Thoughts on Tonight's Games

Back from the bar...

Georgia Tech 72, Nevada 67

--Nevada got several quality looks in the closing minute, but couldn't score when it counted. Georgia Tech's Paul Hewitt coached a tremendous game and is winning over folks 'round these parts. Kirk Snyder, Nevada's star, struggled in the second half, going 2 for 12. Similarly, Todd Okeson went for 1 for 10 in the final 20 minutes. A shame, as the Wolf Pack were two spurts away from advancing to the Elite Eight.
Game Ball Goes To Marvin Lewis for scoring 23 points after B.J. Elder went down with an ankle sprain.

Kansas 100, UAB 74

--The Jayhawks are more experienced and athletic than the Blazers -- and it showed. Kansas played their best basketball of the season. The Blazers never really had a chance, seeming listless at times. Bill Self is a winner wherever he coaches.
Game Ball Goes To Wayne Simien, of course. A monster night. 30 points, nine rebounds and five assists.

Duke 72, Illinois 62

--The Fighting Illini hung around admirably, but were never able to get the defensive stops - and defensive rebounds - necessarily to seriously threaten the Dukies in the second half. J.J. Redick made a couple of timely buckets down the stretch, Shelden Williams was a force inside and Luol Deng was sensational when it counted. Even Shavlik Randolph impressed.
Game Ball Goes To Luol Deng for scoring 18 points on 7 for 11 shooting and making all his free throws. He stepped up to replace Chris Duhon's missing production.

Xavier 79, Texas 71

--As expected, the game of the night. The Musketeers played well as a team, defended with occasional quickness and responded to numerous Texas spurts. Credit Thad Matta for advancing Xavier to the school's first Elite Eight. Credit Rick Barnes with losing another big game.
Game Ball Goes To Romain Sato for scoring 27 points and going 14 for 17 from the free throw line. For his performance, I'll plug his new website, http://www.starinanylanguage.com/, a site which reminds us that Sato speaks six different languages, English, French, Gkadiri, Sango, Swahili and Yakoma.