Basketball

Kansas defeated Memphis tonight in the mens NCAA Basketball Championship Game. The game saw the Jayhawks come back from a large deficit late in the game and hit a 3 point basket with just 2 seconds remaining to bring the game into overtime where they would prevail against the feisty Tigers. This was the first championship since 1988 for the traditional power in college basketball.

The game was a even affair throughout until Memphis seemed to pull away with 10 minutes to go in the second half. Kansas then was able to pull off the late game heroics and bring the game into overtime. Memphis seemed demoralized in the extra frame and was not over to overcome the emotional drain of having the the game slip through their fingers.

The Davidson Wildcats have advanced to the elite 8 after knocking off Big Ten Champion Wisconsin tonight. Stephen Curry once again stole the show scoring 33 points, grabbing 4 rebounds, and dishing out 4 assists. Curry has gained such a following that Cleveland Cavaliers star LeBron James is even a witness. James was on hand to watch Curry who has been a one man wrecking crew for the Cinderella of the 2008 NCAA Tournament coming in as a 10th seeded team that anyone out of North Carolina would have never seen them advancing this far. favored Gonzaga, Georgetown, and now the Wisconsin Badgers who all came in as favorites against the school that was a last this far in 1969 under Hall of Fame coach Lefty Driesell.

The game looked like it would be a nail biter as heading to intermission as the game was deadlocked at 36. Wisconsin couldn't keep up the pace with the hot shooting Southern Conference Champion.

The return to St John Arena was a successful venture. Playing in their old home after being displaced by a Bruce Springsteen concert, the Ohio State Buckeyes defeated the visiting Cal squad 73-56 to advance in the NIT. The Buckeyes will face the winner of the Dayton-Illinois State in the quarter finals and a chance to play the at Madison Square Garden.

Jamar Butler Led the Buckeyes with 20 points and Kosta Koufos added 17. Othello Hunter dominated in the paint grabbing 16 rebounds (7 offensive) and added 11 points. Jerome Randle paced the Golden Bears with 18 points.

A sellout crowd of over 14,000 attended the game in what is likely the last mens basketball game that St John Arena will ever host.

March Madness delivered a stunning upset today when Western Kentucky defeated Drake in overtime game that was decided at the buzzer. Drake had trailed for much of the game but came back to bring the game into overtime. With 5 seconds to go it appeared that the team avoided the upset when they converted two free throws for a 1 point advantage but Western Kentucky was able to go the length of the court and hit a dramatic game winning 3 point shot by Ty Rogers that made the final 101-99.

Drake only managed to shoot 35% but were able to convert 81% of their free throws for a chance to win. Western Kentucky played a near flawless game hitting on 52% of their shots and were led by Tyrone Brazelton 33 points.

The Bruins almost beat the Blue Devils. No, not the UCLA Bruins the Belmont Bruins. The 15th seeded team in the West Region nearly defeated Duke who were double digit favorites. The Bruins trailed the Blue Devils by 7 at the half but narrowed the gap and took a lead halfway through the second half. They kept the game close all the way to the end but came up just short of the upset which would have shocked the basketball world.

Duke managed to pull ahead narrowly but Belmont was not done taking the lead in the last minute. Duke was able to score with just 12 seconds left to regain the lead and Belmont couldn't not convert on two shots in the final seconds with Duke grabbing a rebound with 2.8 seconds remaining. Duke was fouled and missed a free throw but Belmont could not convert on their last second shot making the final score 71-70.

Duke's record 28-5 while Belmont fell to 25-9.