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Discuss the Western Regional games in this thread.

I've seen a lot of people picking Memphis to win this region, probably more than any other team.

All I can say is, for their sake, they better hope UConn gets eliminated early. If the regional final comes down to UConn-Memphis, they simply won't be able to stop UConn's inside presence.

UConn is also in a dangerous position, both Purdue and Washington are teams I think match up well with the Huskies, and could provide a challenge (far moreso than the top seeds in the lower half, Mizzou and Memphis).

My big dark horse for this region is Marquette. Everyone seems to be counting them out because of the Dominic James injury, and going 1-5 since then. People don't even notice they lost to 3 #1 seeds, and 2 #3 seeds in that brutal stretch of games, consistently playing teams tough. They have the guards to handle Missouri's pressure. Memphis could be difficult due to their outstanding perimeter defense, but Memphis also really lives and dies by Evans, who hasn't seen a defender like Jerel McNeal all season.

Cal State - Northridge is giving Memphi fits with their little trapping zone. Only reason Memphis is ahead is Sallie is shooting absolutely lights out.

I expect Memphis to run away with it when they make adjustments at halftime (plus some players with foul trouble come back), but so far really entertaining.

It has been interesting so far. Memphis was having some trouble shooting the ball. They began to heat up and reclaimed the lead, but it is still closer than expected.

Really gotta admire CS Northridge, just driving fearlessly to the hoop.

I'm surprised A&M is controlling BYU so easily... I thought very highly of BYU entering this tourney.

In other West region news, apparently Jim Calhoun went to the hospital and won't be able to coach UConn's opening round game. Here's hoping he's okay.

MalReyn wrote:Really gotta admire CS Northridge, just driving fearlessly to the hoop.

I'm surprised A&M is controlling BYU so easily... I thought very highly of BYU entering this tourney.

In other West region news, apparently Jim Calhoun went to the hospital and won't be able to coach UConn's opening round game. Here's hoping he's okay.

46-43 Matadors.

Overrated Memphis in trouble. I assume they'll come out victorious, but hopefully this is making it clear to casual fans and the media that they were massively overrated this year.

JMan, elite defenders don't get their ankles broken on crossovers. Evans is a pretty good defender, but I doubt that will be a calling card on the next level.

62-56 Matadors.... damn... TO Memphis...

The Memphis upset alert is now official. 10 minutes to play.

Memphis has been predictably better without Tyreke Evans on the floor.

Okay, that's game, great effort by the Matadors. Sallie chose the perfect time to have a career game.

MalReyn wrote:Okay, that's game, great effort by the Matadors. Sallie chose the perfect time to have a career game.

That last 3 was killer...

Sallie being in a zone saved them. He's their wonderwall. But they aren't going to be able to count on a career game from a no name in the upcoming rounds.

MalReyn wrote:Really gotta admire CS Northridge, just driving fearlessly to the hoop.

I'm surprised A&M is controlling BYU so easily... I thought very highly of BYU entering this tourney.

god, i have no idea what i was thinking with this game. BYU is waaay too white.

They played atrocious basketball. ^

Why is it that they could not make adjustments after playing the same team two years in a row? But, they can beat Louisville. Maybe home court advantage just means the world to them.

BYU is just soft defensively. Speaking of which, that's what really surprised me about Memphis for about 30 minutes today. They couldn't defend Northridge's guards. Sallie did what he was brought in to do though, make open 3's when they face packed in zone defenses. But it's survive and advance. Memphis looked almost as bad last year in their first 2 tourny games as well before really hitting their stride in the sweet 16. Still, they've become incredibly overrated over the course of the past week. Kind of like Pitt was last year after winning the Big East tourny.

why is Washington so disrespected? I know ESPN isn't the most reliable source for information, but every show I have seen every single "expert" has gone with the upset here.

hell of a game between purdue and northern iowa. n. iowa just didn't go down and might have very well got an upset if it wasn't for a bullsh*t charge call.

derriko wrote:why is Washington so disrespected? I know ESPN isn't the most reliable source for information, but every show I have seen every single "expert" has gone with the upset here.

becuz the pac-10 sucked this yr and miss st. is coming into the tourney playing their best basketball.

ElTurco wrote:hell of a game between purdue and northern iowa. n. iowa just didn't go down and might have very well got an upset if it wasn't for a bullsh*t charge call.

I don't know, that charge looked perfectly legit to me.