Duke vs. VCU Live Blog: 2007 NCAA Tournament

Tonight Duke plays Virginia Commonwealth in the first game of the nightcap of the NCAA Tournament Day 1. VCU comes in as the champions of the Colonial Athletic Association, and are a monster that Duke created. Until this season, the head coach for the Rams was Duke grad Jeff Capel, who bolted for Oklahoma, so the entire roster is composed of his recruits. They are led by their three guards, B.A. Walker, Eric Maynor, and Jesse Pellot-Rossa, all of whom average over 13 points per game. Like Davidson, the Rams want to keep the game at a fast pace, which should pose a problem for the thin Blue Devils. Duke will need a big game out of their guards, Greg Paulus, Jon Scheyer and (boo!) Gerald Henderson.

7:12 pm: 3-2, Duke. Paulus hits the three for the first basket of the game. Maynor hits a midrange jumper on the next possession.

VCU head coach Anthony Grant looks like he can still play. He is dressed to impress.

7:14 pm: 5-5. Pellot-Rossa hits a three, but Henderson dunks over two guys to tie the game, The Dookies would be up, but Henderson missed two free throws.

7:16 pm: 7-5, Duke. Josh McRoberts makes a good block on defense, and then he is fed the dunk on offense. Dook now has the lead.

7:17 pm: Duke is drawing fouls the same way soccer players do.

Henderson is replaced by a much less controversial Lance Thomas.

7:19 pm: 11-5, Duke, as we go to our first TV timeout.

B.A. is certainly not playing like a deserving member of “the V-Team”. You just knew someone was going to make that horrendous joke.

7:23 pm: 12-5, Duke. The Blue Devils are playing very good defense right now; no shot is unchallenged.

McRoberts makes another emphatic dunk. 14-5, Duke.

7:24 pm: 16-7, Duke. VCU finally makes their first shot in nine tries. They have to shoot better if they want a chance in this game, but Duke hasn’t given them many good opportunities.

2nd timeout.

7:30 pm: Duke is outshooting VCU 67% to 20%. This is unacceptable. They need to get good shots.

7:31 pm: 20-9, Duke. VCU hits a floater, but Paulus immediately responds.

7:32 pm: 22-9, Duke. Give credit to Duke, but it looks like VCU is completely out of focus on the court. They need to make an adjustment now before this gets out of hand.

halfway through the first half, another timeout.

7:38 pm: 24-12, Duke. Just as VCU does something good (hit a three), they do something bad (allow another easy McRoberts basket).

7:39 pm: 24-15, Duke. Michael Anderson gets three the hard way.

7:40 pm: 28-19, Duke. You simply can’t let Henderson get an open shot like that. At least the Rams’ offense is heating up, as they’ve hit their last four shots.

Yet another TV timeout.

7:45 pm: 28-22, Duke. VCU seems solidly back in this game as Pellot Rossa hits a three to cut the lead to six.

7:47 pm: VCU is finally running their defensive gameplan; Duke is starting to make mistakes on the offensive end.

28-23, Duke as we have another timeout.

7:49 pm: How long will it be before announcers say things like, “rob a jewelry store and tell ‘em ‘make ne a grill!’”? Ewww, that sounds so weird when you say it.

7:51 pm: 28-25, Duke. Paulus is tired already. He just threw up an airball when he was wide open.

7:55 pm: 30-27, Duke. VCU’s pressure is really affecting the Dookies. Fouls are the only thing keeping them on top right now.

7:57 pm: 35-29, Duke. Do NOT tell me that Duke is going to win this game because of Martinys f—ing Pocius!

Our final TV Timeout of the first half.

8:01 pm: I’m getting concerned about all of these fouls. You have to believe at least a few VCU players are in trouble now.

8:03 pm: 36-32, Duke. Jamal Shuler hits a three to cut the lead to four with two and a half minutes left in the first half.

8:04 pm: 38-35, Duke. Hannibal says, “good work, B.A.”

8:05 pm: 38-38. Shuler completes the comeback with another three.

8:06 pm: Greg Pauls is the Fabio Grosso of college basketball. He flops like a salmon in a boat.

8:10 pm: We go into halftime with Duke leading 40-38 because of bull—- call that gave Paulus three FT shots. But they did a very good job of coming back by applying pressure and finally hitting the threes when they needed them. They will need to continue applying pressure and wearing down Duke’s starters to win, while Duke will need to bring the game into the paint, on offense and defense, to hold on.

