Wegs Pool: From 64 to 16 – Standings After Round 2

Wegs Poolsters,

Thank you for your participation in Wegs Pool 20 and your patience for the first update.  Now that I do a Vegas trip for the opening of the Tournament, it becomes impossible to get the Round 1 update out.  So, here is your First 2 Rounds Update.

We got some great games to watch here with more historic upsets. 

South Region

Round of 64

Besides 1 Seed Alabama who dominated, this bracket imploded. 

Upset #1

#13 Seed Furman did what others have done against the #4 UVA Wahoos, outscored the stagnant and rough bunch from Charlottsville.  The Paladins or Dins trailed at half, but Viriginia couldn’t shake the SoCon Champ behind Jalen Slawson’s 19 points and 10 Rebounds.  Late in the game, UVA’s Kadin Shedrick’s 2 free throws gave the Wahoos the lead at 66-63 with 1:21 to play, then after some empty possessions by both teams.  Then, when Kihei Clark split 2 free throws for Viriginia, the Dins looked out of it.  Still, Garrett Hien hit 2 free throws after getting fouled on a drive to the basket to get the lead down to 2, 67-65.  Full court pressure by Furman led to a terrible pass up the court, stolen by the Dins with a pass ahead to JP Pegues who nailed the triple with just 2 seconds to go for the lead (the crowd was going nuts at Stadium Swim when this happened).  The UVA desperation three was no good. The Dins advance past the first round for the first time since 1974.

#13 Fuman 68 #4 UVA 63

Upset #2

#15 Princeton is not your dad’s Tigers, as the #2 Arizona Wildcats may not have been ready for this more athletic and offensively proficient Ivy League Champ.  This game was nip and tuck the entire way, as the talented Wildcats could not shake them.  Despite a 10 point lead midway through the 2^nd half at 51-41 with 8:07 to play, then the Tigers made their push.  Two layups and stops, and then a three pointer from Evanston native, Blake Peters cut the lead to 3 with 6:29 – Game On!  Arizona’s Azoulas Tubelis got a layup to get the lead back to 5, but they would not score again over the final 4:45.  Princeton’s Ryan Langborg got it done down the stretch, and the Tigers become the 3^rd straight 15 Seed to advance in as many years.

#15 Princeton 59 #2 Arizona 55

Round of 32

Ivy Tigers Continue Their Run

#15 Princeton now with confidence took on #7 Missouri Tigers.  Now, the Missouri Tigers played very well against Utah State in the first round, which was a potential seed upset (as the Aggies were favored).  Well, you wouldn’t’ know that the Princeton Tigers were not going to just let Thursday’s win be their highlight.  This time they led the game nearly bell to bell as they hit 12 triples and outrebounded Missouri 44-30.  Princeton continues in St. Peter’s footsteps of a 15 Seed making it to the 2^nd weekend.

#15 Princeton 78 #7 Missouri 63

Blue Jays Fly

#6 Creighton have been a metrics darling this season, but #3 Baylor has championship pedigree.  Still the lack of D all season for the Bears has hurt then, and Creighton’s proficiency continued on Sunday, as they put up 29 first half points.  Led by G Ryan Nembhard’s 30 points and their blistering 3 point shooting 45.8% shooting, including 4 by Nembhard, plus 22 of 22 from the free throw line (10 of 10 by Nembhard).  Creighton cruises into the Sweet Sixteen with a wide-open bottom of this bracket.

#6 Creighton 85 #3 Baylor 76

East Region

Crazy Region from the start.

Round of 64

Down to the Wire

#9 Florida Atlantic and #8 Memphis gave us the best game of the first round.  The Owls have only lost 3 games for a reason.  Four guys in double figures in this one, and despite trailing most of the second half, they hung in there.  The Tigers were led by their 2 top guys – Kendric Davis (16 points) and Deandre Williams (13 points, 13 rebounds).  Davis turned his ankle with about 5 minutes to go when Memphis was up 4.  Still Williams was able to keep pace with the Owls until the 90 seconds – Williams completed a 3 point play to give Memphis the 63-62 lead with 1:28 to play.  FAU’s Alijah Martin tipped in a miss to grab the lead back with 57 ticks left.  Williams answered with a tip in of his own with 34 seconds to play.  Then, FAU missed their next layup, and instead of fouling in the backcourt, Davis drove up the court, lost the ball.  He defended FAU’s guard into a turnover, but with the scrum on the ground Memphis was not given a timeout and the possession arrow went back to FAU.  So, with 5.5 seconds left, FAU’s Nicholas Boyd scored a layup, and the Memphis answer didn’t even get shot in time.  The Owls get their first ever NCAA Tourney win.

