Shocker pulled off in San Antonio; Tar Heels Knocked Off
VCU vs Kansas
Out of any year, this one was the one that just about nobody could of predicted. An 11 seed, an 8 seed, a 4 seed and a 3 seed in the Final Four. At the start of the Elite 8 we thought it would be Kansas, Uconn, Florida and UNC in the Final Four. Only one of those teams made it.
It wasn't Kansas.
VCU dominated Kansas from beyond the arc and from the free throw line as the Rams shocked the Jayhawks 71-61 to become just the 3rd double-digit seed to make it to the Final Four. Jamie Skeen had 26 points for VCU.
Kansas started off well in the first 2 minutes with a 6-0 lead, but that would be the best Kansas played for a long time. The Jayhawks still held a 10-9 lead with just over 14 minutes to play, but that would be their last. Skeen knocked down a 3 and 2 free throws, Brandon Rozzell knocked down a 3, and after offensive fouls and turnovers erased 3 baskets for Kansas, Skeen got a good look from the wing and drained another one.
After Kansas cut the deficit to 8, Joey Rodriguez pulled up and drained another, then Skeen hit another from the left wing. VCU was starting to take control of the game, and after 3 straight triples by Brandon Rozzell the Rams led 39-21. The halftime score was 41-27.
The Rams started the second half by extending the lead to 16, but that was all they would be able to do for a little while. Kansas went on a 12-0 run and cut the VCU lead to four, and when they were down 5 Tyshawn Taylor converted a 3 point play to make it a 46-44 game.
However, the Jayhawks never took the lead. VCU went on a 9-2 run, capped off by another Skeen triple (from the exact same spot). When it was 55-47 a great pass from Bradford Burgess set up a layup from Skeen and a double-digit lead. However, Kansas would eventually cut the lead to 5.
Just as the Jayhawks were ready to strike, the most unlikely hero arose. Joey Rodriguez, who had finished with 9 points and just airballed a triple, pulled up and knocked one down. Kansas answered with a basket, but Rodriguez drove to the hoop and kicked it out to Bradford Burgess, who drained another one. VCU led 63-54.
The Jayhawks were making a desperate attempt to come close, and they got within 6, but an amazing pass by Joey Rodriguez and finish by Skeen gave VCU an 8 point lead. After Kansas got those points back, the Jayhawks weren't able to make a layup. Markieff Morris missed 2 layups, and Kansas couldn't come back from foul mode. VCU had pulled the upset!
The 11th seeded Rams play 8th seeded Butler Saturday in the Final Four.
Other headlines
Late 3's by Brandon Knight, DeAndre Liggins help Kentucky shock UNC 76-69 and advance to Final Four, where they will play Connecticut.
Out of any year, this one was the one that just about nobody could of predicted. An 11 seed, an 8 seed, a 4 seed and a 3 seed in the Final Four. At the start of the Elite 8 we thought it would be Kansas, Uconn, Florida and UNC in the Final Four. Only one of those teams made it.
It wasn't Kansas.
VCU dominated Kansas from beyond the arc and from the free throw line as the Rams shocked the Jayhawks 71-61 to become just the 3rd double-digit seed to make it to the Final Four. Jamie Skeen had 26 points for VCU.
Kansas started off well in the first 2 minutes with a 6-0 lead, but that would be the best Kansas played for a long time. The Jayhawks still held a 10-9 lead with just over 14 minutes to play, but that would be their last. Skeen knocked down a 3 and 2 free throws, Brandon Rozzell knocked down a 3, and after offensive fouls and turnovers erased 3 baskets for Kansas, Skeen got a good look from the wing and drained another one.
After Kansas cut the deficit to 8, Joey Rodriguez pulled up and drained another, then Skeen hit another from the left wing. VCU was starting to take control of the game, and after 3 straight triples by Brandon Rozzell the Rams led 39-21. The halftime score was 41-27.
The Rams started the second half by extending the lead to 16, but that was all they would be able to do for a little while. Kansas went on a 12-0 run and cut the VCU lead to four, and when they were down 5 Tyshawn Taylor converted a 3 point play to make it a 46-44 game.
However, the Jayhawks never took the lead. VCU went on a 9-2 run, capped off by another Skeen triple (from the exact same spot). When it was 55-47 a great pass from Bradford Burgess set up a layup from Skeen and a double-digit lead. However, Kansas would eventually cut the lead to 5.
Just as the Jayhawks were ready to strike, the most unlikely hero arose. Joey Rodriguez, who had finished with 9 points and just airballed a triple, pulled up and knocked one down. Kansas answered with a basket, but Rodriguez drove to the hoop and kicked it out to Bradford Burgess, who drained another one. VCU led 63-54.
The Jayhawks were making a desperate attempt to come close, and they got within 6, but an amazing pass by Joey Rodriguez and finish by Skeen gave VCU an 8 point lead. After Kansas got those points back, the Jayhawks weren't able to make a layup. Markieff Morris missed 2 layups, and Kansas couldn't come back from foul mode. VCU had pulled the upset!
The 11th seeded Rams play 8th seeded Butler Saturday in the Final Four.
Other headlines
Late 3's by Brandon Knight, DeAndre Liggins help Kentucky shock UNC 76-69 and advance to Final Four, where they will play Connecticut.
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