Jason Haskins's Blog, page 30

Elite Eight earns back the madness, down to Final Four

If the first 60 games of the NCAA tournament were a mediocre television series with a few worthwhile moments, then the Elite Eight was a daunting limited series in which every moment was spellbinding.
Leaving us with the question: Will the Final Four prove to be the fantastic ending to the intriguing cliffhanger this weekend's game's provided?
Given the four schools that remain, the answer should be a resounding yes.
A lackluster first three rounds -- as compared to previous dances -- provided very little suspense. Of the top 16 seeds in the tournament, 14 advanced, and some signs pointed to all four no. 1 seeds reaching the Final Four.
Oh what a difference the weekend can make.

The #FinalFour is set!

See you in Minneapolis!

Purdue's Carsen Edwards racks up points as NCAA tourney rolls on

The first half of the Sweet 16 games in the NCAA tournament were played on Thursday, with four teams moving on to the Elite Eight.Stars on a basketball team hit the big shots, grab the huge rebound, and generally find ways to make big plays when the stage is an expansive one. It doesn't get much grander in college basketball than the NCAA tournament.
There was plenty of big moments in the South region semifinal between the Tennessee Volunteers and Purdue Boilermakers on Thursday night.
Purdue went up by 18 in the second half, only to watch as Tennessee stormed back to take the lead. Back and forth down the stretch, the teams needed overtime to settle things, with the third-seed Boilermakers prevailing 99-94.
Shining on this day was a duo for Purdue that go by the names of Ryan Cline and Carsen Edwards. Cline hit big shot after big shot, finishing with 27 points before fouling out in overtime. Cline connected on 7 three-pointers in the victory.
And Edwards has been a scoring machine through three games in the tournament. He had 29 against the Vols, including knocking down two of three free throws at the end of regulation that tied the score.
The 29 points by Edwards brings his tournament total this year to 97. If perchance the Boilermakers reach the championship game and Edwards stays on this scoring pace, he would beat Glen Rice's tournament record of 184 points, set back in Michigan's 1998 championship run.
Tennessee's quartet of top players also had their shining moments as well. Grant Williams (21 pts) had a couple of huge buckets down the stretch while Admiral Schofield had a monster second-half and overtime, scoring 20 of his 21 points.
Guards Lamonte Turner and Jordan combined for 25 points and 7 assists.
Purdue will meet the Virginia Cavaliers in the South regional final. Virginia defeated 12th-seed Oregon, 53-49.
The Gonzaga Bulldogs, winners over Florida State 72-58, will meet the Texas Tech Red Raiders in the West final. Texas Tech defeated Michigan, 63-44, to return to the Elite Eight for the second straight year.
Here's a brief look at Friday's games.(3) LSU vs (2) Michigan StateThe LSU Tigers (28-6) have built leads in both of their tournament games, only to watch as their opponents have battled back. The Tigers had enough moxie and luck in each, defeating Yale by five and Maryland by two.
LSU has been without head coach Will Wade, whose name was brought up in a recruiting scandal towards the end of the regular season. The Tigers have won 11 of their last 13 games and are balanced in the frontcourt and backcourt. Naz Reid mans the interior, with 27 points and 14 rebounds in the tournament. Guard Skylar Mays is averaging 17.5 ppg, with six made threes.
The Michigan State Spartans (30-6) enter this East region semifinal game having won 12 of their last 13 games. The Spartans average 73 points per game and are holding opponents to 57.5. Michigan State doesn't take a whole lot of threes -- 11 of 34 in the tournament -- and holds a + 36 margin on the boards.
Cassius Winston is dropping 19.5 points and dishing out 6.5 assists in the 2019 tournament.(5) Auburn vs (1) North CarolinaThe first game of the evening in the Midwest region involves a game between the Auburn Tigers (28-9) and the North Carolina Tar Heels.
Auburn rides or dies on their love affair with the three-point shot. It's something that's been working as of late, having won their last ten games, including a SEC tournament title. The Tigers barely escaped their In two tournament games, Auburn averages 83.5 points while allowing 76. They are 25-61 beyond the arc and are led by guards Jared Harper and Bryce Brown. Harper has 35 points and 10 assists in the tournament, while Brown has 37 points, with nine made threes.
North Carolina (29-6) has won 10 of their last 11 games, with their only loss in that span coming to Duke. The Tar Heels are outscoring opponents in the tournament by 18.5 points.
Senior Luke Maye continues to live in a double-double world. Maye is averaging 18 points and 11.5 rebounds in the tournament on his quest to add another title to his resume. Nassir Little averages 19.5 points off the bench the last two games.(4) Virginia Tech vs (1) DukeA team from the ACC will be guaranteed of advancing when the Virginia Tech Hokies take on the top seed Duke Blue Devils in the East region semifinal. The two teams met up once this season, with Duke pulling out a 77-72 victory in a game which Zion Williamson did not play.
Virginia Tech (26-8) relies on a stingy defense. Opponents are scoring only 55 points per game in the tournament, shooting 36.5 and 38.3 percent.
Kerry Blackshear, Jr. had 23 points and 10 rebounds in the first meeting with Duke. Blackshear had 19 points in a victory over Liberty, while Nick Alexander-Walker had 20 points and 3 steals in an opening-round win over Saint Louis.
Duke (31-5) escaped by the skin of their teeth in a round of 32 victory over UCF. Williamson had 32 points in this game and is averaging 28.5 in the tournament.
R.J. Barrett has been performing well, averaging 21 points and 11 rebounds per game. Barrett had 21 points in the earlier victory over Virginia Tech.
In two games, the Blue Devils are shooting 41 percent (18-44) from three-point range. This aspect of their game was a weakness throughout much of the season, in which overall Duke is only shooting 30 percent.(3) Houston vs (2) KentuckyIt's quite possible we'll see a slower pace, defense-minded game in this matchup between the Houston Cougars and Kentucky Wildcats. Houston (33-3) is holding opponents to a 57-point average in the tournament while Kentucky is even better at a clip of 50 points per game.
The Cougars have won six of their last eight games, with their only three losses this season coming in conference (and conference tourney) play. They have one of the strongest backcourts remaining in the tournament, led by Corey Davis, Jr. Davis is averaging 23.5 points per game and has ten 3's, though he was only 3-9 against Ohio State.
Kentucky (29-6) is not the free-wheeling, three-point launching team of old. Both of their opponents shot under 40 percent and teams are a combined 12-41 from three-point range against them.
It's still unknown if PJ Washington will return from injury against the Cougars. Scoring has been balanced in his absence, with Keldon Johnson scoring 25 against Abilene Christian. Two players scored in double figures in the victory over Wofford, led by Reid Travis' 14.PredictionsA 3-1 night on Thursday night means nothing but here's the predictions for Friday's games. I expect these to be closer than Thursday's games were.
Michigan State over LSUUNC over AuburnDuke over Virginia TechHouston over Kentuckyphoto credit: pixabay.com

