I've spent 30 minutes trying to think of a clever into to this post and, well, I got nothing. Call it the "I've spent 65 hours the past five days at MSG and its 5am and I'm struggling" effect.
Whatever's clever, anyway. Isn't that how the saying goes?
Anyway, the bubble got significantly smaller today thanks to a couple of bid-stealers.
Houston, the seven seed, beat UTEP in the C-USA title game. New Mexico State, the three seed, knocked off Utah State in the WAC finals. Mississippi State beat Vandy to advance to the finals of the SEC tournament a day after they knocked off fellow bubbler Florida. Minnesota embarrassed Purdue a day after beating Michigan State in overtime to make the Big Ten title game. Washington knocked off Cal in the finals of the Pac-10.
In other words, things couldn't have gone worse Saturday for those teams still on the bubble.
Here's how the bubble is currently shaking out (keep in mind, Minnesota, Mississippi State, and Georgia Tech all have a chance to lock up a bid tomorrow):
Locks
Worst case scenario, there are just three at-large bids available. A win by Kentucky, Duke, and Ohio State would open up three more (either Richmond or Temple is going to earn an auto-bid tomorrow).
So who is competing for those last few spots? (listed is records, RPI, SOS, vs. RPI top 25/50/100)
So there you have it. Twelve teams for, at most, six spots.
Who ya got?
Continue reading...
Saturday, March 13, 2010
Pre-Selection Sunday bubble banter
Did Houston steal a bid?
Congratulations must be given to Houston, who won the Conference USA Tournament with an 81-73 win over UTEP this afternoon.
Impressive victory, especially considering that Houston got a 4-20 performance out of a clearly drained Aubrey Coleman. Props have to be given to Kelvin Lewis, who scored 28 points and hit big shot after big shot.
It should also be noted that Turnaround Tom Penders is leading his fourth school to the NCAA Tournament, just the fourth coach in history to do so. Penders pulled a Dennis Felton, as many were speculating that he would be fired before he led the seventh seeded Cougars to the title.
But if my twitter feed is any indication of the national consciousness, that's not what people are talking about.
Does UTEP have a strong enough resume to garner an at-large bid to the tournament?
Well, they rolled through a competitive, but weak, C-USA with a 15-1 mark. They have an RPI of 33, but outside of the C-USA schedule, they haven't really beaten anyone.
How big are those losses to Ole Miss and Texas Tech looming now?
Before this loss, most people had UTEP in comfortably. Losing in the finals of their conference tournament shouldn't change that. The bigger question is who gets in over the Miners? Florida? Mississippi State? Minnesota? UAB? Memphis?
UTEP has the look of a tournament team and plays like a tournament team. That much can't be said for the majority of the teams of the bubble.
Continue reading...
Maybe, just maybe, the Big East tournament worked. Is it possible the two best teams made the final?
West Virginia head coach Bobby Huggins isn't one to take the time to reflect on his life.
He hails from Midvale, OH, a place he describes as "500 people, two stoplights, nine bars", the kind of place where you learn life lessons from a guy in a pick-up truck.
"I got in a truck with this guy one time," Huggins recalled after the game, "I looked and he didn't have a rear-view mirror. I said 'You don't have a rear-view mirror.' He said 'I don't back-up. We're going forward, son.' And that's kind of how I've lived my life."
Tonight, at least, there is no doubt Huggins will be heeding his own advice.
Hopefully, Huggins never reflects on wearing this suit.(photo credit: Digital Headbutt)
West Virginia has no time to bask in the glory of their 53-51 win over Notre Dame in Friday's second Big East semi-final. Exactly 21 hours after Tory Jackson's potential game-winning three-pointer bounced off the rim, the Mountaineers will have to take the court again, this time against Georgetown, who just may be the best eighth-seed in the history of conference tournaments.
This is the Big East tournament, after all. And the Big East just may be the toughest league in the country.
"What the people in this league have done over the years," Huggins told reporters. "It's the best league in the country. I've been around enough and been in the other leagues."
"When you're in the other leagues, you say 'Man, it ain't that good.' Then you get in here."
It makes you wonder.
One of the prevailing theme's yesterday from writer's covering the Big East Tournament had to do with the double bye, or more specifically how three of the four teams that had earned the double bye had lost in their first game, making it five in the two years we've had a double bye.
The reason why varied. Some believed it was because the team's that had played were in rhythm. Others believed it was an advantage to get rid of the jitters of playing in Madison Square Garden.
Could the answer simply be the league is that good?
That the teams playing on the first day aren't that far behind the teams getting one bye; and that the teams getting one bye are just as good as the teams getting double byes?
Sitting here at Madison Square Garden, I can't help but think that we may just be getting the Big East's two best teams tomorrow.
Georgetown has whooped both Duke and Villanova this season. Last night, they knocked off the tournament's No. 1 seed with a thrilling comeback. Three great wins over three great teams, no question about it.
But tonight may actually be the Hoyas most impressive win of the season.
I know that, after reading that, you likely think I'm an idiot, that I'm stretching the facts to make my story better. You may very well be right.
But keep in mind that this Marquette team doesn't get blown out. Coming into this game, the Golden Eagles were 22-10. Of those 10 losses, not a single one had come by double digits, their largest defeat a nine point setback coming at the hands of rival Wisconsin. Of their seven Big East losses -- which came by a total of 21 points -- the worst was a seven point loss to Pitt.
This Marquette team battles, they fight, and they scrap. Buzz Williams' team doesn't know the meaning of quit.
And tonight they got run out of the gym.
"They absolutely annihilated us," Williams said after the 80-57 loss.
What about West Virginia?
Da'Sean Butler had 24 points in WVU's win over Notre Dame.(photo credit: Star Ledger)
The Mountaineers just knocked off the hottest team in the Big East, beating Notre Dame at their own, slowed-down, game. They aren't going to win many beauty contests with the way they play. West Virginia is the basketball equivalent of a old, beat-up pickup truck. They aren't going to run you off the floor, but they'll run over you, through you, and can ding you throw at them.
West Virginia lacks quality point guard play, but they make up for it with their ability to defend -- this 1-3-1 zone that Huggins is using is so effective with the length of the Mountaineers -- and how hard they hit the offensive glass. And when Da'Sean Butler plays like he has the last two games, this Mountaineer team is awfully tough to beat.
Bob Huggins doesn't reflect.
I do. And when I look back at this week, I don't know if there are two teams I would rather see play for the Big East Tournament title tomorrow.
Continue reading...
Friday, March 12, 2010
Greg Monroe: An unselfish superstar
It was just three possessions in a 40 minute basketball game, but they meant so much more.
Three possessions was all it took for Georgetown to put this game away. Those same three possessions are all you need to see if you're wondering why Greg Monroe is sitting in the lottery on most NBA Draft boards.
With 6:58 left on the clock, Monroe drove baseline from deep in the left corner and finished at the rim with a dunk. On Georgetown's next possession, he buried a three from the wing. On the ensuing possession, Julian Vaughn blocked a shot by Mo Acker. Monroe picked up the loose ball, led a 2-on-1 break, and dropped a pretty bounce pass to Austin Freeman for an and-one layup that gave the Hoyas a 70-52 lead with just 5:32 left.
Should I mention that he also blocked Jimmy Butler's shot on the next Marquette possession?
Monroe celebrates with Jason Clark after drawing a foul.
(photo credit: NJ Star Ledger)
Monroe finished with 23 points, 13 boards, 7 assists, and 2 blocks in an 80-57 win for the Hoyas. A sterling performance no matter how you slice it, just the kind that has gotten Monroe mentioned in the same breath as the great Hoya centers of the past -- Patrick Ewing, Dikembe Mutumbo, Alonzo Mourning.
