Loyola once again upholds A10 honor  beating Kent State 72-62.

Maryland was/is in an interesting situation because its been rumored that Kevin Willard was going to take the Villanova job a few days before they lost to Florida tonight. If Willard does take the Villanova job (like tomorrow!!), you have to wonder how much of a distraction that was for the players, especially coming off buzzer-beater win against Colorado State last Sunday. 

What a  moment to see Broome return from what looked like a serious injury to hit a late 3 to help Auburn into the Final 4.

From Moorehead State to the best player in the nation.  

No comments on the championship game?  Really?  Are we all checked out, or just too busy consumed by which 9 ppg scorer will be the next to consider GW?

I'll start by saying that I would have won my pool with a Houston victory.  I was able to hedge with a live bet on Florida once Houston went up 10 (at +325) but still walked away with far less than what otherwise would have been the case.  Then there was an old friend of mine, a crazy Gator fan, who cashed a $12K ticket with the Florida victory on a bet he made last summer.  Very happy for him, less so for me.

As for the game, all I can say is that you know what you're getting yourself into when betting on Houston.  Their defense is almost always stifling while their offense is often very offensive.  In Game 1 of the tournament against SIU-Edwardsville, I bet a team over of 77 1/2 points on Houston.  They had 52 at the half.  And then, 9 points over 9 minutes, 11 over 11, then they were at 74 with a minute left.  They hit a 3 but the starters were pulled by now.  With under 20 seconds left, most teams would have dribbled out the shot clock but instead, their backup guard drove and dished to a big man who got fouled with something like 12 seconds left.  He missed the first free throw (of course) but he did make the second to secure the 1/2 point victory.

This is background to suggest that while they are never out of a game as they demonstrated against Duke, they are also in many close games because their shooting can be inept at times.  When they came out of their last timeout, down 2, I mentioned that the way they shoot 2's, they might as well go for the win with a 3.  The Florida defense thought the same thing and shut down Cryer and Uzan from attempting 3's (and apparently, dumping it down low to Roberts to go one-on-one wasn't considered).  Instead, Sharp went up to take the game winner, only to see Clayton right on him, and then come down without taking the shot.  By rule, an automatic turnover would have ensued had he be the next player to touch the ball.  Instead, nobody ever possessed the ball as the final seconds elapsed.  

It was an ending not quite as embarrassing as Fred Brown passing the ball to James Worthy or Chris Webber calling a timeout that his team did not have, but the "non Sharp shot" should live in infamy alongside these other horrendous ways to lose any chance of winning a championship.

H&R..71 wrote:

Cudos to Todd Golden at 37 years old on entering the coaching history books with an NCAA championship. 
Clayton Jr. was the real deal who even without scoring in the first half was able to pile up the assists until eventually having a huge impact down the stretch including the great defensive play at the end.
My favorite storyline was Alijah Martin.  Loses in final four last year with FAU and watches team get blown up by Dusty May going to Michigan and now wins a championship the following year with his new team.  He has the heart of a lion and works his butt off.  What a career! Congrats to him and the Gators.  

Pretty incredible how that FAU team had a great year but got shafted with an 8 seed - only to make the final 4 anyway. 

That team was called Cinderella, but they were absolutely loaded with talent. 

In addition to Martin, they had Vlad Goldin starring at Michigan, Johnell Davis starting for Arkansas, and Nick Boyd as one of the top players for San Diego St.  They even had Brenen Lorient on the bench, who was first team all-AAC this year for North Texas and is transferring to West Virginia.  Plus Tre Carroll, who is in the portal thread as someone we’ve reached out to.

That team was stacked.

Golden became the third head coach since the Wooden era to win a national championship under the age of 40.  One of the other two was Jim Valvano which was well publicized during the telecast.  Anyone want to guess who the other was?  (Don't be a killjoy and look up the answer.) 

H&R..71 wrote:

I think they mentioned another gator Billy Donovan during the telecast.

That was my first guess too but it is incorrect.  Donovan was a month shy of 41 when he won his first championship.  
 

I will go to the Final Four when George and the pep band go. I fear that may be a long wait.

Gwmayhem wrote:

Then again, I have a friend who has also been to numerous Final 4's who tells me that San Antonio is the one host city (within the rotation of Final 4 sites) that ought to be dropped.  

Each to his own but I wonder why? I also wonder what he will think of Detroit (2027) lol. 

DC Native wrote:

This year's tournament was great if you like to see Blue Bloods and Goliaths duke it out, but if you're like me and want to see some Davids mixed in, it was pretty disappointing. Based on the viewership numbers, however, which were apparently up across the board, then I am in a distinct minority...

As for San Antonio, I haven't been there in many years, but I remember it as being a great town.

Me too.   I also found San Antonio to be a great town.