NCAA Elite 8 Recap

Ladies and Gentlemen, you have just witnessed history.

With Kansas and Memphis joining North Carolina and UCLA in the Final Four with wins today, the 2008 NCAA Tourney will now go down as the first time that all four #1 seeds won their respective Regionals and advanced to the Final Four.

Here's how it all shook out:

MIDWEST REGION

#1 Kansas over #10 Davidson, 59-57

Cinderella's clock struck midnight for Davidson and sensational sophomore G Stephen Curry, as PG Jason Richards' 3-pointer at the buzzer was wide left...after Curry could not get off a shot thanks to Kansas' swarming defensive strategy.

Coming into the game, Curry was the talk of the tournament...and for good reason. His 34.3 ppg average was the highest for the first three games of the Tournament in 18 years (Bo Kimble averaged 35.8 ppg in 1990). But Kansas has arguably the best defensive backcourt in the country, between G Russell Robinson, who matched up on him for most of the game, G Mario Chalmers, G Sherron Collins, and G-F Brandon Rush. The Jayhawks also have athletic big men in F Darrell Arthur and F Darnell Jackson who were able to switch onto Curry in pick-and-roll situations and not allow him to get any daylight to get his silky-smooth shot up.

Combine all that, and the fact that Curry missed contested shots he was hitting in the first three rounds (everybody has to cool down sometime), and you get Curry's subpar line for the night:

25 pts on 9-25 FG, including 4-16 from the arc, 4 reb, 3 asst

While 25 points against a tough KU defense is nothing to scoff at, Curry's 1.00 point-per-shot average is a number any team will live with...and a number Davidson usually cannot.

On their offensive end, Kansas did what they have done all year...use their balance to win. Chalmers scored 13 points, 11 coming in a 4:00 period in the 1st half to keep Kansas in the game; C Sasha Kaun scored 13 points off the bench on 6-6 FG, and Rush scored 12 and pulled down 7 rebounds.

Davidson could not become the first #10 seed to make the Final Four in NCAA History. But the news wasn't all bad for Wildcat fans on the day...

In Davidson's Sweet 16 game against Wisconsin, Lebron James could be seen just a few rows behind the Wildcat bench, standing up and cheering every one of Curry's remarkable shots, possibly thinking, "Hey, I wouldn't mind passing it to that kid next year."

Well Lebron, you're just gonna have to wait.

EAST REGION

#1 North Carolina over #3 Louisville, 83-73

Kansas' reward for doing what Gonzaga, Georgetown, and Wisconsin could not: A date with #1 overall seed North Carolina in the Final Four, as the Tar Heels dispatched of Louisville Saturday night, 83-73.

Much like the Jayhawks, UNC has about 5 players that can lead them in scoring on any given night. Unlike the Jayhawks, Carolina does have a go-to guy...in All-American F Tyler Hansbrough. Hansbrough had been solid in the the Heels first three Tourney games, averaging 19 point an 8 rebounds (slightly under his season averages of 23 and 10). But the ACC Player of the Year carried the Heels down the stretch in this game, and showed why he is a strong candidate for National Player of the Year consideration. The line:

28 pts, 12-17 FG, 13 reb in 38 minutes

Normally, Hansbrough does all his work underneath basket, retrieving every loose ball and converting every "And-1" opportunity he can get. But late in the game against the Cardinals, Hansbrough hit three 18-foot jumpers, one with two defenders in his face and the shot clock at 2, that was a dagger to Louisville's upset bid. The Cardinals actually tied the game up at 59-59 with 10:00 to play, but Hansbrough proceeded to outscore the entire Louisville squad, 12-7, over the next 8 minutes...and the Cardinals were sent packing.

'Psycho T' didn't do all the work however, as the Heels advanced to San Antonio on the strength of a very balanced attack. G Wayne Ellington scored 13 points, G Ty Lawson had 11, F Deon Thompson had 10, and G-F Danny Green had 11 off the bench in his usual spark-plug role.

That balance is going to make their Final Four matchup against Kansas an absolute epic. Both teams like to get up and down the court, as the Jayhawks averaged 81 ppg during the regular season, while Carolina averaged 89 ppg. Both teams like to run, as they each have great guard play and very athletic forwards that can run the floor.

