Who Was Best in 2008/2009?
As we get ready to start the college football season, I thought it would be a good time to look back and see how the ACC schools stacked up last year. What I did is take the final standings of the 12 teams in football and basketball, and ranked them 1 through 12. The first criteria was conference record, and if there was a tie I went by overall record. The lowest combined score wins. Here’s how things stacked up:
1. UNC (5.5 in football, 1 in basketball)
2. FSU (3.5 in football, 4 in basketball)
3. BC (2 in football, 6 in basketball)
4. Wake (5.5 in football, 3 in basketball)
5. VT (1 in football, 9 in basketball)
6. Maryland (5.5 in football, 7 in basketball)
7. Clemson (8.5 in football, 5 in basketball)
8. Duke (12 in football, 2 in basketball)
9. GT (3.5 in football, 12 in basketball)
10. Miami (8.5 in football, 8 in basketball)
11. NC State (10 in football, 10 in basketball)
12. Virginia (11 in football, 11 in basketball)
As you can see, UNC, with their first place finish in the ACC basketball standings (and National Championship) had the best year. It pays to not be great in one sport and terrible in the other, as Duke came in 8th, and Georgia Tech came in 9th. NC State and Virginia have a lot of work to do.
Thursday, August 20, 2009
Monday, August 10, 2009
The Last of the Calm Months
We’re getting now closer to the middle of August and that means the last of the calm months. What I mean is, from September through April there is a lot of high anxiety. Every week is spent watching my teams (the Hokies and Redskins) play, or looking ahead to the next game, or looking back at the last game. There is a lot of stress involved. From mid-April through August though, there’s a cooling off period. The sports that I watch during this time are baseball and golf, which are a lot less stressful.
Which isn’t to say that there’s nothing good on. Just yesterday, you could have seen Tiger Woods win another tournament in epic fashion, capitalizing on one bad hole from Padraig Harrington. It was quite a duel, and I can only think what would have happened if Harrington hadn’t had that horrible 16th. Then at night, you saw the Yankees come back with a barrage in the 8th inning to pull off a 4 game sweep of the rival Red Sox. This must be so demoralizing for Boston. Hey, even the Nationals have won 8 games in a row!
Late August used to be a time for anxiety, with the end of summer and start of the next school year fast approaching. It’s not that anymore, but there is certainly a lot to be excited (or nervous) about. The Hokies come into the season with as high expectations as there has ever been for the program. The Redskins have some great new players and some stability in coaching for the first time in a while and should be in for another dogfight in the NFC East. And before we know it, college basketball season will be approaching.
As we get into the fall season, there will be a fair amount going on with this blog. I will have an extensive look at each ACC team going into the college basketball season as it gets closer. And there might be a little football news sprinkled in.
We’re getting now closer to the middle of August and that means the last of the calm months. What I mean is, from September through April there is a lot of high anxiety. Every week is spent watching my teams (the Hokies and Redskins) play, or looking ahead to the next game, or looking back at the last game. There is a lot of stress involved. From mid-April through August though, there’s a cooling off period. The sports that I watch during this time are baseball and golf, which are a lot less stressful.
Which isn’t to say that there’s nothing good on. Just yesterday, you could have seen Tiger Woods win another tournament in epic fashion, capitalizing on one bad hole from Padraig Harrington. It was quite a duel, and I can only think what would have happened if Harrington hadn’t had that horrible 16th. Then at night, you saw the Yankees come back with a barrage in the 8th inning to pull off a 4 game sweep of the rival Red Sox. This must be so demoralizing for Boston. Hey, even the Nationals have won 8 games in a row!
Late August used to be a time for anxiety, with the end of summer and start of the next school year fast approaching. It’s not that anymore, but there is certainly a lot to be excited (or nervous) about. The Hokies come into the season with as high expectations as there has ever been for the program. The Redskins have some great new players and some stability in coaching for the first time in a while and should be in for another dogfight in the NFC East. And before we know it, college basketball season will be approaching.
