Rick Pitino is a traitor. Pure and simple. And not only that, somehow he was mesmerized by an undead and turned. And yet, in the Sweet Sixteen, I found myself rooting for a vampire for the first time since David Boreanaz's portrayal of Angelus in Buffy the Vampire Slayer and its spinoff - Angel. [Ed. Note - Pepster is saying Pitino is a vampire, in case that wasn't clear.] But despite St. John's intensity and athleticism, Duke managed to escape into the Elite 8.
Not all of the favorites - or more specifically our collective champions, were as fortunate. All told, we lost 5 of our champions, including the aforementioned St. John's. Our champions, with the remaining selections in bold and all caps, are: Alabama, ARIZONA, CONNECTICUT, DUKE, Florida, Houston, ILLINOIS, Iowa State, Kansas, Kentucky, MICHIGAN, Michigan State, North Carolina, PURDUE, St. John's and Virginia. That leaves us with 6 of the remaining Elite 8 - with nobody having selected Iowa or Tennessee.
Not all of the favorites - or more specifically our collective champions, were as fortunate. All told, we lost 5 of our champions, including the aforementioned St. John's. Our champions, with the remaining selections in bold and all caps, are: Alabama, ARIZONA, CONNECTICUT, DUKE, Florida, Houston, ILLINOIS, Iowa State, Kansas, Kentucky, MICHIGAN, Michigan State, North Carolina, PURDUE, St. John's and Virginia. That leaves us with 6 of the remaining Elite 8 - with nobody having selected Iowa or Tennessee.
And speaking of Iowa and Tennessee, we had three upsets in the Sweet Sixteen, including the Hawkeyes and the Volunteers. Joining them were the Illinois Illini. Sadly, nobody earned any bonus points for these upsets, but several people did select Illinois and Tennessee into the Elite 8. Only one picked Iowa to advance this far. So, congratulations to Paul Cummings 1 of Palm City, Florida, as you earned the "Pick of the Sweet Sixteen" Award. And with his prescient selections, Paul jumps up into third place.
And speaking of Iowa, this is the first time Iowa has made it to the Elite 8 since 1987. Iowa entered the tournament as a solid 2 seed behind UNLV in the west. The Hawkeyes were coached by the now-legendary Dr. Tom Davis, who them was in his first season at Iowa. He had on his bench as an assistant coach, the reprehensible Bruce Pearl. Iowa finished the season 30-5, and traveled to Tucson, Arizona for its first-round matchup against Santa Clara, which Iowa easily won 99-76. The Hawkeyes were paced by stars Kevin Gamble and Roy Marble, with Gamble scoring 18 points and Marble adding 16 with 7 rebounds.
In the second round, Iowa needed all of Marble's 28 points and Gamble's 14. Point guard, and person who looked older in college than he did in the NBA B.J. Armstrong added 16 points as Iowa defeated UTEP by 2, 84-82. UTEP was led by star - and should be NBA Hall of Famer - Tim Hardaway, who had 11 points, 2 rebounds, 6 assists, 2 steals, and 1 block. The Miners were led in scoring by Mike Richmond (18 points) and Jeep Jackson (16 points) but succumbed to the Hawkeyes, who advanced to the Sweet Sixteen.
In the Sweet Sixteen in Seattle, Iowa faced off against Oklahoma, and the Sooners gave them everything they could handle. But Iowa advanced to the Elite 8 93-91 in overtime, behind Kevin Gamble's 26 points, 2 rebounds, 4 assists, and 2 steals. Armstrong added a double-double with 16 points and 10 assists. Marble had 11 points and 7 rebounds. Oklahoma, which had future pros Harvey Grant, Stacey King - a future teammate of B.J. Armstrong - and Ricky Grace, were led by Tim McCalister's 26 points and David Johnson's 20 points and 12 rebounds. Iowa headed to the Elite 8, where they found the 1 seed, UNLV.
UNLV's team was loaded with college talent. Its starters were Mark Wade and Freddie Banks in the backcourt, Gerald Paddio and Armon Gilliam at the forwards, and Jarvis Basnight in the middle. Gary Graham, who played on the still greatest high school team ever at Baltimore Dunbar, came off the bench. For Iowa, B.J. Armstrong and Kevin Gamble led the team with 18 points each, with future NBAer Brad Lohaus contributing 12 points and 7 rebounds. Roy Marble had a difficult day shooting, going 3-10 from the field and 3-7 from the free throw line. This wasn't enough for Iowa, as they fell 84-81. Gilliam led the way for the Runnin' Rebels with 27 points and 10 rebounds. Paddio added 20 points and Banks contributed 17. Mark Wade, running an efficient offense, had 12 assists to go with his 3 points and 4 rebounds. UNLV headed to the Final Four in New Orleans, along with Indiana, Syracuse, and Providence.
