Elite 8 Action; Home Court Advantage
Butler vs. Kansas State
All the Butler Bulldogs had to do to play at home for the Final Four was knock off the Kansas State Wildcats at EnergySolutions Arena. Harder then it sounds, if you ask me.
Butler was up to the task.
Gordon Hayward scored 22 and grabbed 9 boards, Shelvin Mack scored 16 as Butler knocked off Kansas State 63-56. A big spark was threes and play early on, and threes by Shawn Vaznant, Willie Veasley and Shelvin Mack gave Butler a 13-8 lead early. After layups by Hayward and Avery Jukes, Butler led 20-10.
Gordon Hayward stopped a 4-0 K-State run with a 3 from the right wing, but K-State cut the lead to 23-16. After 4 Shelvin Mack points, Butler led 27-16. The Bulldogs led 27-20 at the half.
But after a Denis Clemente 3, K-State was only down 27-26. Matt Howard and Gordon Hayward hit a pair of foul shots, and Hayward hit a 3 from the left wing. Shelvin Mack hit a 3 from the middle, and Butler led 37-28.
After a Gordon Hayward jumper, Butler led 44-34. But Jacob Pullen and Denis Clemente each got going, both hitting a 3. Mack hit one as well, and Butler still led 49-42. Pullen hit a 3 with 5:31, and the score was now 51-47.
With 4:51 Clemente hit a 3 on a pass and Kansas State took a 52-51 lead. With 3:06 Clemente hit a jumper and the score was tied at 54. But then Gordon Hayward made 2 layups, and Ronald Nored made 1. Ronald Nored sealed home-court advantage with a layup with :13 and Butler won 63-56. The Dawgs will either play Michigan State or Tennessee.
Kentucky vs. West Virginia
West Virginia knew that they were a very good clutch team. They also knew that they weren't very good at free throws. But, that's how you put a game away. And West Virginia needed them.
They got them.
Joe Mazzula scored a season best 17, Da'Sean Butler scored 18 and West Virginia scored a berth in the Final Four with a 73-66 upset over Kentucky.
Wellington Smith and Kevin Jones made 3's early to give WVU a 6-2 lead, but John Wall and DeMarcus Cousins scored 4 each to give Kentucky a 10-6 lead. Wall made a free throw, and a Eric Bledsoe jumper helped Kentucky take a 13-6 lead. Joe Mazzula made a 3, but the score was still 16-9 when the game reached it's turning point.
Da'Sean Butler made 2 threes from the far left perimeter, and a 3 by Kevin Jones tied the game at 18. Butler made a 3 from the left perimeter, then he converted a 4 point play from the same spot. He scored 15 first half points, and West Virginia led 28-26 at the half.
Kevin Jones made a 3, then John Flowers hit a 3 from the left perimeter to give WVU a 36-26 lead. After a Joe Mazzula layup West Virginia led 40-31. Mazzula scored 4 more to give the Mountaineers a 47-36 lead. West Virginia kept the game even, but the score was 53-45. Cam Thoroughman made a layup, then Kevin Jones scored and Devin Ebanks gave West Virginia a 61-45 lead with 4:25.
After 4 Kentucky points, Butler nailed 2 foul shots to put West Virginia on top 63-49. DeAndre Liggins hit a 3, but West Virginia still led 65-55 with 1:59 left. Darnell Dodson hit a 3 for Kentucky, but 3 Wellington Smith free throws helped West Virginia keep a 68-58 lead.
John Wall hit a 3, but with :42 West Virginia still led 69-63. Da'Sean Butler made 1 of 2 free throws, but with :29 Darnell Dodson hit a 3 and made it a 70-66 game. Kevin Jones made 1 free throw, but Kentucky still had a chance.
Cam Thoroughman blocked a 3, and Devin Ebanks found the ball and 5 seconds less. He hit 2 free throws, and West Virginia booked their ticket to the Final Four in Indianapolis. They will play the winner of Duke-Baylor.
NBA Update
Rodrigue Beabouis' 21 second quarter points, career high 40, 8 threes power Mavs by Warriors 111-90.