"I'm honored to follow people that were so good here," Monroe told reporters after the game, "but I don't compare myself to them."
"Me being here just two years, I can't put myself in the same category as those players."
Monroe is different than his Georgetown predecessors, however.
Where Mutumbo, Ewing, and Zo thrived on their ability to intimidate in the paint, be it via an emphatic dunk or a blocked shot, Monroe's biggest weapon is his versatility. How many players do you know that can get you 13 rebounds and 7 assists on the same night and have it be considered par for the course.
"He is the best skilled big man in the country," West Virginia head coach Bob Huggins said after his Mountaineers beat Notre Dame in the other semifinal.
"He passes the ball, he finds open people, he can lay it down, he can score in the post."
With that much ability, it would be very easy to let individual success go to your head. But Monroe has stayed grounded, his mentality as unselfish as his passing ability.
"I just come out and try to do things for my team," Monroe said.
Its not just Monroe.
This team first aspect is something that JT III preaches, something that he has ingrained in his players. You ask him a question about a certain player's performance, he will say it is a function of the team, proof that his system is working the right way. The saying goes "there's no I in team", but with Thompson, there's no I, you, he, or me; its always we, us, or the team.
A perfect example came when he was asked about Monroe's aggressiveness early and whether it helped set a tone for the team and the game.
"I think the same thing happens when Austin comes out aggressively, when Chris comes out aggressively. When we come out aggressively and focus, it sets the tone in general."
That's a pretty standard answer from Thompson.
And its refreshing. Incredible, really.
In the day and age of early entry, Sportscenter top 10, and youtube, its not that easy to find a player, let alone a team, as devoted to the team concept as Georgetown is.
What's more important is that it shows through in their play.
When the Hoyas are playing at their best, its due to that team-first mentality. Georgetown runs what is known as a continuity offense, meaning they don't run a lot of set plays. You're not going to see Chris Wright and Monroe running pick-and-rolls. Austin Freeman won't be getting isolations on the wing. Jason Clark isn't going to be curling off of double screens.
Monroe had 23 points, 13 boards, and 7 assists last night.
(photo credit: SNY TV)
Georgetown runs a system with a set of rules and reads given the situation. The Hoya players know where in this system they are going to be able to get scoring opportunities. Put another way, it is very difficult for the Hoyas to call a play for a certain player.
JT III can't, or won't, run a play to 'feed the hot hand', so to speak. Where their selflessness shines through is that the players on the court do it themselves. When Freeman gets it going, they look for him. Yesterday Chris Wright was hot, and Georgetown got him the ball in spots he could score. Today, it was Monroe.
The Hoyas have won a lot of games this year playing that way.
After beating Marquette, who hadn't lost by double digits all season coming into tonight, by 23, the fourth straight impressive win by the Hoyas, its safe to say this team is playing their best basketball of the year.
But they aren't satisfied just yet.
"Its March," Thompson said, "there's no time to take a breath and pat yourself on the back in March."
Continue reading...
The Real March Madness: Day 11
Everyone loves the first weekend of the NCAA Tournament. Four straight days jam-packed with 12 hours of do-or-die college hoops is more than most people can handle.
But for junkies like us, the next 13 days are just as good, for it is when the true Madness takes place. Over the course of these two weeks, we whittle some 347 teams down to 30 conference champions (the Ivy doesn't have a tournament). Auto-bids will be won. Bubbles will be burst. Buzzers will be beaten. And most importantly, a 65 team bracket will be made.
Here's what happened on Friday:
Game of the Day: Ohio State 69, Michigan 68
Could it actually have been anything else? Michigan rallied from a 51-38 deficit with 10 minutes left to tie the game on a Zak Novak three at 64. After getting a stop, Manny Harris finished a short jumper off the glass to put the Wolverines up. David Lighty tied it up, but Harris made the exact same move with the exact same result with 2.2 seconds left on the clock, seemingly giving Michigan the win. But Evan Turner did this. I've heard a lot of criticism about the way Michigan played defense on the final possession, lets keep in mind one thing - Evan Turner his a 40 footer for the win.
They were good too
Team of the Day: San Diego State Aztecs
San Diego State may have just made the MWC a four-bid conference. New Mexico doesn't lose close games, but they lost 72-69 tonight in a hard fought game in the MWC semis. Billy White lead the way with 28 points for SDSU while Kawhi Leonard had 15 points and 12 boards. Every bracket pundit you would have read yesterday would have told you that the Aztecs would all but lock up a bid with a win over New Mexico, and they did just that. SDSU gets UNLV in the finals tomorrow.
They were good too
Player of the Day: Zahir Carrington, Lehigh
How often do you see a kid from Lehigh with poster dunks and Sportscenter top 10 worthy blocks all game long? Not often. Carrington had 18 points, 10 boards, 4 blocks, and 6 dunks as he led the Mountain Hawks to a 74-59 win over Lafayette in the Patriot League finals. Lehigh is going to be a 16 seed come tournament time, and they are likely going to be run out of the gym by whichever one seed they happen to draw. But make sure you watch. Carrington just may put someone on a poster.
They were good too
Welcome to the Tournament
Patriot League Tournament
Finals
#1 Lehigh 74, #3 Lafayette 59
Friday Tournament Results
Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament
Quarterfinals
#1 Duke 57, #9 Virginia 46
#12 Miami 70 , #4 Virginia Tech 65
#7 Georgia Tech 69, #2 Maryland 64
#11 North Carolina State 58, #3 Florida State 52
Atlantic-10 Conference Tournament
Quarterfinals
#1 Temple 69, #8 St. Bonaventure 51
#5 Rhode Island 63, #4 St. Louis 47
#2 Xavier 78, #7 Dayton 73
#3 Richmond 77, #11 Massachusetts 72
Big East Conference Tournament
Semifinals
#8 Georgetown 80, #5 Marquette 57
#3 West Virginia 53, #7 Notre Dame 51
Big Ten Conference Tournament
Quarterfinals
#1 Ohio State 69, #8 Michigan 68
#5 Illinois 58, #4 Wisconsin 54
#2 Purdue 69, #7 Northwestern 61
#6 Minnesota 72, #3 Michigan State 67 OT
Big-12 Conference Tournament
Semifinals
#1 Kansas 79, #4 Texas A&M 66
#2 Kansas State 82, #3 Baylor 75
Big West Conference Tournament
Semifinals
#1 UC-Santa Barbara 76, #4 UC-Davis 62
#2 Pacific 68 vs. #3 Long Beach State 61
Conference-USA Tournament
Semifinals
#7 Houston 74, #6 Southern Mississippi 66
#1 UTEP 75, #5 Tulsa 61
Mid-American Conference Tournament
Semifinals
#3 Akron 66, #7 Western Michigan 64
#9 Ohio 54, #4 Miami 42
Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Tournament
Semifinals
#1 Morgan State 74, #5 Hampton 57
#3 South Carolina State 70, #2 Delaware State 66 OT
Mountain West Conference Tournament
Semifinals
#4 San Diego State 72, #1 New Mexico 69
#2 BYU 70, #3 UNLV 66
Pac-10 Conference Tournament
Semifinals
#1 California 85, #5 UCLA 72
#2 Washington 79, #7 Stanford 64
Southwestern Athletic Conference Tournament
Semifinals
#2 Arkansas-Pine Bluff 46, #3 Alabama State 44
#5 Texas Southern 60, #8 Grambling State 57
Southeastern Conference Tournament
Quarterfinals
#1E Kentucky 73, #4W Alabama 67
#1W Mississippi State 75, #4E Florida 69
#3E Tennessee 76, #2W Ole Miss 65
#2E Vanderbilt 78, #6E Georgia 66
Western Athletic Conference Tournament
Semifinals
#1 Utah State 85, #4 Louisiana Tech 55
#3 New Mexico State 80, #2 Nevada 79
Saturday's Slate of Tournament Games:
America East Conference Tournament
Finals (at higher seed)
12:00PM - ESPN2 - #2 Vermont at #4 Boston
Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament
Semifinals (Greensboro, NC)
1:30PM - #1 Duke vs. #12 Miami
3:30PM - #7 Georgia Tech vs. #11 North Carolina State
Atlantic-10 Conference Tournament
Semifinals (Atlantic City, NJ)
1:00PM - #1 Temple vs. #5 Rhode Island
3:30PM - #2 Xavier vs. #3 Richmond
Big East Conference Tournament
Finals (New York City, NY)
9:00PM - ESPN - #3 West Virginia vs. #8 Georgetown
Big Ten Conference Tournament
Semifinals (Indianapolis, IN)
2:40PM - #1 Ohio State vs. #5 Illinois
5:00PM - #2 Purdue vs. #6 Minnesota
Big-12 Conference Tournament
Finals (Kansas City, MO)
6:00PM - ESPN - #1 Kansas vs. #2 Kansas State
Big West Conference Tournament
Finals (Anahiem, CA)
8:00PM - ESPN2 - #1 UC-Santa Barbara vs.