As we get into the fall season, there will be a fair amount going on with this blog. I will have an extensive look at each ACC team going into the college basketball season as it gets closer. And there might be a little football news sprinkled in.
Monday, July 20, 2009
Some Thoughts on Tom Watson
Boy what a week it was on the Scottish coast at Turnberry. I’ve seen plenty of majors in my life but this one has to rank as one of the most memorable. It’s almost hard to digest what was going on while it was happening, and probably will take some time before we can really look back on it with some perspective.
Tom Watson is one of those guys that has been a sympathetic figure. What happened with his caddy Bruce Edwards was heartbreaking. And to see him play that well at age 59 is…well…unprecedented. The greatest tournament of all time (the ‘86 Masters) was Jack Nicklaus in his 40s making a run. Watson is more than a decade older!
The thing that made him so successful this past week is how he is able to manage a round. He knows exactly what club to hit and where to hit it. You could often see Watson walking up 50 yards in front of his ball to look at what lied ahead on the next shot. How many other players do you think did this?
He also had the right mindset. When he hit a wayward shot or missed a putt, he just shook it off. He said, well that’s over with, and went right on to the next hole. That’s how he was able to stabilize and finish off his rounds well.
So what happened on Sunday? A bunch of players went to the top of the leaderboard only to fall off. And when Tom Watson stood on the 18th tee, he was ahead by 1. He hit a good second shot, only to have it bounce a little too hard. And while it really was heartbreaking to see him miss that putt, it’s hard to fault him for it. Putting was never his strength.
So that left Stewart Cink. It’s a shame Cink was put in the role of villain, because I’ve always liked him. He is a great player who was due for a major win. And Watson just didn’t have enough to sustain him through the playoff.
What makes it such a difficult pill to swallow is you know this was Tom Watson’s last chance: one big chance at a glorious swan song that no one has had before. But I do think years from now we will look at this week and marvel at what the so-called “old geyser” accomplished. Well done Tom.
Boy what a week it was on the Scottish coast at Turnberry. I’ve seen plenty of majors in my life but this one has to rank as one of the most memorable. It’s almost hard to digest what was going on while it was happening, and probably will take some time before we can really look back on it with some perspective.
Tom Watson is one of those guys that has been a sympathetic figure. What happened with his caddy Bruce Edwards was heartbreaking. And to see him play that well at age 59 is…well…unprecedented. The greatest tournament of all time (the ‘86 Masters) was Jack Nicklaus in his 40s making a run. Watson is more than a decade older!
The thing that made him so successful this past week is how he is able to manage a round. He knows exactly what club to hit and where to hit it. You could often see Watson walking up 50 yards in front of his ball to look at what lied ahead on the next shot. How many other players do you think did this?
He also had the right mindset. When he hit a wayward shot or missed a putt, he just shook it off. He said, well that’s over with, and went right on to the next hole. That’s how he was able to stabilize and finish off his rounds well.
So what happened on Sunday? A bunch of players went to the top of the leaderboard only to fall off. And when Tom Watson stood on the 18th tee, he was ahead by 1. He hit a good second shot, only to have it bounce a little too hard. And while it really was heartbreaking to see him miss that putt, it’s hard to fault him for it. Putting was never his strength.
So that left Stewart Cink. It’s a shame Cink was put in the role of villain, because I’ve always liked him. He is a great player who was due for a major win. And Watson just didn’t have enough to sustain him through the playoff.
What makes it such a difficult pill to swallow is you know this was Tom Watson’s last chance: one big chance at a glorious swan song that no one has had before. But I do think years from now we will look at this week and marvel at what the so-called “old geyser” accomplished. Well done Tom.
Saturday, July 11, 2009
"It could be worse."
"Yeah, they could be the Nationals."
A conversation between Dick Stockton and Eric Karros during Saturday's Yankees-Angels game. As we get to the dog days of summer, there isn't a whole lot on TV to watch for me except baseball and golf. And unfortunately that means watching the Washington Nationals. Boy is it hard to be a Nats fan.
