I would not be suprised at all if Illinois wins tonight after they dismantled Cinncy. I picked Texas to win this region from the start, so I am sticking to it--but Xavier is playing really well so Texas better be totally focused tonight.
No discussion of StJoe-OSU? Man what a game, by far the best of the year and probably the most drammatic game we will see this year. StJoes to me showed they are one of the top 3 teams in the land. OSU got a little lucky to win as Graham was very close to getting that ball tipped away, Lucas's shot was very close to being blocked, and even unblocked it was a little offline--but close enough to roll in. I agree with non-time out given how well StJoes seniors break down defenses in the flow, but would have liked to see the Nelson step back 3 with a couple seconds left rather than a tough same % shot just to tie. It is really too bad that game didn't happen in the final 4. Reminds me of the regional finals with MSU-ISU a few years ago, Arizona-Kansas last year, where you hate to see those kind of games played out where all those guys don't make the final 4. Shaping up as Uconn over OKS in the finals to me. BTW Delonte West totally reminds me of Cuttino Mobley (in fact a lot of parallels to Cat's Rhode Island team that lost in a great regional final to Stanford). Fine athlete though not an all-world one. Great finnishier, great body control, very instinctive and smooth scorer, & good shooter. Unlike Cat though, he might be able to be a NBA 1 as he seems even more in control. I really think this guy (West) is underrated because of all the deserved attention of Nelson and has a solid NBA player written all over him.
man i can't stand college officiating of the charge. the gtech player is falling down before langford even gets to him and langford's arm simply went out, he didn't push with it, and they foul him out on that. they just need to get rid of the charge in college all together until they can learn to call it correctly. i didn't see the last minute but man miles has been playing bad. missed a shot, got blocked on a 3, committed a charge (bad call also i thought), and then just now blows a layup. geez.
one helluva game! like the cliche... two big time heavyweights who refused to go down, until the very end. damn that Jack is one amazing cat!
Good game, but not close to the level of play last night. He was very tough, very impressive. I expect OSU to beat Gtech because OSU is more of a veteran team--but GTech could play them tough without a doubt.
I can't express how much this pisses me off. I hate how they make basketball into a p***y game of flopping and avoiding playing D. It's ridiculous. West is pretty good. Not as great an athlete as Cat, but pretty solid. Doesn't ever seem to look like he's really trying either. Got a real smooth style. Nice shot. Like left-handers. Decent handles. Can shoot off the dribble and off screens. Jack is tough. I like him as well. Didn't realize he's only a soph. If he stays another year, he'll be a solid NBA prospect. Better athlete than he shows.
Man, what a game that was last night! I agree completely with you, DS, that game was better than most final 4 games. I was a critic of St. Joe's getting a #1 seed (really felt that the Cowboys deserved a #1 seed) but damn, did the Hawks prove that they were worthy of it! That game wouldn't have been that close if it wasn't for Tony Allen thinking he was Marques Haynes or Curly Neal of the Globetrotters and that he could dribble through Barley, Nelson, and West. Having 10 turnovers nearly did the Pokes in. I think that OSU will beat Ga Tech and play UConn in the finals but considering how the Cowboys beat St. Joe's, something tells me that they are a team of destiny. Also, you have to remember that Okafor is not a 100%. Although shorter, Joey Graham plays a lot taller than he is and he might be the "strongest looking" basketball player that I have ever seen in college (is that kid cut or what?). I agree with you also, DS, on Delonte West. He does remind me a lot of Mobley and he also looks like he was a character in the Lord of the Rings!
