After a pretty unexciting afternoon, last night's games were, once again, the best of the day. Gonzaga was able to advance on the strength of a coast-to-coast lay-up by a freshman, while Duke was aided by a couple close calls in their win over Texas.
The biggest news of the day was that Dominic James, the Marquette point guard that broke his foot earlier in the season, was cleared to play and would be suiting up today against Missouri. What I'm hearing is that he will be playing very limited minutes (he has no wind, and was only cleared to practice yesterday), but there will be a boost simply getting James in uniform on the bench. Maybe he needs to shave his head now...
Here is today's schedule:
- South - 12:10: #6 Arizona State vs. #3 Syracuse
- East - 2:20: #12 Wisconsin vs. #4 Xavier
- Midwest - 2:30 PM: #11 Dayton vs. #3 Kansas
- Midwest - 2:40 PM: #13 Cleveland State vs. #12 Arizona
- East - 2:50 PM: #8 Oklahoma State vs. #1 Pitt
- West - 4:50 PM: #6 Marquette vs. #3 Missouri
- Midwest - 5:00 PM: #10 USC vs. #2 Michigan State
- Midwest - 5:20 PM: #9 Siena vs. #1 Louisville
Follow along after the jump.
- Lyons ices the game. Louisville is up five with just over a minute left. A bit of an anti-climactic end to what seemed like it would be an exciting end of the day.
- And Lazar Hayward steps over the in-line on the ensuing inbounds! Lyons can ice it with these two free throws.
- Michigan State hung on against USC, and Louisville has regained control against Siena, but how about the stones on Mizzou freshman Kim English, stepping to the line off the bench and knocking down both free throws.
- The difference right now has been that Siena has been forcing turnovers and scoring off of them, while they have not turned the ball over. The Saints have 19 points on 15 Louisville turnovers, while they have turned it over just 5 times.
- Marquette and Siena have both taken the lead. Jerel McNeal has been sensational.
- It looks like we are headed for some phenomenal finishes. Marquette has cut Mizzou's lead to 1, USC and MSU are tied up, and Siena has cut the Louisville lead to 8.
- In case you haven't noticed, my posts are going to really slow down a lot for the second half of these games, but if you need something to read, check out this article about a sixth grade phenom from Seattle.
- USC and MSU are really battling. The Trojans head into the under 16 timeout with a 47-44 lead.
- Missouri can really put up points in a hurry. They just scored eight points in about a minute and a half.
- Michigan State is down 46-42 against the Trojans. But the Spartans have assisted on each of their 13 FG's. Pretty impressive.
- McNeal now has 19 points as Marquette has cut the Tiger lead to 46-38. The Eagles are not out of this thing yet.
- Siena heads into the break down 42-35. Louisville is a second half team, so the Saints better be ready for the Cardinals to come out of the locker rooms strong.
- Siena is hanging around with Louisville, down six near the end of the first half. Ubiles has ten points and five boards to lead the Saints. The key right now is that the Saints are getting to the offensive glass, and their athletes are able to hang with Louisville's athletes.
- We have reached the half in two games. USC trails MSU 40-37, while Mizzou has taken complete control against the Eagles, taking a 46-35 lead into the break (it would be worse, but McNeal hit a 30 footer at the buzzer).
James does not look like Dom James. There is nothing wrong with that, this is really the first he has played since suffering the injury about a month ago. His first step isn't there, and he looks out of rhythm. But again, it is to be expected.
- Travis Walton is one of the most underrated players in the country. He is maybe the best on the ball defender in the country, but he also has developed an excellent 15-17 footer, can penetrate and find people, and he doesn't make mistakes. Exactly the kind of senior you want on your roster. He has hit jumper surrounding an assist for a dunk in the last two minutes.
- Mizzou has opened up an 11 point lead on Marquette. The Tigers defense stopped allowing as much penetration, and they have also been able to get out in transition more. Marquette better be careful, because they are about to get run out of the gym.
- CBS did a great feature on Hasbrouck's father earlier today. He has MS and is confined to a wheel chair, but he still manages to get to just about every Siena game.
- Michigan State has 6 turnovers already against USC. The Trojans are mixing up defenses and it is really throwing off the Spartans.
- English has 15 points now. He averages six points for the season. 16 is his season high.
- Over in Dayton, Louisville has taken a 7-5 lead, but Smith has picked up two early fouls. Siena is trying to pressure Louisville, which might not be the greatest decision. True, Louisville's guards are a bit suspect, but the Cards thrive in games that are helter-skelter. To beat them, you want run good offensive sets and control the pace of the game defensively. You don't want to get into a track meet with them.
- Mizzou has gone on a 13-2 run, and English has ten of them. As I wrote that, Lazar Hayward picked up his second foul on a charge.
- Dom James did, in fact, shave his head. I like it.
- This has nothing to do with basketball, but I am convinced that if you go to McDonalds and just stand in the line, you can eventually get someone's food handed to you because the guys behind the desk never check the number on your ticket. If you don't care what you are eating, it is a good way to get a free meal.
