[an error occurred while processing this directive] 04/06/2009

Power blue: North Carolina rolls to fifth men's basketball title

North Carolina's Deon Thompson (left) drives to the basket over Michigan State's Goran Suton.
AP
North Carolina's Deon Thompson (left) drives to the basket over Michigan State's Goran Suton.

Tyler Hansbrough, Ty Lawson and North Carolina won a national championship a season or more in the making, stomping out Michigan State's inspirational run Monday night with a 89-72 blowout that wasn't even that close.
Carlton: UNC the best
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04/04/2009

Michigan State upsets UConn, will face Carolina in final

Michigan State players and fans celebrate late in the game.
AP
Michigan State players and fans celebrate late in the game.

Raymar Morgan broke out of his late-season slump with 18 points, Kalin Lucas added 21 and the Michigan State Spartans ran roughshod over Hasheem Thabeet and Connecticut in an 82-73 upset in the Final Four on Saturday night.
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North Carolina overpowers Villanova, 83-69
Wayne Ellington broke Jay Wright's heart again.

04/03/2009

Michigan State hoping Walton can slow down Price

Connecticut's A.J. Price is averaging 20 points in the NCAA Tournament.
AP
Connecticut's A.J. Price is averaging 20 points in the NCAA Tournament.

Michigan State's Travis Walton played defense when few of his peers did back in high school and summer-league games. The end of Walton's college career might hinge on how he fares against Connecticut's A.J. Price in a national semifinal Saturday night (5:07 p.m., Ch. 11).
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North Carolina, Villanova shed stereotypes at Final Four
North Carolina and Villanova are not quite who we thought they were. They meet Saturday (7:47 p.m., Ch. 11) in the Final Four, each a win away from playing for the national title, and each still waiting to write the final chapter on how they'll be remembered.

04/02/2009

1979 produced an NCAA Tournament magic moment

Larry Bird (left) and Magic Johnson competed for NBA titles in the '80s after their meeting in the 1979 NCAA Tournament.
Getty Images
Larry Bird (left) and Magic Johnson competed for NBA titles in the '80s after their meeting in the 1979 NCAA Tournament.

Magic Johnson and Larry Bird arrived on the national stage simultaneously, masters of their sport and of timing. Thirty years later, the NCAA Tournament championship game between Johnson-led Michigan State and Bird's Indiana State team remains a historical turning point.
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04/01/2009

Final Four trivia quiz (4/1)

03/31/2009

NCAA Tournament has evolved by leaps and bounds

Bob Knight (left), Scott May (center) and Quinn Buckner went undefeated en route to winning the NCAA Tournament in 1976.
AP
Bob Knight (left), Scott May (center) and Quinn Buckner went undefeated en route to winning the NCAA Tournament in 1976.

The NCAA Tournament has become such an institution that we think it's always been like this. Not that long ago, the tournament wasn't exactly a big deal. Here's a look back at the significant evolutionary path of the tournament.
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03/29/2009

Blake Griffin gives his best, but Oklahoma falls to UNC

North Carolina's Tyler Hansborough (left0 challenges Oklahoma's Blake Griffin in Sunday's game.
AP
North Carolina's Tyler Hansborough (left0 challenges Oklahoma's Blake Griffin in Sunday's game.

Blake Griffin, with 23 points and 16 rebounds, did all he could against a double- and triple-down defense. But other people were missing for the Sooners in the 72-60 loss.
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Video: Final Four report

Michigan State wins Final Four berth, topping Louisville
Michigan State is marching on to Motown. The Spartans gave the Final Four a hometown feel, stopping overall No. 1 seed Louisville 64-52 Sunday to win the Midwest Regional.

Oklahoma's Capel tired of rumors of his exit
Coach Jeff Capel insisted Sunday that no assumptions should be made that he's thinking about leaving Oklahoma despite talk that he's the top choice of those hiring a new coach at Virginia.

03/30/2009

SportsDay's Final Four preview

Michigan State is a surprise participant in the Final Four and will play close to home in Detroit.
AP
Michigan State is a surprise participant in the Final Four and will play close to home in Detroit.

The advancement of Michigan State, Connecticut, Villanova and North Carolina to the party, which begins Saturday at Detroit's Ford Field, sets up several compelling connections to tournament lore, writes Kate Hairopoulos.
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03/28/2009

Griffin-Hansbrough matchup just a subplot for OU, UNC

North Carolina's Tyler Hansbrough was last season's player of the year, an honor likely to go to OU's Blake Griffin (left) in 2009.
Getty Images
North Carolina's Tyler Hansbrough was last season's player of the year, an honor likely to go to OU's Blake Griffin (left) in 2009.

