As we head into the Regional Finals Saturday and Sunday (also known as the road to the Final Four), it's time to take a quick look back at tonight's games and see how I fared with my predictions. I also will offer a quick preview of Saturday's two Regional Finals match ups.
Midwest Region
Louisville 103, Arizona 64
What I said: "As long as Louisville doesn't lose its way on the offensive end, this game shouldn't be that close down the stretch."
What happened: Down the stretch? This game was over with about five minutes before half time! Louisville took a 21-point lead into the half and kept pouring it on, making it look ridiculously easy in the process. The Cardinals shot 58% from the field and nearly 50% from three-point land. Arizona was just out-manned and out-classed from the start. Very impressive showing for the overall No. 1 seed.
Michigan St. 67, Kansas 62
What I said: "...Michigan St. wears down the young and inexperienced Jayhawks, stifling them on offense and frustrating them with their grind it out style when they have the ball.
What happened: I'm not really sure if you can say they stifled or frustrated the Jayhawks, but the Spartans turned it on in the second half, out-scoring Kansas 38-26 to secure the hard-earned victory. The Jayhawks held the Spartans to 39% shooting from the field and out-rebounded them, but they also turned the ball over 19 times, including a few times late in the game. Michigan St. missed only one of their 17 free-throw attempts and had 17 assists on their 23 baskets and showed the most poise late in the game to earn the win and move on.
South Region
Oklahoma 84, Syracuse 71
What I said: "The 'Cuse's long-range shooting will not pay off, leading to long rebounds and easy buckets for Oklahoma as they coast to an easy victory."
What happened: Syracuse shot just 29% from distance, leading to many lay ups and dunks on the other end for Oklahoma. This game wasn't as close as the final score and Blake Griffin led the way for the Sooners with 30 points and 14 rebounds. The Sooners also got a career-high 28 points from guard Tony Crocker, a welcome sign as they look forward to the Regional Final on Sunday.
North Carolina 98, Gonzaga 77
What I said: "I'm counting on them [North Carolina] to ride this momentum and to derive inspiration from last year's disappointing loss to Kansas in the Final Four to fuel them to victory over the Bulldogs.
What happened: Not sure if it was inspiration or what, but North Carolina trailed for a grand total of 40 seconds as they built a 11-point lead at half time and never looked back in beating Gonzaga. Carolina was the aggressor from the start, shooting lights out and scoring on just about every possession. Gonzaga was pretty efficient on offense as well, but turned the ball over several times, allowing the Tar Heels more opportunities to add to their point total. North Carolina shot 53% from the field for the game and would have gone well past 100 if they hadn't missed so many free throws (15-27). Ty Lawson showed no ill effects from his lingering toe injury, setting the tone early with his outside shooting and penetration and finishing with 19 points and nine assists. Tyler Hansbrough led the way with 24 points and 10 rebounds and last year's consensus Player of the Year now gets ready to face off with this year's consensus Player of the Year, Oklahoma's Blake Griffin.
Saturday's Regional Finals
West Regional Final: Missouri vs. Connecticut
Both teams were very impressive on Thursday with Missouri running Memphis out of the gym and Connecticut wearing down overpowering Purdue. Connecticut may not be as long and athletic as Memphis, but they are certainly more experienced and bigger, especially on the front line. Don't expect Missouri to get as many wide open lay ups and shots in the lane with the Huskies' 7-foot-3 center Hasheem Thabeet. A shot-blocking machine, Thabeet affects just as many shots as he gets to, in the process disrupting the other team's effectiveness in the paint. Missouri doesn't have any starter taller than 6-foot-9, so a strong shooting performance and quick, efficient passing are keys to their success. Missouri is very capable of disrupting Connecticut's offense with their constant pressure and switching defenses. So Connecticut's point guard AJ Price and other ball handlers better take care of the rock to reduce any fast break and easy baskets the Tigers are able to get without worrying about Thabeet roaming down low.