Bracket (not) busted: Top seeds sail into Sweet 16

The second weekend of the 2019 NCAA tournament graces us with four games on Thursday, including two no. 1 seeds in action.Brackets haven't exactly been busted in this year's men's
Here is the last one standing. Can it go all the way? #MarchMadness pic.twitter.com/CA0kIZJGF7— NCAA March Madness (@marchmadness) March 25, 2019The top three seeds in each of the four regions advanced to the Sweet 16, with two no. 4 seeds advancing as well. It appears the selection committee can nail things down once every blue moon, at least as far as the top quarter of the bracket is concerned.
The outliers in this year's group? The fifth-seed in the Midwest region -- and SEC tournament champions -- Auburn Tigers and the 12th-seed in the South, A lot of chalk going on but not a lack of excitement, with appearances by some of the game's brightest stars. Some were well known nationally before the tournament started while some are now much more than simply a blip on the radar.
Mt. Zion himself, Zion Williamson, has had an outstanding first two games. averaging 28.5 points per game. Teammate and fellow freshman R.J. Barrett has been impressive as well, scoring 21 points a contest in the tournament.
Ja Morant (Murray State), Aubrey Dawkins (32 points for UCF against Duke in a rock-solid performance), and Dylan Windler (Belmont) have exited the tournament but their performances will not soon be forgotten.
And so it is every year with the tourney. Names that work their way into our collective consciousness, no matter how their pro careers did -- or didn't -- out. From Danny Manning to Adam Morrison to Kemba Walker, heroes are made, while some fall, come tournament time. Who will rise to the sky as we march towards April 7?
We will soon find out as the tournament continues Thursday, March 28.(4) Florida State vs (1) GonzagaOver in the West region, action gets started with a rematch of a Sweet 16 game from a year ago, with the Gonzaga Bulldogs looking to avenge last year's 75-60 loss to the Florida State Seminoles.
Florida State (29-7) will be the first of five teams from the ACC to see action in the Sweet 16. The Seminoles average 83 points in their first two games, holding opponents to 65.5. They have a balanced attacked and a strong frontcourt, though they will be without Phil Cofer. Cofer, who missed the first two games of the tournament with an injured foot, will be out this weekend as well. Cofer learned after Florida State's opening round win that his father, former NFL player Mike Cofer, had passed away after a long illness.
Sophomore Mfiondu Kabengale has been the star for the first two games, averaging 21.5 points and 8.5 rebounds per game. The 6'10" forward has come off the bench in both games.
Gonzaga (32-3) has averaged 85 points per game in the tournament, thanks to a 38-point win over Fairleigh Dickinson and a 12-point win over Baylor. This has been in small part thanks to the play of transfer Brandon Clarke.
Clarke, who sat out last season after transferring from San Jose St., had a 36-point, 8-rebound, 5-block performance against Baylor. Clarke was also 15-18 from the field. In two tournament games, he's averaging 24 points and 8 rebounds, with 8 blocked shots to his credit.(3) Purdue vs (2) TennesseeOne of three teams remaining from the Big 10, the Purdue Boilermakers (25-9) are riding what is essentially a one-man meal ticket at this point.
Star Carsen Edwards has been on fire in the first two games, averaging 34 points per game. He poured it on against the defending champion, scoring 42 points and connecting on nine 3's in the blowout victory.
Purdue is outscoring opponents by an average of 20 in the tournament and has won eight of their last ten games.
The Tennessee Volunteers (31-5) had to survive an overtime scare against Iowa and are led by a quartet of veteran players.
In the backcourt, Jordan Bone and Lamonte are averaging 15 points and 14 points, respectively, in the NCAA tournament this year. And on the frontcourt side of things, Admiral Schofield is averaging 19 points in the tournament and Grant Williams dropped 19 in the Iowa game.
Tennessee entered the tournament having lost three of their last eight games. They are averaging 80 points in the tournament while allowing 73.5.(3) Texas Tech (2) MichiganDefense will be the name of the game when the Texas Tech Red Raiders (28-6) square off against the Michigan Wolverines (30-6) in the West regional game.
Texas Tech has held their two tournament opponents to an average of 57.5 points. The Red Raiders have averaged 75 and enter this Sweet 16 game winners in 11 of their last 12 games.
Guard Culver will have to contend with three experienced starting guards for the Wolverines. Jordan Poole has scored 29 points in the tournament. Zavier Simpson is the wizard that orchestrates the offense and motors the defense. Simpson had 9 points, 9 assists, and 9 rebounds in a round of 32 victory over Florida. And Charles Matthews has 31 points and 7 rebounds in the tournament so far.
Michigan has an even stingier defense, allowing only 52 points per game in the tournament. The Wolverines averaged 69 in two games and entered tournament play going 6-4 in their last ten games.(12) Oregon vs (1) VirginiaThe lowest seed remaining in the tournament might very well be its hottest as the Oregon Ducks (25-12) have won 10 straight. The Ducks will take on the Virginia Cavaliers (32-3) in this South region game.
And it could very well be a game with even more defense than the Michigan/Texas Tech game. Oregon has allowed only 54 points per game in the tournament, while Virginia sits at 53.5. Oregon is scoring a little over five points per game more than Virginia.
Guard De'Andre Hunter had 23 points in the Cavs opening round victory over Gardner-Webb. Roaming the interior, Mamadi Diakite has been a force in the tournament for Virginia. Diakite is averaging 15.5 points and 9 rebounds per game.
Oregon counters with their own guard/forward duo. Point guard Payton Pritchard is dropping 18.5 points and dishing out 7.5 assists in two tournament games. And while Kenny Wooten isn't scoring as much as Diakite does, Wooten does have 14 rebounds and 11 blocked shots in this year's tournament.PredictionsGonzaga over Florida StateTennessee over PurdueTexas Tech over MichiganVirginia over Oregonphoto credit: picryl.com

