17 Mar27 - The "Other"s Are Game (FINAL FOUR)
Volume XXI, No. 21 - 17 Mar27: FINAL FOUR
The "Other"s Are Game
The top four seed all made it through to the SOUTH REGIONAL in Memphis. [E1]North Carolina's size and tempo was too much for [E4]Butler to handle with the Tar Heels blowing out to a 52-32 lead with two minutes left in the first half; but nursing a blowout lead isn't the easiest thing to do and the Bulldogs closed to within 66-76 with six minutes to go in the second half before the UNC closed it out (92-80) -- Joel Berry(26p), pJustin Jackson(24p5a5r) and xLuke Maye(16p12r) were too much for tAndrew Chrabascz(21p7r4a). Back in December, [S3]UCLA beat [S2]@Kentucky at Rupp Arena in a shootout and the rematch was much the same; but this time the Bruins didn't have scorers who could match either De'Aaron Fox(39p) or Malik Monk(21p1a) -- tight throughout the first half (which ended @35-33 for UK); a burst midway through the second half gave the Wildcats a 66-58 lead with seven minutes left and they toughed out the close (@86-75). The [S1]North Carolina/[S2]@Kentucky final built to a dramatic "Can you top this?" finish -- it's not just UNC's size in the paint that was key but its height on the perimeter -- the Tar Heels were able to defend De'Aaron Fox(13p) and Malik Monk(12p) [unlike in December] with 'tweeners (including tJustin Jackson[19p4a5r]) instead of ordinary guards; still, UNC couldn't separate from UK in the first half, which ended 38-@33; when UK surged to a @64-59 lead with three minutes left, UNC dug deep and came up with a 12-0 run to lead 71-@64 with only 45 seconds to go; but UK's stars stepped up as Monk and Fox canned 3 three-pointers to tie the game at @73-73 with just seconds left; then Super-sub Luke Maye(17p;GWFG) sank the game-winning jumper to send the Tar Heels on to Phoenix (75-@73).
The WEST REGIONAL in San Jose only lacked its #3-seed (but it swapped in a Preseason Top-10 squad instead). There was a big question how [W1]Gonzaga would do in a tight game after dominating the mediocre WEST COAST; the 'Zags couldn't shake [W4]West Virginia, who led 58-55 with less than two minutes to go on bJevon Carter(21p7r)'s three-pointer, but Jordan Matthews hit the game-winning three-pointer while WVU missed three shots at the very end trying to tie things up in the 61-58 Gonz win. [W11]Xavier/[W2]Arizona showcased the difference between a "team" versus a "roster" -- what a collective effort from the Musketeers! -- Xav gave Az all it wanted in the first half led by Trevon Bluiett(25p) before the Wildcats forged a 37-35 halftime lead; it was still tied at 61-61 with six minutes to go before tAllonzo Trier(19p9r)'s 12-straight points staked Az to a 69-61 lead with three minutes left; but a 12-2 close from the Musketeers scrapped out a stirring win 73-71 win. In the final, the size and depth of [W1]Gonzaga wore [W11]Xavier down and the Musketeers couldn't keep up -- Gonz led 49-39 at the half and extended to a blowout margin early in the second half and then coasted home to win 83-59 led by tNigel Williams-Goss(23p4a8r).
The MIDWEST REGIONAL in Kansas City swapped out its #2-seed for perhaps the hottest team in the country (and a Preseason #17 at that). [M1]@Kansas' weakness was supposed to be handling big men in the paint -- so what team could exploit that more than [M4]Purdue? -- fCaleb Swanigan(18p7r6to) was only OK, but the bigger point was that the Boilermakers can't deal with first-rate guards; pFrank Mason III(26p7a7r) and Devonte Graham(26p;5/9 3s) had their way, turning a close game at the half (@47-40) into a laugher (@98-66). [M3]Oregon couldn't shake [M7]Michigan in the first half, only leading 35-33 at the break; a brief 7-point lead in the second half was quickly erased as the Wolverines surged ahead 68-65 with two minutes to go; Tyler Dorsey(20p) hit the go-ahead shot with a minute to go but Mich got a great look from pDerrick Walton Jr.(20p8a5r) which came up empty as Ore won 69-68. In the final, the big key came right away -- tJosh Jackson(10p5a12r5to)'s 'tweener game had allowed the Jayhawks to be a dominant team all season long, but the Ducks are full of 'tweeners and he picked up 2 quick fouls and was no factor in the first half as Ore led 44-@33 at the break; the second half from Ore was a little shaky as the Ducks tried to nurse as much as an 18-point lead; Kans closed to within @60-66 with three minutes left, but it was "dagger threes" from bTyler Dorsey(27p5r;6/10 3s) and bDillon Brooks(17p4a5r) and everything else from cJordan Bell(11p13r8b) that kept Kans at bay; Frank Mason III(21p) didn't get enough help as Ore handled Kans 74-@60.
