2) Backyard Brawl, Sort of In addition to Zoubek, Duke has a few other players from the general Philadelphia area, giving this weekend's game an extra emotional dimension. As is typical with most Blue Devils, they have overcome hardscrabble backgrounds to succeed. Gerald Henderson, for example, fought his way up from the mean streets of Merion, Pennsylvania, while up the Jersey Turnpike Lance Thomas beat the odds in Scotch Plains. And don't even get me started about David McClure and Ridgefield, Connecticut. So let's hear it for these gritty, gutty underdogs.

3) You're Not Helping And it's not as if Duke will have the Boston crowd on its side. Granted, more than a few Duke families will clip more than a few coupons to buy tickets on Stubhub so their precious, precious children can attend the game, but everyone else will be rooting for Nova. Duke's status as the most hated team in college basketball is unlikely to change at this point, and this year's crop of tournament-oriented commercials is not making it any easier to be a Duke fan. Okay, at least Dick Vitale doesn't work for CBS and, okay, at least American Express isn't running those awful Coach K spots this year, but the Vitamin Water commercial with Christian Laettner and Rick Pitino… did we really need that? — Charles Dainoff

VILLANOVA WILDCATS

1) Flip of a Coin It's difficult to determine which Wildcat team will show up on Thursday vs Duke in Boston. The first round game against American highlighted some problems the Wildcats occasionally experience. American was able to exploit Villanova's weak perimeter defense and consistently force the Wildcats to scramble in transition. Villanova's lack of a true center forces their defense to over-compensate and stay close to the paint; teams with strong 3-point shooting are able to take advantage of this. However, as the UCLA game illustrated, Villanova is capable of running a fluid and fast-pace offense that is difficult to defend against. Nova's strong guard play from Scottie Reynolds and Corey Fisher overwhelmed UCLA. Villanova, as with many Big East teams, is very physical and Duke will be forced to keep up with Nova's style.

2) Balancing Act Villanova is one of the more balanced teams in the tournament. In the UCLA game, 6 players scored in double digits and 6 had at least 3 rebounds. It's difficult to completely shut down the Wildcats offense due to their ability to move the ball around and score from all areas of the floor. Corey Fisher, a sophomore guard and Big East 6th Man of the Year, has been a huge part of Villanova's recent success. His ability to bring the ball up the court and create plays on his own has allowed the Nova offense to spread out.

3) If You Aren't Already Convinced... Thursday's game will provide what many NCAA basketball fans have been waiting for: a major matchup between a Big East and an ACC team. Although the Big East has made quite the showing with 3 number 1's and 5 teams heading to the Sweet 16, the debate continues as to which conference is the toughest. Thursday's game pits two strong programs, both with styles representative of their conferences, against each other. Villanova will look to control the pace of the game while setting the tone with strong physical play. Duke will attempt to unravel the Wildcat defense with strong perimeter shooting. The game has the potential to be one of the more exciting games so far in the tournament. — CRyan (3:10 To Joba)

If you're so inclined, here are the tournament previews for the teams involved. I'll be back in a while to set up the other second round matchups.

[Villanova Wildcats]

[UCLA Bruins]

*****

I've been pouring over brackets since the teams were announced on Sunday night and I've been counting down the hours to the start of this game. I have to thank Daulerio and Sussman for letting me come onto this interweb site of theirs and letting me take the reins for a little bit. It's an honor to do so. Enough of the formalities though.

The day has been awesome already. Now that everyone has had time to clean out their pants thanks to the Memphis Tigers, we can move onto this game: American vs. Villanova. Seeing as the Wildcats play some home games in this very building, you might say that they have a bit of a home court advantage. Many are saying that this was one of the easier games to pick in their office pool, but that's probably because they just haven't watched American play this year.

American is not a big team by any means, but they can really fly up and down the court. Their speed will make this a very high-flying game because Villanova plays very quickly as well. Derrick Mercer and Garrison Carr man the back court for the Eagles and are listed at 5-9 and 5-11 respectively (I doubt that they're even that big). These guys know how to dish the ball and Carr also made over 100 threes this year. Mercer has a nose for the bucket too and has no fear when penetrating a defense. Nova coach Jay Wright has even gone so far as to compare these guys to AJ Abrams of Texas and Johnny Flynn of Syracuse so you know they have some talent.

The Wildcats come into the game thankful for receiving a three seed and the placement in the Wachovia Center. The team is fairly experienced with Scottie Reynolds and Dante Cunningham forming the core of the squad. They are surrounded by talent with Reggie Redding and Antonio Pena, but the true wild card is Corey Fisher who played excellent basketball down the stretch and has been a nice complement to Reynolds. Cunningham is considered by many to be one of the most improved post players in not only the Big East, but the entire country. His presence down low will be the major deciding factor of this game and he needs to avoid getting into foul trouble.

Who I am: I'm Greg. I contribute to The700Level.com and am very active in the Philadelphia sports blog scene. I'm an avid Philly sports fan so let the heckling begin. My bracket is most likely going to be busted by 9:55 this evening. I was going to do a CoverItLive, but I figured it was easier for you to comment on here.
*****
9:34 POST GAME - I want to thank all of you who joined me. It was my first live blog so I hope I didn't disappoint you too much. I didn't read too much heckling so that either means you liked it or you just felt bad for me. This game turned out to be much better than I was ready for and I thought I was going to keel over as a fan and because of my bracket's destiny at some points.

I kept up with the comments and enjoyed reading what you guys had to say. Deadspin live blogs are always the best and I was happy to take this one. Thanks for showing your faces and I hope to see you again on Saturday when Nova takes on VCU/UCLA (hopefully VCU for my bracket's sake) if Daulerio and Sussman are willing to bring me back. Enjoy the rest of the night's action even though the Zags have suddenly made their game un-interesting. There's plenty of good ball left. Catch ya later.

9:33 GAME OVER - Villanova wins it 80-67 in what turned out to be more of a thriller than any of us expected.

9:32 - AU was just told by Coach "no more fouls." Good to see the fire and intensity in the eyes of Mercer still though. I enjoyed watching him tonight. He just trailed off in the 2nd half.