In the Final Four, UNLV fell to Indiana 97-93. In the other semifinals, Syracuse defeated fellow Big East member Providence 77-63. Indiana famously defeated Syracuse in the final 74-73, behind a last-second shot by Keith Smart, which helped earn him the MOP award. The leading scorers for the entire tournament were Steve Alford, the sharpshooter for Indiana, and Rony Seikaly, the center and future world-renowned DJ for Syracuse.
Now, back to our tournament ...
So Houston lost, but its coach Kelvin Sampson will be at the Final Four (or at least he should be). And I do not mean in the "Just in town to attend the NABC annual convention" type of way. He is a finalist for the Basketball Hall of Fame, with the announcement of this year's class taking place on April 4. He SHOULD make it. Joining him should be Dick Motta, Jerry Crawford, Mike D'Antoni, Marques Johnson, and a heavy dose of women ... Jennifer Azzi, Elena Della Donne, Chamique Holdsclaw, Candace Parker, and the 1996 US Women's National Team.
The Sweet Sixteen had two standout plays which need mentioning here. The first, and most important play, was Trey Kaufman-Renn's tip-in off a missed shot with .7 seconds left for Purdue to advance to the Elite 8. The second was Alvaro Fulgeiras' dunk for Iowa against Nebraska off a virtual-length-of-the court inbound pass with just under one minute to go. Fulgeiras, who was fouled on the dunk, completed the three-point play to allow Iowa to defeat Nebraska. More on this play, well now.
Stats of the Day
4. Arizona had 6 players score 14 points or more in its victory over Arkansas. This is the first time this has happened in NCAA history.
3. Meanwhile, Zero Illinois players scored 15 points or more in its Sweet Sixteen win over the Houston Cougars. ZERO. It was a very sloppy, defensive-oriented game, but still. ZERO?
2. 10! Number of steals by Notre Dame's Hannah Hidalgo. Although this falls short of the single-game record set by Ticha Penichiero of Old Dominion - who had 14 in a game - Hidalgo has already set the record for most steals in one NCAA Tournament with 24 - this year. The men's record is 8, shared by Ty Lawson from North Carolina in 2009, Russ Smith from Louisville in 2013, and most recently by JD Notae of Arkansas in 2022.
1. Four. 4. Literally 4. The number of Nebraska players on the Court for the Alvaro Fulgeiras dunked mentioned above - AFTER A NEBRASKA TIMEOUT!!! Coach Fred Hoiberg has taken the blame for this, but there is a whole lot of blame to go around on this. No truth to the rumor that Nebraska was confused because of all the 6-on-6 basketball played in Iowa High Schools.
Players of the Day
12. Trey Kaufman-Renn, Purdue - I am going to 12 just so I can include TKR in this list. 20 points, 8 rebounds, and the aforementioned tip-in.
11. Yaxel Lendeborg, Michigan - 23 points, 11 rebounds, 6 assists, 2 steals
10. MiLaysia Fulwiley, LSU - 28 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 steal, 1 block
9. Pryce Sandfort, Nebraska - 25 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists
8. Cameron Boozer, Duke - 22 points, 10 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 block
7. Sara Strong, UConn - 21 points, 10 rebounds, 2 assists, 5 steals, 2 blocks
6. Toby Fournier, Duke - 22 points, 9 rebounds, 1 assist, 3 steals, 1 block
5. Darius Acuff, Jr., Arkansas - 28 points, 2 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal
4. Mikayla Shakes, Vanderbilt - 26 points, 8 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 steals, 1 block
3. Tremon Mack, Texas - 29 points, 3 rebounds, 1 steal
2. LaBaron Philon, Alabama - 35 points, 7 rebounds, 5 assists, 1 steal
1. Hannah Hidalgo, Notre Dame - 31 points, 11 rebounds, 7 assists, 10 steals
And, I would also like to compliment Sinickal, the person hosting the other pool on this site, for his mention of an athlete's accomplishment in the Women's NCAA Tournament during his Sweet Sixteen posts. Welcome to the 20th Century!
