NCAA Basketball Tournament

NCAA Combines Impotent Investigations Into USC

Chas Rich — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 12:06:00 EST

Filed under: Pac-10

It's been a year since the allegations broke of former USC basketball star O.J. Mayo getting a little something on the side from runners for an agent. And it has been over three years since the allegations against former USC football star Reggie Bush regarding some incompetent wannabe marketing agents fronting a lot of money and a house to Bush and his family.

Neither investigation has gone anywhere with respect to USC. Yet both are still open investigations by the NCAA. So for whatever reason, the NCAA is combining the investigations into one single investigation into USC's athletic department.

Both Bush and Mayo have denied any of the allegations and claimed innocence. At the same time, neither has been willing to speak to NCAA investigators. Both had already left USC for professional leagues, so the NCAA has had no authority to compel them to cooperate with the investigation.

Bush is accused of accepting thousands in cash and his family for failing to pay rent on a home owned by a fledgling marketer while he was playing for USC in 2004 and 2005. Mayo is accused of accepting cash and other benefits from a middleman representing a sports agency before and during the one season he played for the Trojans in 2007-08.

The allegations against Mayo were made by Louis Johnson, a former associate of Mayo and Rodney Guillory, who Johnson says received more than $200,000 in cash and gifts from a representative of the Northern California-based BDA Sports Management agency, funneling some of it -- including a flat-screen television, meals, clothes and other gifts -- to the player.

Despite the documentation supplied by Johnson in the Mayo matter and the court case filed by the marketers against Bush, the NCAA has been unable to do much. They have not been able to show any link to the USC football or basketball program.

Both programs have denied any wrongdoing and responsibility. USC athletic director Mike Garrett, football coach Pete Carroll, and basketball coach Tim Floyd have all claimed to have known nothing about what happened or how.

Presumably the combined investigations would be into whether the USC athletic department lacks institutional control. That these were not isolated incidents of rouge players, but that the USC athletic program turns a willful blind-eye and at least passively permits the access and violations.

Proving it in separate cases has been fruitless. Other than saving some costs in a combined investigation, it does not seem like the NCAA will get much further.

NCAA Combines Impotent Investigations Into USC originally appeared on NCAA Basketball Tournament on Thu, 09 Apr 2009 12:06:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sean Miller Accepts Arizona Job

Shane Bacon — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 13:31:00 EST

Filed under: A-10, Pac-10, Tourney Coaches

A day ago, folks in Tucson thought yet another coach had turned down the offer to be the next head coach of the Arizona Wildcats.

A day changes a lot of minds. Xavier coach Sean Miller originally declined the offer from Arizona athletic director Jim Livengood, but asked for a day to sleep on the decision. After waking up, Yahoo! Sports is reporting that Miller took the job, letting Xavier officials know on Monday he would not be returning.

Miller and (Xavier athletic director Mike) Bobinski met at the coach's Cincinnati area home Monday morning when, according to a source, Miller informed Bobinski he was taking the UA job. Miller has also informed UA athletic director Jim Livengood, who was under immense pressure to hire a replacement for Hall of Famer Lute Olson.

Miller's deal is for seven years, $18 million, which includes a $1 million signing bonus, according to the source.

This is quite a step up for Miller, who had serious success in the Atlantic-10, but will be moving to a much more competitive conference and making a lot more money.

Miller will be taking over a fragile Arizona program that most likely will struggle in his first season, but bringing on a guy that made two Elite Eights and one Sweet 16 is probably the best choice possible.

Sean Miller Accepts Arizona Job originally appeared on NCAA Basketball Tournament on Mon, 06 Apr 2009 13:31:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sean Miller Joins List of Coaches Not Taking the Arizona Job

Chas Rich — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 01:17:00 EST

Filed under: A-10, Pac-10, Tourney Coaches

Now, this is just getting silly. Both Jeff Goodman at FOX Sports and Gary Parrish at CBS Sports are reporting that Xavier head coach Sean Miller has turned down an offer to be the Arizona head coach.

Miller, apparently took a charter flight to New Mexico on Sunday morning to meet with Arizona athletic director Jim Livengood along with the Arizona president and a booster about the job. The offer was rumored to be as much as $15 million over seven years. He then flew back to Cincinnati that same day.
He met with family and members of his coaching staff upon his return, and decided to reject an offer that would have more than doubled his salary at Xavier. While Miller is sure to get another raise and extension from Xavier after this, it still will not come close to what Arizona was offering.

Arizona's coaching search has gone from strange, to frustratingly embarrassing, to farce. No one seems to want to take the job of having to follow Lute Olson and his success at Arizona. While at the same time, having to rebuild from nearly three years of recruiting neglect stemming from the insanity that has Arizona basketball during that time.

The Wildcats can't find any coach with any sort of national reputation to take their money. Arizona has gone from targeting top-tier coaches, to top coaches at major programs, to rising coaches, to just plain desperate. At this point, they are going to have to either go with an assistant from another program or hire a coach with some success from a mid-major.

NCAA Tournament Action

GREENSBORO, NC - MARCH 21: Wayne Ellington #22 of the North Carolina Tar Heels drives against Garrett Temple #14 of the Louisiana State University Tigers during the second round of the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament at the Greensboro Coliseum on March 21, 2009 in Greensboro, North Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Wayne Ellington;Garrett Temple

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PORTLAND, OR - MARCH 21: A Washington Huskies cheerleader performs during a break in the action against the Purdue Boilermakers during the second round of the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament at the Rose Garden on March 21, 2009 in Portland, Oregon. (Photo by Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images)

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KANSAS CITY, MO - MARCH 21: Manny Harris #3 of the Michigan Wolverines jumps to the basket for a lay up against Taylor Griffin #32 of the Oklahoma Sooners in the first half during the second round of the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament at the Sprint Center on March 21, 2009 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Manny Harris

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KANSAS CITY, MO - MARCH 21: Zack Novan #0 and Zack Gibson #32 of the Michigan Wolverines vie for the loose ball with Blake Griffin #23 of the Oklahoma Sooners in the first half during the second round of the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament at the Sprint Center on March 21, 2009 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Zack Gibson;Zack Novak;Blake Griffin

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KANSAS CITY, MO - MARCH 21: Willie Warren #13 of the Oklahoma Sooners makes contact as he goes to the basket with Zack Gibson #32 of the Michigan Wolverines in the first hafl during the second round of the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament at the Sprint Center on March 21, 2009 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Willie Warren

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KANSAS CITY, MO - MARCH 21: Taylor Griffin #32 of the Oklahoma Sooners goes up for the short jump shot against DeShawn Sims #34 of the Michigan Wolverines in the first half during the second round of the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament at the Sprint Center on March 21, 2009 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Taylor Griffin;DeShawn Sims

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PORTLAND, OR - MARCH 21: JaJuan Johnson #25 of the Purdue Boilermakers goes up for a shot over Jon Brockman #40 of the Washington Huskies in the second half during the second round of the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament at the Rose Garden on March 21, 2009 in Portland, Oregon. (Photo by Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** JaJuan Johnson;Jon Brockman

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KANSAS CITY, MO - MARCH 21: Taylor Griffin #23 of the Oklahoma Sooners and Zack Novak #0 of the Michigan Wolverines vie for position to the loose ball in the first half during the second round of the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament at the Sprint Center on March 21, 2009 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Zack Novak;Taylor Griffin

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KANSAS CITY, MO - MARCH 21: Head Coach Jeff Capel of the Michigan Wolverines yells from the sideline during their game against the Oklahoma Sooners in the second round of the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament at the Sprint Center on March 21, 2009 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Jeff Capel

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PORTLAND, OR - MARCH 21: Lewis Jackson #23 of the Purdue Boilermakers goes up for a layup as Quincy Pondexter #20 of the Washington Huskies looks on during the second round of the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament at the Rose Garden on March 21, 2009 in Portland, Oregon. (Photo by Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Lewis Jackson;Quincy Pondexter

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Sean Miller Joins List of Coaches Not Taking the Arizona Job originally appeared on NCAA Basketball Tournament on Mon, 06 Apr 2009 01:17:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Capel Extending His Stay at Oklahoma

Chas Rich — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 11:34:00 EST

Filed under: Big 12, Pac-10

Oklahoma coach Jeff Capel has been with the school for three years. For the third straight year, Capel will get a raise and extension after another successful season and plenty of interest from other programs -- again. Looks like Arizona fans can cross one more name off the list.

Capel disclosed that he has agreed to another raise and extension while in Detroit for the Final Four. He did not give any details on the money or length. The only reason why he decided to make it known was to stop the reports that he had considered the Virginia job, then Georgia and finally that he had been in negotiations with Arizona. This despite no program actually contacting Oklahoma for permission to speak with Capel.

Capel said the first time he was aware his name had been linked to Arizona was when he saw it in a report on a "crawl" across the bottom of a television show. Capel said he was reading his daughter a book when he saw it, and his wife looked at him wondering what was going on.

It also was important for Oklahoma and Capel to quell the rumors as the next wave of recruiting starts shortly after the NCAA Tournament ends. To say nothing of making sure there is not any panic in the incoming recruiting class.

Capel is bringing in two McDonald's All-Americans in Tommy Mason-Griffin and Keith "Tiny" Gallon. While the Sooners will obviously be losing Blake Griffin, this year, most of the young talent will still be there and Oklahoma appears poised to have another good year in the Big 12.

