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
Showing posts with label Duke Blue Devils. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Duke Blue Devils. Show all posts
Saturday, March 22, 2008
Sunday, February 3, 2008
Gerbil's College Basketball Top 10
10.) Stanford - This is the best Cardinal team since the Mike Montgomery days. They have won three straight road games within the tough Pac-10 to improve to 16-3 on the season. Since the return of Brook Lopez, Stanford has been on fire. Lopez has averaged about 20 points a game. I would expect Stanford's stay within my top 10 to be brief because of their schedule in the Pac-10, but they have done a nice job bringing the Cardinal back into a national power.
9.) Texas - Even without Kevin Durant this Longhorns team is still loaded. D.J. Augustin and A.J Abrams give Texas one of the best backcourts in the country. They don't have much inside so they will have to win with their speed and outside shooting. The Longhorns can beat anyone in the country on the right night. They already have two wins within my top 10 vs. UCLA and Tennessee. Look for them to have a great chance to get to an Elite 8 with a chance at the Final Four.
8.) Michigan State - The Spartans could be higher on my list if it wasn't for a loss today at Penn State or their uncharacteristic easy pre-conference schedule. However, with Tom Izzo who is a tremendous tournament coach and a great senior leader in Drew Neitzel this team has a chance to do some special things in the tournament. Raymar Morgan has had a great season as well for the Spartans. With all that being said, it will be hard to predict exactly what Michigan State will do in the tournament playing in a relatively weak Big Ten.
7.) Tennessee - Other than the loss at Kentucky, the Vols have rolled through the underrated SEC. Like Texas, Tennessee has one of the best backcourts in the nation with Chris Lofton and JaJuan Smith. Bruce Pearl has proven to be a very good tournament coach, so I like this team's chances to do well come March. However, if they have an off shooting night, a team with a good inside game will hurt the Vols. They will be battle tested though because the SEC is quietly an excellent conference with the likes of Vanderbilt, Arkansas, Mississippi, Mississippi State, Kentucky, and Florida.
6.) Duke - If it wasn't for a Levance Fields circus three, the Blue Devils could very well be undefeated going into their showdown with UNC in Chapel Hill. Senior DeMarcus Nelson has had a hell of a bounce back season in being Duke's best player over the last month. Gerald Henderson has been impressive, and freshman Kyle Singler has given the Blue Devils an all-purpose threat. Duke actually has some depth for once as well. The problem with them is their lack of an inside game. The Blue Devils are clearly on their way back and will most likely be a two seed, but I don't see a very deep tournament run because of their inside game.
5.) Georgetown - Next to UCLA, the Hoyas could be the best defensive team in the nation. They also have the best center in the nation. Roy Hibbert could lead this team, along with a slew of tournament tested players, to another Final Four or possibly beyond. The Hoyas are always working hard and never quit on a game. Their win in West Virginia was indicative of that. My concern is the Hoyas is their ability to keep up in a scoring fest with the North Carolina types of the world. They have a tendency to have extended dry spells from the field.
4.) Kansas - Well, the Jayhawks finally suffered their first loss this week. It was to a very good Kansas State team however, and the Big 12 is perhaps the best top heavy conference in the country. Mario Chalmers is one of my favorite players in the country, and along with Brandon Rush, Darnell Jackson, Sasha Kaun, Darrell Arthur, and company the Jayhawks are absolutely loaded. The Jayhawks have put up a ton of points this season, but will they be able to score like that in the later rounds of the tournament? That's always been their problem. The Rock Em', Sock Em', Jayhawks will be battle tested and should get a much better draw as a #1 seed this year. Hopefully they won't have to play a #2 like UCLA on the road like they did last year.
3.) UCLA - The Bruins are hand down the best defensive team in the country. They play a style that makes their opponets curl up and cry. They simply tore apart a high octane offense in Arizona tonight. The Bruins also have the best tournament experience of anyone. They were in the last two Final Fours, and with the Florida powerhouse out of the way, this finally might be the year for the Bruins. They are on my short list to win the whole thing. My concern for them is similiar to the Hoyas. If an opponet has a big game from downtown they might be able to beat UCLA as the Bruins won't blugen you to death with points.