Standings after the Sweet Sixteen
1. Max Macon 2 - 91 - Florida/ARIZONA
Rich Samuels - 91 - ARIZONA/DUKE
3. Paul Cummings - 87 - DUKE/PURDUE
4. Jason Spuhler - 86 - Houston/ARIZONA
5. Stephanie Henderson - 84 - ILLINOIS/ARIZONA
Jeff Plamondon 1 - 84 - MICHIGAN/Florida
Steven Usma 2 - 84 - DUKE/ARIZONA
8. Brigadier General Kareem Montague - 83 - ARIZONA/Michigan State
Measha Williams (Buddy Canes 1 Bracket) - 83 - DUKE/ARIZONA
10. Glen Merchant - 82 - DUKE/ARIZONA
Steven Usma 1 - 82 - ARIZONA/Michigan State
12. Jonathan Cox 2 - 81 - Houston/ARIZONA
13. Ashley Poer 1 - 80 - MICHIGAN/Houston
Pepe Sosa 1 - 80 - ARIZONA/Florida
Steven Usma 5 - 80 - Florida/Iowa State
Chuck Whitcomb - 80 - DUKE/MICHIGAN
17. Crew Ferguson - 79 - DUKE/ARIZONA
Kyle Henderson - 79 - UCONN/Gonzaga
Brittany Sosa - 79 - Florida/ARIZONA
Cheryl Spuhler - 79 - Florida/PURDUE
Josh Zdrowak - 79 - DUKE/MICHIGAN
22. Henry Transecki - 78 - Florida/Iowa State
23. Jim Coleman - 77 - ARIZONA/ILLINOIS
Karen Katz 2 - 77 - ARIZONA/Michigan State
25. Mitchell K (Lamb) - 76 - ARIZONA/Houston
26. Brent Bellinger A - 75 - ARIZONA/Florida
Brent Bellinger B -75 - MICHIGAN/Michigan State
Floyd Fonte 1 - 75 - MICHIGAN/Florida
Mango Merchant - 75 - ARIZONA/DUKE
30. Daniel Barsky 1 - 74 - ARIZONA/Florida
John Hedgpeth - 74 - DUKE/MICHIGAN
Ty Hedgpeth - 74 - DUKE/ARIZONA
Paul Kludt - 74 - Florida/PURDUE
Max Macon 4 - 74 - PURDUE/DUKE
Benny Merchant - 74 - MICHIGAN/UCONN
Silas Nichols - 74 - MICHIGAN/UCONN
Dave Piasecki - 74 - Florida/Iowa State
Justin Yung - 74 - MICHIGAN/DUKE
39. Carolyn Fowler - 73 - UCONN/PURDUE
Mark Holbert 2 - 73 - UCONN/PURDUE
Matt Hopps - 73 - ARIZONA/Michigan State
Guy Hughes - 73 - Florida/MICHIGAN
Adam Jorgensen - 73 - ARIZONA/ILLINOIS
Karen Katz 1 - 73 - ARIZONA/Houston
David Kennedy - 73 - DUKE/MICHIGAN
Mac Kroesen - 73 - MICHIGAN/ILLINOIS
Martha Kroesen - 73 - Florida/MICHIGAN
Monte Lambert 1 - 73 - Houston/ARIZONA
Mike Wolff 1 - 73 - DUKE/MICHIGAN
50. Megan Corrado - 72 - Houston/ARIZONA
Natalie Moon - 72 - DUKE/Iowa State
Vincent Plamondon - 72 - DUKE/PURDUE
Katie Zdrowak - 72 - UCONN/MICHIGAN
54. Daniel Barsky 2 - 71 - Houston/ARIZONA
Si "Papa Si" Nichols - 71 - ARIZONA/Michigan State
William Pujals - 71 - DUKE/MICHIGAN
Carolyn Fowler & Jane Reynolds - 71 - Alabama/DUKE
Shane Jernigan 2 - 71 - ILLINOIS/MICHIGAN
59. Annette Pritchard 1 - 70 - Florida/ARIZONA
Jonathan Wasserman - 70 - DUKE/MICHIGAN
Biscuit Zdrowak - 70 - BYU/DUKE
62. Duncan Merchant - 69 - ARIZONA/DUKE
Jonathan Cox 2 - 69 - DUKE/ARIZONA
64. Jenna Finkelstein - 68 - Florida/ARIZONA
Blake Jackson - 68 - ARIZONA/Florida
66. Joel Chernoff - 67 - MICHIGAN/DUKE
Barbara Curlett - 67 - Florida/MICHIGAN
Gracie Fonte - 67 - Florida/MICHIGAN
Hazy Frank - 67 - MICHIGAN/Michigan State
Day Yi 2 - 67 - DUKE/MICHIGAN
71. Colleen Giamberini - 66 - MICHIGAN/Houston
