07 Mar26 - It Don't Come Easy

Volume XI, No. 21 - 07 Mar 26

It Don't Come Easy

The Final Four is here and it's hard to argue with any of the participants: two #1-seeds and two #2s who were squeezed out of top seeds only because there weren't enough to go around to all of the teams that were worthy. We've got the defending champs still finding ways to win in their quest to repeat. We've got the superfrosh fulfilling their potential to win it all right off the bat. We've got a rematch from last year's title game on tap (in the semifinals this time) that figures to be much closer the second time around. And we've got second-generation coaches and players trying to match the glory of their fathers.

In the West Regional semis, Kansas survived a strong challenge from Southern Illinois' brutal defense. The Jayhawks couldn't shake the Salukis, trailing by 6 early in the second half and still tied at 53-53 with 3 minutes left. KU's pBrandon Rush(12p5a) did just enough to hold off the late heroics of SIU's gJamal Tatum(19p) as Kansas survived 61-58. Meanwhile, UCLA maintained a working margin against Pittsburgh for most of the game as ex-Pitt coach Ben Howland beat his former Pittsburgh assistant Jamie Dixon and players, 64-55, behind gArron Afflalo(17p) and gJosh Shipp(16p) as the Panthers' cAaron Gray was held to 10p6r by the tough inside Bruin defense.

In the West final, UCLA and Kansas took it right too each other with no let-up, neither team feeling as if it were the underdog. The intense, frenetic defense on both sides lasted throughout the game. The difference came as UCLA was able to get a few more easy baskets in transition and sink some more jumpers behind the smooth shooting of gArron Afflalo(24p) and pDarren Collison(14p7a). gBrandon Rush had 18p for the Jayhawks, but their on-again/off-again streaky shooting was decidedly off as they couldn't convert on several close-in shots. UCLA prevailed 68-55, having the "easiest"/most impressive time of it making the Final Four, handling two excellent opponents without nail-biter finishes.

In the Midwest Regional semis, Oregon rode the heroics of gTejuan Porter(33p;8/12 3s) to a 76-72 win over UNLV that wasn't as close as that score appears. The Ducks maintained a double-digit lead for most of the second half in that one. Butler's 'tweeners gave Florida's big men fits as they nailed three-pointers and caught the Gators in awkward defensive switches. The Bulldogs led 22-13 midway through the first half and battled their way to a 54-54 tie with 3 minutes left. Only a closing stretch of outstanding defense, clutch jumpers from gTaurean Green(17p;5/8 3s) and 17-for-21 free-throw shooting from cAl Horford and cJoakim Noah saved the day for UF in their 65-57 win.

In the Midwest final, Florida managed to play from ahead most of the way, but they could never shake pesky Oregon. This time it was the sharp-shooting of gLee Humphrey(23p;7 3ptrs) and gTaurean Green(21p) that led the way for the Gators. Humphrey's rotation on his shot was so tight that he "popped the chords" on one jumper and the game was delayed several minutes while they replaced the net.) The Ducks got 27p from gAaron Brooks and 18p5r from bMalik Hairston, but gTejuan Porter was 0-for-8 from the floor until the final minutes of the game. UF hung on despite more turnovers and missed free throws than they would have liked, 85-77.

In the South Regional semis, Ohio State's cGreg Oden sat with foul trouble as Tennessee built a 20-point lead, 49-29(1), behind 24p from gChris Lofton. Oden's foul trouble may have been a blessing in disguise, though, as he was not on the floor when the Buckeye guards shot their way back in the game at the start of the second half, tied the score at 64-64 with 9 minutes to go. But the Vols didn't go away and, despite 25p from gRon Lewis, OSU only survived thanks to 1/2 free throws from gMike Conley(17p) and a game-saving block by Oden at the buzzer in their 85-84 escape over UTn. Likewise, Memphis and Texas A&M went at it in another nail-biter, this time with neither team able to game much of an advantage. gJeremy Hunt(19p) and tChris Douglas-Roberts(15p) led the Tigers and fAntanas Kavaliauskas(17p8r) led the Aggies, but the game wasn't decided until erstwhile "Mr. Clutch" gAcie Law(13p) blew a breakaway layup for TXAM and gAntonio Anderson sank two free throws for MU to earn a 65-64 victory.

In the South final, foul trouble for cGreg Oden was what allowed the game to remain close. When Oden wasn't on the floor, Memphis' guard/'tweener corps was every bit the equal of Ohio State's. gJeremy Hunt(26p) and gChris Douglas-Roberts(14p) again led the way for MU and bRon Lewis(22p6r) and gMike Conley(19p) led OSU. But with the score tied at 60-60(9), Oden(17p9r) came back into the game and keyed a stretch that led to a 71-64(6) lead. From there, the Buckeyes sank 18 straight free throws to turn a nail-biter into a laugher as they closed out an impressive 92-76 victory.