One big man was last year's national player of the year. The other appears poised to take his place. Now, North Carolina's Tyler Hansbrough and Oklahoma's Blake Griffin will go head-to-head with a lot more at stake than any individual honor. The Sooners meet the Tar Heels today (4:05 p.m. Ch. 11) for a Final Four berth.
Preview: OU-Carolina
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Warren says he will return to Sooners next season
Oklahoma freshman guard Willie Warren's response to an unassociated question Saturday showed he has altered his outlook for next season.

Top-seeded UConn ousts Missouri, 82-75
Freshman Kemba Walker scored 23 points as Connecticut held off Missouri 82-75 on Saturday to earn a trip to the Final Four and extend the Big East's dominance of the NCAA tournament.

NCAA Tournament: Villanova 78, Pittsburgh 76
Scottie Reynolds made a half-court dash for the game-winning shot with 0.5 seconds left, leading Villanova over Pittsburgh 78-76 Saturday night and back to the Final Four for the first time since its shocking run to the 1985 championship.

03/27/2009

Elite performance: Crocker's career-high 28 points boost OU

Oklahoma's Blake Griffin (23) moves toward a screen set by his teammate and brother, Taylor Griffin, in the first half against Syracuse.
AP
Oklahoma's Blake Griffin (23) moves toward a screen set by his teammate and brother, Taylor Griffin, in the first half against Syracuse.

With a career-high 28 points, Tony Crocker played difference-maker in Oklahoma's surprisingly easy 84-71 victory over Syracuse on Friday night that propelled the Sooners into the NCAA Tournament's Elite Eight for the first time since 2003.
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03/28/2009

War of words goes to Sooners' Warren
One Web site recently named Syracuse shooting guard Ed Devendorf as the most hated player in college basketball.

03/27/2009

NCAA Tournament: Michigan State 67, Kansas 62
Goran Suton had 20 points and nine rebounds and Michigan State was steady from the foul line, rallying to defeat defending NCAA champion Kansas 67-62 Friday night in the Midwest Regional semifinals.

NCAA Tournament: North Carolina 98, Gonzaga 77
Flawless at the start and composed throughout, Ty Lawson and North Carolina breezed to another regional final.

NCAA Tournament: Louisville 103, Arizona 64
Earl Clark had 19 points and nine rebounds, leading Louisville to one of the most lopsided routs in regional round history, 103-64 over Arizona on Friday night.

03/26/2009

Men's basketball: Missouri 102, Memphis 91
A career night by J.T. Tiller put Missouri one win away from its first trip to the Final Four. Memphis' 27-game winning streak, meanwhile, is history.

Men's basketball: Pittsburgh 60, Xavier 55
Levance Fields gave Pittsburgh the lead with a 3-pointer with 50.9 seconds left, then scored off his steal as the Panthers advanced to the regional finals for the first time in 35 years with a 60-55 win over Xavier on Thursday night.

Men's basketball: Connecticut 72, Purdue 60
Hasheem Thabeet scored 15 points and had 15 rebounds, and Connecticut overcame a sluggish first half to defeat Purdue 72-60 in the NCAA West Regional semifinals on Thursday.

Men's basketball: Villanova 77, Duke 54
Dante Cunningham scored 14 points with 11 rebounds and third-seeded Villanova beat Duke for the first time in more than 50 years, taking advantage of the Blue Devils' poor shooting to win 77-54 Thursday night and advance to the NCAA regional final.

Oklahoma thinks it has an answer for Syracuse

Oklahoma's Blake Griffin has received plenty of media attention and should have Syracuse's attention on Friday.
AP
Oklahoma's Blake Griffin has received plenty of media attention and should have Syracuse's attention on Friday.

Because of Blake Griffin, the Oklahoma Sooners have played against almost every defensive scheme known to basketball. In fact, Griffin doesn't think the Syracuse Orange's famed 2-3 zone will be any better at keeping the Sooners from scoring, if they play smart.
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Oklahoma's Blake Griffin to shoulder the burden
Texas Tech coach Pat Knight's description of Oklahoma's Blake Griffin as The Terminator received considerable national play. In two NCAA Tournament games, Griffin has averaged 30.5 points and 15 rebounds. He's missed only seven of 32 shots.

