Up-tempo or in half court, Bruins come up big
SAN JOSE, Calif.
Top-seeded Kansas worried UCLA would slow the pace in Saturday night's West Regional final. Instead, the Bruins came out and sped it up.
The Jayhawks worried they wouldn't be able to shoot 3-pointers against the Bruins' taller perimeter players. Kansas actually shot well from the perimeter, but couldn't make the easy shots.
In turn, the Bruins seemingly made every one of their tough shots in beating the Jayhawks 68-55 at HP Pavilion to advance to the Final Four in Atlanta, the second season in a row UCLA will have a chance to claim a record 12th national championship. It will be UCLA's NCAA-record 17th appearance in the Final Four.
While the Bruins proved they can easily change gears, running with the athletic Jayhawks in the first half and then slowing them down in the second, UCLA is going back to the Final Four because it has Arron Afflalo, a player who takes and makes shots when his team needs them most.
And, during the final 30 minutes of Saturday night's game, at least, the Jayhawks didn't have a player like Afflalo.
"Arron is a big-time player and big-time players make important shots in big games, on the big stage," UCLA coach Ben Howland said. "I'm really proud of Arron. He's just so tough. You can see he's all about his team and he's all about winning."
After Bruins sophomore Josh Shipp nailed a 3-pointer at the buzzer to put UCLA ahead 35-31 at the half, Afflalo took the game over in the opening 121/2 minutes of the second half. He scored 13 of the Bruins' first 17 points in the half, including two backbreaking shots at the shot-clock buzzer that deflated the Jayhawks. Afflalo put the Bruins ahead 40-33 with a 3-pointer over Brandon Rush with one second left on the shot clock, then buried an even deeper 3-pointer as the shot clock expired to make it 49-40 with 10:18 to go.
Later, after Kansas cut UCLA's lead to 55-50 with less than five minutes remaining, Bruins point guard Darren Collison sank a 3-pointer over two Jayhawks defenders -- after he slipped -- as the shot clock expired once again.
"That was a huge lift, especially Darren's," Afflalo said. "Going up eight that late in the game, [no time] on the shot clock, a 3-pointer with two guys in his face, that was a beautiful thing to watch. That's one of the fortunate things about this team. We have three, four guys, including Josh [Shipp], who can make shots with the clock running down. Sometimes the execution doesn't work, so you have to have those types of players."
Collison's 3-pointer was especially damaging to the Jayhawks, who had battled back from an 11-point deficit after the Bruins had come up empty on four of their previous six possessions. With Collison trying to dribble around guards Russell Robinson and Rush and the shot clock about to expire, it seemed UCLA would fail to score again, but Collison flung the basketball in the air and the shot went in.
"All I was thinking about was throwing it up," Collison said. "That's what I was thinking. We needed a shot, so I took it and it went in. It was just one of those days where everybody was hitting big shots."
And it was one of those nights for the Jayhawks.
"The hoop was as big as the ocean for them," Kansas guard Mario Chalmers said. "They hit tough shots all night."
The Jayhawks, however, couldn't make much of anything. Even in the first half, when they ran up and down the floor and took a 27-21 lead on Rush's 3-pointer with 5:57 to play in the half, it seemed they should have been winning by a lot more. They attempted only one 3-pointer in the first 20 minutes and couldn't even connect consistently from close range, missing at least eight layups in the first half.
"I thought for the first 15 minutes, we played very, very well," Kansas coach Bill Self said. "We missed a lot of shots, but we got the ball where we wanted to get it. And then the last 25 minutes of the game, I felt like they controlled the game. Certainly, we missed some bunnies, but I think their presence had something to do with that."
Before Saturday's game, the Bruins talked about trying to run with the Jayhawks, but nobody seemed sure they'd really try to do it. After all, UCLA is known more for its half-court sets than its fast breaks. But UCLA proved it was as athletic and talented as Kansas -- and a lot more seasoned. Even though the Bruins committed a season-high 25 turnovers, they seemed much more comfortable at the frenetic pace.
"I think we got sped up," Self said. "I thought our guards were a little careless. We over-penetrated, over-bounced, and we should have been driving to dish or pitch more. But, you know, the kids were trying hard. Sometimes you can try too hard. I feel like we rushed some shots or maybe we didn't go as strong as we could with some particular shots."
After the Jayhawks scored on six of their first eight possessions of the game to go ahead 12-9, Howland used his longest timeout to try to calm his team down. But the Bruins kept running until after halftime, when Howland's adjustments seemed to collar them. Kansas scored only 24 points in the second half the Jayhawks' 55 overall were their fewest this season and took only 17 shots from the floor in the final 20 minutes.