Prediction: I know Missouri shredded Memphis' defense, which came in with the title of best in the country, but Memphis and Connecticut are two entirely different teams. As mentioned above, Connecticut has size and length, along with a touch of athleticism on their front line. I just don't see the Tigers getting the easy buckets they got against Memphis, which means they will have to operate in the half court and that's not this team's strength. Take away the Tigers' speed and tempo and they have to rely even more on their shooting and unless they shoot lights out, I don't see them getting many second-chance opportunities. Connecticut slows down Missouri and takes advantage of the size down low and ride their big men to the Final Four.
East Regional Final: Villanova vs. Pittsburgh
Big East and cross-state rivals, these teams are certainly no stranger to each other. In the regular season they only met one time, with Villanova earning a 67-57 victory at home in January. In that game, Pitt shot a woeful 42% from the field and only made three of 16 from three-point range. The Panthers had to deal with foul trouble for several of their big players, including DeJuan Blair, who managed just seven points and eight rebounds in 20 minutes on the floor. It wasn't exactly a work of art for Villanova, but they made their free throws (19 of 28) and held their own on the boards to earn the victory. Fast forward to the NCAA Tournament and Villanova is probably playing its best basketball of the season, while Pitt has had to grind out several close games to get to this point. If the Wildcats can maintain their quality of play, the Panthers had better bring their A game if they want to move on to the Final Four. Expect a typical Big East game - physical, low-scoring and it could very well come down to foul trouble and free throws.
Prediction: I think this will be the best of the Regional Finals as Big East go head-to-head to see who can secure a trip to the Final Four as well as some pretty significant bragging rights. Pitt has not played up to its top seeding in the region, but has done enough, especially late in games, to get to their first Regional Final in a long time. Villanova comes in playing as well as anyone left in the Big Dance. These teams know each other very well, so there will be no surprises. I picked Pitt before the games started, but I really like how well Villanova is playing right now and think that will continue against the Panthers. Pitt's inconsistency on offense finally catches up to them and much like what happened back in January, Villanova uses the same formula (aggressive offense, tenacious defense and all-out effort on the boards) to beat the Panthers and roll on to Ford Field and the Final Four.
Friday, March 27, 2009
Thursday, March 26, 2009
Them Missouri Tigers got some claws!
With four more games set for tonight, including the sweat-inducing UNC vs. Gonzaga tilt (at least for me), I thought I would take a quick look back and see how my predictions for Thursday's games panned out, Overall not too bad, as I went 3-1, but the one I missed, I missed BADLY! Missouri, who knew?
West Region:
Connecticut 72, Purdue 60
What I said: Connecticut has too much size for Purdue, will pull it out late.
What happened: The Huskies did prove to be too much on the boards for Purdue, out-rebounding the Boilermakers 43-31. Connecticut was up by five points at the half and really never looked back. Purdue shot 36% from the field, 26% from the three-point line, something they couldn't afford against the bigger Huskies. Connecticut didn't shoot too well from the free-throw line (19-30), but got plenty of chances and put the Boilermakers into some serious foul trouble. Looking ahead, the Huskies will need to make their free throws if they want to keep moving on.
Missouri 102, Memphis 91
What I said: "Missouri will give Memphis all it can handle and then some, but Memphis' defense will stand strong when it's needed most, late in the game, as Memphis will outlast Missouri and march on."
What happened: Well I got part of it right, didn't I. Who am I kidding? I had no idea that Missouri would hang 102 on the team that came in giving up 57 points a game. It was an exciting second half as Memphis climbed back in after being down as much as 24, but it's awfully hard when a team shoots 53% against you. Good thing for both teams this didn't come down to free throws: Missouri 30-45 (67%), Memphis 18-32 (56%). You would think it would be easier to make the shot when there's no hand in your face, wouldn't you? Then again, there were a LOT of lay ups in this game.
East Region:
Pittsburgh 60, Xavier 55
What I said: And I quote, "In the end, I think Fields will be the difference..."