03/25/2009

NCAA Tournament takes a turn for the better this week

Antonio Anderson (left) and Memphis take on J.T. Tiller and Missouri in one of the week's exciting matchups.
AP
Antonio Anderson (left) and Memphis take on J.T. Tiller and Missouri in one of the week's exciting matchups.

Columnist Tim Cowlishaw writes that he has always said the best part of the NCAA Tournament is the second weekend, specifically the Thursday and Friday night doubleheaders. Thursday night and Friday, there isn't a bad game on the board.
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03/24/2009

Oklahoma State, Texas A&M and Texas down but looking up

Chinemelu Elonu (left) and Bryan Davis will be teammates again at Texas A&M next season.
Getty Images
Chinemelu Elonu (left) and Bryan Davis will be teammates again at Texas A&M next season.

On the surface, Oklahoma State, Texas and Texas A&M have had remarkably similar seasons, writes Chuck Carlton. Here's a closer look at this season and the one to come for the three South schools.
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03/22/2009

Sweet 16 preview: Favorites grab spotlight in NCAA Tournament
The teams still dancing survived a four-day set of first- and second-round games chock full of compelling and competitive thrillers, writes DMN national college basketball columnist Kate Hairopoulos. Here's a look at the remaining teams, along with picks of who will emerge from each region to make it to Detroit for the Final Four.
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Oklahoma State falls short to Pittsburgh, 84-76 
Sam Young scored 32 points and DeJuan Blair added another double-double as top-seeded Pittsburgh advanced to the round of 16 for the fifth time in eight years with an 84-76 win over Oklahoma State on Sunday.

Aldrich's triple-double sends Kansas over Dayton, 60-43 
Cole Aldrich put up a triple-double with 13 points, 20 rebounds and a career-high 10 blocked shots to lead the defending NCAA champion Kansas past 11th-seeded Dayton 60-43 in the second round Sunday.

Missouri outlasts Marquette, 83-79 
Freshman Kim English came off the bench with 5.5 seconds left and made two free throws for the hurting J.T. Tiller to lift Missouri to an 83-79 victory over Marquette in the NCAA tournament Sunday.

03/21/2009

Texas A&M exits NCAA Tournament with 92-66 loss

Texas A&M's Nathan Walkup (right) is challenged by Connecticut's Jeff Adrien in Saturday's game.
AP
Texas A&M's Nathan Walkup (right) is challenged by Connecticut's Jeff Adrien in Saturday's game.

A.J. Price scored 27 points, Jeff Adrien had 23 and Connecticut dominated Texas A&M from the opening tip in a 92-66 victory on Saturday, sending the Huskies to the Sweet 16 for the 12th time under coach Jim Calhoun.
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Texas loses
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Texas keeps it tight, but Duke advances in NCAA Tournament

Texas' Dexter Pittman (34) tries to stop Duke's Kyle Singler (12) in Saturday's game.
AP
Texas' Dexter Pittman (34) tries to stop Duke's Kyle Singler (12) in Saturday's game.

Gerald Henderson scored 24 points and hit three free throws in the final minute to help Duke beat Texas 74-69 on Saturday night in the second round of the East Regional.
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A&M loses
OU wins
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Oklahoma reaches Sweet 16 with win over Michigan

Oklahoma's Taylor Griffin defends a shot from Michigan's Manny Harris.
AP
Oklahoma's Taylor Griffin defends a shot from Michigan's Manny Harris.

Blake Griffin finished with 33 points and 17 rebounds as second-seeded Oklahoma defeated No. 10 Michigan, 73-63, in the second round of the South Region at the Sprint Center.
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A&M loses
Texas loses
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Saturday's Kansas City notebook
As reporters swarmed Blake Griffin after Oklahoma's victory over Michigan, Tony Crocker sat at his locker packing his bags.

Lake Highlands-ex ends good 4-year run at Texas A&M
Even though the immediacy of the 26-point loss stung, senior Josh Carter took time to reflect on his terrific career at Texas A&M.

03/22/2009

Saturday's Texas notebook
Texas' fortunes next season will in part depend on whether Damion James and Dexter Pittman return, rather than enter the NBA draft.