UPDATE: Michigan State leads Marquette, 30-18. The Golden Eagle shave yet to hit a any baskets not “from the Bonusphere”. You have to love Cliff Ellis for coining that one.

8:28 pm: Golden Corral says “Bacon makes everything taste better!” Who wants some bacon ice cream?

8:31 pm: I;ve said it before, and I’ll say it again as we begin the second half: Anthony Grant has the look of a coach who wants to (and can) get out there and play himself.

8:32 pm: 43-42, Duke. Will Fameni has been the focal point of VCU’s offense so far in the second half.

8:33 pm: 44-43, VCU. Anderson gets a tough basket inside to give VCU their first lead since 5-3 in the first half.

8:34 pm: 45-44, Duke. McRoberts gives the lead back to Duke, but ono one has come to help him inside.

VCU has already missed seven shots in the second half as Paulus hits a three to make it 50-44, Duke. The Blue devils have scored seven unanswered points.

8:36 pm: 50-48, Duke. The Rams cut the lead to two as Maynor swipes the ball clean from Paulus.

8:37 pm: 52-50, Duke. The momentum clearly belongs to the Rams right now. As we go the the first TV timeout of the second half, the Dookies will need all of the energy they have to hold on to win this game.

8:42 pm: 55-50, Duke. McRoberts gets three the hard way off a great inbound pass.

I can’t help but wonder if the Rams are in foul trouble.

8:43 pm: 57-50, Duke. I’ve always given Josh McRoberts a hard time, but he;s a very talented guy. Few players can make that kind of a “touchdown pass”. But with that skill set, you would think that he would play like one of the best players in the conference; he has yet to do so.

8:46 pm: Christian Laettner is in the building. I will give you sufficient time to boo.

BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!

Okay, I think we all feel better now.

8:49 pm: Great defense by VCU, but I don;t care what kind of rebuilding year it is for Duke, you just can’t miss those kinds of opportunities and expect to win.

Scheyer scores to make it 59-50, Duke as we hit another TV timeout.

8:56 pm: The VCU defense is playing very well against Duke, but their shooting has gone cold again, and it could not have come at a worse time.

8:58 pm: 61-52, Duke. Fameni finally gets a basket for the Rams, but he’s shaken up after getting the basket and the foul.

9:01 pm: VCU sends an 87% free throw shooter to the line, and he still misses. It’s been that kind of shooting streak in the second half for the Rams.

9:02 pm: 64-55, Duke. Shuler gets three the easy way for VCU, their first of the half, but Paulus gets three the hard way on the next possession. He has 18 points in the game.

9:03 pm: 64-58, Duke. Shuler hits another three, and the deficit is back to six.

9:04 pm: 66-58, Duke. Paulus is playing as hard as anyone on the court right now. I don’t know how he’s kept his energy level, he’s been dogged all night.

9:07 pm: 67-60, Duke. McRoberts commits the worst flop I’ve seen today.

9:08 pm: 67-63, Duke. VCU gets another steal, and B.A. Walker hits another three to cut the deficit to four.

9:10 pm: 67-66, Duke. Pellot Rossa hits another three to make it a one point game. The Rams are now 9 of 15 from three. VCU definitely has the momentum as we go to the second-to-last TV timeout with ~6 minutes left.

9:14 pm: Duke turns the ball over again, and VCU has the ball with a chance to take the lead.

9:15 pm: 68-67, VCU. The Rams take the lead as Anderson hits two free throws.

9:17 pm: 69-68, Duke. NOOOOO!!! Paulus hits a midrange jumper after the Dookies get about three offensive rebounds, and they have the lead back.

9:21 pm: 70-68, Duke. We go to our final TV timeout, as Maynor will shoot two free throws to tie it.

9:24 pm: 70-70. Maynor hits both free throws. Three and a half minutes left in the game, and VCU forces another turnover.

9:28 pm: 72-71, VCU. Fameni gets a great offensive rebound and sets up a screen for Pellot Rossa to hit a midrange jumper to give the Rams the lead with just under two minutes left.

9:29 pm: How can they give Duke the jump ball? Anderson clearly had it. He;s been one of VCU’s best defensive players.

Well, I figured this was going to happen eventually. Fameni fouls out, and the Rams are seriously undersized. Duke will do all that it takes to give McRoberts the ball.

9:32 pm: 74-72, VCU. Maynor hits a floater inside to give VCU the lead.

9:33 pm: 74-74. Paulus steps up again. One minute left.

