Buzz Blog

As promised, here are the seedings and tournament results from the teams that were “drafted” last week.---

Seedings

1. UCLA

2. North Carolina

3. Kansas

4. Louisiana State

5. Michigan State

6. Michigan

7. Syracuse

8. Arizona

9. Florida

10. Indiana

11. Duke

12. Connecticut

13. Kentucky

14. Texas

15. Memphis

16. Utah

First Round

1. UCLA vs. 16. Utah
As hard as it was to do, Utah comes into this tournament as the weakest team. Surprisingly enough, this game is closer than some might think, but UCLA pounds it inside to Abdul-Jabbar, Walton, and Love, scoring easy bucket after easy bucket. Andre Miller does the best he can, posting a line of 16 points, 5 rebounds, and 8 assists coupling with Bogut’s line of 19 points and 11 rebounds. However, UCLA proves to be too much, as Abdul-Jabbar scores 27 while pulling down 15 rebounds and K. Love comes off the bench for 20 points and 7 boards.
Final Score: UCLA 95, Utah 78

2. North Carolina vs. 15. Memphis
This high-scoring, high-paced game is a real treat to watch. The up-and-down style of both teams leads to bunches of highlight plays and rim-rocking dunks. Memphis’ lack of a solid big man is their downfall in this matchup. Joey Dorsey cannot contain Hansbrough and Wallace, as Hansbrough posts 20 points and 11 rebounds and Wallace goes for 27 and 9 rebounds. Rose paces the Tigers with 30 points, 3 rebounds, and 8 assists, while Penny’s line included 19 points, 7 rebounds, and 7 assists.
Final Score: North Carolina 111, Memphis 97

3. Kansas vs. 14. Texas
Classic Big-12 battle here, as the Jayhawks take on the Longhorns. Durant goes nuts in this game with 54 points, while Aldridge posts a double-double with 22 points and 18 rebounds. Kansas counters with 25 points from Paul Pierce and 24 from Danny Manning. The deciding factor in this game is Wilt, who simply beasts Mihm on the block. Durant’s big game isn’t enough, as Wilt scores 46 points and pulls down 22 rebounds.
Final Score: Kansas 100, Texas 85

4. Louisiana State vs. 13. Kentucky
Pistol and Shaq playing the two-man game might be the hardest thing in the world to defend, and Calipari’s group of freshmen cannot keep up. Pistol scorches the nets for 31, and Shaq has a workman-like 28 points and 20 rebounds, absolutely abusing the frail Anthony Davis. DeMarcus Cousins paces the Wildcats with 18 points and 10 boards, while Rondo scores 11 and dishes out 17 assists. Nonetheless, this game is never even close.
Final Score: LSU 96, Kentucky 67

5. Michigan State vs. 12. UCONN
Two great teams in a thrilling first-round matchup. Magic and the Spartans use classic ball movement and get plenty of easy buckets courtesy of Mr. Johnson. He leads Izzo’s team with 24 points, 14 rebounds, and 19 assists, while Z-Bo bangs down low for 20 points and 8 rebounds. UCONN’s shooters keep this game close, and Kemba is, well, Kemba, as he scores 36 points. Ray Allen chips in 23 and Rip scores 18, but it is the Spartans that sneak out the victory.
Final Score: Michigan State 86, UCONN 82

6. Michigan vs. 11. Duke
In a rematch of that famed championship game so many years ago, there is still plenty of bad blood. Duke executes Coach K’s systematic offense to perfection. Jay Williams scores 18 while dishing out 9 assists, and JJ shoots his way to 25 points. On the other side of the ball, the Wolverines are out for revenge. Chris Webber plays possessed on his way to a masterful triple-double of 27 points, 12 rebounds, and 10 assists. J Crossover Jamal Crawford adds 19 as the Wolverines exact their revenge.
Final Score: Michigan 90, Duke 85

7. Syracuse vs. 10. Indiana
Bobby Knight’s boys take on Jim Boeheim’s Orangemen in an exciting coaching battle. Isiah Thomas is always up for a challenge and scores 29 points while dishing out 11 assists. Bellamy adds 20 points and 15 rebounds for the Hoosiers. Boeheim’s boys came ready to play in this game. Melo scorches the nets for 41 and Derrick Coleman bangs in 26 points and 14 rebounds. The game remains close until a Carmelo Anthony 3 ball wins it at the buzzer.
Final Score: Syracuse 97, Indiana 95

