College Basketball News

27/03/07

Final Four: Biggest stage filled with big-time performers

March 26, 2007
By Gary Parrish
CBS SportsLine.com Senior Writer

The Road to the Final Four is closed.
We have our occupants. Everybody else has exited. All that's left is a quartet of luxury vehicles -- shiny, powerful and built to last. We have four elite teams from elite schools in elite leagues. Nobody is a clear favorite. Nobody is a true underdog. All are capable of winning the national title. That's why Las Vegas dubbed both semifinals one-possession games.
Georgetown minus-1 over Ohio State; Florida minus-3 over UCLA.
Sounds like Atlanta will be a treat.
Here's one man's breakdown of what's to come.

Three key facts
1. This is the first time four teams are entering the Final Four with 30 wins. Sure, the increased number of regular-season games is a factor. But the combined record is 127-19, impressive considering the representatives come from four of the top five rated leagues in the nation.

2. All four schools have won national titles previously. UCLA has 11. Ohio State (1960), Georgetown (1984), and Florida (2006) have one each.

3. Florida could become the first repeat champion since Duke in 1992. It would be just the second repeat champion since UCLA in 1973.

Four key figures
1. Jeff Green (Georgetown): Green is averaging 17.5 points per game in March and solidifying himself as a sure lottery pick because he looks like a pro, plays like a pro, talks like a pro and even walks like a pro. And by walks, I mean travels. Yes, Green traveled when he hit that game-winner against Vanderbilt in the Sweet 16. I'm not sure how anybody could watch the replay and then matter-of-factly state Green did not travel. It's not even debatable. He traveled, plain and simple. But it doesn't matter because it wasn't called, and because it wasn't called Green has the opportunity to keep impressing and, in turn, keep climbing mock drafts everywhere.

2. Mike Conley Jr. (Ohio State): Everybody raves about Greg Oden, and for good reason. But Conley is the main reason Ohio State is in the Final Four. The Buckeyes have proved they can win without Oden, given how the phenom averaged just 21 minutes the past two games. But trust me when I tell you the day Conley plays just 21 minutes is the day OSU's season ends.

3. Joakim Noah (Florida): The consensus among NBA scouts is that Al Horford is the best player on -- and will be the best pro from -- this Florida roster. Count me among the believers, but Noah remains the emotional center of this team. Nobody has a better motor. Nobody has a stronger desire. And that he's coming off a 14-point, 14-rebound effort in the Elite Eight could indicate Noah is ready to repeat as the Final Four's Most Outstanding Player.

4. Arron Afflalo (UCLA): Similar to Green, Afflalo has made himself a lot of money this month. He has long had a pro body, but his pro game is now just as obvious, complete with one-dribble pull-ups, fadeaways and everything else NBA scouts desire. Afflalo has scored 73 of UCLA's 256 points in this NCAA Tournament, which equals 28.5 percent. Granted, those aren't Kobe numbers, but they're still pretty good for the other shooting guard in Los Angeles.

Georgetown vs. Ohio State
Best matchup: We spent the weekend talking David vs. Goliath thanks to Memphis center Joey Dorsey, who was silly enough to call Greg Oden overrated but big enough to face reporters after his embarrassing performance and own up to his quotes. It was a nice story while it lasted, but now it's time to move on to a true Goliath vs. Goliath with Oden (7-feet, 280 pounds) and Roy Hibbert (7-2, 278 pounds) set to battle in the paint, and I'm confident Hibbert will learn from Dorsey's mistakes. He'll say less and do more, which is a boring combination but certainly the better route to take.
The winner: Ohio State

The explanation: Nobody seems overwhelmed by the Buckeyes, and the reality is they could have lost each of their past three games. But they didn't. They won just like they always win, and it's time to recognize that's not by accident. Conley will make a play when he needs to make a play, Ron Lewis will make a jumper when he needs to make a jumper and Oden will block a shot when he needs to block a shot. So while it'll be a close game, expect the Buckeyes to win and advance.

