the upstart Eagles, falling into a deep 1st half hole they couldn't recover from. The Cavaliers are playing better basketball, but can they derail BC's tournament hopes?
Much like Maryland, Boston College relies heavily on one guy (Tyrese Rice) and needs support from other guys to win. Unlike Maryland, their supporting cast has more talent. Guys like Rakim Sanders and Joe Trapani have played very well for them this year. I think the key for BC in this game is landing that early knockout punch. Don't let Virginia hang around and let guys like Mamadi Diane get confidence.
I never know what I'm going to get from Virginia. Some games they come out and compete and lay it on the line and other times they look absolutely awful. One thing is for sure: Sylven Landesburg must have a good game. He is the best player on their team and can't have an 0-8 night. If Virginia can rebound the ball well and play good defense on Rice they have a chance.
It should be an interesting day of games...but really just an appetizer to Friday's action!
Friday, March 06, 2009
Weekend Preview:
We've hit the home stretch of the regular season, as this weekend represents the last chance for teams to make their case for the Big Dance before the conference tournaments. Here's a look at this weekend's ACC action:
N.C. State at Miami (Saturday, 12:00) - This one probably won't have a lot of interest after Miami lost to Georgia Tech. Miami has a very slim chance of making the field, and most likely would have to make the ACC finals to do so. N.C. State has had a good second half of the ACC season but I would expect Miami to hold serve at home here.
Georgia Tech at BC (Saturday, 12:00) - The only relevance this game could have is if Boston College somehow trips up and loses to the last place team. I think if BC wins this game, they are in the NCAA Tournament.
Maryland at Virginia (Saturday, 3:30) - Ok so this Saturday game slate is not all that interesting. Virginia could play spoiler here: if they can win their home finale against the Terps, Maryland is out of the tournament. Maryland still has a chance if they can pick up a road win.
Virginia Tech at Florida State (Sunday, 2:00) - Now we're getting interesting. Virginia Tech must win this game if it wants a chance at the tournament. Florida State is playing very well and could sew up a first round bye in the ACC Tournament if it wins at home. Both teams have plenty to play for in this one.
Duke at North Carolina (Sunday, 4:00) - Two teams with very different styles that just happen to hate each other in College Basketball's best rivalry. Duke and UNC are both coming in playing very good basketball. UNC has a definite talent edge but the Devils have played very well in Chapel Hill of late. I expect this one to be a little lower scoring than the game in Cameron. But it should be another classic.
Clemson at Wake Forest (Sunday, 6:00) - Not to be outdone, this one should be a dandy too. Clemson and Wake Forest are fighting for a first round bye in the ACC Tournament and possible NCAA seeding. Wake is coming off a great road win at Maryland while Clemson took care of business against Virginia. Both teams should play well in this one, and I expect a close battle.
There are scores of other huge games over the weekend, too many to mention. I'll highlight a few (all on Saturday):
UConn at Pitt - A rematch of one of the best games of the year. Don't be surprised if UConn returns the favor from their home loss.
Louisville at WVU - West Virginia could solidify their case for a bid with a home win over the #6 ranked Cards.
Texas at Kansas - The Jayhawks could surprisingly win the Big 12 again.
Washington St. at Washington - The hot Cougars could spoil the Huskies' bid for a Pac-10 outright crown.
Michigan at Minnesota - Win and you're in the tournament. Lose (Michigan) and you're not.
Kentucky at Florida - Another win and you're in, lose and you're not.
Let the games begin!
We've hit the home stretch of the regular season, as this weekend represents the last chance for teams to make their case for the Big Dance before the conference tournaments. Here's a look at this weekend's ACC action:
N.C. State at Miami (Saturday, 12:00) - This one probably won't have a lot of interest after Miami lost to Georgia Tech. Miami has a very slim chance of making the field, and most likely would have to make the ACC finals to do so. N.C. State has had a good second half of the ACC season but I would expect Miami to hold serve at home here.
Georgia Tech at BC (Saturday, 12:00) - The only relevance this game could have is if Boston College somehow trips up and loses to the last place team. I think if BC wins this game, they are in the NCAA Tournament.
Maryland at Virginia (Saturday, 3:30) - Ok so this Saturday game slate is not all that interesting. Virginia could play spoiler here: if they can win their home finale against the Terps, Maryland is out of the tournament. Maryland still has a chance if they can pick up a road win.
