Goldsheet
★★★KEY RELEASES★★★
ARIZONA by 6 over Ohio State (Thursday, March 28)
MILWAUKEE by 15 over LA Lakers (Thursday, March 28)
THE GOLDSHEET
Syracuse 68 - Indiana 65—They meet again! We’re talking aboutSyracuse and Indiana, who 26 years ago engaged in one of the more compelling
finals in NCAA history at the Superdome in New Orleans, when Hoosier G (and
current NBA Sacto Kings HC) Keith Smart won Bob Knight’s third and final title
with a baseline jumper in the final seconds. Still around from ‘87 on the
Syracuse sidelines is HC Jim Boeheim, who had to wait sixteen years for
another chance at a national crown that a Carmelo Anthony-led team would
finally deliver to the ’Cuse in 2003. Now, Boeheim can make further amends for
that bitter ‘87 title loss by avenging that defeat vs. IU, although old pal Knight is
long gone from the Hoosier bench (we’re not sure The General even steps foot
in the state any longer). Another connection to the ‘87 title game is Orange G
Brandon Triche, whose uncle Howard missed a crucial free throw to set the
stage for Smart’s dramatic game-winner 26 years ago. We’re sure Uncle
Howard, who works and lives in the Syracuse area these days, is just as eager
as Boeheim to see the Orange earn that payback from more than a quartercentury
ago.
While the Big Ten entries (such as IU), Louisville, and Florida Gulf Coast
stole many of the headlines during the sub-regional weekend, the ‘Cuse quietly
went about its business in San Jose, dismantling an overmatched Montana side
in a game during which the nation’s TV sets likely tuned out after 10 or so
minutes, then downing regional preference Cal in workmanlike fashion. After
stumbling in February (losing SU 6 of 10 at one point), Boeheim’s team appears
to have regained its equilibrium, beginning in the Big East Tourney and
continuing through last weekend, with only one shaky stretch (the last ten
minutes of the Big East finale vs. Louisville) the past couple of weeks. After
making lineup adjustments due to the January eligibility-related suspension of
sparkplug swingman James Southerland, then readjusting again when
Southerland regained eligibility in early February, the Orange finally seem to
have regained their footing, with Triche and F C.J. Fair, in addition to
Southerland, leading the team in scoring in recent games.
Meanwhile, this matchup vs. the Orange appears to offer some substantial
concern for Indiana, especially since the Hoosiers were not able to speed up the
pace in the Round of 32 vs. Temple, with the Philly boys able to dictate tempo
and place themselves on the cusp of a major upset before a game-ending 10-
0 spurt by IU that reversed the scoreline in the final minutes. Indiana will not be
able to speed the tempo any better against the long arms of the Jim Boeheim
zone, which should effectively slow the Hoosiers and put lots of pressure on F
Christian Watford (48% triples) and G Jordan “Jerry Quarry” (uncanny
resemblance there for old boxing fans) Hulls, who hits 46% from tripleville, but
might not get the same number of “kick-outs” for open looks vs. the Boeheim
zone that he usually does when IU is at its free-wheeling best. Tom Crean’s
defense has also not been airtight this season, especially since he has to
camouflage the smallish Hulls and backcourt mate 6-0 frosh Yogi Ferrell as
much as possible on the stop end. and after having to play clear across the
country last week, expect the ‘Cuse to be a lot more comfortable in familiar Big
East territory at the Verizon Center, where the Orange faced Georgetown a few
weeks ago.
Six regular-season losses and last week’s narrow escape vs. Temple
confirm that this IU edition is hardly unbeatable. A mild upset authored by the
clever Boeheim would be no surprise.
Miami-Fla. 68 - Marquette 58—Maybe it‘s just us, but there’s something
about watching Marquette play that makes us want to tune into the NBC Sports
Network to watch the next NHL game on the tube. We suggest CBS bring Mike
Emrick and El Olczyk into the broadcast booth, and let Pierre McGuire report
from the sidelines, for the Golden Eagles games that more often resemble
hockey, with Marquette players bumping and grinding into the opposition, or
careening into the paint in awkward odd-man rushes into the attack end for
many “shots on goal” from point-blank range or for long-range bombs from the
“blue line”...er, three-point arc.