76-74, VCU. With 45 seconds left, Maynor hits another basket to give the lead back to the Rams.

9:34 pm: 76-75, VCU. McRoberts misses a free throw shot, and with 16 seconds left they’re forced to foul Pellot Rossa.

9:36 pm: 79-77, VCU, 1.8 seconds left. YEEESSSSS!!!! YEEEEEEAAHHHHHH!!!!! YYYYYYYYYYYYEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!! Eric Maynor hits a midrange shot to give VCU a 79-77 lead with 1.8 seconds left! WHHHHHHHOOOOOO!!!!!

9:40 pm: Sorry, I just spent the last 3 minutes cheering my lungs out for VCU slaying the evil Dookies in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, proving their mediocrity this year. VCU played a great game today, and Eric Maynor has become a household name to Tar Heel fans everywhere. My bracket remains intact, but what’s even more important is that someone ended Duke’s Tournament run before it began. I will forever love Virginia Commonwealth for what they have done today. Read Make Us Love…UNC if you think I’m crazy.

Don’t feel bad for the Dookies. They’ll be back next year to wreak havoc and pillage the hardwood once again. I’ll be at Tar Heel Mania to live blog UNC vs. Eastern Kentucky.

Davidson vs. Maryland Live Blog: 2007 NCAA Tournament

Today Davidson plays Maryland in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, two of the greatest days in sports. Davidson won the Southern Conference thanks to their uptempo game. Led by their star guards, Freshman Stephen Curry (below, left) and Junior Jason Richards, they’ll need to shoot very well from the perimeter to win this game. The Terrapins also like to play a fast-paced game, but their strength in the defense, led by D.J. Strawberry (below, right), who should prove to be a mismatch against the undersized Wildcats. They will also need a good shooting day from Mike Jones! who? Mike Jones! who? Mike Jones!, their best three point threat. Maryland should win with good defense and superior rebounding inside.

12:14 pm: WRAL scared the s— out of me for while. From 12:00 to 12:10 they ran the local news. AAAAHHHHHH!!!!

12:20 pm: Maryland wins the opening tip, but they can’t get a basket after three tries.

12:22 pm: Ibekwe scores the first basket of the game, a hook shot off the backboard, but Davidson responds almost immediately. 2-2.

12:24 pm: 5-2, Davidson. Davidson steals the ball in the paint, and Richards hits a three in transition from the left wing.

Both teams are pressing. If they aren’t careful, one of them might get burned.

12:25 pm: 5-4, Davidson. Strawberry makes a great pass to Gist who finishes inside.

The Wildcats have been shockingly effective so far in getting offensive rebounds. Ibekwe is already in foul trouble. Curry hits another three to make it 8-4, Davidson.

12:28 pm: 8-8. Osby, latest sporter of the fro, gets another basket inside for Maryland. On the next possession Strawberry shoots, misses, gets his own rebound, gets the putback and the foul. Can Davidson handle his relentlessness for 40 minutes?

12:31 pm: 11-8, Maryland. Back then they didn’t want me, now I’m hot, they all own me. Jones gets the steal and layup to bring the lead to three.

12:33 pm: 13-8, Maryland. So far the Wildcats are shooting 25% from the field. They have no chance of winning if that stands; they need to shoot the ball well, their defense is suspect.

12:35 pm: 13-11, Maryland. Stephen Curry is the anti-Greg Oden. He looks like he should be in middle school.

12:37 pm: 15-14, Maryland. Davidson’s Canadian (Archambault) hits a three to reduce the deficit to one. Ibekwe gets inside for another easy basket for the Terps.

12:38 pm: 17-17. Archambault (below, left) hits another three to tie the game. Wow. I could see his head flapping and everything.

12:42 pm: 20-17, Davidson. Richards give the Wildcats the lead, getting three the hard way.

12:43 pm: 22-19, Davidson. UPDATE: Louisville 17, Stanford 6, first half.

12:45 pm: 22-21, Davidson. Strawberry gets another tough basket inside.

Davidson has shot 5 of 7 since starting 3 of 12.

12:46 pm: 23-22, Maryland. James Gist gets an easy layup off a great pass to take the lead.

12:47 pm: 25-25. Gist gets another basket, this time a midrange jumper, but Davidson hits another three. The Terps have yet to hit one today.

12:48 pm: 28-27, Davidson. Curry hits another three to take the lead again. Maryland can’t seem to stop the outside shot, but the more pressing question is: What the hell kind of a name for a Nigerian is Andrew Lovedale?