#9 FAU 66 #8 Memphis 65 

The Big One

#16 Fairleigh Dickinson wasn’t supposed to be here.  They didn’t even win the NEC Title Game, as Merrimack couldn’t qualify, but won the tournament.  Still FDU won their First Four game to take on #1 Purdue and 7’4” Zach Edey.  Well, the way undersized Knights fronted the post and dared the Boilermakers’ guards to shoot from deep was inspiring.  Edey did his job scoring 21 points and 15 rebounds, but the Purdue guards shot just 19.2% from deep (5 of 26).  Plus, the FDU defense forced 16 Turnovers, which as the game wore on, the frustration on Purdue’s side was evident.  In fact, Zach Edey scored his last point with 8:32 to play.  The Boilers never really changed their strategy against the scrappy Knights, and FDU becomes the 2^nd 16 Seed all time to beat a #1 Seed.

#16 FDU 63 #1 Purdue 58

Round of 32

K State Wildcats Take Out Kentucky Cats

#3 Kansas State started out on fire under new coach Jerome Tang (former Baylor assistant), but a weak finish put me off them.  #6 Kentucky never really lived up to the pre-season hype.  This game was probably one of the best games of this round, as the stars from both teams came to play.  Kentucky’s Oscar Tshiebwe was dominant – 25 points, 18 rebounds (including 9 offensive rebounds), but unfortunately only 4 triples to help out Oscar.  For K State, the small, but mighty PG Markquis Nowell was sublime.  His quickness set up his teammates for easy buckets, and down the stretch, he hit big shot after big shot – 27 points, 9 assists.  Still with the game in the balance and back and forth for minutes, it was Ismael Massoud’s deep three with 2:19 to play that gave K State the lead for good at 64-62, then another three from Keyontae Johnson, as the K State Wildcats get the big win and move on sending Coach Cal and company home early.

#3 K State 75 #6 Kentucky 69

Izzo At It Again

#7 Michigan State has not been heralded at all this year entering into the match up with #2 Marquette.  In fact, the Spartans went out early in the Big Ten Tournament, and even winning the opening game was a question mark.  In this match up, Michigan State came out swinging with a quick 14-3 start.  The Golden Eagles took their time to correct their effort and even took the lead with 17:25 left in the 2^nd half.  From then on, it was a nip and tuck affair.  A chess match between Coaches Shaka Smart and that wily mentor Coach Tom Izzo.  Down the stretch Spartan’s Joey Hauser hit a triple to give a slight margin of 56-51 with 4:24 to play.  Then, Tyson Walker closed the game with 7 of Michigan State’s last 9 points in the last 89 seconds to get Sparty in the Sweet Sixteen yet again.  Sparty is the lone Big Ten team remaining in the Dance.

#7 Michigan State 69 #2 Marquette 60

Midwest Region

Top seeds advancing, but not without some drama.

Round of 64

So Close

#14 Kennesaw State made its NCAA Tournament debut against #3 Xavier.  The Owls played a great game as they battled to a 43-36 halftime lead behind guards Terrell Burden and Chris Youngblood (14 points each in the game).  The lead grew to 13 multiple times in the 2^nd half.  However, Xavier went on a 15-0 run over 5 minutes giving the Musketeers the lead, 63-61 with 4:13 to play.  With the game tied at 67 in the final minute, Xavier’s Colby Jones split a pair of free throws with 18 seconds to giving them a 68-67 lead.  Kennesaw couldn’t get one to fall on the next 3 possessions, as Xavier advances.  Great showing by the Owls though.