Capel Extending His Stay at Oklahoma originally appeared on NCAA Basketball Tournament on Fri, 03 Apr 2009 11:34:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Tim Floyd Reportedly Rejects Arizona

Shane Bacon — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 18:11:00 EST

Filed under: Pac-10, Tourney Coaches

In what can only be described as a coaching search that is rivaling on a drunken, drug-induced trip while wearing roller skates and a blindfold, the University of Arizona has not found its next head coach at Southern California.

Multiple news sources, including ESPN, who first reported Tim Floyd on his way to Tucson, is now saying that USC plans to hold a press conference sometime Thursday afternoon to announce its head coach will stay put, putting the Wildcats' insane coaching spree back to full speed.

As a Wildcat fan, the last few days of coaching rumors and broken deals has been, interestingly enough, as insane as the last two years of their basketball team. No structure, no foundation -- just a lot of large expectations that have fallen to the wayside.

That is all for now. When the next coaching rumor hits the presses, we will be the first on it. For now, go back to your message boards and whiskey bottles.

Tim Floyd Reportedly Rejects Arizona originally appeared on NCAA Basketball Tournament on Thu, 02 Apr 2009 18:11:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Tim Floyd Reportedly Takes Arizona Job

Shane Bacon — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 23:32:00 EST

Filed under: Pac-10, WCC, Tourney Coaches

Third Update: ESPN is reporting that USC coach Tim Floyd will be Arizona's next coach. ESPN's radio affiliate in Phoenix reports that the Trojan coach and Arizona athletic director Jim Livengood are finalizing a deal and an announcement is expected Thursday. Floyd coached USC for four seasons, including three NCAA tournaments and proved to be a highly effective recruiter. The Tuscon Citizen is reporting that Floyd flew in to discuss the job, but citing an unnamed source, says it is unclear if the coach was offered the job or even visited the campus. The paper reports that no press conference is yet scheduled for Thursday.

Second Update: ESPN SportsCenter just reported that Jeff Capel is now the leading candidate. Rumors are swirling, but we will sit on this and keep it updated throughout the day.

In less than 24 hours, the University of Arizona basketball coaching search has gone from frantic to favorable.

GoAzCats.com is reporting that Arizona athletic director Jim Livengood has locked down the next head coach. Speculation by media close to the situation is that it will be Gonzaga coach Mark Few.

Without revealing any names, the Rivals Web site had this to say about the search.

A press conference has yet to be scheduled, although it's believed that one could come as soon as Wednesday, although Thursday appears to be much more likely and it could even stretch to Friday.

From what we were told, details of the contract have yet to be completed, but that a verbal agreement has occurred and that there is heavy confidence coming from both sides on the deal getting done.

Arizona had backed itself into a corner when news hit the Internet that John Calipari was interested and eventually took the vacant coaching job at Kentucky. With Calipari gone and Rick Pitino uncertain, the coaching board was moving towards lesser known guys that wouldn't do what the Tucson faithful were hoping from their first secure coach since Lute Olson.

Tim Floyd Reportedly Takes Arizona Job originally appeared on NCAA Basketball Tournament on Wed, 01 Apr 2009 23:32:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Has Arizona Ruined Its Coaching Search?

Shane Bacon — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 15:52:00 EST

Filed under: Pac-10, Tourney Coaches

Everyone knew Russ Pennell had no chance to stay in Tucson as the head coach once Louisville finished off the Wildcats. It was an incredible run to the Sweet 16, seeing as though nobody even wanted the name "Arizona" in the tournament to begin with.

As the buzzer sounded on that 39-point rout, the coaching search became official. The Wildcats needed a high-profile coach to fill the shoes, and the legacy, of Lute Olson. That was easy in theory, but couldn't have gone worse thus far in the recruiting game.

GoAzCats.com posted an article on Tuesday focusing on the tribulations of the Tucson search, noting that the "John Calipari to Kentucky" rumors not only basically diminishes their chances of landing Calipari, but might influence Rick Pitino to stay at Louisville and try and beat his long-time coaching foe.

But consider this; Pitino and Calipari don't like each other at all. If Calipari takes Kentucky, Pitino knows that people will say he left Louisville because he's scared to go up against the rival coach. That alone could keep him at Louisville. Or maybe he hates Calipari so much he'll refuse to coach at the rival school of his.

One way or the other, what we do know is that Kentucky possibly making Calipari the highest paid coach in college basketball - if not college athletics - has to drive up the price for Pitino.

The problem Arizona faces is more than just a battle for Pitino. Now the Wildcats must face the realization that they might not land Tom Izzo, who was on their mind before this incredible run with Michigan State to the Final Four. Izzo has said he wants to win two National Championships with the Spartans, so if he can't get past Connecticut and then Villanova or North Carolina, is the recent success enough to keep him in East Lansing?

That leaves Jamie Dixon, Mark Few and a handful of lesser named coaches that probably won't go over well at a school that is in desperate need of a face-lift. One name being tossed around is Jeff Capel of Oklahoma. Capel had some success at VCU before taking over as the Sooners head coach, and went to the Elite Eight this season, but it's hard to figure if that run was more coaching or just sheer talent.

Capel could bring a face and youthful exuberance to Tucson, but is that what the school needs at this point? It's been battling the last two years with guys on the bench that some have never heard of.

It's disappointing that the same day the McDonald's All-American game will be taking place, a school once known to pull recruits from the game like petals off a flower will not watch players like Abdul Gaddy tear it up on the court as he heads to Washington instead of Arizona.

This team needs a name, and it needs one soon. If it can't land Pitino, people won't be happy. Thing is, who else can Jim Livengood bring in to add another banner?

Has Arizona Ruined Its Coaching Search? originally appeared on NCAA Basketball Tournament on Tue, 31 Mar 2009 15:52:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Calipari and Kentucky Pause the Coaching Carousel

Chas Rich — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 13:44:00 EST

Filed under: A-10, Big 12, C-USA, Pac-10, SEC, Tourney Coaches

Everyone keeps tuned to sports sites and ESPNews for the latest plumes of smoke from Memphis and/or Lexington regarding John Calipari and whether he stays at Memphis or goes to Kentucky. The flip side is that the move has paralyzed nearly every other coaching search as programs and coaches in-demand wait to see what happens.

Oh, sure some little things have happened. Viginia Commonwealth has apparently hired Shaka Smart to be their next head coach. As with the last hire of VCU's former coach, Shaka Smart is a Florida assistant.

Everything else, though, appears to be on hold, if only for a moment.

Georgia may be offering up to $2 million per year to Mizzou head coach Mike Anderson. A number that trumps the reported $1.3 million bump in salary that Mizzou put forth. Or Georgia could be going after Oklahoma head coach Jeff Capel, who reportedly makes around $1 million per year in Norman. Either way, both will be getting big raises even if they stay.

Yet Anderson and Capel are wise to wait since Memphis or even Kentucky might come calling. Even if the Wildcats do not, the money reportedly involved to get ($35 million for 8 years) or keep Calipari will surely push the pricetag up for other coaches.

Xavier head coach Sean Miller may have rejected overtures from Virginia out-of-hand, but what if a program like Memphis comes calling with over $2 million per year? Coaches in comfortable positions like Pitt's Jamie Dixon and Villanova's Jay Wright, will find themselves having to at least listen and consider the possibility of a new job if the money gets much higher. What had seemed like a realtively quiet year in the coaching carousel could turn into one of the most tumultuous.

Then there is Arizona, a program with allure, but not nearly the money. Their athletic director Jim Livengood, spoke before of winning the press conference with the hire. That means paying big money, and the big money has only increased in the months since that quote.

At the moment, there is lots of watching and waiting. When Calipari makes his decision, expect the coaching carousel to spin rapidly.

Calipari and Kentucky Pause the Coaching Carousel originally appeared on NCAA Basketball Tournament on Tue, 31 Mar 2009 13:44:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Washington State Moving Forward

Adam Papagiorgio — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 01:25:00 EST

Filed under: Pac-10

Washington State fans lived in fear when coach Tony Bennett was mentioned in connection with recent openings at Indiana and Louisiana State. But Cougars fans had to feel pretty good when Bennett decided to stay in Pullman.

Imagine the gut punch when Bennett accepted a job to a mid-card ACC team. (Seriously, Virginia?)

Now the Washington State program sits at a crossroads where it can either build on the success of Bennett's teams, or the program can slip back into the Pac-10 abyss.

Washington State officials have promised a nationwide search. Don't bother. The WSU job is third in the pecking order for open or likely open Pac-10 jobs, behind Arizona and Oregon (if Ernie Kent gets fired). Thinking of guys like Billy Gillespie and Reggie Theus is fun, but that's not going to happen. That nationwide search isn't going to get far out of the Pacific Northwest.

In fact, Washington State already has contacted Portland State coach Ken Bone, according to the Oregonian. The paper is already speculating that St. Mary's Randy Bennett, San Diego's Bill Grier and former UCLA coach Steve Lavin also will be candidates. But come on, Lavin isn't leaving ESPN. And it's hard to imagine Bennett and Grier making the move, either.

That leaves Bone, who is a really good choice. He's won everywhere he went and his buyout is only $50,000. Plus, there is this telling quote after the Big Sky tournament.

