WhatIfSports.com NCAA Basketball Tournament

That 90 UNLV squad might win the whole thing unless they meet 91 Duke in the final.

I'm kinda mad that I didn't pick the Kent team that made the run to the Elite Eight with Antonio Gates.

They were available?

That was a fun team but they would get smoked, like every team I pick for these things.  

Fun team, murdered Alabama in the second round, squeaked past Pitt, then got murdered by 3's by Indiana (coached by former Fayette County Tiger and acquaintance of my father--who had to guard him in high school basketball--Mike Davis).

Great pick with Michigan 91 you dope.

I am cheering Illinois. OK?

FRIDAY

84 Georgetown at 91 Michigan

Georgetown went to the locker room up 44-40 at the break.

A back-and-forth second half goes to break at the midway point with the Hoyas up 69-63.

After pushing their lead to 81-72 with four minutes to play, the Hoyas salted the game away with an 8-4 run over the next two minutes.

Georgetown 93, Michigan 82

Patrick Ewing 20 pts, 13 rebs
Reggie Williams 15 pts
David Wingate 12 pts
Bill Martin 10 pts
Horace Broadnax 10 pts
Michael Jackson 8 pts, 10 asst

Jalen Rose 30 pts
Jimmy King 12 pts
Chris Webber 8 pts, 7 rebs



10 UConn at 04 Illinois

Illinois burst out of the gates in a full sprint taking a 50-32 lead into halftime.

That lead held up midway through the second as the Illini were up 70-51 at the ten-minute mark.

The rout was on the final ten minutes as Illinois extended their lead in the blowout win.

Illinois 93, UConn 63

Roger Powell 19 pts, 7 rebs
Dee Brown 18 pts
Deron Williams 17 pts
James Augustine 14 pts, 14 rebs
Luther Head 13 pts

Kemba Walker 22 pts





03 St. Joe's at 91 Indiana

It was all Hawks in the first half as they carried a 46-33 lead into the half forcing Coach Knight to disembowel Dick Vitale.

That helped the Hoosiers pull to within eight midway through the second making it 57-49.

But St. Joe's put together a 27-8 run to put the game away with six minutes to play.

St. Joe's 89, Indiana 80

Delonte West 30 pts, 8 rebs
Jameer Nelson 24 pts
Dwayne Jones 10 pts, 9 rebs
Tyrone Barley 0 pts, 1 asst

Damon Bailey 15 pts
Calbert Cheaney 15 pts
Eric Anderson 13 pts
Jamal Meeks 4 pts, 7 rebs




95 UMass at 98 Ohio State

The Buckeyes handle the Minutemen in the first half opening up a 46-38 halftime advantage.

But four minutes into the second half, UMass knotted the game at 50-50 and a back and forth battle ensued.

15:01 Ohio State up 54-52
12:26 Ohio State up 58-57
10:31 UMass up 63-60
8:54 UMass up 65-63
6:58 Ohio State up 68-67
5:07 Ohio State up 78-73
3:35 Tied at 80-80
2:10 Tied at 83-83

Ohio State bucket by George Reese 85-84 OSU
UMass jumper from Charlton Clarke 86-85 UMass
Scoonie Penn hits floater for Buckeyes 87-86 OSU
Tip-in bucket for Michael Redd 89-86 OSU
UMass miss, rebound by Scoonie Penn who is fouled
Scoonie Penn makes both free throws 91-86 OSU
Buzzer three for Donta Bright

Ohio State 91, UMass 86

Scoonie Penn 25 pts, 4 rebs, 6 asst
Michael Redd 24 pts, 9 rebs
Jon Sanderson 11 pts
Ken Johnson 6 pts, 7 rebs

Marcus Camby 18 pts, 8 rebs
Dana Dingle 17 pts, 9 rebs
Carmelo Travieso 16 pts
Donta Bright 15 pts
Edgar Padilla 12 pts, 5 rebs, 5 asst