The EAST REGIONAL at MADISON SQUARE GARDEN in New York had lost its top two seeds going in (at the expense of a Preseason Top 10 team as well as an unheralded team that benefitted greatly from a "home" Pod placement). Once [E7]South Carolin broke open the game (with a 15-point lead at halftime, 37-22) you knew [E3]Baylor didn't have it to mount a comeback -- the rare "upset laugher" -- yikes! -- as the Gamecocks won it 70-50. [E4]Florida/[E8]Wisconsin was a solidly played game where the momentum went back and forth with late runs that turned the tide -- the Badgers got out to a 27-20 lead with four minutes to go in the first half only to see the Gators put on a run to lead 34-32 at the break; Fla seemingly took control with a 64-55 lead with nine minutes to go in the second half only to see Wisc close the game with an 8-0 run (capped off by a running three-pointer by Zak Showalter); then Wisc got out to a lead in the overtime only to see Fla win it on a running three-pointer of its own by Chris Chiozza! -- Kevaughn Allen(35p1a) led Fla; bEthan Happ(21p6r4a) was big for Wisc in the 84-83(OT) Gator win. In the final, the rubber game between conferencemates [E7]South Carolina/[E4]Florida featured brutal defending from both teams throughout; the Gators eeked out a 7-point lead at the half (40-33) thanks to 7-for-12 shooting on three pointers; but the second half turned around drastically as the Gators went 0-for-14 on three-pointers in the second half; from a 63-63 tie with three minutes left, SCar played near perfect defense down the stretch as bSindarius Thornwell(26p3a7r) and P.J. Dozier(17p) led the way offensively for the Gamecocks; 18p6r from bJustin Leon wasn't enough in the 77-70 Gamecock win.
In the NIT, [s4]TCU upheld the banner for the BIG 12 by dumping [e6]Richmond (@86-68 despite 30p6a7r from pT.J. Cline) and getting through to the semifinals. [m4]UCF took out the state of Illinois single-handedly: first, edging on the road at [m1]Illinois State (63-@62); then, taking out [m2]Illinois, @68-58. [e6]Georgia Tech took out host [e5]Mississippi on the road to advance. In the all-1BC West Bracket, [w8]Cal State-Bakersfield road-routed host [w4]Colorado State (81-@63) while [w6]Texas-Arlington thumped [w7]Akron (@85-69 paced by six double-figure scorers); then, CBS surprised host TxArl (80-@76 in a free throw-shooting contest) to book a trip to MADISON SQUARE GARDEN in New York.
In the CBI, [nwA1]MWC/Wyoming won twice at home to make it to the Championship Series. Likewise, [seB1]SUNB/Coastal Carolina posted two solid wins at home to follow suit. [neB1]HORIZ/Illinois-Chicago "upset" [seA1]A10/George Washington (@80-71) but then fell at CoCar. [swB2]WAC/Utah Valley posted its second road win at [swA1]CUSA/Rice (85-@79) but couldn't make it three against Wyo.
The CIT got down to the semifinals. SLAND/Texas A&M-Corpus Christi won twice: first beating SKY/Weber State (@82-73) and taking out SUMMIT/[1a]Fort Wayne (@78-62) as cRashawn Thomas averaged 28p12r. SOCON/[1b]Furman road-routed Campbell (79-@64). MAAC/[1c]St. Peter's edged host SUNB/Texas State (49-@44). AMERE/Maryland-Balitmore County handled BIGS/Liberty (@80-68) to round out the foursome.
- - - - - -
With all the talk of the Mega-ACC's getting 9 bids along with the "Big Three" in the BIG 12, the PAC-12 and the BIG EAST as well as "Big Two"s in the WCC, BIG 10 and AMERICAN; who'd-a thunk it would be the SEC to post three teams into the Elite 8 with the other B-Majors only getting one each (and the BIG 10 and AMERICAN coming up empty)!?
