SB Nation Chicago - 2011 NCAA Tournament: Kentucky Eliminates Ohio State 62-60, No Big Ten Teams Remainhttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/48877/chicago-fave.png2011-03-25T23:23:13-05:00http://chicago.sbnation.com/rss/stream/18136662011-03-25T23:23:13-05:002011-03-25T23:23:13-05:002011 NCAA Tournament: Kentucky Eliminates Ohio State 62-60, Ends Big Ten Season
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<p>The careers of three great Ohio State seniors have finally come to an end. David Lighty, William Buford and Jon Diebler, along with freshmen standouts Jared Sullinger and Aaron Craft, helmed a Buckeye team that lost won 34 games this year, and lost only three. Unfortunately, that third loss came in the NCAA Sweet Sixteen, and the national championship run of the team that has spent so many weeks atop the polls has come to an end, at the hands of the No.4 seed Kentucky Wildcats.</p>
<p>For as much has been said about the Big East, the Big Ten and the ACC this year, it seems as though the often derided SEC will now have two teams in the Elite Eight. Kentucky was led by its own senior tonight in Josh Harrellson who scored 17 and grabbed 10 boards to lead his team. The three Kentucky super freshmen, Terrance Jones, Brandon Knight and Doron Lamb totaled 23 points for the Wildcats and John Calipari would need every last one as UK squeaked by against OSU.</p>
<p>With that ends the entire Big Ten season, where seven teams made it to the tournament, five advanced to the round of 32, two to the Sweet Sixteen, but none past that. The Big Ten will have to wait yet another year for its first National Title since Michigan State in 2000.</p>
https://chicago.sbnation.com/2011/3/25/2073002/2011-ncaa-tournament-kentucky-eliminates-ohio-state-62-60-ends-bigJoe _2011-03-25T21:57:16-05:002011-03-25T21:57:16-05:002011 NCAA Sweet 16: Ohio State And Kentucky Tied At 30 At Half
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<p>It is a battle of two very similar teams, led by gritty seniors and highly talented freshmen, and half way through the Sweet Sixteen match of Kentucky and Ohio State, it is still a stalemate.</p>
<p>Ohio State is led by three seniors in the starting line up, but it is the freshman phenomenon <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/124094/jared-sullinger">Jared Sullinger</a> is leading the Buckeyes so far with 10 points and 7 rebounds already, with <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/26681/jon-diebler">Jon Diebler</a> contributing 9 points of his own.</p>
<p>Kentucky's own freshmen stars, <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/123771/doron-lamb">Doron Lamb</a> and Brandon Knight, have so far combined for just 4 points in the first half, but their senior leader, forward <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/53436/josh-harrellson">Josh Harrellson</a> is carrying the team with 12 points and 7 rebounds, against the OSU tough front line.</p>
<p>Whoever wins this game will be the team whose stars step up, <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/26679/david-lighty">David Lighty</a>, and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/52369/william-buford">William Buford</a> could still come alive in the second half for the Buckeyes, or the aforementioned Wildcats, Lamb and Knight could lift UK in the second half.<br><br>Given that Thad Matta's team has only shot 30% from the field and still managed to be tied with UK at half is a good sign for his team, because if the shots start falling, we already know just how many points this team could put on the board.</p>
https://chicago.sbnation.com/2011/3/25/2072877/2011-ncaa-sweet-16-ohio-state-and-kentucky-tied-at-30-at-halfJoe _2011-03-24T23:39:46-05:002011-03-24T23:39:46-05:002011 NCAA Sweet 16: Butler Eliminates Wisconsin 61-54, Only Ohio State Remains From Big Ten
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<p>Wisconsin was shooting hot last weekend, beating Belmont and Kansas State in the process, nut against Butler in New Orleans, the Badgers looked much more like the team that lost to Penn State in Indianapolis.</p>
<p>Wisconsin was shut down in the first half, scoring just 24 points and turning the ball over eight times, and for the first several minutes of the second half couldn't find the bottom of the net. The Badgers did turn it on eventually against the Bulldogs, and put up 30 points down the stretch, but it ended up being too little and too late, they had given Butler too much of a lead to hope to come back.</p>