12:54 pm: 32-27, Davidson. The Wildcats are really gaining momentum.

UPDATE: 29-26, Boston College. Tyrese Rice has 11 points.

25-10, Louisville. These team shave the same nickname, but plural (cardinals) is always better that singular (cardinal).

12:57 pm: 35-30, Davidson. Maryland finally hits their first three of the game, but they’re still down five.

12:59 pm: 35-35. Mike Jones! who? Mike Jones! who? Mike Jones! hits a three, gets a defensive rebound, and a goaltending ties the game at 35.

1:01 pm: 37-35, Maryland. Strawberry forces the turnover, and passes to Vasquez, who gives the lead back to the Terps.

1:03 pm: 41-39, Maryland. Curry hits another three to give the lead back to Davidson. He has 16 in the first half.

1:07 pm: 41-41. This has been a really exciting game so far. I thought that Davidson would be a challenge, but I did not expect them to play this well.

1:09 pm: 44-43, Maryland. Parrish Brown hits a three to give Maryland the lead back.

1:11 pm: The first half ends with Maryland hanging on against Davidson. 44-43, Maryland. The Terps will need a way to negate the three point shot of they want to win this game, while Davidson will need to do a better job of rebounding inside.

1:31 pm: Davidson’s male cheerleader looks like an Asian Carlos Mencia.

1:33 pm: 46-44, Davidson. Curry hits another three to give the lead back to the Wildcats. He’s already hit his average of 21 points per game and the second half just started.

1:35 pm: 50-44, Davidson. The Cats decide to attack the inside, and they’re pretty successful so far. Curry gets a layup and Davidson is able to get an offensive rebound, giving Ibekwe his third foul.

1:37 pm: 52-44, Davidson. Maryland has to stop turning the ball over. Davidson is getting too many opportunities in transition.

1:40 pm: I think seven of Maryland’s last eight possessions have ended in turnovers. Davidson is playing good defense, but Vasquez is making really bad passing decisions.

1:42 pm: 52-47, Davidson. Vasquez finally stops the bleeding with a three.

First TV timeout of the second half.

1:45 pm: 52-50, Davidson. Osby delivers the dunk and gets the foul! This has been a game of momentum shifts. Just as it looks like one team is pulling away, the opponent responds with a big run.

1:49 pm: 52-52. Osby hits two free throws to tie the game.

I still can’t get over the name “Andrew Lovedale”. I just can’t. It’s like a porn name. And the dude’s Nigerian!
1:50 pm: 55-52, Davidson. Archambault hits a three to give the lead back to Davidson.

1:51 pm: 56-55, Maryland. Tell the world what’s his name…MIKE JONES!!! The emphatic dunk gives Maryland the lead.

Timeout, 12:16 left in the second half. Maryland is a deeper team. Does Davidson have enough left in the tank to keep up?

1:54 pm: 58-57, Maryland. Gist gets an easy layup off another Davidson turnover, but Richards drives inside to get a tough layup and reduce the difference back to one. Either Maryland is playing good defense or Davidson is running out of gas.

Ibekwe has four fouls, Strawberry has three.

Second TV timeout.

1:58 pm: UPDATE: BC 74, Texas Tech 70.

That travel call on Gist is BS.

1:59 pm: 62-59, Maryland. If Maryland holds on to win this game it will be because of Mr. Fro, Bambale Osby. He has 11 points and has done everything possible for the Terps.

2:01 pm: 64-61, Maryland. Osby strikes again, this time an assist to Gist.

2:02 pm: 67-63, Maryland. Strawberry hits a huge three to make it a two possession game. But Maryland is winning this game inside.

We hit the another TV timeout. Hope you don’t have Stanford in the Sweet 16 of your bracket.

2:06 pm: 69-63, Maryland. Ibekwe, in with four fouls, scores on a putback to extend the lead to 6.

Stephen Curry has been silent in the second half. Strawberry has been on him for most of the half.

There’s that “Andrew Lovedale” again. Insane.

2:07 pm: 69-66, Maryland. Curry hits a huge three from the baseline. I just had to say it, didn’t I?

2:09 pm: 71-66, Maryland. Ibekwe makes another tough basket to bring the lead to 5.

I had no idea where Canisius was until today.

2:11 pm: 71-68, Maryland. Curry gets another basket as we go to the final TV timeout. I think Maryland has more energy, and they should hold on. But I’ve been wrong before.

