What's Tweeting on Championship Saturday
by Nick Fasulo on Mar 13, 2010 10:52 AM EST
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I've signed up for a day-drinking event that begins and (likely) ends in Boston's Chinatown. Yikes. But there's ton's of action today, so follow along (in real time!) with your favorite bloggers and national writers who are on the scene of a bevy of conference tournaments.
Be sure to check out SB Nation's Bracketology and Bubble Watch, all courtesy of Chris Dobbertean.
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Let's all touch each other...Evan Turner is frieken awesome
by Nick Fasulo on Mar 12, 2010 2:55 PM EST
in Let's all touch each other...
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Whatever doubt there was circulating through the college basketball landscape that Ohio State's Evan Turner wasn't the best player in the game has just evaporated.
What the hell was John Beilein thinking? Assembling his players in a 1-3-1 zone press that started at three-quarter court might be the worst coaching move of the season. Not only do you not guard the inbound pass, you give Turner all the space he needs to end your season. You can't justify this at all. What a hack.
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Ticket Punching: Robert Morris Colonials
by Second Jumpability on Mar 12, 2010 12:05 PM EST
in 2010: Ticket Punching
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After besting rival Quinnipiac on Wednesday night, the Colonials will be making the trip to the Big Dance for the second consecutive season. It has been a roller coaster of a year for Mike Rice Jr. who had to revamp his team after losing two of the top four scorers to graduation. His savior? That would be Karon Abraham, the diminutive freshman point guard and the team's leading scorer. During a miserable 4-7 start to the season, which included a deplorable loss to 7-25 Albany, Abraham bided his time coming off the bench, scoring in bunches in nearly every game to force Coach Rice to plug him into the starting line-up. Game twelve was the turning point for Abraham and the season for Robert Morris. A go-ahead jumper in the last minute by the 5'9'' sparkplug propelled the Colonials to victory and ignited a stretch of 19 wins in 23 games.
Outside of the 23-11 record, Robert Morris looks very average statistically. A 1/1.2 Assist/Turnover Ratio, 43%FG, 66%FT, and 36% from 3-PT all point to a team that lacks real strength offensively. They are 177th nationwide in rebounding, which could pose problems if they get matched up with a Kentucky or Duke team with a bevy of guys that clean the glass.
What Abraham lacks in experience, he makes up with toughness and aggression. The Colonials experience comes from a core of seniors who made the tourney run last year in Rob Robinson, Mezie Nwigwe, and Jimmy Langhurst.
- Top Player: Karon Abraham (13.4PPG, 85FT%)
- Need-to-know Stat: In their last 15 games, a stingy Robert Morris 'D' has held opponents to 55PPG.
- Projected Seed: #16
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Week 4.2 Bubble Watch, presented by Microsoft Paint
by Nick Fasulo on Mar 12, 2010 9:39 AM EST
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With Memphis' surprising loss yesterday, San Diego St. moves into the final at-large spot. It was Arizona State's for the taking, but you must know by now that the Pac 10 really can't handle two bids.
Today is a huge day in the SEC. Florida meets Mississippi State and Ole Miss gets Tennessee. Absloute bubble frenzy in Nashville.
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Let's all touch each other...WEST VIRGINIA just won at the buzzer
by Nick Fasulo on Mar 12, 2010 9:23 AM EST
in Let's all touch each other...
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You know who didn't sleep well last night? That would be Cincinnati's Dion Dixon. The Bearcats sophomore guard exhibited terrible ball handling skills late in the game, turning the rock over with just three seconds left. This allowed all-world Da'Sean Butler to drop the game winner from the top of the key, likely spoiling UC's tourney hopes and putting the Mountaineers in tonight's semi-finals.
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That sound you hear is Memphis' bubble bursting
by Nick Fasulo on Mar 11, 2010 8:46 PM EST
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There's plenty of space available in the field of 65 for the nation's mediocre, as Josh Pastner's first season as a Tigers coach all but ended this afternoon. Memphis failed to inch closer to an at-large bid, losing in haunting fashion to Houston. They'll be thinking about this allllll summer.