Conference-USA Tournament
Finals (Tulsa, OK)
12:35PM - CBS - #1 UTEP vs. #7 Houston
Mid-American Conference Tournament
Finals (Cleveland, OH)
6:00PM - #3 Akron vs. #9 Ohio
Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Tournament
Finals (Winston-Salem, NC)
2:00PM - ESPN2 - #1 Morgan State vs. #3 South Carolina State
Mountain West Conference Tournament
Finals (Las Vegas, NV)
6:00PM - Versus - #4 San Diego State vs.
Pac-10 Conference Tournament
Finals (Los Angeles, CA)
6:00PM - CBS - #1 California vs.
Southeastern Conference Tournament
Semifinals (Nashville, TN)
12:00PM - ABC - #1E Kentucky vs. #3E Tennessee
2:15PM - ABC - #1W Mississippi State vs. #2E Vanderbilt
Southland Conference Tournament
Finals (Katy, TX)
3:05PM - ESPN2 - #1 Sam Houston State vs. #2 Stephen F. Austin
Southwestern Atletic Conference Tournament
Finals (Bossier City, LA)
7:30PM - ESPNU - #2 Arkansas-Pine Bluff vs. #5 Texas Southern
Western Athletic Conference Tournament
Finals (Reno, NV)
10:00PM - ESPN2 - #1 Utah State vs.
Continue reading...
Early games update
We already told you about the Ohio State Evan Turners Buckeyes last second win over Michigan.
That was fun.
They weren't the only favorite to advance, either. Duke survived a rough shooting night as they were able to hang on to beat Virginia in the quarters of the ACC Tournament 57-46. John Wall scored seven of his 23 points during a key stretch in the second half as Kentucky overcame an early deficit to beat Alabama. Temple cruised to a win over St. Bonaventure.
But once again, the bubble got interesting:
So Illinois is now dancing. They were right on the cut line before this afternoon, but after beating Wisconsin, the Illini will likely have to be a lock despite the 13 losses and the RPI in the 70's. Illinois is an enigma. They've put together some impressive wins, but they have also lost some games that leave you scratching you head. It will be interesting to see which team shows up the rest of the postseason -- the one that lost five of their last six, or the one that was up by 15 on Wisconsin for much of the second half.
Its not a good sign that a bubble team playing a game that they almost have to win loses to the last place team in the ACC when they are missing their leading scorer and rebounder.
Continue reading...
Which buzzer beater was better?
I'm not going to lie, I was getting ready to criticize Evan Turner.
I was getting ready to write about how he allowed Michigan to comeback from a 13 point deficit with just 10 minutes left. I was getting ready to write about how he had just three free throws as Michigan made their comeback. I was getting ready to write about the runner he missed with 47 seconds left with the game tied. I was getting ready to write up how Manny Harris sliced through Ohio State twice for go ahead jumpers in the final minute.
The thought crossed my mind that while Evan Turner was easily the national player of the year, he may not be the guy you want running your team in a tight game down the stretch. It was almost fair to say he choked down the stretch against Michigan.
And boy, did he change that line of thinking.
Yeah.
That's something else, huh?
Turner's 40 footer gave Ohio State a 69-68 win over the Wolverines in the quarterfinals of the Big Ten tournament. It may not have even been the best buzzer beater of championship week.
The Big East conference player of the year essentially came down to two players: Scottie Reynolds and Wes Johnson. Johnson won it, much to the chagrin of the legions of Villanova supporters.
My choice for Big East player of the year was different. My choice was Da'Sean Butler.
My argument?
Butler's numbers are impressive -- 17.1 ppg, 6.7 rpg, 3.4 apg. He's as important to his team as either Reynolds or Johnson. But what pushed him over the top was his ability in clutch.
I don't know if there is anyone in the country that I would want taking a big shot over Da'Sean Butler. He had game-winners against Cleveland State, Marquette, Louisville, and Villanova heading into last night's Big East quarterfinal against Cincinnati.
And then he did this:
In addition to hitting a ridiculous shot like that, Lance Stephenson told reporters at the press conference Butler called bank when he released the shot.
If that doesn't make you love the kid, I don't know what will.
Continue reading...
Paul George declares for the draft ... via twitter
Last week, we had out first players declare for the NBA Draft.
Sources told Jeff Goodman that Iowa State's Craig Brackins would be announcing his intentions to enter the draft sometime in the coming days. He's not the only one on the Cyclones heading to the league. Marquis Gilstrap had an appeal for a sixth season of eligibility denied by the NCAA, meaning that his next step is logically to try and get drafted.
That is normally how things go when you declare for the draft, right?
For the most part, we can specualte who is and who isn't going to declare. Then at some point, the all-knowing "sources" start leaking info that so-and-so is going to declare for the draft. Eventually, a press conference is held, announcements are made, and we move on and start discussing who has signed with an agent, who will withdraw, mock draft orders, etc.
Well, this is a new day and age, and with the internet and social media websites providing previously unseen amounts of access to those in the spot light, sometimes news breaks in a different matter.
Call it the @OGOchoCinco effect.
You may not know the name Paul George, but you can rest assured that NBA Draftniks do. George became a mini-internet celebrity -- at least in my small corner of the intrawebs -- with this dunk early last season.
George is making internet waves again today, as he essentially declared for the NBA Draft last night, not an hour after his Fresno State Bulldogs lost their last game in the WAC tournament.
It was all but a given he was gone as it is, but it is still surprising to see a college player state his intentions so soon after a season-ending loss and, well via twitter.
I guess that's the world we live in these days.
Continue reading...
The Real March Madness: Day 10
Everyone loves the first weekend of the NCAA Tournament. Four straight days jam-packed with 12 hours of do-or-die college hoops is more than most people can handle.
But for junkies like us, the next 13 days are just as good, for it is when the true Madness takes place. Over the course of these two weeks, we whittle some 347 teams down to 30 conference champions (the Ivy doesn't have a tournament). Auto-bids will be won. Bubbles will be burst. Buzzers will be beaten. And most importantly, a 65 team bracket will be made.
Here's what happened on Thursday (Ed. Note: Late start today as it was a third straight late night at MSG. Dump coming in a bit.):
Game of the Day: Akron 97, Eastern Michigan 89 2OT
Akron and Eastern Michigan played a thriller in the MAC quarters on Thursday. Carlos Medlock, who had 42 points for the Eagles, hit a three with 58 seconds left to cap and EM comeback and give the Eagles a 71-69 lead. But Brett McKnight scored on a layup with 38 seconds remaining and Zeke Marshall blocked a layup attempt to force OT. The first overtime period was back and forth, but with eight seconds left EM's Jay Higgins buried a three to break a 78-all tie before Steve McNees beat the buzzer to force a second extra frame. Akron scored to fist nine points of that second overtime to advance.