Two No.1-seeds, the Preseason No.1 team and the best defensive team in the tournament -- that's a pretty high-quality Final Four after all. It's the first-ever trip past the Sweet 16 (let alone a trip to the Final Four) for "The Other USC"/"The Other Carolina -- i.e., the Gamecocks from Columbia. Nice to see Gonzaga/Mark Few finally get to the Final Four with their decade-plus of excellence. Who's the winningest player in the history of College Basketball? Thanks to Gonz's gaudy won/loss record year after year and an extra few games due to a medical redshirt, the answer is fifth-year senior cPrzemek Karnowski(136 wins)! It says here, "Heels over 'Zags" for sweet redemption.
Only [s4]TCU was even in consideration for an NCAA bid -- defense-minded [m4]UCF likely doesn't have enough offense to get by the Horned Frogs. Young [e6]Georgia Tech is also a defense-first squad but can a true-1BC squad like [w8]Cal State-Bakersfield really pull off the B-Major upset? BIG12/TCU should rule in NYC.
MWC/[nwA1]Wyoming gets two home games in the CBI Championship Series -- that should be enough to take out SUNB/[seB1]Coastal Carolina.
MAAC/[1c]St. Peter's (against SOCON/[1b]Furman) and AMERE/Marlyand-Balitmore County (against SUNB/Texas State) get the home games in the CIT semifinals -- that should rule the day. From there, conference strength points to StPete as the ultimate champ.
-- Ron
The "Other"s Are Game
The top four seed all made it through to the SOUTH REGIONAL in Memphis. [E1]North Carolina's size and tempo was too much for [E4]Butler to handle with the Tar Heels blowing out to a 52-32 lead with two minutes left in the first half; but nursing a blowout lead isn't the easiest thing to do and the Bulldogs closed to within 66-76 with six minutes to go in the second half before the UNC closed it out (92-80) -- Joel Berry(26p), pJustin Jackson(24p5a5r) and xLuke Maye(16p12r) were too much for tAndrew Chrabascz(21p7r4a). Back in December, [S3]UCLA beat [S2]@Kentucky at Rupp Arena in a shootout and the rematch was much the same; but this time the Bruins didn't have scorers who could match either De'Aaron Fox(39p) or Malik Monk(21p1a) -- tight throughout the first half (which ended @35-33 for UK); a burst midway through the second half gave the Wildcats a 66-58 lead with seven minutes left and they toughed out the close (@86-75). The [S1]North Carolina/[S2]@Kentucky final built to a dramatic "Can you top this?" finish -- it's not just UNC's size in the paint that was key but its height on the perimeter -- the Tar Heels were able to defend De'Aaron Fox(13p) and Malik Monk(12p) [unlike in December] with 'tweeners (including tJustin Jackson[19p4a5r]) instead of ordinary guards; still, UNC couldn't separate from UK in the first half, which ended 38-@33; when UK surged to a @64-59 lead with three minutes left, UNC dug deep and came up with a 12-0 run to lead 71-@64 with only 45 seconds to go; but UK's stars stepped up as Monk and Fox canned 3 three-pointers to tie the game at @73-73 with just seconds left; then Super-sub Luke Maye(17p;GWFG) sank the game-winning jumper to send the Tar Heels on to Phoenix (75-@73).
The WEST REGIONAL in San Jose only lacked its #3-seed (but it swapped in a Preseason Top-10 squad instead). There was a big question how [W1]Gonzaga would do in a tight game after dominating the mediocre WEST COAST; the 'Zags couldn't shake [W4]West Virginia, who led 58-55 with less than two minutes to go on bJevon Carter(21p7r)'s three-pointer, but Jordan Matthews hit the game-winning three-pointer while WVU missed three shots at the very end trying to tie things up in the 61-58 Gonz win. [W11]Xavier/[W2]Arizona showcased the difference between a "team" versus a "roster" -- what a collective effort from the Musketeers! -- Xav gave Az all it wanted in the first half led by Trevon Bluiett(25p) before the Wildcats forged a 37-35 halftime lead; it was still tied at 61-61 with six minutes to go before tAllonzo Trier(19p9r)'s 12-straight points staked Az to a 69-61 lead with three minutes left; but a 12-2 close from the Musketeers scrapped out a stirring win 73-71 win. In the final, the size and depth of [W1]Gonzaga wore [W11]Xavier down and the Musketeers couldn't keep up -- Gonz led 49-39 at the half and extended to a blowout margin early in the second half and then coasted home to win 83-59 led by tNigel Williams-Goss(23p4a8r).