2:15 pm: UPDATE: It looks like Boston College is going to win against Texas Tech. Final: BC 84, TTU 75.
2:17 pm: 75-68, Maryland, 2:00 left. Mike Jones! who? Mike Jones! who? Mike Jones! hits a big three to make it a three possession game.

2:18 pm: 75-70, Maryland, 1:12 left. Ibekwe fouls out, and Osby comes in. Curry hits his free throws to cut the lead to 5. He has 30.

The Terps had better win; I have them in the Elite 8!

2:22 pm: 77-70, Maryland, 48.4 left. Davidson can’t hit their shots, Maryland gains possession of the ball, Vasquez is fouled, and I think this is pretty much over.

2:25 pm: 80-70, Maryland, :21 left. Curry fouls out with 30. He had a great game.

2:26 pm: The game ends, as maryland wins, 82-70. Davidson gave the Terps (and my bracket) all they could ask for, shooting lights out from the perimeter in the first half. But Maryland made great halftime adjustments, and Strawberry shut down Curry in the second Half, Osby stepped up when Ibekwe got in foul trouble, Maryland attacked the inside, and Davidson ran out of gas in the second half. The Terrapins will face the winner of Butler vs. Old Dominion.

Putting My Knowledge to the Test: My 2007 NCAA Tournament Bracket

Midwest Bracket:

First Round:

Florida over Jackson St., Arizona over Purdue, Butler over Old Dominion, Maryland over Davidson, Winthrop over Notre Dame, Oregon over Miami-Ohio, Georgia Tech over UNLV, Wisconsin over Texas A&M-CC

Second Round:

Florida over Arizona, Maryland over Old Dominion, Oregon over Winthrop, Georgia Tech over Wisconsin

Sweet 16:

Maryland over Florida, Oregon over Georgia Tech

Elite 8:

Oregon over Maryland

Midwest Champion: Oregon

———————–

West Bracket:

First Round:

Kansas over Niagra, Villanova over Kentucky, Virginia Tech over Illinois, Holy Cross over So. Illinois, VCU over Duke, Wright St. over Pitt, Indiana over Gonzaga, UCLA over Weber St.

Second Round:

Kansas over Villanova, Virginia Tech over Holy Cross, VCU over Wright St., UCLA over Indiana

Sweet 16:

Kansas over Virginia Tech, UCLA over VCU

Elite 8:

Kansas over UCLA

West Champion: Kansas

Update: It turns out my “official” bracket has Southern Illinois beating Holy Cross, so I may have chickened out of that one and forgot. But there’s at least two “unofficial” brackets I had with Holy Cross winning. Trust me.  

——————–

East Bracket:

First Round:

North Carolina over E. Kentucky, Michigan State over Marquette, Arkansas over USC, Texas over New Mexico St., Vanderbilt over GW, Washington State over Oral Roberts, Boston College over Texas Tech, Georgetown over Belmont

Second Round:

North Carolina over Michigan State, Texas over Arkansas, Washington State over Vanderbilt, Georgetown over Boston College

Sweet Sixteen:

North Carolina over Texas, Washington State over Georgetown

Elite 8:

North Carolina over Washington State

East Champion: North Carolina

——————–

South Bracket:

First Round:

Ohio State over C. Conn. St, Xavier over BYU, Tennessee over Long Beach St., Virginia over Albany, Louisville over Stanford, Texas A&M over Penn, Creighton over Nevada, Memphis over North Texas

Second Round:

Ohio State over Xavier, Tennessee over Virginia, Texas A&M over Louisville, Creighton over Memphis

Sweet Sixteen:

Ohio State over Tennessee, Texas A&M over Creighton

Elite 8:

Texas A&M over Ohio State

South Champion: Texas A&M

——————–

Final Four:

Semifinals:

Kansas over Oregon, North Carolina over Texas A&M

Final:

North Carolina over Kansas

National Champion: North Carolina

So there you have it: my bracket for 2007. It’s either going to win the whole thing or die in blazing glory sometime Sunday. No matter what happens, it’ll be fun.

Today’s Live Blogs: 2007 NCAA Tournament, First Round

12:20 pm: Davidson vs. Maryland. Mike Jones’ new album stinks. Let’s hope he can make it rain threes today.

7:10 pm: VCU vs. Duke. I’ll be spending all day learning VCU’s cheers. See why.

9:40 pm: UNC vs. Eastern Kentucky. On Tar Heel Mania. That mask had better be off. I can’t stand to see a tame Tyler Hansbrough. It’s so unusual the mere thought of it pierces my corneas.