NCAA tournament: Games to watch on final day of first weekend

Rare is it to see in the round of 32 in the That's exactly what happened on Saturday when both exited the 2019 tournament. Kansas was sent packing courtesy of the Auburn Tigers, 89-75. And Villanova met their maker in the form of a steam engine, the Purdue Boilermakers, losing 87-61.
The day started off in true, March madness form, with the first two games coming down to the wire. Little did we think excitement levels would only dwindle as the day went on.
Third-seed LSU needed a last-second bucket -- after losing a 15-point lead -- from Tremont Waters to defeat the sixth-seed Maryland Terrapins 69-67. In the Midwest Region, the second-seed Kentucky Wildcats took advantage of Fletcher Magee's shooting woes (0-12 from three-point range) to take down 7th-seed Wofford, 62-56.
From there, games were played with very little intrigue.
Tied at various times throughout the first half, the Michigan/Florida game was never really in doubt, with the Wolverines advancing to the Sweet 16 for the 2nd consecutive year. The same lack of doubt can be said of the game between Big Ten foes Michigan State Spartans and Minnesota Golden Gophers. Clearly the controversy surrounding Michigan State head coach Tom Izzo had little negative effect as the Spartans won 70-50.
Ja Morant of Murray State kept things interesting in scoring 28 points, but Florida State still won 90-62. And Gonzaga defeated Baylor 83-71 in a game that wasn't as close as the score indicated. Brandon Clarke had 36 points and 5 blocked shots for the Bulldogs in the victory.
Here's to hoping Sunday's games provide more excitement. Take a look at these four games to watch.Oregon vs UC IrvineHigher seeds won 7 of the 8 games played on Saturday, with fifth-seed Auburn the lowest seed to advance.
The matchup between the 12th-seed Oregon Ducks (24-12) and 13th-seed UC Irvine Anteaters (31-5) will guarantee that at least one double-digit seed will reach the Sweet 16.
Oregon has won nine straight, defeating the Wisconsin Badgers 72-54 on Friday. Three players reached double figures in scoring for the Ducks, led by Payton Pritchard's 19. Pritchard also had eight assists.
During the winning streak, the Ducks have kept opponents under 60 points in all but two games. Only one, Arizona State, managed to score over 70. Oregon averages 70.5 points per game while opponents only score 62.7.
Nine games might be a nice winning streak, but for UC Irvine, 17 in a row is even better. The latest was their Lovers of defensive-minded games might find this matchup intriguing, as UC Irvine allows only 63.3 points per game. The Anteaters average 72.8 points per contest.Buffalo vs Texas TechTwo teams that made some noise in last season's NCAA tournament will meet in this round of 32 matchup.
The Buffalo Bulls (32-3) were a surprise first-round winner in 2018 before ultimately falling in this very round to Kentucky, 95-75. 
After being ranked much of this season, and earning a sixth-seed in the West region, the Bulls hope this year goes much better. They defeated Arizona State in style on Friday, 91-74, behind four different players scoring in double figures. Jeremy Harris and Nick Perkins scored 21 apiece.
Buffalo scores 85.1 points per game while allowing 70.6.
This game will pit a high-scoring offense against the tight defense of the Texas Tech Red Raiders (27-6). Texas Tech holds opponents to 59.2 points per game, good for third-best in the nation.
Texas Tech will be looking for a return trip to the Sweet 16. They fell in the Elite 8 last season, losing to eventual champion Villanova. In round 1 this season, Texas Tech defeated Northern Kentucky 72-57 behind a well-rounded game from Jarrett Culver. Culver had 29 points, 8 rebounds, and 7 assists.Liberty vs Virginia TechFriday's victory for the Liberty Flames (29-6) meant the number 12 seeds went 3-1 in the opening round of the tournament, returning to glory the deified status of the seed. The Flames used a 16-4 run in the second half, overcoming a ten-point deficit, and ultimately defeated fifth-seed Mississippi State, 80-76.
Liberty, who has won 11 of their last 12 games, was led by a career-high 30 points from Caleb Homesley. The Flames put up 74.6 points per game and hold opponents to 61.2.
The 4th seed of the East Region, the Virginia Tech Hokies (25-8) are one of four ACC teams playing today. The Hokies had an easy time in defeating Saint Louis in round 1, winning 66-52. Three starters reached double digit points in this game for Virginia Tech, led by 20 from Nickeil Alexander-Walker. He also had six assists and three steals.
Virginia Tech also has one of the top defenses in the nation, allowing 61.8 points per game. They usually score around 74 on offense.ACC no. 1 seedsDid I just lump all three of these teams together? You bet I did because all three struggled in the first half of their opening round games.
The memory of an opening round loss in 2018 seemed to living in the brain case of the Virginia Cavaliers (30-3). Virginia trailed by double digits most of the first half to Gardner-Webb, trailed by six at halftime and eventually pulled it together to pick up the victory, 71-56.
Virginia will meet the ninth-seed Oklahoma Sooners in a South Region round of 32 game.
The Duke Blue Devils (30-5) also had their struggles in the first half of their opening game. Upstart North Dakota State battled a sluggish Duke team as the Blue Devils were up only 31-27 at halftime.
With a wake-up call likely delivered at halftime, the top seed in the East Region ran away with the second half and finished with a 85-62. The Blue Devils have a tall task ahead of them in the round of 32, facing off against 7'6'' Tacko Fall and the UCF Knights.
North Carolina (28-6), top seed in the Midwest Region, completed the trio of ACC teams by having the same, sluggish first half. The Tar Heels played in similar fashion to Virginia, as they, too, trailed at halftime. 
A five-point deficit was quickly erased, however, and ended up with a 88-73 victory over Iona. North Carolina meets the Washington Huskies on Sunday.
It's safe to say, if any of these number one seeds play like they did on Friday, at least one of them will not be making it past the first weekend.
photo credit: commons.wikimedia.org

NCAA tournament: Anteaters storm the hill

In the NCAA tournament, it's wise to never count out a team with a 16-game winning streak, even if that team comes from the Big West.Raise your hand if you had the Kansas State Wildcats making it to at least the Elite 8 of the 2019 men's That little snafu aside, credit has to be given to the Big West champion UC Irvine Anteaters. Taking their 13-seed to heart, UC Irvine used a stifling defense and timely outside shooting to defeat the Wildcats Friday, 70-64.