9:28 - And the desperate heaves come from American. This was much more of a competitive game, but like the Memphis contest earlier, the lesser team just lost their zeal as the minutes and seconds wound down.

9:25 - Villanova by 11 with under a minute to go. America(n) and Northridge players are both going to be pretty gloomy for the next couple of days. Fans all over the country are kissing their brackets as their Final Four selection lives to see another day. Question is, after tonight's performance, how do you feel about Nova in the rest of the tournament.

9:23 - Intriguing game between Clemson and Michigan. Glad they cut to it. Excited to see Akron-Zags soon too. Terrible last shot though. Disappointing end to what was a fantastic matchup.

9:21 - Nova has plenty of time to take it slow, but AU looks very composed on defense. The sign of a truly veteran team.

9:19 - I love that all of the games right now are flat out dog fights. Clemson's trailed their entire game and they're coming back now too. Too many great games to watch. If only MMOD would load on my computer. It's been so slow all day. I feel like I'm running Windows 3.1.

9:16 - 66-61 Nova with 2:45 to go. No matter who they play in the next round IF they advance, Villanova has to get back to basics from the get-go if they want to run because VCU and UCLA are both much better teams than America(n). This thing's far from over though.

9:15 - I credit the lack of AU free throws to Villanova's intelligence under the basket. The fouls have come out front off the dribble. They're not letting AU's frontcourt draw stupid fouls.

9:13 - A person turning in just now would think that Nova has dominated this whole time. A tale of two halves. 62-57 Nova with 4:15 to go.

9:10 - American still has plenty of time to get back into this thing. They just need to stick to their gameplan. Many smaller teams seem to get overwhelmed and anxious in situations like this. The time on the bench for Carr was probably beneficial so he could collect his head. This is his time to shine.

9:09 - Shades of the Memphis game as Nova comes storming back. DANTE CUNNINGHAM with the rejection. Dikembe Mutombo is waving his finger somewhere and now the low post presence is looking unstoppable. AU can't find their stroke and they need Carr badly right now.

9:07 - After grabbing a tie with only four team fouls, Villanova has just committed three quick ones. Not a smart move. You want to win it with free throws, not go back and forth with a team who is just as good from the stripe.

9:05 - Villanova ties it up on a beautiful Scottie Reynolds drive. 55-55 with 7:30 to go.

9:04 - This game is going to come down to free throws and be extended a very long time with AU in foul trouble already. I've been much more entertained than I expected to be though so no completes here.

9:00 - Villanova is taking the advice of World B. Free and actually driving the lane. Gilmore is exhausted and since Nova has the height advantage, the only defense AU has is fouling in some cases. It's very important that they draw as much contact as possible. 55-53 American with 8 minutes to go.

8:57 - Dwayne Anderson with a HUGE put back. He's had a very nice game tonight. Nice surprise. Just imagine if this team could function like a cohesive unit.

8:55 - Look at the moves the big white boy has! Gilmore is making a fool out of Bryant "Big Country" Reeves.

8:51 - I might scream if I hear Jay Bilas say "that's not his game" one more time. Carr needs to shoot off the dribble. We get it. The clock will slowly become Nova's enemy. It seems like everytime they get back into it, AU has an answer.

8:48 - American leads 53-47. Gilmore is looking strong underneath and holding his own with Dante Cunningham. I don't think anyone expected that.

8:45 - If Temple was playing in that building, it would probably be much louder. Philadelphians think Villanova people are stuck up yuppies.

8:43 - There's still a lot of time left, but every three by Carr is like a dagger to the chest of any Nova fan. Just one shot sucked the air right out of the building.

8:42 - Fisher was lucky to get that pass in there. I'm amazed at the defensive efficiency of AU. The crowd is getting amped up and that definitely will play in favor of the Wildcats. 47-41 America(n) with 14:30 to go.

8:39 - If Villanova wants to mount a comeback and save millions of people from waking up with mild depression tomorrow, they need to start now. I liked what I was seeing, but now stupid mistakes are coming right back to haunt them.

8:36 - Oh hello Scottie Reynolds nice of you to show up! Like the tenacity and pressure on that play.

8:34 - The threes haven't been falling for America(n), but Nova hasn't exactly capitalized on the opportunity after the defensive rebound. Cunningham has to play out of his mind from here on out because the backcourt isn't going to help.

8:31 - I believe I read that AU is one of two teams to have their starting lineup play every game this season. Add that into their senior experience and you have one dangerous basketball team. Reynolds should only be shooting two here. 45-31 America(n)

8:29 - Even if Nova guards the perimeter better, AU is finding a way to work its way inside. If this game gets to a 15 point lead, I'm highly doubtful of Nova's ability to come back.

8:26 HALFTIME - Can American really keep this shooting up? Is Villanova really playing this badly? AU looked like they were on fresh legs at the end of the half and Nova looked like a lost and confused dog. Jay Wright had better said something good in the locker room.

8:22 HALFTIME - After what was a terrible slate of games late this afternoon, these are much more entertaining. Michigan is shocking me right now. I didn't think they deserved a 10 seed and Akron is still holding a small lead. I figure I'm already screwed with my bracket so why not shake it up a little bit?

8:19 HALFTIME - Scottie Reynolds laid a goose egg in the first half and his backcourt mate Corey Fisher has 2 whole points. Nova is good when Cunningham and Anderson are on their game, but they're not getting any help. The AU defense has outperformed what everyone predicted.

8:15 HALFTIME - In other game action, Akron is looking for an upset over Gonzaga. They lead it by 3 with about 5 minutes to go. Somewhere, Adam Morrison's mustache is starting to cry.

8:12 HALFTIME - On a sidenote, I might have to get some Burger Shots after the game is over...

8:10 HALFTIME - At first I didn't think anyone was even watching this game, let alone reading the live blog. This might turn out to be the big upset of the day that everyone was looking for. I had Nova making it to the Championship in one bracket and losing in the Elite Eight in another. I might have to do a lot of crossing out in my pools tonight...

8:07 HALFTIME - This isn't a shooting contest anymore. It's a shooting barrage of a blowout by American. They lead the Wildcats at the half by an astonishing 10 points. Those brilliant lawyers and politicians around the world are laughing at everyone else as they watch brackets crumble all around them.