In the East semifinals, Vanderbilt gave Georgetown everything it could handle, leading by 13 in the first half and still tied 60-60 with 3 minutes to go. With cRoy Hibbert(12p10r) sitting with foul trouble, the Hoyas' fJeff Green(15p) saved the day with a game-winning bank shot to eek out a 66-65 win over the Commodores. North Carolina also had its hands full with Pac-10 opponent USC. The Trojans' individual talent was superior to the Tar Heels as they seemingly took turns driving the lane for scores. cTaj Gibson(16p12r), gNick Young(15p) and gLodrick Stewart(15p) had things all their own way, leading 49-33 early in the second half. The Tar Heels' fTyler Hansbrough was only able to muster 5 points as he battled foul trouble. But the tide turned with 11 minutes to go when cGibson sat with his fourth foul and USC still leading 59-49. UNC went on a blistering 18-0 run, led by bMarcus Ginyard(10p9r) and fBrandan Wright(21p9r) as the Tar Heels took a 67-59 lead with 5 minutes left and rode that home to a 74-64 win. Roy Williams never panicked even when his team was down and seemingly out, having faith that his run-at-all-costs style would eventually wear out their opponents with fatigue and foul trouble, as it had all season.

In the East final, Georgetown led North Carolina early on 22-15, but the Tar Heels quickly turned that deficit into a 26-22 lead. As cRoy Hibbert(13p11r6b) sat with foul trouble, with the Heels leading 73-65(8), UNC seemingly had no worries. The Hoyas looked like yet another UNC opponent ready to wilt by fatigue/attrition. But Georgetown made a quick spurt to get to 70-75(5) and UNC never went into endplay mode, still firing up ridiculous three-pointers as if they had the game well in hand. As their shots kept missing -- during a 1-for-23 shooting stretch -- the Tar Heels' got nervous and the Hoyas got emboldened. A three-pointer by gJohn Wallace(19p) sent the game into overtime at 81-81 and GU outscored shellshocked UNC 15-3 in the extra period, behind fJeff Green's 22p9r in a dramatic, shocking, come-from-behind 96-84(OT) win. For GU coach John Thompson III and his player Patrick Ewing, Jr. (and for us watching), it's a strange déjà vu to see these sons follow in their famous fathers' footsteps ... at the same school, no less.

In the NIT, home games ruled the day as all four #1 seed advanced to New York. Mississippi State pasted Bradley, @101-72, and outran Florida State, @86-71. Air Force's spread offense produced a lopsided win over Georgia, @83-52, and a buzzer-beater win over DePaul, @52-51. West Virginia beat Massachusetts @90-77 and N.C. State @77-66 without much trouble. Clemson crushed Ole Miss @89-68 and edged Syracuse @74-70. On neutral ground, look for Clemson to redeem its 17-0 start with a 5-0 finish and the NIT title.

We've got a superb matchup of big men coming up between Ohio State's cGreg Oden and Georgetown's cRoy Hibbert. Oden hasn't faced any true centers all year (and didn't fare well against Florida's fAl Horford, the best big man he's seen all year). Hibbert at least has met the challenge of playing against Pitt's cAaron Gray. It's hard to go against the remarkable resilience that OSU has shown. We've got a great rematch in the other semi: Florida vs UCLA -- the Gators have shown their championship mettle finding ways to win tough, tight games this time around compared to last year's easy romp. As good as UCLA has looked, as much payback motivation as they have from last year's title game, this Florida team really is so good that it kind find different ways to win depending on the challenge of the given opponent. It won't be easy, but it says here that the Gators repeat.

-- Ron

Key games this week:

Tuesday:

NIT Semifinals @ New York NY

• (7:00P): [1/n1]Mississippi St v [4/e1]W Virginia
• (9:15P): [2/w1]Air Force v [3/s1]Clemson

Thursday:

NIT Final @ New York NY

• (7:00P): MississippiSt/WVirginia v AirForce/Clemson

Exhibition @ Atlanta GA /GA STATE SPORTS ARENA/

• (6:30P): SLAM DUNK / THREE-POINT CHAMPIONSHIPS

Friday:

Exhibition @ Atlanta GA /GA DOME/

• (12:00N): TEAM PRACTICES (1-hr each) [Open to the public / FREE]

Exhibition @ Atlanta GA /PHILIPS ARENA/

• (7:30P): NABC ALL-STAR GAME

Saturday:

NCAA FINAL FOUR @ Atlanta GA /GA DOME/

• (6:00P): [3/S1]Ohio St v [7/E2]Georgetown
• (8:45P): [1/M1]Florida v [5/W2]UCLA

Monday week:

NCAA NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP @ Atlanta GA /GA DOME/

• (9:00P): Florida/UCLA v OhioSt/Georgetown