What happened: Fields hits a huge three-pointer with less than a minute to go give Pitt a one-point lead and then all but seals the deal with a steal and a lay up on Xavier's next possession. This game was physical and not very pretty on the offensive side as both teams missed their share of lay ups and point-blank shots. Rebounds were dead even for the game, but Pitt's DeJuan Blair came up huge in the second half with eight points and 13 rebounds (10 and 17 for the game). Xavier took an eight-point lead into halftime, but shot 7-for-29 from the field in the second half (24%, ouch) and were outscored 31-18.
Villanova 77, Duke 54
What I said: "The defensive pressure will wear down the Blue Devils and will impact their ability to execute on the offensive side. Villanova will pull away in the second half and win this game by at least 10 points."
What happened: Pretty much what I said would. :) Up by just three at half time, Villanova outscores Duke by 20 in the second half and wins by 23. Duke scores the fewest points in a NCAA tournament game during the shot clock era and second fewest of the entire season. Villanova didn't shoot particularly well, especially from long-range, but Duke fared even worse - 27% from the field, 19% from three-point land. 'Nova also out-rebounded the smaller Blue Devils by 12.
So other than Missouri-Memphis, I think I was pretty spot-on with my predictions and how the Thursday games would play out. As far as Friday goes, here's a recap of who I picked:
Louisville over Arizona
Michigan St. over Kansas
Oklahoma over Syracuse
UNC over Gonzaga
Tune in Saturday to see how I did!
West Region:
Connecticut 72, Purdue 60
What I said: Connecticut has too much size for Purdue, will pull it out late.
What happened: The Huskies did prove to be too much on the boards for Purdue, out-rebounding the Boilermakers 43-31. Connecticut was up by five points at the half and really never looked back. Purdue shot 36% from the field, 26% from the three-point line, something they couldn't afford against the bigger Huskies. Connecticut didn't shoot too well from the free-throw line (19-30), but got plenty of chances and put the Boilermakers into some serious foul trouble. Looking ahead, the Huskies will need to make their free throws if they want to keep moving on.
Missouri 102, Memphis 91
What I said: "Missouri will give Memphis all it can handle and then some, but Memphis' defense will stand strong when it's needed most, late in the game, as Memphis will outlast Missouri and march on."
What happened: Well I got part of it right, didn't I. Who am I kidding? I had no idea that Missouri would hang 102 on the team that came in giving up 57 points a game. It was an exciting second half as Memphis climbed back in after being down as much as 24, but it's awfully hard when a team shoots 53% against you. Good thing for both teams this didn't come down to free throws: Missouri 30-45 (67%), Memphis 18-32 (56%). You would think it would be easier to make the shot when there's no hand in your face, wouldn't you? Then again, there were a LOT of lay ups in this game.
East Region:
Pittsburgh 60, Xavier 55
What I said: And I quote, "In the end, I think Fields will be the difference..."
What happened: Fields hits a huge three-pointer with less than a minute to go give Pitt a one-point lead and then all but seals the deal with a steal and a lay up on Xavier's next possession. This game was physical and not very pretty on the offensive side as both teams missed their share of lay ups and point-blank shots. Rebounds were dead even for the game, but Pitt's DeJuan Blair came up huge in the second half with eight points and 13 rebounds (10 and 17 for the game). Xavier took an eight-point lead into halftime, but shot 7-for-29 from the field in the second half (24%, ouch) and were outscored 31-18.
Villanova 77, Duke 54
What I said: "The defensive pressure will wear down the Blue Devils and will impact their ability to execute on the offensive side. Villanova will pull away in the second half and win this game by at least 10 points."
What happened: Pretty much what I said would. :) Up by just three at half time, Villanova outscores Duke by 20 in the second half and wins by 23. Duke scores the fewest points in a NCAA tournament game during the shot clock era and second fewest of the entire season. Villanova didn't shoot particularly well, especially from long-range, but Duke fared even worse - 27% from the field, 19% from three-point land. 'Nova also out-rebounded the smaller Blue Devils by 12.
