Elite Eight
Preface: from March 1999 to May 2001, I lived in Charlotte. During that time, I was continually bombarded by the ACC propaganda machine and I grew to utterly despise the league. Some of my views and analysis may reflect this hatred.
Well, the buzzer just went off on the Carolina/Villanova game, so I'm going to do what I love best when it comes to college basketball: rag on the ACC.
All week NCAA analysts have been asking: "who can beat Carolina?". Turns out that the answer was nearly Villanova, who lost by 1 to the Tarheels, and badly out hustled them. I've said all year that UNC is a team content to coast on its reputation, and they showed it tonight. Also, I think that their season average of 89 ppg is more of a reflection on the defense that's played in the ACC than of their offensive prowress, as they were held to under 70 points by a Villanova team with a serious size disadvantage.
I seem to remember at the beginning of the season, that many in the press were asking if the ACC/Big 10 Challenge should be called off, since the ACC was so dominant. Well, in the postseason version of the challenge, Michigan State and Wisconsin have run the Big 10's record to 2-0, and Wisconsin has a chance to make that a perfect 3-0. Oh, and not to belabor my point about defense, but the Badgers were able to hold NC State's Julius Hodge to 25% shooting; while against MSU, Mr. Everything, JJ Redick, could only manage to score 13 points (compared with his season average of 22) on 4-14 shooting. But I'm sure you'll be able to read all about that in JJ's next book of poetry.
In the other games, Utah was beaten by Kentucky, and nobody was surprised, because Utah stinks. Also, just when Washington had everyone thinking they were a good team, they went out and got their asses kicked by Louisville. West Virginia beat Texas Tech for the right to lose to Louisville, and finally, Arizona beat Oklahoma State in a very good game, while Illinois beat Wisconsin-Milwaukee by 14.
So Illinois will face off with Arizona tomorrow, in a rematch of their Elite 8 game from 2001. Except this time, hopefully, Illinois will not foul out 6 of their front court players, and everyone with the last name Walton will be barred from the building. Illinois has tall order in guarding Salim Stoudamire, especially since Luther Head is hurting, but I think they can do it. Illinois has made a habit this season of shutting down a team's best offensive player. They've also made a habit of allowing some backup hack to have a career day against them. The game should be good, as it sounds like Arizona's strategy will be to try and win it in a shootout, but I think Illinois' defense will be up to the task. Let's hope they're cutting down the nets tomorrow in Chicago.
Well, the buzzer just went off on the Carolina/Villanova game, so I'm going to do what I love best when it comes to college basketball: rag on the ACC.
All week NCAA analysts have been asking: "who can beat Carolina?". Turns out that the answer was nearly Villanova, who lost by 1 to the Tarheels, and badly out hustled them. I've said all year that UNC is a team content to coast on its reputation, and they showed it tonight. Also, I think that their season average of 89 ppg is more of a reflection on the defense that's played in the ACC than of their offensive prowress, as they were held to under 70 points by a Villanova team with a serious size disadvantage.
I seem to remember at the beginning of the season, that many in the press were asking if the ACC/Big 10 Challenge should be called off, since the ACC was so dominant. Well, in the postseason version of the challenge, Michigan State and Wisconsin have run the Big 10's record to 2-0, and Wisconsin has a chance to make that a perfect 3-0. Oh, and not to belabor my point about defense, but the Badgers were able to hold NC State's Julius Hodge to 25% shooting; while against MSU, Mr. Everything, JJ Redick, could only manage to score 13 points (compared with his season average of 22) on 4-14 shooting. But I'm sure you'll be able to read all about that in JJ's next book of poetry.
In the other games, Utah was beaten by Kentucky, and nobody was surprised, because Utah stinks. Also, just when Washington had everyone thinking they were a good team, they went out and got their asses kicked by Louisville. West Virginia beat Texas Tech for the right to lose to Louisville, and finally, Arizona beat Oklahoma State in a very good game, while Illinois beat Wisconsin-Milwaukee by 14.
So Illinois will face off with Arizona tomorrow, in a rematch of their Elite 8 game from 2001. Except this time, hopefully, Illinois will not foul out 6 of their front court players, and everyone with the last name Walton will be barred from the building. Illinois has tall order in guarding Salim Stoudamire, especially since Luther Head is hurting, but I think they can do it. Illinois has made a habit this season of shutting down a team's best offensive player. They've also made a habit of allowing some backup hack to have a career day against them. The game should be good, as it sounds like Arizona's strategy will be to try and win it in a shootout, but I think Illinois' defense will be up to the task. Let's hope they're cutting down the nets tomorrow in Chicago.
posted by CT at 9:28 PM
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