Elite Eight Encounters (Day 1)

After an iffy Sweet Sixteen round of picks (5-3), I have taken in to consideration some things that I knew but did not address accordingly. I took the veteran over the experienced—but still young, sophomore. 

Sure enough, Kalin Lucas won the game by getting Sherron Collins in the air and hitting a big-time shot. Sherron should have fouled him harder.

No one thought Duke could shoot that poorly. They did. Their inside was not exposed, but exploited as it should have been. 

Missouri keeps on playing, and playing well.  All five starters were in double figures as they were the only team all season to put up huge offensive numbers—102 points on Memphis. They are actually the first team to score a hundred plus on the Tigers in the last few years which cannot be discounted.

In an NCAA Tournament that has been lacking buzzer-beaters and overall drama (in my opinion), I had been hoping for some upsets.  Some “big ones.”

I did not discredit the No. 1 seeds as they are obviously the best four teams in the country, but I wanted to see one or two of them lose—and before the Final Four. 

I think the inevitability of four No. 1 seeds advancing to the national semi-finals for the second time in history and in as many years, has become rather probable.

There is one lock for the Elite Eight, two conceivable upsets of one-seeds, and another slightly possible upset.  Three, and probably all four, of the top seeds will advance.

Saturday

3 Missouri  v.  1 UConn

Missouri had been very strong all season and it has continued in the tournament.  DeMarre Carroll did not have his best night but he was very productive. More importantly, he showed that he can also get others involved. 

While the Missouri Tigers did score 102 points, he had the game-hi in assists (6) and for any big man, that is impressive.

Shawn Taggart was O.K. and has next year to avenge his less than stellar performance with a great class coming in. 

Robert Dozier was superb and I feel for the guy.

So much was made about this being the game Tyreke Evans would slip up in. Not a chance as he scored at will and grabbed some rebounds along with dishing some assists. 

He was also perfect from the line; making nine.  I do not see why he would not greatly consider turning pro after one season.

Most of the stats favored Memphis, but they did not get the win. That would speak about both clubs, but more so Missouri. 

While some names are known, others are not.  The production was spread out pretty evenly, showing they did it together almost perfectly.

All that said, Connecticut is still too good and too deep. I have yet to see them absolutely miss and need Jerome Dyson. They may finally in this game, but I don’t think so; wait another round. 

Hasheem Thabeet is a given. Jeff Adrien is a better pure-rebounder.  If those two somehow happen to be off on the same night (which will not ever happen), Stanley Robinson can and will step up. 

He was great against Purdue, displaying his talent through form of a double-double (10 and 11). When Craig Austrie is leading the team in points, it should signal a fairly easy outcome. 

And of course, there is Kemba Walker, who I still expect great things from as early as this tournament.

3 Villanova  v.  1 Pitt

I do not make much of all the significance people are putting on this game because it is the second meeting between the two clubs. 

All Big East foes are familiar with one another, and if either of these teams should advance to the Championship Game, they will face someone they have seen once, maybe even twice already.

In the first meeting, Villanova won through an inspired effort by a team that knew they were good, and from motivation of hosting the third ranked team in the country. 

DeJuan Blair had seven points and Villanova will not be so fortunate this time.  Like the Missouri-Memphis game Thursday, the stats favored Pittsburgh except total points.

Pittsburgh let another team (albeit their opponents do get better each game) stick with them for an entire game in Xavier. But when they need to flex their muscle and close it out, they do it, and they do it forcefully. 

DeJuan Blair cannot be stopped, especially late in games. Levance Fields will continue to hit big shots late, and Sam Young will have another complete game all-game.