I watched their game Friday against the Astros, which just seemed to be a microcosm of the year. The starting pitcher, Scott Olsen, got shelled for hit after hit. He was lucky to only give up four runs. The third base coach made a horrible decision to send Nick Johnson home on a single (he was out by a long ways at the plate). And yet somehow down 4-1, the Nats got to the Houston bullpen, scoring 4 runs in the 7th to go up 5 to 4. Now as a Nat fan I knew that lead would not be safe. Sure enough, the Nats give up a run in the eighth and a run in the ninth to lose 6 to 5.
The main problems all year have been the defense and the bullpen. There was one key play in the later innings when Johnson should have caught a foul ball, which would have been the second out. Instead, for some reason he quit on the ball and it fell in. The batter later got a hit, leading to the tying run. New Nat Nyger Morgan even ran all the way from center field to left on one ball to catch a fly ball right in front of the left fielder.
And the bullpen wasn't any better. Joe Beimel and Mike MacDougal could not find the strike zone or get critical outs in the ninth inning.
I don't really know what to do to help this team. There have been bad decisions made all over the place, from management to the coaching staff. And there are probably Triple A teams that have better talent in the bullpen than the Nats. At least the football season starts before too long...
"Yeah, they could be the Nationals."
A conversation between Dick Stockton and Eric Karros during Saturday's Yankees-Angels game. As we get to the dog days of summer, there isn't a whole lot on TV to watch for me except baseball and golf. And unfortunately that means watching the Washington Nationals. Boy is it hard to be a Nats fan.
I watched their game Friday against the Astros, which just seemed to be a microcosm of the year. The starting pitcher, Scott Olsen, got shelled for hit after hit. He was lucky to only give up four runs. The third base coach made a horrible decision to send Nick Johnson home on a single (he was out by a long ways at the plate). And yet somehow down 4-1, the Nats got to the Houston bullpen, scoring 4 runs in the 7th to go up 5 to 4. Now as a Nat fan I knew that lead would not be safe. Sure enough, the Nats give up a run in the eighth and a run in the ninth to lose 6 to 5.
The main problems all year have been the defense and the bullpen. There was one key play in the later innings when Johnson should have caught a foul ball, which would have been the second out. Instead, for some reason he quit on the ball and it fell in. The batter later got a hit, leading to the tying run. New Nat Nyger Morgan even ran all the way from center field to left on one ball to catch a fly ball right in front of the left fielder.
And the bullpen wasn't any better. Joe Beimel and Mike MacDougal could not find the strike zone or get critical outs in the ninth inning.
I don't really know what to do to help this team. There have been bad decisions made all over the place, from management to the coaching staff. And there are probably Triple A teams that have better talent in the bullpen than the Nats. At least the football season starts before too long...
Saturday, June 27, 2009
NBA Draft Recap:
With the NBA draft now over, let's take a look at the ACC players selected and where they are going:
12. Gerald Henderson (Duke) - Bobcats
It's probably not much of a surprise that Henderson was the first ACC player picked. And also not a surprise that the Bobcats took him. They seem to love keeping players from the state of North Carolina and I see Henderson being a good NBA player.
13. Tyler Hansbrough (UNC) - Pacers
It probably makes UNC fans mad to see their beloved Hansbrough taken one spot below a Dukie. There has been a lot of talk about the impact Psycho T will have in the NBA. I don't see this pick helping the Pacers all that much but they know they will get a guy who will work harder than anyone else.
16. James Johnson (Wake) - Bulls
James Johnson is a great athlete and probably was just reaching his potential with Wake. He's a solid pick and should help an improving Bulls team.
18. Ty Lawson (UNC) - Timberwolves
This was the third point guard Minnesota took in the first round, leaving me a bit puzzled. They have since traded Lawson to the Nuggets, where he should be just fine backing up Chauncey Billups. His speed is his biggest asset.
19. Jeff Teague (Wake) - Hawks
I thought Teague came out a year too early, and he is one of the bigger question marks in terms of how he will perform in the NBA. I don't see him playing much for Atlanta in his first year.
