GS cont...
Gold Sheet
MID-AMERICAN CONFERENCE TOURNAMENT
All teams compete. Top 4 seeds get a bye. First round March 8 with #5 vs.
#12, #6 vs. #11, #7 vs. #10, and #8 vs. #9. First round at home of higher seed.
All other games at Quicken Loans Arena, Cleveland, Ohio (neutral site; home of
NBA’s Cavaliers). Quarterfinals March 10 with #1 vs. #8-#9 winner, #2 vs. #7-
#10 winner, #3 vs. #6-#11 winner, and #4 vs. #5-#12 winner. Semifinals March
11. Final March 12. Allow Kent State & Akron 2 points for playing at Cleveland.
LY’s WINNER: Ohio +1 beat AKRON 81-75 in OT.
Friday’s first semifinal matchup:
AKRON 78 - Western Michigan 72—After dodging the proverbial bullet in
Thursday’s double-OT quarterfinal survival test vs. Miami-Ohio (which was held
to a mere 10 points in the first half!), Akron (8-2 SU and vs. the line its last 10)
is likely to be emboldened at its new-found postseason life. The Zips will not
blink at the sight of a WMU side they handled without too much trouble by 12 at
Rhodes Arena back on Feb. 9, when the Broncs took their best shots with high
scorers G Demetrius Ward (scored 26) and PF Flenard Whitfield (added 23),
but were completely flummoxed by the sticky Akron perimeter defense that
blanked WMU (nil for 12!) beyond the arc. That, however, is standard operating
procedure for the MAC’s best 3-point defense, with the emergence of Zips’ 7-0
soph C Zeke Marshall now also providing a defensive presence in the paint
that’s unique to this conference. Well-balanced Akron (7 scorers between 7-13
ppg) capable of replicating its reg.-season success vs. WMU. 10-AKR -6' 83-
71; 09-Akr -1 79-70, AKR -3' 66-64 (CT)
PACIFIC 10 CONFERENCE TOURNAMENT
All teams compete. Opening round March 9 with #8 vs. #9 and #7 vs. #10.
Quarterfinals March 10 with #1 vs. #8-#9 winner, #2 vs. #7-#10 winner, #3 vs.
#6, and #4 vs. #5. Semifinals March 11. Final March 12. All games at the
Staples Center, Los Angeles. Allow Southern Cal and UCLA 2 points for playing
at the Staples Center. LY’s WINNER: Washington +2 beat California 79-75.
Friday’s first semifinal matchup:
SOUTHERN CAL 68 - Arizona 61—As long as SC doesn’t have to face
nemesis Oregon, which has curiously won and covered its last four meetings
vs. Kevin O’Neill’s Trojans, the local favorite Trojans (playing just a few miles
north on the Harbor Freeway from their home base) will like their chances
against almost anybody. And we mean anybody, with Southern Cal road wins
at Texas, Tennessee, and Washington, a 2-point loss at Kansas, and
dominating home wins over UCLA and Arizona suggesting that when they bring
their “A” game, the Trojans can certainly take care of business. The extra
dimension to consider is SC’s iffy NCAA at-large status, which requires the
Trojans (unlike the Wildcats) to win this event in order to secure their Big Dance
invitation. O’Neill’s defensive schemes, featuring plenty of size with 6-10
frontliners Nicola Vucevic and Alex Stephenson, completely took UA star F
Derrick Williams (18.8 ppg) out of the offensive flow when the Wildcat star made
only 3 of 11 from floor in SC’s Feb. 24 win at the Galen Center. A repeat
performance would be no surprise. 10-ARI -6' 82-73, USC +1 65-57; 09-USC
Gold Sheet
Utah State 75 - San Jose State 67—San Jose and personable HC George
Nessman is literally playing with house money at the Orleans Hotel Arena after
its pair of unexpected wins over Hawaii and Idaho have the sent the Spartans
deeper than they have ever progressed in the WAC Tourney. And, if the
oddsmakers are in a generous mood, gritty San Jose might be able to stay
within earshot of Stew Morrill’s USU, as the Spartans did on New Year’s Eve at
Logan, losing by only 9. Keep in mind that the Utags (with their NCAA bid in
hand) won the rematch by 19 on Jan. 27 at the Event Center in Silicon Valley,
although the Spartans were minus valuable sr. G Justin Graham (14.7 ppg) in
that clash. The SJSU combo of Graham, emerging frosh Keith Shamburger
(11.5 ppg), and WAC top scorer Adrian Oliver (24.3 ppg; scored 29 in second
meeting vs. USU) compensates for its lack of production in the paint with great
ball movement and the ability to penetrate while executing Nessman’s shrewd
gameplan. That might make it difficult for Morrill’s array of defensive schemes
(which are designed to clog the passing lanes and take the first option away