I'm just saying...
- So I'm back, and Marquette has taken an early 17-11 lead on Mizzou. The Eagles look like they have gotten a real spark from James coming back. McNeal has five early, and Marquette is killing the Tigers with their penetration.
MSU is up 11-10 early on USC. I'm pretty excited for both of these games as the two teams match-up very well.
- I'll be back in 15, going to make a food run. I would order delivery, but the one (and only) down side to doing this is that I am forced to stay inside all day when it is beautiful outside. That, and my couch is well on its way to having my ass permanently imprinted on it.
- Pitt pulls out the victory, but it was a great effort by OK State. I cannot imagine how good this team would have been had Ibrahima Thomas, their lone big man, not left the team.
- Pitt's big three have taken over down the stretch as Young, Blair and Fields have scored the last nine points.
- Fields and Eaton have both been great today. Eaton has 13 and 10 dimes, while Fields has made a number of huge plays.
Young has 31 after that three.
- Arizona looks like they have taken control of this CSU game, so we are turning are full attention to the battle in Dayton. After an Anderson three and a Fields turnover, OK State will be shooting free throws to take the lead.
- OK State just hit their first three of the half to cut the lead to five. But Blair responds by grabbing an offensive rebound and finishing an and-1 in the middle of, I kid you not, all five Cowboy defender. He is strong.
- Jordan Hill just picked up his fourth foul. Nic Wise has three. Fouls could be a problem for the Wildcats down the stretch. They are up 56-49 with 7 minutes left.
- Cleveland State has gotten the lead down to 50-46 in Miami. The Vikings are just 1-16 from three.
- Kansas has taken control of the game against Dayton, taking a 19 point lead, while it looks like Xavier has finally locked up the win against Wisconsin.
- Pitt has opened up an 11 point lead now. OK State better start hitting some jumpers.
- Cedric Jackson is back in the game, and the Vikings have trimmed Arizona's lead to 46-40.
- The Pokes can't buy a basket right now. After scoring 49 points and shooting 10-16 from three in the first half, the Cowboys have scored just four points and shot 0-6 from three in the first 8 minutes of the second half.
- Keiton Page = Luke Harangody's mini-me.
- Xavier has opened up an eight point lead on Wisconsin. The Badgers have mustered just eight points in the last 13 minutes as X has outscored them 23-8 in that stretch. Bohannon has been held to 2-10 shooting and just 5 points by Jackson.
- What a pass by Fields for a lay-up by Blair.
- Neither Pitt or OK State has come out shooting anywhere near as well in the second half. The biggest issue right now is that Pitt is killing the Pokes on the offensive glass. That last play saw Young grab two offensive rebounds and pick up an and-1 lay-up. Pitt has opened up a seven point lead.
- I don't understand why DeJuan Blair is not touching the ball everytime down the floor. On the last Pitt possession, Blair had a great seal and great position on Moses, but Dixon did not give him the ball.
- Xavier has held Wisconsin scoreless for over five minutes while scoring nine straight points to take a 35-33 lead. Wisconsin looks terrible offensively right now. Dante Jackson hit the three that gave them the lead.
- Dayton is 10-43 from the floor, but they have gotten 10 offensive rebounds.
Cole Aldrich is going to be a heck of an NBA center. He is long, he is athletic, he has great hands and timing, and he is nimble under the basket. Did anyone see that little reverse lay-up he just hit?
- Cole Aldrich is too much for Dayton inside as he has 13 boards and 4 blocks. But Dayton is hanging tough, down just 29-23. If Kansas gets their offense clicking, Dayton could be in trouble.
- Fitting end to a wild first half in Dayton. Levance Fields went to the line for a 1-and-1 with 18 seconds left in the half and missed the first, but no one knew that it was one shot, and Fields was able to run down the rebound. With the extra possession, Fields knocked down a three to send the game to the break tied at 49 (yes, 49). OK State was 10-16 from deep.
- Wisconsin has opened up a 33-26 lead on Xavier. The Badgers are not a team that you want to fall behind, as their tough defense and slow pace makes them so hard to come back on.
- I have not been watching the AZ-CSU game, did anyone see what happened to Cedric Jackson? I'm assuming he got poked in the eye, because he is sitting on the bench and he cannot open his left eye. Zona is up 31-22 after a swooping Bullock lay-up, and Jordan Hill has picked up his third foul.
- This Pitt-OK State game is awesome right now. The score is 42-41, and the two teams are going back and forth right now. After a gorgeous pass by Eaton (who is fast becoming one of my favorite players in the country), the Pokes take a 44-41 lead with 2 minutes left in the half. You have to wonder how long they can keep up this shooting - they are 9-15 from three (but Pitt is 6-15).
- Cleveland State has not been able to figure out Arizona's zone. They are 5-21 from the floor right now, and have managed just 16 points in 16 minutes.