28. Wayne Ellington (UNC) - Timberwolves
Another Tar Heel picked by the T'Wolves. You can see a trend here: of the first 6 ACC members picked in the draft, they are all from Tobacco Road. Ellington is a terrific shooter, but so was JJ Redick and he's done little in the NBA.
29. Toney Douglas (FSU) - Lakers
This first ACC player outside Tobacco Road taken was traded to the Knicks. I really liked Douglas in college and think there's a place for his toughness and will to win in the NBA. It's too bad he's stuck on the Knicks.
46. Danny Green (UNC) - Cavaliers
Danny Green was a great player in college but I don't see a whole lot coming from him at the next level. He's playing on a good team and will likely get buried on the bench, if he even makes the squad.
51. Jack McClinton (Miami) - Spurs
Like Ellington, McClinton is just a great pure shooter. I think McClinton might have a future in the NBA, though, because he can play the point. He might make a good backup for Tony Parker.
With the NBA draft now over, let's take a look at the ACC players selected and where they are going:
12. Gerald Henderson (Duke) - Bobcats
It's probably not much of a surprise that Henderson was the first ACC player picked. And also not a surprise that the Bobcats took him. They seem to love keeping players from the state of North Carolina and I see Henderson being a good NBA player.
13. Tyler Hansbrough (UNC) - Pacers
It probably makes UNC fans mad to see their beloved Hansbrough taken one spot below a Dukie. There has been a lot of talk about the impact Psycho T will have in the NBA. I don't see this pick helping the Pacers all that much but they know they will get a guy who will work harder than anyone else.
16. James Johnson (Wake) - Bulls
James Johnson is a great athlete and probably was just reaching his potential with Wake. He's a solid pick and should help an improving Bulls team.
18. Ty Lawson (UNC) - Timberwolves
This was the third point guard Minnesota took in the first round, leaving me a bit puzzled. They have since traded Lawson to the Nuggets, where he should be just fine backing up Chauncey Billups. His speed is his biggest asset.
19. Jeff Teague (Wake) - Hawks
I thought Teague came out a year too early, and he is one of the bigger question marks in terms of how he will perform in the NBA. I don't see him playing much for Atlanta in his first year.
28. Wayne Ellington (UNC) - Timberwolves
Another Tar Heel picked by the T'Wolves. You can see a trend here: of the first 6 ACC members picked in the draft, they are all from Tobacco Road. Ellington is a terrific shooter, but so was JJ Redick and he's done little in the NBA.
29. Toney Douglas (FSU) - Lakers
This first ACC player outside Tobacco Road taken was traded to the Knicks. I really liked Douglas in college and think there's a place for his toughness and will to win in the NBA. It's too bad he's stuck on the Knicks.
46. Danny Green (UNC) - Cavaliers
Danny Green was a great player in college but I don't see a whole lot coming from him at the next level. He's playing on a good team and will likely get buried on the bench, if he even makes the squad.
51. Jack McClinton (Miami) - Spurs
Like Ellington, McClinton is just a great pure shooter. I think McClinton might have a future in the NBA, though, because he can play the point. He might make a good backup for Tony Parker.
Saturday, June 06, 2009
Decision Time
It's decision time for dozens of NCAA players who are on the fence about going pro. It always disappoints me to see the number of people willing to forego years of college to rush onto the big stage. With about a week until players have to make up their minds, here's where the ACC teams stand:
Boston College:
No one leaving early
Clemson:
Trevor Booker declared he is coming back for his senior year. Clemson will be hurt next year though because Terence Oglesby is leaving the team to play in Europe.
Duke:
Gerald Henderson is leaving. His loss will definitely hurt Duke; he was their best player. On the flip side, Kyle Singler is returning, helping to boost a team that should be the favorite for the ACC title.
Florida State:
Soloman Alabi will be returning. He was on some draft boards but after only one year at FSU is not seasoned enough.
Georgia Tech:
Gani Lawal is leaving early, after just two years with the Yellow Jackets. Paul Hewitt has had a tough time keeping his talented players there for more than a year or two and Lawal will be a big loss.
