Posts Tagged ‘West Region’
Analysis: 1 UConn def. 3 Missouri
1 UConn 82
3 Missouri 75
West Region final • University of Phoenix Stadium, Glendale, Ariz.
By Wyndam Makowsky
– Ever since Jerome Dyson went down in February, Connecticut has been looking for someone to take his place as the team’s spark plug and most erstwhile contributor. Some nights, it’s A.J. Price, but his play can be sporadic. On other days, it’s Stanley Robinson, who explodes every week or so for a big game. Tonight, it was Kemba Walker, the freshman guard who may be the best professional prospect on the team. He had one of the best nights of any perimeter player in the tournament so far, drilling 7-of-9 shots and picking up five assists and rebounds. His field goal with just over two minutes remaining — and double zeros on the shot clock — to push the Huskies’ lead to five points and keep them in control.
Analysis: 3 Missouri def. 2 Memphis
3 Missouri 102
2 Memphis 91
West Region semifinals • University of Phoenix Stadium, Glendale, Ariz.
By Jim Reedy
– John Calipari spent much of the game complaining his boys were getting pushed around, but Missouri built a 24-point lead by overwhelming the Conference USA champions with depth and energy at both ends of the court and ended Memphis’ program-record 27-game win streak. Paper Tigers after all? Perhaps.
Analysis: 1 UConn def. 5 Purdue
1 UConn 72
5 Purdue 60
West Region semifinals • University of Phoenix Stadium, Glendale, Ariz.
By Jim Reedy
– Connecticut led the entire game, but the Boilermakers did a good job dragging them down to their level with indefatigable defense and were right in the game for 30-plus minutes before the Huskies pulled away. Unable to solve Hasheem Thabeet’s inside defense, Purdue just couldn’t break through after cutting the margin to three several times.
Analysis: 3 Missouri def. 6 Marquette
3 Missouri 83
6 Marquette 79
West Region second round • Taco Bell Arena, Boise, Idaho
By Doug Tifft
– After blowing a 16-point lead, Missouri was able to hold on with a great last-second play. Mike Anderson drew up a simple high ball-screen with J.T. Tiller and Leo Lyons. Tiller came off the screen, and got to the rim, drawing a foul while taking a whack. In what turned into an interesting ethical question, Tiller appeared to come up lame, and had to come out of the game. Freshman Kim English came in and drained both free throws, to give the Tigers the winning margin. Tiller, shaking off the cobwebs after the hard foul, was able to re-enter the game after the foul shots, and was on the floor when Lazar Hayward stepped over the endline against the Mizzou pressure, squandering Marquette’s final chance at evening the game.
Analysis: 5 Purdue def. 4 Washington
5 Purdue 76
4 Washington 74
West Region second round • Rose Garden, Portland, Ore.
By Jim Reedy
– Purdue exploded early and staved off collapse to win a very solid, suspenseful college basketball game and break through to the Sweet Sixteen after going out in the second round the past two years. JaJuan Johnson did what Jarvis Varnado could not, giving the Boilers a tall, skilled counterpart to Jon Brockman’s bruising inside for the Huskies. He and his teammates had just enough to hold on after Isaiah Thomas figured out how to get into lane at will.
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: 2 Memphis def. 10 Maryland
2 Memphis 89
10 Maryland 70
West Region second round • Sprint Center, Kansas City, Mo.
By Jeff Greer
– Memphis struggled for a good 35 minutes against Cal State Northridge in the first round, but today was nothing like that. The Tigers worked their press, penetrated the Maryland defense at will and hit jump shots. I know the Terps have hung around with (and beaten) some very good teams this year, but the combination of Memphis’s suffocating defense and hot shooting really put Maryland on the ropes from the outset.
Analysis: 13 Cleveland State def. 4 Wake Forest
13 Cleveland State 84
4 Wake Forest 69
West Region first round • American Airlines Arena, Miami
By Jeff Greer
– What’s the formula for beating Wake Forest, a team that was ranked No. 1 in the nation earlier this year? Turn the Demon Deacons over and don’t let their size, length and athleticism intimidate you. Well, after beating Syracuse in the Carrier Dome back in December, Cleveland State wasn’t intimidated by Wake’s athletic prowess. And the Vikings turned the Deacs over plenty, too. Wake had 18 turnovers. You can’t win a game when you take 15 fewer shots than your opponent.
Analysis: 3 Missouri def. 14 Cornell
3 Missouri 78
14 Cornell 59
West Region first round • Taco Bell Arena, Boise, Idaho
By Corey DeMoss
– As the second half began, Missouri looked like a different team. The Tigers’ defense was stifling, and their offense made a concerted effort to keep the ball moving and increase the speed of the game. The newly hectic pace appeared to tire the Cornell players, who did not have nearly as much energy as they did in the first half. The Tigers ended up with lots of open looks, and they responded by making 10 of their first 13 shots. By the midway point in the second half they had already scored as many points as they had in the entire first half.
Analysis: 6 Marquette def. 11 Utah State
6 Marquette 58
11 Utah State 57
West Region first round • Taco Bell Arena, Boise, Idaho
By Jim Reedy
– Utah State power forward Tai Wesley was at times the best player on the court today, but he was on the short end of two decisive possessions near the end. First, he got stuck guarding Marquette guard Jerel McNeal at the top of the key and couldn’t stay in front of him. McNeal drove left and finished strong, pushing the Golden Eagles’ lead to 54-51 with 1 minute left. At the other end, Wesley put together another nice post move, but missed a contested shot in the lane. He committed a backcourt foul, his fifth of the game, that gave Marquette two free throws that put them firmly in control.