So other than Missouri-Memphis, I think I was pretty spot-on with my predictions and how the Thursday games would play out. As far as Friday goes, here's a recap of who I picked:
Louisville over Arizona
Michigan St. over Kansas
Oklahoma over Syracuse
UNC over Gonzaga
Tune in Saturday to see how I did!
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Mark Madness - Sweet 16 Style
Unless you live in a cave, and if you do how on earth are you getting an Internet connection, you are well aware that March means the NCAA Tournament. The sports fanatic I am, I follow March Madness very closely, especially since my favorite team, the North Carolina Tar Heels, are usually playing in it and sticking around for several games. This year is no exception.
One of the great appeals of the NCAA Tournament is having everyone fill out a bracket, taking their best guess at who they think will win each round, eventually getting down to the Final Four and the national champion. For several years now I have run a bracket challenge for my Sunday School class and others at my church (read: for fun, no money exchanges hands), and this year I have added our office pool (again, no money involved) to my oversight.
Since I am obviously a big fan of the brackets and NCAA Tournament and such, I thought I would offer one man's opinion on the Regional Semifinals, which will be played Thursday and Friday.
West Region:
Connecticut vs. Purdue: The Connecticut Huskies are the top seed in the West region and the favorite going into this game, but don't underestimate the Purdue Boilermakers, the Big Ten tournament champions. They may be undersized when compared to the Huskies, but this team plays with a lot of grit and determination and will fight tooth and nail until the very end. If Purdue can somehow just hang around, there are very capable of pulling off the upset.
Prediction: I think the Boilermakers will be able to hang around and keep this close late, but Connecticut's got too much size down low and pulls it out late.
Memphis vs. Missouri: Same mascots (Tigers), but a total contrast in playing styles as Memphis is regarded as one of the nation's best defensive teams whereas Missouri plays a style commonly referred to as "40 minutes of hell," which is represented by non-stop pressure and speeding up the game as much as possible. Memphis comes into this game with an impressive 33-3 record overall and was basically unchallenged in Conference USA during the regular season and tournament, but are playing with a chip on their shoulder because of what they feel is a lack of respect, as supposedly evidenced by their "punishment" of a No. 2 seed in the tournament. Missouri comes in playing arguably the best it has all season as they took advantage of some upsets in the Big 12 Tournament and emerged the champion.
Prediction: Missouri will give Memphis all it can handle and then some, but Memphis' defense will stand strong when it's needed most, late in the game, as Memphis will outlast Missouri and march on.
East Region:
Pittsburgh vs. Xavier: Pitt has been among the top teams in the country all season, while Xavier also has maintained a consistent position in the polls. The pressure lies squarely on Pitt, who is trying to prevent another poor showing in the tournament. Poor when you consider the quality of teams the Panthers have fielded. Xavier on the other hand has established itself as one of the premier mid-major teams, if you will, but no one is taking these Musketeers lightly. Pitt may have the deadly tandem down low of DeJuan Blair and Sam Young, but Xaiver is actually bigger and deeper on the front line than Pitt, so the Panthers' big men must stay out of foul trouble.
Prediction: Come tournament time, the outcome often comes down to guard play and Pitt has a pretty good point guard in LeVance Fields. In the end, I think Fields will be the difference, leading the Pitt offense and getting plenty points of his own, as the Panthers move on in a physical, hard fought game.
Duke vs. Villanova: I've already disclosed that I'm a Carolina fan, which means I am NOT a Duke fan. However, I typically don't let my heart get in the way of my head when it comes to match up analysis. Duke earned their no. 2 seed by claiming the ACC tournament title. The Blue Devils aren't really big and are very perimeter-oriented, but they are well-coached and each player understands his role and does it well. Duke's been a different team since Jon Scheyer moved to the point, letting him take advantage of having the ball in his hands and generally enjoying the size advantage against opposing point guards. Villanova is similar to Duke in that they aren't exceptionally big and generate a lot of offense from the perimeter, but they do have a solid low post presence in Donte Cunningham. The Wildcats, unlike Duke, are very deep and are able to shuttle in fresh bodies throughout the game as their defensive pressure and offensive execution wears the other team down. Villanova hails from the Big East, so they are no stranger to playing a more physical style, having gone head-to-head with the likes of Pitt and Connecticut during the regular season.