"I was probably the one who was at fault for being a little too excited," Afflalo said. "Coach actually had to get on me a lot in that first half. In the second half, we did a great job of just being a little more patient, playing with a little more poise. You know, doing what we do."
Winning big games is what the Bruins seem to do best.
Mark Schlabach covers college football and basketball for ESPN.com. He can be reached at schlabachma@yahoo.com
Copyright 2007 ESPN Internet Ventures
Buckeyes blow by Tigers in second half
SAN ANTONIO (AP) - Greg Oden wasn't going to let foul trouble stop him, not with a chance to take Ohio State to the Final Four. Frustrated by fouls for a third straight game, Oden made the most of his time on court during a key stretch of the second half, carrying the top-seeded Buckeyes past Memphis 92-76 Saturday in the South Regional finals.
Oden's numbers weren't huge: 17 points, nine rebounds.
The 7-footer's impact was.
The Buckeyes (34-3) went from up five points to down five during the 4:42 the fabulous freshman was on the bench after getting his third foul early in the second half. The moment he returned, everything changed. His presence on offense and defense sparked a 20-8 run that ultimately sent Ohio State to its 21st straight win and to Atlanta to play the winner of Sunday's North Carolina-Georgetown game.
"He came in with a lot of enthusiasm after sitting on the bench," point guard Mike Conley Jr. said of Oden, his high school teammate. "I think he just picked us up."
The Buckeyes last made the Final Four in 1999, when a team led by Michael Redd and Scoonie Penn lost to eventual national champion Connecticut. That trip later was expunged from the records because of NCAA violations, making their last official appearance in 1968.
Second-seeded Memphis (33-4) fell a game shy of the Final Four for a second straight season. The Conference USA champs were riding a 25-game winning streak and plenty confident they could handle the Big Ten champs - and were doing just fine until the 260-pound future NBA lottery pick flexed his muscles.
In only 24 minutes, Oden made 7-of-8 shots and was 3-of-6 from the line with a block that came on the first defensive stand after he returned with three fouls. Memphis' inability to stop him was summed up best when Chris Douglas-Roberts threw both arms around Oden's waist and shoved him for an intentional foul - but Oden still made the shot. He also made one of two free throws, tying the game at 60. Ohio State got to keep the ball and went ahead 62-60.
"I really hope it was an intentional foul because it was a difference-maker," Memphis coach John Calipari said. "It really changed the game."
Said Buckeyes senior Ron Lewis: "It put fuel on the fire."
When Oden caught a pass, spun and scored with his left hand against Joey Dorsey, the Buckeyes were up 71-64 and in solid control with about five minutes left. By then, Ohio State fans, who'd anguished through big comebacks and crucial last-second shots the last two games, were breathing easily, possibly even wondering how much longer they'll get to savor Oden in scarlet and white.
They made their thoughts on the subject clear by chanting "One more year!" during the postgame, net-cutting ceremony. They later hollered, "Two more games," which could bring the Buckeyes their second basketball title and first since the 1960 club that featured John Havlicek, Jerry Lucas and a backup named Bob Knight.
Conley - the son of a former Olympic star and Oden's high school teammate - set the pace for the Buckeyes with hard-charging drives from the start. He scored 19 points and led Ohio State to its most points of the season. He also was named the top player in the region.
Lewis continued his steady tournament play with 22 points and six rebounds. Jamar Butler added 12 points. The Buckeyes made 51 percent of their shots, and were 35-of-41 from the foul line, never giving Memphis a chance to get back in the game down the stretch.
The Tigers hung in early by shooting 7-of-10 on 3-pointers in the first half, an surprising start considering they began last year's regional finals loss to UCLA 0-for-14 from behind the arc.
But they couldn't keep it up. Memphis made only three more on 12 tries after halftime and were further slowed by its star player, Douglas-Roberts, getting into foul trouble.
Jeremy Hunt led the Tigers with 26 points, 17 in the first half. Douglas-Roberts scored 14, Willie Kemp had 12 and Antonio Anderson got 10 points and a suture over his right eyebrow after catching an elbow from teammate Robert Dozier in the first half.
Dorsey, who said Friday he was Goliath and Oden was "the little man," had four rebounds and no points in 19 minutes. He also drew four fouls.
"I thought we'd have a little better matchup inside," Calipari said. "I thought it would be more competitive."
Conley said Dorsey's comments "affected us as a team more than it affected Greg."
"When somebody talks about Greg, they're talking about all of us," Conley said.
Oden scored the game's first basket on a left-handed flick over Dorsey. Midway through the first half, he slipped around Dorsey's hefty backup and threw down a dunk so hard that he practically did a chin-up on the rim. Only 16 seconds later, though, Oden was headed to the bench with his second foul.