It was the first-ever NCAA tournament win for the Anteaters. 
One of the keys for those teams deemed to be underdogs, notably come tournament time, is the ability to keep the game close. The Anteaters (31-5) stayed strong with that key most of the game, exchanging leads and ties, before taking the lead for good on an Evan Leonard three with 8:35 left.
Their lead grew to as big as eight before Kansas State stormed back to pull within two. However, the Wildcats failed on two opportunities to take the lead and UC Irvine iced it with free throws from there.
Leonard tied for the team lead with 19 points, including a perfect 9-9 from the line. As a team, the Anteaters hit 17 of their 19 free throw attempts. Max Hazzard also had 19 points.
Kansas State, with such high expectations after a Big 12 regular season co-champion moniker, played without second-leading scorer and rebounder Dean Wade. Wade battled a foot injury most of this season.
UC Irvine was one of three lower seeds to win in the early games on Friday. The Oklahoma Sooners ran Ole Miss right off the floor, 95-72. And the Iowa Hawkeyes made it 3-1 for no. 10 seeds with a comeback victory over Cincinnati, 79-72.
The Anteaters will play on Sunday against the winner of the Wisconsin/Oregon game.Jordan BurnsThe effort might have turned out to be in a losing one, but Jordan Burns of the Colgate Raiders kept things interesting on Friday.
Colgate, the 15th-seed in the South, didn't look like they were going to put up much of a fight against the Tennessee Volunteers. The Raiders fell behind 9-0 early and were down by as many as 16 in the first half.
Not giving in, Colgate battled all the way back to briefly take the lead against the Volunteers in the second half. The Raiders, who were playing in the second half without the Patriot League player of the year Rapolas Ivanauskas, stayed within striking distance before ultimately falling 77-70.
This was in large part due to the play of Burns. The guard finished with 32 points, knocking down eight 3's in the process. Though the result wasn't the desired one, Burns should be given a polite head nod of approval for his effort.To watch on SaturdayBefore we get to Saturday's games to watch: Can you believe Virginia? They were down double digits most of the first half and trailed by six at halftime. Luckily, they remembered they had a no. 1 seed and won going away, 71-56.
(7) Wofford Terriers vs (2) Kentucky Wildcats. Can Wofford continue their magical season? Will Fletcher Magee knock down 10 threes? 
(12) Murray State Racers vs (4) Florida State Seminoles. Can Ja Morant be contained? 
(2) Michigan State Spartans vs (10) Minnesota Golden Gophers. A couple of Big 10 foes square off.
(4) Kansas Jayhawks vs (5) Auburn Tigers. A down year by Jayhawk terms can be redeemed with a trip to the Sweet 16.
photo credit: flickr.com

NCAA tournament 2019: Ja Morant's spectacular day

In a day full of heroes and superstars in the men's NCAA tournament, Ja Morant stood a foot above the rest.Starting out this morning, with a full slate of games on the schedule for the Not today.
Morant was dutifully special today as the 12th-seed Racers easily defeated the fifth-seed Marquette Golden Eagles, 83-64. The sophomore guard, averaging 24.6 points per game, did not need to force a lot of shots as he had his hand in a little bit of everything against Marquette.
He finished with a triple-double, his third of the season, scoring 17 points, pulling down 11 boards, and dishing out 16 assists. Morant produced only the 9th triple-double in NCAA tournament history and the first since Draymond Green And it wasn't just Morant who performed well. The Racers were nearly flawless in the second half and had four players score in double figures. In addition to Morant's 17, guard Tevin Brown had 19, forward KJ Williams finished with 16, and Shaq Buchanan scored 14.
It was definitely Morant's day to shine, facilitating on offense -- even with 7 turnovers -- and playing good defense. Marquette star Markus Howard still managed to score 26 points but did so on 27 shots, seemingly frustrated most of the second half into forcing up shots.
A year after there wasn't a single 12-seed to pick up a victory in the first round, Murray State (28-4) took care of business right away for this year's tournament. The Racers will next face the Florida State Seminoles (28-7), 76-69 winners over the Vermont Catamounts Thursday.Lower seeds take a back seatTwelve games have been completed as of this writing, with lower seeds picking up victories in three of these games. 
Winning a quarter of the games initially doesn't seem that bad. But considering it could have been half, the number is a little disappointing. Along with Murray State, only two other lower seeds found the win column.
The day started off with the number-ten seed in the East, the Minnesota Golden Gophers (22-13), defeating the 7th-seed Louisville Cardinals, 86-76. Minnesota entered the game averaging just above five made 3's per game, but finished with 11 in this contest. All five starters scored in double figures and did all of the scoring for Minnesota, led by Gabe Kalscheur's 24 points.
Out west, the Nevada Wolf Pack, co-champions of the Mountain West regular season, entered this year's tournament looking to improve on last season's Sweet 16 run.
It did not go well.
Nevada, the 7th-seed, struggled through much of the contest, fell behind by 18, got it back to a one possession game, but ultimately fell short, Florida (20-15) used something they weren't quite familiar with to build their lead: Good shooting. They were recipients of a few lucky rolls on the rim -- always appreciated this time of year -- and held off the storm of Nevada. Center Kevarrius Hayes led the Gators with 16 points before fouling out.
The Martin twins -- Caleb and Cody -- combined for 42 of Nevada's points in the loss.
The Belmont Bruins and New Mexico State Aggies both had their chances before ultimately losing their opening round contests.
Belmont, the 11th seed in the East, led most of the first half and held leads at various points in the second. But the Maryland Terrapins (23-10) were able to sneak out a 79-77 victory despite 35 points from Belmont's Dylan Windler. 
New Mexico State might have had the biggest heartbreak of all. The 12th-seeded Aggies battled back from a double-digit deficit against the Auburn Tigers (27-9), thanks to forced turnovers (3) and missed free throws by Auburn (2) in the last two minutes.
Free throws also turned out to be the bane of New Mexico State's fate as well. Fouled on a three-point attempt with one second left, down only one, the Aggies' Terrell Brown made only one of three attempts. The ball was deflected out of bounds by Auburn on the last attempt, giving New Mexico State one last chance. 
Despite a good look from the corner, Trevelin Queen missed the shot, giving the victory to Auburn.In progressThree of the the lower seeds are all currently losing in the final set of four games on the day:
(7)Wofford 40 vs (10) Seton Hall 30, halftime.(2) Michigan 34 vs (15) Montana 21, halftime.(8)Syracuse 37 vs (9) Baylor 38, halftime.(3) Purdue 23 vs (14) ODU 19, 4:36 left in 1st half.Games to watch - FridayMentioned already was the Virginia/Gardner Webb game (watching if only to see if there is any psychological aspect for Virginia to deal with, thanks to (6) Buffalo vs (11) Arizona State. The Sun Devils, who barely sneaked into the tournament, won their First Four game.
(5) Wisconsin vs (12) Oregon: Can the Ducks continue their winning ways?
(8) Utah State vs (9): The Aggies attempt to keep the Mountain West from going 0-2.
(1) North Carolina vs (16) Iona. Can the Tar Heels score 100 points in this game? 