"I really want to coach basketball in the Northwest where we can be successful," Bone said. "When you start looking around, there are a lot of schools like that in the Northwest, but I don't foresee those coaches going anywhere real soon."

That was obviously before the Washington State job opened up. And if he asked my advice, you need to take advantage of opportunities when they come along. Portland State could easily slip back into obscurity and he would be wondering 'what if.' Make the move.

Washington State Moving Forward originally appeared on NCAA Basketball Tournament on Tue, 31 Mar 2009 01:25:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Tony Bennett Leaves Washington State For Virginia

Chas Rich — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 21:18:00 EST

Filed under: ACC, Pac-10

Have to admit that this was a move on the coaching carousel that was not expected. Tony Bennett turned down opportunities at Indiana and Marquette last year to stay in Pullman, Wash.

He did that, despite knowing he was heading for a rebuilding year at Washington State. A year later, after his Cougars steadily improved and he showed once more why he is considered a rising star in the coaching ranks, Bennett chose to move across the country to take the Virginia head coaching job.This is not to knock Virginia (though I'm sure some will take it as such). The Hoos hit at least a triple in their coaching hire, but Virginia is not on the same level as Indiana is or even what Marquette had become, following the job by Tom Crean to build that program.

Virginia has to compete in the ACC, and must recruit not only against North Carolina and Duke, but Maryland, Wake Forest, NC State and even in-state rival Virginia Tech. That's to say nothing of competition from Georgetown and the Big East. The Cavaliers are in a fertile recruiting area, but also a highly competitive area. Add in the stricter academic standards at Virginia, along with the need to win quickly because of a shiny new arena, and this is not an easy job or anywhere like a laid-back situation without pressure.

Tony Bennett Leaves Washington State For Virginia originally appeared on NCAA Basketball Tournament on Mon, 30 Mar 2009 21:18:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Louisville Elite But Flawed

Dan Graziano — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 21:06:00 EST

Filed under: Big East, Pac-10, Midwest Region

Well, that was authoritative.

Not surprising, though, that the top-seeded Big East regular-season and tournament champion would have no problem whatsoever with a 12-seed from the Pac-10. This was pretty close to a bye into the Elite Eight for Louisville. For the Wildcats to have had a chance, everything would have had to go perfectly for them. And the Cardinals' entire game is based on making sure things don't go perfectly for their opponent.

They bother every inbounds play, every pass, every shot, every step the opposing guard takes in transition. They come at you with athletes the way CBS comes at you with commercial breaks. You could tell from the opening tip that Louisville was on its high-energy game, and that nothing was going to come easily for Chase Budinger and his gang.

The way Louisville is constructed -- loaded with well-conditioned athletes, it's hard to imagine the Cardinals losing after four days off. If you're going to get them, it's going to be in the second game of the weekend, when they've only had one day to recharge. But a game like tonight's barely taxed them, so you have to imagine they'll be fresh for either Michigan State or Kansas on Sunday.

Question is, can they win it and get Rick Pitino to another Final Four? And it's a good question. So far, Louisville has beaten a 16-seed, a 9-seed and a 12-seed to get to the Elite Eight. They have not been pushed. From here on out, it's all 1s, 2s and 3s -- maybe a 4 if Gonzaga makes it to the final. Sunday is when we start to find out who Louisville really is as a national title contender.

It may well be one. The Cardinals have the talent. They have the size. They have the defense. They have the pedigree. Nobody else is walking around with a 19-2 record against Big East teams this year. They have all the makings.

But.

Having watched Louisville a lot this year, especially back in January, I've seen the flaws. I know how the Cardinals will lose if they do. They're a bad free-throw shooting team. Their point guard play is spotty, and symbolic of the larger problem that they sometimes get too sloppy with the ball. And that's a symptom of an even larger problem, which is that their focus can drift for huge, 10-minute stretches during which lesser teams or teams they have on the ropes climb back into the games.

Any one of these flaws can get Louisville beaten in any one of the next three rounds. It's only going to get tougher for the Cardinals from this point on. But they would counter with the indisputable fact that no team in the field -- with the possible exception of Missouri and its 40-minute mania -- makes things tougher on the other team than Louisville does.

Louisville Elite But Flawed originally appeared on NCAA Basketball Tournament on Fri, 27 Mar 2009 21:06:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sweet 16 Live Blogging

Chas Rich — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 21:00:00 EST

Filed under: ACC, Big 12, Big East, Big Ten, Pac-10, WCC, Tourney Rumors, Midwest Region, West Region, South Region, East Region

Last night's action had one tight game, a blowout that tightened near the end, a walloping, and a game that never became a blowout though the outcome was never in doubt.

Tonight, Louisville takes on that, uh, Cinderella team from the desert in Arizona. Syracuse and Oklahoma should be a lot of fun in the early games. Later tonight Kansas and Michigan State looks like it should be gem. Also North Carolina gets Gonzaga, the original West Coast Cinderella that has not been that for some time.

Stop on by around 6:30 PM ET to talk about the action from yesterday and the games tonight. Plus, there is always the coaching carousel and what happens next at Kentucky.

&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href=&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;quot;http://www.coveritlive.com/mobile.php?option=com_mobile&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;task=viewaltcast&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;altcast_code=1f236a6df2&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;quot; &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;Round 3 Reaction and Action&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;

Sweet 16 Live Blogging originally appeared on NCAA Basketball Tournament on Fri, 27 Mar 2009 21:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Great Expectations for All 16

Ray Holloman — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 13:04:00 EST

Filed under: ACC, Big 12, Big East, Big Ten, C-USA, Pac-10, Midwest Region, West Region, South Region, East Region

What happens when the Sweet 16 is comprised entirely of storied powers? You get 16 teams all feeling the pressure to succeed. Ray Holloman takes an in-depth look at the expectations being heaped upon every team left in the Big Dance.

There is no room here for the little guy.

Were the Sweet 16 a country club, Tiger Woods might have to pull some strings to get a tee-time. Meanwhile Goliath might find himself picking splinters out of his warm-up-clad rear on any one of these rosters.

More Coverage: Mariotti on UConn Scandal | View Bracket | Forum

Thanks for trying, Siena. Enjoyed the one-night stand, Cleveland State. We promise we will write, Western Kentucky. But gentlemen in suits that cost more than your head coach's salary will now escort you to the other side of the velvet rope.

The floor is now closed for the little fella.

Heck, sub-six foot point guard Sherron Collins may have to show ID just to get into the practice facility. Ty Lawson better hope his toes are in shape because he'll need to stand on all 10 of them just to get in. Spud Webb, please leave your tickets at the gate for a taller patron.

And, given this is the season of the steroid scandal, someone should check to see if March Madness spent its summer in the Dominican Republic.

For the first time in tournament history, every top three seed has advanced to the Sweet 16. In the Midwest bracket alone, every team or coach has won a national title since 1996. Thirteen of the 16 remaining schools have been to the Final Four and nine of them have combined for 14 of the 24 national championships awarded since the advent of the 64-team field.

So the little guys can sit quietly and watch their brackets turn to scrap paper like everyone else. After all, In a tournament with more chalk than an elementary school, you've only survived this far if you're so risk averse you store money under your mattress, look both ways, then up and down before crossing the road, and think picking out your clothes for the next day is simply spitting in the eye of fate.

But the only thing heftier than these oversized reputations is the burden of expectations each of these teams carry into the Sweet 16.

This is college basketball's highest-stake poker room. And the antes couldn't be any higher.

"This is do or die," said Lawson, the North Carolina point guard who has turned a nation of sportswriters into armchair podiatrists. "If you lose, you go home and it's the end of the season."

And if any of these teams lose, and be certain eight of them will before you get down to your weekend chores, there will be no joyous welcome home parades.

At most programs, a Sweet 16 berth is something to hang a banner for and talk about over beers years after the fact. For the 16 teams left, it's all but as worthless as a participation ribbon. Or a Grammy.

Your Cinderella in this event? Arizona, the 1997 national champion and the longest-staying current house guest in the NCAA tournament. It was a quarter of a century and four Final Four appearances ago the last time this team missed March Madness. Note to the Cinderella promotions board, Donald Trump may lose a few billion dollars, but he'll never be a small businessman.

And for a team that's already beaten a quarter of the top 16 teams in the Pomeroy Ratings, just being here rings as hollow as a beauty queen prattling on about world peace.

"We don't consider ourselves a Cinderella," forward Chase Budinger said. "We feel we can play with anyone and the label of Cinderella does not come to mind.

"This is a good opportunity to show people we're better than what they've been saying all year. We're rising to the occasion."

Latest Tourney Cheerleader Photos

Do not adjust your computer monitors: That is definitely a Memphis Tigers cheerleader wearing the face of head coach John Calipari. Click through the gallery to see more cheerleaders showing their March Madness spirit.