2.) North Carolina - Tyler Hansbrough is well on his way to winning the John Wooden and John Naismith awards with his great season. He is averaging a double-double with 22 points and 10 rebounds. The Hoyas also can run and gun with the best of them with Ty Lawson at the point. Wayne Ellington and Danny Green are excellent players as well. The Heels have the best all-around offense in the nation. However, they aren't as deep as previous years, and their defense leaves a lot to be desired. It would really be interesting to see what kind of game develops should they play UCLA in the tournament. I am torn right now between those two teams with who will win the National Championship
1.) Memphis - The Tigers are the only unbeaten team left in Division I despite a close call vs. UTEP yesterday. As I said in a previous post, Memphis has a great chance to go into the NCAA Tournament undefeated. Their toughest game left is a date with Tennessee in three weeks. Led by Chris Douglas-Roberts, the Tigers return most of their team from last year's Elite 8 appearance. However, they have a great freshman in Derrick Rose this season. Rose could be the difference for the Tigers this year. It could be a serious problem for Memphis not playing in a major conference though. They will not be battle tested as the other teams on this list will be going into March. A couple more close calls like yesterday is not the worst thing that can happen to the Tigers. The blowouts really don't help too much. They need to know how to wins the tight ones going into March.
Pat Morgan
9.) Texas - Even without Kevin Durant this Longhorns team is still loaded. D.J. Augustin and A.J Abrams give Texas one of the best backcourts in the country. They don't have much inside so they will have to win with their speed and outside shooting. The Longhorns can beat anyone in the country on the right night. They already have two wins within my top 10 vs. UCLA and Tennessee. Look for them to have a great chance to get to an Elite 8 with a chance at the Final Four.
8.) Michigan State - The Spartans could be higher on my list if it wasn't for a loss today at Penn State or their uncharacteristic easy pre-conference schedule. However, with Tom Izzo who is a tremendous tournament coach and a great senior leader in Drew Neitzel this team has a chance to do some special things in the tournament. Raymar Morgan has had a great season as well for the Spartans. With all that being said, it will be hard to predict exactly what Michigan State will do in the tournament playing in a relatively weak Big Ten.
7.) Tennessee - Other than the loss at Kentucky, the Vols have rolled through the underrated SEC. Like Texas, Tennessee has one of the best backcourts in the nation with Chris Lofton and JaJuan Smith. Bruce Pearl has proven to be a very good tournament coach, so I like this team's chances to do well come March. However, if they have an off shooting night, a team with a good inside game will hurt the Vols. They will be battle tested though because the SEC is quietly an excellent conference with the likes of Vanderbilt, Arkansas, Mississippi, Mississippi State, Kentucky, and Florida.
6.) Duke - If it wasn't for a Levance Fields circus three, the Blue Devils could very well be undefeated going into their showdown with UNC in Chapel Hill. Senior DeMarcus Nelson has had a hell of a bounce back season in being Duke's best player over the last month. Gerald Henderson has been impressive, and freshman Kyle Singler has given the Blue Devils an all-purpose threat. Duke actually has some depth for once as well. The problem with them is their lack of an inside game. The Blue Devils are clearly on their way back and will most likely be a two seed, but I don't see a very deep tournament run because of their inside game.
5.) Georgetown - Next to UCLA, the Hoyas could be the best defensive team in the nation. They also have the best center in the nation. Roy Hibbert could lead this team, along with a slew of tournament tested players, to another Final Four or possibly beyond. The Hoyas are always working hard and never quit on a game. Their win in West Virginia was indicative of that. My concern is the Hoyas is their ability to keep up in a scoring fest with the North Carolina types of the world. They have a tendency to have extended dry spells from the field.
4.) Kansas - Well, the Jayhawks finally suffered their first loss this week. It was to a very good Kansas State team however, and the Big 12 is perhaps the best top heavy conference in the country. Mario Chalmers is one of my favorite players in the country, and along with Brandon Rush, Darnell Jackson, Sasha Kaun, Darrell Arthur, and company the Jayhawks are absolutely loaded. The Jayhawks have put up a ton of points this season, but will they be able to score like that in the later rounds of the tournament? That's always been their problem. The Rock Em', Sock Em', Jayhawks will be battle tested and should get a much better draw as a #1 seed this year. Hopefully they won't have to play a #2 like UCLA on the road like they did last year.
