Posts Tagged ‘blake griffin’
Greer: Versatile big men power UNC to 5th title
By Jeff Greer
Big men beware: The 2009 NCAA tournament served notice the days of the traditional cement-footed post player are long over. While there were a few old-fashioned big fellas hanging on — players such as Hasheem Thabeet and Samardo Samuels — the new-age big men took over this year’s Big Dance.
Blake Griffin, the national player of the year, was just the latest version of the do-it-all power forward, the 6-8, 6-9, 6-10 guy who can score from anywhere on the floor, either in the halfcourt or in transition. Last year, Michael Beasley dazzled the nation with his inside-outside dominance, snatching double-digit rebounds every night and scoring in a wide range of ways. Tyler Hansbrough, North Carolina’s star senior and 2008 player of the year, evolved into a hybrid forward as his career progressed. The list goes on and on.
From the Wire: Monday Links
Today’s best from college newspapers around the country:
Michigan State has come a long, long way since getting whomped by the Tar Heels in December
– Alex Altman, The State News
ALSO: The Spartans look to knock off a third No. 1 seed; MSU fans are in full force
Will North Carolina be able to dictate the tempo once again? — David Ely, The Daily Tar Heel
ALSO: Detroit rallies behind the Spartans
Arizona strikes out once more, this time with Xavier’s Sean Miller
– Lance Madden, The Arizona Daily Wildcat
By nearly leaving USC, Tim Floyd reminded us coaching is all about money, power and ego
– Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz, The Daily Trojan
Oklahoma‘s Blake Griffin capped his brilliant season with a well-deserved Naismith Award
– Eric Dama, The Oklahoma Daily
From the Wire: Monday Links
Today’s best from college newspapers around the country:
No Michigan State player pushed harder to reach the Final Four than Travis Walton — Alex Altman, The State News
ALSO: MSU clinched its fifth Final Four berth in 11 years; Thousands of fans welcomed them home
Pitt isn’t ready to think about whether DeJuan Blair will come back next season — Mike Gladysz, The Pitt News
ALSO: The Panthers are not accustomed to losing close games
Danny Green came up big for North Carolina with Tyler Hansbrough and Wayne Ellington struggling — David Ely, The Daily Tar Heel
ALSO: The Heels have bigger goals than reaching the Final Four
Upsets are great, but top-quality matchups are better — Jonah Braun, The Badger Herald
Oklahoma‘s guards just couldn’t match their UNC counterparts — Joey Helmer, The Oklahoma Daily
ALSO: Mistakes got the Sooners sent home early
Analysis: 1 North Carolina def. 2 Oklahoma
1 North Carolina 72
2 Oklahoma 60
South Region final • FedEx Forum, Memphis, Tenn.
By Jeff Greer
– Presumed player of the year Blake Griffin won what was billed as a colossal battle against last year’s top player, Tyler Hansbrough. But Hansbrough’s side won the war. Stocked with great offensive players, the Tar Heels turned to Danny Green (18 points) and Deon Thompson (10) to help star point guard Ty Lawson carry the team’s scoring load. Lawson had 19 points, five rebounds and five assists, showing no signs of the nagging toe injury that had slowed him in the earlier rounds.
From the Wire: Sunday Links
Today’s best from college newspapers around the country:
UConn freshman Kemba Walker had his best game of the year — Marc Gauthier, The Daily Campus
ALSO: The Huskies aren’t taking victory souvenirs just yet
Start salivating now: Tyler Hansbrough vs. Blake Griffin — Jesse Baumgartner, The Daily Tar Heel
ALSO: North Carolina‘s shooters are finding their strokes again
Michigan State‘s Raymar Morgan will play with a face mask against Louisville
– Cash Kruth, The State News
Louisville wants a Final Four berth after falling one step short last year
– Cash Kruth, The State News
Mike Anderson was proud Missouri went out “fighting, scratching and clawing“
– Lenny Goldman, The Maneater
From the Wire: Saturday Links
Today’s best from college newspapers around the country:
Raymar Morgan’s bruised face was evidence of Michigan State‘s battle against Kansas — Alex Altman, The State News
ALSO: The Spartans were calm at halftime despite trailing; Not “fragile” anymore; MSU hung in there
North Carolina was too much inside for the Zags — Jesse Baumgartner, The Daily Tar Heel
ALSO: The Tar Heels found it surprisingly easy
“You can’t do anything” when UNC plays like that, Gonzaga‘s Josh Heytvelt said — Steven Sandberg, The Gonzaga Bulletin
All season, it was clear Kansas would go only as far as Sherron Collins could carry them — Case Keefer, The University Daily Kansan
Blake Griffin had 30 and 14 as Oklahoma squeezed the Orange
– Daniel Martin, The Oklahoma Daily
Analysis: 2 Oklahoma def. 3 Syracuse
2 Oklahoma 84
3 Syracuse 71
South Region semifinals • FedEx Forum, Memphis, Tenn.
By Corey DeMoss
– Oklahoma led the entire game and put this one away early in the second half. After taking a 13-point lead into halftime, the Sooners exploded as the second half began, going on a 17-3 run. The Orange never got within 13 points for the rest of the game.
Reporter Interview: Eric Dama on Oklahoma
You might have heard of this Blake Griffin fellow. He’s quite a ballplayer. Seemingly a shoo-in for NBA stardom, the 6-foot-10 forward leads Oklahoma into the Sweet Sixteen on Friday, but he’ll need help. As Eric Dama of the Oklahoma Daily explains, the Sooners rely on Willie Warren, Austin Johnson and others to hit outside shots to keep Griffin from becoming a one-man show.
From the Wire: Tuesday Links
Today’s best from college newspapers around the country:
Jim Boeheim’s next win will be his 800th, all at Syracuse
– Michael Bonner, The Daily Orange
Looking good on the court is important for several Memphis players
– Megan Harris, The Daily Helmsman
Xavier has a long “to do” list to get Sean Miller a victory against Pitt, his alma mater
– Doug Tifft, The Xavier Newswire
Refs need to take a look at the pounding Oklahoma‘s Blake Griffin is receiving
– Jono Greco, The Oklahoma Daily
Breaking down the top mascots in the Sweet Sixteen — Marc Gauthier, The Daily Campus
From the Wire: Sunday Links
Today’s best from college newspapers around the country:
Jonny Flynn and James Hardin are good friends who’ll be foes when Syracuse and Arizona State meet — Michael Bonner, The Daily Orange
Jon Brockman’s last game is the end of an era for Washington — Allen Wagner, The Daily
ALSO: Huskies fall achingly short
Michigan State will have its hands full with the talented Trojans
– Alex Altman, The State News
Marcus Morris and Kansas will try to keep Dayton‘s high-flying Chris Wright from taking off — Case Keefer, The University Daily Kansan
UCLA didn’t have nearly enough to keep up with Villanova — The Daily Bruin
ALSO: Villanova rolls into Sweet Sixteen; Bruins say goodbye to Collison, Shipp and Aboya