Prediction: Sorry Blue Devils, as much as I love the ACC, I see the road ending for you. Villanova is too deep and has the outside shooters to match Duke from an offensive firepower standpoint. The defensive pressure will wear down the Blue Devils and will impact their ability to execute on the offensive side. Villanova will pull away in the second half and win this game by at least 10 points.
Midwest Region:
Louisville vs. Arizona: The overall No. 1 seed Louisville Cardinals face the No. 12 seed Arizona Wildcats, the closest thing this year's tournament has to a Cinderella. Louisville is athletic, deep and tenacious on defense, which they use to create their offense. The regular season and tournament champions from the Big East, believed to be the nation's best conference, the Cardinals rely on their speed, length, defensive pressure and tenacity to make up for what they lack in terms of offensive execution. Arizona is enjoying a renaissance of sorts as they were one of the last teams to earn an at-large bid to the Big Dance. Make no mistake about it, the Wildcats are as talented as any other team in the country, but they just haven't put it together for any consistent basis, until now.
Prediction: It was nice while it lasted, but the clock will strike midnight for this year's Cinderella as Louisville has too many horses for the Wildcats to contain. As long as Louisville doesn't lose its way on the offensive end, this game shouldn't be that close down the stretch.
Michigan St. vs Kansas: The 2000 champion meets the defending national champs, although there is few similarities between last year's Kansas team and this year's. Jayhawks coach Bill Self had to replace all of his starters from his championship team, but led by point guard Sherron Collins and big man Cole Aldrich, Kansas finds themselves in familiar territory. This Jayhawk team has plenty of talent, but little experience when it comes to postseason play, having lost in the first round of the Big 12 tournament. Michigan St. has plenty of postseason experience, but they also came up short in the Big Ten tournament. Typical of a Tom Izzo-coached team, this year's Spartans team plays tough defense and grinds it out on offense, trying to wear the other team down. Point guard play has been an ongoing issue for the Spartans, and come tournament time turnovers and empty offensive possessions are not the recipe for success.
Prediction: Coach Self and his Kansas squad should be applauded for the season they have had during what many thought would be a rebuilding year. However, it comes to an end against the Spartans as Michigan St. wears down the young and inexperienced Jayhawks, stifling them on offense and frustrating them with their grind it out style when they have the ball.
South Region:
North Carolina vs. Gonzaga: Before the season started many thought the Tar Heels would run roughshod over their opponents and there was plenty of talk of going undefeated. On the court, that went by the wayside in January and as impressive a regular season the Tar Heels did have going 27-3 (30-4 overall headed into this game), they came up short in the ACC tournament as they played without their point guard ACC Player of the Year Ty Lawson. Lawson's toe is getting better, as evidenced by his stellar second half against LSU, and when healthy, he's the engine that makes the Tar Heels' potent offense go. It remains to be seem, however, if the Heels can put for the effort needed on the defensive end. If there's any team that can match the Tar Heels in terms of depth and talent, it's Gonzaga. Mid-major in name only, the Bulldogs have become a mainstay in the NCAA tournament and could be poised to make their deepest run yet. More finesse than physical, the 'Zags rely on their offense to apply the pressure and can be suspect on the defensive end.
Prediction: I'd be lying if I didn't say this match up scared me from the first time I saw the brackets. Gonzaga is one team that can match Carolina when it comes to offense and as mentioned above, the Heels haven't shown any sort of prolonged commitment on the defensive side of the ball this season. However, the second half against LSU could prove to be the pivotal moment of the season as Lawson showed signs of his old self by dominating in the second half and UNC overcame a deficit and got the stops when they needed them the post to pull away late. I'm counting on them to ride this momentum and to derive inspiration from last year's disappointing loss to Kansas in the Final Four to fuel them to victory over the Bulldogs.
