NCAA Final Four: Prepare Yourself for Billy Packer

It’s that time of year again, the Final Four, the time we finally determine the best team in college basketball. It also means one can no longer avoid listening to Billy Packer. So to help you prepare for the his onslaught upon your eardrums, I have assembled a collection of clips to help you prepare…and survive.

(Photo: Billy Packer looks into a mirror.)

First, the clip of Gerald Henderson’s elbow to Tyler Hansbrough. Who can forget this call by Packer?

By Comparison, here’s a call he made in a Duke-Kentucky NCAA Tournament game.

Here are some lesser known Billy Packer moments, many of his outbursts that never make it to television. I think this is what you’re most likely to see beginning tomorrow night.

I hope that you are now immune to whatever Billy is going to say on Saturday and Monday. Lord help us if he’s in a Taco Bell commercial.

UPDATE: I saw this after I posted and uhh…wow.

That’s it. I’m going to avoid him for the sake of my sanity and watch the Women’s Final Four. At least the Tar Heels are participating.

This Is All I’m Going To Say About UNC’s Loss To Georgetown

We’ll be back in 2008. Lawson and Ellington are going to be more experienced, Hansbrough will be the undeniable leader of the team (if he stays), and the only non-senior whom UNC is expecting to lose is Brandan Wright. I think Deon Thompson should play extremely well in his place. We’ll be kickin’ ass, takin’ names, and running away with the ACC crown next year. To the Alamo!

(photo via Today’s ACC Headlines)

The game felt like this video, with the exception being that you realize, way too late, that the product doesn’t work. You then scream in agony, scaring your neighbors so much that they call a SWAT team.

It was actually more like this:

Oregon vs. Florida Live Blog: 2007 NCAA Tournament Elite 8

Today Oregon plays Florida for the Midwest Regional championship and the right to play UCLA in the Final Four. Oregon will need a big day out of their guards, Aaron Brooks, Tajuan Porter and Bryce Taylor, while Florida will rely on the frontcourt of Brewer, Horford and Noah.

2:42 pm: 3-3. Taurean Green hits a three for the first basket of the game. Aaron Brooks responds in kind before the shot clock expires.

2:43 pm: Damn. Tajuan Porter is 5-6? Really?

Brooks and Brewer each drive in for nice layups. 5-5. Corey’s basket was especially tough.

2:45 pm: 8-5, Florida. Oregon played good defense, forcing a turnover on the inbound pass, but Porter makes a bad decision by taking a three in transition. Florida quickly rebounds, and on the Humphrey hits an open three on the other end.

Official timeout.

2:50 pm: 8-7, Florida. A nice shot in the post by Malik Hairston cuts the lead to one. Florida turns it over on the next possession, and the have a chance to take the lead.

2:51 pm: 10-9, Florida. The Gators rebound a bad shot and Corey Brewer drives inside for a sweet layup across the lane. Bryce Taylor posterizes Al Horford on the other end.

If Florida has a weakness today, it’s that they haven’t been taking care of the ball. The Ducks are making it tough on them.

2:53 pm: 11-10, Oregon. Hairston hits a jumper in the lane to give Oregon the lead.

Walter Hodge is in for the Gators. Man, he is ugly, and the facial hair isn’t helping.

2:56 pm: 11-11. The Ducks have done a good job of neutralizing Noah and Horford so far, but they seem to be taking a few too many ill-advised shots. Just as I say that, Hairston scores inside again. I did not expect him to be so successful in the paint. 13-11, Oregon.

Official timeout.

3:01 pm: 16-13, Oregon. Taylor hits a three off a great pass from the inside.

Aaron brooks commits his second foul nine minutes in. Let’s hope Porter and Hairston can pick up the slack.

3:02 pm: 18-13, Oregon. Porter extends the lead at the line after Florida commits their 8th turnover.

3:04 pm: 18-16, Oregon. At the midway point of the second half, Humphrey hits another three. Still, Florida has 9 turnovers and only 5 field goals.

3:06 pm: 20-18, Oregon. Who would have thought that the best post player for Florida today would be Chris Richard?

3:07 pm: 22-19, Oregon. Malik Hairston is having a very good game in the post. I should point out that he’s 6-6.

Florida is keeping it close because what the frontcourt has done well so far is offensive rebounding. Oregon is simply outmatched in that regard.

3:11 pm: Len Elmore points out that the problem for Oregon is bad technique in boxing out. I’ll need to keep my eye out for that.

