NCAA Tournament Tidbits: 03.22.14 Edition
Posted by Griffin Wong on March 22nd, 2014
March Madness is finally upon us, and we here at RTC are here to make everything a little bit easier for you. From the First Four until One Shining Moment, we’ll be dropping daily tidbits of knowledge regarding the teams in each region.
South Region
- Florida coach Billy Donovan has built an outstanding program, but he’d be lying if he said he wasn’t interested in the NBA.
- Florida is the number one overall seed, but one thing Pittsburgh will not be today is intimidated.
- Coach Shaka Smart was pleased with the effort, but ultimately VCU fell to Stephen F. Austin in the bizarre final moments.
- With a reputation for not getting it done in the NCAA Tournament, UCLA coach Steve Alford has gained some relief after pulling away from the near upset by Tulsa.
- VCU seemingly pulled away, but a four point play from Dezmond Haymon resurrected underdog Stephen F. Austin and brought them to victory.
- Syracuse’s defense is suffocating in the half court, so Dayton will be looking to make today’s game a track meet.
- Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim isn’t convinced that Dayton will be able to get up and down against the Orange. “The pace of the game,” Boeheim said, “is dictated by whoever has the basketball.”
- After scoring a huge win yesterday over New Mexico, Stanford is ready to pull off the upset against a most likely Embiid-less Kansas.
- For the second straight season, New Mexico’s season has ended in disappointing fashion. The Lobos were down 20-4 early, but couldn’t quite come all the way back.
- Kansas did not look good in their opening matchup, but eventually pulled away from Eastern Kentucky behind 19 from freshman sensation Andrew Wiggins.
West Region
- Weber State was with them for a while, but Arizona came to its senses and took down the other Wildcats.
- Potentially bound for the NBA, Oklahoma State sophomore Marcus Smart had his NCAA Tournament hopes crushed by Gonzaga yesterday. In particular, Smart was seemingly “frustrated” by the officials.
- Despite going up against a trendy “upset” pick, Gonzaga never trailed in its victory over Oklahoma State.
- Baylor nearly gave it up late, but the Bears ultimately held tough and took down Nebraska.
- Nebraska was frustrated by Baylor all day, and their struggles carried over to coach Tim Miles as he was ejected midway through the second half.
- Late three point shooting helped Doug McDermott and Creighton survive a scare against UL-Lafayette.
- As an underdog that pulled a huge upset, is North Dakota State “America’s team?”
- Even though San Diego State beat New Mexico State, coach Steve Fisher was angry at the NCAA for its policy of making the losing team fly home after a late-night loss.
- Oregon has reaped major benefits from transfers, but is this model sustainable?
- Wisconsin certainly comes into today’s game as the favorite, but Oregon’s athleticism could give the Badgers problems.
East Region
- A 16-seed has never beaten a 1-seed, but Virginia needed a second half comeback to avoid historical embarrassment.
- George Washington hung around all game, but Memphis’s “big shot” Michael Dixon Jr. helped Memphis pull away en route to victory.
- George Washington came into the Tournament hopeful, but ultimately it was a disappointing end for seniors Isaiah Armwood and Maurice Creek.
- Harvard hopes to use its basketball success to increase the school’s prestige beyond academia.
- Given Harvard coach Tommy Amaker’s previous stint at Michigan, Michigan State coach Tom Izzo will be up against a former rival today.
- Providence’s Bryce Cotton won the battle over UNC’s Marcus Paige, but North Carolina won the war.
- Iowa State won, but suffered a huge blow in sophomore Georges Niang’s season-ending injury.
- UConn and coach Kevin Ollie are pumped to be reliving an old Big East rivalry.
- With roots in Buffalo, Villanova coach Jay Wright is hoping to make an extra special Sweet Sixteen run.
Midwest Region
- The other 1-seeds felt some resistance, but Wichita State absolutely rolled in its first game.
- Kentucky was known for its outstanding freshman class, but it was sophomore Willie Cauley-Stein whose defense helped lead the Wildcats to victory.
- Earlier this week was addressed a comparison between Saint Louis’s Rob Loe and the actor Rob Lowe, and the actor actually gave SLU’s big man a Twitter shoutout.
- Louisville coach Rick Pitino and star guard Russ Smith’s relationship has arguably become stronger due to a contrast in personalities.
- According to the books, Tennessee was favored over UMass yesterday. The Volunteers didn’t let the higher seed upset them.
- Duke and Mercer played in Raleigh, but the Bears made sure they brought the faithful from Macon, Georgia with them.
- Duke freshman sensation Jabari Parker noted that “his career was incomplete” after the Blue Devils shocking first round loss to Mercer, but is he really going to pass up the NBA for another year in Durham?
- Michigan coach John Beilein definitely knows what he’s doing on the court, but we’re not sure if he knows what he’s doing in Milwaukee. Beilein got lost on the way back to the team hotel after Thursday’s win over Wofford and had to be saved by the TV crew.
- For two athletic teams, it could be the big men that decide Texas’s game today against Michigan.
- After Mercer’s win over Duke, Tennesee is proving it belongs in the Tourney. With a relatively easy draw in sight, the Volunteers could make a run.
