As for the other games last night, the Xavier and WVa game was far and away the most entertaining that I saw. I think the outcome may have been different if Alexander had not fouled out. Great game, nonetheless and Xavier looks like a good team capable of knocking off Ucla. North Carolina looked absolutely incredible against what I thought was a pretty good team in WSU. UNC is the best team I've seen play thus far in the tournament. I thought they looked beatable in the ACC tourney but they've turned it up a notch here. The Louisville and UNC matchup may be one for the ages. I think Ucla is beatable but they did what they had to do and that's get the win.
They were saying on Mike and Mike this morning that Louisville will beat North Carolina. I almost spewed all over the windshield on that one. We played badly and stayed close to them. North Carolina will mop the floor with them. If Tennessee was playing like they did the last few games of the regular season, we beat Louisvill easily and are an even match with North Carolina. Anyone got a number for Mike and Mike where I can get some heads up wager going? :roll:
Not so sure about that Tom. As an impartial viewer I got the feeling that Louisville had its way with you. Almost toying with the Vols at times.
I didn't get that impression at all. I saw a Louisville team that was turnover proned even when Tennessee closed to within three points. That did not look like toying to me. Louisville did not beat Tennessee as much as Tennessee beat themselves. Ball handling, or the lack thereof, was a momentum killer for Tennessee. Lofton killed seven possessions by taking shots that were blocked when he is one of the best at the pump fake and sidestep the defender to get a shot off. Tyler Smith and Prince are extremely efficient at no look behind the back passes and both threw uncontested passes just out of the reach of the other which resulted in unforced turnovers. Tennessee was off. Louisville was concerned when Tennessee got so close in the second half. North Carolina will kill them. I am reminded of Barney wanting to take Earnest T Bass out back and Andy simply saying "He'd kill ya". North Carolina will take them out.
I don't think Louisville toyed with Tennessee. I think the two teams are reasonably evenly matched. Tennessee missed many shots that should have been made and, as Tom said, they committed a lot of stupid fouls. I think this game's final score would have looked a lot different had Tyler and Jajuan Smith and Chism not been in foul trouble but that is what it is. They committed the fouls and they paid the price. Tennessee seemingly took the ball away from the Cardinals at will but could not convert the turnovers into points consistently. North Carolina will have much more success in doing that I think. I simply think this bracket is proving to be what everyone thought-the toughest in the entire tournament.
That was not the same Tennessee team that I watched during the regular season, especially the two games with Florida. I don't know what happened, perhaps they peaked to soon. Right now I don't see anyone that is on a plane with North Carolina. Maybe they will have a bad game, but right now they are steam rolling everyone. My bracket is destroyed.
What a great run for the Vols. Any Coach that takes off his shirt, paints himself orange and then goes to the Lady Vols games like that is okay in my book. And no that is not a plug for Fulmer to take off his shirt. Please, Coach Fulmer keep your shirt on...please :wink:
Davidson and Xavier into the elite 8, too bad W.Kentucky couldn't make it! Davidson really thumped Wisconsin tonight, hard to imagine a Southern League team doing that to the best the B10 had to offer this year. Goes to show you how far parity has come to college basketball. Right now I'm liking Louisville, Kansas, Xavier and Texas to make the Final 4 and either Kansas or Louiville to win it all.
I love to watch Davidson's Stephen Curry. He is a natural shooter and nothing seems to bother him. Not bad for a sophomore! Don