3:13 pm: 25-22, Florida. Good screening by Noah gives Green an open three to take the lead. The Gators steal the ball on the next play, and Humphrey lays it in easily. Ernie Kent calls a timeout during the Gators’ 7-0 run.

3:18 pm: 28-24, Florida. Hairston continues to have his way in the offensive paint, but Joakim Noah gets three the hard way against Joevan Catron, his third foul.

3:19 pm: 30-26, Florida. A great post move by Horford, and Florida really seems to have woken up from their early slumber.

3:20 pm: Oregon coach Ernie Kent says that center Adam Zahn is the team’s best leaper. I guess white men can jump.

3:23 pm: 33-27, Florida. Wow. What a shot by Lee Humphrey. The spin on that ball was so pure, and the shot was so on target, that the ball tore apart the net swishing through it. Unbelievable. A description cannot do justice to that shot. Again…wow.

There now a delay as the officials need to replace the net Humphrey just ruined.

3:35 pm: 39-38, Florida. I’ve missed a lot. I stepped away a little too long. I rejoined the game at 39-34, after which Brooks has hit a nice jumper, Porter stole a Gator pass, and delivered a great pass to Taylor, who slammed it in. Oregon has the momentum now. Brooks has 14 on 6 of 8 shooting.

3:37 pm: Oregon has a chance to tie before the halftime buzzer, but Florida does a great job of clamping down on Brooks, and The Gators are hanging on to a 40-38 halftime lead. Florida looks poised to take over this game, as their offense has finally found a rhythm and they’re winning the rebounding battle. But they need to cut down on turnovers and find a way to stop Aaron Brooks and Malik Hairston. For Oregon to win, they need to stay out of foul trouble, clamp down on the defensive perimeter, rebound, and hope that they continue to shoot the ball well.

4:00 pm: 44-40, Florida. The second half begins, and Florida is having some early success in the paint. They’re also doing a good job of slowing the tempo down so far in the second half.

4:04 pm: 45-43, Florida. Porter makes a great pass as Brooks hits a three, but Hairston picks up his third. The Oregon frontcourt is now in deep foul trouble, with three players and three fouls each.

4:06 pm: 50-45, Florida. Porter is really struggling on defense. Taurean Green and lee Humphrey are tearing him apart.

Official timeout.

4:09 pm: 50-47, Florida. Marty Leunen, who averages 11 points a game, only has 4, all from the stripe.

4:10 pm: 53-47, Florida. Humphrey hits another three to put the Gators up 6. He has 17 points.

4:12 pm: 55-51, Florida. Even Walter Hodge is getting in the act to abusing Porter, driving in for an easy coast-to-coast layup.

Brroks gets a nice basket inside to give him 21 for the day.

4:13 pm: 59-53, Florida. Taking advantage of the foul trouble, Florida is now attacking inside without much resistance.

4:21 pm: 61-55, Florida. Oregon is still in this game because they’re finally rebounding the ball well. In particular, Hairston continues to overachieve in the post.

4:26 pm: 61-57, Florida. Oregon is still playing well on defense, but it simply isn;t Tajuan Porter’s day. He can;t score, and he’s a defensive liability. Ernie Kent needs to bench him.

4:28 pm: 64-57, Florida. Lee Humphrey cannot be stopped.

Oregon isn’t forcing turnovers anymore. This could mean doom for the Ducks.

4:29 pm: 67-57, Florida. And Humphrey hits ANOTHER three! He’s hit 7 of those, and now has 23 points. Why hasn’t Porter been pulled?

4:31 pm: 67-60, Florida. Leunen hits his first shot of the game, a three pointer. The Ducks will really need him to step up late in the game.

7:52 left.

4:34 pm: Wow. That defensive set was just bad. Mismatches across the board. Brroks on Richard, Hairston on Humphrey, Porter on Green-Ugh.

4:36 pm: You don’t know the definition of awkward until you’ve heard a sports announcer plug his network’s newest sitcom.

4:41 pm: 70-64, Florida, 4:55 left. Oregon is finally getting some nice opportunities in the second half. Taylor dunks in transition off a steal, and then Brooks drives in for another layup. I think that gives him 27 for the day.

4:43 pm: 3:54 left. Hairston fouls out. That’s bull! There wasn’t enough contact to call that a foul.

4:48 pm: 72-64, Florida, 3:15 left. Porter throws up an airball, continuing his struggles today. But that’s not the important part. I just saw that something is very, very wrong with his right ear. The bottom of it curves out and up. Things that make you go…..Brrrbrbbrbbrbr.

UPDATE (3/26): Apparently I’m not the only person who noticed Tajuan Porter’s left ear. 21 people have found my site via a search term pertaining to this subject. Here’s a good picture of it below.