Maryland:
Greivis Vasquez is the first person on this list who has not made his decision yet. His name is in the draft, but he has not hired an agent. I don't see him making much of an impact in the NBA, and he would be a big loss for the Terps.
Miami:
Dwayne Collins was in the same position as Vasquez, but just decided he is coming back to Miami. He was a good albeit inconsistent player down low for the Hurricanes. And with them losing Jack McClinton, Collins' staying is big.
North Carolina:
The biggest loss of probably any team in college basketball. Wayne Ellington will forego his senior season to enter the NBA draft. So will Ty Lawson. On the plus side, freshman Ed Davis will return to school for his second and probably final year for the Heels.
NC State:
Brandon Costner is in the draft but hasn't hired an agent. He has displayed flashes but has been way too inconsisten to be considered seriously for a first round selection. He definitely should come back to State.
Virginia:
Sylven Landesberg was generally thought to be a one and done player most of last year, but he is returning to the Cavaliers. He is the type of talent that I can see doing well in the NBA, but another year of college can't hurt.
Virginia Tech:
No one leaving early
Wake Forest:
Was Wake a one-year wonder? They are losing a fair amount. James Johnson has decided to go pro after his sophomore season. He was one of Wake's best players. Jeff Teague really burst onto the scene in his sophomore year. He is currently on the fence, having declared for the draft but not hired an agent. Good news though: Al-Farouq Aminu will be coming back for his sophomore season. He has the type of body NBA scouts love, but has decided to come back for another year.
It's been a while since I've posted on this blog but I'll try to keep it fairly up to date with the latest offseason news.
It's decision time for dozens of NCAA players who are on the fence about going pro. It always disappoints me to see the number of people willing to forego years of college to rush onto the big stage. With about a week until players have to make up their minds, here's where the ACC teams stand:
Boston College:
No one leaving early
Clemson:
Trevor Booker declared he is coming back for his senior year. Clemson will be hurt next year though because Terence Oglesby is leaving the team to play in Europe.
Duke:
Gerald Henderson is leaving. His loss will definitely hurt Duke; he was their best player. On the flip side, Kyle Singler is returning, helping to boost a team that should be the favorite for the ACC title.
Florida State:
Soloman Alabi will be returning. He was on some draft boards but after only one year at FSU is not seasoned enough.
Georgia Tech:
Gani Lawal is leaving early, after just two years with the Yellow Jackets. Paul Hewitt has had a tough time keeping his talented players there for more than a year or two and Lawal will be a big loss.
Maryland:
Greivis Vasquez is the first person on this list who has not made his decision yet. His name is in the draft, but he has not hired an agent. I don't see him making much of an impact in the NBA, and he would be a big loss for the Terps.
Miami:
Dwayne Collins was in the same position as Vasquez, but just decided he is coming back to Miami. He was a good albeit inconsistent player down low for the Hurricanes. And with them losing Jack McClinton, Collins' staying is big.
North Carolina:
The biggest loss of probably any team in college basketball. Wayne Ellington will forego his senior season to enter the NBA draft. So will Ty Lawson. On the plus side, freshman Ed Davis will return to school for his second and probably final year for the Heels.
NC State:
Brandon Costner is in the draft but hasn't hired an agent. He has displayed flashes but has been way too inconsisten to be considered seriously for a first round selection. He definitely should come back to State.
Virginia:
Sylven Landesberg was generally thought to be a one and done player most of last year, but he is returning to the Cavaliers. He is the type of talent that I can see doing well in the NBA, but another year of college can't hurt.
Virginia Tech:
No one leaving early
Wake Forest:
Was Wake a one-year wonder? They are losing a fair amount. James Johnson has decided to go pro after his sophomore season. He was one of Wake's best players. Jeff Teague really burst onto the scene in his sophomore year. He is currently on the fence, having declared for the draft but not hired an agent. Good news though: Al-Farouq Aminu will be coming back for his sophomore season. He has the type of body NBA scouts love, but has decided to come back for another year.
It's been a while since I've posted on this blog but I'll try to keep it fairly up to date with the latest offseason news.
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Most Dominant Tournament Team?
