Elite Eight Review

The Elite 8 saw three of the four games go further than their originally scheduled forty minutes. In the first game, I needed Louisville to win to keep my chances of winning the pool alive. When they were down 20 points, and West Virginia was winning the three-pointer war, it didn't look good. The Cardinals had fought back to cut it to 13 by halftime. They played much better in the second half, but West Virginia's Mike Gansey and Kevin Pittsnogle kept hitting big shots when it counted. The Louisville cause seemed doomed. Instead of going on a big run, as expected, Louisville crept back into the game. With Garcia fouled out, Dean took over. O'Bannon helped out and by the waning seconds of the game, Louisville had the final possession with a chance to win. They missed and the game went into overtime, where Louisville's momentum carried them to an easy victory in the extra session.

One win, three to go. Next I needed Illinois.

Illinois was playing Arizona tough and maintained a slight lead by halftime. The Wildcats' Salim Stoudamire was shooting poorly, which wasn't hurting my chances either. With four minutes left in the game, Illinois found themselves 15 points down and exhibited no intensity. I called my brother to concede. This from the very same guy who not only thought the Buffalo Bills would win down 35-3 in the 2nd half of the 1993 AFC Wild Card game, but KNEW that they would. Ian, didn't pick up the phone. By the time he called me back Illinois was making a little run. It was down to 9. I told Ian that "I just called to say things aren't looking so good for me right now, but it's looking a (down to 7) little better now." Darron Williams shut down Stoudamire and kept the Illinois ship afloat offensively. He hit big three after big three until overtime was finally forced.

Illinois' overtime gala wasn't as easy as Louisville's. Back and forth the teams went until Illinois won after a missed Arizona shot at the buzzer. Two games won, two more to go. I needed two upsets on Sunday.

UNC came out of the gate firing on all cylinders. I figured that if Wisconsin got down early the game would be over and so would my hopes of coming back to win the pool. But Wisconsin did come back. Sean May dominated the Badgers defense, but inexplicably UNC went away from the big man towards the end of the first half. Wisconsin went on a big run to tie the Tar Heals at 44 by halftime. However, this was not the style of play that Wisconsin wanted in order to win. The second half was played in the same tempo, and Wisconsin's scrappy effort finished six points short. And with their defeat staring me in the face like the stench of failure, I laid on the couch ignoring any attempt to console me.

I had watched so much basketball. This was going to be the year of my triumphant return to sports-following prominence. Alas the ides of March had concocted one final blow (not counting the diarrhea that plagued me last night). I was now officially eliminated, the fate that I had figured would come into fruition a week and a half before. But now it had actually come and the old cliché of wait til next year was plastered on my consciousness.

Michigan State beat Kentucky in a double overtime thriller. The Kentucky dude's foot was slightly behind the three point line (see review of championship week for thoughts on that issue). The Final Four is next Saturday.