8:05 - AU is making Villanova look like the 14 seed right now. Mercer is reminding me of Jameer Nelson with the way he is taking over this game.

8:03 - Until now, this Philadelphia crowd has been silent. It's about time they make some noise. You'd think they were playing on a neutral court.

8:00 - I don't know about you, but that Jordan Nike commercial with Richard Hamilton's game winner makes me laugh everytime I see Khalid el-Amin. I completely forgot about the guy.

7:59 - I'm surprised at how many of you guys have Villanova going so far. Didn't think that anyone outside of the Philadelphia area was this high on the team.

7:57 - Dick Enberg loves keeping the N off of American and continuously is saying "nice shot by America" etc. I think he's getting senile. 32-26 American! with 4 minutes left in the first half!

7:54 - I'm pretty sure Carr could pull up from half court and drain one at this point. Incredible shooting prowess. The ballhandling of the Cats has been terrible which is uncharacteristic. The backcourt seems out of sync after lighting it up so many times this season.

7:51 - As much as people (including myself) have been hating on AU's frontcourt, they aren't giving up anything to Nova's big men offensively down low.

7:47 - I'm beginning to see why Jay Wright compared Mercer to Johnny Flynn. The kid is flying all over the court and getting it all done. Fans everywhere are praying that Nova doesn't turn in a Memphis-esque performance tonight.

7:45 - I don't know what Jay Wright is telling his team, but he better tell them to start getting the ball down low. Reynolds can penetrate with the best of them. AU is going to have a field day if Nova can't step up the defense.

7:43 - Halfway through the first half and Nova leads 22-21. Scottie Reynolds is eerily quiet and AU continues to show their long range.

7:42 - AU just took a 1 point lead as Greg Gumbel insists on telling me about Texas.

7:39 - Both teams are shooting almost 60% from beyond the arc to start the game. Nova's numbers will fall off...AU on the other hand looks determined and their shooters have flawless technique.

7:38 - This feed will grow if these two teams keep shooting like this. I am amazed at AU's ability to just stop, pop, and drain the shot. It seems like they consistently have a perimeter shooter open. Villanova is in trouble if that's the case. I think they were relying heavily on the dominant inside presence.

7:35 - You know your team has a height deficiency when your big men look less comfortable in the paint than your point guard. Eventually Reynolds has to get involved if Villanova wants to keep up this offensive pace.

7:34 - Mercer already showing his tenacity when it comes to working in among the trees.

7:32 - Bad angle to look at that 3. And now AU is charged with the offensive foul. Give the Patriotic ones a break!

7:31 - Jay Wright is focusing in on Nova's height advantage. The backcourt has done absolutely nothing thus far. AU has shown very nice ball movement early.

7:28 - I haven't seen Anderson this involved early in a game in quite some time. I feel like I'm watching a team full of Kyle Korvers with some actual defense sometimes. 14-12 Nova early.

7:26 - Nova will need to step up its perimeter defense. This AU team can shoot the lights out. The Wachovia Center is not as full as I thought it would be. Way to support, Philly fans.

7:23 - Dante Cunningham showing some muscle underneath. AU is going to have a tough night if he's on top of his game. 5-2 Nova

7:21 - Nova wins quite arguably the worst tip-off ever and now Anderson opens with a quick 3. If either of these teams get hot from beyond the mark, look out.

7:20 PREGAME - The announcers for our game tonight will be Dick Enberg and Jay Bilas. I was hoping for Gus Johnson before the tournament started, but after today's events, I'm glad he's elsewhere complaining about the catering.

7:17 PREGAME - This should be a fun couple of hours. I'm excited to watch these teams run the court in Philly. Nova is soaking up the homecrowd hype I'm sure

2) A Bit of Experience Villanova has a unique resume of tournament experience. The Wildcats appeared in the first ever Final Four in 1939 losing to Ohio State. Ironically, Villanova and Ohio State are the only two programs to participate in the NCAA tournament at least once every decade since the 1930's. Villanova's 13 "underdog" victories are more than any other program. Despite numerous appearances in the tourney, the Wildcats have only won 1 National Championship following an epic 2 point victory over heavily favored Georgetown in 1985. To this day Villanova remains the lowest overall seed (8) to win a National Championship.

3) A "Big" Problem The Wildcats are known for their strong guard play and ability to maintain a fast- paced offense throughout the game through individual player speed and quick ball movement. While this has worked well this season, it has helped to hide Villanova's weakness: the fact that they are without a true center. At 6'8" Dante Cunningham has taken on the role of Nova's "big man" and has improved greatly over his time at Villanova. However, at a whopping 230 lbs., Cunningham hardly qualifies as the legitimate big man the Villanova program is lacking. Nevertheless, Cunningham has quickly established himself as one of the strongest forwards in the Big East averaging 16 points per game. Look for Cunningham, along with guards Scottie Reynolds and Corey Fisher, to set the pace for Villanova. — CRyan (3:10 To Joba)

AMERICAN EAGLES

1) American University: Cradle of Coaches While it's no Miami of Ohio (heck, AU doesn't even have a football team), American has produced some prominent coaches. Gary Williams cut his teeth at American and his successor and former assistant, Ed Tapscott, now coaches the Wizards. Williams' predecessor, Jim Lynam, coached the Clippers, Sixers and Bullets in the 80s and 90s. Not bad for a team that used to play home games in a building named after a Saudi arms dealer.

2) Nick Hendra Salutes His Half Inflated Dark Lord Sophomore guard Nick Hendra is the son of Tony Hendra, a former editor of National Lampoon who wrote the screenplay for The Great White Hype and appeared in This is Spinal Tap as the band's manager. Hopefully, dad can impart some wisdom about performing in front of hostile crowds to his son, who's essentially playing a road game. NB: Nick, who averages 6.5 points per game, wears 21 instead of 11.

