No. 10 Xavier Univ. Musketeers (23-12) vs. No. 3 Baylor University Bears (29-7)
Baylor leads the series 1-0, winning the only meeting in the 2009-10 season in the Old Spice Classic in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (69-64 on 11-29-09).
Xavier is making its seventh straight NCAA Tournament appearance and its 11th NCAA Tournament appearance in the last 12 years, including the Sweet 16 in 2012, 2010 and 2009, the 2008 and 2004 Elite Eight runs and the NCAA Second Round in 2002, 2003, 2007 and 2011. The postseason tradition goes back further. XU is making its 26th appearance in postseason play (NCAA or NIT) over the last 30 years, including its 22nd NCAA Tournament in 30 seasons.
Baylor’s No. 3 seed is the South Region is tied for the highest NCAA tournament seed in program history. In 2010, Baylor was also a No. 3 seed in the South Region and advanced to the Elite Eight. 2012 is Baylor’s fourth modern tournament era NCAA appearance (post-1950). Baylor’s first three tournament appearances — 1946, 1948 and 1950 — were in an eight-team bracket.
No.1 North Carolina (31-5) vs. No. 13 Ohio University (29-7)
Carolina and Ohio have split two previous meetings, both of which came in Chapel Hill. The Tar Heels won in Carmichael Auditorium on Dec. 14, 1985, and Ohio beat UNC on Dec. 20, 2002, in the Smith Center. Ohio head coach John Groce is familiar with the Tar Heels, having served as an assistant coach at NC State from 1996-2000. Carolina has only faced a No. 13 seed once in program history. The fourth-seeded Tar Heels defeated Miami of Ohio, 68-63, in 1992.
The NCAA record book lists Sweet 16 appearances only since 1975 (when all teams have needed to win at least one game to reach the regional semis). Carolina has advanced to the Sweet 16 an NCAA-record 25 times since 1975. Kentucky is second with 23. UNC has reached the Sweet 16 23 times in its last 29 NCAA Tournament appearances. The years in which UNC made the NCAA field but did not reach the Sweet 16 were 1994 (lost to Boston College in the second round), 1996 (lost to Texas Tech in the second round), 1999 (lost to Weber State in the first round), 2001 (lost to Penn State in the second round), 2004 (lost to Texas in the second round) and 2006 (lost to George Mason in the second round). UNC has an all-time record of 24-6 in NCAA Tournament regional semifinal games, including an 18-6 mark since 1975.
This is Ohio’s first trip to the Sweet 16 since the NCAA Tournament expanded to its current format. The only other time Ohio won multiple games in the NCAA Tournament was 1964 when it reached the regional finals. This is 13th NCAA Tournament appearance for the Bobcats who won their sixth Mid-American Conference title since 1983. The Bobcats have a 7-13 all-time record (lost a Regional Third Place Game in 1960) and are making their second trip to the tournament under Head Coach John Groce.
TEAM STATISTICS………….. NC…. OPP
SCORING………………………….. 2951… 2404
Points per game ………………..82.0 …..66.8
Scoring margin ………+15.2 –
FIELD GOALS-ATT …………..1080-2344…. 905-2297
Field goal pct……………….. . 4 6 1……………… . 3 9 4
3 POINT FG-ATT……………….. 185-540 ………259-816
3-point FG pct………………… . 3 4 3…………………. . 3 1 7
3-pt FG made per game….. 5.1………………. 7.2
FREE THROWS-ATT …….606-886 ………..335-497
Free throw pct……………… . 6 8 4 ………. 6 7 4
F-Throws made per game.. 16.8……………. 9.3
REBOUNDS …………………..1613 ……………..1242
Rebounds per game …………44.8 …………..34.5
Rebounding margin +10.3 –
ASSISTS………………………….. 623…………………. 414
Assists per game…….. ………17.3……………. 11.5
TURNOVERS…………………. 420 ………………..486
Turnovers per game 11.7 13.5
Turnover margin +1.8 –
Assist/turnover ratio 1.5 0.9
STEALS 250 216
Steals per game 6.9 6.0
BLOCKS………………………. 207……….. 123
Blocks per game. 5.8…………………… 3.4
TEAM STATISTICS …..OHIO…….. OPP
SCORING……………………… 2532 ……..2238