The MIDWEST REGIONAL in Kansas City swapped out its #2-seed for perhaps the hottest team in the country (and a Preseason #17 at that). [M1]@Kansas' weakness was supposed to be handling big men in the paint -- so what team could exploit that more than [M4]Purdue? -- fCaleb Swanigan(18p7r6to) was only OK, but the bigger point was that the Boilermakers can't deal with first-rate guards; pFrank Mason III(26p7a7r) and Devonte Graham(26p;5/9 3s) had their way, turning a close game at the half (@47-40) into a laugher (@98-66). [M3]Oregon couldn't shake [M7]Michigan in the first half, only leading 35-33 at the break; a brief 7-point lead in the second half was quickly erased as the Wolverines surged ahead 68-65 with two minutes to go; Tyler Dorsey(20p) hit the go-ahead shot with a minute to go but Mich got a great look from pDerrick Walton Jr.(20p8a5r) which came up empty as Ore won 69-68. In the final, the big key came right away -- tJosh Jackson(10p5a12r5to)'s 'tweener game had allowed the Jayhawks to be a dominant team all season long, but the Ducks are full of 'tweeners and he picked up 2 quick fouls and was no factor in the first half as Ore led 44-@33 at the break; the second half from Ore was a little shaky as the Ducks tried to nurse as much as an 18-point lead; Kans closed to within @60-66 with three minutes left, but it was "dagger threes" from bTyler Dorsey(27p5r;6/10 3s) and bDillon Brooks(17p4a5r) and everything else from cJordan Bell(11p13r8b) that kept Kans at bay; Frank Mason III(21p) didn't get enough help as Ore handled Kans 74-@60.
The EAST REGIONAL at MADISON SQUARE GARDEN in New York had lost its top two seeds going in (at the expense of a Preseason Top 10 team as well as an unheralded team that benefitted greatly from a "home" Pod placement). Once [E7]South Carolin broke open the game (with a 15-point lead at halftime, 37-22) you knew [E3]Baylor didn't have it to mount a comeback -- the rare "upset laugher" -- yikes! -- as the Gamecocks won it 70-50. [E4]Florida/[E8]Wisconsin was a solidly played game where the momentum went back and forth with late runs that turned the tide -- the Badgers got out to a 27-20 lead with four minutes to go in the first half only to see the Gators put on a run to lead 34-32 at the break; Fla seemingly took control with a 64-55 lead with nine minutes to go in the second half only to see Wisc close the game with an 8-0 run (capped off by a running three-pointer by Zak Showalter); then Wisc got out to a lead in the overtime only to see Fla win it on a running three-pointer of its own by Chris Chiozza! -- Kevaughn Allen(35p1a) led Fla; bEthan Happ(21p6r4a) was big for Wisc in the 84-83(OT) Gator win. In the final, the rubber game between conferencemates [E7]South Carolina/[E4]Florida featured brutal defending from both teams throughout; the Gators eeked out a 7-point lead at the half (40-33) thanks to 7-for-12 shooting on three pointers; but the second half turned around drastically as the Gators went 0-for-14 on three-pointers in the second half; from a 63-63 tie with three minutes left, SCar played near perfect defense down the stretch as bSindarius Thornwell(26p3a7r) and P.J. Dozier(17p) led the way offensively for the Gamecocks; 18p6r from bJustin Leon wasn't enough in the 77-70 Gamecock win.
In the NIT, [s4]TCU upheld the banner for the BIG 12 by dumping [e6]Richmond (@86-68 despite 30p6a7r from pT.J. Cline) and getting through to the semifinals. [m4]UCF took out the state of Illinois single-handedly: first, edging on the road at [m1]Illinois State (63-@62); then, taking out [m2]Illinois, @68-58. [e6]Georgia Tech took out host [e5]Mississippi on the road to advance. In the all-1BC West Bracket, [w8]Cal State-Bakersfield road-routed host [w4]Colorado State (81-@63) while [w6]Texas-Arlington thumped [w7]Akron (@85-69 paced by six double-figure scorers); then, CBS surprised host TxArl (80-@76 in a free throw-shooting contest) to book a trip to MADISON SQUARE GARDEN in New York.
In the CBI, [nwA1]MWC/Wyoming won twice at home to make it to the Championship Series. Likewise, [seB1]SUNB/Coastal Carolina posted two solid wins at home to follow suit. [neB1]HORIZ/Illinois-Chicago "upset" [seA1]A10/George Washington (@80-71) but then fell at CoCar. [swB2]WAC/Utah Valley posted its second road win at [swA1]CUSA/Rice (85-@79) but couldn't make it three against Wyo.