8. Arizona vs. 9. Florida
The historic Wildcats against the core players of Billy Donovan’s repeat championship teams. Florida take advantage of their bigs, as Horford and Noah combine for 46 points and 26 rebounds. Jason Williams adds 14 flashy assists to go with his 15 points. For ‘Zona, the game is won in the backcourt. The three-guard rotation of Bibby, Arenas, and Gardner is far too much for the Gators. Bibby scores 14 to go with 7 assists, Arenas scores 30 and Gardner has a solid game of 15 points and 10 assists off the bench.
Final Score: Arizona 80, Florida 72

Second Round

1. UCLA vs. 9. Arizona
UCLA’s second-round game goes pretty much the same way as their opening-round game. Loren Woods simply cannot guard Kareem, and K Love get the surprise start here and he has another big game. Kareem scores 30 and rips down 13 rebounds, and Love scores 24 and pulls down a monster 20 rebounds. Arenas again leads the Wildcats in scoring with 33 points, and Sean Elliott does his part with 24, but quite simply, it just is not enough.
Final Score: UCLA 100, Arizona 82

4. Louisiana State vs. 5. Michigan State
This matchup is more about players who played at their schools a long time ago, instead of some of the other teams with more recent graduates. Magic is the focal point of the Spartan offense again, but has an off shooting night, posting a line of 12 points, 6 rebounds, and 14 assists. LSU rides the Pistol-Shaq combo again, as the two combine for 60 points, but it is Abdul-Rauf that shines in this game, as he scores 24 points while handing out 8 assists.
Final Score: LSU 98, Michigan State 85

3. Kansas vs. 6. Michigan
Old School versus New School in this second-round battle. Jalen Rose dominates the point-guard battle, as he scores 22 points along with 6 helpers, and Webber is his usual self with 30 points and 10 rebounds. Glen Rice chips in 18 for the Wolverines. Steve Fisher’s squad triple teams Wilt in the post, frustrating him into 6 turnovers and they force Jacque Vaughn to beat them. Wilt still scores 26 with 18 rebounds, and Paul Pierce is held to 11. Vaughn does the best he can with 12 points and 10 assists, but he just isn’t the scorer that the Jayhawks needed in this matchup.
Final Score: Michigan 78, Kansas 69

2. North Carolina vs. 7. Syracuse
Another game that is closer than one might think. Melo has another big game and scores 37 and Dave Bing chips in 18. However, the simple fact is they are going against a man by the name of Michael Jordan. He rises to Anthony’s challenge and scores 40 leading the Tar Heels to a closer-than-you’d-think victory.
Final Score: North Carolina 86, Syracuse 79

Semifinals

1. UCLA vs. 4. Louisiana State
This might be the most exciting game of the tournament. Shaq battles Kareem in the post and ends up getting the upper hand. Shaq scores 30 while snagging 18 rebounds, and Kareem scores 22 along with 11 boards. Tyrus Thomas gets the start for LSU and his length and athleticism gives Walton fits, limiting him to 6 points and 8 rebounds. Reggie Miller shoots lights out for UCLA on his way to a team-leading 26 points, but it is LSU’s strong backcourt again that combines for 53 points and 17 assists. LSU sneaks this one out in typical March Madness fashion.
Final Score: LSU 112, UCLA 109

2. North Carolina vs. 6. Michigan
Michigan is drained physically and emotionally after their big win against Kansas, and it clearly shows against UNC. Rice leads the Wolverines with 25 but it just isn’t anywhere near enough. Jordan scores 34, Carter adds 21 off the bench and Lawson dishes out 12 assists.
Final Score: North Carolina 100, Michigan 83

Championship

2. North Carolina vs. 4. Louisiana State
This championship game is one to remember. It is back and forth all the way through, right until the final shot decides the game. Abdul-Rauf scores 26, Pistol goes for 30 and Shaq adds 31 points and 14 rebounds for the Tigers. Jordan leads the Tar Heels with 44 points, Worthy nets 22, and Carter has another big game with 21. However, in the final minute of the game, Marcus Thornton is left open off of a double team on Shaq. He finds Thornton, who nets a wide-open 16-footer for his 14 point and a one-point lead with 7 seconds on the clock. North Carolina inbounds, and everyone in the gym knows who is shooting the ball: Michael Jeffrey Jordan. Jordan crosses over Pistol at the free throw line, takes one dibble into the paint and pulls up for the game winner … only to see it swatted away by Shaq at the buzzer.
Final Score: LSU 101, North Carolina 100

There you have it, and I’m guessing not many of you saw it ending that way. If you think your team should be the winner, state your case!