It took 4 games for us to get a really good one.
Elite 8 Recap
South Region – Illini Close Strong
Two familiar foes faced off on Saturday, as 9 Seed Iowa and 3 Seed Illinois had played once in the regular season in the Big Ten. This time in Houston, the Hawkeyes would start quickly. Super G Bennett Stirtz (24 points on 8 of 17 shooting) paced an efficient attack which saw Iowa build a quick 10 point lead right out of the gates. Finally Illinois started to respond, but they still trailed by 4, 32-28 at the break. Iowa, in the first half, was able to rebound enough, but more importantly make 3s to keep Illinois at bay.
In the second half, Illinois did what they do best. Their guards took over the game – Frosh G Keaton Wagler was making moves and G Andrej Stojakovic combined for 42 points for the game. The 3 point barrage by Iowa slowed enough, and the tallest team in the country completely cleaned the glass with a 38 to 21 rebound advantage. After a back and forth battle for the first 13 minutes of the 2nd half, Illinois finally broke the Iowa spirit finishing the game on a 21-8 run over the final 7:27 to head to Indy with their 71-59 victory. Illinois moves on to the Final Four for the first time since 2005 – first for Brad Underwood. Something is definitely different about this Illinois team.
West Region – Arizona Flexed in the 2nd
1 Seed Arizona had played dominant basketball through 3 games, but 2 Seed Purdue had found their preseason #1 form since the start of the Big Ten Tournament. Something had to give in this matchup to earn a spot in Indianapolis.
In the first period, the Boilermakers played an incredible half of basketball. Senior G Braden Smith (13 points, 5 rebounds, 7 assists) did what many expected this whole season by scoring the ball and creating for his teammates – 11 points and 3 assists. Even with Trey Kaufman-Renn in early foul trouble, the Boilers actually outrebounded the taller Arizona team. Purdue led at the half, 38-31 – looking like a giant killer.
In the second period, the Wildcats wasted no time in cutting that lead down and even taking a lead of their own with a 28 to 11 run over the first 11 and half minutes, 59-49. The Arizona bigs finally established their dominance and turned a disadvantage to just ahead of even by the end of the game. It was the free throw advantage that took the game to the next level, +12, and the D turned up holding Purdue to just 26 second half points. Forwards Koa Peat and Ivan Kharchenkov combined for 38 points on 16 of 29 shooting. The Wildcats reach the Final Four for the first time 2001 (5th time), and first under Tommy Lloyd.
Midwest Region – Wolverine Destruction
1 Seed Michigan did not have to play the 2 or 3 Seed in the Region the way it shook out, but 6 Seed Tennessee dismantled the undermanned Cyclones entering into the Elite 8 on Sunday.
Unfortunately for the Vols, the Wolverines did not play with their food. In the first half, Michigan went on a 19-0 run from the 10 minute to 6 minute mark to open the lead to 16 points, 35-16. The lead stretched to 22 at the half, 48-26, and Michigan completely neutralized the Vols’ Offense.
The second half was more of the same, F Yaxel Lendeborg was great – 27 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists on 10 of 19 shooting. It did not help that Tennessee only made 5 of 26 from deep and were -18 at the foul line. Michigan advances back to the Final Four with the 95-62 win – last time was in 2018 (lost to Villanova in the title game).
East Region – UConn Does The Improbable
2 Seed UConn is not the same team that won back to back titles, but they do have a few guys from that team that know what it takes to win. 1 Seed Duke has had to earn some tighter wins so far, but were as healthy as they have been in a few weeks.
In the first half, Duke dominated the Huskies. The Duke D forced UConn into contested 3s, and there were able to get tons of points in the paint. Duke led by as many as 19 points with 5 minutes to go the the half. The lone bright spot was C Tarris Reed (26 points, 9 boards, 3 assists) who had 12 first half points. Duke led 44-29 at the half.
In the second half, UConn chipped away at the big lead. Reed got Duke big man, Patrick Ngongba (6 points, 5 rebounds) in foul trouble, which helped clear the way for more Reed points and guard drives. With the lead inside of 10, Duke began to crumble. 8 second half turnovers came in bunches as UConn pressured the Duke guards – Caleb Foster who was good on Friday was ineffective on Sunday (0 points, 2 assists). Then, down 67-58 with 5 minutes to play, Reed found G Solo Ball (10 points) for a layup, then another Reed bucket, then a steal leading to a 3 point play by Ball to get the lead all the way down to 2, 67-65 with 3:42 left. Then, the real fun began.
Duke finally got smart and got the ball to likely Player of the Year, Cameron Boozer (27 points, 8 rebounds, 4 assists), he hit a jumper in the lane, then a stop, and Ngongba hit one of 2 free throws to get the lead back to 5 with 1:51 to play. UConn’s Ball hit one of two to get it to 4, and this time Boozer turned the ball over leading to an Alex Karaban (5 points) deep three off a double curl out of bounds play to cut the lead to 1, 70-69 with 51 seconds left. On the next Duke possession, Boozer did it again with a near travel, but his jumper put the lead to 72-69 with 29 clicks left. UConn ran the clock, and Duke fouled G Silas Demaury (11 points, 5 rebounds) with 10 seconds. He missed the first and hit the 2nd to cut the lead to 2, 70-70. Duke inbounded the ball two passes, no foul by UConn, then frosh G Cayden Boozer (15 pints, 5 rebounds, 6 assists) had the ball with like 6 seconds – all he had to do was hold the ball for the foul, but he saw 2 unguarded guys up the floor, 2 Huskies converged – Demary tipped the ball to frosh G Braylon Mullins (10 points) who passed ahead to Karaban with 5 seconds, Karaban back to Mullins (who was 0-4 from deep). Mullins squared and shot a 32 foot jumper from the logo – Swish!!! There were 0.4 seconds remaining, but the Duke pass was too long, and UConn stole the game right from Duke, 73-72. Duke made only 1 of their first 18 threes, but made 4 of last 5 to advance to the Final Four. Possibly the biggest choke in NCAA history. UConn goes back to the Final Four in 3 of the last 4 years under Coach Danny Hurley.
Wegs Pool Standings After Elite 8
We have a new leader, and the Duke knockout definitely changes a lot of Final Fours.
Time for a break. See you on Saturday.
Wegs