3) You're Still Not Getting off the Georgetown Wait List AU has only one starter taller than 6'5" and two shorter than 6'0", so Villanova is the best matchup American could hope for. That is, if the Eagles didn't have to play the Wildcats in Philadelphia. If AU wants to win, forward Brian Gilmore has to lock down Dante Cunningham by the basket and Eagles shooters, who led the Patriot League in field goal and three point percentage, have to be lights out. A victory would be the biggest event in school sports history since the 1985 men's soccer final, when American lost to UCLA in eight overtimes (Eight! Suck it, UConn). A win would also help in the fight against AU students' Georgetown Inferiority Complex. — Bobby_Big_Wheel

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KANSAS JAYHAWKS

1. Coaching Pedigree. Can we lay off Bill Self just a bit? Besides the natural jealousy at the man's full, luscious head of hair, Bill Self seems to be unfairly maligned as a coach who can't win the big one. News Flash, bucko: Coach K, Dean Smith, Boeheim, and Roy Williams won their first titles at ages 44, 51, 58, and 54, respectively. Yet they are all now universally lauded as deans of the profession. For all the shit that Bill Self has taken, he is still a relatively young coach (45). Give the man time. People say that he has coaching for over 10 years without a title. True, but all but the last five of those seasons have been at mid-major schools off the national basketball radar like Oral Roberts, Tulsa, and Illinois. (Ed. Note: GRRRRRR.)

2. Bench star. For all the talk about the NBA futures of players like Brandon Rush and Darrell Arthur, the case could be made that KU's best player comes off the bench. Sherron Collins has been battling injuries and sickness for most of the season, and the Jayhawks' sometimes-sluggish play reflected that. Collins has had to deal with a fractured foot, bruised knee and influenza this season, ailments that have kept him from contributing at full strength. Now, however, Collins is healed and playing his best basketball of the season. Not coincidentally, the Jayhawks seem to be peaking later rather than sooner. Collins provides a threat both with the ball and without, and just about everywhere on the court. Built like a linebacker with an attitude to match, Sherron is at ease shooting 3s or bruising in the paint - no easy feat for a player listed at 5'11". Collins may not get all the attention or headlines, but his play is crucial to the Jayhawks' ability to avoid another disappointing tournament performance.

3. Team tragedy. When it comes to big-time college athletics, people tend to forget that when it comes down to it, we are talking about and betting on the exploits of young men - kids, really - between the ages of 18-22. Often, these kids come from backgrounds that would make even the most cynical and downtrodden white middle-class observer cringe. These Jayhawks have experienced more loss and tragedy in the past few years than I would wish on any group of people in a lifetime. Darnell Jackson lost his grandmother in a car wreck that also seriously injured his mother. To add insult (and more injury) to injury, his uncle was beaten to death with a hammer, his father was shot dead by Oklahoma City police, and his cousin died in February from gunshot wounds received outside an Oklahoma City nightclub in February. Sasha Kaun's father was found dead under mysterious circumstances (is there really any other way to be found dead in Russia these days?). Rodrick Stewart's adopted brother was shot dead in February while sitting at a traffic light. Sherron Collins' infant son died soon after Collins moved to Kansas from inner-city Chicago. Winning and losing basketball games, and the fans' reactions thereof, seem like child's play compared to the loss and heartache that these men have seen. — Pete Gaines

VILLANOVA WILDCATS

1. 'Twas the Great Blizzard of '05. The last time Kansas and Villanova met on the court was in late January 2005, after a vicious snowstorm had blanketed the Delaware Valley with up to a foot or more of snow in most areas. Kansas was ranked second in the nation at the time, undefeated at 14-0, while Villanova was unranked at 10-3 and had yet to make the tournament under head coach Jay Wright. With snow still fresh on the ground, over 13,000 Wildcat fans braved the weather to pack the Wachovia Center and were rewarded for their troubles as Villanova plowed through the Jayhawks, 83-62. Kansas turned over the ball 22 times, while 'Nova shot 63 percent from three-point range. It was this game many fans look to as the turning point for Wright and Villanova, leading to four straight NCAA tournament bids and three appearances in the Sweet Sixteen. (The day after Villanova's upset victory, a certain alumnus by the name of Brian Westbrook gained 135 total yards in the NFC Championship Game against Atlanta, helping the Eagles get to Super Bowl XXXIX. It was a great weekend.)

2. Kobe, Dirk, Reggie... You Owe It All To Paul. Today, jump shots are commonplace in college and the NBA. They are the bread-and-butter of anyone who's even the slightest threat outside the paint. For that you can thank Villanova's "Pitchin' Paul" Arazin, the originator of the jump shot. In Arazin's college days (the late 1940's), most shots were either layups or set shots, with the player's feet firmly planted on the ground. In some arenas the slippery floors made it difficult to plant one's feet to either hook or shoot the ball, so Arizin began to jump just before releasing his shot. The new technique took off and helped Arazin become of the best scoring centers in college hoops, averaging 22 points per game as part of the Villanova Wildcats team that reached the Elite Eight in 1949. After graduating, Arazin was drafted by the Philadelphia Warriors, where he would use his patented jump shot to help them win the 1955-56 NBA title. Arazin passed away in December 2006.

3. We Laugh In The Face of Low Seeding, And Drop Ice Cubes Down The Back of "Hoya Paranoia." No team has won more games as an underdog than Villanova (13 and counting). During their storybook championship run in 1985, the Rollie Massimino-coached Wildcats were seeded eighth in the Southeast Region, out of a field that had just been expanded to 64 teams. Their 66-64 victory over defending national champions Georgetown still ranks as one of the greatest upsets in the history of the NCAA Tournament. On the way there, Villanova took out regional seeds number 1 Michigan, number 5 Maryland and number 2 North Carolina, before knocking out another regional 2-seed (Memphis State) in the Final Four. — Chamomiles Davis

Davidson vs. Wisconsin, 7:10 pm Friday

#10 Davidson Wildcats

Last Weekend: Defeated #7 Gonzaga 82-76, defeated #2 Georgetown 74-70

How Davidson Got Here: Superior guard play. Stephen Curry and Jason Richards are the backbone of this Wildcats team.. Curry had 40 points against the Zags and 30 points against the Hoyas. Fifty-five of his seventy points have come in the second half. Richards, the NCAA leader in assists, did not disappoint either, with 35 points and 14 assists playing all but four minutes of the first two games. In the Georgetown game, Curry and Richards, by virtue of either points scored or assists tallied, accounted for 70 of the Cats' 74 points, including a hand in every field goal made. That is impressive.

