#3 UConn vs. #2 San Diego St 74-67
San Diego State had a very big advantage over UConn in this game. Not only were they a bigger team with a dominant front court under the basket, but they were playing in Anaheim, CA. A mere 100 miles from campus. Meanwhile the Huskies had to travel nearly 2,800 miles across the country from Storrs, CT. But that's how UConn likes it. The West region has been very good to UConn in the past, however in playing teams in their home state UConn was 0-7. Was it time to steer the boat in the other direction? Indeed it was. A close game through much of the first half kept everyone on their toes until Kemba Walker came a live and UConn closed on a 19-5 run. Coming back out in the 2nd half, San Diego State wasn't going to go down easily. That is until Jeremy Lamb decided it was time to break out. Combined Walker and Lamb scored 60 of the teams 74 points (Walker: 36 pts, Lamb: 24 pts). This UConn team is on a mission to get to Houston and bring the trophy back to Storrs. They're not going to let anything get in their way. When Walker is on fire, the rest of the team feeds off of him. Right now, there is no stopping this train. U! C! O! N! N! UCONN! UCONN! UCONN!
San Diego State had a very big advantage over UConn in this game. Not only were they a bigger team with a dominant front court under the basket, but they were playing in Anaheim, CA. A mere 100 miles from campus. Meanwhile the Huskies had to travel nearly 2,800 miles across the country from Storrs, CT. But that's how UConn likes it. The West region has been very good to UConn in the past, however in playing teams in their home state UConn was 0-7. Was it time to steer the boat in the other direction? Indeed it was. A close game through much of the first half kept everyone on their toes until Kemba Walker came a live and UConn closed on a 19-5 run. Coming back out in the 2nd half, San Diego State wasn't going to go down easily. That is until Jeremy Lamb decided it was time to break out. Combined Walker and Lamb scored 60 of the teams 74 points (Walker: 36 pts, Lamb: 24 pts). This UConn team is on a mission to get to Houston and bring the trophy back to Storrs. They're not going to let anything get in their way. When Walker is on fire, the rest of the team feeds off of him. Right now, there is no stopping this train. U! C! O! N! N! UCONN! UCONN! UCONN!#3 BYU vs. #2 Florida 83-74 (F/OT)
Florida/BYU First Round 2010... BYU sent the Gators home with a 99-92 2OT victory. Florida was back this year and out for blood. They weren't going down easily. The entire game was a battle. Jimmer Fredette didn't disappoint anyone with his 32 point showing, but it wasn't enough. Tied at 36 at the half it was anyone's game. Bucket after bucket dropped for each team. With less than a minute left BYU was sent to the line. Making the first of 2 free throws game was tied at 68. Regulation over. Into OT we go. Florida came out swinging and never let up. They weren't going to have a repeat of last year. There was nothing the Cougars could do. They were out played 15-6 in OT. Fredette's phenomenal season is now over. Florida advances to play Butler on Saturday.
Florida/BYU First Round 2010... BYU sent the Gators home with a 99-92 2OT victory. Florida was back this year and out for blood. They weren't going down easily. The entire game was a battle. Jimmer Fredette didn't disappoint anyone with his 32 point showing, but it wasn't enough. Tied at 36 at the half it was anyone's game. Bucket after bucket dropped for each team. With less than a minute left BYU was sent to the line. Making the first of 2 free throws game was tied at 68. Regulation over. Into OT we go. Florida came out swinging and never let up. They weren't going to have a repeat of last year. There was nothing the Cougars could do. They were out played 15-6 in OT. Fredette's phenomenal season is now over. Florida advances to play Butler on Saturday.
#5 Arizona vs. #1 Duke 93-77
Were we going to see another #1 seed go down Thursday? It was possible, especially after Duke's narrow escape from Michigan in the round of 32 but many believed Duke was better, more experienced, and would come out on top. If you picked Duke, you thought wrong. Arizona went into halftime 6 points down. 20 minutes is a lot of basketball to play but Duke is one of the best 2nd half teams in the country. Arizona had an uphill climb if they wanted to win. Not only did they climb, they destroyed the Blue Devil's mountain. The Wildcat's 55 point 2nd half might be one of the best 2nd half performances in college basketball history. They seemingly did nothing wrong behind the lead of Derrick Williams. Once they started climbing, Duke wasn't going to catch up. As the minutes ticked down, Duke found themselves in unfamiliar NCAA territory, on the losing side. Defending champions were gone and another #1 is sent home empty handed. Who's next? The Wildcats face the Huskies on Saturday.