photo credit: wikipedia

NCAA men's tournament 2019: The top seeds, the skinny, and the dreamers

The field is set -- one exciting finish already in the books -- for the 2019 men's NCAA tournament. Will a representative from the ACC, loaded with three no. 1 seeds, produce this season's champion?truTv, the channel everyone so happily tweets "they have to locate" every March, is the home channel for the play-in games of the NCAA tournament. Or first round games (the nomenclature changes every few years, it seems). The only crime in the first game between the Fairleigh Dickinson Knights and the Prairie View A&M Panthers is that one of the teams had to go home.
The Panthers raced out to an early lead, held on for most of the second-half, only to see the Knights complete a comeback A 48-point second half helped seal the victory. Senior guard Darnell Edge delivered for the Knights, dropping 33 points and connecting on seven 3's to help give Fairleigh Dickinson their first-ever tournament win.
The Panthers knocked down 15 three-pointers but couldn't weather the crusade of the Knights. Senior guard Gary Blackstron had 27 points and six 3's of his own for Prairie View A&M.
The reward for the Knights winning this game? A Thursday evening matchup with no. 1 in the West, the Gonzaga Bulldogs.
Gonzaga is joined on the no. 1 seed line with three teams from the ACC. Questions swirled last weekend as to whether or not this would happen, especially after the Tennessee Volunteers defeated the Kentucky Wildcats in the SEC tournament semifinals. It appeared the Vols might have sewn up a first seed until they were wiped off the floor by the Auburn Tigers in the SEC title game.
From there, the debate was moot. Duke, thanks to an ACC tournament title, earned the overall no. 1 seed in the NCAA tournament, with Virginia and North Carolina joining the Bulldogs and Blue Devils as top seeds.The number onesZion Williamson might be the human highlight reel headlining the Duke Blue Devils (29-5) right now, but there are plenty of contributors to the no. 1 seed in the East.
Williamson shoots 69.3 percent from the field, averages 2.2 steals, and 1.8 blocks per game and is a beast on the boards, averaging 8.9. Delivering on both ends of the floor has been a staple of his game this season, yet his 22.1 ppg average is only second on the team.
The honor of leading scorer belongs to fellow freshman R.J. Barrett (22.9 ppg). Barrett isn't far that far behind in rebounds, pulling down 7.5 per game. His 4.1 assists are second on the team to the man who may turn out to be the most important: Guard Tre Jones.
Jones does a little bit of everything. While Williamson, Barrett, and Cam Reddish can create their own shots, it is Jones who is the floor general, leading the team with 5.3 assists. He helps pace Duke's offense to the tune of 83.5 points per game, though they've only cracked 80 twice in their last eight games.
The Virginia Cavaliers (29-3) bowed out to Florida State in the ACC tournament semifinals. Virginia's other two losses were to the Blue Devils.
Virginia's defense is as sturdy as ever, holding opponents to 55.1 points per game, best in the nation. Only once in the last ten games has a Cavalier opponent cracked the sixty point mark.
The play of guards Kyle Guy (15.6 ppg) and De'Andre Hunter (15.1) will determine how far Virginia advances. Helping man the middle this season is Mamadi Diakite, who blocks 1.5 shots per game.
Holding down the no. 1 seed in the Midwest is the North Carolina Tar Heels (27-6). North Carolina lost Duke/UNC III in the semifinals of the ACC tourney, but managed to secure a top seed. The Tar Heels utilize one of their better offenses in the nation, averaging 86.1 points per game. Defense might be at a premium in their games as UNC allows 72.9.
A trio of players average in double figures in points. Guards Cameron Johnson (16.9) and Coby White (16.3) lead the way, while senior forward Luke Maye averages double figures in points (14.7) and rebounds (10.5)
The Gonzaga Bulldogs (30-3) round out the top line. The Bulldogs seemed destined for the top overall seed before a WCC title game loss to St. Mary's. Gonzaga was held to 41 points under their average in the 60-47 loss
A night of bad shooting and questionable calls did them in. Still, the Bulldogs should be considered a threat to advance far. Rui Hachimura, Brandon Clarke, and Zach Norvell Jr. combine to average 51.9 points and 19.2 rebounds per game. Clarke also averages 3.1 blocked shots.Four teams to watchLooking over the bracket, there is usually a clear set of tiers in which to divide teams. This time around, the line is foggier than it is definitive.
Outside of the top-two seeds in each region, here are four teams who could make a Final Four run, beginning with the sixth-seed out West, Buffalo Bulls (31-3).
Buffalo, ranked 15th in the nation, is riding a 12-game winning streak. They will open with the winner of a First Four game between Arizona State and St. Johns. A season after winning their opening game in the tournament, look for the Bulls to make even more noise in 2019.
The Houston Cougars (31-3) had a nice little run in last season's tournament as well and could find themselves going deep in this season's tournament. Houston carries a three-seed in the Midwest region and opens play against the Georgia State Panthers (24-9).
An Elite Eight run from 2018 carried over into this season for the Kansas State Jayhawks (25-8) as they shared a Big-12 regular season title. If the Wildcats, a 4th-seed in the South, are to make a run, they'll have to do so again without second-leading rebounder and scorer Dean Wade. 
Wade missed the majority of last season's tournament with a foot injury and has battled the same ailment at times this season. It's an injury that was re-aggravated towards the end of the season and Wade is currently doubtful for the NCAA tournament.
Kansas State opens against UC Irvine (30-5), winners of 16 straight.
Sometimes, you go with a team that was average through much of the season but has suddenly heated up. This year's team is the Oregon Ducks (23-12) who won the Pac-12 tournament and have victories in eight straight games. They were handed the coveted 12th-seed and will open against the Wisconsin Badgers (23-10).Four games to watchWest region: (5) Marquette 24-9 vs (12) Murray State (27-4). Two of the top players in the nation square off in this Thursday afternoon game.
Midwest region: (7) Wofford 29-4 vs Seton Hall (20-13). Wofford shouldn't look past Seton Hall, but win this Thursday evening game and the Terriers could be headed to a 2nd-round game against Kentucky.
South region: (1) Virginia vs (16) Gardner-Webb 23-11. Let's just not have a repeat of last year, which is why eyes will be initially glued to this game on early Friday afternoon.
East region: (3) LSU 26-6 vs (14) Yale 22-7. The Ivy League seems to find the teams ripe for an upset. Will it be LSU this year?
Keep it locked in here, or via my Twitter accounts (@jasonrh_78 OR Sports 'N' Stuff) for all March Madness action.
photo credit: commons.wikimedia.org

