2013.04.06 17:38
Louisville edges Wichita State, advances to NCAA title game ATLANTA -- Russ Smith looked at the scoreboard, then at the clock, then over at the bench.Louisville needed a run, but he had no idea where it was going to come from. The starters were struggling, the fouls were piling up and the only lift injured Kevin Ware could give the top-seeded Cardinals was an emotional one."It was like, 'Man,'" Smith said. "I was actually waiting for our run. And it happened. Luke exploded. That was actually what I was waiting for. Then Chane exploded. Then Peyton made a big layup. Then Tim Henderson. It just kept going and going."And Louisville rode it all the way to the title game. Luke Hancock scored 20 points off the bench, Henderson sparked a second-half rally with a pair of monster 3s, and Louisville reminded everyone it can grind it out, too, advancing to the NCAA title game after escaping with a 72-68 victory over Wichita State on Saturday night. Louisville will play Michigan for the national title Monday night. It will be the Cardinals' first trip to the national championship game since 1986, when they won it all. ATLANTA -- Don't call these guys the Fab Five. Michigan's latest group of young stars is determined to leave its own legacy.Attacking Syracuse's suffocating zone defense in the first half with 3-pointers, crisp passing and a fearless attitude, the Wolverines advanced to the national championship game with a 61-56 victory over the Orange in the Final Four on Saturday night. Michigan (31-7) will be going for its first national title since 1989 when it faces Louisville on Monday at the Georgia Dome. Syracuse (30-10) failed to complete an all-Big East final in the fabled league's last season before breaking up.The Wolverines got sloppy in the second half and had to hang on at the end, winning despite a tough night for Associated Press player of the year Trey Burke. He scored only seven points.That made for some nervous moments as Michigan got a little too conservative trying to run out the clock. Trailing 58-56, the Orange had a chance to force overtime. But Brandon Triche was called for a foul when Jordan Morgan stepped in to take the charge with 19.2 seconds left.After Jon Horford made only one of two free throws, Syracuse called timeout and set up a play. Curiously, the Orange didn't attempt a tying 3-pointer. Instead, Trevor Cooney drove the lane looking to put up an easier shot. But the ball was swatted away, Michigan saved it from going out of bounds and Morgan wound up taking a long pass the other way.He threw down a thunderous slam with just over a second remaining to cap the triumph. |
2013.04.06 17:59
2013.04.06 18:12
It seems that Louisville is generally considered as the favorite to win.
That's exactly what I don't want to hear.
I love to be in the side of the underdog.
Thinking that Louisville had to overcome Wichita State by a narrow escape,
and Michigan handled big Syracuse easily, the game will be for anyone.
Maybe, a lucky break or two might determine the champion.
Anyway, whoever wins, it is a lucky break for us.
I have not been in the "March Maddness" for years since I left Kentucky (16 years ago !!).
Now, I have it again.
2013.04.06 18:37
2013.04.06 21:31
2013.04.07 01:43
Few Comments about Michigan-Syracuse game
1.Great teams
Great teams always are able to utilize 'Plan B',when 'Plan A'
won't work. Their bench powers were the ones in these cases
last night for both winning teams.
2.Orange Zone buster
Syracuse players' wing spans are so long like octapi, it is tough
to attack them. Michigan stepped up their defense ends and force them
to fail offensively and each time Michigan got rebounds out of these
miscues,they had executed fast breaks efficiently using their quicknesses
especially 1st half.
3.Mitch McGary
Michigan is the yougest team out of 68 participating teams(3 freshmen
as starters). Freshman starter by the name of Mitch McGary should be the
tournament MVP in my book for U of M. He is equipped with rare combination
of muscles,heart,and brain.
4.Coach B owed me one!
Each time I went to the big game like WS and Stanley Cup Final etc,somehow
my teams had failed.We were all set to go Atlanta to see 'Final Four' few
days ago,but we could not go because of mainly unsureness of ticket availability
and partly my jinx,ha,ha. KJ
2013.04.07 13:04
2013.04.08 06:25
Here we are! National Championship game, Louisville Cardinals vs Michigan Woverines!
That was our dreams all along in our website!
Both games were close nail biting games, but hard fought good semi final games.
Louisville could not do their usual running game, but their bench players rescued
them in 2nd half. That proved Cardinals definitely are championship caliber team!
Michigan had tough time against Orange crush 2-3 zone defense, but their quickness
and out side shooingts especially by bench players in 1st half were the difference.
Both teams came this far, means Championship game will be anybody's game,
although Louisvilles are the favorite, I think!
Best luck to both teams! KJ
Go! Blue!