<p>For Butler, it is the second consecutive year advancing to the the Elite Eight, and their tournament experience seemed to matter quite a bit. Senior forward Matt Howard had 20 points for the Bulldogs, with 9 coming off of his ice water free throw shooting. Brad Stevens' players made 7 free throws down the stretch to hold back the late Wisconsin charge, there would be no heart attack plays tonight.</p>
<p>Butler is now just one game away from another trip to the Final Four, and though no one can call them a Cinderella this year, three weeks ago, the Bulldogs weren't even necessarily in the field.</p>
https://chicago.sbnation.com/2011/3/24/2071047/2011-ncaa-sweet-16-butler-eliminates-wisconsin-61-54-only-ohio-stateJoe _2011-03-24T22:12:15-05:002011-03-24T22:12:15-05:002011 NCAA Sweet 16: Butler Locking Down Wisconsin, 33-24 At Half
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<p>Butler seems like they are well on their way to another Elite Eight, as they have stifled Wisconsin's offense up and down the court in the first half. It also certainly hasn't hurt that Butler has shot the ball very well, shooting 50% from the field and making four three pointers.</p>
<p>Wisconsin methodical offense is normally very good at controlling the pace, but thus far the Badgers seem to be grasping at straws, going just 8-23 in shooting and committing a very un-Wisconsin like eight first half turnovers. Notably silent thus far tonight is standout Jon Leuer, who has just 3 points on six shots.</p>
<p>For Brad Stevens and Butler their defense has led to plenty of easy points in the other direction. Shawn Vanzant is leading the way for the Bulldogs with a game high 9 points, while forward Matt Howard has 8 points of his own.</p>
<p>Wisconsin is going to have to take much better care of the ball, and show much better shot selection in the second half if it wants to spoil another miracle Butler season.</p>
https://chicago.sbnation.com/2011/3/24/2070903/2011-ncaa-sweet-16-butler-locking-down-wisconsin-33-24-at-halfJoe _2011-03-24T20:43:57-05:002011-03-24T20:43:57-05:002011 NCAA Tournament: First Sweet 16 Games In The Books
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<p>Two teams have punched their tickets to the Elite 8 and stand just one step away from the Final Four in Houston, and both of them are familiar with recent trips to the last weekend of the college basketball season.</p>
<p>In the West Regional semifinal between Connecticut and San Diego State the Huskies ended the Aztecs’ dream season with a 74-67 win behind 36 points from Kemba Walker and 24 from Jeremy Lamb. Walker increased his candidacy for National Player of the Year honors with a 12 for 25 night from the field and he has now scored at least 33 points in three of Connecticut’s past five games. Connecticut will now await the winner between Duke and Arizona.</p>
<p>In the Southeast Region semifinals Florida survived the Jimmer Fredette show, but they needed overtime to do so. Fredette scored 32 for the Cougars, but Florida dominated the extra session to win 83-74. Florida put four players in double figures, led by Alex Tyus with 19 points. Kenny Boynton had 17 for the Gators, while Erving Walker and Chandler Parsons each had 16. Florida outscored <span class="caps">BYU</span> 15-6 in the overtime. The Gators will now wait for Wisconsin and Butler to decide their regional final opponent.</p>
https://chicago.sbnation.com/2011/3/24/2070759/2011-ncaa-tournament-first-sweet-16-games-in-the-booksTravis Miller2011-03-24T18:39:35-05:002011-03-24T18:39:35-05:002011 NCAA Sweet 16: Badgers Ready For Defending National Runner Up Butler
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<p>It is too bad that only one of these two teams can move on. The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/teams/wisconsin-badgers">Wisconsin Badgers</a>, who always seem to be counted out before the season starts and who always put together a solid season have to go up against last year's surprise Final Four team, Butler.</p>
<p>Butler who came within inches of a National Title last year has managed to scrape into the Sweet Sixteen in classic Butler fashion, by eking out victories by the skin of their noses. Butler won the 8/9 game over Old Dominion on a buzzer beating put back shot, and managed a one point victory over No. 1 seeded Pitt after two crazy fouls. Butler coach Brad Stevens may be headed elsewhere after the end of this season, as he is suddenly the most sought after coach in America, but until then, he is carrying his team on another unlikely tournament run.</p>
