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The Tourney - Day One
Topic Started: Mar 22 2008, 07:59 AM (631 Views)
Pointy Eagle
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Hi All,

I did this for Badaball before checking with Bada and obviously he's closed it down for now!!! He suggested I post it here, so I have!!

Lot of work involved and not sure if I can find time to do Day 2 especially if it's not going on Badaball. What do you think???

NCAA MEN’S BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP 2008 ; or MARCH MADNESS 2008 ; or
HOOPS HYSTERIA 2008


Call it what you want but the fact is, “it’s back!!!” Last year I took it upon myself to diligently report on the goings on Stateside in the one Annual Tourney that the whole of the USA sporting public tunes in to, whatever their favourite sport is.

I’m going to attempt to do the same this year, foolish guy that I am. I also have the added bonus this year of having registered with ncaasports.com as a VIP guest. This means, unbelievably, that I get to see live streaming of every single game on my PC if I have the time.

Now, obviously I don’t but, last night I did manage to watch a couple of games and some edited highlights today. And yes, even before I report, I was up until 1:30am this morning as my first game report will testify.

And before I get to that I have to make a prediction. I’d love Duke to win but if they don’t I’ll settle for the Purdue Boilermakers winning, again for reasons that will appear below!! But, if I had 10p to waste I’d probably but it 5p on UCLA, the number 1 seed in the West and the other 5p on Kansas, the number 1 seed in the Midwest.

WEST REGION

(#2) DUKE BLUE DEVILS 71 (#15) BELMONT BRUINS 70

I make no apologies for starting in the West Region and with Duke. The Blue Devils are “my” team and I have followed them for a few years now and boy, what a game and fright they had in the first round. Tiny Belmont Bruins, the Atlantic Sun Champions took them all the way and very nearly pulled off one of the biggest upsets in NCAA Tourney history.

The Bruins were excellent all night and Duke despite twice pulling away to double-digit leads couldn’t put them away. And The Bruins had their chances. With less than 15 seconds on the clock Justin Hare missed a deuce that might have made the game safe. Gerald Henderson went coast-to-coast slashed through the Bruins defence and finger rolled the game winner home.

And I watched it all and didn’t get to bed until 1:30am!! God, I love this game!! As well as the MVP’s of the game I was impressed with John Scheyer who had 13-pts & 5 rebounds to support Henderson.

Duke MVP : Gerald Henderson 21-pts 7 rebs, 5 steals, 2 assts
Belmont MVP : Alex Renfroe 15-pts, 5 rebs, 3 assts (he was very impressive!)

(#3) XAVIER MUSKETEERS 73 (#14) GEORGIA BULLDOGS

This was the first game I watched and it was a good one. Xavier had to dig deep in the second half to prevent an upset and did. They were down by 11-pts at one point but a 22 – 6 run got them in to the lead and although Georgia came back a final 9 – 0 run by The Musketeers gave them a game against Purdue in the next round.

On of the most astonishing statistics was the free throw count. The Bulldogs were 3 of 5 from the line in the game, Xavier? 27 of 33!!! GO figure!! As well as the official MVP’s I was also impressed with Xavier’s Derrick Brown who had a double-double of 19-pts & 11 rebs whilst the defensive play of PG Stanley Burrell who had 5 assists would have had Fab purring!!

Xavier MVP : Josh Gordon 20pts, 8 rebs, 1 asst
Georgia MVP : Terrance Woodbury 16-pts, 7 rebs, 1 asst

(#6) PURDUE BOILERMAKERS 90 (#11) BAYLOR BEARS 79

I watched the highlights of this as Purdue is one of two teams I’ve got in the Eagles Staff Sweep and clearly my only chance, albeit an outside one, of having success! My other team is #15 American in the East!

Purdue normally play a tough, slow paced type of game but showed their adaptability by getting in to a run and gun affair, by college standards (remember the 35 second shot clock!), with The Bears. However, it didn’t slow them down and in outside gunner Keaton Grant who scored 17 they have a real shooter. Whilst Jujuan Johnson’s 10 & 8 off the bench was a fine effort.

Meanwhile Baylor’s Curtis Jerrells put in one of the performances of the night in a losing cause. Purdue now face Xavier in the next round and will probably revert to type for that game.

Purdue MVP : E’Twaun Moore 16-pts, 8 rebs, 4 asst
Baylor MVP : Curtis Jerrells 27-pts, 2 rebs, 8 asst

(#7) WEST VIRGINIA MOUNTAINEERS 75 (#10) ARIZONA WILDCATS 65

So, know I know who the Dukies have to face next and it’s the gunners from the Mountains who hit 11 of 19 from beyond the arc to take out the Wildcats in the first round. The Wildcats hung around for pretty much all of the game but West Virginia kept hitting big shots when it mattered.

Interestingly neither top scorer for their sides picked up the MVP honours. West Virginia’s Alex Rouff hit 5 treys on his way to 21-pts and Chase Budinger had 23-pts for the ’Cats.

