Thursday, March 17, 2005

Where’s the madness?

The second set of games provided the only late-game drama of the day session, with Utah beating UTEP 60-54. The game was tied in the last minute when Utah guard Mark Jackson knocked down an 18 footer for the game winner. Bogut finished with 24 and 11, but his occasional matador defense and poor free throw shooting kept this one interesting.

Elsewhere, Washington didn't do much to shed its reputation as a weak one seed. The beat Montana by 11, but saw the Griz and their triangle offense shoot 49%.

Iowa scored 5 points in their first 19 possesions and lost to Cincinnati by 12.

BC had the most dominating performace of the day session, taking a 20 point halftime lead on Penn, and cruising for the win.

SECeding from the tournament?

The first set of games are done, and the two SEC entries involved did not play well. Alabama could not dig itself out of a huge first half hole and fell to the 12 seed Wisconsin-Milwaukee, and Kentucky struggled with the 15 seed Eastern Kentucky.

In the wacky world of college hoops, this one game vaults UWM's Bruce Pearl to near the top of the list of hot coaching prospects this offseason.

Oklahoma pulled away from a dog-tired Niagara team, but Juan Mendez has the best individual performace so far, finishing with 22 and 16, though he did shoot 6 of 21 from the floor and 9 of 10 on FTs, for a lousy .86 in the almighty PPWS.

There’s Only Juan

A double-double in the first half for Niagara's Juan Mendez. 14 points, 10 boards, 2 blocks, 5-9 FGs, 3-4 FTs. The 14 seed Niagara trails Oklahoma 37-34 at the half. The biggest surprise is that Oklahoma is shooting less than 50% despite getting a number of layups/bunnies against Niagara's porous defense.