Expect to see a lot of alley-oops and 3's in this contest. Should be one of the Games of the Year.

WEST REGION

#1 UCLA over #3 Xavier, 76-57

UCLA earned their record 18th trip to the Final Four Saturday with a decisive 76-57 win over Xavier, behind a dominant performance from their starters, who scored 73 of the Bruins' 76 total points, led by Fab Freshman F Kevin Love and PG Darren Collison, who each had 19.

If UCLA goes on to win the NCAA Title this yea, Love will without a doubt be named Tournament M.O.P. He doesn't even have to play in the Bruins' final two games...that's how good the 6'10", 275 lb. forward has been...and Saturday was no different.

Love completely dominated a solid Xavier frontcourt to the tune of 19 points, 10 rebounds, including 5 on the offensive glass, and 2 more blocks to move his Tourney total to 17 (4.25 bpg). The thing I love the most about Love is that he rarely wastes a shot. He went 7-11 against Xavier, including 2-4 from the arc, and 3-4 from the line. Here's are his percentages now through 4 Tourney games:

32-52 FG (61.5%), 17-22 FT (77.3%), 6-16 3-FG (38%)

With 87 points on only 52 FG attempts, Love is averaging 1.67 points per shot, an absolutely stunning number. (Consider that his 1.67 pps would rank 2nd in the NBA behind only Orlando Magic F Dwight Howard at 1.74. And that doesn't even mention that Love's regular season pps was actually 1.69.)

But while Love basically single-handedly carried UCLA to wins against Texas A&M and Western Kentucky, he got some much-needed help from his teammates against the Musketeers. UCLA shot 54% as a team, getting 19 from Collison on 7-12 shooting. G Russell Westbrook chipped in 17 on 7-11 FG, and F Luc Richard Mbah A Moute recorded a double-double with 13 points and 13 rebounds, including 7 offensive.

Kevin Love finally got some help...and that may mean the Bruins, who have lost in the Final Four each of the last two years, may finally cut down the nets for the 13th time in school history next Monday night.

SOUTH REGION

#1 Memphis over #2 Texas, 85-67

Memphis has been the trendy upset pick for the last two rounds, and now, after their 2nd straight blowout win, will be considered a very legitimate National Title threat.

The Tigers jumped on Texas right from the opening tip, taking an 18-8 lead six minutes in, and then pushing that to 29-14 with 7:00 to play in the 1st half before winning fairly easily, 85-67. Texas was probably the toughest matchup for any of the #1 seeds in the Elite 8, so Memphis' victory should be thought of as that more impressive.

PG Derrick Rose continued to show why he should be a Top-2 NBA Draft pick if he decided to declare after his freshman season. Rose is the most complete all-around guard in the college game, and dominated Texas' undersized guard tandem of A.J. Abrams and D.J. Augustin. Rose scored 21 points on 7-10 FG and 7-8 FT, dished out 9 assists (with only 2 TO's), and grabbed 6 rebounds. Check out his Tourney numbers:

20.5 pts, 58% FG, 6 asst (6:1 asst/TO ratio), 6 reb

Rose is so strong with the ball, and rarely makes a bad decision, as shown in his 6:1 assist to turnover ratio. He can shoot from anywhere on the court, but is most dangerous when he drives to the bucket. He doesn't take a lot of 3's, but shoots a respectable 35% for the season (he's 4-9 in the Tourney). The freshman's overall play in the Tourney has cemented his place as the best guard in the country.

However, in order for Memphis to beat UCLA, they'll need to give Rose some help...something they got against Texas. G Chris Douglas-Roberts scored 25 points, F Joey Dorsey recorded a double-double with 11 points and 12 rebounds, and F Shawn Taggart chipped in 12 big points off the bench on 5-7 FG.

That kind of balance will be vital against a Bruins team that can beat you many ways. Memphis is the most athletic team left in the Final Four, and if they can play their style of game, they'll give UCLA all they can handle. Once again, this should be one of the Games of the Year.


Mark my words: This will go down as the greatest collection of talent in a Final Four in NCAA History. Get ready!