North Carolina had a great run through this year's NCAA Tournament, winning every game by double digits. So how does this rank in terms of the champions' runs in recent history? I did a little number crunching to find out.
UNC beat Radford by 43, LSU by 14, Gonzaga by 21, Oklahoma by 12, Villanova by 14 and Michigan State by 17. That's an average margin of victory of 20.1 points per game.
Here's how past champions did:
2008, Kansas - 13.8
2007, Florida - 14.1
2006, Florida - 14.3
2005, UNC - 13.8
2004, UConn - 13.3
2003, Syracuse - 9.0
2002, Maryland - 14.0
2001, Duke - 16.6
2000, Michigan St. - 15.3
1999, UConn - 11.8
As you can see, in the last 10 years, no one has even come close to the dominance that UNC had in this year's Tournament. Carolina won each game by an average of about 6 points more than most National Champions from the past decade. In fact, the only team with a bigger overall margin of victory in the Tournament was Kentucky in 1996, at 129 points.
Let the debate begin!
North Carolina had a great run through this year's NCAA Tournament, winning every game by double digits. So how does this rank in terms of the champions' runs in recent history? I did a little number crunching to find out.
UNC beat Radford by 43, LSU by 14, Gonzaga by 21, Oklahoma by 12, Villanova by 14 and Michigan State by 17. That's an average margin of victory of 20.1 points per game.
Here's how past champions did:
2008, Kansas - 13.8
2007, Florida - 14.1
2006, Florida - 14.3
2005, UNC - 13.8
2004, UConn - 13.3
2003, Syracuse - 9.0
2002, Maryland - 14.0
2001, Duke - 16.6
2000, Michigan St. - 15.3
1999, UConn - 11.8
As you can see, in the last 10 years, no one has even come close to the dominance that UNC had in this year's Tournament. Carolina won each game by an average of about 6 points more than most National Champions from the past decade. In fact, the only team with a bigger overall margin of victory in the Tournament was Kentucky in 1996, at 129 points.
Let the debate begin!
Sunday, April 05, 2009
Saturday Semis Recap:
If you take a look at the film of Michigan State's game against Louisville and their game against Connecticut you will see two different teams. Tom Izzo did it again, devising a brilliant strategy to beat UConn and advance to the National Championship game. Off every made or missed basket, the Spartans pushed the ball up the court as fast as possible. This allowed them to do two things: score easy baskets in transition and limit the effectiveness of Hasheem Thabeet. While Thabeet was able to score on the offensive end, he had very little impact defensively. And with UConn's best defensive weapon neutralized life was much easier for Michigan State.
This game was back and forth in the first half and for much of the second until the Spartans started to pull away a bit (just like the Louisville game). Connecticut just couldn't hit outside shots, while Michigan State got some great contributions from role players plus an instant YouTube dunk to spark the "home" crowd. What the Spartans have done in this Tournament has been very impressive.
Just like pretty much every other game in the Tournament, North Carolina had little trouble with Villanova, jumping out in front early and not looking back. There was no point in this game after the first minute where I thought Villanova could actually win. They continually threw up 3-pointer after 3-pointer that clanged off the rim and went right to UNC. Dante Cunningham was the only thing that kept Villanova in it in the first half, and he didn't score in the second. UNC did anything they wanted with just about any player they put on the floor.
I know UNC is immensely talented, but as someone who is not a fan of the Tar Heels I have been very frustrated by the lack of competitiveness in their opponents. LSU is the only team that has showed up to play against the Tar Heels. And the ineptitude of the last two opponents (Oklahoma and Villanova) has been embarrassing. If you look at the 3 point percentage of these two teams, it is incredibly low. And it's not because of good defense, it's because of hurried offense and bad execution.
I am fairly confident that Michigan State will show up against North Carolina. They will have a great homecourt advantage plus the fresh memory of a 35 point loss to the Tar Heels. Clearly Michigan State is a better team than they were during the ACC/Big Ten Challenge. But the question is: can anyone slow down the Tar Heels? When Green, Ellington and Lawson are all hitting shots UNC is impossible to beat. They just have too much talent. What will be interesting to see is what approach Tom Izzo takes. I think he will go back to the type of game plan he had against Louisville to slow the tempo and force the other team to make mistakes. Whatever he chooses, Michigan State better hope it works or it will be a long night.