What the Sweet 16 Means for Davidson: The difficult non-conference schedule paid off. They were not fazed by the big stage. While any Davidson fan, player and coach must be absolutely thrilled by what has happened so far, the Wildcats have to believe that they are the next George Mason. They have to believe, in their heart of hearts, that they can make the Final Four given the right opportunity.

Chances to Reach San Antonio: Perhaps the third slimmest chance of anyone left in this tournament (the first and second being Western Kentucky and Villanova). But they have to feel good about their chances to make the Elite 8. Wisconsin's style means the pace will be slow, allowing starters to play close to 40 minutes and the Wildcats to keep it close regardless of the outcome. In Kansas, they may have to face the most talented team of the tournament. Then again, that's what they said about UConn in 2006.

#3 Wisconsin Badgers

Last Weekend: Defeated #14 CS Fullerton 71-56, defeated #11 Kansas State 72-55.

How Wisconsin Got Here: Insanely good defense. The Badgers have played hard-nosed defense all season long, and last weekend was a powerful showcase of just that. Sure, the Badgers allowed Michael Beasley to drop 17 on them in the first half. But in the second half, they surrendered just six points from the best college player in the land. Bo Ryan's squad has the liberty of avoiding Georgetown, however now they're stuck with the possible Cinderella story of this year's tournament, Davidson.

What the Sweet 16 Means for the Badgers: A Sweet 16 appearance for this year's Badgers should come as no surprise. They've found incredible leadership from Michael Flowers, one of the best hustle players in the country in Joe Krabbenhoft and a slew of other players that simply know their roles (i.e. Marcus Landry, Trevon Hughes). Wisconsin is in a very favorable position now to make a strong run at a Final Four, with its upcoming game against Davidson and a potential showdown with Kansas.

Chances to Reach San Antonio: Good, but not likely. The Badgers can and should defeat Davidson, but a potential Elite Eight game against Kansas would be too much for them. The Jayhawks are better, faster and stronger (and harder?) than Wisconsin and would prevent them from making a Final Four run.

Villanova vs. Kansas, 9:40 pm Friday

#12 Villanova Wildcats

Last Weekend: Defeated #7 Clemson 75-69, defeated #13 Siena 84-72

How Villanova Got Here: Scottie Reynolds and a favorable draw. Reynolds has had an up and down 2008 season while transitioning to becoming "the man" at Nova, but he caught fire following a 22-point performance against Syracuse in the first round of the Big East tournament. He's continued to lead Nova in scoring each game since, including his huge second half against Clemson and 25-point performance against Siena. The Wildcats also caught a break by playing a choketastic Clemson team and a Siena squad whose season was complete with a win over Vandy.

What the Sweet 16 Means to the Wildcats: If you told any Villanova fan on January 23, right after the Cats were just routed by Rutgers, that this team was going to the Sweet 16, they would have assumed you were on meth. This Sweet 16 run is a total surprise for Villanova, so the Cats are basically playing with house money from here out. All this can do it set up the Wildcats as a possible Top 10/Top 5 team to start next season.

Chances to Reach San Antonio: Not likely, but it's not like Villanova hasn't done this before in program history. Still, there are no more double-digits seeds for the Cats, as they now have to face the powerful Kansas Jayhawks. While the multi-talented 'Hawks probably have too much size, depth and firepower for the Wildcats, they are still coached by Bill Self, and the three-pointer is the great equalizer in the college hoops.

#1 Kansas Jayhawks

Last Weekend: Defeated #16 Portland State 85-61, Defeated #8 UNLV 75-56.

How Kansas Got Here: The beatdown of Big Sky champs Portland State was routine, with future NBA draft picks drubbing guys who would be lucky to get a tryout for Slamball (it's back, you know!). UNLV provided a slightly tougher test, shutting down the perimeter in the first half until Kansas used superior quickness to penetrate the lane, score and open up the outside game. In all, it has been pretty easy so far.

What the Sweet 16 Means to Kansas: A sigh of relief to a team that still remembers the two-season "Killer Bs" debacle. However, anything short of a Final Four this season will leave Kansas fans exasperated, and add just a little more heat to Bill Self's kiester.

Chances of Reaching San Antonio: Inheriting the winner of a 12 vs. 13 matchup almost doesn't seem fair, but Jayhawk players and fans will take it. With respectable but limited teams like Wisconsin and Davidson lurking on the other side of the bracket, if Kansas doesn't make it to San Antonio this year, the program's reputation could take a near-fatal hit. Going through Detroit just like Danny's '88 squad did has the Lawrence faithful hoping for another Miracle.

CLEMSON TIGERS

1. "Clempson," as some locals refer to it, resides in the city of Clemson in the northwestern region of South Carolina known as "The Upstate." It was opened in 1893 as a military academy exclusively for Caucasian males, serving as one of the rare instances of racial discrimination in the South. The school later abandoned its military curriculum and started its rich tradition of admitting hot, bangable women that would make your penis explode in 1955. Notable Clemson alumni include tabloid television anchor Nancy O'Dell and noted statesman/multiculturalist Strom Thurmond, for which the university's Strom Thurmond Institute is named ... I think.

2. The HNIC.Head coach Oliver Purnell came to Clemson from Dayton in 2003, where he had led the Flyers to two NCAA berths in four years. He has served seven times as an assistant to the US Men's National Team. He also won an NCAA Division II title with Old Dominion as a player in 1975. Oh, and he blogs, albeit infrequently. Clemson also has an assistant coach named Shaka Smart. It's worth passing along.

3. Weak Down The Stretch.The Tigers won their first 18 games of the 2006-07 season, but shit the bed in conference play and had to settle for a 1-seed in the NIT (they lost in the championship game of that tournament). Although Clemson boasts a better mark in the ACC this season, they've suffered losses against Florida State, Charlotte, Ole Miss, and Miami, none of whom are currently ranked. The Tigers also took North Carolina to OT twice, but lost both times.