Virginia Tech at Florida State (Sunday, 2:00) - Now we're getting interesting. Virginia Tech must win this game if it wants a chance at the tournament. Florida State is playing very well and could sew up a first round bye in the ACC Tournament if it wins at home. Both teams have plenty to play for in this one.
Duke at North Carolina (Sunday, 4:00) - Two teams with very different styles that just happen to hate each other in College Basketball's best rivalry. Duke and UNC are both coming in playing very good basketball. UNC has a definite talent edge but the Devils have played very well in Chapel Hill of late. I expect this one to be a little lower scoring than the game in Cameron. But it should be another classic.
Clemson at Wake Forest (Sunday, 6:00) - Not to be outdone, this one should be a dandy too. Clemson and Wake Forest are fighting for a first round bye in the ACC Tournament and possible NCAA seeding. Wake is coming off a great road win at Maryland while Clemson took care of business against Virginia. Both teams should play well in this one, and I expect a close battle.
There are scores of other huge games over the weekend, too many to mention. I'll highlight a few (all on Saturday):
UConn at Pitt - A rematch of one of the best games of the year. Don't be surprised if UConn returns the favor from their home loss.
Louisville at WVU - West Virginia could solidify their case for a bid with a home win over the #6 ranked Cards.
Texas at Kansas - The Jayhawks could surprisingly win the Big 12 again.
Washington St. at Washington - The hot Cougars could spoil the Huskies' bid for a Pac-10 outright crown.
Michigan at Minnesota - Win and you're in the tournament. Lose (Michigan) and you're not.
Kentucky at Florida - Another win and you're in, lose and you're not.
Let the games begin!
Thursday, March 05, 2009
NCAA Tournament Watch:
What a crazy night in college basketball on Wednesday. A lot to talk about, but let's start with the ACC:
Virginia Tech played another good game against a Top 10 team, but once again it wasn't enough, as North Carolina pulled out an 8 point win. Unlike the Duke game, the Hokies were able to stay close to UNC the whole game, but the talent of the Heels was just too much. So now Virginia Tech is at 7-8 in the conference, with a very difficult road game against Florida State ahead. Like Maryland, I think Tech needs to win their last game and one game in the ACC Tournament to have a chance at the Tournament. It's really a shame what's happened to the Hokies this year, losing so many close games. There is no question they are a NCAA-caliber team, but you can't get into the tournament with 17 wins.
N.C. State pulled out a nice home win against Boston College by 5 at home. The Wolfpack have been showing signs of life in the second half of their season, and BC needs to be a little wary of a late season collapse. I think they are in the tournament, but they could still play their way out of a bid.
Miami is out of the NCAA Tournament after losing a road game to previously 1-13 Georgia Tech. This is a bad loss for the Hurricanes, who are another NCAA-caliber team that just hasn't performed in conference play. That's what playing in the ACC will do to you.
There were some other crazy results in basketball action Wednesday night:
-Kentucky loses at home to Georgia, 90-85. How does this happen? This is a really bad loss for a bubble team.
-Vanderbilt wins at LSU, 75-67. This was a huge win for a Vandy team trying to make the tournament. LSU has been practically unbeatable in SEC play.
-Mississippi State beats Florida at home, 80-71. Florida has a good overall record but is losing traction.
-Missouri beats Oklahoma, 73-64. The recent struggles for OU continue -- #1 seed now looking unlikely.
-Northwestern wins at Purdue, 64-61. Purdue should not be losing games like this. The Wildcats are trying to make a late push for a bid, although that's probably unlikely.
-Kansas is smoked at Texas Tech, 84-65. Kansas should not be losing to a bottom feeder by 20 points. And they had been one of the hottest teams in the country.
Thursday night the focus is on the Pac-10. Arizona hosts California in a game they really need to win. Cal is definitely in the tournament; Arizona is squarely on the bubble. Oregon State actually has a chance to pull off a big upset tonight at UCLA. The Beavers could still make the NIT.
In other bubble action, Providence heads to Villanova. If the Friars could get to 11 Big East wins, the committee can't keep them out.
Tennessee plays at South Carolina. Both teams need to win to secure their position in the field.
And Penn State has a good chance to make the tournament if they can complete a season sweep tonight at home against Illinois.