But the Golden Eagles are nothing if not relentless under shaved-headed,
sweat-soaked HC Buzz Williams, whose chipmunk-like appearance belies a
fiery competitive streak that Buzz has instilled within his never-say-die troops.
Who, by the way, found the resolve to manufacture enough points to rally from
a late 7-point deficit to beat Davidson at the top of the sub-regional round (using
three consecutive triples, after missing 11 of their first 12 beyond the arc, as a
precursor to a last-second Wildcat turnover and game-winning layup by G
Vander Blue with one second to play) before surviving a war of attrition with
Butler in the Round of 32. The irrepressible Blue, with 45 points last weekend,
has emerged as an unlikely star in March proceedings.
Marquette, however, has some limitations offensively,partly caused by
season-long spotty three-point shooting (still only 29.9% this season and a very
so-so 9 for 27 in the Dance), which contributes to the stop/start appearance of
its often tortured offensive sets. Now, the Golden Eagles are facing their most
difficult Big Dance defensive challenge yet in Jim Larranaga’s Miami, which
owns plenty of size and athleticism on the perimeter and has allowed only 59
ppg this season. Larranaga’s pet scramble defense threatens to turn this
matchup into something more unsightly than Marquette’s normal course of
affairs, although the Hurricanes must make sure to work through screens and
not expose some of their less-mobile bigs (such as Kenny Kadji) on defensive
switches against Blue or another of the Golden Eagles Gs, who will look to blow
by Kadji, as did Brandon Paul and the Illinois Gs on occasion in last Sunday’s
Round of 32 narrow escape for the Canes vs. the Illini.
Larranaga’s accomplished backcourt of 6-5 types Durand Scott and Trey
McKinney-Jones and star soph PG Shane Larkin (14 ppg), however, should be
able to deal with Williams’ frenetic Golden Eagle defense, and Marquette has no
matchup for the versatile Kadji, who loves to float to the perimeter and thus
renders paint-locked 6-11 Golden Eagle counterpart Chris Otule as unlikely to
draw that defensive assignment. In conclusion, we think there are more ways
for Miami to manufacture points (especially with 6-6 swingman Rion Brown now
another viable option after his 21-point outburst Sunday vs. the Illini). With all
due respect to coach Williams, a sharper-edged Marquette could advance no
further than the Sweet 16 a year ago. Remember, too, that “Coach L” has a bit
of experience in the Sweet 16 at this Verizon Center site, where his George
Mason side qualified for an unlikely Final Four trip seven years ago.
★★★KEY RELEASE★★★
★★★Arizona 73 - Ohio State 67—Although appearing at times to be a
modern-day hoops equivalent of long-ago Montreal Canadiens enforcer John
Ferguson (bad haircut and all) by discouraging the rough play on morestreamlined
teammates, hardscrabble G Aaron Craft can still win games for
Ohio State, as he did last Sunday vs. Iowa State. But that was not an easy ride
for the Buckeyes, as the Cyclones seemed to have them beaten in Dayton.
Before some of Craft’s last-minute heroics, the OSU on-court pilot did not have
an especially memorable game.
We mention Craft prominently because we expect he might have to deliver
again in order for the Buckeyes to advance. That’s because Arizona would
seem to have a proper matchup on top OSU scoring threat Deshaun Thomas
(19.7 ppg) in the form of Solomon Hill, a similarly-sized 6-7 who can not only
look Thomas in the eye, but also mark him across the attack zone as well.
Continuing that defensive theme, the Cats also would appear to own an elixir for
the tough-as-nails Craft in G Nick Johnson, who has the size to deal with Craft’s
muscle tactics and to potentially fluster OSU’s floor general, whose erratic
offense (despite that winning three-pointer vs. ISU) has been a sore point for the
Columbus support base this term.
Indeed, we do not believe the Buckeyes are built to go as far as they did in
the Dance last season (when their ride ended at the Final Four) because they
lack the post scoring presence that 6-9, 265-lb. Jared Sullinger provided on the
blocks a year ago. With other top scoring threat William Buford also having
departed, Thomas has been forced to handle the go-to scoring duties. Which
he has assumed rather seamlessly, scoring in double digits in every game. But
he remains the only reliable OSU scoring threat. And Hill’s presence on the stop
end likely reduces that chance of a Thomas offensive explosion, which we
believe OSU might need to advance.