My website is now www.bailydeeter.com.
All the Butler Bulldogs had to do to play at home for the Final Four was knock off the Kansas State Wildcats at EnergySolutions Arena. Harder then it sounds, if you ask me.
Butler was up to the task.
Gordon Hayward scored 22 and grabbed 9 boards, Shelvin Mack scored 16 as Butler knocked off Kansas State 63-56. A big spark was threes and play early on, and threes by Shawn Vaznant, Willie Veasley and Shelvin Mack gave Butler a 13-8 lead early. After layups by Hayward and Avery Jukes, Butler led 20-10.
Gordon Hayward stopped a 4-0 K-State run with a 3 from the right wing, but K-State cut the lead to 23-16. After 4 Shelvin Mack points, Butler led 27-16. The Bulldogs led 27-20 at the half.
But after a Denis Clemente 3, K-State was only down 27-26. Matt Howard and Gordon Hayward hit a pair of foul shots, and Hayward hit a 3 from the left wing. Shelvin Mack hit a 3 from the middle, and Butler led 37-28.
After a Gordon Hayward jumper, Butler led 44-34. But Jacob Pullen and Denis Clemente each got going, both hitting a 3. Mack hit one as well, and Butler still led 49-42. Pullen hit a 3 with 5:31, and the score was now 51-47.
With 4:51 Clemente hit a 3 on a pass and Kansas State took a 52-51 lead. With 3:06 Clemente hit a jumper and the score was tied at 54. But then Gordon Hayward made 2 layups, and Ronald Nored made 1. Ronald Nored sealed home-court advantage with a layup with :13 and Butler won 63-56. The Dawgs will either play Michigan State or Tennessee.
Kentucky vs. West Virginia
West Virginia knew that they were a very good clutch team. They also knew that they weren't very good at free throws. But, that's how you put a game away. And West Virginia needed them.
They got them.
Joe Mazzula scored a season best 17, Da'Sean Butler scored 18 and West Virginia scored a berth in the Final Four with a 73-66 upset over Kentucky.
Wellington Smith and Kevin Jones made 3's early to give WVU a 6-2 lead, but John Wall and DeMarcus Cousins scored 4 each to give Kentucky a 10-6 lead. Wall made a free throw, and a Eric Bledsoe jumper helped Kentucky take a 13-6 lead. Joe Mazzula made a 3, but the score was still 16-9 when the game reached it's turning point.
Da'Sean Butler made 2 threes from the far left perimeter, and a 3 by Kevin Jones tied the game at 18. Butler made a 3 from the left perimeter, then he converted a 4 point play from the same spot. He scored 15 first half points, and West Virginia led 28-26 at the half.
Kevin Jones made a 3, then John Flowers hit a 3 from the left perimeter to give WVU a 36-26 lead. After a Joe Mazzula layup West Virginia led 40-31. Mazzula scored 4 more to give the Mountaineers a 47-36 lead. West Virginia kept the game even, but the score was 53-45. Cam Thoroughman made a layup, then Kevin Jones scored and Devin Ebanks gave West Virginia a 61-45 lead with 4:25.
After 4 Kentucky points, Butler nailed 2 foul shots to put West Virginia on top 63-49. DeAndre Liggins hit a 3, but West Virginia still led 65-55 with 1:59 left. Darnell Dodson hit a 3 for Kentucky, but 3 Wellington Smith free throws helped West Virginia keep a 68-58 lead.
John Wall hit a 3, but with :42 West Virginia still led 69-63. Da'Sean Butler made 1 of 2 free throws, but with :29 Darnell Dodson hit a 3 and made it a 70-66 game. Kevin Jones made 1 free throw, but Kentucky still had a chance.
Cam Thoroughman blocked a 3, and Devin Ebanks found the ball and 5 seconds less. He hit 2 free throws, and West Virginia booked their ticket to the Final Four in Indianapolis. They will play the winner of Duke-Baylor.
NBA Update
Rodrigue Beabouis' 21 second quarter points, career high 40, 8 threes power Mavs by Warriors 111-90.
My website is now www.bailydeeter.com.
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