The culprit who created this mess? That would be the Cougars' Aubrey Coleman, the nation's leading scorer. He was able to cut into the lane with seconds remaining, getting Wesley Witherspoon to jump on a shot fake, enabling Coleman to get a lay-up. You would think someone would want to get a body on such a dangerous offensive player, or hedge out on that screen to prevent him from going to the basket.
Even in this weak-bubble field, the Tigers 2-4 record versus the RPI top 50, and 13-4 conference record (rated 11th according to RealTimeRPI.com) likely isn't going to cut it.
To make matters worse for Conference USA, fellow bubbler UAB was also downed today, making this a likely one bid league, and Derrick frieken Character as the lone glimmer of hope for this afterthought of a conference. Who would have thought?
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Ticket Punching: Montana Grizzlies
by Second Jumpability on Mar 11, 2010 12:29 PM EST
in 2010: Ticket Punching
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Down twenty points at halftime, Montana looked ready to roll over and die. But then, at the 19-minute mark in the second-half, Grizzlies' guard Anthony Johnson sprouted two inches to 6'5'', switched to number 24, developed an unequivocal killer instinct and an immunity to missed shots, thereby morphing into the Kobe Bryant for one unforgettable half of basketball. Riding Bryant's Johnson's 34-point second half performance, the Montana Grizzlies overcame the monster deficit, topping Weber State 66-65 and vaulting into the field of 65. Even Harold "The Show" Arceneaux would be mightily impressed.
It will be Montana's first trip to the NCAA tournament since 2006 when they pulled off a first round upset over Nevada. This year's Grizzlies squad have great size down low and multiple long-range shooting threats. While they have ball skills that rival weekend YMCA stars, seven-footers Brian Qvale and Derek Selvig are both proficient rebounders and deft at altering shots by driving guards. With a team Assist/Turnover Ratio a mediocre 1/1, Montana's ball-handling and passing must improve.
While there is no doubt that their first round opponent will have superior athleticism, Montana has the big guys and the star to scare any top seed.
- Top Player: Anthony Johnson (19PPG, 3APG, 3RPG), in case you hadn't gathered that already. The senior's path to Montana ... quite fascinating.
- Need-to-know Stat: Montana boasts five players who shoot 40% or better from 3PT range.
- Projected Seed: #14
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Ticket Punching: Oakland Golden Grizzlies
by Nick Fasulo on Mar 10, 2010 7:06 PM EST
in 2010: Ticket Punching
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Back late last summer, when I was putting in hours of work researching the 2009-2010 one-bid leagues, it appeared that the stars were somewhat aligned for the Oakland Golden Grizzlies to be really, really good. Or something like that. I was blined by the four returning starters, led by Jonathan Jones, the school's all-time leader in assists, flanked by an excellent wing player and imposing big man. Their non-conference schedule featured games against Kansas, Michigan St., Syracuse, Memphis, etc. etc.. Tons of opportunities to at least earn at least a moral victory!
But none of that happened, and because they play in the lowly Summit Conference, nobody really gave a damn.
So I adopted the Golden Grizzlies (here and here) in a half-assed way to show support, knowing they had a few nice pieces that would be fun to watch this time of year. And after watching them rout IUPUI in the conference finals, I give myself a bit of the credit for righting the ship and living up to expectations put on them before the season started.
You say their 17-1 conference record just shows the lack of talent they played against in the Summit. I say they finally have their mojo working, and are maybe, maybe, going to be the most dangerous #14 seed since Bucknell back in 2005.
- Best Player: Keith Benson (17 points/game; 10.5 rebounds/game)
- Need-to-know Stat: The Golden Grizz can score in bunches, as they have averaged 81 PPG since the start of February.
- Projected Seed: #14
There's plenty more on the Oakland Golden Grizzlies on StatSheet.com.
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