Dancing: Day 1 Open Thread
March 20th, 2008 at 10:16 amBy Chris
11:20: Georgia and Xavier start us off. Can the Dawgs even think of duplicating their SEC Tournament run? I’ll be updating each game below… and here we go.
1. Kansas versus 16. Portland State (Midwest Bracket)
11:25 – And KC switches to Kansas/PSU… I don’t expect this game to last long. Portland does have some size, but you can already tell, Kansas is just so much more athletic. But, if PSU hits 3s… and on cue.
4-3 KU.
11:31 – KU is awfully explosive. They are already close to blowing this open. PSU calls time down 11-3.
11:40 – 13-3. KU is playing like a Number 1 seed.
11:45 – 22-12, but PSU hit 3, the big equalizer in college basketball. They won’t win, but they will keep it respectable until the second half.
11:55 – Kansas looks GOOD. Portland State is up for this game but Kansas is just so much more dominant. And they are playing like it.
12:15 – Ho-hum. Kansas is up 23. Brandon Rush and Mario Chalmers are the story here. 15 by Rush and Chalmers with 10. Look for the KU bench to get A LOT of playing time in the second half.
I hope you enjoyed your trip to Omaha, Portland State.
Second Half
10:00 Minute Mark Update (this is easier when you are trying to keep up with 3 games)
1:00 – Well, what did you expect here? A 16-seed winning? Surely not. Anyway, it’s all Kansas, all of the time. All-around effort too, with 4 players in double-digits. Rush is still stuck on 15, however, at one point, KU was 5-15 from the field. Cold shooting will always haunt you in the tournament.
1:20 – It’s over. Kansas will play either Kent State or UNLV. Bill Self’s team looks really good.
3. Xavier versus 14. Georgia (West Bracket)
11:23 – The Musketeers come out hot. 5-0 Duncan w/a 3.
11:30 – Georgia is determined to show they belong… they are on a 9-3 run. Make that 11-3.
11:45 – UGA is here. And for real. Their defense is legitimate. 17-15, Bulldogs. Terrance Woodbury has 8 points.
11:55 – UGA up 6. Don’t sleep on the Dawgs.
12:10 – How bout them DAWGS?!!?? Georgia ends the 1st half with a strong run and takes a nine-point lead to the break. Terrance Woodbury has 10 points and Sundiata Gaines is having his normal, Scottie Pippen-like game: 7 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists.
Second Half
10:00 Mark Update
1:05 – To quote every announcer ever, this is going to be nip and tuck down the stretch. Xavier has cut UGA’s lead to 3, and they are defending quite nicely. The key to UGA is they need to hit shots, obviously.
Their defense if there, but so it Xavier’s. 49-46 UGA.
1:06 – Ruh-roh, Raggy. Xavier hit back-to-back 3s and is now up by 3. Timeout UGA. Do the Dawgs have enough in the tank? Xavier certainly looks like they do.
1:30 – Georgia absolutely booted this game. Gaines’ foul was silly. Yes, loose ball, but still. It was a 1-possession ball game at the time with over a minute left. I understand and fully support the idea of hustle. But, don’t put yourself in the position to commit a foul.
It’s now a 7-point ball game with under a minute. The foul is what started this. And after Gaines just missed this 3-ball, the ball game is now pretty much over… as long as Xavier hits free throws.
5. Michigan State versus 12. Temple (South Bracket)
11:30 – And we have a tip here too. All three games are going. This is gonna be hectic.
5-4 Temple. Thank god the other games are at commercial.
11:40 – This has the makings of a grinder. 7-6. STILL.
11:45 – Michigan State has 11 points with 11 minutes left in the first. And they lead. Yay Big Ten basketball.
If anyone scores over 30 in the 1st half, I’ll be surprised.
12:00 – 17 – 15. Sigh. Although, this is the type of game MSU can play and win. I still say both teams under 30.
12:25 – Michigan State finishes strong, evidently hearing my complaints. The Izzone is up by 9 and finished much better than their sluggish start. The Atlantic 10 better step it up. Xavier is being handled by UGA and Temple looks like they can’t compete with the Spartans.
Second Half
10:00 Mark Update
1:08 – MSU is in control, much like KU. Izzo’s team looks dangerous again. Credit certainly goes to the Spartans for overcoming the ugly first. Raymar Morgan is the story here. He leads MSU with 15 big points.
1:35 – MSU wins and looks pretty good doing so.
