From 65 to 16 as the Second Round Shapes the Field

The field of 65 has been whittled down to 16. The first weekend of the 2008 NCAA Tournament had many twists and turns, and I think it was one of the best opening weekends ever. Now on to the highlights of the second round.

Top Player Performance (AGAIN): Stephen Curry (30 pts, 8-21, 5-15 3s)

Not the unconscious numbers he put up against #7 Gonzaga, but he was even more clutch in this round. Midway through the 2nd half, he converted a 4-point play that really set him off after a sluggish start. He made play after play after play to demoralize Georgetown. Usually after such a big comeback a player will be worn out, but Curry stayed hot and iced the game with his three from the top of the key to put the Wildcats up 65-60 with under 2 minutes to play. I looked hard for another player in the second round to avoid a duplicate from the first round, but Curry was so impressive it was impossible to go elsewhere.

Biggest Stunner: #10 Davidson's 17-point comeback to defeat #2 Georgetown 74-70
& Best Team Going Home: #2 Georgetown

It is absolutely stunning that this experienced Hoyas team would blow a 17-point lead to anyone. You can look no further than Georgetown committing over 20 turnovers. They are generally such a smart team that does not beat themselves. They do go into scoring droughts and that really hurt them today. Roy Hibbert was hampered by foul trouble too, but he hasn't been the factor I thought he would be for Georgetown this year.

Give credit to Davidson though. Stephen Curry has been absolutely fantastic by delivering his Wildcats to the Sweet 16. I can't remember a better single performer in the NCAA Tournament. Everyone one of his combined 70 points came under great pressure. Both wins for Davidson were comebacks, so it wasn't like Curry ran up his stats in blowouts. He came through great when the pressure was at its peak. Even some of the best melt in those situations. Think those ACC teams are regretting turning him away?

Highlight of the Second Round: Brook Lopez's driving layup in OT to defeat #6 Marquette 82-81

After Trent Johnson was ejected, did anyone think the Cardinal would survive this game? They really hung together with the Lopez twins dominating inside. Marquette was the quicker, scrappier team that almost overcame the huge disadvantage of facing Robin and Brook Lopez. Give great credit to Stanford though who really gutted out a victory that will go down as their survival win should they find a way into the Final Four. I think it is safe to say any of the teams remaining can win the South region.

Survival Game to the Truest Sense: Darren Collison's coast-to-coast game-winning layup to save #1 UCLA against #9 Texas A&M

While this layup saved UCLA from a premature elimination, there were many things to be concerned with if you are a Bruins fan. You've all heard a lot about the great comeback yesterday, but to be honest I really wasn't impressed. Their defense was fantastic as it always is, but it took them 15 minutes to comeback from 10 down. In those 15 minutes, UCLA only allowed Texas A&M 9 points! That means UCLA only scored 19, so it was like the turtle catching up on the sleeping rabbit. They got away with a poor scoring night against the Aggies, but UCLA will not overcome their now typical slow starts if they hope to defeat Memphis, UNC or anyother big teams to win the National Championship. I'm not saying they have to blitz their competitors because of their great defense, but they do have to score more. Think about it, they scored 51 while UNC scored 108 in their second round victories.

Underrated: Wisconsin & Washington State

The Badgers and Cougars have quietly gone about their business in the tournament. Wisconsin clobbered Kansas State yesterday. Unlike last year, the Badgers came into the tournament playing well and have really locked down their opponents with their terrific systematic play. If Davidson wants to continue their Cinderella run they will have to really earn it against Wisconsin.

Washington State held Notre Dame to just 41 points yesterday. That is half the season average for the Irish. It will be interesting to see if the Cougars can slow tempo, as they do so well, against the best team in the country in UNC. Any fluke that both these programs are stamped by Gary Bennett?

Overrated: Tennessee

They haven't been all that impressive in their two victories. #15 American gave them all they could handle, and today #7 Butler took them into overtime after having the ball with a chance to win in regulation. I know Butler is much better than your average #7 seed, but if your a National Title contender like Tennessee, you've got to find a way to play better than you have. They will face a red hot Louisville team in the next round who just pounded UNC by 30. That might be the best matchup of the Regional Semifinals.

To the Sweet 16!

Pat Morgan

Upsets a Plenty as First Round Comes to a Close

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