3.) UCLA - The Bruins are hand down the best defensive team in the country. They play a style that makes their opponets curl up and cry. They simply tore apart a high octane offense in Arizona tonight. The Bruins also have the best tournament experience of anyone. They were in the last two Final Fours, and with the Florida powerhouse out of the way, this finally might be the year for the Bruins. They are on my short list to win the whole thing. My concern for them is similiar to the Hoyas. If an opponet has a big game from downtown they might be able to beat UCLA as the Bruins won't blugen you to death with points.
2.) North Carolina - Tyler Hansbrough is well on his way to winning the John Wooden and John Naismith awards with his great season. He is averaging a double-double with 22 points and 10 rebounds. The Hoyas also can run and gun with the best of them with Ty Lawson at the point. Wayne Ellington and Danny Green are excellent players as well. The Heels have the best all-around offense in the nation. However, they aren't as deep as previous years, and their defense leaves a lot to be desired. It would really be interesting to see what kind of game develops should they play UCLA in the tournament. I am torn right now between those two teams with who will win the National Championship
1.) Memphis - The Tigers are the only unbeaten team left in Division I despite a close call vs. UTEP yesterday. As I said in a previous post, Memphis has a great chance to go into the NCAA Tournament undefeated. Their toughest game left is a date with Tennessee in three weeks. Led by Chris Douglas-Roberts, the Tigers return most of their team from last year's Elite 8 appearance. However, they have a great freshman in Derrick Rose this season. Rose could be the difference for the Tigers this year. It could be a serious problem for Memphis not playing in a major conference though. They will not be battle tested as the other teams on this list will be going into March. A couple more close calls like yesterday is not the worst thing that can happen to the Tigers. The blowouts really don't help too much. They need to know how to wins the tight ones going into March.
Pat Morgan
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
Duke Much Improved, and Singler is the Real Deal
The 2006-07 Duke Blue Devils lost 8 of their final 12 games, including being upset in the first round of the NCAA Tournament by Virginia Commonwealth. Then, they lost probably their best player, Josh McRoberts, to the NBA Draft. I heard about the incoming class led by Kyle Singler, but I wasn't convinced that this team would be much better this year. As great as Mike Krzyzewski is, I wondered how much of his attention is divided between Duke and the USA team. Why couldn't have Roy Williams take that job?After watching a few games, I am convinced Duke will go from an overrated #6 seed last year to no worse than a solid #3 seed in the 2008 NCAA Tournament. The Blue Devils probably won't be a threat to win the National Championship, as I can see games where they come up dry from beyond the arch and get slapped around by a big boy down low. They will also have to play UNC 2,3 times this season, who I think is the best team in the country.
The Blue Devils are on the way back though, and hopefully this team will have 2,3 years together. Junior point guard, Greg Paulus has continued to show significant improvement he started to build upon late last year (if there was a bright spot last year it was Paulus's improvement late in the season). Senior, DeMarcus Nelson is playing better after a rotten junior season. Gerald Henderson is becoming a star, and won't just be known for breaking Tyler Hansbrough's nose. Jon Scheyer, who might have been Duke's best player last year, now comes off the bench giving Duke much more depth than they have had in years. Most importantly though, Duke has the game changing star they lacked last year.
Kyle Singler will be the real deal for Duke, and is already paying significant dividends. Singler was the MVP of the Maui Invitational, including a whale of a performance in Duke's toughest win of the early season vs. Marquette. Singler had 25 points and was a perfect 8 of 8 from the charity stripe. That isn't a early freshman year performance right there. Singler is also a bruiser, reminding me a bit of Shane Battier. Remember all the intangibles Battier added to a game, that wouldn't show in the box score, won Duke the 2001 National Championship. While Singler probably won't come close to the defensive guru Battier was, he could be a better offensive player. He can shoot the three, and can back in down low and score some too. Singler should become the leader that Duke has lacked since the likes of Battier, which could equate to title #4 in the Coach K era.
Pat Morgan
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