College Hoops Saturday Night!

Last night, everything went according to plan except for the Memphis game. I was convinced that the Tigers would fall in the Sweet 16 round, but John Calipari and co proved me dead wrong with a big statement first half putting up 50 against a very quality Michigan State team while holding the Spartans to mjust 20. They showed the pro-Longhorns Houston crowd that they're a forced to be reckoned with and will not go down easy as they've reached their third straight Elite 8. Whether their most talented team this year will get them over the hump to San Antonio. And what has haunted them the entire season was actually an asset for them last night, as they shot 26-35 from the line. If they will be able to do that against Texas they'll be in great shape to go to the Alamo Dome. In his final game as a collegian, Drew Neitzel scored a paltry 6 points and may have been the reason why Tom Izzo's team still isn't dancing. The backcourt of Rose and Douglas-Roberts combined for 52 points, and will be the greatest threats to the Texas pair of DJ Augustin and AJ Abrams. That backcourt was too much for a really good Stanford club that got 26 and 10 from Brook Lopez (who's gonna be a hell of a pro) but very little from anyone else. Augustin had 23 points, 7 dimes, and 5 boards, Daimon James chipped in with 18, and AJ Abrams had 12. That battle between Augustin and Rose, the two best PG's in the land will be so very entertaining and riveting tomorrow. As predicted by me, Davidson had a great 2nd half led by (who else) Stephen Curry in a 73-56 win over the defensively daunting Wisconsin Badgers. They'll have a tough test tomorrow against the deep and well rounded Kansas Jayhawks who once again had a great first half in a balanced 72-57 win over Villanova. Rush, Robinson, and Chalmers each chipped in with solid efforts that were too much for the inexperienced Wildcats.

UCLA's overwhelming balance was also too much for the fantastic trio of Xavier seniors in a 76-57 win over the Muskateers. The Bruins' balance really shined today as Love and Collison each had 19, Westbrook had 17, and Mbah a Moute had 13. But Sean Miller has created a great program in Cincy, and will continue their success in the A-10.

UNC-UL up next from Charlotte, bet on the Heels in what could be the tourney's best match.