Here are some thoughts from the first two rounds.
It was noted in today's USA Today that the Butler vs. Tennessee game yesterday marked the earliest time in NCAA Tournament history that two 30 win teams faced each other in the tournament. I will say this again, it is an absolute crime to have seeded Butler #7 in the tournament and have them face Tennessee in the second round. The Bulldogs deserved a #5 seed at least. However too many missed layups and free throws did them in (I can't believe they missed so many free throws, unButlerlike..is that a word?..should be).
All the talk from the Raleigh regional is about Davidson and rightly so. But North Carolina is really good. As in really, scary good. They have tied a NCAA mark for two 100+ point games in the first two rounds of the tournament. They can go eight or nine deep easy and their only senior is their backup point guard Quentin "Q" Thomas, who everytime he made a basket an incredibly loud long "Q" came from the crowd of Carolina blue. They absolutely dominated the Arkansas game. It was over at 9-0.
Curry and Richards get all the press, but Andrew Loverdale is an important key for the Wildcats. Without Loverdale, Davidson may not win that game vs. Gonzaga and Loverdale played exceptionally well down the stretch in both the win vs. the Zags and the win over Georgetown. He gives them size and athleticism in the frontcourt and he can hit the jumper at the top of the key when teams play zone against the Wildcats.
Louisville is flying under the radar. Two games, two blowouts. Pitino has his gang going. Will be a really good game vs. Texas.
Courtney Lee and Tyrone Brazelton may be the most underrated duo in the tournament. Ty Rogers may have beaten Drake with the buzzer winning three, but it was Brazelton's 35 points that caused the Bulldogs such grief. Then Lee nails 25 points against San Diego. If one won't get you, the other will. Here's hoping they give the Bruins all they can handle.
No offense to Mississippi State, but lucky for Memphis they weren't playing a Sweet Sixteen quality team, otherwise they would have gone home. You can't keep going 15 for 32 from the line in the tournament and expect the rest of your game to put you over the top. And don't give me this bull about the free throws down the stretch count the most. Missed free throws pile up whether its the beginning, middle or the end of the game. You have to hit your free throws no matter when. I have the feeling Michigan State is going to teach the Tigers a lesson.
One last thing to the NCAA committee. Next time, schedule mid majors vs. majors in the first round of the tournament. And don't tell me you can't do it. What's wrong with having Nova take on Drake and Clemson take on Western Kentucky in the first round and Butler face Arizona and West Virginia take on South Alabama. Its the only way to really see how good the mid majors are.
And oh, one final thing. Eric Gordon, stay in school. You have a lot to work on, young man, most importantly giving your teammates 40 minutes of effort. No, Mal, I'm not letting up on Gordon.
I may have some more thoughts later. But its now time to head to St John's to watch Tony Bozzella's Lady Gaels take on the Red Storm in the second round of the Women's NIT.
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