What a crazy night in college basketball on Wednesday. A lot to talk about, but let's start with the ACC:
Virginia Tech played another good game against a Top 10 team, but once again it wasn't enough, as North Carolina pulled out an 8 point win. Unlike the Duke game, the Hokies were able to stay close to UNC the whole game, but the talent of the Heels was just too much. So now Virginia Tech is at 7-8 in the conference, with a very difficult road game against Florida State ahead. Like Maryland, I think Tech needs to win their last game and one game in the ACC Tournament to have a chance at the Tournament. It's really a shame what's happened to the Hokies this year, losing so many close games. There is no question they are a NCAA-caliber team, but you can't get into the tournament with 17 wins.
N.C. State pulled out a nice home win against Boston College by 5 at home. The Wolfpack have been showing signs of life in the second half of their season, and BC needs to be a little wary of a late season collapse. I think they are in the tournament, but they could still play their way out of a bid.
Miami is out of the NCAA Tournament after losing a road game to previously 1-13 Georgia Tech. This is a bad loss for the Hurricanes, who are another NCAA-caliber team that just hasn't performed in conference play. That's what playing in the ACC will do to you.
There were some other crazy results in basketball action Wednesday night:
-Kentucky loses at home to Georgia, 90-85. How does this happen? This is a really bad loss for a bubble team.
-Vanderbilt wins at LSU, 75-67. This was a huge win for a Vandy team trying to make the tournament. LSU has been practically unbeatable in SEC play.
-Mississippi State beats Florida at home, 80-71. Florida has a good overall record but is losing traction.
-Missouri beats Oklahoma, 73-64. The recent struggles for OU continue -- #1 seed now looking unlikely.
-Northwestern wins at Purdue, 64-61. Purdue should not be losing games like this. The Wildcats are trying to make a late push for a bid, although that's probably unlikely.
-Kansas is smoked at Texas Tech, 84-65. Kansas should not be losing to a bottom feeder by 20 points. And they had been one of the hottest teams in the country.
Thursday night the focus is on the Pac-10. Arizona hosts California in a game they really need to win. Cal is definitely in the tournament; Arizona is squarely on the bubble. Oregon State actually has a chance to pull off a big upset tonight at UCLA. The Beavers could still make the NIT.
In other bubble action, Providence heads to Villanova. If the Friars could get to 11 Big East wins, the committee can't keep them out.
Tennessee plays at South Carolina. Both teams need to win to secure their position in the field.
And Penn State has a good chance to make the tournament if they can complete a season sweep tonight at home against Illinois.
Wednesday, March 04, 2009
NCAA Tournament Watch:
Yesterday was not a good day for at least one ACC team on the bubble. Maryland had a lead for a good part of their game against Wake Forest, but faded down the stretch. Wake had some big plays from Jeff Teague to pull out a big road win, arguably their biggest win in weeks. And with a home game with Clemson coming up this weekend, the Deacons have a chance to have a lot of momentum going into the postseason. So what does this mean for Maryland? The Terps must win their road date with Virginia and avoid a first round loss in the ACC Tournament. A win in their last game would put them at 8-8 in conference play. They certainly did not do themselves any favors last night.
Duke had a good win over Florida State, coming back in the second half to win by 3. Florida State looked pretty good in the first half, and my power went out during the second so I'm not sure how Duke was able to pull out the win.
Clemson pulled away from Virginia in the second half for an easy win. It was Raymond Sykes' Senior Day game and he performed well.
In other Tuesday night news, how about a hand for Tom Crean? His Hoosiers have been very short-handed all year but performed very admirably against Michigan State, almost pulling off the big upset.
Now let's look ahead to tonight:
UNC at Virginia Tech (7:00) - Virginia Tech has a huge challenge tonight as it tries to play its way into the Tournament. The Hokies face #2 North Carolina at home with a chance to get to 8 conference wins if they can somehow pull off the upset. It's going to be a very tough task, as Carolina is hitting their stride at the right time of year.
BC at N.C. State (7:00) - Boston College is probably in the tournament, but could use another conference win. N.C. State struggled in their last game against Maryland and I would expect them to come out with more fire against the Eagles. I have been impressed with BC this year but expect them to be a one-and-done in the Tournament.
Miami at Georgia Tech (7:30) - This game is a must for Miami if they want to make the tournament. Georgia Tech showed some fire in the first half against UNC but have been pretty disappointing this year. They can do their fans proud if they can play spoiler though against the Canes.