Florida vs. UCLA
Best matchup: Taurean Green and Darren Collison are two of the best at their position, both capable of starting or finishing plays. Green is fabulous in the half-court. Collison is tremendous defensively. They win lots of games for their teams and lose few, and that's all anybody could ever hope to have in a point guard.
The winner: Florida.
The explanation: There will be no shortage of people referencing last season's national title game featuring these two schools, and they'll use great detail to suggest something that happened a year ago will have a major bearing on what will happen this week. But don't listen to those people. Those people will be wrong. Florida is better than it was last year. UCLA is better than it was last year. So while I believe Florida will again win the game, I'd bet Billy Donovan's paycheck that the margin won't be anywhere close to the 16-point victory the Gators enjoyed last season.

How it will all end
My NCAA Tournament bracket has Florida and Ohio State in the title game.

I still believe that's what we'll see.
Florida 76, Ohio State 73.
If that's the title game, that's the final score.

25/03/07

Big man over big talk

SAN ANTONIO The email showed up on everyone's Blackberry, and as each member of the Ohio State coaching staff opened the missive from their sports information director they couldn't believe what they were reading, let alone their good fortune.

Memphis center Joey Dorsey had on Friday unleashed a press conference trash talk session on Buckeyes big man Greg Oden, the ultimate pregame cage rattle that ended any concerns that the occasionally sleepy 7 foot freshman might not be awake for the Elite Eight.

Dorsey had called Oden "overrated." He said Oden had to work on his offensive game. He promised he'd get "20 rebounds." In the end he described their expected battle as David and Goliath, before adding, "I'm Goliath."

Apparently Dorsey didn't know how that story turned out.

Buckeyes 92, Tigers 76 and on to the Final Four for Ohio State and its man-child in the middle, the one who looks middle aged but often acts middle school.

The two players' stat lines were as expected: Oden going for 17 points, nine rebounds and a defensive performance that changed everything Memphis thought it might be able to do.

Dorsey? The poor guy ended with no points, four rebounds and a rock between the eyes.

"We had a couple of guys that didn't give us what they normally do," Memphis coach John Calipari said. "Nothing. You get a zero out of some guys zeroes across the board."

Not that Dorsey was that much of a motivation. When assistant coach Dan Peters told Oden what Dorsey had said the big guy hardly blinked.

"With Greg, you can't see it, but you know it is sinking in," assistant Brandon Miller said. "Greg is a smart guy. He knows it is not a one on one game. He'll get his in the (flow) of the game."

Oden was actually more inspired watching a television show Saturday detailing the "Top 50 dunks of all time." He made a point to really slam a couple home in a concerted effort to shatter the backboard.

"I've never had the honor to do that," he said. "I tried really hard. These new age rims don't break like 20 years ago"

The 19 year old paused for comedic timing.

"When I was dunking."

There is no easy way to describe Oden. He is about the biggest person you will ever meet. His facial features make him look about 40 years old. He doesn't smile that much, rarely gets excited about anything and speaks in a monotone. He produces all sorts of moments of unintended comedy like when he clipped the Final Four net by climbing just a single step up the ladder.

But he is anything but sullen or aloof. He is the definition of a "kid." While he didn't seem overly excited about the Final Four, his postgame comments were a stand up comedy routine sprinkled with all sorts of space shot observations.

"My favorite color used to be green, until I realized everything I wore was red. So then I thought, 'maybe red should be my favorite color?"

He loves toying with everyone about how he might actually return to Columbus for his sophomore season. That's a Powerball level long shot considering he'll be the top pick in the draft. He already has his agent all but picked out Mike Conley Sr., his old AAU coach and the dad of teammate Mike Conley Jr., who along with fellow freshman Daequan Cook will probably join him in June's first round.

Oden, though, was even trying to pass off his interest in next semester's class load a three course effort that includes "history, biology and math."

What kind of math, he was asked. He wasn't sure. A team manager said it was preCalculus. Oden grimaced like he was chewing on a brussel sprout. "For real?"