If you take a look at the film of Michigan State's game against Louisville and their game against Connecticut you will see two different teams. Tom Izzo did it again, devising a brilliant strategy to beat UConn and advance to the National Championship game. Off every made or missed basket, the Spartans pushed the ball up the court as fast as possible. This allowed them to do two things: score easy baskets in transition and limit the effectiveness of Hasheem Thabeet. While Thabeet was able to score on the offensive end, he had very little impact defensively. And with UConn's best defensive weapon neutralized life was much easier for Michigan State.
This game was back and forth in the first half and for much of the second until the Spartans started to pull away a bit (just like the Louisville game). Connecticut just couldn't hit outside shots, while Michigan State got some great contributions from role players plus an instant YouTube dunk to spark the "home" crowd. What the Spartans have done in this Tournament has been very impressive.
Just like pretty much every other game in the Tournament, North Carolina had little trouble with Villanova, jumping out in front early and not looking back. There was no point in this game after the first minute where I thought Villanova could actually win. They continually threw up 3-pointer after 3-pointer that clanged off the rim and went right to UNC. Dante Cunningham was the only thing that kept Villanova in it in the first half, and he didn't score in the second. UNC did anything they wanted with just about any player they put on the floor.
I know UNC is immensely talented, but as someone who is not a fan of the Tar Heels I have been very frustrated by the lack of competitiveness in their opponents. LSU is the only team that has showed up to play against the Tar Heels. And the ineptitude of the last two opponents (Oklahoma and Villanova) has been embarrassing. If you look at the 3 point percentage of these two teams, it is incredibly low. And it's not because of good defense, it's because of hurried offense and bad execution.
I am fairly confident that Michigan State will show up against North Carolina. They will have a great homecourt advantage plus the fresh memory of a 35 point loss to the Tar Heels. Clearly Michigan State is a better team than they were during the ACC/Big Ten Challenge. But the question is: can anyone slow down the Tar Heels? When Green, Ellington and Lawson are all hitting shots UNC is impossible to beat. They just have too much talent. What will be interesting to see is what approach Tom Izzo takes. I think he will go back to the type of game plan he had against Louisville to slow the tempo and force the other team to make mistakes. Whatever he chooses, Michigan State better hope it works or it will be a long night.
Saturday, April 04, 2009
Final Four Preview:
There's no question we have four teams in the Final Four that have very rich Tournament history. In fact, these teams have won four of the past 10 National Championships. Take a look at their records in the Tournament:
UNC: 100-39 (National titles in 1957, 1982, 1993, 2005)
UConn: 46-27 (National titles in 1999, 2004)
Michigan St.: 47-21 (National titles in 1979, 2000)
Villanova: 48-29 (National title in 1985)
With such sterling resumes we can only hope the games can live up to the billing.
#1 Connecticut vs. #2 Michigan State (6:07) - If you look up and down the UConn roster, you can't help but see a ton of talent. The starting lineup of Price, Austrie, Robinson, Adrien and Thabeet could all end up in the NBA. Obviously the main focus on offense and defense is Thabeet. He is such a force inside that you have to completely change your game plan to account for him. But if you focus too much on Thabeet, someone like A.J. Price or Stanley Robinson can kill you. UConn looked like the best team in the country in January and is rounding back into form after a bit of a late-season slide. They will be very tough to beat.
Much has been made of Michigan State playing basically at home. This will be a factor, but in the Final Four with so many tickets being used by corporations it's not going to be like playing in the Breslin Center. They have one big advantage though: Tom Izzo. His game plan against Louisville was tremendous. And coaching can beat talent, which is the Spartans' main shot. That isn't to say Michigan State doesn't have talent. Kalin Lucas and Travis Walton are great guards and Goran Suton can beat you inside or outside. Michigan State's not going to let UConn dictate the tempo of this game.
