Mar
10
1996 Kentucky vs. 1995 UCLA, First Half
Filed Under Tourney History, NCAA Basketball | Leave a Comment
by Chris Maynard, chris@hoops4thesoul.com
The Southeast Regional semifinal between 1996 Kentucky and 1995 UCLA has been a tight one to say the least. The favored Wildcats stormed out of the gates before UCLA settled down and got the O’Bannon brothers going. Kentucky’s star guard Tony Delk missed most of the latter part of the second half with foul trouble, and the Bruins have taken advantage. However, the Wildcats lead 42-41 at the break thanks to an athletic block and dunk off a steal by Ron Mercer in the final seconds of the first half.
Mar
9
by Chris Maynard, chris@hoops4thesoul.com
In the final preview before the Sweet Sixteen Tournament gets started on Monday, 1999 UCONN takes on 2005 UNC. Read the preview — enough has been written. Tournament starts tomorrow night with West and Southeast Regional games being played. Tip time is 6:10 (central time). Game action will be uploaded by halves, starting with 1996 Kentucky versus 1995 UCLA.
Mar
9
by Chris Maynard, chris@hoops4thesoul.com
The Midwest Regional of the Sweet Sixteen Tournament of the last 18 NCAA champions features a game between the combined 1991/1992 Duke Blue Devils and the 2003 Syracuse Orangemen. While this game is taking place in Syracuse country — Madison Square Garden — the Orangemen are going to need a miraculous effort from stud freshman Carmelo Anthony and running mates Hakim Warrick, Gerry McNamara, Josh Pace and Billy Edelin in order to just compete with Coach K’s defining Duke team featuring Christian Laettner, Bobby Hurley and the unrelated Hill brothers (Grant and Thomas). Syracuse Head Coach Jim Boeheim will need his famous 2-3 match-up zone to be at its best against the lethal weapons of these Dookie Monsters.
Mar
8
by Chris Maynard, chris@hoops4thesoul.com
A battle of physical big men and outstanding three-point shooters sets the stage as 1994 Arkansas faces 2004 UCONN in the Sweet Sixteen Tournament. The Hogs are led by the “Big Nasty” Corliss Williamson, who will be going up against Defensive Player of the Year and fellow beast Emeka Okafor. 2004 UCONN gets its scoring punch from dynamic junior guard Ben Gordon while the Razorbacks thrive on placing constant pressure on the offensive and defensive sides of the ball. This game will be a battle of wills that will come down to the match up between Williamson and Okafor and to which team wants it a little more in the game’s final tight minutes.
Mar
7
by Chris Maynard, chris@hoops4thesoul.com
The Midwest Regional features an interesting game in the Sweet Sixteen, a combined 2006 & 2007 Florida Gators’ squad versus the upstart 1997 Arizona Wildcats, a team which knocked off three of the greatest programs in college basketball history in Kansas, North Carolina and Kentucky (all were number-one seeds) to capture an unexpected title. Arizona throws a ridiculous four-seam fastball of guards–freshman Mike Bibby, juniors Miles Simon and Michael Dickerson, and sophomore Jason Terry–who are all deadly speed burners who can stroke it from the outside. Florida’s starting five of Joakim Noah, Al Horford, Corey Brewer, Taurean Green and Lee Humphrey care less about stats and more about getting wins. While guards win championships in college, this Florida team goes against the grain, and has the front line and athleticism to hold off Arizona in a thriller in Indianapolis. With repeat championships a rarity in this day and age of parity, the Gators are a special bunch looking to lunch on Arizona and give them the ol’ Gator Chomp.
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