Posts Tagged ‘Philadelphia site’
Analysis: 1 UConn def. 9 Texas A&M
1 UConn 92
9 Texas A&M 66
West Region second round • Wachovia Center, Philadelphia
By Zachary Osterman
– I wasn’t too big a believer in UConn before the tournament started. If you can’t win your conference, how can you win a national title? But the Huskies are deep and talented and they’re peaking at the right time. Here’s the kicker for me, though: They’re not playing like a team of great players, they’re playing like a team. Texas A&M was just dominated in every facet and shot out of the tournament. The Aggies never had a chance.
Analysis: 3 Villanova def. 6 UCLA
3 Villanova 89
6 UCLA 69
East Region second round • Wachovia Center, Philadelphia
By Jim Reedy
– Villanova is way, way more than Scottie Reynolds and UCLA isn’t nearly the same team that reached the Final Four the past three teams. As such, this one wasn’t close. The Wildcats were positively dominant, displaying a combination of skill, savvy, athletic ability and physical determination that will only be derailed in this tournament by foul trouble or an off shooting night.
Analysis: 6 UCLA def. 11 VCU
6 UCLA 65
11 VCU 64
East Region first round • Wachovia Center, Philadelphia
By Jim Reedy
– Not again. Really? In the final seconds, Eric Maynor had all eyes on him as he held a sword over the neck of a staggered giant. Two years after Maynor thrilled VCU fans a nation of haters by beating Duke with a game-winning jumper in the NCAA first round, here he was again with a chance to knock out UCLA.
Analysis: 3 Villanova def. 14 American
3 Villanova 80
14 American 67
East Region first round • Wachovia Center, Philadelphia
By Jeff Greer
– For the majority of the game, things seemed just right for a major upset. American was hitting 3s from all over the floor and coping with Villanova’s 1-2-2, three-quarter-court press like it had seen them 10 times this year. The Eagles even ended the first half with a 9-0 burst that propelled them to a 41-31 lead.
Analysis: 1 UConn def. 16 Chattanooga
1 UConn 103
16 Chattanooga 47
West Region first round • Wachovia Center, Philadelphia
By Corey DeMoss
– When Hasheem Thabeet went to the bench with an early foul, Chattanooga took advantage and showed some weaknesses in UConn’s interior play without Thabeet. The Mocs managed to grab the lead twice in the first five minutes, and it looked like Chattanooga might give the Huskies a run for their money.
Analysis: 9 Texas A&M def. 8 BYU
9 Texas A&M 79
8 BYU 66
West Region first round • Wachovia Center, Philadelphia
By Rustin Dodd
– Texas A&M athleticism advantage was evident from the opening tip. Texas A&M senior Bryan Davis, who finished with a career-high 21 points and nine rebounds, had too much quickness inside for the Cougars frontcourt. Davis’ career day helped the Aggies make their first 10 shots of the game. If you haven’t seen him play, Davis can be a match-up nightmare for opposing defenses. At 6 feet 9 and 240 pounds, Davis is strong enough to play with his back to the basket, but he can also face-up and knock down the mid-range jumpshot.
Inside Scoop: UCLA Bruins
Our friends at the Daily Bruin have news, features and columns on Darren Collison, Josh Shipp and a UCLA team seeded 6th in the East Region. Do the Bruins have any shot at a fourth straight Final Four appearance? They will open the tournament Thursday in Philadelphia against Eric Maynor and No. 11 seed VCU, a team that has earned more than a little buzz as a potential sleeper — if mostly because people remember the Rams beating Duke as an 11 seed two years ago.
First off, Matt Stevens throws coffee in your face, UCLA fans, by questioning your fanhood:
I’m sorry, but my Selection Sunday experience has tipped me over the edge. UCLA is not a basketball school, and UCLA fans generally don’t care about sports. I wish I had known that two years ago. Maybe then I would have chosen a different school. …
I don’t care that people have “other things to do in Los Angeles.” Not only does that embody the attitude of a Southern Californian with a superiority complex, it doesn’t matter when it comes to what is happening on our very own campus. If anyone gave a lick about basketball, it’d be on the televisions, and there would be a viewing party in Pauley Pavilion.