He opened the second half with more dazzling plays: spinning around Dorsey for another easy score, then grabbing a rebound and leading a fast break that ended with an alley-oop dunk by Lewis.
Oden got his third foul on a reach-in two minutes later. It was Memphis' last chance, but it didn't last long enough.
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March madness: The Big East in the Big Dance
March 17, 2007
By Katlin Stinespring
Hurricane High School
It's no surprise to avid college basketball fans that Georgetown is the 2007 Big East Conference Champion as well as a No. 2 seed in the NCAA Tournament. The Hoyas bring power, depth and athleticism to the game and have the potential to go far in the tournament.
In the Big East Championship game, the Hoyas showed exactly how the speed and athleticism of a deep inside game can tear down a team's defense, defeating Pittsburgh 65-42. Georgetown completely shut down Pitt star Aaron Gray, who had only one point in the first half.
The Hoyas then beat No. 15 seed Belmont University on Thursday in the first round of NCAA Tournament play. The team goes up against Boston College today.
Louisville was by far the hottest Big East team going into the postseason, winning seven straight games before losing to Pitt in the semifinals of the Big East Tournament. The young team it starts only one senior went into the NCAA Tournament as a No. 6 seed and continued its success with a 78-58 win over Stanford on Thursday. It faces Texas A&M today.
Pittsburgh has continued to prove itself as a force to be reckoned with. A preseason favorite to win the Big East, Pitt is hoping to exceed expectations in the Big Dance. Seeded third in the West, the Panthers easily defeated Wright State on Thursday and today will play Virginia Commonwealth, who upset Duke on Thursday.
Other Big East teams in the tournament include Notre Dame, who played Winthrop University on Friday; Villanova, who played Kentucky on Friday; and Marquette who lost to Michigan State on Thursday.
Big South Conference winner Winthrop (10-0 in its last 10 regular season games) could prove to be a tough foe for the Irish, and Kentucky will be fierce against Villanova as coach Tubby Smith's job is on the line this season.
Both WVU and Syracuse, each with 22 wins, were snubbed by the NCAA Tournament Selection Committee, though. This is the first time since 2002 that Syracuse has not been a part of the 64-team spread. Instead, the Mountaineers and the Orangemen earned first and second seeds in the National Invitation Tournament.
UConn, who was by far the Big East's biggest flop, and Cincinnati also failed to make the cut. UConn began the season ranked 18th and reached as high as ninth before coasting out of the Top 25 and barely qualifying for the Big East tournament where it lost in the first round to Syracuse. Cincinnati, who lost longtime coach Bob Huggins to Kansas State this year, spent most of the season in the basement with an 11-19 regular season (2-14 in Big East play) that put the team dead last in the conference.
@ Copyright 1996-2007 The Charleston Gazette
March madness: The Big East in the Big Dance
March 17, 2007
By Katlin Stinespring
Hurricane High School
It’s no surprise to avid college basketball fans that Georgetown is the 2007 Big East Conference Champion as well as a No. 2 seed in the NCAA Tournament. The Hoyas bring power, depth and athleticism to the game and have the potential to go far in the tournament.
In the Big East Championship game, the Hoyas showed exactly how the speed and athleticism of a deep inside game can tear down a team’s defense, defeating Pittsburgh 65-42. Georgetown completely shut down Pitt star Aaron Gray, who had only one point in the first half.
The Hoyas then beat No. 15 seed Belmont University on Thursday in the first round of NCAA Tournament play. The team goes up against Boston College today.
Louisville was by far the hottest Big East team going into the postseason, winning seven straight games before losing to Pitt in the semifinals of the Big East Tournament. The young team — it starts only one senior — went into the NCAA Tournament as a No. 6 seed and continued its success with a 78-58 win over Stanford on Thursday. It faces Texas A&M today.
Pittsburgh has continued to prove itself as a force to be reckoned with. A preseason favorite to win the Big East, Pitt is hoping to exceed expectations in the Big Dance. Seeded third in the West, the Panthers easily defeated Wright State on Thursday and today will play Virginia Commonwealth, who upset Duke on Thursday.
Other Big East teams in the tournament include Notre Dame, who played Winthrop University on Friday; Villanova, who played Kentucky on Friday; and Marquette who lost to Michigan State on Thursday.
Big South Conference winner Winthrop (10-0 in its last 10 regular season games) could prove to be a tough foe for the Irish, and Kentucky will be fierce against Villanova as coach Tubby Smith’s job is on the line this season.
Both WVU and Syracuse, each with 22 wins, were snubbed by the NCAA Tournament Selection Committee, though. This is the first time since 2002 that Syracuse has not been a part of the 64-team spread. Instead, the Mountaineers and the Orangemen earned first and second seeds in the National Invitation Tournament.