#8 Butler vs. #4 Wisconsin 61-54
4 words can sum up this game for Wisconsin: Too little too late. Jordan Taylor dropped a few 3 pointers and got the Badger bench pumped up in the last minutes, but there wasn't enough time. Wisconsin was down by as much as 20 at one point, and Butler seemed as though they weren't letting up anytime soon. Nothing seemed to be going right for the Badgers last night, they weren't making shots, making stupid errors and all around just playing sloppy basketball. But that's what this tournament is about, it's not the regular season. If you don't show up for 40 minutes, or even just a few minutes, you might be gone. So with that, Butler continues their march to the Final Four, while Duke was stopped short. Could this be Butler's year to win it all?
#11 Marquette vs. #2 UNC 81-63
Well that was completely un-entertaining. Nothing about this game made me want to keep watching. UNC showed that they are clearly the superior team without question. They were exceptional. Despite Marquette's fighting in the 2nd half, there is only so far you can go after you've already dug yourself into that deep of a hole. With less than 2 minutes to play "Blue Steel" comes in. UNC rolls their way once again to the Elite 8. Hats off to Marquette though for not giving up, they still came out to play in the 2nd half. Mad props.
Well that was completely un-entertaining. Nothing about this game made me want to keep watching. UNC showed that they are clearly the superior team without question. They were exceptional. Despite Marquette's fighting in the 2nd half, there is only so far you can go after you've already dug yourself into that deep of a hole. With less than 2 minutes to play "Blue Steel" comes in. UNC rolls their way once again to the Elite 8. Hats off to Marquette though for not giving up, they still came out to play in the 2nd half. Mad props.
#12 Richmond vs. #1 Kansas 77-57
The Jayhawks and the Morris twins... did we expect anything less than a complete dominance over Richmond. While the Cinderella story for the Spiders was fun to watch leading up to this match-up, going into a game against this Kansas team, it's hard not to think it's an automatic loss. Kansas took control from tip-off and never slowed down. They're a very fast team and if they go on a run it's hard to stop them. Richmond never stood a chance.
#4 Kentucky vs #1 Ohio State 62-60
This match-up was about as close of a true "neutral" field. Both schools are similar in distance (Ohio State a little bit closer) so fans despite having to drive some ways are willing to make the trip. You could hear in the arena there seemed to me more Ohio State fans with the near constant "O-H! I-O!" chant through out the game. After a quick pull away by the Buckeyes in the opening minutes, Kentucky fought back bringing the 1st half to a close tied 30-30. Anyone's game. Starting off the 2nd half, same deal, back and forth, back and forth. D. Lighty from 3 is like a cobra striking a victim, you're doomed no matter what. Something mentally with Kentucky clicked in the 2nd half, they started making plays both offensively and defensively, making the Buckeyes really focus. Neither team let up. It was going to come down to the end. Big night from non-star players were going to be deciding factors as players like JD Sullinger seemed to start to crack. 2 minutes, Kentucky down by 1. This is why we love NCAA basketball. Under a minute, Kentucky up by 1. Up by 3. Diebler for 3. Tied. Up 2. And that's the game. Kentucky wins. Down goes another #1.
#11 VCU vs. #10 Florida State 72-71 (F/OT)
Now this was a match-up that few people could have predicted. #11 play in seeded team VCU against the #10 Florida St Seminoles in the Sweet 16? It wasn't surprising to see these teams go point for point in the first half. They were very evenly matched teams, it was going to come down to who could play the whole 40 minutes. Going into the half, VCU seemed to be in control. Despite going into the half down, FSU came out ready for another 20 minutes and quickly took control of the game and the lead. But VCU ain't going down w/o a fight. They're run in this tournament will be talked about for years. Just over 4:00 left FSU has pulled within 3. Is the Cinderella story over for VCU? Will the more experienced Seminoles come out on top? I said it would come down to who would play for 40 minutes. Well with :20 they're tied at 65. And we're going into OT. Unlike the Florida/BYU OT this one isn't over in the first 2 minutes. with 1:30 left VCU is only up by 1 70-69. Here come the Seminoles but VCU wasn't going to let it happen. Buzzer beater lifted the Rams over the Seminoles continuing them on their incredible run starting from the play in game. Can they beat Kansas? Anything is possible at this point in the tournament.
With the Elite 8 finally set to go tomorrow, it's going to be a battle for blood. Some teams with nothing to lose while others have everything to prove. This tournament has proved that seeds don't always matter, it's about what teams show up for the whole 40 minutes. Like VCU who had to play just to GET IN to the tournament and here they are on their way to the Elite 8. Who will be in Houston next weekend? It's up to each coach, each player, each team to decide their destiny. How will your team (if they're still standing) fare?
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