In other big bubble games, Florida takes a road trip to Mississippi State, coming off a disappointing home loss to Tennessee. The Gators have the kind of record that would make the tournament (21-8) but need to finish above .500 in a weak SEC.
Wisconsin travels to Minnesota. Both teams should be in the Tournament, but a win here would bolster either one's chances, while the loser sweats it out a bit more.
Yesterday was not a good day for at least one ACC team on the bubble. Maryland had a lead for a good part of their game against Wake Forest, but faded down the stretch. Wake had some big plays from Jeff Teague to pull out a big road win, arguably their biggest win in weeks. And with a home game with Clemson coming up this weekend, the Deacons have a chance to have a lot of momentum going into the postseason. So what does this mean for Maryland? The Terps must win their road date with Virginia and avoid a first round loss in the ACC Tournament. A win in their last game would put them at 8-8 in conference play. They certainly did not do themselves any favors last night.
Duke had a good win over Florida State, coming back in the second half to win by 3. Florida State looked pretty good in the first half, and my power went out during the second so I'm not sure how Duke was able to pull out the win.
Clemson pulled away from Virginia in the second half for an easy win. It was Raymond Sykes' Senior Day game and he performed well.
In other Tuesday night news, how about a hand for Tom Crean? His Hoosiers have been very short-handed all year but performed very admirably against Michigan State, almost pulling off the big upset.
Now let's look ahead to tonight:
UNC at Virginia Tech (7:00) - Virginia Tech has a huge challenge tonight as it tries to play its way into the Tournament. The Hokies face #2 North Carolina at home with a chance to get to 8 conference wins if they can somehow pull off the upset. It's going to be a very tough task, as Carolina is hitting their stride at the right time of year.
BC at N.C. State (7:00) - Boston College is probably in the tournament, but could use another conference win. N.C. State struggled in their last game against Maryland and I would expect them to come out with more fire against the Eagles. I have been impressed with BC this year but expect them to be a one-and-done in the Tournament.
Miami at Georgia Tech (7:30) - This game is a must for Miami if they want to make the tournament. Georgia Tech showed some fire in the first half against UNC but have been pretty disappointing this year. They can do their fans proud if they can play spoiler though against the Canes.
In other big bubble games, Florida takes a road trip to Mississippi State, coming off a disappointing home loss to Tennessee. The Gators have the kind of record that would make the tournament (21-8) but need to finish above .500 in a weak SEC.
Wisconsin travels to Minnesota. Both teams should be in the Tournament, but a win here would bolster either one's chances, while the loser sweats it out a bit more.
Tuesday, March 03, 2009
NCAA Tournament Watch
As we come to the last week of the regular season, every team that's above .500 is looking to the NCAA Tournament as their main goal. And there are certainly big games in the ACC this week. Here's a look at tonight's action:
Virginia at Clemson (7:00) - Virginia is one of two ACC teams with no postseason hopes (Georgia Tech being the other). Clemson has lost two in a row and is losing ground at both a Top 4 seed in the ACC Tournament and a high NCAA Tournament seeding. Right now I see the Tigers at about a 4 or 5 seed. They should win this game easily, avenging an earlier loss in Charlottesville.
Florida State at Duke (8:00) - This is a very intriguing game. Duke has been playing great as of late and should have loads of confidence heading to their Senior Day game. They also are looking to be a lock for at least a 3 seed in the tournament, possibly a 2. They also should finish at #2 in the ACC. Florida State meanwhile has had some good road wins and is definitely heading to the NCAA Tournament. They are looking at maybe a 6 or 7 seed right now and still have a great shot at nabbing a Top 4 seed in the ACC and a first round bye in the ACC Tournament. Expect Florida State to make a game of it.
Wake Forest at Maryland (9:00) - Maryland needs to win either this game at home or the road game at Virginia to make it to the NCAA Tournament. They are playing well right now and should come into this Senior Day game with a lot of confidence. Wake Forest is playing better recently too, coming off a road win at Virginia and is looking to bolster their tournament standing. Many are considering them a dark horse to make the Final Four but they have to prove that they can consistently win. A road win at Maryland would be a good place to start.
Other games to keep track of:
Cincinnati at South Florida, Georgetown at St. Johns -- two Big East teams needing road wins to stay in the NCAA hunt.
Ohio State at Iowa -- Buckeyes need to win a road game to improve their chances.