West Virginia MVP : Da’Sean Butler 19pts, 7 rebs, 4 asst
Arizona MVP : Jordan Hill 16pts, 10 rebs, 1 asst

(#1) UCLA BRUINS 70 (#16) MISSISSIPPI VALLEY STATE DELTA DEVILS 29

They may have the longest name in the Tourney and they may have the biggest defeat to go with it!! My tip UCLA absolutely cruised to victory in a 1st round mis-match which enabled them to run their bench and not even risk Luc Richard Mbah a Moute who is carrying a slight knock.

The Delta Devils final tally was the lowest in the Tourney since 1946 and their 19.7% shooting was the worst ever in first round tournament history.

Freshman Kevin Love led the way for The Bruins and was the only player to reach double figures in the game!!!!

UCLA MVP : Kevin Love 20pts, 9 rebs, 2 asst
Mississippi Valley State MVP : Larry Cox jnr 8pts, 7 rebs

(#9) TEXAS A&M AGGIES 67 (#8) BRIGHAM YOUNG UNIVERSITY COUGARS 62

This was the only game last night to go against the seedings and when you consider they were 8 & 9 it’s not a major surprise. In the end it was probably The Aggies 11 – 0 start that gave them the confidence they needed to hold off The Cougars down the stretch as Brigham did manage to tie the game at half-time at 29-all.

So, Texas get to have a crack at UCLA next and they’ll be hoping that Josh Carter can repeat his MVP performance in that game where they are up against it.

Texas MVP : Josh Carter 26pts, 5 rebs
Brigham Young MVP : Jonathan Taverman 15pts, 3 rebs, 1 asst

Let’s move South now as the winners of the West whoever they may be will face the winners of the South, whoever they may be!!!
SOUTH REGION

(#5) MICHIGAN STATE SPARTANS 72 (#12) TEMPLE OWLS 61

Lynard Stewart’s old alma mater went crashing out of their first tournament appearance since 2001 at the hands of Coach Tom Izzo’s tough defensive battling Spartans. The Spartans simply took away the outside threat of The Owls with Temple’s leading scorer Dionte Christmas going only 1 of 12 for 3-pts.

Meanwhile The Spartans had a much better balanced scoring attack led by Raymar Morgan and could afford an off night for star guard Drew Neitzel who’d been expected to lead the Spartans to victory.

Michigan State MVP : Raymar Morgan 15pts, 4 rebs, 3 asst
Temple MVP : Mark Tyndale 16pts, 7 rebs, 4 asst

(#4) PITTSBURGH PANTHERS 82 (#13) ORAL ROBERTS GOLDEN EAGLES 63

The Spartans of Michigan will face the impressive Panthers from Pittsburgh in the next round as they rolled over the lack-lustre Golden Eagles in dominant fashion. Perhaps the biggest difference in the two teams was the starting fives.

Pittsburgh had four of the five in double figures led by Levance Fields and the other one scored 8-pts. Meanwhile Oral Roberts top scorer was Robert Jarvis with 16pts and their MVP was Andre Hardy both of whom came off the bench.

Piitsburgh MVP : Levance Fields 23pts, 4 rebs, 7 asst
Oral Roberts MVP : Andre Hardy 15pts, 9 rebs, 1 asst

(#3) STANFORD CARDINALS 77 (#140 CORNELL BIG RED 53

As expected the Cardinals took their place in the next stage. When you play tough perimeter D and then have the 7-foot twins in Robin and Brook Lopez inside as well you’ve got a chance at making a run and this was a good start for Stanford.

They jumped out early kept the momentum up and then ran their bench. That was almost the perfect way to ease yourself in to the Tourney. Hard games will come with Marquette next up, but for now they’ve made that good start.

Stanford MVP : Kenny Brown 18pts, 4 rebs, 1 asst
Cornell MVP : Lewis Dale 12pts, 6 rebs, 2 asst

(#6) MARQUETTE GOLDEN EAGLES 74 (#11) KENTUCKY WILDCATS 66

Despite a huge night from NBA-bound Senior Joe Crawford the Wildcats came up short against a determined Golden Eagles side that had the better all-round team performance. Crawford’s only support came from Ramel Bradley who had 19 whilst Marquette’s MVP, Jerel McNeal was supported by 3 of his other starters reaching double figures.

One of those was Wesley Matthews who when the Wildcats had to resort to fouling Marquette made 8 free throws in the final 31 seconds to help ice the game.

Marquette MVP : Jerel McNeal 20pts, 5 rebs, 2 asst
Kentucky MVP : Joe Crawford 35pts, 5 rebs, 2 asst

Ok and now were off to the Midwest to see how one of my tips and that of Eagles Managing Director and BBL Chairman, Paul Blake, Kansas got on.

MIDWEST REGION

#(8) UNLV RUNNIN’ REBELS 71 (#9) KENT STATE GOLDEN FLASHES 58

It was the first half that decided this game. By the buzzer after the first 20 minutes UNLV who’d wanted to get a fast start had done exactly that and led 31 – 10 at the break as Kent State had a horrible opening period.