03/20/2009

Flip of Griffin still angers OU coach

Blake Griffin ended up on his back after being flipped by Morgan State's Ameer Ali in OU's first-round win Thursday.
AP
Blake Griffin ended up on his back after being flipped by Morgan State's Ameer Ali in OU's first-round win Thursday.

Though Oklahoma coach Jeff Capel was still steaming Friday about Blake Griffin being flipped onto his back in Thursday's win over Morgan State, the Sooners have more pressing matters - a second-round matchup today (4:50 p.m., Ch. 11) vs. Michigan.
Video: Griffin goes head over heels (from youtube.com)
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Texas A&M braces for tall task in top-seeded Connecticut

Hasheem Thabeet (upper left) had 20 points, 13 rebounds and two blocked shots in only 20 minutes in Connecticut's 56-point first-round win.
Getty Images
Hasheem Thabeet (upper left) had 20 points, 13 rebounds and two blocked shots in only 20 minutes in Connecticut's 56-point first-round win.

Texas A&M battled ultra-physical Oklahoma and Texas in Big 12 play. But top-seeded Connecticut and 7-foot-3 center Hasheem Thabeet will be a tall order for the Aggies today (2:35 p.m., Ch. 11) in the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
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Facing Duke is nothing new for UT's Barnes
It feels like old times again for Rick Barnes. He's prowling the sideline at the Greensboro Coliseum, matching wits with Mike Krzyzewski and trying to figure out a way to slow down Duke.

Hot air: So far, it's March dullness
If you watched the first day of the NCAA Tournament from tip to sign-off, writes columnist Barry Horn, this was the story of the day: Connecticut coach Jim Calhoun woke up ill and his team had to forge on without him. If that's the biggest news that broadcasters have to disseminate, maybe the games all should be in cable purgatory on Versus.

Eaton's shot lifts Oklahoma State past Tennessee in NCAA Tournament

Oklahoma State guard Byron Eaton drives for the winning layup in the Cowboys' 77-75 victory over Tennesssee.
AP
Oklahoma State guard Byron Eaton drives for the winning layup in the Cowboys' 77-75 victory over Tennesssee.

Byron Eaton converted a three-point play with 7.2 seconds left Friday, sending Oklahoma State to a scintillating 77-75 victory over Tennessee in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.
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Third-seeded Missouri pulls away from Cornell
Once Missouri started moving, the buckets started falling for DeMarre Carroll and the rest of the Tigers.

Kansas avoids upset, moves on
Cole Aldrich's long arms emerged above the lane to snatch the rebound and slam it in, drawing a foul he turned into a three-point play and a nine-point Kansas lead with just less than 2 minutes left.

Syracuse rolls over Stephen F. Austin, 59-44
Jonny Flynn and Paul Harris stood in the Syracuse locker room before tip-off, imploring teammates to dash Stephen F. Austin's upset hopes before they could even begin.

Friday's Philadelphia notebook
Connecticut coach Jim Calhoun watched from his bed at an area hospital as his top-seeded team handily beat No. 16 Chattanooga, 103-47, in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament on Thursday.

Friday's Greensboro notebook
Duke is a perimeter-oriented team.

Friday's Kansas City notebook
Oklahoma freshman guard Willie Warren said Friday he will return for his sophomore season provided the Sooners don't win this year's NCAA Tournament.

03/19/2009

Oklahoma advances easily in NCAA Tournament

Blake Griffin scored 28 points in Oklahoma's rout.
AP
Blake Griffin scored 28 points in Oklahoma's rout.

A dominant Blake Griffin had 28 points and 13 rebounds and survived an ugly incident that got another player ejected Thursday night as Oklahoma rolled past Morgan State 82-54 in the first round of South Regional Thursday night.
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Texas A&M rolls past BYU, 79-66, in NCAA opener

Texas A&M's Donald Sloan (left) and BYU's Jackson Emery fight for the ball.
AP
Texas A&M's Donald Sloan (left) and BYU's Jackson Emery fight for the ball.

Ninth-seeded Texas A&M hit its first 10 shots and 13 of its first 15, rocketing to a 22-7 lead and a 79-66 win over eighth-seeded Brigham Young in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Thursday at the Wachovia Center.
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Texas beats Minnesota, 76-62, to advance in NCAA Tournament

Texas' Dexter Pittman (left) and Minnesota's Jonathan Williams face off in Thursday's game.
AP
Texas' Dexter Pittman (left) and Minnesota's Jonathan Williams face off in Thursday's game.