They were good too
Player of the Day: Jimmer Fredette, BYU
BYU's star point guard seemed to be a bit off down the stretch, as he never really got it going during the Cougars last three games. But boy, did he catch fire against TCU. Fredette was impossible to defend on Thursday night, as he went for 45 points and 6 assists. Fredette did not shoot all that well (10-23 from the field, 2-10 from deep), but he hit 23-24 from the line as BYU advanced to face UNLV.
They were good too
Team of the Day: Georgetown Hoyas
The Hoyas advanced to the semifinals of the Big East tournamentas with an impressive come back win over Syracuse. Georgetown has been struggling a bit of late, dropping from top ten in the country down to the 8th seed in the Big East tournament. But the Hoyas proved today why they are still a threat in the NCAA Tournament. Chris Wright, Greg Monroe, Jason Clark all played great, and Austin Freeman simply played extended minutes, which is as important as anything. The Hoyas will play Marquette in the semis tonight at MSG.
They were good too
Thursday's Tournament Results
Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament
First Round (Greensboro, NC)
#9 Virginia 68, #8 Boston College 62
#12 Miami 83, #5 Wake Forest 62
#7 Georgia Tech 62, #10 North Carolina 58
#11 North Carolina State 59, #6 Clemson 57
Big East Conference Tournament
Quarterfinals (New York City, NY)
#8 Georgetown 91, #1 Syracuse 84
#5 Marquette 80, #4 Villanova 76
#7 Notre Dame 50, #2 Pittsburgh 45
#3 West Virginia 54, #11 Cincinnati 51
Big Ten Conference Tournament
First Round (Indianapolis, IN)
#8 Michigan 59, #9 Iowa 52
#7 Northwestern 73, #10 Indiana 58
#6 Minnesota 76, #11 Penn State 55
Big-12 Conference Tournament
Quarterfinals (Kansas City, MO)
#1 Kansas 80, #9 Texas Tech 68
#4 Texas A&M 70, #12 Nebraska 64
#2 Kansas State 83, #7 Oklahoma State 64
#3 Baylor 86, #6 Texas 67
Big West Conference Tournament
Quarterfinals (Anaheim, CA)
#3 Long Beach State 79, #6 Cal-Poly 69
#4 UC-Davis 68, #5 CS-Fullerton 65
Conference-USA Tournament
Quarterfinals (Tulsa, OK)
#7 Houston 66, #2 Memphis 65
#6 Southern Mississippi 58, #3 UAB 44
#5 Tulsa 80, #4 Marshall 64
#1 UTEP 76, #6 Central Florida 54
Mid-American Conference Tournament
Quarterfinals (Cleveland, OH)
#7 Western Michigan 69, #2 Central Michigan 60
#3 Akron 97, #6 Eastern Michigan 89 2OT
#9 Ohio 81, #1 Kent State 64
#4 Miami 73, #5 Buffalo 59
Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Tournament
Quarterfinals (Winston-Salem, NC)
#3 South Carolina State 59, #6 MD-Eastern Shore 53
#5 Hampton 73, #4 Norfolk State 70
Mountain West Conference Tournament
Quarterfinals (Las Vegas, NV)
#1 New Mexico State 75, #9 Air Force 69
#4 San Diego State 72, #5 Colorado State 71
#2 BYU 95, #7 TCU 85
#3 UNLV 73, #6 Utah 61
Pac-10 Conference Tournament
Quarterfinals (Los Angeles, CA)
#5 UCLA 75, #4 Arizona 69
#1 Cal 90, #8 Oregon 74
6:00PM - #3 Washington vs. #6 Oregon State
#7 Stanford 70, #2 Arizona State 61
Southwestern Athletic Conference Tournament
Quarterfinals (Bossier City, LA)
#3 Alabama State 56, #6 Alabama A&M 45
#5 Texas Southern 66, #4 Prarie View A&M 49
Southeastern Conference Tournament
First Round (Nashville, TN)
#4W Alabama 68, #5E South Carolina 63
#3E Tennessee 59, #6W LSU 49
#4E Florida 78, #5W Auburn 69
#6E Georgia 77, #3W Arkansas 64
Southland Conference Tournament
Semifinals (Katy, TX)
#2 Stephen F. Austin 60, #3 Texas A&M- Corpus Christi 53
#1 Sam Houston State 88, #4 Southeast Louisiana 85
Western Athletic Conference Tournament
Quarterfinals (Reno, NV)
#1 Utah State 84, #8 Boise State 60
#4 Louisiana Tech 74, #5 Fresno State 66
#2 Nevada 87, #7 Idaho 71
#3 New Mexico State 90, #6 San Jose State 69
Friday's Slate of Tournament Games
Most of the fat has been trimmed from the conference brackets and we are now left with only the most deserving teams. Only one ticket to the dance will be given out: to the winner of Patriot League, being contested between #3 Lafayette and #1 Lehigh.
Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament
Quarterfinals
12:00PM - #1 Duke vs. #9 Virginia
2:00PM - #4 Virginia Tech vs. #12 Miami
7:00PM - #2 Maryland vs.
9:00PM - #3 Florida State vs.
Atlantic-10 Conference Tournament
Quarterfinals
12:00PM - #1 Temple vs. #8 St. Bonaventure
2:30PM - #4 St. Louis vs. #5 Rhode Island
6:30PM - #2 Xavier vs. #7 Dayton
9:00PM - #3 Richmond vs. #11 Massachusetts
Big East Conference Tournament
7:00PM - ESPN - #5 Marquette vs. #8 Georgetown
9:00PM - ESPN - #3 West Virginia vs. #7 Notre Dame
Big Ten Conference Tournament
Quarterfinals
12:00PM - ESPN - #1 Ohio State vs. #8 Michigan
3:00PM - ESPN - #4 Wisconsin vs. #5 Illinois
6:30PM - BTN - #2 Purdue vs. #7 Northwestern
9:00PM - BTN - #3 Michigan State vs. #6 Minnesota
Big-12 Conference Tournament
Semifinals
6:00PM - #1 Kansas vs. #4 Texas A&M
8:30PM - #2 Kansas State vs. #3 Baylor
Big West Conference Tournament
Semifinals
6:30PM - #1 UC-Santa Barbara vs. UC-Davis
9:00PM - #2 Pacific vs. #3 Long Beach State
Conference-USA Tournament
Semifinals
3:00PM - #6 Southern Mississippi vs. #7 Houston
5:30PM - #1 UTEP vs. #5 Tulsa
Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Tournament
Semifinals
6:00PM - #1 Morgan State vs. #5 Hampton
8:00PM - #2 Delaware State vs. #3 South Carolina State
Mountain West Conference Tournament
Semifinals
6:00PM - #1 New Mexico vs. #4 San Diego State
8:30PM - #2 BYU vs. #3 UNLV
Pac-10 Conference Tournament
Semifinals
6:00PM - #1 California vs. #5 UCLA
8:30PM - #7 Stanford vs.
Patriot League Tournament
Finals
8:00PM - #3 Lafayette at #1 Lehigh
Southwestern Athletic Conference Tournament
Semifinals
3:30PM - #2 Arkansas-Pine Bluff vs. #3 Alabama State
9:00PM - #5 Texas Southern vs. #8 Grambling State
Southeastern Conference Tournament
Quarterfinals
12:00PM - #1E Kentucky vs. #4W Alabama
2:15PM - #1W Ole Miss vs. #4E Florida
6:30PM - #2W Mississippi State vs. #3E Tennessee
8:45PM - #2E Vanderbilt vs. #6E Georgia
Western Athletic Conference Tournament
Semifinals
6:00PM - #1 Utah State vs. #4 Louisiana Tech
8:30PM - #2 Nevada vs. #3 New Mexico State
Continue reading...