And Some Actual Player Info...A slogan commonly seen on car decals promoting the aforementioned fuckability of the female student body reads, "Clemson Girls, Best In The World." Ballers Junior K.C. Rivers, senior Cliff Hammonds, and spohomore Trevor Booker have been the best in the world for the Tigers, having started every games this season through March 1. Hammonds leads the team in points, assists, steals, and minutes. —Monday Morning Punter

VILLANOVA WILDCATS

1. I Got A Name. As if it wasn't rare enough to find one young African-American with the name Corey, Coach Wright went out and found two: freshman guards Corey Stokes and Corey Fisher, both McDonald's All-Americans in high school. Each has shown tremendous promise in their limited time on the court (Stokes is an 89percent free-throw shooter, and Fisher is third on the team in points and steals per game). Not since the days of Mssrs. Feldman and Haim has such untapped, dual-Corey-based potential lay waiting to be sprung upon an unsuspecting America.

2. Operator (That's Not The Way It Feels). Whereas most college athletic programs are content to limit their scandals to recruiting violations and date rape, Villanova's athletes strive to achieve a more genteel form of notoriety. And so, enter the phone cards. On two separate occasions, in 1996 and 2002, Villanova students were busted for unauthorized use of calling cards (a violation of an NCAA rule prohibiting extra benefits to student athletes), the latter incident resulting in a suspension of twelve players on the active roster which carried over into the 2003-04 season.

3. New York's Not My Home. Jay Wright's first coaching gig was at Hofstra University, which offered him a rich recruiting environment among the private schools and public playgrounds of New York City and Northern New Jersey. He continued to scout for players in that area even after landing the head coaching position at Villanova. In 2004 Wright recruited Kyle Lowry, a scrappy guard from Cardinal Dougherty High School in Philly. While a significant portion of the current underclassmen still hail from Brooklyn, the Bronx and North Jersey, local players such as Reggie Redding and Shane Clark show that Wright is now willing to seek talent further south along the Northeast Corridor. — Chamomiles Davis

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2. Operator (That's Not The Way It Feels). Whereas most college athletic programs are content to limit their scandals to recruiting violations and date rape, Villanova's athletes strive to achieve a more genteel form of notoriety. And so, enter the phone cards. On two separate occasions, in 1996 and 2002, Villanova students were busted for unauthorized use of calling cards (a violation of an NCAA rule prohibiting extra benefits to student athletes), the latter incident resulting in a suspension of twelve players on the active roster which carried over into the 2003-04 season.

3. New York's Not My Home. Jay Wright's first coaching gig was at Hofstra University, which offered him a rich recruiting environment among the private schools and public playgrounds of New York City and Northern New Jersey. He continued to scout for players in that area even after landing the head coaching position at Villanova. In 2004 Wright recruited Kyle Lowry, a scrappy guard from Cardinal Dougherty High School in Philly. While a significant portion of the current underclassmen still hail from Brooklyn, the Bronx and North Jersey, local players such as Reggie Redding and Shane Clark show that Wright is now willing to seek talent further south along the Northeast Corridor. — Chamomiles Davis

KENTUCKY WILDCATS

1. Roc-A-Fella. After many of his made baskets, Kentucky starting point guard Ramel Bradley uses his hands to make a diamond symbol to the crowd. According to Bradley, the symbol is an ode to his fellow Brooklyn native Jay-Z and represents Roc-A-Fella records and the Dynasty of Kentucky basketball. However, many in Kentucky do not understand the reference, leading to an infamous radio argument in Louisville between two callers over whether Ramel Bradley and Jay-Z were ripping the symbol off of former pro wrestler "Diamond" Dallas Page. The debate ended when both callers had to be hung up on due to profanities.

2. Poland! Backup center and Polish native Lukask "Woo" Obrzut is a crowd favorite, in large part due to his odd observations and translations made in postgame interviews. Earlier this season, when asked if the crowd made him excited, he commented, "I live off of crowds ... I eat it." Then, when asked how he remained so calm under pressure he said, "When I was a little Woo in Poland, my mom threw me in the icy river and I had to get myself out. That was pressure."

3. The New Brit. While not able to help the current group of Wildcats, many Kentucky fans are looking forward to the arrival of seven-foot British recruit Mike Williams. Williams, who lives in Alexandria, Virg., now, caused a stir in Kentucky when it was revealed that he had named himself the "Big Black Member" on his Myspace profile. That name combined with his thick British accent has folks in Kentucky ready for four more years of goofiness. — Matt Jones

VILLANOVA WILDCATS

1. Kelvin Sampson for Mayor. Members of 'Nova Nation' will line up to shake the hand of Kelvin "Urban Meyer's just swimming in my texting wake" Sampson, former coach of Oklahoma, for jumping ship to Indiana. Seems that Scottie Reynolds, who played his high school ball in Herndon, Virg., had spurned the advances of several closer Big East powers (and perhaps some inferior ACC teams as well) to sign a national letter of intent with the Sooners. Kelvin jumps ship; Scottie's released from his letter; now he's Second Team All-Big East, unanimous Big East All-Rookie Team and the odds-on favorite to be Big East Rookie of the Year. Villanova is not a tournament team without the play of Reynolds.

2. Give the man his due. Entering the 2005-06 season, 'Nova was expected to contend for a national championship, which they did. They would have been stronger had the services of Curtis Sumpter been available. Sumpter, with a history of knee trouble, tweaked his knee during the 2005 tournament game against Florida, and again during practice leading up to the 2006 season. He could have returned in Jan/Feb 06 to play, maybe at 75-80 percent, but instead opted (correctly) to redshirt and come back this season fully ready to do battle. Sumpter was named First Team All-Big East, and on Senior Night against Rutgers at the Pavilion on campus, Sumpter went to half court with both his parents and the Villanova trainer Jeff Pierce, instrumental to Curtis' recovery.