from opponents) to succeed as usual. Utags win and advance, but maybe not
without a fight. 10-USU -17' 80-71, Usu -9' 84-65; 09-USU -17 77-58, Usu -8 81-
65
Boise State 77 - New Mexico State 69—NMSU knows the March drill,
having come from nowhere to win last year’s WAC event in Reno and recovering
from a very slow start to finally overtake Nevada in yesterday’s quarterfinal
round. But this isn’t the same Aggie team as a year ago that relied on potent
backcourt firepower; NMSU is a bit slower-paced this season, as it revolves its
offense around 6-8 PF Troy Gillenwater (19.2 ppg). Without the dimensions of
last season, the Ags might be in trouble vs. an ascending Boise squad that hits
the postseason hot (winning last 7 SU) and that finally seems to be
understanding some of the defensive schemes first-year HC Leon Rice has
imported from Gonzaga. The senior-laden Broncos have been getting a big
boost lately from sr. G La’Shard Anderson, who scored 21.4 ppg in the final four
games of the regular season. 10-BSU -9' 81-78, NMS -1 96-87 (OT); 09-Nm
★★★New Mexico 81 - Byu 72—Here’s the battle everyone in the MWC has
been anticipating ever since New Mexico whipped Brandon Davies-less BYU by
18 at Provo last Wednesday. Considering that the matchups didn’t work for the
Cougars against the Lobos even when Davies was available (remember, UNM
also beat BYU at The Pit on Jan. 29), the evidence suggests that Steve Alford’s
troops are very capable of scoring a hat trick. The absence of the suspended
Davies has removed a unique component (a mobile big who can play with his
back to the bucket) that otherwise doesn’t exist on the Cougar roster, and that
shortcoming was evident again in Thursday’s close quarterfinal escape vs.
lowly TCU. Without Davies on the floor, UNM’s Drew Gordon dominated the
glass with 16 rebounds at Provo, when even Jimmer Fredette’s 33 points
couldn’t get BYU close. The Lobos seem to have a better chance than most
MWC foes to slow Fredette, who was forced to hoist 52 contested shots in the
two meetings and was noticeably flustered by some of the length Alford could
use to impede him, especially long-armed 6-7 frosh Tony Snell. Can the Lobos
make the Mountain West a 4-bid league? 10-UNM +2 86-77, Unm +10' 82-64
Gold Sheet
MID-AMERICAN CONFERENCE TOURNAMENT
All teams compete. Top 4 seeds get a bye. First round March 8 with #5 vs.
#12, #6 vs. #11, #7 vs. #10, and #8 vs. #9. First round at home of higher seed.
All other games at Quicken Loans Arena, Cleveland, Ohio (neutral site; home of
NBA’s Cavaliers). Quarterfinals March 10 with #1 vs. #8-#9 winner, #2 vs. #7-
#10 winner, #3 vs. #6-#11 winner, and #4 vs. #5-#12 winner. Semifinals March
11. Final March 12. Allow Kent State & Akron 2 points for playing at Cleveland.
LY’s WINNER: Ohio +1 beat AKRON 81-75 in OT.
Friday’s first semifinal matchup:
AKRON 78 - Western Michigan 72—After dodging the proverbial bullet in
Thursday’s double-OT quarterfinal survival test vs. Miami-Ohio (which was held
to a mere 10 points in the first half!), Akron (8-2 SU and vs. the line its last 10)
is likely to be emboldened at its new-found postseason life. The Zips will not
blink at the sight of a WMU side they handled without too much trouble by 12 at
Rhodes Arena back on Feb. 9, when the Broncs took their best shots with high
scorers G Demetrius Ward (scored 26) and PF Flenard Whitfield (added 23),
but were completely flummoxed by the sticky Akron perimeter defense that
blanked WMU (nil for 12!) beyond the arc. That, however, is standard operating
procedure for the MAC’s best 3-point defense, with the emergence of Zips’ 7-0
soph C Zeke Marshall now also providing a defensive presence in the paint
that’s unique to this conference. Well-balanced Akron (7 scorers between 7-13
ppg) capable of replicating its reg.-season success vs. WMU. 10-AKR -6' 83-
71; 09-Akr -1 79-70, AKR -3' 66-64 (CT)
PACIFIC 10 CONFERENCE TOURNAMENT
All teams compete. Opening round March 9 with #8 vs. #9 and #7 vs. #10.
Quarterfinals March 10 with #1 vs. #8-#9 winner, #2 vs. #7-#10 winner, #3 vs.
#6, and #4 vs. #5. Semifinals March 11. Final March 12. All games at the
Staples Center, Los Angeles. Allow Southern Cal and UCLA 2 points for playing
at the Staples Center. LY’s WINNER: Washington +2 beat California 79-75.