According to several threads in Yahoo! Answers, it’s a keloid scar, possibly from a piercing gone wrong. However, I cannot confirm this.

4:52 pm: 72-66, Florida, 1:50 left. Marty Leunen shows great patience, letting Horford and Noah leap past him before making the easy layup.

Florida has done a good job of cutting down on turnovers. I think they’ve only had 4 TOs compared to 13 in the first half. Humphrey’s shooting helps, but I think that’s the biggest reason Florida is winning this game.

4:56 pm: 75-66, Florida, 1:12 left. Leunen fouls out, Florida hits their free throws, and the Gators are putting the game out of reach.

4:57 pm: 75-69, Florida, 1:01 left. Chamberlain Oguchi comes off the bench, hits a three, and the Ducks are back within 6.

5:00 pm: 78-72, Florida, :40 left. Tajuan Porter finally hits a three, and then Florida travels. This game may not be over yet.

5:02 pm: 78-74, Florida, :31 left. Brroks is fouled and hits two free throws. Green is sent to the line but only hits one.

5:03 pm: 81-74, Florida, :24 left. When Oregon absolutely needed a shot, Brooks’ layup was rejected by Brewer. He goes to the line and hits two free throws. It looks like this game has finally been put away.

5:04 pm: 81-77, Florida, :17 left. Just as I say that, Porter hits another three to bring it within 4.

5:06 pm: 82-77, Florida, :08.4 left. Porter travels, and this game is officially over.

5:08 pm: Oregon’s desperation shot goes begging, and Florida wins, 85-77. With this win, they return to the final four, and will play UCLA in the National Semifinals. Aaron Brooks and the Oregon defense played well for the most part, but Florida’s guards, Taurean Green and Lee Humphrey, really stepped up today.

I’ll be at Tar Heel Mania to cover UNC vs. Georgetown.

Kansas-UCLA Live Blog: 2007 NCAA Tournament Elite 8

Tonight Kansas plays UCLA in the West Regional final in San Jose for the right to play in the Final Four. Kansas will look to keep a fast pace against the Bruin’s stifling defense.

7:06 pm: 2-0, UCLA. Aaron Afflalo rebounds his own miss, and his shot rattles in for the first basket of the game.

7:09 pm: 4-4. Collison gets a tough layup off a Kansas turnover, but on the next possession Sasha Kaun scores for the Jayhawks’ first field goal.

7:10 pm: 6-6. Let’s just admit it. I like saying “a great shot by Luc Richard Mbah A Moute” rather than “a great shot by Julian Wright.”

7:11 pm: 9-6, UCLA. Afflalo hits a three to put the Bruins back on top.

7:13 pm: 12-9, Kansas. The Jayhawks storm back to take the lead. they score three straight baskets thanks to a combination of great passing and defensive hustle. They force the Bruins into bad situations, and then their offensive passing gives players like Julian Wright great shot opportunities. The latest basket was a great putback by Russel Robinson, who had to leap over a teammate that had fallen over.

Official timeout.

7:21 pm: Oh shoot. I think I spaced out for a while there. Good thing nothing’s happened.

7:23 pm: 12-11, Kansas. How does Sherron Collins miss that open shot? More importantly, how did Collison hit that shot with three Jayhawks around him?

7:24 pm: 14-11, Kansas. Both teams are playing solid defense so far, forcing turnovers, and challenging shots. Kansas is winning because their offensive passing puts shooters in better position to score.

7:28 pm: 18-16, Kansas. UCLA ties the game as Luc Richard Mbah A Moute is becoming a big factor inside. Kansas take the lead back with a great alley-oop to Darnell Jackson. Kansas is really passing the ball well tonight.

7:31 pm: 20-16, Kansas. Julian Wright plays the point on a fast break, and makes a great pass to Robinson for the layup. I should point out that Wright is 6-9.

The Jayhawks are getting a lot of steals tonight. Either Kansas is being really aggressive defensively or UCLA is telegraphing their passes. Or both.

7:33 pm: 21-20, UCLA. The Bruins take the lead in 10 seconds, as Afflalo hits a three followed by a steal, breakaway and dunk by Russell Westbrook. That was an insanely fast change in momentum.

7:35 pm: 22-21, Kansas. As we reach another official timeout, Sasha Kaun hits a basket inside, coming back in from the bench.

7:39 pm: 24-21, Kansas. Brandon Rush’s baseline shot bounces in off the rim.