PreCalc might have to go on without him.

What kind of history? "Just history," he said. Everyone laughed. He did too. "Man, I'm on spring break. I'm not worrying about my classes."

He shouldn't worry about anything at this point. Everyone else should worry about him. He is far and away the most dominant player left in this tournament, an Xfactor that no other team has or can account for.

While Ohio State isn't 34to3 just because of Oden it was Conley who was named the region's most outstanding player he is the key to everything from here on out.

Saturday he impacted all 40 minutes of the game even though due to foul trouble he only played 24 of them. When he sat on the bench for over nine minutes in the first half, Memphis knew it needed to take advantage of it and when the Tigers didn't do enough, didn't build a huge lead, it was a major lift for the Buckeyes.

Down the stretch his sheer presence in the middle prevented Memphis from slashing to the hole and took them out of their offense. Ohio State went from down five to a doubledigit win as the Tigers were forced to shoot threes.

"The way Memphis plays, with the driving, I think this would probably be Oden's No. 1 performance on the impact meter," Ohio State coach Thad Matta said. "I thought his rebounding, his challenging shots, finishing at the other end was tremendous."

Maybe Oden's greatest accomplishment, though, was leaving Calipari and Dorsey the Tigers' twin talkers almost speechless.

"He made a couple of shots," said Cal, shaking his head in disbelief, "there's nothing you can say."

As for Joey Goliath, what could he say?

"We gave each other a hug and a five and I told him I wished him well," Dorsey said.

The 7 foot "David" said he really appreciated that. Of course, he also looked ready to daydream about getting a new favorite color.

Copyright 2007 Yahoo! Inc. All rights reserved

18/03/07

Ohio State 78, Xavier 71 (OT)

Musketeers just one shot short

BUCKEYES' LEWIS FORCES OT AFTER MISSED FREE THROW

By Mark Maloney
HERALD-LEADER STAFF WRITER
DAVID STEPHENSON

Ohio State's team members celebrated behind Xavier's Drew Lavender in the final seconds of overtime during their second round game of the Men's NCAA basketball tournament held in Rupp Arena in Lexington, Ky., on March 17, 2007. OSU won the game in OT, 78-71. David Stephenson/Staff 2605
But for the fickle bounce of a ball off a rim, top-ranked Ohio State would have been knocked out of the NCAA Tournament yesterday.

Xavier senior Justin Cage's "career game" went awry when, leading 62-59, the second half of his one-and-one bounced in and out with 9.3 seconds left.

Ohio State's Ron Lewis came off a screen and hit a deep three-pointer with two seconds left. Overtime.

Mike Conley Jr. then took over, scoring 11 of his 21 points, as the Buckeyes (32-3) pulled out a 78-71 South Regional win at Rupp Arena. Ohio State takes a 19-game streak to San Antonio and the Sweet 16, where it will face Virginia or Tennessee.

Cage, a 6-foot-6 forward who had never scored 20 points in his career, went off for 25 -- 15 over his average. He went 8-for-8 from the floor, including three threes, and had six rebounds. But his 6-for-8 on free throws, especially the last try, might give him bad dreams.

"They're so lucky I missed that free throw," Cage said.

Cage was fouled by Greg Oden, the 7-footer's fifth foul. Before Cage went to the line, Ohio State called timeout.

"I told Mike (Conley) before we even left the huddle just to give me the ball, and that's what he did," Lewis said. "He found me, and I had an open look and I took it."

Thad Matta, who coached Cage for one year at Xavier, can trace his luck to 2005, when he switched to Ohio State.

Lewis, a 6-foot-4 senior from Columbus, asked to transfer from Bowling Green.

"Quite honestly, he showed up on our doorstep. ... Thank goodness he showed up," Matta said.

Lewis, who will graduate today, scored 27 points yesterday. He went 4-for-5 from three-point range and made all seven of his free throws.

