Basketball Page 898 - Sports News, Headlines & Highlights

Your Move, Wake Forest: Your Late Game NCAA Open Thread
Well, that was something wasn't it? Good luck topping that upset, everyone else left in the field....

Roundball In Square States: Your 5:40ish Open Thread (VIDEO UPDATE)
You know those "Westernly" teams that you never watch because they play on Monday nights in weird alien time zones? Yeah, they're all playing right now. Kansas-Northern Iowa. Washington-New Mexico. Baylor-Old Dominion. Look at an atlas once in awhile....

Set The Lower Midwest Aflame: Your 3:00 Open Thread (VIDEO UPDATE)
Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio, and Tennessee. If you're flying over these states today, the bonfires will light your way to whatever godless coastal sinhole you've sold your soul to live in. Butler-Murray State; Ohio-Tennessee. Get some....

Catholics vs. Catholics: Villanova-St. Mary's Open Thread
Just one early game today, but one that could tear the Holy See apart. Did the Pope intercede in the 'Cats near debacle against Robert Morris, or is he secretly a West Coast basketball fan who's grown bored with Gonzaga?...

Last Night's Winner: Pedants
In sports, everyone is a winner—some people just win better than others. Like sticklers for the rules who believe that a lane violation is still a lane violation even in the final minute. In other words, me....

Courtney Coxian Women Confront Snapping-Turtle Problem: Houston-Maryland Open Thread
Before Greivis Vasquez can take his "poor man's Manu Ginobili" routine to the next round, he'll have to lance the proverbial boil that is Aubrey Coleman and the Houston Cougars. Make a sweat pun whenever Gary Williams is on screen....

Pitino-Backed Red Birds Attempt To Screw Bears On Restaurant Table, So To Speak: Lousiville-Cal Open Thread
You were expecting a different picture, weren't you? Louisville had an off-year, and so did the Pac-10; there might as well be two pictures to keep you engaged. Say "Samardo Samuels" thrice into a mirror and comment the results....

Argentine Outlaws Clash With Malodorous Nuts: UC Santa Barbara-Ohio State Open Thread
Can Orlando Johnson do an Evan Turner Impression and bounce the Buckeyes? Not if Thad's boys can help it. (Expect them to help it.) Michigan fans: say how much OSU sucks. OSU fans: hang out and continue ignoring Michigan fans....

Medium-Sized Kitties Paw At Overly Tanned New Yorkers: Vermont-Syracuse Open Thread
This is not going to be a repeat of the 2005 game between these teams since 'Cuse is actually good this year. The town of Syracuse is responsible for this, though, so chug some maple syrup and comment it up....

Shining Kings Of The Serengeti Beset By Cerulean Satans: Arkansas Pine Bluff-Duke Open Thread
Duke's better this year than it's been in a while; expect the Blue Devils to crack 120 in this game. Look for floor-slaps galore by the scrubs who get into the game with about seven minutes to play....

Food Producers Meet Greeks, Make Orzo Together: New Mexico State-Michigan State Open Thread
Having Kalin Lucas, Raymar Morgan and Tom Izzo means MSU is a threat to make a run. Jahmar Young and Jonathon Gibson are pretty sick themselves. Lunardi says NMSU's just happy to be there. Can they prove him wrong?...

Cattle Rustlers Wearing Flashy Coats: Georgia Tech-Oklahoma State Open Thread
Oklahoma State has a 1-2 punch in James Anderson and Obi Muonelo, but the team's undersized. Georgia Tech's Derrick Favors and Gani Lawal are said to be "bruisers." They should get that checked out by a doctor....

Andrew Jackson's Least Favorite Team Vs. Everyone Else's: Florida State-Gonzaga
The days of Casey Calvary and Matt Santangelo are gone; Gonzaga has become a West Coast Duke. Solomon Alabi has the name of an extra from Angel Heart but is also a defensive force. Will we see Matt Bouldin cry?...

A Bounty Of Aggies! Utah State-Texas A&M Open Thread
In the marquee matchup of teams with the same name, the Mormon Aggies look for their first tourney win since 2001, and the ten-gallon Aggies try to advance to the second round for the sixth year in a row....

Yippy Dog Vs. Weasel: Wofford-Wisconsin Open Thread (RUH-ROH ALERT)
The appropriately named Wofford Terriers are undersized and making their tournament debut, but they are incessant. Wisconsin is better than everyone thinks. Treasure of the Sierra Madre jokes? We don't need no stinkin' Treasure of the Sierra Madre jokes....

Geographically Confused Bears Vs. The Jungle Cats Of The Monongahela: Oakland-Pittsburgh Open Thread
Oakland got beaten by a lot of highly regarded teams this year; did that make them stronger? Is Pitt legit or playing above their heads? Why is a Michigan school so California-centric?...

Tigers Aplenty! Missouri-Clemson Open Thread (CLOSE GAME WATCH)
Both of these teams love to play fast and loose, and Clemson's Trevor Booker might be the best player on the court. However, the Big 12 was better this year and Mizzou is very well-rounded. Tigers by five....

Canonized Tuscans Want To Play A Jesus Lizard Single: Siena-Purdue Open Thread
Four players averaging double figures, a coach named Fran, and they beat Ohio State last year — Siena's good. Purdue's missing Robbie Hummel, but Chris Kramer has the gumption to become a hated March Madness figure. Don't sleep on them....

Your Ex-Girlfriend's Favorite Gum Vs. Nocturnal Avians: Cornell-Temple Open Thread (BRACKET BUSTER WATCH)
Temple coach Fran "I Wasn't In The Beautician and the Beast" Dunphy and Cornell coach Steve "I'm Not Phil" Donahue are longtime friends. This either ends in a dramatic tie or a bloodbath....

Resplendent Caddyshack Mascots To Pester Dumas-esque Heros: Minnesota-Xavier Open Thread
The Golden Gophers have a championship-winning coach and solid team play. Xavier's Jordan Crawford dunked on LeBron. This one should get the Bradley Center rocking. Order a thematically appropriate sandwich and comment — pretty sure that's what Sean Miller's doing....