Tourney Central 3/2/07
Bullet Points
- No. 6 seed Virginia Military Institute has advanced to the Big South final after defeating the tourney's Nos. 2 and 3 seeds.
- Furman, the No. 5 seed in the SoCon, advanced to the semifinals by defeating No. 4#North Carolina-Greensboro.
- The Atlantic Sun quarterfinals played according to seed, except for a No.6-over-3 overtime upending by Campbell over Jacksonville.
Brackets
(1) Winthrop 79, (5) North Carolina-Asheville 60 | GameFlo
(6) Virginia Military Institute 91, (2) High Point 81 | GameFlo
Watching VMI make the Big South title game by abandoning its freakout style and playing smart, solid ball is one of the best stories this season has to offer. In tomorrow's final, the entire country will get to see the Keydets as they try to overcome the Monstars of the Big South and make the NCAA's. Like the Space Jam crew didn't need the special sauce to win ballgames, VMI doesn't need its 100-shot, 50-three and 30-turnover freakshow. It was just water all along.
(1) Davidson 78, (8) Chattanooga 68 | GameFlo
(3) College of Charleston 77, (6) Georgia Southern 66 | GameFlo
(2) Appalachian State 78, (7) Western Carolina 59 | GameFlo
(5) Furman 73, (4) North Carolina-Greensboro 71 | GameFlo
One through three cruised in the Southern quarters, and it still looks like we're getting the Davidson-App State matchup in the final, which would make Pat Forde's trip down there worthwhile. The way is clearer for the dream game because dangerous North Carolina-Greensboro is x'ed out, along with SoCon POY Kyle Hines, who scored 33 in a losing effort. All that mattered was that the Paladins denied Hines the ball on an inbound play that might have given UNCG the chance to tie or win.
(1) East Tennessee State 77, (8) Stetson 61 | GameFlo
(2) Belmont 79, (7) Gardner-Webb 61 | GameFlo
(6) Campbell 90, (3) Jacksonville 85 | GameFlo
(4) Lipscomb 85, (5) Mercer 49 | GameFlo
ETSU's Murray Bartow and Courtney Pigram are certainly worthy of coach and player of the year, respectively, for their jobs streaking through the Atlantic Sun this year. But you have to wonder if the voters simply picked them on the basis of who had the most points and wins... if they had any imagination at all, they'd have chosen Jacksonville's Cliff Warren, who turned a 1-26 record in 2005-06 into 11 league wins this year... playing four freshmen. But the Dolphins' season ended . Watch out for JU next year.
In the other games, top seeds advanced, but none looked as impressive as Lipscomb in dismantling Mercer. The Bisons ended the regular season by giving North Florida its only A-Sun win, and it may come to be the most disguised blessing in Hoops Nation this season. Head coach Scott Sanderson met with each player once they got back to Nashville, laying the groundwork for yesterday's new focus and explosive offense. "We had one week of misery," he said after the game. "But if that is what it takes to get this, I'll take a week of misery every time."
(1) Central Connecticut State 79, (8) Saint Francis (NY) 61 | GameFlo
(2) Sacred Heart 100, (7) Wagner 68 | GameFlo
(3) Quinnipiac 78, (6) Fairleigh Dickinson 77 | GameFlo
(5) Mount Saint Mary`s 78, (4) Robert Morris 61 | GameFlo
Seeds one and two had an easy time of it against overmatched low seeds, but the Q overcame FDU's big rebounding and small turnovering by shooting 50% and nipping the Knights at the wire in the first-ever playoff game at the Q-Pod. After mounting an early lead, Robert Morris fell apart in the second half, and a season that began with NCAA expectations ended with a thud.
(10) Indiana State 68, (7) Illinois State 65 | GameFlo
(9) Drake 101, (8) Evansville 96 | GameFlo
The winner of Thursday's 7-10 game in the Valley traditionally is punished for its bad season by having to play the one-seed at noon on Friday. I say that quick turnaround isn't enough pain. I think that part of the penalty should be that Commissioner Doug Elgin comes through the Indiana State team hotel with an airhorn at 3 a.m., to ensure that nobody gets enough sleep. And Drake and Evansville put on an exciting overtime show, as the Bulldogs hit 100 with a hott 1.31 points per possession. Do they have enough offense left for Creighton today?
Today's Games
Preview links will change to boxscores once play is complete.
Ohio Valley Semifinals
Samford vs. Austin Peay
Tennessee Tech vs. Eastern Kentucky
Atlantic Sun Semifinals
Campbell vs. Belmont
Lipscomb vs. East Tennessee State
Southern Semifinals
Furman vs. Davidson
Appalachian State vs. College of Charleston
Missouri Valley Quarterfinals
Drake vs. Southern Illinois
Indiana State vs. Creighton
Wichita State vs. Missouri State
Northern Iowa vs. Bradley
Horizon League Second Round
Wisconsin-Green Bay vs. Youngstown State
Illinois-Chicago vs. Loyola
Colonial First Round
Delaware vs. Northeastern
James Madison vs. George Mason
North Carolina-Wilmington vs. Towson
Georgia State vs. William & Mary
America East First Round
Stony Brook vs. Hartford
Metro Atlantic First Round
Iona vs. Rider
Saint Peter`s vs. Canisius
West Coast First Round
San Diego vs. Pepperdine
Loyola Marymount vs. Portland
Good Night
Heavy thoughts tonight, and they aren't of Snow White (that line really killed the song for me, by the way). Many in North Carolina are off to never-never land today: High Point, Gardner-Webb, UNC's Asheville and Greensboro,Western Carolina. Chattanooga, Georgia Southern are all finished for the season.
And say your prayers little one, don't forget my son, to include everywuh-huhn: Evansville, Illinois State, Saint Francis (NY), Wagner, Fairleigh Dickinson, Robert Morris, Stetson, Jacksonville, Mercer have also exited light, and entered night.
| Daily Posts Season 3 (2006-07) |