You know whom I haven’t heard from at all tonight? Mario Chalmers. This should be his time to step up, but He has seemed to be a non-factor so far.

7:40 pm: 27-21, Kansas. Rush hits a three, the first one I think the Jayhawks have hit tonight.

Has anyone else noticed that Bill Self’s face looks like wax about to melt?

7:43 pm: Brandon Rush’s hairdo looks like something out of 1992.

7:46 pm: 29-23, Kansas. Rush misses a floater inside, but Jackson gets the put back with AUTHORITY!

7:47 pm: 29-28, Kansas. Michael roll hits a three for UCLA, and Aboya gets a tough basket inside to cut the lead to 1.

3:23 left in the first half.

7:52 pm: 30-29, UCLA. Afflalo hits the midrange jumper, and the Bruins take back the lead.

7:53 pm: 32-29, UCLA. Dick Enberg and Jay Bilas may not realize this yet, but UCLA doesn’t seem to have much of a problem playing Kansas’ uptempo style.

7:55 pm: Did you see that shot CBs had of Kansas’ band? The funniest thing I’ve seen all day.

7:56 pm: 32-31, UCLA. While they have no problem with it on offense, the Bruins seem to have issues with Kansas’ transition offense. Brandon Rush slams it in to cut the lead back to 1.

7:57 pm: Afflalo holds the ball until three seconds left, then passes it to Josh Shipp, who drains the three from the baseline at the buzzer. UCLA leads, 35-31 at halftime. Both teams have played very good defense in spite of the fast pace of the game. For either team to win, they will need to display ball control and cut down on the turnovers they had in the first half. Whoever is able to control the ball will control the game from this point on. If the second half pans out like the first half, then I have no f—— idea who will win.

8:19 pm: As we enter the second half, an interesting stat: Kansas has only attempted one 3-pointer. That will likely have to change.

8:20 pm: Lorenzo Mata is having a really bad game. He has no points and just picked up his third foul.

8:22 pm: 37-31, UCLA. A great block at the top of the key leads to an easy layup by Afflalo in transition.

8:23 pm: 37-33, UCLA. Chalmers finally scores tonight, getting a basket inside.

8:24 pm: 40-33, UCLA. Afflalo hits another three to extend the lead to seven. As we hit the first official timeout of the second half, UCLA has been able to gain control the game in spite of already committing more turnovers (14) than their season average (12).

8:28 pm: 42-35, UCLA. What the hell is Mata doing in the game with three fouls and sixteen minutes left?

Wright needs to keep getting the ball inside. He’s their driving force in the paint. Chaka Khan is more useful for Kansas tonight than Sasha Kaun.

8:35 pm: 46-35, UCLA. Afflalo continues to hit his shots, while Kansas has gone completely cold on offense. They’re 12 of 26 on layups and dunks, which is unacceptable. Then again, the fact that the Jayhawks haven’t shot any threes means that the Bruins defense doesn’t need to stay honest. They can just clamp down in the paint.

8:37 pm: 46-38, UCLA. Brandon Rush finally hits a three for the Jayhawks.

8:39 pm: Official timeout. “Luc Richard Mbah a Moute” should not be attempting threes like that.

8:43 pm: 46-40, UCLA. I think I’ve figured out why Kansas is struggling right now. In the first half they were succeeding on offense because of great passing. I haven’t seen great passing on their part in the last 8 minutes or so. No good passes means UCLA can get in better defensive position, and the Bruins can affect more shots.

8:45 pm: 49-43, UCLA. Afflalo beats the shot clock to put the Bruins up 9, but Robinson responds immediately with a three of his own.

8:46 pm: 51-43, UCLA. Aaron Afflalo is on fire.

8:48 pm: 51-45, UCLA. Kansas hits two free throws, but what a play by Mario Chalmers! he forces the ball loose, retrieves it before going out of bounds, throws it off of a Bruin, and manages to avoid hitting the ball himself. That’s just great awareness.

8:52 pm: 53-45, UCLA. Wow. There have been 24 steals in 33 minutes. That’s either really good defense, really bad passing, or both. Kansas has 14 steals, and UCLA has 10.

8:56 pm: 53-47, UCLA, 6:00 left. Darrell Arthur hits a tough basket inside.

For all the great defense in this game, it’s remarkable that neither team has had to foul very much.

8:58 pm: 55-50, UCLA, 5:10 left. Chalmers makes a great pass to Robinson, who drills a three for the left wing. You see what happens when Kansas passes the ball well.

8:59 pm: 58-50, UCLA, 4:30 left. Darren Collison shoots a desperate three, at the shot clock buzzer, while double teamed. And he drains it. Unbelievable.