Ohio State shot 17-for-20 at the free-throw line, Xavier 11-for-16.

Oden posted his fourth straight double-double, 14 points and 12 rebounds. Jamar Butler scored 13.

No. 9 seed Xavier (25-9) got 13 points and seven rebounds from Justin Doellman, 11 points from Josh Duncan, and eight assists from Drew Lavender.

"Obviously, it was a very difficult loss," said Xavier Coach Sean Miller, whom Matta hired as an assistant before leaving for the Buckeyes. "We didn't enter the game nor did we enter this season with hopes of being a sideshow of 'great game coach, players -- you gave 'em a fight.' End of season.

"We entered the tournament, and we entered the season, with a goal of being able to get to the NCAA Tournament and advance and play beyond this first weekend. And we were very close to doing it."

Doellman, a Ryle High graduate, scored the first seven points of the second half to put the Musketeers up 32-29.

"I was able to flash in the middle of their zone," the 6-foot-9 senior said. "My teammates got me the ball there, and things started to happen. Shots were falling."

Leading 39-38, Xavier went on a 16-6 run to lead 55-44 with 7:19 left. Lavender got the last of those on a long desperation shot.

"When Lavender hit that three as the shot clock went off, for the first time I thought, 'uh-oh, this isn't good,' " Matta said. "To (my) guys' credit, they kept battling."

Ohio State finished regulation with a 12-3 flurry. Lewis had eight.

09/03/07

Jayhawks still have work to do

March 9, 2007
Fort Worth Star Telegram

Because of its too-close proximity to the NCAA Tournament pairings announcement, Sunday's Big 12 tournament championship game is rendered almost a footnote.

After some net-cutting and all-tournament team recognition, the champions and their opponents both scatter to meeting rooms somewhere in the arena and gather around television sets to find out how they're seeded and whom and where they are playing.

But that isn't to say the tournament doesn't mean something. That may be especially true this season, according to tournament selection committee chairman Gary Walters.

"There appears to be less clarity at the top of the field," Walters said in a media conference call Wednesday. "Consequently, there's a possibility for a seeding change of the top teams should they stub their toes in the [conference] tournament."

And that means Kansas can't afford not to be on the court on Selection Sunday if it hopes to be a top seed when the NCAAs start next week.

"Everybody can skew the numbers to give their team the best look," Jayhawks coach Bill Self said earlier this week. "But I would say winning the Big 12 tournament would probably guarantee [a top seed]. Getting to the finals might not be enough."

Texas A&M (a projected No. 2 seed) and Texas hope to hold ground. Especially Texas, which has moved from a projected 7-8 seed to a possible 4 seed. Kansas State just hopes to get in and maybe can do that by beating Texas Tech today.

Whatever happens Sunday, Saturday's best possible semifinal matchups of KU-K-State and A&M-Texas could be a great climax to a season that has seen some really good games.

But the onus is on Kansas, and will continue to be.

KU surprised Texas in last year's championship game, only to lose (again) in the NCAA first round. The Jayhawks remain under more scrutiny than any team in Oklahoma City.

"We peaked at the right time last year and it didn't really pay off," Self said. "Over time, we've been pretty consistently good this year. I do think we're playing our best ball right now."

Self has a deep and talented team, which isn't exactly late-breaking news. And despite the lack of an apparent go-to guy of the Acie Law genre, the Hawks in the past two months have been out-gunned late only by the Aggies.

"I've said basically all along that I love this team," Self said. "They seem to be pretty resilient. Pretty tough

"I do like this team. But I also think this. We are young and careless and do a lot of silly things over the course of a 40-minute game. But I think this is a fun team to coach and [one] that has a very high ceiling."

Self said he has sent a definite message to his team.

"We are telling them not to be satisfied," he said. "There was a big deal made out of us winning the league... but that's not the goal. That is not the ultimate goal, and now we should shift our focus and stay hungry."

Guard Russell Robinson says the Hawks are one big, unselfish, happy family.

