Posts Tagged ‘Midwest Region’
Analysis: 2 Michigan State def. 1 Louisville
2 Michigan State 64
1 Louisville 52
Midwest Region final • Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis
By Jim Reedy
– The Spartans just generally worked harder, taking control in the second half and gradually squeezing the life out of the Cardinals. No shame for Louisville in falling short of Friday’s record output of 103 points against Arizona, but 52 points on 38-percent shooting just wasn’t going to get it done against a Michigan State that got contributions from all over the court.
Analysis: 1 Louisville def. 12 Arizona
1 Louisville 103
12 Arizona 64
Midwest Region semifinals • Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis
By Jim Reedy
– In a Sweet Sixteen that featured an average margin of 16.1 points and only two games decided by single digits, Rick Pitino’s Cardinals were far and away the most dominant team. Attribute some of that to facing an opponent that received one of the final at-large bids and got here by beating a No. 13 seed in the second round. But mostly, credit Louisville for tearing the Wildcats apart, unblinking and unmerciful, over the course of 40 minutes.
Analysis: 2 Michigan State def. 3 Kansas
2 Michigan State 67
3 Kansas 62
Midwest Region semifinals • Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis
By Jim Reedy
– Someone please get Sherron Collins some help. The junior guard, one of two contributors left from last season’s championship team, did all he could to carry the Jayhawks, helping them build an early 13-point lead and a five-point lead with less than four minutes left, but the Spartans rallied and Collins couldn’t win it alone.
Analysis: 2 Michigan State def. 10 USC
2 Michigan State 74
10 USC 69
Midwest Region second round • Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, Minneapolis
By Zachary Osterman
– Honestly, this was one of the best tournament games I’ve seen all year, probably the best. Good team play, big performances from big players, not too many turnovers or fouls, just a good game between two good teams. Further reinforced the idea that experience wins in tight games in the NCAA tournament.
Analysis: 1 Louisville def. 9 Siena
1 Louisville 79
9 Siena 72
Midwest Region second round • UD Arena, Dayton, Ohio
By Jeff Greer
– -Siena made a good run at the overall No. 1 seed in the NCAA tournament. The Saints trailed by as many as 14 in the first half and 10 in the second, but they never seemed out of it. They even took a six-point lead with seven-plus minutes remaining.
How did they do it? They forced Louisville to cough up the ball under pressure. Siena’s fullcourt pressure gave Louisville, a pressing team itself, a major dose of its own medicine. Louisville turned the ball over 17 times, including seven turnovers during Siena’s 23-7 run that put them in the lead. And they relied on reserve guard Clarence Jackson to lead the offensive charge. Jackson scored all nine of his points during Siena’s surge. But in the end, the Saints’ shooting woes and rebounding disadvantage cost them the upset.
Analysis: 12 Arizona def. 13 Cleveland State
12 Arizona 71
13 Cleveland State 57
Midwest Region second round • American Airlines Arena, Miami
By Zachary Osterman
– Cleveland State was always going to be the underdog in this one, obviously, and playing from behind hurt them. It’s generally true – and it was this afternoon – that underdogs that are so because of severe size and talent gaps (i.e. not Wisconsin vs. Xavier or, say, Arizona vs. Utah) need to be there from the beginning. If not, said teams need to at least control the game at some stage. Cleveland State never did.
Analysis: 3 Kansas def. 11 Dayton
3 Kansas 60
11 Dayton 43
Midwest Region second round • Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, Minneapolis
By Rustin Dodd
– Wilt Chamberlain played for Kansas. So did JoJo White and Paul Pierce and Danny Manning. But today, inside the Metrodome in Minneapolis, Cole Aldrich did something that no Kansas basketball player has ever done. Aldrich, a native of suburban Minneapolis, had the first triple-double in history, finishing with 13 points, 20 rebounds and 10 blocks in Kansas’ 60-43 victory over Dayton. In the final minute, Aldrich, gassed and exhausted, finally took his seat on the bench as the Rock Chalk chant echoed throughout the Metrodome. It’s hard to dissect Aldrich’s performance, it may be better just to marvel at the numbers – but we’ll try anyway.
Analysis: 9 Siena def. 8 Ohio State
9 Siena 74
8 Ohio State 72 (2 OT)
Midwest Region first round • UD Arena, Dayton, Ohio
By Jim Reedy
– Siena earned a tournament win for the second year in a row, winning the longest game of the first round after Ronald Moore hit critical 3-pointers near the end of both overtime periods. They were the only two 3s of the night for Moore and part of the Saints’ 6-of-23 performance from beyond the arc. What’s more, they committed 22 turnovers. Yet they had enough to hold on its what was essentially a road game.
Analysis: 1 Louisville def. 16 Morehead State
1 Louisville 74
16 Morehead State 54
Midwest Region first round • UD Arena, Dayton, Ohio
By Jim Reedy
– The Ohio Valley champions, winners of Tuesday’s play-in game, acquitted themselves quite well for a time against the No. 1 overall seed. Louisville led by only two points at halftime, but no team has overcome a halftime lead this season against Rick Pitino’s Cardinals. U of L widened the margin with a 17-4 run to start the second half, fueled by its full-court pressure, and was all set from there.
Analysis: 2 Michigan State def. 15 Robert Morris
2 Michigan State 77
15 Robert Morris 62
Midwest Region first round • Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, Minneapolis
By Jim Reedy
– Pay no attention to the final margin. It wasn’t nearly that close. The score was tied at 30 before Michigan State closed the first with 11 straight points, opened the second half with 10 straight points and that was about that. Overall, Tom Izzo was pretty pleased, and he had every right to be.
