The best two days of the sports year did not disappoint. Well, at least Day 2 of the First Round after a so-so Day 1. Six of the 16 games on Friday were won by the higher seed, and that included the site of Tampa seeing all four underdogs win. It was the first time ever in the history of the NCAA Tournament where one site saw all four higher seeds win.
Top Player Performance: Stephen Curry (40 pts, 14-22, 8-10 3s)
Curry led Davidson to their first tournament victory since 1969. Gonzaga was destroying Davidson in every facet of the game in the first half, but somehow the Wildcats survived behind Curry's great shooting. The play of the game was when Davidson saved a ball from going out of bounds and the pass went right to a wide open Curry for a three. That gave Davidson a comfortable lead they would not relinquish. But how this kid, who plays in North Carolina, eluded ACC recruiting is beyond me. My Dukies could definitely use him right about now!
Biggest Stunner: Tie - #12 Villanova overcoming an 18 point deficit to defeat #5 Clemson, and #13 Siena blowing out #4 Vanderbilt by 21.
Nova's tremendous defense frustrated the hell out of the Tigers in the 2nd half. Jay Wright is rising among the best coaches in the country. Other than a dumb technical, he did a brillant job keeping his Wildcats under control after having their doors blown off by Clemson early in the game. Clemson's inexperience killed them tonight. They were clearly stunned when Nova made their run. A team with Final Four talent lost because they didn't know what do to when their opponent got up after an early knockout blow.
Siena shocked me by just destroying the Commodores. I kept waiting for a Vandy second half run, but they were never able to get inside of 7 points. Normally, CBS would switch everyone to a #13 with a chance to win, but since this game was so lopsided, they left this game to go to others. That's all you need to know in a nut shell right there.
Best Team Going Home: #5 Clemson
It really isn't even close. Clemson rose up many individual's rankings after their great ACC Tournament last weekend. They then opened up an 18 point lead right out of the gate. How they lost today is really a credit to Villanova.
Connecticut is the second best team to go home. San Diego really played with a lot of heart when it appeared that UConn's inside game was going to be the Toredos downfall. What a shot by Rob Jones to send the Toredos to an improbable second round matchup with Western Kentucky.
Drake is another #5 going home, but being from the Missouri Valley, we really don't know how good they were. They fought hard to erase a 16 point deficit, but Ty Rogers's three ends their magical year. Vandy doesn't deserve to be in this discussion as they were embarrassed by Siena.
Highlight of the First Round: Ty Rogers's buzzer beater for Western Kentucky.
The rush up the floor by Tyrone Brazelton and the unselfish pass to Rogers was a thing of beauty. You'll see this highlight run like Bryce Drew's winner for Valparaiso back in 1998. Rob Jones's winner for San Diego is a close second.
Overrated: Duke
They nearly lost to #15 Belmont if it wasn't for Gerald Henderson's big drive and layup. The Blue Devils are clearly tired from overachieving this regular season. I sort of expect them to be sent packing by West Virginia, who is playing extremely well right now. #2 Tennessee really struggled with #15 American today as well, but it didn't come down to the final seconds like it did for Duke.
Off to the second round. The madness is in full swing!!!
Pat Morgan
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