Final TV timeout. 3:11 left.

9:07 pm: The Bruins have really clamped down on defense. In particular, “Luc Richard Mbah A Moute” has shut the door completely on the Jayhawks who have only scored 20 points in the second half. For such a low scoring game, this is extremely exciting.

9:10 pm: 60-53, UCLA, 1:26 left. Brandon Rush finally scores for the Jayhawks. He has 18. Bill Self quickly calls a timeout.

9:14 pm: 63-55, UCLA, :45 left. Russell Robinson gets inside and has an opportunity to score from point blank range, but UCLA does enough to make him miss. Wright scores on the next possession, but this game appears sealed.

9:18 pm: “Luc Richard Mbah A Moute” delivers the exclamation dunk, the clock runs out, and UCLA wins 68-55. With this win the Bruins return to the Final Four, and whomever they face, Oregon or Florida would be a familiar opponent. As Kansas loses, My bracket officially has no chance of winning. Still, this has been some very exciting basketball this week.

I’m returning tomorrow for live blogs of Florida-Oregon here and UNC-Georgetown on Tar Heel Mania.

Memphis vs. Ohio State Live Blog: 2007 NCAA Tournament Elite 8

Today Memphis plays Ohio State in the South Regional Final in San Antonio. Memphis will try to use their deep bench and fast game pace to run the Buckeyes Ragged. Ohio State cannot allow the Tigers to get far ahead in the game like in their previous two contests. They will need a big day from Greg Oden, especially on defense, and guards like Mike Conley, Ron Lewis and Jamar Butler need to hit the three. Winner plays North Carolina…hopefully.

4:41 pm: 2-0, OSU. Off the tipoff, Greg Oden gets the ball inside and his shot rolls in for the first points of the game.

4:43 pm: 4-0, OSU. The Big Ten this year has seemed to be a slow, halfcourt, defense oriented league. However, Ohio State seems very comfortable with a fast-paced game. Memphis may not have expected this.

4:47 pm: 8-2, OSU. It takes nearly five minutes for the Tigers to get their first basket, a drive in layup by Antonio Anderson.

Memphis seems very uncomfortable with Ohio State’s defense.

4:51 pm: Andre Allen of the Tigers has two personal fouls. The last one was questionable; it looks like he took the ball clean from Oden.

4:52 pm: 9-5, OSU. Jeremy Hunt hits a three for the Tigers.

The Tigers are starting to play more aggressively on offense.

4:55 pm: 9-8, OSU. Memphis is coming back, as Hunt has been sent twice to the free throw line. Memphis had by far the worst free throw shooting of anyone in the field of 65, but they’ve shot well in this tournament.

Oden has been out for the last few minutes, and the Tigers have really attacked the rim in his absence.

4:57 pm: 10-9, Memphis. The Tigers take the lead after Hunt hits two free throws.

4:59 pm: 13-11, Memphis. Hunt penetrates the lane, and he kicks out to an open Willie Kemp for three.

Conley drives in 10 seconds later and gets a layup to tie the game.

5:00 pm: 17-15, OSU. It looks like Oden tipped in a basket for Memphis there. He definitely makes up for it on the next possession.

It seems to me that the effectiveness of the Buckeyes’ gameplan depends on whether or not they can force turnovers. During the stretch when they couldn’t get any TOs, Memphis dominated.

5:06 pm: 20-17, Memphis. Joey Dorsey and Oden are both on the bench with 2 fouls.

5:09 pm: 23-21, Memphis. Doneal Mack hits another three for Memphis to take the lead back.

5:10 pm: 23-23. 6:23 left in the first half.

Conley keeps driving inside. He hasn’t even looked to kick it out to another guard for a three.

5:13 pm: CBS, who the hell is MEMP? That abbreviation makes no sense.

5:14 pm: 26-24, Memphis. Hunt hits a three from outerspace basketball range. He has 16 today.

5:15 pm: 29-26, OSU. The Buckeyes finally kick out a pass from the inside to a guard for an open three. Butler hits it and give them back the lead.

5:17 pm: Chris Douglas-Roberts joins Dorsey in foul trouble for Memphis.

5:18 pm: 30-26, OSU. Ironically, it’s the Buckeyes who are struggling from the stripe.

Dozier dunks it in to cut the lead to two. 30-28, OSU.

5:19 pm: 32-28, OSU. Antonio Anderson is down, having been hit in the forehead. He’s bleeding badly.

5:23 pm: Anderson is going to the locker room. Let’s hope he’s okay.

