- Michigan State over Duke
- North Carolina over Villanova
- Kentucky over Utah
- NC State over Wisconsin
Alright, so here we go...
CBS has it on Duke/Michigan State, but I will also have NC State/Wisconsin on once the tipoff starts there. That's the perks of living in the Triangle.
Right now nothing much going on. Duke tried to start out fast but Michigan State eventually evened it up. Score's 10-8 Duke.
Oh; and it should be noted that I did go 4-0 on my picks yesterday. Braggin rights and all that.
7:37: NC State/Wisconsin is under way. Elian Etimov has sick range. After a bit of exchanging baskets, Etimov hits a three and another basket places NC State up by seven, 16-9.
In the other game, Michigan State is cold, but is able to keep it within a possession. Duke's up by two.
7:45: Michigan State is playing Duke's game right now: defensive oriented and physical. While they are coming up with good plays, they need to find a way to slow down Nelson and Williams in the paint. Duke's up by five with about four minutes left in the half.
NC State is starting to open it up on Wisconsin already. These boys didn't come to play games. State's up by 10. Oh, and Bill Raftery is HILARIOUS.
7:54: Duke's already turned the ball over 10 times with two minutes left in the half. Coach K is already working the refs over. We'll see how that plays out as the game goes on. Duke's up by two with a minute to go.
7:58: Meanwhile, NC State and Wisconsin has started to get sloppy. That helps NC State, who's still up by eight. A lot of fouls and turnovers are being made here. 23-15 with six minutes to go.
Right now nothing much going on. Duke tried to start out fast but Michigan State eventually evened it up. Score's 10-8 Duke.
Oh; and it should be noted that I did go 4-0 on my picks yesterday. Braggin rights and all that.
7:37: NC State/Wisconsin is under way. Elian Etimov has sick range. After a bit of exchanging baskets, Etimov hits a three and another basket places NC State up by seven, 16-9.
In the other game, Michigan State is cold, but is able to keep it within a possession. Duke's up by two.
7:45: Michigan State is playing Duke's game right now: defensive oriented and physical. While they are coming up with good plays, they need to find a way to slow down Nelson and Williams in the paint. Duke's up by five with about four minutes left in the half.
NC State is starting to open it up on Wisconsin already. These boys didn't come to play games. State's up by 10. Oh, and Bill Raftery is HILARIOUS.
7:54: Duke's already turned the ball over 10 times with two minutes left in the half. Coach K is already working the refs over. We'll see how that plays out as the game goes on. Duke's up by two with a minute to go.
7:58: Meanwhile, NC State and Wisconsin has started to get sloppy. That helps NC State, who's still up by eight. A lot of fouls and turnovers are being made here. 23-15 with six minutes to go.
8:02: Will someone tell Billy Packer to calm down? It's bad enough when he's cheerleading for Duke throughout the whole half, even trying to make cases of clean blocks when everyone and their momma's can see they were fouls, but I'm sure the refs can look into the monitor and see the clock was late. Geez. Duke and Michigan State are tied at halftime.
8:10: Bill Raftery: "Oh my god, they just can't get out of their own way."
I concur. I thought last night's Texas Tech/West Virginia game was bad.
I concur. I thought last night's Texas Tech/West Virginia game was bad.
Speaking of which, did you hear about how the state celebrated last night? Set off 50 fires. And they know there is nothing but mountains and trees out there. If my dad (who is a forest ranger) calls me to tell me he has to go to Po-dunk, WV to go battle a fire, I'mma be pissed.
Anwyay, State's up 30-21 at halftime.
Another note, No team has scored more than 75 points on Wisconsin this year. That's pretty consistent defense. It looks like that won't change tonight, but Wisconsin at this rate won't get more than 50. They only scored 45 against Illinois in the Big Ten tourney, so it's possible.
Anwyay, State's up 30-21 at halftime.
Another note, No team has scored more than 75 points on Wisconsin this year. That's pretty consistent defense. It looks like that won't change tonight, but Wisconsin at this rate won't get more than 50. They only scored 45 against Illinois in the Big Ten tourney, so it's possible.