As we come to the last week of the regular season, every team that's above .500 is looking to the NCAA Tournament as their main goal. And there are certainly big games in the ACC this week. Here's a look at tonight's action:
Virginia at Clemson (7:00) - Virginia is one of two ACC teams with no postseason hopes (Georgia Tech being the other). Clemson has lost two in a row and is losing ground at both a Top 4 seed in the ACC Tournament and a high NCAA Tournament seeding. Right now I see the Tigers at about a 4 or 5 seed. They should win this game easily, avenging an earlier loss in Charlottesville.
Florida State at Duke (8:00) - This is a very intriguing game. Duke has been playing great as of late and should have loads of confidence heading to their Senior Day game. They also are looking to be a lock for at least a 3 seed in the tournament, possibly a 2. They also should finish at #2 in the ACC. Florida State meanwhile has had some good road wins and is definitely heading to the NCAA Tournament. They are looking at maybe a 6 or 7 seed right now and still have a great shot at nabbing a Top 4 seed in the ACC and a first round bye in the ACC Tournament. Expect Florida State to make a game of it.
Wake Forest at Maryland (9:00) - Maryland needs to win either this game at home or the road game at Virginia to make it to the NCAA Tournament. They are playing well right now and should come into this Senior Day game with a lot of confidence. Wake Forest is playing better recently too, coming off a road win at Virginia and is looking to bolster their tournament standing. Many are considering them a dark horse to make the Final Four but they have to prove that they can consistently win. A road win at Maryland would be a good place to start.
Other games to keep track of:
Cincinnati at South Florida, Georgetown at St. Johns -- two Big East teams needing road wins to stay in the NCAA hunt.
Ohio State at Iowa -- Buckeyes need to win a road game to improve their chances.
Sunday, March 01, 2009
Weekend Recap:
The Hokies gave it their all but got too far behind in the first half when the shots wouldn't drop and couldn't finish off the game against Duke. It was a highly entertaining game that was a lot of fun to be at -- the atmosphere was great. The first half was the Gerald Henderson show. Henderson scored 17 in the first, including some monster dunks and tough jumpers. Then Kyle Singler took over in the second. The Hokies had a real problem getting shots to drop in the first, then A.D. Vassallo started heating up. He brought the Hokies back almost single-handedly to tie the game. A big issue for Tech was the fact that Hank Thorns was out. Delaney had to play the point for 40 minutes and had his worst offensive game of the year, only 7 points. I was real impressed watching Duke up close with the talent and coaching they have. They are very hard to beat. The bad news is that may have been the most winnable game of the last 3 for the Hokies. I don't see them beating Carolina, and at Florida State is going to be very tough. So they are right back to being on the outside looking in.
In other Saturday action, Georgia Tech hung tough for a while before being smoked in the second half by Carolina. Wake Forest got an important road win at Virginia, and Florida State completed a sweep of Clemson.
Maryland got a must win on Sunday night, going into a lathargic RBC Center and beating the Wolfpack. The Terps were ahead pretty much the whole game and had a monster effort from Greivis Vasquez. Maryland is now in good shape to make the Tournament if they can win one of their last two.
The Hokies gave it their all but got too far behind in the first half when the shots wouldn't drop and couldn't finish off the game against Duke. It was a highly entertaining game that was a lot of fun to be at -- the atmosphere was great. The first half was the Gerald Henderson show. Henderson scored 17 in the first, including some monster dunks and tough jumpers. Then Kyle Singler took over in the second. The Hokies had a real problem getting shots to drop in the first, then A.D. Vassallo started heating up. He brought the Hokies back almost single-handedly to tie the game. A big issue for Tech was the fact that Hank Thorns was out. Delaney had to play the point for 40 minutes and had his worst offensive game of the year, only 7 points. I was real impressed watching Duke up close with the talent and coaching they have. They are very hard to beat. The bad news is that may have been the most winnable game of the last 3 for the Hokies. I don't see them beating Carolina, and at Florida State is going to be very tough. So they are right back to being on the outside looking in.
In other Saturday action, Georgia Tech hung tough for a while before being smoked in the second half by Carolina. Wake Forest got an important road win at Virginia, and Florida State completed a sweep of Clemson.
Maryland got a must win on Sunday night, going into a lathargic RBC Center and beating the Wolfpack. The Terps were ahead pretty much the whole game and had a monster effort from Greivis Vasquez. Maryland is now in good shape to make the Tournament if they can win one of their last two.
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