Thursday, March 11, 2010
Yesterday's disaster benefits those bubblers that play today
The Big East and the Big XII both have their semifinal games on the docket tonight, and you don't need me to tell you how good they will be. Kansas-Texas A&M, Baylor-Kansas State, Georgetown-Marquette, Notre Dame West-Virginia.
Eight good teams playing four very meaningful games. Its what March is all about.
But those games are played for glory; all eight teams are safely in the dance. Where it is going to get interesting tonight is on the bubble.
Why?
Because basically every team that was on the bubble last night lost. Washington picked up a win, which they needed, as did Florida. Georgia Tech won in such ugly fashion over UNC that it may have hurt their cause. The beneficiaries yesterday were Minnesota and San Diego State, who both won and inched that much closer to the top of the bubble.
So who can steal a bid today?:
2:00 pm: Illinois vs. Wisconsin: The Illini are a tough case. They have some good wins, but also have some really ugly losses which dropped their RPI into the 70's. But a win here would just about put Illinois into the dance.
2:30 pm: Rhode Island vs. St. Louis: The Rams and the Billikens got as much help as anyone with the disaster that was yesterday's bubble. Rhode Island has been terrible down the stretch of the season, but they are a win or two from earning a bid. St. Louis probably needs to make the finals of the A-10 if the do want to earn a bid,
3:15 pm: Tennessee vs. Ole Miss: The Rebels have wins over UTEP and Kansas State, but not much else. They are right on the cut line as of today, and a win today would all but put them into the tournament.
6:30 pm: Dayton vs. Xavier: Dayton seemingly cost themselves an at-large bid by losing so may close games this season, but the Flyers have had a chance open up. They also get a great opportunity to beat a good team that have already beaten this season. A win over Xavier may not be enough, but Dayton could get themselves into a much better spot.
7:00 pm: Georgia Tech vs. Maryland: The Yellow Jackets have struggled on the road, struggled mightily down the stretch, and looked bad in their win over UNC yesterday. Despite all of that, they can clinch a bid with a win over the Terps.
7:30 pm: Florida vs. Mississippi State: May not be a play-in game per se, but it is likely a play-out game.
8:55 pm: Minnesota vs. Michigan State: The Golden Gophers need to win this game for a chance, and may need another in the Big Ten semis. But they are still in the conversation.
9:00 pm: San Diego State vs. New Mexico: SDSU is in an interesting spot. Before yesterday's carnage, I would have said that the Aztecs likely needed to win this game to ensure a bid. But I'm not so sure anymore. They might be able to sneak in the back door if they look good in a loss, but their best bet would be to win this one and end all doubt.
11:30 pm: Stanford vs. Washington: The Huskies may very well be getting an at-large bid if they can beat Stanford tonight.
Continue reading...
Early game updates
Conference USA will only get one bid:
And that bid won't be going to either Memphis or UAB. The Blazers simply didn't show up today. Playing for their NCAA Tournament lives, UAB found themselves down 16-2 in the first five minutes and were never able to get back into the game.
Memphis, on the other hand, got nothing out of Elliot Williams or Wesley Witherspoon, but still came within a point of advancing this afternoon. Willie Kemp scored the final five baskets for Memphis to overcome a late eight point deficit, the last of which put the Tigers ahead with 15.7 seconds left. The nation's leading scorer Aubrey Coleman had an answer, however:
Willie Kemp double dribbled on the final possession to end the game.
Wake Forest didn't show up either:
The Demon Deacons must be feeling pretty confident about their NCAA Tournament standings. Coming in, most were saying that, barring a disastrous showing against Miami, Wake was safe. Well, is 22 points disastrous enough for you?
Dino Gaudio's crew has now lost five of their last six to finish the season on just about as poor of a note as possible. The question that will be asked is whether or not this is a trend, as Wake ascended to No. 1 last season before slumping down the stretch and losing in the first round of the tournament. If you believe Pat Forde, the answer was as simple as Wake Forest didn't come to play.
Sounds about right.
Utah State is the only team that wants to play their way in:
The Aggies took care of business against Boise State, rolling in their first game in the WAC Tournament, 84-60. But with all the other bubble teams losing, oppotunities are opening up for teams like William & Mary. The Tribe made the CAA finals, lost a tough one to Old Dominion, and owns wins over Maryland, Wake Forest, and Richmond.
Why not give them a bid?
Arizona's streak comes to an end:
For 25 straight years, the Wildcats were a fixture in the NCAA tournament. But thanks to four coaches in four years, a little bit of scandal, and a lotta bit of early entry to the NBA, Arizona is left with a new coach teaching a new system to a team chock full of freshman.
Arizona lost to UCLA in the first round of the Pac-10 Tournament today 75-69, ending any hope of extending that streak. But hey, 25 years is a good run, right?
Continue reading...
Syracuse may have a fatal flaw
Today proved nothing about Georgetown.
Let me say that again, it proved nothing.
I know what you're thinking: "How is that possible? The Hoyas just ran away from the best team in the Big East!"
Well, we already knew that Georgetown could beat anyone in the country. We already knew that when their offense is clicking like it was today, they can score like they did today. You can ask Villanova and Duke, who both took a solid whooping from the Hoyas earlier this season.
Seeing how valuable Monroe, who had 15 points, 10 boards, and 7 assists, is in orchestrating their offense from the post should come as no surprise to anyone.
Monroe proved how valuable he really is today.
(photo credit: NYT)
"He's the best inside passer in college basketball, easily," Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim said after the game.
As good as Chris Wright was this afternoon -- 27 points, 6 assists, and 6 boards is impressive no matter how you slice it -- he didn't do anything we haven't seen before. This was the third time this season Wright has scored at least 27 points. This isn't the first time he's shown the ability to get into the paint at will.
Its no secret that Jason Clark is one of the best glue guys in the country. We've come to expect 3 steals, 3 offensive rebounds, and 4 assists out of him, the 17 points and three threes an added, but not necessarily unprecedented, bonus.
If anything, what we learned today was that, diabetes or not, Austin Freeman is still Austin Freeman.
"Physically, he's at a point where as long as we're monitoring his level, he's fine," Georgetown coach John Thompson said. "As long as he keeps and we keep his levels fine, he will be able to perform."
If anything, a fatal flaw in this Syracuse team may have been exposed.
Look, I've been on the Syracuse bandwagon since they ran through UNC and Cal in NYC back in November. I think this team -- today excluded -- plays a terrific brand of defense in their zone. I think they are efficient offensively. I think they move the ball well, I think they are dangerous in transition. There isn't much not to like about this team. I think they have talent coming off the bench. I think their roster is balanced.
I could go on and on.
But if you were paying attention, you'd realize that in that list, I never mentioned a go-to scorer.
After today, Syracuse is headed into the NCAA Tournament on a two game losing streak. Last Saturday, Kyle Kuric scored 22 second half points to spark a late surge by Louisville that put away Syracuse. Today, the Orange allowed a 22-4 run midway through the second half that turned a nine point lead into a nine point deficit in the span of about about five minutes.
So I ask you: does Syracuse have a stopper? Do they have a guy that they can give the ball to when things aren't going well and they really need a basket?
The last two games the answer has been no.
Wes Johnson is Syracuse's most talented player, but can he really create his own shot against a set defense? Johnson has been the most effective this season when he is spotting up from three and using his athleticism to attack the rim, whether in transition or on the offensive glass.
Andy Rautins may be the Orange's most valuable player, but he isn't necessarily a great scorer as much as he is a great shooter with an all-around game.