Orlin Wagner, AP

BOISE, ID - MARCH 22: A cheerleader for the Missouri Tigers performs during the game against the Marquette Golden Eagles in the second round of the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament at the Taco Bell Arena on March 22, 2009 in Boise, Idaho. (Photo by Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images)

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MINNEAPOLIS - MARCH 22: A cheerleader for the Michigan State Spartans performs against the USC Trojans during the second round of the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament at the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome on March 22, 2009 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)

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Texas A&M's Sydney Carter (4), Skylar Collins (25), La Toya Micheaux (12) and Kelsey Assarian (40) dance with cheerleaders after a 80-45 win over Evansville in a first-round women's NCAA college basketball tournament game in South Bend, Ind., Sunday, March 22, 2009. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

MIAMI - MARCH 22: The cheerleaders of the Arizona State Sun Devils fly through the air during their game against the Syracuse Orange during the second round of the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament at the American Airlines Arena on March 22, 2009 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Marc Serota/Getty Images)

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A University of Connecticut cheerleader does a flip during a timeout while playing against Texas A&M during the second half of their second round NCAA tournament basketball game in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, March 21, 2009. REUTERS/Tim Shaffer (UNITED STATES)

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PORTLAND, OR - MARCH 21: The Gonzaga Bulldogs cheerleaders perform during a break in the action while taking on the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers during the second round of the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament at the Rose Garden on March 21, 2009 in Portland, Oregon. (Photo by Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images)

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GREENSBORO, NC - MARCH 21: The North Carolina Tar Heels cheerleaders perform during the second round of the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament against the Louisiana State University Tigers at the Greensboro Coliseum on March 21, 2009 in Greensboro, North Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)

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GREENSBORO, NC - MARCH 21: A cheerleader for the Louisiana State University Tigers cheers against the North Carolina Tar Heels during the second round of the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament at the Greensboro Coliseum on March 21, 2009 in Greensboro, North Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)

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Top seeds have always had bigger targets on their backs than DeJuan Blair's rump, but even moreso this year after Pitt, Louisville and North Carolina each withstood stiff challenges in the opening weekend. Connecticut, meanwhile, marched through its first two opponents like they were Patton marching through a Risk game, but now the Huskies have a recruiting scandal simmering in the background.

"I'm really much more worried that I think [Purdue's E'Twaun] Moore is a terrific player," Calhoun said yesterday. "So I worry much more about that than I do about the other things ... We don't want to ever look back upon this and say we didn't give it our best.

Meanwhile, Memphis, the team Connecticut bumped from the top seed line, still has a chip on its shoulder that would rival the rain forests. The Tigers have the longest winning streak in the nation, topped only by the number of jabs thrown at the quality of opposition in Conference USA.

"Each round we go, more and more people pick us to lose," Calipari says. "Sometimes I don't know if it is their opinion or their hope, but they more and more pick us to lose."

Across from the Tigers, Missouri coach Mike Anderson is one round from equaling the school's best ever showing in the NCAA tournament. But that doesn't simplify Mizzou's mission as one might think.

"Right now we are in the hunt for something," coach Mike Anderson said. "I don't know what it is. We are in the hunt."

Purdue and Villanova, who meet Connecticut and Duke respectively, are two resurgent powers in search of a more modern signature moment that has happened since, say, the advent of the Macarena.

"I just made this mistake a couple weeks ago," Villanova coach Jay Wright said. "I was referencing the national championship team [in 1985] and just in general said, 'How old were you when we won it? And they all looked at me, and said, 'We weren't even born.'

"The final eight team [in 2006], believe it or not, in recruiting ... they don't really know."

At Michigan State and Kansas, two of the six schools still alive with national championships this decade, expectations of a Final Four are practically handed out with dorm assignments. The Spartans, who have a reputation for winning but with the general aesthetics of an offensive line turned ballet artists, and the Jayhawks, who answer with Collins' tailback speed and size, met earlier this year in a decisive victory for Tom Izzo's team.

"I was telling [my wife] that it was a little bit different making the Sweet 16 here than with Tulsa," Kansas coach Bill Self said. "At Tulsa there were parades and everything else going on and now it feels like that's what we are supposed to do."

Mid-majors in name only, Gonzaga and Xavier face the postseason like a high school student who only gets graded on the SAT, even if they're trying to build major programs independent of their mid-major conferences.

"When you add the fact that we're alive in the Sweet 16 this year, we've now been in the Sweet 16 three times in the last six years," Xavier coach Sean Miller said. "And that, I think, speaks for itself.

"It's so much more about your program than the name on the front of your jersey and what you stand for than whether you're in this conference or that conference."

The Bulldogs haven't returned to the Elite Eight since their Cinderella run in 1999 turned the small Spokane school into an NCAA tournament regular. But the Zags have grown from charming Cinderella to bracket buster in the wrong way. Mark Few's teams are known as much for their second-round exit as a second-seed in 2004 and their near-miss in 2006 with Adam Morrison as their '99 Cinderella turn.

But even college basketball's highest regarded programs are feeling the pinch.

Oklahoma has never won a national title despite four trips to the Final Four. Short of yanking every phone out of the wall, there's no better way to say goodbye to the Kelvin Sampson era than for third-year head coach Jeff Capel and player of the year favorite Blake Griffin to ride into the Final Four.

Facing the Sooners, Syracuse has capped a season of chaos with a memorable March run, including seven overtimes worth of Big East tournament play that didn't win the Orange a title, but should've won their conditioning coach a Nobel Prize. But star Eric Devendorf's suspension and constant on-court trash talking couldn't be more of a black eye on one of college basketball's most storied program if he had it tattooed somewhere. Which he may.

But the pressure may be most intense on Tobacco Road. For ACC rivals North Carolina and Duke, the 2009 NCAA tournament is almost a referendum on the programs.

At North Carolina, the Heels have produced back-to-back-to-back top-seeded teams and have two ACC players of the year on their roster, senior center Tyler Hansbrough, who, at least seems like he's been on every All-America team since the stitches came off the ball, and Lawson, this year's player of the year.

But the duo, as well as shooting guard Wayne Ellington and swingman Danny Green have yet to claim North Carolina's fifth NCAA tournament championship.

Yet North Carolina withstood a stiff challenge from LSU in the second round of the tournament before Lawson and each of his 10 toes walked all over the Tigers, making it hard to believe this is the same team that exited the last two tournaments in stunning fashion. Coach Roy Williams used a golf analogy to say he'd probably have preferred to leave the drama for the university's theater department -- "I've never thought it was great for me to triple bogey a hole," he quipped -- but if the Heels had a moment of panic it was over faster than Lawson could go end-to-end.

"I loved our toughness," Williams said. "I think this team has been able to handle a lot of adversity this year."

NCAA Tournament Action

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Meanwhile Duke returned to the Sweet 16 for the 10th time in 12 seasons. But it was the first trip since 2006, after a pair of humbling opening-weekend upsets, leading more than one analyst to write about Duke's return in tones that seemed like the results of the Blue Devils' last Sweet 16 trip were only recently discovered somewhere on a cave wall.

"That's also a sign of respect," coach Mike Krzyzewski said after Duke's win over Texas, "because they hate talking about what you have done."

But the Blue Devils' five-year absence from college basketball's final weekend has been a relative epoch in Krzyzewski terms. Senior guard DeMarcus Nelson became just the second scholarship player to play four years for Krzyzewski since his 1983 recruiting class not to play in a Final Four last season (the other was current assistant coach Steve Wojciechowski). Now Greg Paulus and redshirt senior David McClure could become the next. Should junior star Gerald Henderson leave for the NBA, what was once a statistical anomaly could be a trend.

Yet Duke has worn the weight of expectations as easily as their blue-and-white duds thus far. The Blue Devils survived a one-point scare against Boston College in the ACC tournament quarterfinals and another near-loss against Texas, a game that culminated with a Jon Scheyer moonshot of a save in the waning seconds to stave off the Longhorns.

"When we won today I was exhilarated and not relieved," Krzyzewski said after the second-round win. "That is the message I want to send to my players so they never feel that pressure. I told our Olympic team and I told our team, we need to play because of anticipation, not expectation. Anticipation gets you forward, expectation inhibits. I thought our team has done that, especially in the last few weeks."

But like everyone else, when Duke tips off against Villanova tonight, just two hours short of midnight, the stakes will be much bigger than just a game.

The competition will be historically large in the Sweet 16. And so too will the bets riding on it.

Great Expectations for All 16 originally appeared on NCAA Basketball Tournament on Thu, 26 Mar 2009 13:04:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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On Campus With 'Cinderella' Arizona

Shane Bacon — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 18:00:00 EST

Filed under: Pac-10, Tourney Fans, Midwest Region

After winning two tournaments in the NCAA and advancing to the school's first Sweet 16 since 2005, Tucson is buzzing with excitement for a super-size-d Cinderella. We talked with the Arizona Daily Wildcat's associate sports editor Lance Madden about the entire experience (and their cool video of the run).

FanHouse: As a student and reporter, how surprised were you when it first hit you that, "Oh my goodness, the 2008-09 Arizona Wildcats are going to be in the Sweet 16?"

Madden: When talking with my colleague, Bryan Roy, I distinctly remember saying before the NCAA tournament began that the Wildcats had a great shot at winning their two games in Miami. I didn't look at the matchups, the venue or anything statistically measurable. I just felt like this has been such a wacky season, anything any everything could happen. The season has been almost story-book like, and as time goes on, more absurdities unfold. It would only make sense that they go onto the Sweet 16, if not farther.

Now, when the buzzer sounded and Jamelle Horne wrapped his long arms around Nic Wise's head and fans in AmericanAirlines Arena began chanting "Sweet 16, Sweet 16," I can honestly say I had goosebumps. After watching these players go through everything they have been through this season, it gave me a good feeling within, even as a reporter. It makes for a great story that isn't yet finished.