#3 Xavier 72 #14 Kennesaw State 67

Have to Finish Strong

#5 Miami was one of the few ACC teams to play well on the weekend, and #12 Drake wanted to join the ranks of double-digit seeds in the next round.  These teams were very even, and the Bulldogs were up at the half 30-25 behind talented forward Darnell Brodie (20 points, 9 rebounds).  Drake had the lead late, 55-47 with 5:40 to play.  Then, Miami turned up the D leading to a poorly timed scoring drought for Drake – only 1 made free throw in the final 5 minutes allowed Miami to slowly but surely take the game and win with margin.

#5 Miami 63 #12 Drake 56

Round of 32

Awaken the Beast

#1 Houston needed to dig deep in their game versus #9 Auburn.  The Tigers came out swinging as they got to the foul line against that strong Cougar D.  Auburn led by 10 at the half, 41-31.  I’ve noticed something about this Houston team.  They make adjustments and turn up the D in the 2^nd half, regardless of opponent.  In the 2^nd half, started to dominate the glass (45-34 for the game).  Houston held Auburn to just 15 points in the first 15 minutes of the 2^nd half, as their offense started to get going and grab the lead.  The Cougars won going away, and they are one step closer to the Final Four.

#1 Houston 81 #9 Auburn 64

West Region

Round of 64

Zero Seed upsets in the first round in this region.  Only one game in the balance.

Frogs Hop On

#6 TCU took on the 2^nd First Four 11 seed winner, #11 Arizona State.  The Sun Devils rolled into this match up with hot shooting in the first half en route to a 44-37 lead.  In the second half, the Horned Frogs turned up the D forcing more turnovers (13 for the game), plus star G Mike Miles took care of the offense – 26 points most from the line, 12 of 14.  In the final minute with the game tied, Damion Baugh gave TCU the lead with 2 free throws with 34 seconds, 69-67.  Miles added a free throw after a Sun Devil miss with 24 seconds, but DJ Horne hit a deep three to tie the game with 18 seconds.  Still TCU ran a nice play to get JaKobe Coles a good look, and he hit the jumper with 3 seconds to give TCU the win.

#6 TCU 72 #11 ASU 70

Round of 32

Hogs Move On

#8 Arkansas is no stranger to the 2^nd weekend, and with #1 Kansas’ Coach Bill Self still out with health issues, the door was open for an upset.  The Jayhawks led early and were able to push to an 8-point lead at the half, but Coach Musselman’s group always has another level.  The Hogs drove the lane over and over again as guards Ricky Council and Davonte Davis hit 16 of 18 free throws to claw their way back in the game.  In the final minute after a Ricky Council jumper to tie the game at 65 with 1:45 too play, Arkansas got a key defensive stop.  Then, a Kamani Johnson offensive rebound gave Arkansas the lead, 67-65 with 51 seconds left.  After Kansas tied the game on their next possession, Council made his first free throw, missed his second, but got his own rebound and went back up for a foul and hit both free throws this time with 21 seconds leading 70-67.  Even with 4 more free throws from Jalen Wilson, KU could not close the game completely, and the Hogs go back to the 2^nd weekend yet again while bouncing the 2^nd 1 Seed in the Tournament.

#8 Arkansas 72 #1 Kansas 71

Zags Answer the Challenge

#6 TCU came out ready to play against the #3 Zags with an early 7 point lead behind the fast and powerful, Mike Miles (24 points, 4 assists) – the lead at the half was 38-33.  However, in the 2^nd half, the Zags answered the Horned Frogs effort as veteran big man, Drew Timme (28 points, 8 boards) was playing hard at both ends.  In the second half, the Zags made a run to take control of the game – 13-0 – to grab an 8-point lead, 63-55 with 8:41 to play.  TCU fought hard down the stretch, but did not have enough firepower to overcome the Zags Offensive tidal wave.  The Zags advance to yet another Sweet Sixteen.

#3 Zags 84 #6 TCU 81

Standing After 2 Rounds

We have had some leaders cycle through this opening weekend.  Lots of games left to play.  From my count with the 6 non-pick brackets and 1 duplicate (juliak_juliak) that will not count, we have 166 in the Pool this year.  Please be sure to send payment by Friday, 3/24 to stay in the Final Standings.  Here we go:

It’s been a fun, long weekend. This red eyed, Commish needs to go to sleep.

Until the Sweet Sixteen.

Wegs