NCAA men's basketball: Duke-North Carolina III and time to dance

Selection Sunday for the NCAA men's basketball tournament is days away. But first, fans will be treated to Duke vs North Carolina III, plus other tickets to be punched.The closer we get to the NCAA men's tournament, the more the excitement grows. Zion Williamson proved that on Thursday night.
Williamson, the true freshman and heir apparent to greatness, returned to the lineup of the Duke Blue Devils on Thursday night. And, even with a few weeks of being out due to a knee injury, there are no new superlatives to describe his play.
Marvelous. Magnificent. Unparalleled.
All aspects of Williamson's game were on display in Duke's ACC quarterfinal victory over Syracuse. He had highlight reel dunks. There were displays of Williamson's highly touted skills on offense (a perfect 13-13 from the field, 29 points). He also showed off on the other end of the court, with five steals and 14 total rebounds. Even with Duke's considerable talent, Williamson proved how much better the team is when he's on the court.
His return arrived at the perfect time. Thanks to the victory, and a victory by the North Carolina Tar Heels over Louisville, fans will be treated to Duke-UNC III.
This time, with more Williamson.
Williamson missed both of the matchups this season, outside of a few seconds in game one before his sneaker gave way. North Carolina won both of these games, sweeping Duke in the regular season for the first time since 2008-09.
Duke, it should be noted, has not gone 0-3 against a team in one season since they were swept by a Tim Duncan-led Wake Forest team in the mid-90's.
The winner of this semifinal game will likely secure a no. 1 seed in the NCAA tournament, though even the loser might still snare one of the four spots. Gonzaga lost to St. Mary's in the finals of the WCC tournament, meaning the overall top spot is up for grabs. Also factoring into final decisions will Virginia taking on Florida State in the other semifinal game.
All told, this final weekend promises to be interesting. Let the games begin.Bubble teamsA hotly debated topic this time of year is about the multiple teams who should or should not be in the tournament. Should a 17-15 Indiana team be in? (No). How about a 18-14 Alabama team? (Maybe, especially if they pick up a quarterfinal victory in the SEC tournament today.)
Every season -- or at least it seems every season -- there is a team from a power conference with 17-19 wins who gets into the tournament. This is usually done by leaving a 24 to 26-win team from a lower-tier conference out of the tournament. This is a team who was likely upset in their conference tournament or were just beaten out for the title by a slightly better team.
There are three teams this season who came up just short in their conference tournaments. Three bubble teams that should be in the NCAA tourney but likely won't be. The Belmont Bruins (26-5) are one of these teams.
Three of Belmont's five losses were to teams that went a combined 51-11, including an OVC championship game loss to Murray State (who the Bruins defeated in the regular season). A fourth loss occurred to a likely tournament-bound Purdue team.
The fact the Bruins do have a couple of significant wins over the Lipscomb Bisons (25-7). The trouble here is that Lipscomb is also considered a bubble team.
Lipscomb fell to Liberty in the ASUN championship game. The Bisons do have a victory over a Big 12 team (TCU) and played Louisville close in a 72-68 loss. Unfortunately, close losses against these power programs don't seem to count for much and Lipscomb could very well be on the outside looking in.
The UNC Greensboro Spartans (28-6) had the unfortunate luck of playing in the same conference as Wofford (29-4) this season, losing three times to the nation's 20th-ranked team, including a loss in the Southern Conference championship game. The Spartans lost by only six to LSU.
Should these teams automatically be given opportunities simply because of their win-loss record? No, but they shouldn't be discounted simply because the front of their uniforms don't say Indiana, Oklahoma, or Ohio State.My top ten
Virginia 29-2North Carolina 27-5Kentucky 26-5Gonzaga 30-3Duke 27-5Tennessee 27-4Michigan State 26-6Michigan 26-5Houston 30-2Texas Tech 26-6What to watchThe Mountain West conference could turn into a three-bid league if the Utah State Aggies or Nevada Wolf Pack fails to win the tournament title. Something that could have never been imagined when conference play began.
Nevada should be a lock to get in, no matter the outcome of the tournament. Utah State should be in as well, thanks to a victory over St. Mary's earlier this season and a 26-6 record. Both the Wolf Pack and the Aggies won their quarterfinal games in the MW tourney.
Keep an eye on the SEC as well. Florida may have just sneaked into the tournament thanks to a last-second victory over the top-seeded LSU Tigers in the SEC tournament. The winner of a Over in the A-10, a loss by top-seeded VCU in the quarterfinals likely knocked another bubble team out of the tournament. Things could get even dicier if Davidson or Dayton, with 23 and 21 wins, respectively, fails to win the conference tournament.
Be sure to follow along with posts throughout the NCAA tournament.
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NCAA Basketball: Late-season stumbling blocks for mid-major favorites