FanHouse: Of all the Wildcat teams you've seen come through Tucson, what is different about this squad? Do you see something that might have produced such a run in the NCAA tournament?

Madden: I was born and raised in Tucson, so I know some things about past UA teams. Arizona has seen plenty of talented players go through its program, but I don't know if there has ever been a team that has come together as a brotherhood quite like this one has. There certainly hasn't been a situation quite like this year's. Every single player -- I guarantee it -- questioned whether they should be playing for Arizona this season. And every player, with the exception of two, banded together and decided to give their very best for themselves, for coach Lute Olson, for Russ Pennell, for the city of Tucson and for the program's reputation. That mentality is simply irreplaceable.

FanHouse: What is the campus like? When I was a junior at U of A, we made the run with Salim Stoudamire to the Elite Eight where we lost to Illinois and the Standard (apartment complex) had stadium seating around the pool with big screens. Anything you heard of like that going on?

Madden: The community has been extremely supportive of the current Wildcat team. The most meaningful moves made by the members of Wildcat Nation have also been the most creative. T-shirts with Olson's face and the words "Thanks" have been distributed around campus. A 6-foot-tall cardboard cutout of the Silver Fox even made its way into McKale Center. The standard "Hi Coach!" chant toward Olson at the beginning of games from the UA pep band has been sometimes replaced with "Hi Russ!" The Zona Zoo has also done a tremendous job this season at keeping student fans interested in the program. Their "BELIEVE" signs were probably most affective.

The thing that probably speaks the most for itself is McKale Center attendance. At the beginning of the season, Tucson almost lost hope completely. The team, however, did not. In the final two home games of the season, the attendance was greater than any other game since Olson became the head coach of the Wildcats in 1983.

Also, the boom of technology has brought with it enhanced Wildcat support. Facebook statuses and wall comments have given players instant notification of their success this season. It's almost like Web-based fan mail.

NCAA Tournament Action

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FanHouse: Do you see anything different with the players before the tournament and now, after the two wins?

Madden: Smiles. This team is a happy team. Of course, every team loves to win, but it is how this team is winning. The players simply don't want the season to end. As Horne put it, they are on the road to redemption. America counted Arizona out at the beginning of the season and when it was 11-8. For the first time in 25 years the Wildcats almost didn't make it into the NCAA tournament. Now they are in and are making a run. They are the only one of six Pac-10 teams remaining. They're trying to show the nation that they belong.

FanHouse: What is the key to extending the run?

Madden: If you look at the stat sheet, you would think the Big Three -- Nic Wise, Chase Budinger and Jordan Hill need to get some rest. They are each playing upwards of 40 minutes per game. But that's not the key you asked for. Sure, there are only 11 roster players and a 7-to-8-man rotation. But Jim Krumpos, Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach, has done a phenomenal job with the players and keeping them game-ready.

But the key does have to do with the Big Three. Simply stated, each one needs to stay sharp. Arizona is a tripod, and Hill, Budinger and Wise make up each leg. When one collapses, the entire set collapses.

Budinger must stay fierce. If he isn't hitting his shots, he must drive to the bucket to score. Wise and Hill must stay out of foul trouble. Wise is the team's only true point guard. When he comes out, Budinger must play at the point, taking a scorer out of the equation.

On top of the Big Three being solid, the Wildcats need their role players to play their roles. Kyle Fogg has to be his usual defensive self. Zane Johnson and Brendon Lavender could also be useful on the defensive end. Fendi Onobun is the designated screener, but he can't play at the same time as Hill. So if Hill is out, Onobun is your replacement big man. Jamelle Horne has been the X-factor the entire season. When he plays well, the entire team plays well. His biggest issue is staying focused, which he has been able to do very well in the NCAA Tournament.

FanHouse: Any chance they take down Louisville?

Madden: Flip a coin. They've got a 50-50 chance. Nobody thought they had a chance to beat Houston when they were down by 10 points with less than a minute to go. They have already beaten two current Sweet 16 teams (Kansas and Gonzaga) and made it this far when many critics were trying to send them to the NIT. I wouldn't count Arizona out just yet.

On Campus With 'Cinderella' Arizona originally appeared on NCAA Basketball Tournament on Wed, 25 Mar 2009 18:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Who's the Sweetest?

Ray Holloman — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 19:36:00 EST

Filed under: ACC, Big 12, Big Ten, C-USA, Pac-10, Midwest Region, West Region, South Region, East Region

It's shaping up to to be one of the best Sweet 16s of all time with top-three seeds alive by the dozen. So who's heading back home in time for the weekend and whose moment will continue to be oh so shining? Find out as we rank the last 16 teams and explain why your favorite team is going to lose. We're 15/16 certain of it.

Somebody, pass a cup around. Cinderella needs bus fare to get back home.

Taking a page out of Jay Cutler's playbook, college basketball's patron saint of upset flat-out asked for a trade this week after the favorites marched all over the little guys. All top-three seeds advanced for the first time in modern tournament history and the closest thing you've got to a Cinderella story is 12th-seeded Cinderella.

And just because Donald Trump may lose a few billion doesn't make him a small businessman.

So to sort the sanity out, FanHouse's college sports editor and writers got together to rank the remaining 16 teams and explain why you're club is going down. Find out why we love the Heels and are selling short on the two seeds.

Ballots come from college sports editor Ray Holloman and writers Chas Rich, Shane Bacon, Chris Burke, Jacob Wheatley-Schaller, Matt Snyder and Adam Papagiorgio.

1. North Carolina | Seed: 1 | Region: South | High: 1 | Low: 3

Why They Could Win It All: They're the most efficient offensive team in the country and with a healthy Ty Lawson, they're the single best transition team in the country. You don't have to try and beat North Carolina, you have to outlast them. So what if the Tar Heels play defense with the enthusiasm you have for the treadmill? They're 35th in the nation in adjusted defensive efficiency, so they're hardly a Maginot line in Alexander Julian shorts. That number isn't as good as the last two teams, and certainly not the '05 title team, but the Heels have a great scoring power forward, a great point guard, an elite scoring shooting guard, tremendous front court depth and

Why They Will Lose: Coaching? Offensive droughts? Ty's Toe using its new popularity to be elected as President Toe-bama? Lawson's health is a major concern for the Heels, but so too should be their last two exits from the NCAA tournament, both in stunning fashion. Two years ago, North Carolina hit just one-of-23 field goals over a near-15 minute span in the end of regulation and overtime against Georgetown, to turn a 75-65 lead into a 96-84 loss. Last year the Heels fell behind 40-12 against Kansas in the FInal Four and ran out of gas during the subsequent comeback. Now led by seniors and juniors, will these Heels have the poise to withstand a run?
-Holloman

2. Louisville | Seed: 1 | Region: Midwest | High: 1 | Low: 4

Why They Could Win It All: The Cards have the look of a team peaking at the end of the season. Their pressing defense can keep them in any game and Earl Clark has played the last couple weeks like a guy who intends to ace his NBA draft lottery audition. Plus, Terrence Williams has simply refused to let Louisville lose focus on the court.

Why They Will Lose: That said, the Cards can't press if they aren't scoring. Missed shots -- especially off of threes -- tend to give teams the chance to get out in transition and circumvent Louisville's press entirely. Edgar Sosa, especially can be prone to just hoisting long, errant three after three.
-Rich

3. UConn | Seed: 1 | Region: West | High: 3 | Low: 6

Why They Could Win It All: The team seems energized and inspired for the first time in a month. The Huskies actually played as a team and Stanley Robinson seemed to have something click to play close to his ability for two straight games, which allows Jeff Adrien not to have to do as much inside. With Hasheem Thabeet and A.J. Price providing the inside-out game to make the Huskies a nightmare.

Why They Will Lose: Both Robinson and Thabeet have tended to disappear as the games get bigger, and now that the first weekend is over, why should all the evidence of the past season and prior years be discarded?
-Rich

4. Memphis | Seed: 2 | Region: West | High: 1 | Low: 7

Why They Could Win It All: The Tigers already had their wake-up call in the first round against Cal State-Northridge and rebounded by plastering Maryland. When it's going well, Memphis offers the type of length and athleticism that few teams in the country can contend with. They have the potential to give teams fits defensively, but are able to put points on the board as well. Oh, and the Tigers have been here before -- coming within one defensive stop of a national title last season, a loss that several remaining players lived through.

Why They Will Lose: There are questions about Memphis' level of competition throughout the season (a point that a strength-of-schedule ranking of 55 seems to support), so we can't be sure that even the Tigers' best will be good enough to run off four impressive wins in a row.
- Burke

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5. Pitt | Seed: 1 | Region: East | High: 5 | Low: 9

Why They Could Win It All: After one close game and a game it deserved to lose, Pitt is back in a more comfortable psychological place with diminished national expectations and something of an underdog. With the pressure off, the team plays looser and Levance Fields started looking physically better in the last game. That helps the perimeter defense and allows DeJuan Blair and Sam Young to provide plenty of headaches on offense.

