Survive and Advance

What a weekend for tourney fans. GT squeeks by BC in another close match-up. And obviously I was not destined to watch this game. I was in ATL this weekend with college friends. I decided to drive back to Greenville SC around noon so I could catch most of the game. I listed to the pre-game radio show and actually picked up the broadcast very faintly on 550am in Greenville. By the time I pulled in my driveway we were up like 18-9. I ran upstairs and turned on the TV and started recording on the VCR. Then the announcers said "it's time to move to your featured game - NCST / Vandy" - WHAT!!!!! And no sooner was it there then it was gone again.

Oh well - I headed to the computer - to listen to the 790 broadcast on the internet. Guess what - the internet was down - no access - great!! Next step - head to my car and see if I can still pull up the game on 550am. I get in the car and guess what - the radio will no longer turn on - no kidding. Have no idea the problem, but no power to the radio (even though it worked fine on the way home).

Not one radio in the house could pick up the broadcast so I was stuck watching the NCST / Vandy game and getting the updates on scores in the upper right of the screen. Luckily I got to see the final couple of minutes as they switched coverage back and forth until it was over.

Enough of that - on to the action

JACKETS "SURVIVE AND ADVANCE"
Jimmy V used to say the key to the tourney was survive and advance. I think that comment is appropriate for our last two ball games. At times it seemed like GT might run away with it, but BC kept coming back. Sounds familiar. To top it off, we scored one bucket in the last 6 minutes of the game. Here is the AP story on the game. Here's another re-cap. In the end, the story was defense. While both teams actually shot ok, there just weren't many shots. GT was 23-51 and BC was 20-44. Lots of turnovers - GT 17, BC 22. GT was outrebounded 30-24.

Who were the stars of the game? Well, BJ had 18 points on 7-15 shooting. My only beef with BJ is that he ended with zero rebounds. When a shot goes up, BJ heads down the court, not into the lane for a rebound. That bothers me - maybe coach wants it this way, but if Jack can average 5-6 boards a game, surely BJ can do better. Jack had 8 points, 6 boards, 6 assists, 2 steals and 2 to's. He also had a key steal and breakaway dunk at the end (although I wish he just would have run the clock out) and hit two free throws that helped put us ahead. McHenry went 4-4 with 10 points (2nd double digit scoring game in a row), hit a 3-pointer, had 1 assist, 4 steals, and 3 to's. An outstanding effort. Marvin Lewis, while only going 1-5 from 3pt range, did score 9 points, had 3 boards, 1 assist and 1 to. Isma'il had 6 points on 3-6, 5 boards (3 offensive), 1 assist, 2 to's and 2 steals, including an awesome steal and breakaway dunk (right-handed throw down). Lastly C-Moore had 4 points, 7 boards (3 offensive), 3 assists, 1 block, 3 steals, and 1 to. Really any of these guys could be the MVP................ but my vote goes to J.Jack. "Playa's play"..... Playa's make plays. Jack is proving that he is a playa. This story talks about Jack cementing his legacy with other GT PG's.

A win is a win and now we will face a tough Nevada team. GO JACKETS!!!!!!

JACKETS IN THE MEDIA
The magic is back - that's the theme of Jacket's basketball. Could this be the start of a real legacy and building of GT into an elite program? This story talks about the Jackets back on the national stage. Here is more on J.Jack and getting attention as a prime-time player. (from SI.com). Also note in the article about Will Bynum's disappointment at his 6 minutes of PT. He had family and friends there and I'm sure he wanted to play well - heck he could be considered the MVP of the UNI game. Hopefully he will realize that the TEAM got the W, will put it behind him and get ready for Nevada. BC presented match-ups that just did not cater to his style and game. Hower, he could play a much more important role against Nevada........... Here's a Bark Madley story.

OTHER MADNESS
The path in the St.Louis bracket is clearing faster than Moses parted the red sea. First Gonzaga gets knocked off by Nevada...... Then tonight, Kentucky loses to UAB - that's Univ. of Alabama Birmingham - a scrappy, quick fighter of a team. Here's a quick peek at the weekend's events.

A LOOK AT NEVADA
Here is a USAToday story on the Nevada team......... The oddsmakers have us as early 4.5 point favorites.

BEESBALL TEAM BEATS WAKE FOREST 9-2
We are now 13-10 and 2-4 in the ACC. Homers from both Micah Owings and Wes Hodges helped fuel the victory.

WHERE ARE THEY NOW - JOE HAMILTON
Joe hurt his knee in his most recent game - was seen on crutches. Let's hope it is not serious - they are calling it a sprained knee for now.

WHERE ARE THEY NOW - TONY HARGROVE
Looks like he dazzled the scouts - that's great for him. From the article - "The fastest stopwatch timed Hargrove in the 40 in 4.59 seconds. His vertical leap was 39.5 inches, his standing long jump 10 feet, 6 inches, and his time in the three-cone drill, which measures quickness and agility, was 7.17 seconds. Ohio State's Will Smith, perhaps the No. 2 defensive end draft prospect, ran the 40 in 4.58 seconds, had a 38.5-inch vertical, a 9-9 broad jump and a 7.42 in the three-cone drill."