Oklahoma vs. Syracuse: The Sooners boast the best player in country in Blake Griffin. Syracuse continues to ride the wave of their performance in the Big East tournament, highlighted by the six-overtime thriller against Connecticut. Oklahoma has some other pieces, but their success will hinge predominantly on Griffin. Syracuse will look to keep Griffin in check with their 2-3 zone defense and a constant rotation of big men. Syracuse appears to have the advantage at point guard with Jonny Flynn and also can be deadly from three-point range. Oklahoma has been exposed to a degree of late, caused in large part to Griffin's two-game absence due to a concussion and a first-round exit in the Big 12 tournament.
Prediction: Syracuse doesn't have anyone who can check Griffin for long and he will spend a lot of time at the free-throw line and put the Orangemen's front line on the bench in foul trouble. This will allow Oklahoma the ability to focus on Flynn and double-team him to get the ball out of his hands. The 'Cuse's long-range shooting will not pay off, leading to long rebounds and easy buckets for Oklahoma as they coast to an easy victory.
Probably way more than you wanted to read, but hey it's my blog and I'll write what I want to. ;) I'll be back with a Regional Finals preview prior to Saturday's game. Look at the bright side - there are just four games by that point.
One of the great appeals of the NCAA Tournament is having everyone fill out a bracket, taking their best guess at who they think will win each round, eventually getting down to the Final Four and the national champion. For several years now I have run a bracket challenge for my Sunday School class and others at my church (read: for fun, no money exchanges hands), and this year I have added our office pool (again, no money involved) to my oversight.
Since I am obviously a big fan of the brackets and NCAA Tournament and such, I thought I would offer one man's opinion on the Regional Semifinals, which will be played Thursday and Friday.
West Region:
Connecticut vs. Purdue: The Connecticut Huskies are the top seed in the West region and the favorite going into this game, but don't underestimate the Purdue Boilermakers, the Big Ten tournament champions. They may be undersized when compared to the Huskies, but this team plays with a lot of grit and determination and will fight tooth and nail until the very end. If Purdue can somehow just hang around, there are very capable of pulling off the upset.
Prediction: I think the Boilermakers will be able to hang around and keep this close late, but Connecticut's got too much size down low and pulls it out late.
Memphis vs. Missouri: Same mascots (Tigers), but a total contrast in playing styles as Memphis is regarded as one of the nation's best defensive teams whereas Missouri plays a style commonly referred to as "40 minutes of hell," which is represented by non-stop pressure and speeding up the game as much as possible. Memphis comes into this game with an impressive 33-3 record overall and was basically unchallenged in Conference USA during the regular season and tournament, but are playing with a chip on their shoulder because of what they feel is a lack of respect, as supposedly evidenced by their "punishment" of a No. 2 seed in the tournament. Missouri comes in playing arguably the best it has all season as they took advantage of some upsets in the Big 12 Tournament and emerged the champion.
Prediction: Missouri will give Memphis all it can handle and then some, but Memphis' defense will stand strong when it's needed most, late in the game, as Memphis will outlast Missouri and march on.
East Region:
Pittsburgh vs. Xavier: Pitt has been among the top teams in the country all season, while Xavier also has maintained a consistent position in the polls. The pressure lies squarely on Pitt, who is trying to prevent another poor showing in the tournament. Poor when you consider the quality of teams the Panthers have fielded. Xavier on the other hand has established itself as one of the premier mid-major teams, if you will, but no one is taking these Musketeers lightly. Pitt may have the deadly tandem down low of DeJuan Blair and Sam Young, but Xaiver is actually bigger and deeper on the front line than Pitt, so the Panthers' big men must stay out of foul trouble.
