Well at last, I got this one right in my bracket! 1 Kansas led 4 Michigan for most of the game last night, at one time by as much as 14 points, only to see Michigan all world guard Trey Burke come to life in the second half. Burke went scoreless in the first half and then had 23 points in the second. With seconds remaining and trailing by three points, he lofted a three point shot from at least five feet behind the arc and it was all net. That sent the game into OT, tied 76 – 76. He came out in the OT and shot another long range 3 point shot and from there on, it was evident something special was going to happen. 4 Michigan takes out 1 Kansas in OT, 87 – 85 and has made the Elite Eight for the first time since 1994.
In other games last night, the clock struck midnight for Cinderella, 15 Florida Gulf Coast College, and they are headed back to Ft. Myers, FL. The can certainly head home with their heads held high. Quite a show they put on in this year’s tourney. Big brother, 3 Univ. of Florida was just too much for them and they went down, 62 – 50.
Moving to the Midwest Region, 1 Louisville (and the number one overall seed in the tourney) advanced over 12 Oregon, 77 – 69. The score is a bit closer than the game itself, Oregon trailed and then would make a push and they did hang around but one never felt that the outcome of this game was in doubt. Louisville looks really, really good! 2 Duke started out slow but then came to life and took care of 3 Michigan State, 71 – 61. Duke moved on with a bit more ease than I would have anticipated against Tom Izzo’s team and now they will face Louisville on Sunday. I so want to put the Dukies through to the Final Four but I have Louisville advancing in my bracket. We will wait and see…
Saturday’s games which will determine who goes to the Final Four from the West and East Regions will feature 9 Wichita State vs. 2 Ohio State (West) and 4 Syracuse vs. 3 Marquette (East).
Sundays’ games will determine who gets to go to Atlanta from the Midwest and South Regions! 2 Duke vs. 1 Louisville (Midwest and should be a great one!) and 4 Michigan vs. 3 Florida (South).