Arizona, meanwhile, seems to possess a sharper edge on attack with
Xavier transfer G Mark Lyons (15.4 ppg; 50 points in two games during the subregional
weekend at Salt Lake City) detonating the transition game, while the
versatile Hill (13.3 ppg) is going to force OSU counterpart Thomas to expend
considerable energy on defense as well. With frosh frontliners 6-8 Brendan
Ashley & 7-0 Kaleb Tarczewski making consistent complementary
contributions, prefer the balance and flexibility at HC Sean Miller’s disposal.
Although the Bucks enter on a 10-game win streak, they will be in hostile
Pac-12 territory, as Arizona fans will likely descend upon L.A.’s Staples Center
in the same numbers they did when turning the Anaheim Honda Center into
“McKale Center West” in the regionals two years ago. And the Wildcats, well
versed in close calls this season, will not lack for confidence in the final minutes
of an expected nailbiter.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
La Salle 67 - Wichita State 65—They haven’t been this excited at La Salle
since the days of Kenny Durrett, Fatty Taylor, Larry Cannon, and a backup G
named Fran Dunphy led the Explorers (under legendary player-turned-coach
Tom Gola) to the number two national ranking in 1969! Meanwhile, after
relishing and embracing the underdog role last week at Salt Lake City when
dumping Gonzaga and Pittsburgh, Wichita State now faces a different set of
psychological dynamics against the surprise A-10 survivor Explorers, who won
three games in five days in the first week of the tournament to stay alive into the
regional finals.
Specifically, it’s the favored Shockers who are now the hunted, not the
hunter. And the chalk role was not as especially comfortable one for Gregg
Marshall’s troops, who have covered the number only four of their last eleven
tries laying points.
True, there would seem to be a fundamental edge on the blocks for Wichita
and its burly frontliners against La Salle’s 4-G, perimeter-oriented lineup that
has been without one of its few quality bigs, 6-11 soph Steve Zack, who has
been sidelined for almost a month with foot problems. That absence appears
to open the door for the Shockers to dominate with their no-nonsense interior
weapons, led by rugged 6-8 juco Cleanthony Early (14 ppg) and intimidating 6-
8 holdover Carl Hall (13 ppg), who has shorn his dreadlocks for the Big Dance
adventure. But before dismissing the Explorers, keep in mind how they had to
deal with Wichita-like talent in the paint in the Round of 32 vs. Ole Miss, whose
Reginald Buckner-Murphy Holloway duo suggested the Rebs could push
around La Salle on the inside as well. Didn’t happen. And, for all of the media
talk about how Wichita was going to make Gonzaga cower on the blocks, Hall
(only 8 points and one board) was a peripheral factor at best against the Zags,
who seemed to have control of the game until the Shcokers went on an uncanny
and uncharacteristic long-range shooting binge (including conversions on
seven straight triples!) in the final minutes to reverse a 7-point deficit.
In a tournament where quality guard play has been a common link between
almost all of the advancing teams, no group is playing better than La Salle’s,
whose backcourt has had some extra bite since Philly product and Virginia Tech
transfer Tyrone Garland (12.8 ppg) became eligible in mid-December and
emerged as one of the nation’s best sparkplugs off the bench, good enough to
score the game winner on a trademark “South Philly floater” to KO the SEC
Rebs at Kansas City last Sunday. With established backcourt mates Ramon
Galloway (17.4 ppg) and Tyreek Duren (14.5 ppg), the Explorers had enough
firepower on the perimeter to outscore teams led by stars Gs such as Kansas
State’s Rodney McGruder and Ole Miss’ Marshall Henderson last weekend.
Meanwhile, rugged 6-8, 240-lb. soph PF Jerrell Wright is providing the
necessary grunt work in the paint, scoring 14 ppg in three games while
converting an astounding 16 of 18 FG tries in a monument to offensive
efficiency.
Wichita’s X-factor Gs Malcolm Armstead (who has scored 22 or more in two
of his last three games) & Ron Baker (who hit 4 of 6 triples to save the day vs.
Gonzaga) have distorted the proceedings in recent weeks, but they have not
been nearly as reliable contributors as have John Giannini’s La Salle guards.
With the Explorers continuing to pull straight flushes from the deck when
needed in the final minutes, we’re going to roll with the hot hand of scrappy La
Salle until further notice.