"Everybody is having fun," Robinson said. "Coach Self is the biggest reason for that. He strokes everybody's ego.

"It's a big key that will help us win a lot more games this year."

We'll see. Starting today against Oklahoma.

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02/03/07

Appleby feeling good in his hood, leads Huskies pa

March 2, 2007
CBS SportsLine.com wire reports
SEATTLE -- Whether he was in a dead sprint on the wing, or curling off a screen, Ryan Appleby's four-minute display of flawless 3-point shooting was the catalyst Washington needed to break its recent slide.

Appleby hit five 3-pointers, en route to 22 points, and Washington snapped a four-game losing streak with an 85-70 win over No. 23 Southern California on Thursday night.

Washington's only NCAA Tournament hopes lie with next week's Pac-10 Conference Tournament. A sweep of four games and the tournament title is the Huskies (17-12, 7-10 Pac-10) only realistic NCAA chance.

Needing to regain some lost confidence, the Huskies took a positive step against the Trojans.

"We did some things that we have been doing for some time now, but I don't think we had the wins to show for it," Washington coach Lorenzo Romar said. "Some guys played good and stepped up offensively."

None more than Appleby, who made four consecutive 3-pointers midway through the first half, as Washington built an 11-point halftime lead. The Huskies hit nine 3-pointers in first 20 minutes, taking advantage of USC's poor transition defense.

The nine 3's were more than their game total in all but three contests this season, and more than half of the Huskies first-half field goals.

Appleby's sharp shooting, opened up the inside in the second half and freshman center Spencer Hawes took advantage. Hawes scored eight of his 13 points in the final four minutes after USC had trimmed a 17-point deficit down to five.

Washington improved to 16-2 at home this season.

"We're just a little more comfortable at home. That's why we play better," Appleby said.

Nick Young led USC (21-9, 11-6) with 26 points and hit 11 of 15 shots, but the Trojans lost for the sixth time in their last seven against Washington. The only win was a double-overtime victory earlier this season in Los Angeles.

Of bigger concern, the Trojans have dropped three of four on the road and close out the regular season at No. 13 Washington State on Saturday. Still, a win over the Cougars would give USC the No. 2 seed in the conference tournament.

"We should have known it was going to be a hard test," Young said. "We just kind of let up a little bit and they fed off our mistakes."

Leading 48-37 at halftime, Washington pushed the advantage to 17 as Quincy Pondexter converted a pair of three-point plays in the first three minutes of the second half, putting the Huskies up 58-41. Washington's fluid offense then stagnated, giving USC an opportunity to rally.

Young's three-point play with 9:56 left finally brought the deficit under 10 points and the Trojans pulled to 69-64 on Abdoulaye N'daiye's basket on the inside with less than seven minutes left.

Reserve forward Artem Wallace -- a 33 percent free-throw shooter -- then made three of four attempts at the line, pushing the Huskies lead back to eight and USC came no closer than six the rest of the way.

Jon Brockman battled through foul trouble and scored 17 points with nine rebounds for Washington. Gabe Pruitt added 13 and Taj Gibson scored 10 for the Trojans.

"It was not one of our better defensive efforts," USC coach Tim Floyd said. "We fought pretty hard there for about 15 minutes in the second half."

Floyd tried to put some intensity into his players. During one first-half timeout, Floyd screamed at Lodrick Stewart and Daniel Hackett after Appleby knocked down another open 3-pointer.

"We made some real mistakes as far as location and they made us pay for it," Floyd said.

Late in the half, Floyd erupted after an offensive foul was called on Washington's Pondexter. Floyd claimed Pondexter threw a forearm into Stewart's chest as Appleby sank a 3. Incensed that the basket stood, Floyd took turns screaming at officials Verne Harris, Bruce Hicks and Michael Eggers before picking up a technical.

Afterward, Floyd said league rules against criticizing officiating kept him from commenting on the call.

Appleby missed the first technical free throw, breaking a string of 21 consecutive makes. He's missed just two free throws all season.