And now... your Elite Eight, and how they got here.
Beasts of the East
We won't have an all-Big East Final Four... but the beasts of the East make up half the Elite Eight and could send as many as three teams to the tournament's final weekend for the first time since 1985. The Big East is guaranteed at least one representative in the Final Four, as conference rivals Villanova and Pittsburgh will meet in the East Regional Final in Boston. The Wildcats won their last matchup, 67-57 at the Philadelphia Spectrum on January 28.Memphis Gets Out-Memphis-ed
A stifling pressure defense and high-octane offense are usually the trademarks of a John Calipari team... but Mizzou beat Memphis in both phases of the game on the way to a 102-91 victory. It was the first time since Calipari's arrival that his Tigers have allowed 100 points in a game.Missouri coach Mike Anderson was the last Conference USA coach to beat Memphis, back when he was running Alabama-Birmingham. Memphis has won 62 straight Conference USA games since.
Syracuse Season Ends with a Thud
Blake Griffin on the drive. Jonny Flynn steps in, trying to draw a charge. And that one physical confrontation summarized the Oklahoma/Syracuse game...Flynn -- and the Orange -- got flattened.
The Sooners dominated inside and out, and move on to face the Tar Heels in the South Regional Final.
Switching Sides?
Rick Pitino's Cardinals ended Russ Pennell's season as interim head coach of the Arizona Wildcats with a dominant 103-64 victory. Next year, Pitino could be on the other bench -- he's reportedly a candidate to take over in Tucscon.What, me? Worry?
Carolina coach Roy Williams claimed Ty Lawson's toe was "about 60 percent" for the Heels' game with Gonzaga. If he ever gets to 100 percent, he'll be truly scary. Lawson dominated the first half, scoring 17 of his 19 points and giving UNC a lead they'd never relinquish.Meanwhile, in Arizona, the dark cloud of an NCAA investigation continued to hover over the Connecticut Huskies... but on the court, all was sunny, as UConn advanced to the Elite Eight.
Sweet Sixteen Recaps
- (1) Pittsburgh 60, (4) Xavier 55 - (East Region/Boston)
- (3) Villanova 77, (2) Duke 54 - (East Region/Boston)
- (1) Louisville 103, (12) Arizona 64 - (Midwest Region/Indianapolis)
- (2) Michigan State 67, (3) Kansas 62 - (Midwest Region/Indianapolis)
- (1) North Carolina 98, (4) Gonzaga 77 - (South Region/Memphis)
- (2) Oklahoma 84, (3) Syracuse 71 - (South Region/Memphis)
- (1) Connecticut 72, (2) Purdue 60 - (West Region/Glendale, AZ)
- (3) Missouri 102, (2) Memphis 91 - (West Region/Glendale, AZ)