5:24 pm: 37-30, OSU. Ron Lewis hits a three. The guards have really stepped up while Oden has been on the bench.

5:27 pm: 39-33, OSU. If Memphis is going to stay in this game, it’s going to be from the bonusphere. They’re 6 for 9 for three.

What a play by Douglas-Roberts! CDR catches the ball at the baseline, and he drives inside past two players, and then dunks one handed over another. Again, what a play.

5:29 pm: UPDATE: The Dook women have been eliminated! Rutgers beats Duke, 53-52 in the Sweet 16! WHOOOOOOOO!!!

5:31 pm: Kemp hits another three before halftime. Memphis is now 7 for 10 beyond the arc. Ohio State leads, 41-38. Ohio State seemed to do a good job of frustrating the Tigers on defense, but it looks like Memphis has figured them out. They certainly have had it easier in Greg Oden’s absence. The Buckeyes will need him to stay out of foul trouble in the second half.

5:53 pm: 43-38, OSU. Oden starts the second half the way he starts the first. He gets a quick basket inside, catching Memphis out of position. On the next possession Butler alley oops it to Lewis. 45-38, OSU.

6:00 pm: 45-42, OSU. CDR gets another nice basket off the drive inside.

6:02 pm: 47-42, OSU. Oden picks up his third foul.

CDR’s layup rolls around the rim three times before falling in. 47-44, OSU.

6:03 pm: 49-44, OSU. Lewis hits a three…or does he? The refs call it a two, but I disagree.

6:04 pm: 49-47, OSU. Wow. Hunt can really run the fast break.

Official timeout.

6:09 pm: 49-48, OSU. Allen and CDR are on the floor with three fouls.

6:12 pm: 52-51, Memphis. CDR puts the Tigers back on top with a great crossover, drive and floater from the left side.

Memphis has been getting all of the rebounds while Oden has been on the bench.

6:15 pm: 56-51, Memphis. Oden comes back in. 12:30 left.

6:16 pm: 56-54, Memphis. Oden’s impact is almost immediate. He kicks out a pass to Butler for a wide open three, and then he gets a block (goaltending?) on the next Memphis possession.

6:17 pm: 58-54, Memphis. Anderson hits an outside shot. It’s good to see that he’s recovered from that elbow to the head.

6:21 pm: 58-56, Memphis. Dorsey is out with foul trouble. He hasn’t seemed to be a factor at all.

6:23 pm: 60-57, Memphis. CDR has taken over the second half.

6:24 pm: 60-60. Just as I say that, CDR commits a stupid foul. Oden is going to make that shot no matter what, but he tries to tackle him. He’s called for the intentional foul, his fourth, and Oden gets the basket and two free throw opportunities. He misses one, preventing the lead.

6:27 pm: 64-64. Oden gets the emphatic dunk to give Ohio State the lead.

Anderson hits a sweet jumper on the next possession.

6:28 pm: 66-64, OSU. With seven and a half minutes left, that layup by Daequan Cook was way too easy.

6:30 pm: Tomorrow on the Amazing Race…we’re going to Zanzibar! To meet the ZanziBarbarians!

6:32 pm: 69-64, OSU. Butler hits a loooooong three. Which reminds me, Memphis hasn’t been hitting their outside shots in the second half.

6:34 pm: 71-64, OSU. Greg Oden has played extremely well since returning with 12 minutes left. We’re down to 5:30 in the game.

6:36 pm: 74-64, OSU. Oden was able to get the ball out of his double team, and Lewis was able to hit a wide open three. The lead is now double digits. 4:30 left.

6:42 pm: 76-69, OSU, 3:15 left. Just as things are looking bleak for the Tigers, Hunt hits another three. He has 26 points in the game.

6:44 pm: 78-72, OSU, 2:30 left. Anderson makes a great pass to Kemp for another three to make it a two possession game, but CDR and Andre Allen have fouled out.

6:47 pm: 82-72, OSU, 2:09 left. Ohio State seems to be salting the game away at the free throw line, but where is that blood-curdling scream coming from? I don’t know what that means, but it sounds bad.

6:48 pm: 82-74, OSU, 1:56 left. A good drive inside by Dozier, but is it too little, too late?

6:51 pm: 86-74, OSU, 1:12 left. Memphis’s shots have stopped falling, and this game is pretty much over.

6:56 pm: The game ends. Ohio State wins, 92-76. The Buckeyes are moving on to the Final Four, and if UNC wins tomorrow, the Bucks will be our opponent, and frankly, I’m not looking forward to facing them. Even when Oden is neutralized, their guards do a really good job of picking up the slack.