Braeden Helland - 66 - Florida/MICHIGAN
Mike Litsey - 66 - Florida/MICHIGAN
Steven Usma 3 - 66 - DUKE/MICHIGAN
75. James Garvin - 65 - Florida/PURDUE
Shane Jernigan 1 - 65 - MICHIGAN/DUKEB
Max Macon 1 - 65 - Florida/PURDUE
Salvatore Plamondon - 65 - Florida/MICHIGAN
Measha Williams (Canes 2 Bracket) - 65 - ARIZONA/UCONN
Day Yi 1 - 65 - St. John's/ARIZONA
Bubba Zdrowak - 65 - Florida/MICHIGAN
82. Randy Bennett - 64 - MICHIGAN/Florida
Paul Cummings 2 - 64 - ARIZONA/Michigan State
Dwayne Cushman - 64 - DUKE/ARIZONA
Kingfish Parham 2 - 64 - DUKE/Arkansas
Pepe Sosa 2 - 64 - ARIZONA/Florida
Amanda Staudt - 64 - ARIZONA/ILLINOIS
Measha Williams (Canes 3 Bracket) - 64 - DUKE/ARIZONA
89. Trey Angus - 63 - DUKE/MICHIGAN
Floyd Fonte 2 - 63 - Iowa State/Houston
Alyssa Hopps - 63 - DUKE/MICHIGAN
Sean McInerney 2 - 63 - MICHIGAN/Florida
Sean McInerney 4 - 63 - Florida/MICHIGAN
George Walks 3 - 63 - Kansas/Gonzaga
George Walks 4 - 63 - Florida/MICHIGAN
Keith Zdrowak - 63 - ARIZONA/DUKE
97. Paul Cummings 3 - 62 - MICHIGAN/DUKE
Justine Frank - 62 - Florida/MICHIGAN
Rylee Montague - 62 - MICHIGAN/Michigan State
Sasha Moon - 62 - Florida/ARIZONA
Jeff Plamondon - 62 - ARIZONA/Houston
Lily Spuhler - 62 - Florida/ARIZONA
103. Megan Cox - 61 - Virginia/DUKE
Jenna Finkelstein - 61 - Florida/ARIZONA
Jacey Fowler - 61 - North Carolina/Alabama
Jane Reynolds - 61 - Florida/MICHIGAN
Javier Rodriguez 2 - 61 - DUKE/ARIZONA
Jasmine Tran - 61 - Florida/Alabama
109. Skip LaForte - 60 - Michigan State/ARIZONA
Monte Lamber 2 - 60 - ARIZONA/Florida
Floyd Fonte 3 - 60 - Michigan State/MICHIGAN
Javier Rodriguez 1 - 60 - DUKE/MICHIGAN
113. Hannah Sosa - 59 - Florida/PURDUE
Matt Thibaut - 59 - Florida/MICHIGAN
Stacia Wilkaitis - 59 - Florida/ARIZONA
116. Chris Simmons - 58 - ARIZONA/Florida
Stephanie Soplop - 58 - UCONN/PURDUE
118. Katie Kollmeyer - 57 - MICHIGAN/Michigan State
Ashley Poer 2 - 57 - ARIZONA/DUKE
Caroline Spuhler - 57 - Florida/Texas Tech
Steven Usma 4 - 57 - MICHIGAN/Florida
George Walks 2 - 57 - ARIZONA/Kansas
123. Arlene Amo Hopps - 56 - UCONN/Virginia
Max Macon 3 - 56 - Houston/ARIZONA
Annette Pritchard 2 - 56 - ARIZONA/DUKE
Marcus Jackson - 56 - DUKE/MICHIGAN
127. Dawn Lamb - 55 - Kansas/Gonzaga
Jonathan Wasserman 2 - 55 - MICHIGAN/DUKE
129. Stephanie Soplop 1 - 54 - Florida/Miami
130. Keith W. (Lamb) - 53 - Houston/ARIZONA
George Walks 1 - 53 - DUKE/ARIZONA
132. Sean McInerney 1 - 52 - DUKE/Iowa State
133. Colbie (Lamb) - 51 - Kansas/Iowa State
Amy Zdrowak - 51 - DUKE/MICHIGAN
135. Quinn Jackson - 50 - Kentucky/MICHIGAN
136. Keith W 1 (Lamb) - 49 - Kansas/Iowa State
Mark Holbert 1 - 49 - ARIZONA/Florida
138. Allison Parker - 47 - Virginia/North Carolina
139. Mike Wolff 2 - 46 - DUKE/Texas Tech
140. Kingfish Parham 1 - 44 - ARIZONA/Florida
141. Barkley Sosa - 42 - UCONN/Gonzaga
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