(3) Louisville 79, (2) Tennessee 60: Louisville's smothering defense sucked the life out of Tennessee's usually-dynamic offense, holding the high-scoring Vols to a mere 34% shooting from the floor.
The Volunteers closed to within one point just after the half, but Louisville's Earl Clark (17 points, 12 boards) keyed a 13-5 run that put the Cardinals up for good. Senior guard Chris Lofton shot just 3-for-15 from the floor in his final game for the Volunteers; his poor shooting may have been related to an ankle "tweak" he suffered earlier in the week, Louisville's aggressive and varied defenses, or a combination of the two.
Rick Pitino teams have now made eight trips to the round of 16 -- and advanced every time. They'll face North Carolina in the East Regional Final on Saturday.
(1) North Carolina 68, (4) Washington State 47: The Tar Heels had been this tournament's "irresistible force," rolling up 100-plus points in each of their first two games. The Cougars of Washington State were the "immovable object," holding opponents to scores from before the shot-clock era.
What happens when an irresistible force meets an immovable object?
Carolina wins.
The Tar Heels dominated another opponent -- but instead of their usual highlight-reel dunks, Carolina won with defense. They held the Cougars to 32% shooting from the field and a pitiful 2-of-15 from three. Washington State's scoring total -- 47 points -- was 20 shy of their season average.
The Heels will face third-seeded Louisville in the regional final on Saturday. Louisville has arguably been the most impressive team in the tournament not wearing Carolina power blue -- but Roy Williams will have one major advantage: the game will be played in Charlotte.
Midwest Region
(10) Davidson 73, (3) Wisconsin 56: OK, this is sort of getting ridiculous.
I suppose we're well past the point of being surprised by Stephen Curry's continued dominance in this tournament. The Big 10 champion Wisconsin Badgers became Curry's latest victim in a game that wasn't even particularly close. It was tied after the first, but Davidson dominated the second, with Curry single-handedly outscoring the Badgers, 22-20. He finished with 33 points -- toping 30 for the third time in three 2008 tournament games (and the fourth time in four career tournament games). And lest you think he's a one-trick pony, he also chipped in four steals on the defensive end.
Can Curry and the Wildcats continue this run against Kansas on Sunday?
I don't think so... but I'm well past the point of saying they can't.
(1) Kansas 72, (12) Villanova 57: The Sweet Sixteen's other Wildcats didn't fare as well last night, as the Kansas Jayhawks left little doubt as to who was the best team on Friday night. Bill Self's club took the lead less than three minutes into the first half and never relinquished it, coasting to a dominating 72-57 victory.
Villanova is known for excellent guard play, but it was the Kansas guards that carried the day. Brandon Rush led Kansas with 16 points, Russell Robinson had 15 with five assists, and Mario Chalmers chipped in 14, and the Jayhawk backcourt trio held Nova's star of the tournament, Scottie Reynolds, to 11 points on 4-of-13 shooting.
