Set the mental clock for a 5am wake up call today and boom, a bit anxious as I jumped out of bed at the 4:48 mark on the alarm clock! The birds were singing the CBS March Madness theme as I went down the tunnel (err, hallway) to take the court (turn on TV, put on the headphones and flip the satellite into go) for the first four of the Sweet 16 games.
First up, Wichita State and Notre Dame. Perfect adrenaline rush to start the day as this one should be the best of the night's games (at least from a purists standpoint). Notre Dame starts off hitting everything they throw up. Uh oh, so much for WSU's coach getting the Indiana "golden ticket" to go to Bloomington to coach. Interesting to note that Marshall's courtside mannerisms are actually quite similar to IU's Crean during this game. WSU hangs in there (by the way, watching the games with no internet/google so as to avoid seeing outcomes, but thinking throughout about what the heck a Shocker is) and at the half I am thinking that they figured out how to defend ND in the last 10 minutes of the 1st half. Boom, WSU takes the lead early in the 2nd half and it is looking goodbye Irish. Then, Grant and Jackson turn it up a notch, the speed of the game gets going and it is just all ND! Key moment I thought was when the Shockers cut it to 6 with 8 minutes to go and then D up. ND runs the shot clock all the way down and Grant buries a killer three with 1 left on the shot clock. You could just hear the air get sucked out of WSU. ND then goes on a massive run and now likely will face Kentucky in the Elite 8. ND really has outstanding chemistry on this team. With some Irish luck, maybe they can stop the Calipari march to the title (please - anyone!).
Wisconsin and UNC are getting some screen time, but no scoring updates on my satellite feed. At the half of ND/WSU, I get the last 8 minutes of the 1st half. UNC is not turning the ball over and that is usually a killer for them. Wisconsin seems to take a lot of shots from the perimeter with no crashing of the boards on offense. I noticed this against Oregon and after watching WSU and ND go flying around the court chasing down rebounds, the Badgers seem to be missing this reckless aggressiveness that I think is necessary in the tourney. Who knows though, tight game and now I am blogging "live" to my recording feed and UNC leads Wisconsin by 2 with 7 minutes to go.
"live" pause - what a great sunrise here!!! Had to share it:
Bad signs abound for Wisconsin. UNC is hitting their FTs AND they are in the bonus with 7 to go. This just does not happen when teams play the Badgers. Rare indeed. Frank the Tank just drains a 3, UNC turnover for a layup and a Dekker 3. Boom - Badgers by 6 and Roy decides to take a TO and look busy. This game just went quickly from uh-oh to Badgers I think. Oh my, great set play for Jackson for the 3. Roy with a great call and the Tarheels are again breathing. Wow, Badgers certainly seem to have answered this "call". More importantly, Jackson is back on the court in crunch time and that is a key weapon they have been missing due to injury for I think 2 months. That could be big for the rest of the tournament.
Great ad for the NBA with the whole "The Dance Never Ends" thing. Very well done. I might even watch a play-off game or two as a result before the conference finals!
Decker misses the dagger 3 to put Wisconsin up 8 with 2 to go. UNC hits a 3 on the other end and oh my, another adrenaline rush for the Commish and we have a ballgame. UNC with no one to guard Decker. Reggie keeps raving about his ability to put the ball on the court, but heck, he was 6'6 a year ago I think. Nothing like a 3" growth spurt when you are 20. I am still waiting for mine to happen! Wisconsin may want to watch for that double screen for Paige. Reggie gets it - "it's on re-wind for Marcus Paige". Roy making all kinds of good calls in this one. Shocker. Foul on Decker, but Hicks to the line in a pressure situation. Not a bad foul at all.
Doink! Hicks hard off the back of the rim and UNC hopes are fading. Doink again and this one is about over. Badgers are solid from the line and no TOs for UNC. Wisconsin up 5 with 20 seconds to go. This one is over and UNC goes to the line again for 2. Drains them both and UNC has a chance. Frank the Tank to the line and closes it out. Go Big 10!! Wisconsin does their part to set-up a rematch with the Wildcats in the Elite 8.
Kids are waking up. So much for the "live" blog. Go WVU!!!
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