Kris Joseph doesn't have a jumper. Arinze Onuaku and Rick Jackson struggle too much from the foul line. Scoop Jardine and Brandon Triche are capable point guards, but Sherron Collins they ain't.
That lack of a stopper has cost the Orange two games.
But will it cost them a one seed?
Did this loss cost Syracuse a one seed?
(photo credit: ESPN)
It could.*
(*If Arinze Onuaku's injury is serious, than this could be a moot point. While his injury is no where near as damaging as the one suffered by Robbie Hummel, Syracuse is still a different team without him)
Right now, Syracuse is safely in as a No. 1. But if both Duke and Ohio State win their conference tournament championships, the Orange could be in trouble. If you win a major conference's regular season and tournament titles, you deserve to be a No. 1 seed.
Whether they get a No. 1 seed or not may not matter, however.
"That team is still one of the best, if not the best, team in the country in spite of today's outcome," Thompson said.
"Do I expect them to be a dangerous team in the tournament? Absolutely."
Continue reading...
Arinze Onuaku and Norm Roberts updates
A couple quick notes here from the press room chatter:
- Arinze Onuaku looks like he is going to be fine. He took a spill with about three minutes to go as Syracuse was trying to come back against Georgetown and had to be carried off the court. According to his doctor, however, it looks like the injury is just a strain and he should be ready go by the start of the tournament.
"I think he'll be back, unless something bad happens tomorrow. I've seen him worse," Syracuse doctor Irving Raphael said after the game. "We're hoping it's just a strain, but tomorrow we'll get an MRI. It's already scheduled."
Onuaku left on crutches. - The other story that has been floating around is in regards to St. John's head coach Norm Roberts. NY Post writer Lenn Robbins filed a story this morning claiming that a source told him that Roberts was going to be fired.
But as of now, that seems to be just the rumor that is circulating as nothing official as been announced. I've said it numerous times, but my personal opinion is that they should give Roberts at least one more year. He's bringing back 10 seniors and only loses Anthony Mason, Jr., from the rotation. His kids play hard and stay out of trouble. In this day and age, that's saying something.
Continue reading...
Thursday feels very bubblicious
Today isn't the biggest day of games we've had this season. Hell, an average Saturday has more than three times the 47 games that will be tipping off over the next 12 hours.
Its different today though.
One of the knocks of Championship Fortnight this year has been a lack of drama, a lack of games with meaning. Last night was the first night there was some suspense in the league title games. Hopefully, that suspense will continue into today. There are no conference champions to be crowned, but that doesn't mean that bids won't be earned.
Take a look at the bubble games today:
1:00 pm: Houston vs. Memphis: Memphis is right on the cut line right now. This win may not be enough to get them in, but a loss would likely cost them a bid.
2:00 pm: Miami vs. Wake Forest: Wake is is decent shape right now. They are not one of the last four in, but they are probably in that next group. They may be ok even with a loss, but that would mean they have lost five of their last six.
3:00 pm: Boise State vs. Utah State: The Aggies are very close to being a lock right now, but the problem with playing in the WAC is just about any loss in the conference tournament is going to look worse that a team like Wake Forest losing to, say, Clemson. The Aggies probably need to win a couple to be safe.
5:30 pm: San Diego State vs. Colorado State: SDSU is on the outside right now. They need wins, and may actually need to get to the MWC finals for a shot.
7:00 pm: UNC vs. Ga Tech: If Tech is in right now, it is by the slimmest of margins. Lose to the Heels, and they are gone. Tech probably needs to win two to be safe, as they get Maryland in the second round.
7:00 pm: Notre Dame vs. Pitt: Notre Dame should -- and I stress should -- be safely in. But a big loss combined with a couple of other bubble teams making a run could put the Irish in a dicey situation. No word yet on whether Gody is starting.
7:30 pm: Auburn vs. Florida: Florida is right on the cut line. Basically, they can play their way in with a good SEC Tournament and play their way out with a loss to Auburn.
7:30 pm: Penn State vs. Minnesota: The Gophers are barely in the bubble conversation right now. They need to at least reach the Big Ten finals.
9:18 pm: Arizona State vs. Stanford; 11:40 pm: Washington vs. Oregon State: If the Sun Devils and the Huskies play in the semifinals, the winner will be the team to get the bid. The loser is likely out. Gotta get there first.
10:00 pm: UCF vs. UTEP: UTEP is on a long winning streak, won C-USA going away, and is playing as well as they have all season long. But with a lack of quality wins -- their best out of conference was Oklahoma or New Mexico State -- a loss could be costly.
11:30 pm Utah @ UNLV: UNLV is probably in right now, but like Utah State a loss in the first round of their conference tournament is really going to hurt. Win, and they are likely in.
And that isn't it all. We have Georgetown-Syracuse, Villanova-Marquette, Texas-Baylor, Oklahoma State-Kansas State, Cincinnati-West Virginia, and countless other tournament games.
Enjoy it folks. March only comes once a year.
Continue reading...
The Real March Madness: Day 9
Everyone loves the first weekend of the NCAA Tournament. Four straight days jam-packed with 12 hours of do-or-die college hoops is more than most people can handle.
But for junkies like us, the next 13 days are just as good, for it is when the true Madness takes place. Over the course of these two weeks, we whittle some 347 teams down to 30 conference champions (the Ivy doesn't have a tournament). Auto-bids will be won. Bubbles will be burst. Buzzers will be beaten. And most importantly, a 65 team bracket will be made.
Here is what happened on Wednesday:
Game of the Day: Oregon 82, Washington State 80
Crazy ending to this one in regulation. With less than ten seconds remaining and the Ducks trailing by two points, TaJuan Porter went the length of the court but missed a runner off the glass. But EJ Singler was johnny-on-the-spot with a tip-in at the buzzer to send the game to overtime. In the extra frame, Porter scored eight of the Ducks ten points, and Reggie Moore missed a 17 footer at the buzzer as the Ducks kept Ernie Kent's career alive for at least one more game.
They were good too
Player of the Day: Anthony Johnson, Montana
Montana should have lost. They were down 20 at halftime to the Big Sky champion on te road. You don't win those games. But Johnson, playing in what would have been his final collegiate game, clearly had other plans. Johnson redefined the term unconscious. He scored 34 second half points, including 21 straight down the stretch. He hit a pull-up 17 footer with 10 seconds left to give the Grizzlies a 66-65 lead that would hold up. He finished with 42 points.
There really isn't much else to say about this performance. It was incredible. It was one of the moments that makes March Madness March Madness. It was ironic that he did it against Weber State, who 14 years ago had their own Herculean performance from an unknown when Harold Arceneaux officially put Weber State on the college basketball map. I guarantee that any college basketball fan worth his salt knows who Harold Arceneaux is. Hopefully, 10 years down the road, the came will be true about Anthony Johnson.
They were good too
Team of the Day: Grambling State Tigers
The 7-20 tigers became the first #8-seed since 2004 to win a quarterfinal game in the SWAC tournament. Behind 20 points from Donald Qualls, the Tigers ended Jackson State's 13-game winning streak, winning only their second game in eight tries.