8:30: Duke/Michigan State starts the second half. MSU started sloppy, but then two big threes along with layup transitioned from a steal gives Michigan State it's first lead of the game. Coach K gives his boys a powder. 40-36.
Also, I don't think Duke fans are going to be happy because they were put on the Fox affiliate while NC State got the bigger audience on WRAL 5. Then again, State fans would moan too if they were in that spot, so oh well.
Also, I don't think Duke fans are going to be happy because they were put on the Fox affiliate while NC State got the bigger audience on WRAL 5. Then again, State fans would moan too if they were in that spot, so oh well.
8:45: Both ACC teams are struggling now. Duke is down by six with 13:00 left to go, and Wisconsin has come out of the second half firing. NC State is still up, but their lead is down to three.
8:50: Damn...MSU's Brown really took off with that dunk. It's as if the only guy that's trying to step up for Duke is Melchionni. He's hit seven of Duke's last ten points (Reddick hit a three, which gave him eight points). If Reddick and Williams don't get their heads into the game, Duke's going home tonight. They're down by seven with less than nine to play.
NC State is trying to fend off Wisconsin, and taking their time with their possessions. That's the kind of game Wisconsin likes, too. State's up by three with 12 minutes left.
NC State is trying to fend off Wisconsin, and taking their time with their possessions. That's the kind of game Wisconsin likes, too. State's up by three with 12 minutes left.
9:00: Wisconsin has really played well in the second half, and NC State looks so sloppy. The Badgers look to pull away, as they are up by eight with less than nine left in the game.
Meanwhile, Duke has crept back into their game and is playing with some grit. I'm impressed how Melchionni is stepping up. 60-56 with 6 minutes left.
Meanwhile, Duke has crept back into their game and is playing with some grit. I'm impressed how Melchionni is stepping up. 60-56 with 6 minutes left.
9:05: Williams goes out of the game with his fourth foul. Not good. Duke's interior will suffer now. You would think MSU would attack the basket now that the monster is out and Randolph stays prone to fouling. Nah, they send it to the arc and hits the three. 66-60 MSU with less than four mins to go.
9:12: Wisconsin keeps looking as if they are going to pull away, but here comes Etimov with another clutch three. NC State needs to take every possession seriously. State has cut it to four with 4:40 left.
Meanwhile, Sheldon Williams has fouled out. I don't know why Coach K felt pressured to put him back in the game so early after his fourth foul. And he was drew into the foul by Paul Davis on a very clever pump fake. Davis gets the three point play, 69-63 with two and a half left. This isn't looking good for Duke.
9:20: Reddick and Melchionni better step up. I don't think they can allow Michigan State to score more than a basket for the rest of the game. MSU leads 70-66 with 1:30 left.
9:25: Both Duke and State need big plays. They are making pretty nice defensive plays, but both are down by two possessions with about a minute left in the game; 72-68 MSU over Duke and 59-54 Wisconsin over State. They better hope both miss some free throws.
9:30: Well, both ACC teams will go down. Michigan State has run away with it against Duke, and Wisconsin has as well. Wisconsin was simply the better team, as they adjusted to NC State in the second half and kept it close until they put it away. There are some folks in North Carolina that will really be pissed that they tuned in to watch two of their schools bomb out at the same time. If I'm not mistaking, this is a second straight exit by Duke in the Sweet Sixteen.
I really have to question Coach K's thought process by placing Williams back in the game so early with four fouls. Duke didn't have a chance once he got his fifth. JJ Redick played piss poor tonight, as he has throughout the tournament. It was only a matter of time where their poor play would catch up with them against a competent team like Michigan State.
As for NC State, this will get the Wolfpack fans grumbling again, but Wisconsin has a great defense and can make plays. State was a 10th seed, and Wisconsin did get to the Big Ten finals, so it can't be considered an upset. With Hodge leaving this year, Herb Sendek will have to do this all over again in order to keep his job.
As for NC State, this will get the Wolfpack fans grumbling again, but Wisconsin has a great defense and can make plays. State was a 10th seed, and Wisconsin did get to the Big Ten finals, so it can't be considered an upset. With Hodge leaving this year, Herb Sendek will have to do this all over again in order to keep his job.
Just in case you didn't know, I've already started a new thread for the other games. Click home and check out session II.