There is no rest for the weary. Up next, the UCLA-Kansas live blog.

Georgetown vs. Vanderbilt Live Blog: 2007 NCAA Tournament Sweet 16

Tonight #6 seed Vanderbilt plays #2 seed Georgetown in game 1 of the 2007 NCAA Tournament East Regional Semifinals. Georgetown will rely on a halfcourt offense and their frontcourt of Jeff Green and Roy Hibbert. Vanderbilt will look to get big contributions from their backcourt of Derrick Byars, Dan Cage, and Shan Foster. Whether or not Vandy can shoot lights out from the outside will likely determine whether or not they can win this game against the heavily favored Hoyas.

7:28 pm: 2-0, G’Town. The Hoyas draw first blood as they force a turnover, and Green makes a great pass to DaJuan Summers, who slams it in. Green hits a jumper on the next possession to make it 4-0.

7:29 pm: 4-2, G’Town. I wonder if John Thompson II, announcing on Westwood One radio, will say during tonight’s broadcast “THAT’S MY BABY!” about his son and current Hoyas coach, JT III.

7:32 pm: 5-4, G’Town. Foster gets a great pass from Cage in transition and makes an easy layup.

7:33 pm: 9-5, Vandy. The Commodores are doing a good job of keeping Hibbert out of the paint. He now needs to defend the perimeter, and Cage is having a field day with it. He hits two straight shots, the last a three, to give Vandy the lead.

7:34 pm: 12-5, Vandy. Alex Gordon hits another three for Vandy, and they are now very much in control of this game.

Official timeout, as Hibbert commits an offensive foul.

7:37 pm: Vanderbilt’s lack of size has actually given them an advantage. The Hoyas have had to adjust with a smaller lineup.

7:39 pm: 15-6, Vandy. Byars finally gets on the board with a three.

Either Vanderbilt fans are well represented, or all of the Tar Heel fans have learned the cheers and are rooting for the Commodores. I’m guessing the latter.

7:40 pm: 18-6, Vandy. Georgetown’s smaller lineup has given them a new problem. Vanderbilt has been able to get offensive rebounds on the Hoyas, the latest leading to a three by Cage to give Vandy a double digit lead seven minutes into the game.

7:45 pm: 18-13, Vandy. After JT3’s timeout, Georgetown has scored three straight baskets, the latest by Patrick Ewing (?!?!?), to cut the lead to five before the official timeout.

7:50 pm: 20-13, Vandy. As we reach the midway point of the first half, Foster hits a tough turnaround baseline jumper.

7:51 pm: 23-13, Vandy. Byars has only hit one shot, but that doesn’t mean he’s a non-factor. He drives inside and makes a great pass to Foster, who hits a wide open three from the right wing to bring the lead back to double digits.

Nine minutes left, first half.

7:54 pm: 25-13, Vandy. The Hoyas are going deep into their bench, as the team is now in foul trouble.

Official timeout.

8:00 pm: 27-14, Vandy. Foster has an unbelievable turnaround jumper.

8:01 pm: 27-18, Vandy. Summers gets a putback inside, the Hoyas’ first basket in quite a while. Hibbert’s first basket of the game bring the difference back to single digits.

8:04 pm: 27-19, Vandy. The Commodores’ outside shooting has suddenly gone cold, and the Hoyas are finally attacking the inside. G’Town seems to be playing the game they’re more comfortable with now.

8:09 pm: 27-24, Vandy. Now that the Hoyas are attacking the inside Vandy will be in foul trouble very soon. Now that their outside shots aren’t falling, Georgetown will have more possessions (and more importantly, possessions on their terms).

8:12 pm: 32-24, Vandy. Just as it looks like G’Town has all the momentum, Cage hits a three, Vadny gets the steal on defense, and Byars is able to score on a putback.

A great stat: Vanderbilt has 12 field goals on eleven assist. I’m going to go out on a limb and say that the Commodores have done a great job of passing.

8:15 pm: Alex Gordon is unable to get a good shot before the buzzer, but Vanderbilt leads 32-24 at halftime. Vanderbilt has done a good job of keeping the game in the perimeter rather than in the paint. For the Commodores to hang on in the second half, they will need to continue dictating the style of the game and keeping Jeff Green and Roy Hibbert neutralized.

8:19 pm: Florida leads 35-29 at halftime. The Gators have scored the last 14–

Whoa. Clark Kellogg has a scary stare into the camera. I think I now know why he normally keeps looking away from it. I think he just hypnotized thousands of grannies across America to rise up and watch “How I Met Your Mother” with that stare.