Welcome to the Tournament
Big Sky Conference Tournament
Finals (Ogden, UT)
#4 Montana 66, #1 Weber State 65
Northeast Conference Tournament
Finals (at higher seed)
#2 Robert Morris 52, #1 Quinnipiac 50
Wednesday Tournament Results
Big East Conference Tournament
First Round (New York City, NY)
#5 Marquette 57, #13 St. Johns 56
#7 Notre Dame 68, #10 Seton Hall 56
#8 Georgetown 69, #9 South Florida 49
#11 Cincinnati 69, #6 Louisville 66
Big-12 Conference Tournament
First Round (Kansas City,MO)
#6 Texas 82, #11 Iowa State 75
#7 Oklahoma State 81, #10 Oklahoma 67
#9 Texas Tech 82, #8 Colorado 67
#12 Nebraska 75, #5 Missouri 60
Big West Conference Tournament
First Round (Anahiem, CA)
#5 CS-Fullerton 84, #8 CS-Northridge 76
#6 Cal-Poly 73, #7 UC-Irvine 69
Conference-USA Tournament
First Round (Tulsa, OK)
#5 Tulsa 73, #12 Rice 62
#6 Southern Mississippi 57, #11 Tulane 47
#7 Houston 93, #10 East Carolina 80
#9 Central Florida 69, #8 Southern Methodist 53
Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Tournament
Opening Round/Quarterfinals (Winstom-Salem, NC)
#1 Morgan State 84, #9 North Carolina A&T 57
#2 Delaware State 57, #7 Bethune-Cookman 55
#6 Maryland Eastern Shore 64, #11 Coppin State 58
Moutain West Conference Tournament
First Round (Las Vegas, NV)
#9 Air Force 59, #8 Wyoming 40
Pac-10 Conference Tournament
First Round (Los Angeles, CA)
#8 Oregon 82, #9 Washington State 80 OT
Southwestern Athletic Conference Tournament
Quarterfinals (Bossier City, LA)
#2 Arkansas-Pine Bluff 69, #7 Mississippi Valley State 66
#9 Grambling State 65, #1 Jackson State 57
Southland Conference Tournament
First Round (Katy, TX)
#1 Sam Houston State 62 #8 Nicholls 57
#2 Stephen F. Austin 77, #7 UT-Arlington 54
#3 Texas A&M-Corpus Christi 78, #6 UT-San Antonio 66
#4 Southeast Louisiana 79 # 5 Texas State 78 OT
Thursday's Slate of Tournament Games
Think of today as your official "warm-up" day as we await the madness to begin week from today. There are 45 conference tournament games taking place today, meaning every conference will have started post-season play. (Except the Great West, which doesn't feature a post-season tournament, I know all you N.J.I.T and Houston Baptist fans must be livid)
Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament
First Round (Greensboro, NC)
12:00PM - #8 Boston College vs. #9 Virginia
2:00PM - #5 Wake Forest vs. #12 Miami
7:00PM - #7 Georgia Tech vs. #10 North Carolina
9:00PM - #6 Clemson vs. #11 North Carolina State
Big East Conference Tournament
Quarterfinals (New York City, NY)
12:00PM - ESPN - #1 Syracuse vs. #8 Georgetown
2:00PM - ESPN - #4 Villanova vs. #5 Marquette
7:00PM - ESPN - #2 Pittsburgh vs.#7 Notre Dame
9:00PM - ESPN - #3 West Virginia vs. #11 Cincinnati
Big Ten Conference Tournament
First Round (Indianapolis, IN)
2:30PM - ESPN2 - #8 Michigan vs. #9 Iowa
5:25PM - ESPN2 - #7 Northwestern vs. #10 Indiana
8:30PM - BTN - #6 Minnesota vs. #11 Penn State
Big-12 Conference Tournament
Quarterfinals (Kansas City, MO)
11:30AM - #1 Kansas vs. #9 Texas Tech
2:00PM - #4 Texas A&M vs. #12 Nebraska
6:00PM - #2 Kansas State vs. #7 Oklahoma State
8:30PM - #3 Baylor vs. #6 Texas
Big West Conference Tournament
Quarterfinals (Anaheim, CA)
6:00PM - #3 Long Beach State vs. #6 Cal-Poly
8:30PM - #4 UC-Davis vs. #5 CS-Fullerton
Conference-USA Tournament
Quarterfinals (Tulsa, OK)
12:00PM - #2 Memphis vs. #7 Houston
2:30PM - #3 UAB vs. #6 Southern Mississippi
6:00PM - #4 Marshall vs. #5 Tulsa
8:30PM - #1 UTEP vs. #6 Central Florida
Mid-American Conference Tournament
Quarterfinals (Cleveland, OH)
12:00PM - #2 Central Michigan vs. #7 Western Michigan
2:00PM - #3 Akron vs. #6 Eastern Michigan
7:00PM - #1 Kent State vs. #9 Ohio
9:00PM - #4 Miami vs. #5 Buffalo
Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Tournament
Quarterfinals (WInston-Salem, NC)
6:00PM - #3 South Carolina State vs. #6 MD-Eastern Shore
8:00PM - #4 Norfolk State vs. #5 Hampton
Mountain West Conference Tournament
Quarterfinals (Las Vegas, NV)
12:00PM - #1 New Mexico State vs. #9 Air Force
2:30PM - #4 San Diego State vs. #5 Colorado State
6:00PM - #2 BYU vs. #7 TCU
8:30PM - #3 UNLV vs. #6 Utah
Pac-10 Conference Tournament
Quarterfinals (Los Angeles, CA)
12:00PM - #4 Arizona vs. #5 UCLA
2:30PM - #1 Cal vs. #8 Oregon
6:00PM - #3 Washington vs. #6 Oregon State
8:30PM - #2 Arizona State vs. #7 Stanford
Southwestern Athletic Conference Tournament
Quarterfinals (Bossier City, LA)
2:30PM - #3 Alabama State vs. #6 Alabama A&M
9:00PM - #4 Prarie View A&M vs. #5 Texas Southern
Southeastern Conference Tournament
First Round (Nashville, TN)
12:00PM - #4W Alabama vs. #5E South Carolina
2:15PM - #3E Tennessee vs. #6W LSU
6:30PM - #4E Florida vs. #5W Auburn
8:45PM - #3W Arkansas vs. #6E Georgia
Southland Conference Tournament
Semifinals (Katy, TX)
6:00PM - #2 Stephen F. Austin vs. #3 Texas A&M- Corpus Christi
8:30PM - #1 Sam Houston State vs. #4 Southeast Louisiana
Southwestern Athletic Conference Tournament
3:30PM - #3 Alabama State vs. #6 Alabama A&M
9:00PM - #4 Praire View A&M vs. #5 Texas Southern
Western Athletic Conference Tournament
Quarterfinals (Reno, NV)
12:00PM - #1 Utah State vs. #8 Boise State
2:30PM - #4 Louisiana Tech vs. #5 Fresno State
6:00PM - #2 Nevada vs. #7 Idaho
8:30PM - #3 New Mexivco State vs. #6 San Jose State
Continue reading...
Thursday Morning Dump
- Utah State coach gets yelled at by WAC officials for yelling at New Mexico State player
- CBS reveals announcer pairings for March Madness
- Your hour-by-hour schedule for today's games. For a full conference tournament scoreboard, simply click here
- And to think, this took place 365 days ago today
- The 'Ville is in serious bubble-trouble, says Andy Glockner
- Mark Titus cried on national television, and we all saw it
- Jeff Goodman reports that Iowa State's Craig Brackens will declare for the draft.
- A great-read on the back story of Montana hero Anthony Johnsony
- Norm Roberts is most-likely done as St. Johns
- Dana O'Neil discusses the lucky skilled play of Notre Dame recently
- Tennessee is a tournament lock, but still has alot to prove
- Why exactly is March so crazy? simple answer, right?
- A G'Town/'Cuse Wager: Part Three
- Because Randolph Childress should not be forgotten
- two referees won't be working the Big East Tournament due to questionable decision-making ealier in the year
- Ole Miss gets Polynice back from suspension
- Willie Warren to go pro? His coach doesn't think that's his best bet
- A good-read on the progress made by Darrin Horne at South Carolina
- Eamonn Brennan wonders what is next for Todd Bozeman
- Omar Samhan had choice words for Gonzaga players, invited them to celebrtory dinner
- Man acquitted in the 2007 stabbing death of Rice player Jonathan Bailey
- Villanova's Taylor King will play in Big East Tournament
- Virginia Tech coch Seth Greenberg has got some serious range
- Ernie Kent tells players he's done at Oregon
Continue reading...
