[ESPN]
(5) MICHIGAN STATE over (12) Temple
The Spartans didn't get their usual input from phenomenal guard Drew Neitzel, but they got past the Owls without too much trouble today, 72-61. MSU got contributions from all around, and Tom Izzo's club is now slated for a difficult matchup with our Panthers, one that could end up being a heck of a ballgame on Saturday. To make a game of it, though, they will need more out of Neitzel.
Izzo on the new, spread out style of scoring employed by his club: "'It's important for our present and our future,' he said. 'But don't kid yourself, Drew Neitzel is still very valuable in different ways, how they played him, what they did. We are going to need him if we're going to get anywhere in this tournament.'"
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(1) KANSAS over (16) Portland St.
Big shocker there. Hope that doesn't screw up your bracket.
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(3) XAVIER over (14) GEORGIA
The Musketeers were finally able to end the insane run of Georgia's, but not until the Bulldogs gave them a decent scare. Georgia really is a heck of a story, but I guess the conditions were too normal for them to play well.
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(6) MARQUETTE over (11) KENTUCKY
The only good game of the afternoon session. Marquette could never really pull away but was clearly the better team. Kentucky finishes of its extremely dissapointing year with yet another loss. First Big East win of the tourney (Pitt went final a few minutes later).
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(8) UNLV over (9) Kent. St.
These 8-9 games almost always turn out to be meaningless, but UNLV absolutely dominated. This one didn't even get a look from CBS in my area since it was such a blowout.
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(6) PURDUE over (11) BAYLOR
The Boilers controlled this one pretty much the whole way over the Bears of Baylor, who were just happy (and lucky) to even be in the tournament.
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(3) STANFORD over (14) CORNELL
The Brain Game. Unfortunately for the Big Red, even though the schools might be even in the classroom, not so much on the hardwood. 77-53 Stanford.
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(11) KANSAS ST. over (6) USC
The first upset to go final today. Props to Jesse for picking this one (although I had it, too). Beasley had 23, Mayo 20.
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(2) DUKE over (15) BELMONT
Game of the day, and game of the tourney for the moment. The Bruins led with less than a minute to go, but Duke got a coast-to-coast layup from Henderson, Belmont couldn't execute an inbounds play with 4 seconds to go, and a halfcourter wouldn't fall as the buzzer sounded. (Yes, a 15-2 upset HAS happened before--but this would have been cool)
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(4) WASHINGTON ST. over (13) Winthrop
This game was tied at the half, but ended up being a monster blowout. 71-40, Cougars.
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(9) TEXAS A&M over (8) BYU
Another likely-meaningless 8-9 game. This one was a bit closer, but A&M got it done by 5.
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(5) NOTRE DAME over (12) George Mason
No trouble for ND here, despite the historic trouble 5 seeds have and the George Mason magic.
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(1) UCLA over (16) Miss. Valley State
Not even close.
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(3) WISCONSIN over (14) Cal St. Fullerton
This game was actually close for a while, but the Badgers pulled through with their experience and toughness.
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(7) WVU over (10) Arizona
A lot of people liked the upset here, and Arizona made a game out of it, but WVU got clutch scoring from all over, and will advance to play Duke.
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That's all for Day 1. My bracket? I was perfect through the afternoon session (when there were no upsets). I've missed 2 games so far. Jimmy Janis leads our pool, having only missed 1 game.
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We have solid coverage of our trip to Bradenton for the Bucs-Yankees game in the works, so please be patient.
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