8:37 pm: The second half begins.

8:38 pm: 32-28, Vandy. That’s what happens when you allow Hibbert inside position. He hits two straight baskets that were way too easy.

8:40 pm: 33-31, Vandy. Hibbert kicks the ball out to Summers, who drains the three and makes it a one possession game.

8:41 pm: 36-33, Vandy. Byars hits his first three of the game, but Hibbert continues to dominate the offensive glass. The Commodores need to keep him out of position.

8:42 pm: 36-36. Summers ties the game with another three. If Vandy can’t keep Hibbert out of the paint, this game will get away from them.

8:47 pm: 38-36, Vandy. Backup center Ted Skuchas drives inside for layup to give the lead back to Vanderbilt. Let’s see if he can stop Hibbert.

8:50 pm: 38-37, Vandy. Skuchas gets two quick fouls in one minute. He has to return to the bench with four.

8:51 pm: 41-38, G’town. Green drives inside and gets the layup to give Georgetown the lead. Hibbert dunks a putback on the next possession.

Vanderbilt is really struggling in their shooting in the second half. They’ve only scored 2 FGs in over 7 minutes.

8:54 pm: 43-40, G’Town. This is a near replica of the BC game: They keep a lead at halftime because they’re ale to contain Hibbert and keep him from getting the ball, but in the second half he takes over the game.

8:55 pm: 43-42, G’Town. Official Timeout.

8:59 pm: 44-43, Vandy. Beal makes a great alley-oop pass to Foster, whose dunk rattles in as Vandy takes the lead back.

9:00 pm: 46-44, G’town. Summers hits a three on the next possession, and Georgetown gets the lead again.

9:01 pm: 48-46, G’town. Beal’s midrange jumper rattles in to tie the game, but Green strikes back.

9:02 pm: 51-49, G’town. The two teams are now exchanging outside shots. Byars finally hits a three in the second half, but Summers is on fire for the Hoyas tonight. Which is odd, because he’s their lowest scoring starter from the regular season.

9:06 pm: 51-51. Ross Neltner catches the Hoyas frontcourt out of position, and he ties the game with an easy layup.

Vanderbilt commits their first turnover in over 23 minutes. Their ball control is amazing.

7:27 left in the game.

9:11 pm: What the hell? CBS put us in Butler-Florida! Don’t get me wrong, it’s a nail biter, but I want to see the Georgetown game!

So let me get this straight, James Brown: Does Butler have a 4.0 basketball IQ?

9:12 pm: 54-53, G’town. …and we’re back. Hibbert commits his fourth foul.

9:13 pm: 56-54, Vandy. Foster hits a three, and Vandy has the lead back! He drives inside in Hibbert’s absence and gets an easy layup.

58-54, Vandy, 4:30 left.

9:15 pm: 58-57, Vandy. Georgetown hits a three, but are dealt a huge blow as Hibbert fouls out with four minutes left. Vanderbilt should now be able to dictate the pace of this game. Jeff Green, Big East POY, must step up now for the Hoyas.

9:20 pm: 60-60. Jeff Green gets the amazing tip in, and the foul to tie the game. 3:30 left.

9:21 pm: Byars has an open three, but he hurries his shot to beat the shot clock, and it falls short.

UPDATE: Florida wins over Butler, 65-57.

9:23 pm: 62-60, G’town. Sapp makes an unbelievable drive to get the tough basket in the lane.

9:27 pm: 64-61, G’town, 1:00 left. An great play by Johnathan Wallace, driving like he’s going inside, but then pulling up for the open midrange jumper.

9:30 pm: 65-64, Vandy, :17.9 left. Vanderbilt is getting theor points a t the free throw line, and with a one point lead, Ewing commits a push foul. Dan Cage hits his free throws to give the Commodores the lead.

Teams like Tennesse and Virginia Tech have been punished so far in this tournament for not shooting well from the free throw line. The shot’s importance has certainly magnified in the last few weeks.

9:33 pm: With 2.5 seconds left, Jeff Green hits a tough shot, from the baseline, double teamed, off the glass to give them the lead. Vanderbilt can;t get a good shot off, and Georgetown wins, 66-65. What a heartbreaker for the Commodores, but Georgetown previals in spite of many obstacles: Vandy’s perimeter shooting, their free throws, Hibbert fouling out, and Green not playing well until the end. Georgetown will go to the Elite 8, as many had expected. However, the path has been much tougher than anticipated.

I will now go to Tar Heel Mania to live blog UNC vs. USC.