One of the best things about the allure of March Madness and the There's usually a surprise team or two each year, winning over the hearts of fans and casual observers alike. These are teams who maybe hung around in the top-25 or had a late-season run, using that momentum to string together a few upsets in the tourney.
In the 2018-19 season, three teams -- the Nevada Wolf Pack, Houston Cougars, and Buffalo Bulls -- have had dream regular seasons, as far as mid-majors go. Nevada and Houston have lived in the top-10 for long stretches, each spending the entire season ranked. Buffalo, currently ranked 19th, has spent 18 straight weeks in the top-25.
All three teams won at least one game in last season's NCAA tournament, with Nevada just missing out on a trip to Two of three teams, however, have hit some late-season snags putting a little doubt in just how good they are.
Nevada (27-3, 14-3) and Houston have both suffered losses in recent weeks, albeit to teams who are possible tournament entrants themselves. Nevada's losses -- all in conference, all on the road -- have led to likely sharing a regular season Mountain West title with the Utah State Aggies. The loss was their second in as many weeks. With seven seniors, 17th-ranked Nevada was expected to have a cakewalk in the Mountain West, but may have their work cut out from them at the Mountain West tournament in Las Vegas March 13-16.
Houston (28-2, 15-2), ranked 12th, also suffered a loss to a good team in the UCF Knights. The Cougars had a 33-game home winning streak snapped in the loss and they, too, know there is a formidable opponent waiting should the teams meet up in the American Athletic conference tournament March 14-17.
The third team out of this bunch, Buffalo (28-3, 16-2), keeps on rolling. They have won eight straight, 26 straight at home, and with a Friday night victory over Bowling Green, set a school single-season record for wins. Bowling Green, just a few weeks ago, seemed like they were on a path to contend with Buffalo for the Mid-American Conference title. But the Falcons (20-11, 12-6) faded down the stretch of the regular season, losing four of their last five.
The Mid-American Conference tourney starts March 11 and concludes March 16.My top-10Gonzaga (29-2)Virginia (27-2)Duke (26-4)Tennessee (27-3)North Carolina (25-5)Kentucky (25-5)Michigan (26-4)Texas Tech (25-5)Michigan State (24-6)Purdue (22-7)Marquee MatchupsThe last Saturday of the regular season is usually reserved for one game which has the word "marquee" written in neon lights: Duke vs North Carolina.
The Blue Devils will once again be without Zion Williamson. At this point, I'm beginning to wonder if Williamson will suit up for Duke again. The Blue Devils are still a pretty solid team without him, but he's quite easily the difference between Duke being a Final Four team or exiting the bracket in the Sweet 16.
If North Carolina wins again tonight, they might be considered a lock for a number one seed in the NCAA tournament. Duke vs North Carolina is at 6 pm (ET) on ESPN.
The Tennessee Volunteers are deserving of a number one seed as well, but they might just be playing themselves out of it. Currently, they trail the Auburn Tigers 69-64 with a little over six minutes left. A loss here would drop the Vols below Kentucky in my rankings. {UPDATE: Vols lose, 84-80. SEC tournament should be pretty exciting, with Tennessee, Kentucky, LSU, Florida, and Auburn all competing, though who knows where the heads of the LSU program is at right now.)
Michigan and Michigan State play at 8 pm (ET) on ESPN, with the losing team dropping out of the hunt for a Big 10 regular season title.
Loyola-Chicago plays in the semi-finals of the MVC tournament against Bradley at 3:30 (ET) on the CBS Sports NetworkTeams on the riseThe Florida State Seminoles (24-6, 12-5) started off ACC play losing four of their first five games, nearly wiping out a non-conference slate that saw them losing only once, to Villanova.
Since that horrible stretch and inauspicious start to conference play, Florida State has ripped off victory after victory, losing to only North Carolina . Now ranked 14th in the nation, the Seminoles could be looking at a three or four seed come NCAA tournament time.
A few weeks back, the Utah State Aggies (25-6, 15-3) were on the very fringe of bubble talk. After a victory over Nevada last weekend and follow up win over Colorado State to clinch a share of the Mountain West title, the Aggies look to be firmly entrenched in the tournament. 
The one thing possibly holding them back is lack of "big" wins. They defeated Nevada and knocked of a 20-win St. Mary's team and this light resume might get in their way, especially if they go one-and-down in the Mountain West tournament. Even then, I wouldn't count out Sam Merrill (21 ppg) and this Aggies squad, who have won seven straight.
The last week has been something else for the UCF Knights (23-6, 13-4). Things started out rather nicely with victory at Houston. Then, the Knights followed it up with a victory over the Cincinnati Bearcats. Two victories over ranked teams should do pretty good in cementing a March Madness berth.Teams fallingOnly a few weeks back, the Marquette Golden Eagles (23-7, 12-5) were discussed as a team that could make some noise come March. Three straight losses temporarily put a damper on such hopes. If anything, it's better to get these losses out of the way know, get the bad play out of the system, before tournament play opens.
A loss to a top-10 ranked Michigan team is one thing. But losing to bottom-of-the-conference Penn State is another, which is exactly what the Maryland Terrapins (22-9, 13-7) did last week. Those back-to-back losses dropped Maryland in the rankings and, though they defeated Minnesota, might have dropped from a possible four seed to sixth seed in the process.
The Pac-12 might very well get only one team in this year's tournament, a low for this storied conference. In perfect summation of the Pac-12 season, the Washington Huskies (24-6, 15-2), as soon as they cracked the top-25, they went ahead and lost. They should be in the NCAA tournament, no matter what -- and they've bounced back to win their last two games -- but it says a lot when this conference is almost an afterthought here out west.
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NCAA men's college basketball and the chase for the number one overall seed