Points per game ……………..70.3….. …62.2
Scoring margin… +8.2 –
FIELD GOALS-ATT …………………..878-2040….. 749-1817
Field goal pct……………………… . 4 3 0…………. . 4 1 2
3 POINT FG-ATT ………………………..266-777……. 191-652
3-point FG pct………………………. . 3 4 2…… . 2 9 3
3-pt FG made per game ……………………7.4 ……………….5.3
FREE THROWS-ATT…………………………. 510-741………… 549-763
Free throw pct…………………………… . 6 8 8………….. . 7 2 0
F-Throws made per game……………….. 14.2………………… 15.3
REBOUNDS……………………….. 1234……………. 1238
Rebounds per game …………………34.3………………….. 34.4
Rebounding margin -0.1 –
ASSISTS ……………………………..471…………. 397
Assists per game…………………… 13.1………… 11.0
TURNOVERS …………………………468……….. 622
Turnovers per game ……………….13.0…….. 17.3
Turnover margin +4.3 –
Assist/turnover ratio 1.0 0.6
STEALS 334 217
Steals per game 9.3 6.0
BLOCKS 103 119
Blocks per game 2.9 3.3
No. 1 Kentucky (33-2, 16-0 SEC) vs. No. 4 Indiana (27-8, 11-7 Big Ten)
The Hoosiers trail Kentucky in the all-time series, 24-31, but defeated the Wildcats on Dec. 20, 2011, in Assembly Hall on Christian Watford’s 3-pointer at the buzzer, 73-72. Indiana is 1-2 all-time against Kentucky in the NCAA Tournament.
3/17/1973 IU 72-65 (Nashville)
3/22/1975 UK 90-92 (Dayton)
3/24/1983 UK 59-64 (Knoxville)
Kentucky is in its 109th season of basketball and is the all-time NCAA leader in wins with 2,086. UK is 107-46 (.699) in the NCAA Tournament and 3-2 in NCAA Tournament games held in Atlanta.
The Hoosiers are making their 36th appearance in the NCAA Tournament, the sixth most in the event’s history and the most among Big Ten members. IU is 62-30 overall, the sixth most wins in the tournament and also a Big Ten best. Indiana is tied for third with North Carolina with five NCAA titles (1940, 1953, 1976, 1981 and 1987). IU has won two NCAA titles in Kansas City, two in Philadelphia and one in New Orleans. This year’s Final Four is in New Orleans. IU’s 62-30 record (.673) is seventh all-time in the tournament and 92 games are ranked eighth among teams in the event.
(11) North Carolina State Wolfpack (24-12, 9-7 ACC) vs. (2) Kansas Jayhawks (29-6, 16-2 Big 12)
Kansas and North Carolina State are meeting for the 12th time in men’s basketball with KU leading the series 10-1. NC State won the first meeting in 1958 while the Jayhawks have won the last 10 matchups against the Wolfpack. On March 23, 1986, exactly 26 years ago from the this year’s Sweet 16 meeting, Kansas defeated NC State 75-67 at Kemper Arena in Kansas City, Mo., to advance to the Final Four in Dallas. More on that in “This Day in Kansas Basketball History” later in this release. KU and NC State last met on Dec. 21, 1996, a Kansas 84-56 win in Allen Fieldhouse.
Brady Heslip hit 9-of-12 threes as Baylor beat Colorado last week. The Musketeers hold opponents to 31 percent from behind the arc.
Kenny Frease scored a career-high 25 on 11-of-13 shooting as the Muskies beat Lehigh. Baylor’s Quincy Acy is a unanimous Big 12 All-Defensive selection.
Xavier better weather the storm here or this could be over at halftime. Baylor’s athleticism appears to be bothering the Musketeers.
Lot of things you can call Xavier; soft is not one of them.
Rest assured this game will go 40:00.
Xavier’s counter has been to prey on Baylor’s aggressiveness.
Wow! 41 for Baylor? Is that the laziest defense you have ever seen on the Frease dunk from Walker?
In the A-10 semi-finals the Musketeers were content running a deliberate half-court offense against a St. Louis team that held opponents under 37 percent from the field. Xavier hit 50 percent from the field in that win. Paying off a little right now as Xavier’s half-court sets are getting them back in the game.
I’ve started on the buffet side with Carolina. Don’t think Carolina will miss Marshall this game. Their size right now is clearly an advantage and their perimeter players are getting it there.
