Catching Up

Now that Spring Break is more or less here, and work has stopped kicking my butt, I can resume focusing on sports.

HOOps
First things first, we beat Tech! It was a great team effort by the Hoos. We were real solid defensively and Jeff Jones did a great job shutting down Delaney (11 pts on 3-13 shooting). Offensively we had real smooth ball movement, and with the exception of inbounds plays (which are far and away the worst thing these eyes have ever witnessed), the offense was pretty much as good as we could have hoped for. The quick ball movement resulted in some serious throwdowns by Scott, Tunji, and Assane. The game was exciting. The crowd was in it. And like I predicted, the Hokies were heading for the exits early. The final was 75-61, which if I'm not mistaken, is real close to my prediction, just sayin. Players of the game were Jamil Tucker and TUNJI!. Sylven was a baller yet again with 19 points and 9 boards, but that's expected. Tucker shot very well (4-6, 3-5) and finished with 13 points and 9 boards. Tunji only played 6 minutes, but had 6 huge points (4 of which came on monster dunks) and really got the crowd into it. It was good seeing Tunji playing well again...or for the first time.

The Hoos followed that performance by returning to their old form and coming out FLAT at N.C. State. I wasn't able to watch the game live, but due to the glory of ESPN360, I was able to watch as much as I could. I got through the first 10 minutes of the first half before I had had enough. We couldn't shoot, couldn't play defense, it sucked. The Hoos ended up making a comeback to end the first half, before blowing it in the beginning of the second half. Then we made another comeback late in the second half, but you can only come back from so many double digit deficits. We lost 72-67. Mamadi was a silver lining as he finally played well and finished with 11 points. This is what blows my mind. The starting 5 was Baker, Tat, Jones, Sylven, and Assane. While I don't have a problem with the lineup (it's been the starting 5 that Dave has used during the late season turnaround), I do have a problem with the fact that he uses the same starting 5 to start the 2nd half regardless. Common sense tells me that you play who's hot, not who started the first half. Clearly those 5 had trouble doing anything well together on the court in the first half. They let the Wolfpack put up a big lead and didn't seem to care. After various cominations of other players worked real hard to get the Hoos back in the game, Dave puts those same 5 back on the court to start the 2nd half. To the surprise of noone, State goes on another run and the Hoos are back in the same hole. That really frustrates me, and is one thing that really needs to change. So goes life as UVA fan.

Various Baketball
Refs 101 Wake 91
Once again, Duke received some serious home court calls. Wake really should have won this game though . But they played soooo poorly late in the 1st half. Remember how I said UVA came out flat against N.C. State? Well, just magnify that by 10, and that's how badly Wake was playing towards the end of the 1st half. It was awful. They turned it over, they turned it over, they turned it over, they fouled on the offensive end, they fouled on the defensive end, they couldn't get the ball near the rim, they couldn't prevent Gerald Henderson from hanging on the rim. Give Wake credit for not quitting and giving Duke a run for their money in the 2nd half. Henderson played really well and finished with 35 points. He's the only Duke player that I can stand because he doesn't just set up shop around the perimeter and throw up 3's all day. Man, I hate Duke.

UConn 93 Marquette 82
The Huskies are proving they are still legit without Dyson. Keep in mind, however, that Marquette was playing this game without top guard Dominic James, who broke his foot early in the first half and is sadly done for the season. Huge loss for the the Eagles. A.J. Price was a monster with 36 points. UConn is making a strong bid for a 1 seed come tourney time.

Providence drops #1 Pitt 81-73
Pitt's Big East title hopes took a big shot after losing to Providence. Providence meanwhile is hoping that big win gets them off the bubble. They are sitting at 17-11 (9-7), I'm thinking they get in as they should win at Rutgers, but then fall to Nova, finishing 19-12 (10-8). Blair was in foul trouble all game, but still managed to score 17 points and grab 8 boards in 30 minutes. Fields, who I previously mentioned as one of the top point guards in the country, has done next to nothing since I made that claim. He only scored 7 points on 2-7 shooting and must do a better job shooting the ball if Pitt wants to make a run in the tourney.

The Miami Game
I'm running out of time, but the Hoos play the U tonight in a huge ACC game for the Canes. They're on the bubble and pretty much need to win their final 3 conference games to make it to the dance. Miami is currently 16-10 (5-8). UVA has nothing to play for, except the spoiler role, and maybe a spot in the prestigious CBI. Stop Jack McClinton, win the game. It's that simple. Miami is one dimensional. Unfortunately, McClinton shoots 47% from 3 and is really good.

Prediction: 76-72 Hoos