Prediction: Come tournament time, the outcome often comes down to guard play and Pitt has a pretty good point guard in LeVance Fields. In the end, I think Fields will be the difference, leading the Pitt offense and getting plenty points of his own, as the Panthers move on in a physical, hard fought game.
Duke vs. Villanova: I've already disclosed that I'm a Carolina fan, which means I am NOT a Duke fan. However, I typically don't let my heart get in the way of my head when it comes to match up analysis. Duke earned their no. 2 seed by claiming the ACC tournament title. The Blue Devils aren't really big and are very perimeter-oriented, but they are well-coached and each player understands his role and does it well. Duke's been a different team since Jon Scheyer moved to the point, letting him take advantage of having the ball in his hands and generally enjoying the size advantage against opposing point guards. Villanova is similar to Duke in that they aren't exceptionally big and generate a lot of offense from the perimeter, but they do have a solid low post presence in Donte Cunningham. The Wildcats, unlike Duke, are very deep and are able to shuttle in fresh bodies throughout the game as their defensive pressure and offensive execution wears the other team down. Villanova hails from the Big East, so they are no stranger to playing a more physical style, having gone head-to-head with the likes of Pitt and Connecticut during the regular season.
Prediction: Sorry Blue Devils, as much as I love the ACC, I see the road ending for you. Villanova is too deep and has the outside shooters to match Duke from an offensive firepower standpoint. The defensive pressure will wear down the Blue Devils and will impact their ability to execute on the offensive side. Villanova will pull away in the second half and win this game by at least 10 points.
Midwest Region:
Louisville vs. Arizona: The overall No. 1 seed Louisville Cardinals face the No. 12 seed Arizona Wildcats, the closest thing this year's tournament has to a Cinderella. Louisville is athletic, deep and tenacious on defense, which they use to create their offense. The regular season and tournament champions from the Big East, believed to be the nation's best conference, the Cardinals rely on their speed, length, defensive pressure and tenacity to make up for what they lack in terms of offensive execution. Arizona is enjoying a renaissance of sorts as they were one of the last teams to earn an at-large bid to the Big Dance. Make no mistake about it, the Wildcats are as talented as any other team in the country, but they just haven't put it together for any consistent basis, until now.
Prediction: It was nice while it lasted, but the clock will strike midnight for this year's Cinderella as Louisville has too many horses for the Wildcats to contain. As long as Louisville doesn't lose its way on the offensive end, this game shouldn't be that close down the stretch.
Michigan St. vs Kansas: The 2000 champion meets the defending national champs, although there is few similarities between last year's Kansas team and this year's. Jayhawks coach Bill Self had to replace all of his starters from his championship team, but led by point guard Sherron Collins and big man Cole Aldrich, Kansas finds themselves in familiar territory. This Jayhawk team has plenty of talent, but little experience when it comes to postseason play, having lost in the first round of the Big 12 tournament. Michigan St. has plenty of postseason experience, but they also came up short in the Big Ten tournament. Typical of a Tom Izzo-coached team, this year's Spartans team plays tough defense and grinds it out on offense, trying to wear the other team down. Point guard play has been an ongoing issue for the Spartans, and come tournament time turnovers and empty offensive possessions are not the recipe for success.
Prediction: Coach Self and his Kansas squad should be applauded for the season they have had during what many thought would be a rebuilding year. However, it comes to an end against the Spartans as Michigan St. wears down the young and inexperienced Jayhawks, stifling them on offense and frustrating them with their grind it out style when they have the ball.
South Region:
North Carolina vs. Gonzaga: Before the season started many thought the Tar Heels would run roughshod over their opponents and there was plenty of talk of going undefeated. On the court, that went by the wayside in January and as impressive a regular season the Tar Heels did have going 27-3 (30-4 overall headed into this game), they came up short in the ACC tournament as they played without their point guard ACC Player of the Year Ty Lawson. Lawson's toe is getting better, as evidenced by his stellar second half against LSU, and when healthy, he's the engine that makes the Tar Heels' potent offense go. It remains to be seem, however, if the Heels can put for the effort needed on the defensive end. If there's any team that can match the Tar Heels in terms of depth and talent, it's Gonzaga. Mid-major in name only, the Bulldogs have become a mainstay in the NCAA tournament and could be poised to make their deepest run yet. More finesse than physical, the 'Zags rely on their offense to apply the pressure and can be suspect on the defensive end.
