 Sunday, April 06, 2008
And Then There Were Two - Final Four
I stopped by PG's place on the Upper West Side to watch the Final Four. The first game was Memphis against UCLA.
Both teams had trouble making baskets in the last ten minutes, especially UCLA didn't hit a three point basket until less than a minute left.
Memphis' Chris Douglas-Roberts had trouble making shots down the stretch.
What impressed me most was that Memphis was able to win in a half court game. Yes, they prefer up tempo but can win playing patiently. More importantly, they continue to make free throws. They were 58.7 percent during the season and 87.0 percent tonight. Unbelievable!
UCLA has won three straight Final Fours and came up short 78-63 to Memphis.
Congratulations to Memphis for winning a historic 38 games!
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The second game featured North Carolina versus Kansas in a match up of traditional powers.
Kansas tried to take Tyler Hansbrough out of his game. My advice is make him work on the defensive side to wear him out later in the game.
Kansas jumped out to an early lead leading 23-10 at 11:30 mark in the first half. Kansas stretched it to 31-10 at the mid way point of the first half.
Aldrich had longer arms than Hansbrough to get a rebound at 9:32. I made this point yesterday.
Kansas nails a three pointer to take a 38-12 lead at 7:32. PG says "it's over!" There is still lots of basketball left. Carolina has to start running plays or they will continue to be run out of the gym. They are taking too many ill advised three point shots.
PG asks "if the guy is bleeding, should a foul not be called." Good point bro!
Carolina didn't make a field goal for 9:03.
Carolina then goes on a 10-0 run to close the lead to 40-22 at 2:27.
Kansas is tired but has a 44-27 lead at half time.
"17 is doable," PG says. I agree.
After halftime, Kansas ran a perfect give and go to extend the lead to 19. You couldn't diagram it. Kansas weathered Carolina's initial run.
Carolina cuts it to 14 at the first TV timeout at 15:54 left in the second half.
PG predicts for a pivotal moment with five minutes left. Kansas needs to go back to basics. I agree with PG.
Carolina's half court trap works. They get the tie up to cut it to 54-44. "Why are they taking three pointers?" PG asks. I agree.
Kansas went dry for over five minutes. Carolina closed it to 54-50 with 11:08 left.
"How much has Michael Jordan bet on this game?" I ask PG. PG thinks the same thing as Jordan is a serial gambler and most famous Carolina alum. Talk about ESP.
Collins hit a key basket with 5:25 to increase the lead to 67-59. PG's basketball instincts are as good as anyone's. The refs finally call a travel on Hansbrough at 3:40.
"Have movies gone AWOL?" PG asks in reaction to the "I Hate Sarah Marshall" movie trailer.
"Does Kansas know anything about clock management?" PG asks as Kansas pulls for a quick shot with about three minutes left.
It's nice to see Larry Brown in the stands. PG thinks he is a "tortured artist".
"Tyler Hansbrough always looks like he is going cry. How can the best college player have such a herky-jerky game? Aldrich has ten times more grace than Hansbrough." PG observes even though he hasn't seen these teams play this season. PG is more a NBA fan than college fan.
Kansas wins 84-66. "Rock Chalk Jayhawk!"
Posted by The Tank reporting live from PG's Place on the Upper West Side of Manhattan.
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