Friday’s first semifinal matchup:
SOUTHERN CAL 68 - Arizona 61—As long as SC doesn’t have to face
nemesis Oregon, which has curiously won and covered its last four meetings
vs. Kevin O’Neill’s Trojans, the local favorite Trojans (playing just a few miles
north on the Harbor Freeway from their home base) will like their chances
against almost anybody. And we mean anybody, with Southern Cal road wins
at Texas, Tennessee, and Washington, a 2-point loss at Kansas, and
dominating home wins over UCLA and Arizona suggesting that when they bring
their “A” game, the Trojans can certainly take care of business. The extra
dimension to consider is SC’s iffy NCAA at-large status, which requires the
Trojans (unlike the Wildcats) to win this event in order to secure their Big Dance
invitation. O’Neill’s defensive schemes, featuring plenty of size with 6-10
frontliners Nicola Vucevic and Alex Stephenson, completely took UA star F
Derrick Williams (18.8 ppg) out of the offensive flow when the Wildcat star made
only 3 of 11 from floor in SC’s Feb. 24 win at the Galen Center. A repeat
performance would be no surprise. 10-ARI -6' 82-73, USC +1 65-57; 09-USC
Gold Sheet
Utah State 75 - San Jose State 67—San Jose and personable HC George
Nessman is literally playing with house money at the Orleans Hotel Arena after
its pair of unexpected wins over Hawaii and Idaho have the sent the Spartans
deeper than they have ever progressed in the WAC Tourney. And, if the
oddsmakers are in a generous mood, gritty San Jose might be able to stay
within earshot of Stew Morrill’s USU, as the Spartans did on New Year’s Eve at
Logan, losing by only 9. Keep in mind that the Utags (with their NCAA bid in
hand) won the rematch by 19 on Jan. 27 at the Event Center in Silicon Valley,
although the Spartans were minus valuable sr. G Justin Graham (14.7 ppg) in
that clash. The SJSU combo of Graham, emerging frosh Keith Shamburger
(11.5 ppg), and WAC top scorer Adrian Oliver (24.3 ppg; scored 29 in second
meeting vs. USU) compensates for its lack of production in the paint with great
ball movement and the ability to penetrate while executing Nessman’s shrewd
gameplan. That might make it difficult for Morrill’s array of defensive schemes
(which are designed to clog the passing lanes and take the first option away
from opponents) to succeed as usual. Utags win and advance, but maybe not
without a fight. 10-USU -17' 80-71, Usu -9' 84-65; 09-USU -17 77-58, Usu -8 81-
65
Boise State 77 - New Mexico State 69—NMSU knows the March drill,
having come from nowhere to win last year’s WAC event in Reno and recovering
from a very slow start to finally overtake Nevada in yesterday’s quarterfinal
round. But this isn’t the same Aggie team as a year ago that relied on potent
backcourt firepower; NMSU is a bit slower-paced this season, as it revolves its
offense around 6-8 PF Troy Gillenwater (19.2 ppg). Without the dimensions of
last season, the Ags might be in trouble vs. an ascending Boise squad that hits
the postseason hot (winning last 7 SU) and that finally seems to be
understanding some of the defensive schemes first-year HC Leon Rice has
imported from Gonzaga. The senior-laden Broncos have been getting a big
boost lately from sr. G La’Shard Anderson, who scored 21.4 ppg in the final four
games of the regular season. 10-BSU -9' 81-78, NMS -1 96-87 (OT); 09-Nm
★★★New Mexico 81 - Byu 72—Here’s the battle everyone in the MWC has
been anticipating ever since New Mexico whipped Brandon Davies-less BYU by
18 at Provo last Wednesday. Considering that the matchups didn’t work for the
Cougars against the Lobos even when Davies was available (remember, UNM
also beat BYU at The Pit on Jan. 29), the evidence suggests that Steve Alford’s
troops are very capable of scoring a hat trick. The absence of the suspended
Davies has removed a unique component (a mobile big who can play with his
back to the bucket) that otherwise doesn’t exist on the Cougar roster, and that
shortcoming was evident again in Thursday’s close quarterfinal escape vs.
lowly TCU. Without Davies on the floor, UNM’s Drew Gordon dominated the
glass with 16 rebounds at Provo, when even Jimmer Fredette’s 33 points
couldn’t get BYU close. The Lobos seem to have a better chance than most
MWC foes to slow Fredette, who was forced to hoist 52 contested shots in the
two meetings and was noticeably flustered by some of the length Alford could
use to impede him, especially long-armed 6-7 frosh Tony Snell. Can the Lobos
make the Mountain West a 4-bid league? 10-UNM +2 86-77, Unm +10' 82-64