NCAA basketball conference tournaments are set to start soon and, depending on the results, could very well determine the number one overall seed for March Madness.Here we are, entering the month of madness, and there is still no clear cut top team in the nation for men's college basketball.
Don't tell that to the Gonzaga Bulldogs.
Gonzaga (28-2, 15-0) continues to sprint past opponents, averaging 90.5 points per game. They've defeated currently ranked teams like the Duke Blue Devils and Washington Huskies, plus Illinois, Arizona, and Texas A&M.
The West Coast Conference isn't going to win any awards for toughest conference and Gonzaga has not been truly tested, with their closest victory being 12 points. A matchup with BYU last weekend was supposed to provide the Bulldogs with a test. Instead, Gonzaga won easily and handily, 102-68.
Still, this should say something about how talented this team truly is. The reasons are usually the same as to why Gonzaga isn't worthy of a number one -- or high -- seed. Fact is, however, head coach Mark Few has built a powerhouse program during his tenure and this team might be his best yet.
Playing a strong out-of-conference schedule and with talent inside and on the perimeter, the Bulldogs are deserving of the top seed (supposing they beat St. Mary's this week and go on to win their conference tournament). Gonzaga is knocking down 53.4 percent of their shots and hold a 6.8 advantage on the boards.
Rui Hachimura should be considered a Player-of-the-Year candidate. Hachimura averages 20.7 points per game while shooting 61 percent from the floor. He also is second on the team in rebounds, averaging 6.6.
Inside, it is Brandon Clarke who controls the paint. The redshirt junior forward averages 16.7 points and 8.5 rebounds per game. Clarke also has 94 blocked shots this season.
Two other Bulldogs average in double digits in scoring, guards Zach Norvell, Jr. and Josh Perkins. Norvell averages 16 ppg and has knocked down 85 threes, while Perkins chips in 10.7 points. Perkins also averages nearly 7 assists per game.
Even as good as Gonzaga has been, there is still talk of a new team taking the number one seed: the Virginia Cavaliers.Virginia CavaliersUp until a few weeks ago -- and a freak injury to Duke star Zion Williamson -- the Blue Devils were predicted take the top overall seed in the NCAA tournament.
Losses to the North Carolina Tar Heels and Virginia Tech Hokies have knocked the Blue Devils down a peg, with Virginia (25-2, 13-2) sliding into the top spot in the ACC.
Ranked 2nd in the nation, the Cavaliers certainly have an argument to be the number one seed, especially if they go on to win the ACC tournament.
Their two losses, however, have been to Duke. And Gonzaga beat Duke so... Okay. That routine rarely works but it surely should be taken into account.
The ACC is again one of the best conferences in the nation. If Virginia comes out unscathed for the rest of the regular season and conference tournament, a number one overall seed is viable.
Quietly, the Cavaliers have put together another outstanding season. Not entirely a bad thing, considering the way they ended the 2017-18 season. The approach of the Cavaliers hasn't changed and there are hopes they can find an ultimate redemption arc for last season by winning this year's title.
Defense is still the name of the game, with Virginia holding opponents to 54.3 points and 37.4 percent shooting from the field.
On offense, the Cavaliers have been efficient, averaging 71.8 points per game. Virginia is led by guards De'Andre Hunter (15.3 ppg) and Kyle Guy (15 ppg). Hunter knocks down 54.5 percent of his shot attempts and has committed only 32 turnovers this season. Guy leads the team with 81 made threes.My top-10
Gonzaga (28-2)Virginia (25-2)Duke (24-4)Kentucky (24-4)Tennessee (25-3)Houston (27-1)North Carolina (23-5)Marquette (23-5)Michigan State (23-5)Michigan (25-4)On the riseThe Kansas Jayhawks have won the Big 12 regular season for 14 straight years, but 2019 could finally see that streak end. Kansas is still lingering around, in the third place, but it is the Texas Tech Red Raiders (23-5, 11-4) who might be the team to dethrone the Jayhawks.
Texas Tech has won eight of their last nine games, including a 29-point win over Kansas. The Red Raiders share the Big 12 lead with the Kansas State Wildcats and, with one of the best defenses in the nation (58.1 points per game) could very well achieve the feat no other team has done since 2004, when Oklahoma State won the regular season title.
The Purdue Boilermakers (21-7, 14-3) out of the Big Ten have been on a roll as of late, winning 12 of their last 13 games. In all of those wins but one Purdue has scored 70 or more points.
They have won four in a row and are are a perfect 14-0 at home in 2018-19. They are sitting in second place in the conference, trailing the Michigan State Spartans. Purdue split their two games with the Spartans and dropped their only matchup against the Michigan Wolverines.
Their record might not indicate it, but the Loyola-Chicago Ramblers (18-12, 11-6) are still feeling residual love from their Final Four run of a season ago. The Ramblers are tied for first with the Drake Bulldogs in the Missouri Valley Conference. Guard Marques Townes hopes to recapture the magic and leads the team in scoring at 15.6 points, including a 32-point game versus Drake.Slip-sliding awayThis is the time of the season when you want to being playing your best basketball. A week after thinking they were sneaking back into title discussion, the defending champion Villanova Wildcats (21-8, 12-4) are heading in the opposite direction.
Prior to knocking off Marquette earlier this week, 'Nova had lost four of their last five games. They still have a shot to win the Big East, but they'll likely need another victory over Marquette.
As previously mentioned, Kansas (21-7, 10-5) is having somewhat of a down year. Any hopes of winning the conference for the 15th-straight season will be determined on the road. I wouldn't be surprised if the Jayhawks enter the NCAA tourney as a four or five seed.
A few weeks ago, the BYU Cougars (18-12, 10-5) were being discussed as a possible bubble team. They've now dropped back-to-back games and will likely need to win the WCC tourney to have any shot of making the big dance. (An 0-4 record against AP-ranked teams doesn't help, either).Bubbling upThe Utah State Aggies (23-6, 13-3) are making a strong case to enter the NCAA tournament as an at-large team, if it comes down to that. Of course, they have a shot a winning the regular season outright if they defeat the 12th-ranked Nevada Wolf Pack this week. 
That task won't be easy as Nevada has not lost at home this season. And the Aggies, even with a win over St. Mary's, are thriving in a down Mountain West. Even with a loss this weekend -- and if they don't win the Mountain West tournament -- the Aggies could have an argument if they finish with 14-regular season wins and go on to make it to the finals of the Mountain West tournament.
On the flip side of the coin, the Oklahoma Sooners (17-11, 5-10) are being discussed as a possible team to Oklahoma has struggled in conference play, but has played one of the toughest schedules in the nation. It will be interesting to see if they get in, especially if they don't get far in the Big 12 tournament.
Others to keep an eye on in March: Wofford Terriers (25-4, 17-0, ranked 24th), Xavier Muskeeters (16-13, 8-8, winners of 5 straight), Belmont Bruins (24-4, 15-2, 12-game winning streak).
photo credit: commons.wikimedia.org