- And Eaton is back on the court, and maybe just the presence gave the Pokes a boost - his first possession, Anderson banged a three and got fouled.
- Pitt has scored nine straight, but after a nasty collision between Eaton's shoulder and Blair's knee, it looks like the Pokes could be in trouble. Eaton has a towel over his face, and looks to be in a great deal of pain. Blair walked off the court. It looked like it was more of a scare for him than anything. He has a big scar on each of his knees, and when Eaton fell, he went straight into Blair's knee. That could have been much worse than it ended up being.
- Wisconsin has taken a 25-23 lead over Xavier. Terrell Holloway just banged a three that ended a big Wisco run. Fouls are going to be an issue for X. Holloway has two and Love three.
- Pitt really looks out of sorts right now. They are not able to get out onto the shooters of OK State, and on the offensive end, they are turning the ball over and are not getting good looks. Sam Young is the only guy that looks to have it going today.
- The Pokes are on fire right now. They have hit 4-5 from deep early as they have opened up an 18-13 lead.
- "Top Flyght" just took off from outside the block to throw one down on a break. The Kansas-Dayton is really starting to pick up in action as Dayton is starting to play their scrappy style.
- Oklahoma State has gotten on the board against Pitt. I like this match-up for the Pokes. Pitt struggles against teams that spread the floor and penetrate, which is exactly what the Cowboys do. If they can hit their threes, and force Blair to have to come out and defend on the perimeter, they can win this thing.
- Arizona has gotten out to a quick start against Cleveland State, taking a 7-0 lead in the first two minutes. If they get out and run the floor, I don't know if the Vikinds can hang with them.
- Kansas's defense is not allowing Dayton to get anything going offensively. The Flyers have started the game 1-13, and are down 11-2 six minutes into the game. Collins and Aldrich have combined for nine points. One thing Kansas does need to do is start rebounding on the defensive end. The Flyers have 5 offensive rebounds.
- Cole Aldrich just grabbed an offensive rebound and got a put-back basket. I don't know if Dayton is going to be able to handle Aldrich down low. I have a feeling that the key to this game is going to be who wins that battle.
- We've tipped in the Wisconsin-Xavier and Kansas-Dayton games. Wisconsin-Xavier is going to be a defensive battle. Six minutes in, the score is 5-3.
- The Orange have held on to beat the Sun Devils. Devo finished with 21 points, including two huge threes to help the Orange on a 9-2 run when ASU cut the lead to four. Rautins had 17 off the bench. James Harden did not have a good tournament, and may have hurt his draft stock as he was just 3-18 from the floor for 19 points in the two games.
- And Devo bangs a couple threes, and the lead is back up to 11 with 3:39 left. He's cocky, he talks a lot of trash, but I don't think there are ten guys left in the tournament I would want taking a big shot over him.
- Ty Abbott bangs another three, and ASU has this game down to four. James Harden has also decided to start playing. One thing I don't really under stand - why is James Harden playing the high post? He is really the only guy that can penetrate and create on the perimeter.
- Harden had his first field goal with four minutes left on Friday. Today, he just hit his first shot with 10 minutes left.
- Pendergraph just fouled out. Huge loss for the Sun Devils. You gotta feel for that kid. It is his last game (and most important game) for ASU, and he will be spending the last 10 minutes on the bench. Eric Boateng is going to need to play big on the inside if Sun Devils want to advance.
- Kuksiks has been the only source of points for ASU, as he has been hitting jumpers from all over the court. He has 20 today. Of note, Pendergraph is on the floor with four fouls.
- Harden is starting to assert himself here in the second half as he is really attacking the basket hard. He picked up the third foul on Jackson, and Onuaku also has three.
- Seth Davis just said ba-ba-booey for the third time (that I have heard) in NCAA tournament coverage. Really?
- James Harden is without a field goal today, and has made just one shot in 60 minutes in the first two games. ASU needs him to step up if they want to reach the Sweet 16.
- Everytime ASU scores, Syracuse has an answer. This time is was a three by Devendorf to answer a three from Kuksiks. The Orange are really controlling this game. They have now opened up a 40-24 lead.
- Jonny Flynn has a pretty ridiculous handle.
- Syracuse is trying to pull away, but Arizona State is hitting threes at an impressive clip. They are 8-20 from the floor, but they are 6-15 from deep.
- Harden has not been very aggressive in the two tournament games. He just took his first two shots of the game, and we are almost 10 minutes in. On Friday, Harden finished with just one field goal and nine points. The Sun Devils were buoyed on Friday by 22 points from both Pendergraph and Glasser, but you can't rely on those numbers. Harden needs to wake up.
- Neither team is playing much defense right now, as both teams are shooting well over 50%.
- And we have tipped in Miami with Syracuse and Arizona State. I have no idea why the NCAA thought it would be a good idea to hold tournament games in Miami. Not only are none of the teams playing there from anywhere near Florida, but the arena is empty. Don't they realize that people in Miami don't care about sports?
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