Lots of upsets and some tight games.
Gutting It Out
Or maybe that was just my stomach after the game. I’ll get further into this game in a later post. #3 Pitt survived against #6 Wisconsin by not having the last scoring drought. At times I wasn’t sure if each team was just having runs or one side just couldn’t get a basket. A big win for Pitt, who beat the #10 ranked team in the country in Milwaukee — just 79 miles from Wisconsin’s campus.
In the earlier 3/6 game, #3 Georgia Tech blew a big lead in the second half, then made a big defensive play to hold on against #6 Boston College. GT has let teams back into the game twice in the NCAA Tourney. I’d say it would come back to bite them soon, but looking at the bracket, I’m not sure when.
Big Upsets
All involved the SEC, as the heavy hitters flamed out and the nerdy one pulled it off.
The biggest was #1 Kentucky going down to #9 UAB. Kentucky found itself behind by double digits deep in the first half, and was down by 8 by halftime. They turned it on in the second half, but UAB withstood the comeback and started trading baskets in the final few minutes. UAB eked out the win in the final minute as Kentucky couldn’t make the final shot of the game. Everyone thought Kentucky had such a clear shot to the Final Four the way their bracket was happening with the Gonzaga loss the night before. Unless you are a partisan of Georgia Tech or Kansas, I am guessing this bracket isn’t just busted, it’s unrecognizable.
Of course the road for Duke to the Final Four just became a lot easier. #2 Mississippi St. was steamrolled by #7 Xavier in the second half. It was like the halfcourt 3 from Xavier to give them a 1 point halftime lead sapped the fight right from MSU. Well, that would be the romantic notion. The reality was that Xavier was unconscious from behind the 3-point arc — 13-19 — and spectacular guard play from Chalmers, Sato and Finn off the bench was the key. The Texas-Xavier game on Friday could be something wild.
Finally Vanderbilt. That other elitist Southern school that sucks in football. With Vandy, though, they usually suck in basketball as well. They were given a generous #6 seed, and expected out in the first round. They won, and now advance to the Sweet 16 by knocking off #3 seed NC St. Vandy couldn’t hold a slim halftime lead, and was behind by 11 when Julius Hodge fouled a Vandy player shooting a 3 with 2:44 left. It was Hodge’s 5th foul. With probably their best defender out of the game, NC St. fell apart. Give Vandy credit for making their shots, but that was a collapse by NC St.
Worn Down
They gave a valiant effort but in the end faded away. #4 Kansas just slowly pulled away from #12 Pacific. They kept the folks in Kansas nervous for a while, but the talent of Kansas won out.
Not Even Close
Technically an upset, but when it’s a 4/5 game not really. #5 Illinois savaged #4 Cinci. Huggins had a distinct homecourt advantage playing in Columbus, Ohio, but Illinois took the crowd out of it early. Out of respect for my wife (a Cinci grad) I will not say anything more.
#2 Oklahoma St. looked very good taking apart #7 Memphis. Pity, it took all the fun from Pittsburgh writers who could have gone on ad nauseum about the local roots of Memphis coach John Calipari, his days as an assistant at Pitt in the 80s, and his attempts to get interviewed for the Pitt coaching job last year. Instead, a very tough, strong and talented group of Cowboys will be the opponent.
Conference Review
Round 2, and overall in parenthesis, then comments
ACC — 3-3 (9-3). Actually kind of embarrassing for the ACC. With all 6 of their teams seeded 6 or higher, to only have 3 in the Sweet 16 looks odd. That said, the 3 remaining (Duke, GT, Wake) all have excellent chances to be in the Final Four.
Big East — 3-2 (7-3). About what was expected from the Big East, but putting Syracuse in the same bracket with UConn looks even odder. It means that at best the Big East could get 2 teams to the Final Four.
Big XII — 3-1 (7-1). Not a big surprise that teams seeded 2,3 and 4 advanced. Potentially all three (Oklahoma St., Texas, Kansas) in the Final Four. Texas may be the shakiest since Duke is in their bracket.
SEC — 2-2 (6-4). Probably the most disappointing conference showing in the second round. Their top 3 seeded teams are all out, including a 1 and 2. The two remaining are both in the West (Phoenix) Bracket. Technically one could make the Final Four, but Vandy has to face UConn and ‘Bama has to deal with Syracuse. The odds are not in their favor.
Atlantic 10 — 2-0 (4-2). Xavier has kept its momentum from the A-10 Tourney. Their guard play has been spectacular. St. Joe’s is looking good again. They should have a home court advantage playing in New Jersey over Wake.
Conference USA — 1-3 (5-5). UAB is the last representative of this conference? Didn’t see that coming. They are fun to watch, though.
Big 11 — 1-1 (3-2). The down season for the conference is almost over. Illinois is the only team left and has to face Duke.
Pac 10 — 0-1 (1-3). The left coast has nothing. From Washington to Arizona, it looks like the Friends reruns will win the ratings wars on Thursday night.
Mountain West was already done.
Rest of the Field — 1-3 (5-20). Nevada is now the team furthest west still in the NCAA Tourney.
Little things that may only interest me
The East (Rutherford) region is the only the only bracket where the top 4 seeds made it to the Sweet 16. There is a split of Atlantic and Big. The top half is the Atlantic battle (Coast and 10), the bottom is Big (East and XII).
Meanwhile in the South (Atlanta) bracket both halves are Big versus Atlantic — Atlantic Coast v. Big 11 and Atlantic 10 v. Big XII.
In both halves of the West (Phoenix) bracket it is an SEC-Big East match-up.