<p>If Butler is the most exciting team in the Sweet Sixteen, then Wisconsin is the least so. They handled No. 12 seed Belmont without blinking, despite being the trendy upset pick. In the second round, the withstood a 38 point game from Kansas State's <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/26108/jacob-pullen">Jacob Pullen</a>, to pull away with a five point win over the Wildcats. They are predictable and, if their shots are falling, very difficult to stop. <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/26751/jon-leuer">Jon Leuer</a> and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/52390/jordan-taylor">Jordan Taylor</a> are both probably future NBA players, and are almost automatic in the Bo Ryan offense, throw in the motor of bench player Mike <span id="stat11"></span>Bruesewitz and it is easy to understand why the Badgers have lost so few games this season.</p>
<p>It is a battle between two "tough outs" in this field, and while it will be sad to see one of them head home after tonight, it is probably going to be a great forty minutes of basketball.</p>
<p>For more Badgers coverage, check out the SB Nation<a target="_blank" href="http://www.buckys5thquarter.com/"> Wisconsin Blog Bucky's 5th Quarter.</a></p>
https://chicago.sbnation.com/2011/3/24/2070545/2011-ncaa-sweet-16-badgers-ready-for-defending-national-runner-upJoe _2011-03-20T23:00:05-05:002011-03-20T23:00:05-05:002011 NCAA Tournament: Illinois Fails In Upset Bid Of Kansas 73-59
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<p>The Illini could not pull off the upset of No.1 seeded Kansas, and their season comes to an end. The Illini played the Jayhawks tough for most of the game, but in the end the size advantage of Kansas was just too much. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.hailtotheorange.com/2011/3/20/2062852/illini-fall-to-kansas-73-59-and-the-2010-2011-season-comes-to-a-close">The Illinois Blog Hail to the Orange</a>, reflects on how it all played out.</p>
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<p>The Illini have played their last game of the 2010/2011 season, and like 67 other teams' seasons will be, it ended with a loss in the NCAA tournament. The Illini played very hard for the full forty minutes, and for about 36 minutes, they were within striking distance of a much stronger opponent.</p>
<p>To a large extent, the game played out like we thought it would, with the size and power advantage of the Morris twins being the difference in this game, and a big difference at that, as the two big men totaled 41 points and 25 rebounds. It was just too much for Mike Tisdale and Mike Davis, who gave great efforts but could not quite get over the hump.</p>
<p>Mike & Mike did get some production by stepping back and getting some separation, with Tisdale getting 13 points and 11 rebounds and Davis getting 17 points and 7 rebounds.</p>
<p>Demetri McCamey was dogged all night by the Kansas defense, and while he may have had some opportunities at points in this game, the shots were not falling, as he only got 6 points and 7 assists. Brandon Paul who was stellar against UNLV had a rough game with just 6 points.</p>
<p>At guard though, I have to tip my hat to D.J. Richardson overcoming his slump, which must have challenged his confidence, with a 15 point game off of the bench. Deej getting his groove back in these last two games is a good sign for next year, as he will be an anchor of that starting lineup.</p>
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https://chicago.sbnation.com/2011/3/20/2062900/2011-ncaa-tournament-illinois-fails-in-upset-bid-of-kansas-73-59Joe _2011-03-20T21:11:29-05:002011-03-20T21:11:29-05:00NCAA Tournament 2011: Illinois Hanging Tough With Kansas 33-29 At Half
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<p>The Illini are trying to do the improbable tonight as they attempt to take down a No.1 seed, something they have never done in their history. After falling behind by 11 points early, the Illinois defense managed to get some key stops and swing the momentum back their way toward the end of the half.</p>
<p>Mike Davis, who had 22 points in the blowout Illini win over <span class="caps">UNLV</span> on Friday night, has 11 points already. Demetri McCamey, the other Illinois go to player has just 3 points early. For Illinois to have a shot at winning this game, they will need their senior point guard to step up in the second half.</p>
<p>The Morris twins have been very productive so far, totaling 15 points between the two of them.</p>
<p>Whoever wins this game will advance to the Sweet Sixteen to face No. 12 seed surprise Richmond.</p>
https://chicago.sbnation.com/2011/3/20/2062744/ncaa-tournament-2011-illinois-hanging-tough-with-kansas-33-29-at-halfJoe _