Why They Will Lose: On the other hand, if Fields is still struggling with his groin injury, that makes the perimeter defense weaker and allows opposing players to get right into Blair and create foul problems for the big guy. That takes away Pitt's rebounding advantage and their major offensive weapon.
-Rich

6. Michigan State | Seed: 2 | Region: Midwest | High: 5 | Low: 9

Why They Could Win It All: While the Spartans can be inconsistent, they can find ways to combat individual bad games due to depth. They have 10 players who have scored at least 16 points in a game this season, which makes it easier to overcome a horrible shooting game by Goran Suton -- like he had against USC. They can run or grind it out defensively, whichever needs to be done. Finally, they are as good a rebounding team as anyone in the nation.

Why They Will Lose: Michigan State's offense can desert it in long stretches. Kansas and Louisville won't put up with a game in the 50s, so the Spartans need to keep finding scoring.
-Snyder

7. Villanova | Seed: 3 | Region: East | High: 6 | Low: 13

Why They Could Win It All: The guard-heavy lineup seems built to dominate in March. With the entire team playing inspired, physical defense, Villanova is able to get out in transition or the fast break for easy baskets and get to the free throw line. Add in Dante Cunningham to provide even more offense inside, and they are hard to stop.

Why They Will Lose: The risk for the Wildcats is against teams that aren't afraid to press right back and get Villanova shooting nothing but jump shots. It neutralizes Cunningham, and the Wildcats can't create foul problems.
-Rich

8. Duke | Seed: 2 | Region: East | High: 5 | Low: 12

Why They Could Win It All: For the first time in recent memory, the Blue Devils are playing like they've got nerves minted from a Detroit assembly line. Forward Gerald Henderson is a matchup problem for any team in the nation and, when he doesn't fall in love with his jump shot, can take over any game. Power forward Kyle Singler can play inside or outside and unconventional point guard Jon Scheyer both takes care of the ball (a better than 2-to-1 assist-to-turnover ratio since taking over at the point ) and can score (just under 20 points per game in the same time frame). Duke also has a knack for creating extra offensive possessions. The Blue Devils are an excellent offensive rebounding team as well as in the top 25 in the nation in defensive and offensive turnover percentage. And should the Blue Devils beat Villanova, they've got history on their side in the Elite Eight. Mike Krzyzewski has only lost once in the Elite Eight, and that required a blown 17-point lead against Kentucky in 1998.

Why They Will Lose: The Blue Devils have proven that, despite conventional wisdom, they can handle larger frontcourts. Duke beat Florida State three times, a team that's tall enough to make roof repairs without a ladder, and held Texas' city-block of a center Dexter Pittman to eight points. But they continue to struggle against dribble penetration, so if the Wildcats can spread out further and drive quicker than Duke's help defense can collapse, the Blue Devils could be back home by Friday. Watch foul trouble too. Duke has depth, but it's difficult to replace scorers Singler and Henderson.
-Holloman

9. Oklahoma | Seed: 2| Region: South | High: 4 | Low: 10

Why They Could Win It All: Blake Griffin. He had 28 points and 13 rebounds in the first round and 33 and 17 in the second. He is one of those players that we rarely see in the tournament that can basically take over a game and will his team to victory because, frankly, he's bigger and tougher than everyone else on the court. He plays big and stays out of foul trouble. This team can go as far as the big dude will take them.

Why They Will Lose: If Oklahoma faces an athletic team, they just aren't deep enough to compete. In the second round win over Oklahoma, the bench for the Sooners combined for a total of one point and two rebounds. If Oklahoma has to keep up with North Carolina or face the press of Louisville, they will need able bodies to come in and produce. Unfortunately, it doesn't seem like they have any.
-Bacon

10. Kansas | | Seed: 3 | Region: Midwest | High: 4 | Low: 11

Why They Could Win It All: The Jayhawks have the classic hallmark of a Final Four team with an adjusted and defensive efficiency inside the top 25 (This year joining Gonzaga, Memphis, Connecticut, Missouri and Duke, with North Carolina and Syracuse just slightly outside defensively). In fact, Kansas does the two most important things in basketball exceptionally well, shoot and keep their opponent from shooting the shots they want. Bill Self's team is a great upset candidate in the Sweet 16 against a Michigan State team that already struggles to shoot without Kansas' halfcourt defense in its face. That's without trying to figure out who in this tournament can stop point guard Sherron Collins or Cole Aldrich, who joined the handful of triple-double artists in tournament history.

Why They Will Lose: Turnovers. They commit too many of them and the Jayhawks don't force enough. They're not a great offensive rebounding team despite Aldrich (though they aren't bad), so if you have fewer offensive possessions than your opponent, then you put a lot of pressure on each possession. If Collins has an off game, like the end of the road loss to Missouri, the Jayhawks will be in trouble, particularly against a great offensive rebounding team like Michigan State.
-Wheatley-Schaller

11. Gonzaga | Seed: 4 | Region: South | High: 7 | Low: 15

Why They Could Win It All: As Demetri Goodson's end-to-end chasing-the-ghost-of-Tyus-Edney dash against Western Kentucky might've hinted, this isn't the same sort of fragile team that might end up in tears at center court. The Zags have lost just once in 2009 -- and that was to Memphis -- and destroyed a tournament-worthy team in Saint Mary's in the WCC tournament. Their guard play will match up with anyone and Austin Daye and Josh Heytvelt round out a team with plenty of scoring options. And the Zags hit nearly 40 percent of their 3-point attempts, so no lead is safe against the Bulldogs.

Why They Will Lose: Gonzaga doesn't turn the ball over, but they don't do a very good job of turning opponents over or rebounding, which will lead to more possessions for their opponents. Rebounding, in particular, will be a huge challenge against North Carolina, which gets back some 40 percent of its misses. But don't forget, the last time these two teams played in the 2007 season, Heytvelt dominated Tyler Hansbrough and Gonzaga beat then-No. 2 North Carolina.
-Papagiorgio

12. Syracuse | Seed: 3 | Region: South | High: 9 | Low: 15

Why They Could Win It All: Jonny Flynn never rests and never tires, while Eric Devendorf continues his unprecedented effort at playing as part of the team. The Orange backcourt has actually looked cohesive and playing defense in the 2-3 zone. It has also taken some pressure off of Paul Harris and Arinze Onuaku and let them play freer.

Why They Will Lose: The questions still remain with Devendorf, as he can be prone to try and go 1-on-4 at times and seems to be the only one unaware of his less than sure-handed way of handling the ball. Then Andy Rautins never gets the open looks on the perimeter. The defense slips and so does the whole team.
-Rich

13. Purdue | Seed: 5 | Region: West | High: 11 | Low: 14

Why They Could Win It All: If the Boilers who played the first half against Washington show up, UConn is going to have its hands full. Purdue can't afford to play like it did in the second half, though you have to give the Boilermakers credit for weathering in the storm in a virtual road game. They'll need JaJuan Johnson to continue his dominant play inside, and will need two of the three outside shooters -- Robbie Hummel, E'Twaun Moore, Keaton Grant -- to get hot per game. If that happens, they are strong enough defensively to play a fifth-seed Cinderella like in-state rival Indiana did in 2002?

Why They Will Lose: Can Hummel stay healthy? If not, Purdue doesn't stand chance.The Boilermakers can get muscled down low, so losing Hummel would be a death sentence.
-Snyder/Burke

14. Missouri | Seed: 3 | Region: West | High: 11 | Low: 14

Why They Could Win It All: Pressure. Not even Louisville can match the intensity of Mike Anderson's full-court pressure when it's at its most suffocating. Pit a team that doesn't take great care of the ball against this group and its like throwing a match into a bucket of gasoline. Even if you beat the the Tigers' press, it will keep you out of a comfortable rhythm on offense. Missouri is also the deepest remaining team in the tournament. Memphis will be an interesting matchup. Both teams will press and both teams will cause turnovers, but the Memphis Tigers are much more prone to turning the ball over themselves than their Missouri counterparts

Why They Will Lose: The Tigers cannot keep opponents off the glass, part of the trade-off for their extended defensive pressure. And if you do break the press, odds are you'll be able to get a good look at the basket. The Tigers tend to foul too much, which could be a problem against a great free throw shooting team and you have to wonder how effective the full-court pressure will be away from teams of their fans. The Tigers lost both of their non-conference neutral court contests this year and allowed a much higher offensive efficiency rating against Marquette than they did on average during the regular season and particularly at home.
-Wheatley-Schaller

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15. Xavier | Seed: 4 | Region: East | High: 14 | Low: 16

Why They Could Win It All: The Musketeers are a great 3-point shooting team, even though their offense isn't built around long-range shooting. But it hit 40 percent of those it took, so should Xavier fall behind, it's certainly got the shooters to come back. But the Musketeers shine on defensive and on the glass. They're eighth in the nation in adjusted field goal percentage allowed and one of the best rebounding teams in the nation on both sides of the ball.

Why They Will Lose: Turnovers. Like Kansas, the Musketeers give up way too many of them and create too few. Pitt should be able to limit Xavier's effectiveness on the offensive glass (though you would've assumed the same thing about East Tennessee State, yet the Panthers couldn't keep the Buccanneers at bay), so it will have to make every possession count against Pitt. Should the Musketeers sneak by Pitt, they could have an Elite Eight rematch against Duke, a team that dispatched the Musketeers by 18 in December, and the same school that squashed the Musketeers' 2004 Elite Eight appearance.

