Sweet 16: Thursday Thoughts

Another great game in what has become a legendary tournament. Kansas State over Xavier in double overtime. A great back and forth between 2 great backcourts. Kansas State’s Denis Clemente and Jacob Pullen combined for 53 points and Xavier’s Terrell Hollway and Jordan Crawford combining for 58.

Crawford (whose name will soon be changed to “Jordan Crawford the guy who dunked on LeBron) had the onions moment of the night when he nailed a 3-pointer from waaaaaaay downtown (bang!) to tie it up with four seconds left in the first overtime.

But it never would have gotten that far if not for a lucky break for Xavier at the end of regulation. There’s always a big debate about fouling when you’re up three to put your opponent on the line instead of giving up a prayer of a three. Clemente tried to grab Holloway but the refs didn’t call it. By the time Chris Merriwether got to him he was in his shooting motion and drew the shooting foul. Holloway made all three which takes some onions in a the final seconds of 3-point game.

We finally got the Gus Johnson we’ve been waiting for all tournament. He was in peak form during this game.

I think I may start a Facebook group called “Onions! Ha HA! Get Bill Raftery and Gus Johnson on the same announce team.” I would watch the 5-3 game from Smist’s high school if those two guys were doing the broadcasting.

Cornell doesn't see too many players like John Wall and DeMarcus Cousins in the Ivy League.

They took a 10-2 lead with about 15 left in the first half. With 12 minutes left in the second they were down 38-21. That's 23 minutes and 11 points.

Everyone talked about how Cornell was for real because they can shoot it, especially from the outside. Well they didn't make those shots (5-21 from 3) against Kentucky. And I think a lot of that has to do with Kentucky's defense.

Great run for Cornell but they just can't compete with a team with that much athleticism.

Cornell lost 5 games this season to Kansas, Kentucky, Syracuse and Penn. Regular season RPI numbers 1, 2, 5 and 299. The other loss was Seton Hall, #60.

I didn't see much of the West Virginia-Washington game but I think without Truck Bryant the Mountaineers will not be able to beat Kentucky.

The Dome didn't seem as empty as I thought it would be. It didn't become a national story like I thought it would but it definitely filled up with disappointed people after the Syracuse game ended.

Cornell was up 10-2, then down 38-21, a 36-11 run over a 23 minute span