The CIT got down to the semifinals. SLAND/Texas A&M-Corpus Christi won twice: first beating SKY/Weber State (@82-73) and taking out SUMMIT/[1a]Fort Wayne (@78-62) as cRashawn Thomas averaged 28p12r. SOCON/[1b]Furman road-routed Campbell (79-@64). MAAC/[1c]St. Peter's edged host SUNB/Texas State (49-@44). AMERE/Maryland-Balitmore County handled BIGS/Liberty (@80-68) to round out the foursome.
- - - - - -
With all the talk of the Mega-ACC's getting 9 bids along with the "Big Three" in the BIG 12, the PAC-12 and the BIG EAST as well as "Big Two"s in the WCC, BIG 10 and AMERICAN; who'd-a thunk it would be the SEC to post three teams into the Elite 8 with the other B-Majors only getting one each (and the BIG 10 and AMERICAN coming up empty)!?
Two No.1-seeds, the Preseason No.1 team and the best defensive team in the tournament -- that's a pretty high-quality Final Four after all. It's the first-ever trip past the Sweet 16 (let alone a trip to the Final Four) for "The Other USC"/"The Other Carolina -- i.e., the Gamecocks from Columbia. Nice to see Gonzaga/Mark Few finally get to the Final Four with their decade-plus of excellence. Who's the winningest player in the history of College Basketball? Thanks to Gonz's gaudy won/loss record year after year and an extra few games due to a medical redshirt, the answer is fifth-year senior cPrzemek Karnowski(136 wins)! It says here, "Heels over 'Zags" for sweet redemption.
Only [s4]TCU was even in consideration for an NCAA bid -- defense-minded [m4]UCF likely doesn't have enough offense to get by the Horned Frogs. Young [e6]Georgia Tech is also a defense-first squad but can a true-1BC squad like [w8]Cal State-Bakersfield really pull off the B-Major upset? BIG12/TCU should rule in NYC.
MWC/[nwA1]Wyoming gets two home games in the CBI Championship Series -- that should be enough to take out SUNB/[seB1]Coastal Carolina.
MAAC/[1c]St. Peter's (against SOCON/[1b]Furman) and AMERE/Marlyand-Balitmore County (against SUNB/Texas State) get the home games in the CIT semifinals -- that should rule the day. From there, conference strength points to StPete as the ultimate champ.
-- Ron
- Key games this week:
- NCAA
- Thursday:
- COLLEGE 3-POINT/SLAM DUNK CONTEST @PhoenixAZ/{GRAND CANYON}/
- {College 3-Point/Slam Dunk Contest}
- Friday:
- FINAL FOUR @PhoenixAZ
- {Open Team Practices} - FREE
- {College All-Star Game} - FREE
- Saturday:
- FINAL FOUR @PhoenixAZ
- [S1]N Carolina v [M3]Oregon
- [W1]Gonzaga v [E7]S Carolina
- Monday week:
- NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP @PhoenixAZ
- {[S1]NCarolina/[M3]Oregon} v {[W1]Gonzaga/[E7]SCarolina}
- NIT
- Tuesday:
- Semis @NewYorkNY/MSG/
- [s4]TCU v [m4]UCF
- [e6]
Georgia Techv [w8]Cal St-Bakersfield
- Thursday:
- Final @NewYorkNY/MSG/
- {[s4]TCU/[m4]UCF} v {[e6]
GeorgiaTech/[w8]CalStBakersfield}
- CBI (COLLEGE BASKETBALL INVITATIONAL)
Finals (Best of 3) on-campus
- Monday:
- @ [seB1]Co Carolina v [nwA1]Wyoming
- Wednesday:
- @ [nwA1]Wyoming v [seB1]Co Carolina
- (Friday, if necessary):
- @ [nwA1]Wyoming v [seB1]Co Carolina
- CIT (COLLEGEINSIDER.COM TOURNAMENT)
- Wednesday:
- Semifinals on-campus
- @ [1c]St Peter's v [1b]
Furman
- @ MD-Baltimore Co v Texas A&M-CC
- Friday:
- Final on-campus
- {[1b]
Furman/[1c]StPeters} v {TexasA&MCC/MDBaltimoreCo}
- Thursday:
posted by Ron @ Thursday, September 07, 2017
