Friday we found out that . . .
*The North Carolina Tar Heels could survive with point guard Kendall Marshall in street clothes . . .
*Kansas could hang on and advance while hitting 55 percent of its free throws and knocking in just one more 3-pointer than I converted against North Carolina State . . .
*Kentucky could take one more step toward what many believe is the inevitable – picking up national championship hardware in New Orleans on late-night April 2 . . .
*Baylor could achieve Elite Eight status even as jump shooter-deluxe Brady Heslip was hitting just one of three shots from behind the 3-point arc after going a combined 22 of 36 over the previous four games.
Now, on to the specifics:
*How much can Marshall’s absence (via the broken bone in his right – non-shooting – wrist) be blamed for the Tar Heels’ 24 turnovers during UNC’s 73-65, overtime victory over the Ohio Bobcats in St. Louis?
The walk-on who got the bulk of Marshall’s time, Stilman White, had six assists and didn’t commit a turnover (he also didn’t make a field goal, going zero of four) in 32 minutes.
So the blame can’t be conveniently hoisted upon his shoulders/Marshall’s absence.
Even if Marshall can go on Sunday against Kansas, the Tar Heels are going to have to take much better care of the basketball – which isn’t going to be a snap considering that the Jayhawks’ half-court defense is much more challenging than the one Roy Williams’ crew faced Friday night.
And their hopes of getting to New Orleans will be enhanced by the kind of performance that should rightfully be expected from sophomore Harrison Barnes.
Barnes – perceived by many to be the Tar Heels’ “best” player – has hit just 15 of 47 shots from the field (including six of 18 behind the arc) during the tournament.
*For the second time in a row, the Jayhawks – who came oh-so-close to getting bounced by Purdue last Sunday night – teetered on tourney extension before edging North Carolina State, 60-57.
Their jump shooters struggled Friday night (one of 14 behind the arc) and All-American Thomas Robinson – while much more effective than he was vs. Purdue – again wasn’t at All-American form vs. the Wolfpack (seven of 17 from the field/four of nine from the free-throw line). He will have to be much more of a threat on Sunday if they’re to outscore the Tar Heels.
And point guard Tyshawn Taylor (two of 15 from the field/five turnovers) was more or less a mess Friday night. The same kind of performance negates the absence of Marshall (assuming his UNC counterpart doesn’t play Sunday).
But, hey, what about the performance of center Jeff Withey (eight points, five rebounds and 10 blocked shots)?
His matchup with Tyler Zeller (22 points and 22 rebounds on Friday) will go a long way in determining the outcome Sunday.
*What can I say about Kentucky’s 102-90 win over Indiana in Atlanta Friday night?
The game reminded me a lot of the all-star games you can see during the June and July “All-American camps”: There was only lip service – at best – paid to defense.
The Hoosiers shot .522 from the field and turned the ball over just eight times yet were outscored by 12 points.
Anthony Davis is the best shot blocker in college hoops and deflected three Indiana attempts Friday night.
But can the Wildcats continued to get beat off the dribble and rotate as slowly as they did Friday night and still win three more tournament games?
I wouldn’t think so but with as many gifted offensives as John Calipari suits up maybe the traditional way of thinking about winning titles should be dismissed.
*The Wildcats will hook up Sunday with a Baylor team that seemed destined to pound Xavier Friday night (the Bears were up, 22-6) before getting a tad careless before holding off the Musketeers, 75-70.
I’m going to assume that Kentucky will ratchet up the defense against the Baylor backcourt of Pierre Jackson and Brady Heslip.
And a Terrence Jones (Kentucky) vs. Quincy Acy matchup should be as fierce of heck.
But if the Bears are going to upset the Wildcats, Perry Jones III – who could line up against Davis a great deal of the time – is going to have to live up to all of the hyperbole that has been tossed his way over the past two years.
Is he up to it?
*And, before signing off, a look at Saturday’s two regional finals:
*In Phoenix: Louisville vs. Florida, mentor (Rick Pitino) vs. protégé (Billy Donovan) – what a cool story in the West Regional.
Once the ball is tipped, however, it’s going to be about the 10 players on the floor who weren’t born when Pitino coached Donovan for Providence in the 1987 Final Four in New Orleans.
And it’s tough to pick against a Louisville team that is playing as well, defensively, as anyone in the tourney and whose players have such a solid understand of their individual roles.
*In Boston: Syracuse vs. Ohio State, as No. 1 takes on No. 2 in the East Regional.
Can the Buckeyes free up enough quality shots for Jared Sullinger, William Buford and Deshaun Thomas against Jim Boeheim’s zone?
Can the Orange guards cleanly initiate the team’s half-court offense against on the on-ball pressure of OSU point guard Aaron Craft?
Will Syracuse’s overwhelming depth edge prove the difference?
I’m going with the Buckeyes in what should be one of the very best games that will be played in the tourney.
Leave a Reply