Tom Oates: Look for Duke to win NCAA title

The Blue Devils closed out their schedule with just one straight-up win in their final four contests, but they dominated with four SU and against-the-spread wins en route to their first ACC Tournament championship in six years. “They have an elite-level player that can get 30 on anybody in this tournament”.

Villanova’s players looked nervous and played that way, and when Mount St. Mary’s Elijah Long threaded a no-look pass to Chris Wray for an easy basket to put the Mountaineers ahead 23-20, two seminarians – one of them clutching Rosary beads – from the tiny school in Emmitsburg, Maryland, high-fived in the stands.

No.8 Wisconsin, No.5 Virginia and No.4 Florida are hoping to upset Villanova before the regional final.

Northwestern University’s original Patten Gymnasium, since demolished and replaced, was the site of Oregon’s 46-33 win over Ohio State that inaugural year. The Wildcats led by just two, 24-22, before going on a run late in the first half.

Looking back at Tuesday night’s Wake Forest loss, head coach Danny Manning did a nice job this season of getting that program back to the Big Dance, but now the question centers on if star sophomore big man John Collins will return to Winston-Salem. If there’s one thing we know about his intention in doing this, it’s that it certainly wasn’t a shot. And, it’s nice to be able to say, to get over our gripes with the selection committee. Marquette is the only team other than Butler to beat Villanova this season. “We had some swelling on Sunday and Monday and it’s come down a lot. Right now we’re comfortable with the position that we’re in”.

Wesley Person Jr. was the Sun Belt Conference Tournament’s most outstanding player, making 12 of 14 3-pointers in his team’s first two games. Stallings left for Pittsburgh after last season. “You get Wichita State playing Louisville and they don’t really give a damn”.

Because the 3-point shot has put an emphasis on guard play and away from big men in the middle, most college basketball teams play smaller lineups now than they once did. “We just have to come out and play harder”.

Tucked deep in the box score of Texas’ first-round 28-point blowout of Central Arkansas was a troubling stat: 21 turnovers. But after that, this region is shaky – and there are many upset possibilities.

You can’t. It’s basketball. “. Me and coach talked about it and so I just think I’ve got to realize in the flow of the game what plays to be more aggressive on and what plays to just sit back and just let it happen”.

Texas was physically dominant in its first round game with huge advantages in height, strength and speed. In fact, the Blue Devils are coming off one of their worst regular seasons of the last few years. The Wolfpack haven’t made it past the first two rounds since 2007.

Here’s the best from the first full day of the NCAA Tournament. But in 10 previous trips to the Division I tournament, he’s never made it past the second round. “If you compare the numbers around the country, our headlines are up there with the high majors”, Marvin Jones said.

See details for watching Friday’s game below.

Texas Southern: The season marked another sign of solid footing for the Tigers under former IN coach Mike Davis IN the SWAC.

Joining Tatum and Kennard on the ACC all-tourney first team were UNC’s Hicks, and N.D.’s stocky Bonzie Colson (29 points Saturday) and Matt Farrell.