#1 North Carolina vs. #3 Villanova (8:47) - Before the season started, pundits handed this year's trophy over to the Tar Heels. There was talk of an undefeated season, one of the best teams ever. People seemed to get that these are 20 year old kids (aka they're human). But Carolina overcame a mid-season 2 game slide and has played brilliantly in the Tournament. When you look at their starting lineup, you don't see a weak link. Like Connecticut, UNC has a starting five that will be playing in the NBA (Lawson, Green, Ellington, Thompson, Hansbrough). In fact the former player of the year is probably the least likely to succeed at the next level. And look at the talent on the bench: Ed Davis is certainly a future lottery pick. The only way Carolina will lose is if they beat themselves or get outcoached.
Much like 24 years ago, Villanova has been the story of the Tournament. They have played as well as any team, in dispatching of Duke and outlasting Pitt. The Wildcats can beat you outside with Scottie Reynolds and a barrage of 3 point shooting. Or they can punish you inside with Dante Cunningham. And they play terrific defense: just watch the film of the Duke game to find that out. If they can frustrate North Carolina's shooters and defend effectively 1-on-1 on Hansbrough, they have a shot. I'm sure UNC did not want to see this Villanova team in the Final Four.
There's no question we have four teams in the Final Four that have very rich Tournament history. In fact, these teams have won four of the past 10 National Championships. Take a look at their records in the Tournament:
UNC: 100-39 (National titles in 1957, 1982, 1993, 2005)
UConn: 46-27 (National titles in 1999, 2004)
Michigan St.: 47-21 (National titles in 1979, 2000)
Villanova: 48-29 (National title in 1985)
With such sterling resumes we can only hope the games can live up to the billing.
#1 Connecticut vs. #2 Michigan State (6:07) - If you look up and down the UConn roster, you can't help but see a ton of talent. The starting lineup of Price, Austrie, Robinson, Adrien and Thabeet could all end up in the NBA. Obviously the main focus on offense and defense is Thabeet. He is such a force inside that you have to completely change your game plan to account for him. But if you focus too much on Thabeet, someone like A.J. Price or Stanley Robinson can kill you. UConn looked like the best team in the country in January and is rounding back into form after a bit of a late-season slide. They will be very tough to beat.
Much has been made of Michigan State playing basically at home. This will be a factor, but in the Final Four with so many tickets being used by corporations it's not going to be like playing in the Breslin Center. They have one big advantage though: Tom Izzo. His game plan against Louisville was tremendous. And coaching can beat talent, which is the Spartans' main shot. That isn't to say Michigan State doesn't have talent. Kalin Lucas and Travis Walton are great guards and Goran Suton can beat you inside or outside. Michigan State's not going to let UConn dictate the tempo of this game.
#1 North Carolina vs. #3 Villanova (8:47) - Before the season started, pundits handed this year's trophy over to the Tar Heels. There was talk of an undefeated season, one of the best teams ever. People seemed to get that these are 20 year old kids (aka they're human). But Carolina overcame a mid-season 2 game slide and has played brilliantly in the Tournament. When you look at their starting lineup, you don't see a weak link. Like Connecticut, UNC has a starting five that will be playing in the NBA (Lawson, Green, Ellington, Thompson, Hansbrough). In fact the former player of the year is probably the least likely to succeed at the next level. And look at the talent on the bench: Ed Davis is certainly a future lottery pick. The only way Carolina will lose is if they beat themselves or get outcoached.
Much like 24 years ago, Villanova has been the story of the Tournament. They have played as well as any team, in dispatching of Duke and outlasting Pitt. The Wildcats can beat you outside with Scottie Reynolds and a barrage of 3 point shooting. Or they can punish you inside with Dante Cunningham. And they play terrific defense: just watch the film of the Duke game to find that out. If they can frustrate North Carolina's shooters and defend effectively 1-on-1 on Hansbrough, they have a shot. I'm sure UNC did not want to see this Villanova team in the Final Four.
Monday, March 30, 2009
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.
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.
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.
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