Conference Tournament Preview: The ACC
Where: Greensboro Coliseum, Greensboro, NC
When: March 11th-14th
Final: 1:00 pm ESPN/Raycom
Favorite: Duke Blue Devils
Look, I love Maryland's team this season, but Duke is the best team in the conference. There are not many teams in the country, let alone the ACC, than can match the 1-2-3 punch the Devils have in Kyle Singler, Jon Scheyer, and Nolan Smith. Scheyer and Singler are seniors and are/have been all-americans. Nolan Smith will likely be on a number of all-american lists next season. Hate them or love them, you cannot deny those three can hoop.
Nolan Smith could end up being an all-american next season.
(photo credit: XOS Sports)
Beyond that, Duke finally has some good big men. Brian Zoubek has come out of no where to be a force in the paint and on the offensive back boards. The Plumlees are as long and athletic as any Duke team in recent memory. Combine that with the watered down ACC and the tournament being played in North Carolina with UNC struggling, and Duke looks primed to make a run through the ACC.
And if they lose?: Maryland Terrapins
As I mentioned above, I love this Maryland team. Obviously, there's Greivis Vasquez, who has been phenomenal this season. But the Terps are much more than just a flamboyant Venezuelan. Eric Hayes has turned into quite the college player, the steadying force paired with Vasquez in the back court. Hayes is one of the smarter players in the ACC, and has become a knock down shooter. Sean Mosley and Landon Milbourne are undersized, but they are scrappy players that defend and play much bigger than their listed height. Cliff Tucker and Adrian Bowie are capable reserves that have saved the Terps on a couple occasions.
The key for Maryland is going to be the play of Jordan Williams and Dino Gregory, but I will get into that in a bit.
Don't count out/Sleepers: Well, everyone?
Part of the reason the ACC has been as fun to follow as it has this year is that the league is so wide open. Duke is the best, and Maryland isn't far behind, but after that there are five teams that are good enough to make a run to the ACC championship, but may also be in danger of playing their way out of the NCAA Tournament with a poor showing in Greensboro.
Clemson and Florida State are probably the two best in this group. Clemson had a hiccup midway through the conference season when Demontez Stitt injured his ankle, but with the PG healthy, the Tigers are back to full speed. At full speed, they are a tough team to matchup against. Clemson is so athletic and takes advantage of that in their press. When Booker is playing well and their threes are going down, this team can play with anyone.
What Florida State lacks in guard play, they make up for with sheer length, especially along their front line. The Seminoles are going to struggle to score at times as they don't really have any, well, scorers. But this is the best defensive team in the country according to Kenpom, using their length to make it difficult to get a clean look at the rim.
Wake Forest and Georgia Tech are the disappointing teams. Tech has collapsed, as Paul Hewitt teams usually do. There are few front lines better than what Georgia Tech has to offer, and Iman Shumpert is a talent at the point, but something is missing with this team. Be it leadership, be it decision making, and at times I'd even argue that its simply effort, but Georgia Tech just has not been the team many expected them to be. That said, if they can put it all together, who knows what could happen. Tech is in the worst spot in terms of an at-large bid and may want to win two games to feel safe.
Wake Forest is in a bit of the same boat. I can't figure this team out. Ishmael Smith is a player at the point. Al-Farouq Aminu is a lottery pick. They have shooters on the wing and size in the paint. They defend. But they lost four in a row before closing the ACC season with a win over Clemson. It will be interesting to see which Wake team shows up here. The Demon Deacons are probably safe, tournament wise, but may want to avoid a first round loss.
There may not be a better 1-on-1 player in the ACC than Delaney.
(photo credit: BIAH)
Virginia Tech is the x-factor. I don't think anyone has a feel for just how good this team is. Malcolm Delaney is a stud, Jeff Allen and Dorenzo Hudson are capable complimentary players, and they put together some nice wins the last month of the season. The problem is that the Hokies did a bunch of nothing before that, and lost to BC just three weeks ago. Tech should also avoid losing their first game if they want to feel safe next Sunday.
Names you need to know
Continue reading...
Conference Tournament Preview: The Big 10
Where: Conseco Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, IN
When: March 11th-14th
Final: 3:30 pm CBS
Favorite: Ohio State Buckeyes
With Evan Turner in the lineup, the Buckeyes have been flat out the best team in the Big Ten. They are 21-4 on the season and 14-2 in conference play with him. The thing that makes Evan Turner so special as a player is how much better the rest of the team is when he's on the floor. Outside of Turner, there really is not another guy on this team that can create their own shot. Dallas Lauderdale is a solid big man, but his post game consists of the ability to catch the ball, then dunk the ball. Jon Diebler is a shooter, through and through. William Buford is a bit more of a slasher than Diebler, but he is still at his best when catching-and-shooting. If you look at the numbers those three put up, all were much better with Turner in the lineup.
Evan Turner is the best player in the country because of how good he makes his teammates.
(photo credit: ESPN)
If there is a knock on the Buckeyes, it is their depth. It is not uncommon to see Ohio State's four wing players -- Diebler, Buford, Turner, and David Lighty -- all play 40 minutes in a game. Playing three straight games, I question how well their legs are going to hold up.
And if they lose?: Michigan State Spartans and Wisconsin Badgers
Michigan State is a tough team to peg this season. There is no question that they have the talent -- Kalin Lucas, Raymar Morgan, Durrell Summers, Draymond Green, Chris Allen -- and I'm never one to count Tom Izzo out of any tournament game, but when you watch the Spartans play, you're left with a feeling that this team is underperforming. It hasn't just been of late either. Even when Sparty was undefeated in the Big Ten and cruising to what seemed like an inevitable league title, they didn't have that air of superiority that you would expect from MSU. Having said all of that, this team still finished 24-7 and tied for the Big Ten regular season title. There is as much, if not more, talent on this team than any other team in the conference, but I doubt I'm the only one playing the wait-and-see game with MSU.
Michigan State and Wisconsin both have a shot to win the Big 10 Tourney.
(photo credit: MLive)
Wisconsin is the opposite of Michigan State. No one really expected much from the Badgers, but as we've been doing for years, we all underestimated Bo Ryan. This team is no different than any Wisconsin team you have seen over the last decade. They defend. They execute in the half court. They hustle. With Jon Leuer back healthy and talents like Trevon Hughes and Jordan Taylor in the back court, would anyone be surprised if the Badgers made a fun to the title?
Don't count out: Purdue Boilermakers
It seems like everyone has written off Purdue. True, Robbie Hummel is injured. True, he is a huge part of what the Boilermakers do. But there is still a lot of experience on this team, and Matt Painter is an excellent coach. I know that Purdue's offense, as well as their rebounding, will take huge hits with the loss of Hummel, but the bottom line is that this team is still going to defend. They are still going to run their stuff in the half court. They still have E'Twuan Moore, JaJuan Johnson, Keaton Grant, and Chris Kramer. It will be difficult, obviously, but don't write Purdue off just yet.
Sleeper: Northwestern Wildcats
I know, I know, Northwestern didn't live up to the expectations many had for them early in the season. But I like the Wildcats draw. They get a first round game against an Indiana team that looks like they have packed it in for the year. Their second round game is against the depleted Boilermakers. If they make it that far, the Wildcats will likely get either Michigan State, who they beat last season, or Minnesota, who they beat this year. Long shot, but I think there's a chance here.
Names you need to know
Continue reading...
Posts
