Louisville-North Carolina

[BYUfan1]

Louisville battled back from a double-digit first half deficit, but too many turnovers did the Cardinals in as North Carolina wins 83-73. Tyler Hansbrough showed a perimeter game that kept the Tar Heels in the lead late in the second half. The Tar Heels needed those baskets from Hansbrough because Danny Green and Wayne Ellington didn't score until late in the second half.

Earl Clark finally showed his youth by being called for travelling several times in the second half. However, he does look like a player to watch for next year.

[RazorHawk]

Even though the final score did not look that exciting, it was really a pretty entertaining game, compared to most of this years games.

For all those that oppose a football college playoff this year's basketball tourney probably could have been handled in a BCS manner, by having the vote determine the championship game (N Carolina vs UCLA) and have all the rest of the teams play one bowl game.

Kansas, Memphis and Texas would have been upset and Davidson would have probably had to play in some meaningless bowl game on a BLUE basketball court.

[Spence]

The two top teams are the goal in the BCS. That happens more in b-ball then it doesn't. The rest of the games are just exhibition. Same as the BCS.

[GoBoilers]

Goin on a limb. LOL. UCLA vs UNC in final. If UNC doesn't win I'll be surprised.

[RazorHawk]

The two top teams are the goal in the BCS. That happens more in b-ball then it doesn't. The rest of the games are just exhibition. Same as the BCS.

Without doing the research, I would venture to say that the final game of the NCAA basketball tournament will more often not have the previously ranked #1 and #2 teams playing each other. This year wound up in most polls North Carolina and Memphis 1 and 2. A few had UCLA #2 so it may work out that way. This however was the very first time, since going to 64 teams that all #1 seeds made the Final Four.

From Wikipedia:

Since the NCAA started seeding teams (1979), the championship game has matched two #1 seeds only six times:

* 1982 North Carolina defeated Georgetown
* 1993 North Carolina defeated Michigan
* 1999 Connecticut defeated Duke
* 2005 North Carolina defeated Illinois
* 2007 Florida defeated Ohio State
* 2008 Kansas/North Carolina vs. Memphis/UCLA

[Spence]

I was mostly talking about #1 seeds. Considering how many teams that NCAA basketball has - almost three times as many as football - getting down to #1 seeds more often then not means that the polls work pretty well.

[RazorHawk]

I was mostly talking about #1 seeds. Considering how many teams that NCAA basketball has - almost three times as many as football - getting down to #1 seeds more often then not means that the polls work pretty well.

But only 6 times since 1979 have two #1 seeds met for the eventual championship game. There probably have been less than 6 times it has been No. 1 vs No. 2.

[Spence]

Oh I believe that. Still with the number of 1 seeds making the final four since the inception of the NCAA tourney, it seems to me that even though the poll voters have to wade through over 300 teams, they have done a pretty good job. No one can possibly keep up with the amount of teams that would be considered contenders in a year in b-ball. Probably 20-25 teams with a legit shot at the title game. Football has less then eight real contenders most years. B-ball poll voters get it within the margin of error in most cases.

[RazorHawk]

Oh, I also think the people ranking and creating the seeds do a very good job. Just the nature of basketball, allows for more upsets than does football. Fewer players and also the affect of the home court on the players, as well as, the officials also contributes to the upsets. Having top seeded teams playing close to home does diminish the likelihood of upsets.

[Spence]

I agree. They pretend that they are playing at a neutral site, but if one team's fans are traveling an hour to the game and the other team's fans have a two hour plane ride it isn't really a neutral site. The NCAA has never let fairplay get in the way of making money.

[Swamp Daddy]

Hi all: In previous games (Boise State, Oklahoma, and Tennessee) where there wasn't much pressure UL scored quite above their seasons average on free throws.

But, when it really mattered, when the pressure was on -- they reverted to what I watched all season. around 50% or less.

Certainly this was a factor in their downfall. I noticed Memphis had the same affliction in their final 4 game. They could not hit the free throws with the pressure on either.

UL should be better next year overall; but, not sure if free throws will get any better with this gang.

Cards fan, Swamp Daddy