Shame Sean Miller and Xavier couldn’t get the upset — not to mention OSU’s Greg Oden avoiding being called for a flagrant for shoving the Cage into the second row on that foul. It absolutely deflated the Musketeers in the OT.
Butler-Maryland was a lot of fun (and a Butler 62-59 win was nice) — seriously, does the ACC offer a special camp that teaches flopping — but thankfully it’s over and now just a little time before the VCU-Pitt tip.
5:55: I may be a little late on the liveblogging. I need to stick with the L-ville-TAMU game.
5:58: Not that it matters. The Pitt game is being shown locally in my area (meaning it’s blacked out for the PPV package) and they are sticking with L-ville.
6:54: Okay. Nice 41-26 at the half. Still, VCU has been a second half team. Especially Maynor. Graves has been tremendous in stopping him. Has him frustrated and pissed. That’s good.
The weakness of VCU is their defense and Pitt has taken advantage of it. Beautiful to see everyone scoring — no one in double digits.
If VCU goes on a run to start, I will be going silent. Hey it worked in the first half.
8:28: Survive and advance.
I’ll say this, VCU did it 3 straight games. I would call that a trend. Coming back from deeper and deeper deficits. George Mason, Duke and then Pitt.
As much as Pitt nearly lost it, VCU mounted a tremendous comeback and did everything right. Not just the tremendous defensive pressure and effort — but hitting those shots. There were a bunch of deep, hands in the face 3s and circus shots. That was impressive.
Now, Pitt seemed so close to wilting and breaking. After Fields missed 2 FTs at the end of regulation, they regrouped. They lost Kendall to fouling out and they still did it. The team got the win in the OT. When momentum, the crowd and everything had turned against them.
What is important is that Pitt is in the Sweet 16.
Of course, in the Burgh CBS decided to show us North Carolina/Mich. St.
During that VCU come back, the refs sucked. All of a sudden VCU could do whatever it wanted on D and no fouls and they called BS foul after BS foul on Pitt. And we helped them out by dribbling way too much. VCU also shot the freaking lights out during that period. That was sick.
But, man, I don’t get the “sour 16” thing at all. Pitt did some stuupid things to let VCU back in, but VCU shot the lights out and the refs and NCAA clearly wanted it to be a close game, b/c there is no other way to explain those calls. Overall, they played a darn good game and did what they needed in OT. The defense was strong, the offensive execution was there for most, but not all, of the game, and, finally, in OT, they hit the FTs they needed.
We can beat UCLA. It will take a great performance, but we can do it. Go Pitt! Great to see you back in the Sweet 16!!!
Obviously, that’s looking WAY ahead in the future, but that could force us to beat four #1 quality seeded teams in a row.
I’d like as many easy games as we can get.
Into the mines of Moria, we go…
I hope we shoot better than IU did.
Still, Gray can eat Mata alive.
We need our outside shooters to show up. On a side note digger says UCLA has the advantage because Pitt will turn the ball over with the press.
Thoughts on the match up?
Forget about how we won tonight. “a winnn is a winnn is a winnn” Johnny Majors
SWEET 16! HAIL TO PITT!!!
Great win in front of a hostile crowd–we can beat UCLA if take better control of the ball–encouraging sign, is we are shooting 50% from 3 pt range in the last two games. If we continue to do that well–like our chances against anyone we play.
Pitt does it and the world is ending.
I’m sure at this point the unsteady, shaky Panthers have no hope against the Bruins. Perfect position to be in. No pressure, so just come out an have fun and play.
They are in the bonus round now. We will just have to see what happens.
I am glad I live in the South though, because except for the end of the game and overtime, I had to watch the ticker on the screen. But in retrospect that was good for me. I did not have to go through the anguish of seeing the 19 point lead evaporating. That must have been he** for you guys!!!