16 . Arizona | Seed: 12 | Region: Midwest | High: 15 | Low: 16

Why They Could Win It All: Probably the best way for the Wildcats to win the National Championship is if all the other 15 teams ate the same meal this Thursday and became incredibly sick, forcing them to forfeit the rest of March Madness. No 12-seed has ever won the Big Dance since it expanded to 64 teams and, although this run has been nice for this storied school, the only way Arizona could come out on top is if Jordan Hill can average 25 points and 15 rebounds without getting in any foul trouble, Nic Wise can keep shooting lights out and Chase Budinger takes his game to another level. Like, a Carmelo Anthony-in-2003 level.

Why They Will Lose: The team has been a player (or in the case of Friday's game against Louisville, two players) short all season. The team had the opportunity to win a couple of games in the tournament based solely on the talent of the two likely NBA lottery picks, but the 'Cats fourth position on just isn't talented enough to keep advancing. If Jerryd Bayless had stayed another year or Brandon Jennings hadn't jumped ship to Europe or any of the other 20 scenarios would have played out, this team might have a real shot. Unfortunately for the '09 Cinderella, there just isn't enough depth on the roster.
-Bacon

Who's the Sweetest? originally appeared on NCAA Basketball Tournament on Tue, 24 Mar 2009 19:36:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mid-Majors Are Barely Missed

Ray Holloman — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 18:11:00 EST

Filed under: ACC, Big 12, Big East, Big Ten, BSC, Pac-10, SEC

There was a graveside service last week for what remains of the NCAA basketball tournament, at least in the nation's sports pages. When just four mid-majors earned at-large berths in this year's field of 65, the tournament was declared dead on arrival and non-BCS basketball programs were placed on the endangered species list, somewhere around polar bears, the mid-range jumper and Mike Krzyzewski's natural hair color.

Had you'd listened to all the complaints about the field, you would've believed there was so much of a bias against the little guy that short-but-stout Kansas point guard Sherron Collins was asked to wear stilettos just to play in the thing, and David Spade was asked to not even watch online.

Heck, with the number of angry folks in Creighton and St. Mary's sweaters, the selection committee probably had to pretend to be AIG executives just to get out of the building last Sunday.

So, as mid-majors were driven from the field one-by-one like they'd learned survival skills from the French Army, forgive us if we spend a moment celebrating.

It was a loss for mid-majors. And a victory for good basketball.

Not because mid-majors aren't, and can't be, great teams. Survivors Memphis, Gonzaga and Xavier are A-list college programs and prove that dynasties can be built at non-BCS schools as well, and sometimes better than at their BCS counterparts. Three years ago, George Mason proved that mid-majors can make reservations for longer than two days or even two weeks. And this season, St. Mary's had an argument for inclusion so strong it might've been authored by the ghost of Johnny Cochran. But it simply wasn't to be this year.

In fact, St. Mary's exclusion proved the selection committee cared more about basketball than possible public reaction.

Of which, there was plenty. There were those who thought last year's star Stephen Curry should've gotten a free pass for what he did in carrying the Wildcats to the Elite Eight in 2008 and those who thought the exclusion of mid-majors made the event as allegedly soulless and uninteresting as the BCS championship series.

The Washington Post's Michael Wilbon complained that the NCAA tournament doesn't care about "charm." And he's right. It doesn't. Surprisingly, March Madness isn't a very special episode of Gilmore Girls.

The NCAA tournament is not, in fact, a sweeps week production to be programmed like a reality television show. It's an event to determine college basketball's national champion. It's where careers are made, legends are born and Clark Kellogg gets heckled mercilessly. And it's where integrity of the field means more than anything, even if its selection may seem cold-hearted.

Charm plays no more a role in selection than excitement plays in soccer.

Go ahead and try that "charm" argument next time the NHL leaves Alex Ovechkin out of the playoffs, or if the NBA playoffs proceed without Shaquille O'Neal.

Including the best teams as at-large bids over the sentimental choice of the little guy is a victory for those who care more for basketball than television.

If you want good TV, then get The Wire on Netflix. If you want good basketball, do exactly what the tournament did and select the best 34 teams for at-large bids, be they power schools, mid-majors, low majors, or an all starting five of Lee Majors.

For those who thought the exclusion of mid-majors would be the moment the NCAA tournament jumped the shark, the rating numbers must've been as shocking as Arizona walloping fifth-seeded mid-major Utah.

Ratings were up through Saturday. Day 1 saw viewership jump by nine percent. The Saturday night matchup, primarily Duke-Texas (plus the two tiny sprinkles of America that actually got Gonzaga-Western Kentucky) was up 20 percent year-over-year to the same slot a year earlier. Overall, the whole tournament through Saturday was up four percent.

Online, viewership soared with the amount of people watching CBS Sports' March Madness on Demand surpassing last year's total for the entire tournament by Saturday.

And on the court there was still drama and there were still heroes.

With or without mid-majors, the tournament produces drama. And that's truly what makes the tournament special. Not the name on the back of the jersey or the name on the front of the jersey but the name on the logo at center court.

NCAA Tournament Action

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After all, there were no mid-majors around when Duke's Christian Laettner caught a pass from Grant Hill, faked, turned and sank a bucket that to this day continues to bring Thomas Hill to tears on the sideline. There were no mid-majors when body-by-Dunkin Donuts Dmitri Hill marched Florida past Connecticut and eventually to its first Final Four in 1994, or when Bill Curley leveled North Carolina the same year. There were no mid-majors when Arizona just didn't stop winning in 1997 or when Dale Brown and lowly LSU marched all the way to the Final Four as a 12-seed. There were no mid-majors last year when Mario's Miracle crowned Kansas again, or when Hakim Warrick swatted Syracuse to a national title in 2003.

Like the Vibe Awards, the tournament always produces drama in sizes you might find at Costco, no matter who's on the guest list. The NCAA tournament survives with or without mid-majors, just like it survives with or without Duke or North Carolina, both of which have sat at home in the past 15 years.

This year has been no different.

Sure, there was more chalk in this tournament than a second-grade classroom, but there was oh-so-much drama just getting to the Sweet 16, including an opening weekend that those who just cheer for the upset or their brackets might've snoozed through, but a weekend that college basketball fans should've loved.

It was drama, maybe not in the pure guilty pleasure of the 15-2 upset or the 10-9 home run fest, but of the warning track shots in a pitcher's duel, or the scoring chances only to be stopped by a diving save in hockey.

There was Trevon Hughes pinball-ing from one tall tree to another in the Florida State frontcourt before gently kissing the Badgers' opening-round win off the glass. There was freshman Demetri Goodson frenetically rushing coast-to-coast to stave off Western Kentucky. There was Duke's Jon Scheyer heaving a moonshot into the Greensboro Coliseum rafters as time ran down against Texas, sealing the game with a pop fly Barry Bonds might've admired. There was Oklahoma State's Byron Eaton plowing through Tennessee for the game-winning three-point play. There was Louisville's Terrence Williams ousting Siena all by himself, Memphis getting 10 3-pointers from a guy who averaged 4.4 points a game to survive Cal State-Northridge, and freshman Kim English coming off the bench for Missouri to hit two critical free throws.

If it wasn't a moment of good television for the first-weekend warriors, it was a moment of good basketball for the yearlong fans.

And it sets up what could be the best Sweet 16 in the 64-field era.

Instead of underdogs LSU and Western Kentucky in the South, you get North Carolina and Gonzaga, a coast-to-coast matchup of perennial powers. Villanova and Duke meet in as fine a guard showdown as you'll see, one that should give "run and gun" a meaning beyond Plaxico Burress' nightly plans. Pittsburgh meets Xavier in a regional coach-meets-pupil showdown. Missouri meets Memphis in a game whose defensive pressure would make the '85 Bears look like they were playing in the Pro Bowl.

Heck, the biggest seed spread differential games will be Louisville against Arizona -- a team that's already beaten three top-six seeds this season -- and Connecticut against Purdue, the champions of the Big Ten.

Yes, the NCAA tournament critics may be right. Mid-majors are nearly extinct this year. But they'll be back.

Meanwhile, the drama is just as good as ever.

Mid-Majors Are Barely Missed originally appeared on NCAA Basketball Tournament on Mon, 23 Mar 2009 18:11:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Michigan State Fends Off Feisty USC

Matt Snyder — Sun, 22 Mar 2009 19:55:00 EST

Filed under: Big Ten, Pac-10, Midwest Region

After a horrifying stretch where it dropped six of seven games, USC caught fire at the right time of the season. They won five straight games, including a Pac-10 tournament championship, to close out the regular season. They followed that up with a very decisive beatdown of Boston College (from the vaunted ACC) Friday in their NCAA Tournament opener.

Sunday, Michigan State finally put an end to the impressive Trojan streak. The teams traded leads for much of the very physical contest, but the depth of Michigan State propelled them to victory.

No. 2 Michigan St. 74, No. 10 USC 69: AP Recap | Box Score | Bracket | Scores

The Spartans got nothing from Goran Suton offensively, and not what they are accustomed to from Big Ten Player of the Year Kalin Lucas. Travis Walton, normally only on the floor for his defensive prowess, picked up the slack. The Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year went for 18 points -- hitting eight of his 13 shots.

The victory for Tom Izzo marks the eighth time he has advanced his Spartans to the Sweet 16 in only 14 seasons.