3. Have the Nitro close by. Villanova is a fun team to watch, and not just because of Scottie Reynolds, Curtis Sumpter, Mike Nardi, and Jay Wright (he's dreamy, so they say). Their games may give you a heart attack. Wildcat basketball this season follows the following pattern: Race out to an early lead, suffer scoring drought allowing opponent to close, small lead at the half, scoring drought allowing opponent to catch up, trading of baskets and leads, scoring drought allowing opponent to take lead, furious comeback to draw even ... and then one of two things. Either: (a) take the lead, hit your free throws down the stretch and win; or (b) stay within a possession, miss key and sometimes wide open shots down the stretch, lose by between three and nine points. — Mike Metzger

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2. Give the man his due. Entering the 2005-06 season, 'Nova was expected to contend for a national championship, which they did. They would have been stronger had the services of Curtis Sumpter been available. Sumpter, with a history of knee trouble, tweaked his knee during the 2005 tournament game against Florida, and again during practice leading up to the 2006 season. He could have returned in Jan/Feb 06 to play, maybe at 75-80 percent, but instead opted (correctly) to redshirt and come back this season fully ready to do battle. Sumpter was named First Team All-Big East, and on Senior Night against Rutgers at the Pavilion on campus, Sumpter went to half court with both his parents and the Villanova trainer Jeff Pierce, instrumental to Curtis' recovery.

3. Have the Nitro close by. Villanova is a fun team to watch, and not just because of Scottie Reynolds, Curtis Sumpter, Mike Nardi, and Jay Wright (he's dreamy, so they say). Their games may give you a heart attack. Wildcat basketball this season follows the following pattern: Race out to an early lead, suffer scoring drought allowing opponent to close, small lead at the half, scoring drought allowing opponent to catch up, trading of baskets and leads, scoring drought allowing opponent to take lead, furious comeback to draw even ... and then one of two things. Either: (a) take the lead, hit your free throws down the stretch and win; or (b) stay within a possession, miss key and sometimes wide open shots down the stretch, lose by between three and nine points. — Mike Metzger

We knew 50 Cent had no problem with taking cash for somewhat embarassing gigs, but we still found it amusing that he, apparently justifying Villanova's tuition, showed up at coach Jay Wright's midnight madness bash last week. We just hope the Illini's Bruce Weber signed up REO Speedwagon.

And if you had LSU, UCLA, George Mason, and Florida in your bracket, you either sold your soul to the devil, or you just filled it out a couple minutes ago. I refuse to believe otherwise.

Florida's big men had their way with Villanova, helping them punch their ticket to Indianapolis with a 75-62 win over the Wildcats. But I think the bigger factor was Villanova's poor shooting. They've beaten teams with good big men before. But they can't do it when they shoot under 25% from the floor, and 4-of-23 from behind the 3-point line. They didn't seem themselves today.

So we've got a little bit of everything in the Final Four, except, you know... anyone you expected to be here. We've got the media darlings in Glen Davis and Joakim Noah, the tradition and history of UCLA, and the biggest underdog story in college basketball history. Can't ask for much more than that. Not to go all Daily Quickie on you, but this has been the best tournament ever, and it can only get better.

Florida's jumped out to an early lead againt Villanova, leading 33-23 at the moment. It's an interesting little chess match of a game, watching both teams try to take advantage of the mismatches afforded by 'Nova's line-up of little guys and Florida's excellent big men. There's about 4:00 to play in the first half.

Joakim Noah has 7 points and six boards for the Gators, and Al Horford has 8 points and five boards. Nova, to their credit, is hanging around in the battle on the glass, down just one rebound at the moment. They're not shooting the ball well at all, though. 21%. I have a feeling this one's going to be close, too.

The winner gets George Mason, who, we might have mentioned once before, beat UConn earlier.

VILLANOVA

1. Dude, Call Collect. Villanova was embroiled, with plenty of other schools, in a silly phone card scandal that damaged a 15-10 start after 12 team members were suspended in 2002-03. 'Nova played with a seven-player team - mostly compiled of freshman - and nearly upset a top-ranked Pitt team anyway. But what s strange about that team s controversy was that it was the same one that Nova class of '96 had a problem with, when then-All-American Kerry Kittles was suspended for the final three games after racking up close to $3,000 in unauthorized phone calls from a stolen phone card code.

2. Celebrity Crap. Most people know Maria Bello from this year s A History Of Violence, but when she showed her backside in The Cooler it may have been recognized by many on the Main Line from her days as a 'Nova undergraduate. Another completely random Villanova graduate was singer/songwriter/giant mustache-wearer, Jim Croce, who supposedly wrote his hit song "Bad Bad Leroy Brown" in Villanova s fabled Grotto area on campus.

3. First Jobs Suck Basketball wasn t Jay Wright's first career choice. In 1984, Wright held a corporate marketing job for the USFL's Philadelphia Stars (coached by a pre-diddly-poo Jim Mora), the last Philadelphia football team to ever win a championship. — A.J. Daulerio

BOSTON COLLEGE

1. When Push Comes To Shove. Despite being new to the ACC, BC has some longish animosity towards Duke (and it has nothing to do with the seemingly vast majority of both student bodies hailing from New Jersey). Towards the end of a close fought game at Cameron in 2001, perfect angel Jason Williams decided to taunt Kenny Walls with some ball fakes to his head. Kenny responded by pushing Williams over the curb scorer s table. Of course Coach K, et al, ignored Williams' provocation and labeled BC thuggish. Fast forward to this year s ACC Tournament: Exuberant Duke frosh Greg Paulus celebrated a deflection (yes, a deflection) with a fist pump to Louis Hinnant s chest. Hinnant responded by pushing Paulus right back into the Duke bench. Based on the two incidents BC is considering changing its motto from "Ever to Excel" to "We don t take shit from Duke."

2. Bald Wins. In a show of unity, the entire team (except Jared Dudley) shaved their heads before their opening game against Pacific. Dudley provided a series of excuses as to why he avoided the Mr. Clean look, including the years he has put into getting his 'rows just right. He also argued that cutting his hair would've messed up his game. Dudley s 43 points in two games backed up his stand. Making up for Dudley s refusal, former BC quarterback Matt Hasselbeck has vowed to stay bald for life.