Did Craig Sager raid Roy’s closet for that suit jacket?
Don’t know. Can’t see after watching Baylor play.
Xavier definitely is trying to take the air out of the game. I am appreciating how they didn’t panic when down 16. Stuck to their offense, kept pounding the ball inside and they are right back in this.
I am surprised that Baylor doesn’t have that color sneaker. Would complete the human highlighter look.
Somebody please tell Mark Lyone to stop shooting. He is killing Xavier right now.
True on Xavier. They don’t seem to be too concerned with what Baylor is doing. Playing within themselves. How good is Baylor’s BOB stuff? Some of it is very simple, but they almost catch Xavier sleeping by how they set up and then break quickly.
Good point about Baylor’s BOB stuff. The get one good screen on every inbound and make the best of it. Great timing on the pass. Helps to have a “trampoline” like Quincy Acy. Good GOD!
Lyons can stop shooting, but keep driving. Please keep driving.
As Clark Kellogg says, Baylor’s BOB is “outstanding”. It is very simple but I have seen at least twice where Lyons is guarding the inbounds and he is caught looking elsewhere.
What is Baylor’s success rate on BOB plays?
No clue, but it has to be high
Carolina clearly missing their playmaker. 29 at the half. Stillman White is doing a good job on both ends, but he can’t collapse the D like Marshall can.
Kenny Smith broke his wrist in the 1984 tournament as well. Deja Vu?
Was that a backcourt violation?
Carolina is up 3?
Make that one.
I bet Baylor’s Jackson #55 was a ridiculously good high school running back.
We always talk about hotbeds for college basketball. How about the Ohio River Valley region??? Ohio, Ohio State, Xavier, Cincy, Kentucky, Louisville. Can we throw West Virginia in there? Indiana is on the Ohio River. Perhaps even Pitt?
Sounds like a great place to coach high school ball.
If Xavier can get this down to 3,.. lookout!!
Things you don’t want to hear in 2012 because it might just mean the Mayans were prophetic: “Under 10 to shoot for Carolina.”
hahahahahaha
HELMET STICKER!
Good year for the A-10.
Did I hear that correctly? Carolina has as many turnovers as field goals? Oh boy, Roy better stay in his seat.
I was about to write how if UNC loses this game, a lot of people will write that the loss of Marshall was the reason. Then I was going to ask if people will note the no-show by Harrison Barnes. Then he promptly scored the next 4 points.
He shut me up before I could type my thoughts.
Then Harrison Barnes puts up an airball. I am right back to it..
What about the no-show by Harrison Barnes? Are NBA teams taking notice?
Those are some onions!
Who takes this last second shot for UNC? Barnes? Bullock?
I am leaning towards Bullock.
15 seconds left, tie ball game. If Carolina shoots a three on this last possession, I’m throwing my TV out the window.
Wait. Wait. Before you throw it out, let me get there and catch it.
And Barnes doesn’t even manage an air ball?
Can we bring back the “Insight of the Week” , please?
Rey’s comment about his TV needs to go in there immediately!!
Ha!
By the way: Stillman White is a freshman walk-on
Barnes appears to be determined to bring Zeller down with him. Nice pass Harrison. Maybe next time you can lead Zeller into the stands with your pass.
Not to beat a dead horse with this end of game / last shot discussion, but why does every team let the guards take it? You have a 7-foot center against an undersized team, and you let a 2-13 guy take it on an iso play? Why not give Zeller a quick touch down low and see what the defense does?
Oh stop! That makes way too much sense.
I’ll give UNC a little credit – at least they didn’t dribble around the perimeter and chuck a 3. They at least tried to dribble penetrate.
I still question why you choose Barnes for the iso. He had been horrible all game. Don’t you go with the hotter hand ( Bullock), hope he draws a crowd and then he can dish?
I am hearing Seth Davis keep saying that Harrison Barnes owned the overtime? Seriously? He hit a few free throws. He also threw a horrible pass get that led Zeller into a foul. Can you tell I am not a fan of his?
Smitty – I got your Harrison Barnes jersey packaged and ready to deliver.
I like the way Tom Crean coaches.
Gutsy putting Casey Zeller back in the game with 2 fouls. The gamble worked as Indiana is back in the game and hanging tough with Kentucky
Does Anthony Davis have 2 also? He seems to be sitting for a while.