UConn, who was by far the Big East’s biggest flop, and Cincinnati also failed to make the cut. UConn began the season ranked 18th and reached as high as ninth before coasting out of the Top 25 and barely qualifying for the Big East tournament where it lost in the first round to Syracuse. Cincinnati, who lost longtime coach Bob Huggins to Kansas State this year, spent most of the season in the basement with an 11-19 regular season (2-14 in Big East play) that put the team dead last in the conference.
@ Copyright 1996-2007 The Charleston Gazette
Colorado State 69, San Diego State 64
March 9, 2007
CBS SportsLine.com wire reports
LAS VEGAS -- Colorado State is hoping that being the sixth-seed will be the charm again in the Mountain West Conference Tournament.
In 2003, the then sixth-seeded Rams came to Las Vegas and won three games to capture the tourney title and earn the automatic bid for the NCAA Tournament. After Thursday's quarterfinal game San Diego State, the once-again No. 6 Rams are one-third of the way there.
Stuart Creason scored 19 points along with seven rebounds to lead Colorado State to an upset win over San Diego State, 69-64.
"I found a zone," said Creason, who played with four fouls in the final 11:21. "I was getting deep positioning. I wasn't thinking about the fouls. I didn't want to see our seniors go."
Also for sixth-seeded Colorado State (17-12), Tyler Smith had 13 points and 13 rebounds. He also played with four fouls in the final 10:15.
The Rams were swept by the Aztecs in the regular-season series. But Colorado State now plays No. 2 UNLV Friday night in the semifinals.
The Rams lost to UNLV, 65-47, last Saturday on the same court
"They are awfully good," Colorado State coach Dale Layer said of second-seeded UNLV. "We have to handle their pressure. The Rebels are going to be a huge challenge for us."
Brandon Heath led the No. 3 Aztecs (21-10) with 20 points. Jerome Habel and Mohamed Abukar each had 14 points apiece for San Diego State, which now awaits word if it will receive an NCAA Tournament bid Sunday. Before Thursday, the Aztecs had won eight of their last 10 and had an RPI of 55.
"Obviously not the way we wanted to play in the Mountain West Conference Tournament," said San Diego State coach Steve Fisher, who did not comment on making a case for his team to get a bid. "Credit goes to Colorado State. We're very disappointed we're not playing tomorrow. We were not able to do what we wanted to do."
San Diego State was out-rebounded 36-25, and 24-16 on the offensive glass. Colorado State led throughout the first half, once building its largest lead, 26-16, with 6:04 until halftime.
The Aztecs went on a 14-5 run to cut the advantage, 31-30, at intermission. Abukar had 10 first-half points on 4-of-6 shooting. The Aztecs took their first lead at 35-34 with just over two minutes into the second half.
After a brief Rams' lead and two ties, San Diego State took the lead on a Heath 3-pointer with 12:24 left in the game. That started a 7-0 run, which gave the Aztecs their largest lead, 47-40 with 11:02 left.
"Our guys were able to weather the storm," Layer said. "The Aztecs are a team of runs. In the second half, we had eight post feeds in nine minutes. We had to get it in there and Stuart had a hot hand."
Colorado State then went on a 9-2 run to tie it. After four more ties from that point, Tyler Smith's jumper put the Rams up for good with 1:57 left, 64-62.
From the field, the Rams were 27-of-53 for 51 percent, while the Aztecs were 25-of-56 (45 percent). The Aztecs took a season-high 24 3-point shots, but only made seven for 29 percent.
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Copyright 2006-2007, The Associated Press, All Rights Reserved
IPFW 83, S. Dakota St. 72
March 1, 2007
BROOKINGS, S.D. (AP) -DeWitt Scott scored 22 points as IPFW beat South Dakota State 83-72 on Thursday.
IPFW started off strong with an 8-0 run. The Jackrabbits responded with an 8-0 run of their own, sparked by Andy Kleinjan with a 3-point shot. Mark Engen scored the other five points with a layup and a baseline 3-point shot.
But IPFW came back with another 8-0 run to increase the lead to ten points.
The Jackrabbits scored the first five points of the second half to cut IPFW's lead in half. A pair of Garrett Callahan 3-pointers cut the lead to three, the closest South Dakota State got the rest of the game.
Garrett Callahan led the Jacks with 17 points, and Thomas Bassett and Kai Williams had 14 points each. Jose Frias added 10 points
Jaraun Burrows scored 19 points for IPFW, and Quintin Carouthers added 10.
IPFW finished the game shooting 53.8 percent from the field, while South Dakota State shot just 39.7 percent.
AP NEWS
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Copyright 2006-2007, The Associated Press, All Rights Reserved
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