3. Washington s Footsteps. BC beat Pacific and Montana to advance to the Sweet 16. In 2005, Washington beat Pacific and Montana to advance to the Sweet 16. Washington s road to the Final Four ended shortly thereafter as the Huskies lost their next game to Louisville. BC will try to avoid this potential jinx with solid fundamentals and a sound game plan ... and if that doesn t work they may shave Jared Dudley s head at halftime of the Villanova game. — Bill Maloney

Villanova Wildcats: First Three Tiny Tidbits [Deadspin]
Boston College Eagles: First Three Tiny Tidbits [Deadspin]

VILLANOVA

1. Wired, '85. Most people think of Villanova s 1985 victory over Georgetown as the seminal moment in the school's history; the HBO special that runs on a constant loop during March Madness also ranks it up there as one of the NCAA tournament's greatest games. But the game took somewhat of a hit to its historic lure when guard Gary McLain came out in an 18-page Sports Illustrated essay in March 1987 describing his Belushi-esque cocaine habit during that fateful season. McLain said he was clean for the Championship game — which is good, considering he played the entire game — but during the Memphis State game in the Final Four? Lit up like a firecracker. It wasn't until last year during the team's 20th anniversary of the season that McLain was reunited with his teammates and coaching staff — clean, sober and, not surprisingly, pretty pudgy.

2. The "Alive" Moment. On the way back from an overtime victory against Providence on Jan. 11, 2005, the Wildcats endured a hellish plane ride home that resulted in an emergency landing back on Providence's icy runway. This was not typical turbulence; the plane shook violently for the first 10 minutes and, according to then-junior guard Randy Foye, besides the sickening plane-rattle, all that was heard was "the sound of people crying." In a longer article published in the Philadelphia Daily News weeks after the incident, coach Jay Wright described manning the emergency exits, sobbing stewardesses and the pilot making an announcement that everyone should prepare for a crash landing. They did land safely, and, in what was called a galvanizing moment for the team, every member boarded a plane the next day to make the trip to Georgetown, which many players and coaching staff said was the hardest thing they ever had to do. But they did.

3. Jay Wright s A Stud: He not only incites curious man-crushes from the likes of Digger Phelps and Dick Vitale (every time they comment on how "well dressed" he is, that's old white guy-speak for "I d do him."), but he's also caused many a co-ed on Villanova's Main Line campus to take notice as well. In addition to the boy band-like reception he received as students stormed the court after Nova beat then No. 1 Connecticut last month, Wright also has his own devoted group of female students called "Jay s Angels," who watch all the Nova games together in their dorm room with the same fervency as "O.C." fans. - A.J. Daulerio

MONMOUTH

1. It's A Reality TV Training Ground. Life in the jungles of West Long Branch prepared alumni Stephenie LaGrossa and Katie Gallagher, both 2002 graduates, for their stints on Survivor: Palau. Gallagher finished second.

2. Monmouth NBA Trivia. Quick: Name the only Monmouth player to ever play in the NBA. Come on ... anybody? Bah! Time's up! The answer of course is Alex Blackwell. (And you call yourself a NBA fan.) Yeah, an early 90's NEC All-Star forward, Blackwell signed as a free agent with the Los Angeles Lakers in the 1992-93 season. His performance? Not so hot. In 27 games, Blackwell scored 34 points, snagged 22 rebounds and smoked 8 packs of Marlboro's with Vlade Divac. True story.

3. Coach, We Need A Three. Get In There. Coach Dave Calloway, a former Monmouth Hawk and Northeast Conference (NEC) All-Star, use to really love the long ball. Not only does Calloway still hold every single 3-point shooting mark in school history, but he even managed to lead the nation in 3-point field goal percentage in '89, nailing 42-of-82 shots from downtown. So, yeah, if we find the Hawks down big in the 2nd half — and I'm sure we will — don't be surprised if Coach Calloway loosens the tie, subs himself in, and just gets "hotter than a pistol" from deep. — J.E. Skeets and Dan Cordella

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Seriously. It's a little nasty.

And again, Ray's vision is apparently fine, though Villanova officials are saying it's too early to speculate about his availability for the tournament. I sincerely hope he's fine, and we all wish him the best.

Anyway, video is below. If you dare.

But that's only possible since Ray is apparently going to be fine. They're calling it a "soft tissue" injury, there was no damage to the cornea, he required no stitches, and he can see. He was expected to be released from the hospital this morning and is considered day-to-day. A round of applause to the Big East doctor who attended to Ray immediately.

It was Pitt's Carl Krauser who hit Ray in the eye. Inadvertently, of course. "I just seen him hit the floor, cover his eye and holding it. I thought I hit him in his head because my finger is kind of swollen." Krauser then showed the media his swollen finger. Please keep this brave warrior in your prayers. He may be masturbating with his non-dominant hand for days or even weeks.

Ray OK, could return as early as next week [ESPN.com]
Big Scare For Allan Ray & Nova [The 700 Level]

The Huskies looked almost unstoppable at times, scoring from the outside with Denham Brown and Rashad Anderson, and then pounding the ball inside to Hilton Armstrong and Josh Boone later in the game. Their talent and depth is positively remarkable. They are the most complete team in the country, and I don't even know if it's debatable.

Also in college basketball, Indiana pulled the big upset of Michigan State in Mike Davis's last game in Bloomington. Indiana now finds itself at .500 in the Big 10, and probably still on the slippery side of the tournament bubble at 15-10. They've got games left against Purdue and Michigan, both on the road. Doesn't look good.

• Alabama 67, #24 LSU 62. Alabama pulls off an upset, stopping the Tiger winning streak at seven. Ronald "Balls of" Steele hits six clutch free throws down the stretch to ice the W for the Crimson Tide.

• #4 Villanova 72, Marquette 67. The Wildcats escape with a 5-point victory, despite trailing for most of the game. They shot 32% and committed 14 turnovers and still won, which just doesn't seem fair. Allan Ray pops in 28, and Randy Foye 24.

• #21 Michigan 27, #23 Iowa 28 (in progress). This one's still in the first half. Catch it on ESPN Full Court, if you can. It should be a high-quality Big 10 battle.

They did lose Big Bad Brad Buckman to an ankle injury in the first half, though. It's a re-aggravation of an earlier ankle tweek. Let's hope he gets healed up and can finish out what seems like his 14th season at Texas.

Villanova shot just 27% from the floor, including 7-of-30 from three-point land. Looking at those numbers, it's somewhat bewidlering that they were even in the game, but for the first 30 minutes or so, Texas outright refused to take advantage of their height. They pounded the paint a little more when they needed to, and LaMarcus Aldridge eventually finished with a game-high 19 points.