Prediction: I'd be lying if I didn't say this match up scared me from the first time I saw the brackets. Gonzaga is one team that can match Carolina when it comes to offense and as mentioned above, the Heels haven't shown any sort of prolonged commitment on the defensive side of the ball this season. However, the second half against LSU could prove to be the pivotal moment of the season as Lawson showed signs of his old self by dominating in the second half and UNC overcame a deficit and got the stops when they needed them the post to pull away late. I'm counting on them to ride this momentum and to derive inspiration from last year's disappointing loss to Kansas in the Final Four to fuel them to victory over the Bulldogs.
Oklahoma vs. Syracuse: The Sooners boast the best player in country in Blake Griffin. Syracuse continues to ride the wave of their performance in the Big East tournament, highlighted by the six-overtime thriller against Connecticut. Oklahoma has some other pieces, but their success will hinge predominantly on Griffin. Syracuse will look to keep Griffin in check with their 2-3 zone defense and a constant rotation of big men. Syracuse appears to have the advantage at point guard with Jonny Flynn and also can be deadly from three-point range. Oklahoma has been exposed to a degree of late, caused in large part to Griffin's two-game absence due to a concussion and a first-round exit in the Big 12 tournament.
Prediction: Syracuse doesn't have anyone who can check Griffin for long and he will spend a lot of time at the free-throw line and put the Orangemen's front line on the bench in foul trouble. This will allow Oklahoma the ability to focus on Flynn and double-team him to get the ball out of his hands. The 'Cuse's long-range shooting will not pay off, leading to long rebounds and easy buckets for Oklahoma as they coast to an easy victory.
Probably way more than you wanted to read, but hey it's my blog and I'll write what I want to. ;) I'll be back with a Regional Finals preview prior to Saturday's game. Look at the bright side - there are just four games by that point.
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
What's in a blog?
As far as this one goes, it's going to be about the Ross family (Mark, Jennie, Katie Joy and our four-legged child, Melody), as told to you through the random thoughts and musings of yours truly. The origin of this blog can be traced back to peer pressure from my co-workers. They have been pestering me for months now to start my own "Ross Report," which would revolve around my passion and extensive knowledge regarding sports.
As you will soon find out, I am a sports fanatic, so there will be a LOT of sports-related posts. In fact, with baseball season just around the corner, expect to read a lot about the Cubs. Yes, I know it's been quite a long time since they have won the World Series, but any team can have a bad century. And as anyone who knows me can attest, win or lose I am a Cub fan.
However, there is more to my life than just sports, so this will be an outlet for me to opine on other interests, topics and random thoughts that flow through my head, as well as share about my life as a husband and father. I am very blessed to be married to Jennie these past 8+ years and have even more reasons to be thankful with the addition of our precious Katie Joy, who is now five months old.
So in a nutshell this will be a blog about me and my life and it's up to you whether you want to come along for the ride.
As you will soon find out, I am a sports fanatic, so there will be a LOT of sports-related posts. In fact, with baseball season just around the corner, expect to read a lot about the Cubs. Yes, I know it's been quite a long time since they have won the World Series, but any team can have a bad century. And as anyone who knows me can attest, win or lose I am a Cub fan.
However, there is more to my life than just sports, so this will be an outlet for me to opine on other interests, topics and random thoughts that flow through my head, as well as share about my life as a husband and father. I am very blessed to be married to Jennie these past 8+ years and have even more reasons to be thankful with the addition of our precious Katie Joy, who is now five months old.
So in a nutshell this will be a blog about me and my life and it's up to you whether you want to come along for the ride.
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