Things did improve for the Golden Flashes in the second half but by then it was too late and the Runnin’ Rebels who were led by Joe Darger’s 18-pts that included 4 treys will face #1 Kansas next as you are about to find out.

UNLV MVP : Wink Adams 17pts, 6 rebs, 4 asst
Kent State MVP : Mike Scott 14pts, 10 rebs, 1 asst

(#1) KANSAS JAYHAWKS 85 (#16) PORTLAND STATE VIKINGS 61

The Jayhawks looked and played like a #1 team as the dominated The Vikings from the off and never let-up. Dunks aplenty abounded as a Kansas side that has 5 Seniors and the sensational B-Rush ticked the first of what they hope is six wins off their list.

Portland State were never at the races as Kansas set about things early were quickly 13 – 3 up and never looked back. They really may be the real deal this year?????

Kansas MVP : Brandon Rush 18pts, 6 rebs, 2 asst
Portland State MVP : Jeremiah Dominguez 11pts, 2 rebs, 4 asst

(#11) KANSAS STATE WILDCATS 80 (#6) SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA TROJANS 67

The biggest upset of the night as the “kiddie corps” as they are known knocked out O.J. Mayo’s Trojans quite comfortably. The Wildcats were led, not surprisingly, by the brilliant Michael Beasley, remember the name as he’s NBA-bound, who recorded his 27th double-double of the season.

However, he was well supported by Bill Walker who had 22pts including 17 in the first half when Kansas State led by 10. South Cal. did cut it to 4 but the Wildcats and Beasley closed the game out to take a memorable win.

Kansas State MVP : Michael Beasley 23pts, 11 rebs, 2 asst
Southern California MVP : O.J. Mayo 20pts, 2 rebs, 5 asst

(#3) WISCONSIN BADGERS 71 (#14) CAL STATE FULLERTON TITANS 56

On paper it looked like a comfortable win for Wisconsin but it was anything but. The Titans led by a career-game from Josh Akognon were dogged and determined all night and were in this game right up to the closing moments.

It was then that the superior strength and size of The Badgers took over and they finally shook off The Titans to take their expected place in the next round.

Wisconsin MVP : Brian Butch 14pts, 9 rebs, 1 asst
Cal State Fullerton MVP : Josh Akognon 31pts, 8 rebs

And finally we head to the East where The Tar Heels lie in wait for others some of whom played last night.

EAST REGION

(#4) WASHINGTON STATE COUGARS 71 (#13) WINTHROP EAGLES

Look carefully at the final score as I tell you at half-time it was 29 – 29!! The Cougars simply had not played well enough in the first half as an adrenalin fuelled Winthrop looked to cause an upset. Led by Taj McCullough they went in to the locker room thinking they had a chance.

When they returned to the locker room at the final buzzer they realised that the ”big boys” play for 40 minutes and that’s exactly what Washington State did, in the end!!

Washington State MVP : Aron Baynes 19pts, 8 rebs
Winthrop MVP : Taj McCullough 17pts, 8 rebs, 2 asst

(#5) NOTRE DAME FIGHTING IRISH 68 (#12) GEORGE MASON PATRIOTS 50

The Patriots led 7 – 6 and The Irish got serious! A 23 – 5 run sorted out the men from the boys and turned it round to 29 – 12, a lead that Notre Dame would never relinquish as Luke Harangody picked up his 18th double-double of the season

Despite a stellar performance from Senior Will Thomas it was not to be for a George Mason side that kept trying but could never make inroads after that burst by The Irish in the first half.

Notre Dame MVP : Luke Harangody 18pts, 14 rebounds
George Mason MVP : Will Thomas 25pts 7 rebs, 3 asst

And that’s it for Day 1!!! I’m now going to stick my pizza in the oven and sit and watch some of Day 2 before I head off to The Arena where hopefully The Eagles will beat Plymouth and make it a very Good Friday!

Uncle “Sam” Jeff - Friday, 21 March 2008
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hersey427
Basketball Legend
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I hope you've got Sky+ Jeff !
Belmont came over to England in late August. They played a team put together by London Capital at the Capital City Academy. They won by about 70 ! Obviously it wasn't anything like the London team playing in the BBL, but I'm a bit gutted i didn't go to see it.
They were due to play against Leopards the following day, but the court that had been booked (not by us) fell through, so we never got the chance to be beaten by the team beaten by Duke.
Anyway, I'm going back to TV & the Big Dance.
Read my Olympic blog here

Leopards - Division One league, play-off & National Cup winners 2012
Leopards - National Trophy winners 2013 - that'll complete the set

That was my idea
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bballgirlie
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As always, Mr. Eagle, you outdo yourself. Hubby and I have been living in front of the television for the past two days, jumping up and down and calling plays as if we were on the sidelines ourselves. If someone were looking in on us, they'd think we're nuts! AJ Price's injury in the first half killed me in my western bracket, but I may still have a chance to salvage myself for the Elite Eight.

Keep up with the good work! :clap
bballgirlie
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