One interesting note is that it seemed USC head coach Tim Floyd thought his team was getting screwed by the officials. There was one possession in particular, late in the game, where Lucas stripped the ball from Daniel Hackett -- who was probably about to commit a charge anyway -- and Floyd just went ballistic. He was reacting as if it was the worst call he'd ever seen. And it was clean. After the game, I even saw him give an angry gesture in the direction of the officials. It's definitely a good example to set for college kids, when you are supposed to be a mentor. When you lose, it's someone else's fault, right? No accountability.

Anyway, Michigan State moves on to the Sweet 16 to face a strong Kansas basketball team. There are a ton of good games coming this Thursday and Friday, and this one will be no exception. Expect a hard-fought, physical battle that goes down to the wire. If they can get this sort of offensive production from Walton against Bill Self's squad, in addition to getting Lucas and Suton back on track, they'll be moving on to the Elite 8.

We'll find out Friday in Indianapolis.

Michigan State Fends Off Feisty USC originally appeared on NCAA Basketball Tournament on Sun, 22 Mar 2009 19:55:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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No Reason to Be Here?

Shane Bacon — Sun, 22 Mar 2009 19:39:00 EST

Filed under: Pac-10, Tourney Fans, Midwest Region

It was pretty simple, actually. All Arizona had to do in the last seven days was get in a tournament they had no business being in, catch a lucky draw against a squad that couldn't handle the speed or pressure the Wildcats could bring and hope for the only 13-seed upset of the tournament to be their opponent in the second round. Pshhhh. That was simple.

In the second-round meeting against 13th-seeded Cleveland State, the Wildcats did what they've done best all year: rely on the big three and hope the reserve players don't hack the opposition with two seconds left when the game is tied. Oh, and in related news, Jamelle Horne had 15 points.

It has been an interesting couple of days as a Wildcat fan. Since the moment Arizona was announced in the NCAA Tournament for the 25th straight year -- the active record -- people have been questioning the inclusion of Russ Pennell's crew. They weren't good enough. They lost five of their last six in the regular season. They didn't win enough games on the road. They just weren't the right team for the tournament. WHAT ABOUT ST. MARYS?!?!

Friday was point numero uno in their favor. A beatdown of fifth-seeded Utah got the Wildcats into the second round, making the lowly Pac-10 a scrappy 5-1 in the first round. A win in the second round has Arizona in a place that used to be familiar, but hasn't been so much since 2005, when Salim Stoudamire was Doctor Swoosh. The Wildcats are in the Sweet 16, thank you very much. Do not pass Go, do not collect $200.

In the Sweet 16, Arizona will face the Louisville Cardinals. They are the top seed in the tournament and bring a swagger not seen in Tucson since Luke Walton, Rick Anderson and Jason Gardner were walking between the Social Sciences building and Old Main. The Wildcats have a squad with two lottery picks, a guard that is tougher than his tights allow and a bunch of players that aren't necessarily Arizona-esque.

It doesn't matter. Arizona will probably lose to Louisville. The thing is, the Wildcats weren't even supposed to be here. Arizona 1, Critics 0.

No Reason to Be Here? originally appeared on NCAA Basketball Tournament on Sun, 22 Mar 2009 19:39:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Battle for March's Soul

Ray Holloman — Sun, 22 Mar 2009 10:00:00 EST

Filed under: Horizon League, Pac-10

In her last twirl across the floor, Cinderella wears a Viking helmet.

And, judging by the massive mascot painted at the center of Cleveland State's home court, it's a piece of hatwear that would dwarf even Barry Bonds' sombrero.

Take that as a hint. There's nothing petite about this team.

Sunday's Scores | View Bracket | Watch Live

This isn't some waif thin, diamond-wearing, 3-point chucking lady with a hope that Prince Charming will come along to bail her out. This Cinderella is a snarling, dunking group of mid-major brawlers. It's Cinderella with a bad attitude and good right hook. It's Cleveland tough, ready to pick themselves up off the floor before their opponent realized they knocked 'em down.

With only a trio of teams left from non-BCS conferences and mid-majors in name only, Gonzaga and Memphis, this is what remains for the hopes of Cinderella.

And whether coach Gary Waters will admit it or not, Sunday's showdown with Arizona couldn't be more symbolic if the school opted to change their names to "Small School State" and "Power Conference U" at the last moment.

"I don't want to think about that right now," Waters said, after his team's 84-69 opening round victory over Wake Forest. "I want to savor this a little bit."

But when the two teams finally tip, they'll be doing so over a center court line that might as well be college basketball's red-state, blue-state line of demarcation. On one side sits Arizona, a perennial power making its 25th consecutive trip to the NCAA tournament but which won just once in the last month entering the tournament. Backing the Wildcats, who upset another mid-major, fifth-seed Utah in the first round, is the contingent who believes the NCAA tournament is best served as a blend of power conferences with just a few mid-majors on the side as garnish, parsley to the meat and potatoes of BCS schools.

On the opposite side sits Cleveland State, now twice a Cinderella 23 years apart, pairing its memorable upset of Indiana in 1986 with an even more memorable drubbing of Wake Forest Friday night. The Vikings had to play their way into the field with a program-defining win over Butler in the Horizon League final, their first win over the Bulldogs in three tries this season. Backing the Vikes are all those who think March should be a buffet for the have-nots, a chance for the little to guy to go toe-to-toe with the power conferences and see just how good those BCS chins are when there's nothing around to protect them.

If you ask Cleveland State guard Norris Cole, he'll tell you he's firmly in the latter camp. That's likely because he knows his team throws punches as big as it dreams.

"We believed from the start of the game we could play with [Wake Forest]," he said, about the Vikings' matchup with the nation's former No. 1 team, a club with three likely first-round NBA draft picks on it.

Cole was oh-so-right in the opening round.

Watching the Vikings beat the Demon Deacons was like watching a mouse spook an elephant and then chase it off a cliff. Cleveland State jumped out to a 9-0 lead and, sometime between the time the two fighters were announced and they touched up gloves, the bout was already over.

"It took them a while to realize what was occurring out there, and then it became a ballgame," Waters said.

But it didn't. Wake never drew closer than six and any time the Deacons pushed, the Vikings dug their heels in even harder then dumped Wake on its butt. Again and again until the clock finally stopped what was long ago a technical knockout.

And with every blow-by drive, every twine-ripping 3-pointer and every stand-up-and-clap dunk, the Vikings scored one for the ever-dwindling population of little guys.

This year's tournament featured just four mid-major at large teams, a startlingly low number that usually ranges somewhere between seven and eight. The team many felt responsible for crushing Cinderella's slipper like a beer can was the Wildcats, a marginal power conference team, who entering the tournament had won just once since Valentine's Day.

But along the way the Wildcats beat four teams that would take a sixth seed or higher in the NCAA tournament.

"We deserve to be here, and the reason we deserve to be here is because we're here," interim Arizona coach Russ Pennell said. "The victories that we had this year were quality wins, and we weren't the only team in America that lost a few games down the stretch. ... Would we have been surprised if we had not been selected? No, that's a different question. But as far as us belonging here, we definitely belong here"

The 12th-seed Wildcats made their point on the basketball court and the brackets, jumping out to an early lead against fifth-seeded Utah and wrapping up with an 84-71 told-you-so victory over the Utes.

NCAA Tournament Action

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And now Arizona takes on a team their own size, at least if toughness were measured in inches. Like Arizona, they fought through adversity this season and were on the brink of missing the tournament altogether before a two-point Horizon League win over Butler.

But there the similarities end and the battle lines are drawn.

Yes, it may be a 12 vs. 13 matchup, but only one team could truly lift the underdog standard. Should Cleveland State lose, this will be one last waltz for Cinderella.

And, metaphorically at least, one lost grab for March's soul.

Battle for March's Soul originally appeared on NCAA Basketball Tournament on Sun, 22 Mar 2009 10:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Boilermakers Outlast Washington

Matt Snyder — Sat, 21 Mar 2009 20:18:00 EST

Filed under: Big Ten, Pac-10, West Region

For the second consecutive game, the Purdue Boilermakers looked like they were going to cruise to an easy victory. For the second consecutive game, however, they allowed their opposition to creep back into the game and make things a little too interesting.

You have to give the Huskies credit, as they battled back into the game behind the inside-outside duo of Jon Brockman and Isaiah Thomas. Purdue, though, held off the furious comeback bid by Washington, and ended up winning a game in which it never trailed.

No. 5 Purdue 76, No. 4 Washington 74: AP Recap | Box Score | Bracket | Scores

The star of the game for the Boilers was easily JaJuan Johnson. The lanky sophomore had 22 points, five rebounds and four blocks. Two of those blocks were a tad bit timely, too. With about a minute left in the game, and Purdue clinging to a two-point lead, Washington got two inside shot attempts which would have tied the game -- except Johnson was there. Back-to-back denials, and Purdue was still ahead.

Looking ahead, Purdue will square off against Connecticut in Glendale, Arizona on Thursday. Johnson thrived against a big body like Brockman, and now he'll be tested against Hasheem Thabeet. The Boilers could give UConn a scare in the Sweet 16 if they can put two halves together. The way they played in the first half, both on Thursday and Saturday, would be good enough to give the top-seeded Huskies a run for their money. What they gave in the second half of each game, though, won't get the job done against a team with superior talent like UConn.

Boilermakers Outlast Washington originally appeared on NCAA Basketball Tournament on Sat, 21 Mar 2009 20:18:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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