Once A.J. Abrams found his shot, Texas was ready to leave its recent struggles behind and move on in the NCAA tournament. Abrams hit eight 3-pointers and scored 26 points to help Texas beat Minnesota 76-62 in the first round of the East Regional on Thursday.
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LSU edges Butler in NCAA Tournament, 75-71
Marcus Thornton scored 30 points while coming through with one critical basket after another for hot-shooting LSU, which held off a late rally to beat the Bulldogs 75-71 on Thursday in the first round of the NCAA tournament.

Thursday's Greensboro notebook
Rick and Candy Barnes were newlyweds, living in their hometown of Hickory, N.C., renting half a house from an 82-year-old woman for $75 a month.

Thursday's Philadelphia notebook
Facing a No. 1 seed in the second round of the NCAA Tournament doesn't faze Texas A&M at all.

03/18/2009

Expect the unexpected as NCAA Tournament begins

Texas A&M plays BYU in one of the early matchups, and the ankle of Josh Carter (center) is a concern.
AP
Texas A&M plays BYU in one of the early matchups, and the ankle of Josh Carter (center) is a concern.

It won't even be lunchtime when the NCAA Tournament madness officially begins Thursday, writes Kate Hairopoulos. Lucky for us, nobody seems to be a lock for anything on the way to Detroit.
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03/19/2009

Wednesday's Philadelphia notebook
The NCAA Tournament draw has a very familiar look to Texas A&M. Same seed. Same opponent. The only wrinkle is a different location.

Wednesday's Greensboro notebook
Texas' first-round opponent, Minnesota, has taken notice of Longhorns center Dexter Pittman. Several players mentioned Pittman on Wednesday while discussing UT.

Wednesday's Kansas City notebook
Morgan State coach Todd Bozeman received an eight-year ban from the NCAA in 1996 after he'd paid a recruit's family more than $30,000 when he was the head coach at California. After a long fight back into coaching, though, Bozeman has a team back in the NCAA Tournament. Morgan State faces Oklahoma today.

03/18/2009

Texas A&M's Sloan keeps on fighting through tragedy, injury

Texas A&M's Donald Sloan (left) is averaging one turnover every 18.7 minutes of play.
AP
Texas A&M's Donald Sloan (left) is averaging one turnover every 18.7 minutes of play.

Somehow, Seagoville product Donald Sloan has quarterbacked Texas A&M into the NCAA Tournament and a first-round game with BYU (11:30 a.m. Ch. 11). How important was Sloan's contribution? Texas A&M was 15-2 when he recorded at least three assists, writes Chuck Carlton.
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03/19/2009

Oklahoma knows the time to rebound is now
The Oklahoma Sooners aren't worried what President Barack Obama thinks about them. Or how far the so-called experts have picked them to go. All No. 2-seeded Oklahoma is worried about is itself and making a deep run in the NCAA Tournament, which starts today.

03/18/2009

Pittman's role is now what's huge at Texas

Texas' Big 12 tournament games, the ball went to Dexter Pittman (right) early and often.
Getty Images
In Texas' Big 12 tournament games, the ball went to Dexter Pittman (right) early and often.

The ultimate project who came to Texas at 370 pounds from Rosenberg High School, Dexter Pittman enters the NCAA Tournament as a developing game-changer, writes Chuck Carlton. Texas plays Minnesota on Thursday (6:10 p.m. Ch. 11) in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.
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03/17/2009

Oklahoma is Big 12's best chance in NCAA Tournament

Blake Griffin and Oklahoma play Morgan State on Thursday.
LOUIS DeLUCA / DMN
Blake Griffin and Oklahoma play Morgan State on Thursday.

While the Big 12 sent half its membership to the NCAA Tournament, OU represents the best hope for a repeat, writes Chuck Carlton. Texas, Texas A&M and Oklahoma State are all likely to hit second-round walls. That leaves the Sooners.
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Morehead State the first winner in NCAA Tournament
Kenneth Faried got the better of his bigger and more syllabic counterpart Tuesday night, and the Eagles never trailed during a 58-43 victory over Alabama State that opened the NCAA tournament and ended a quarter-century of futility for Morehead State.

NCAA Tournament chatter: Underdogs have their day

Eric Bell and Stephen F. Austin play Syracuse in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.
Stephen F. Austin
Eric Bell and Stephen F. Austin play Syracuse in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.

Stephen F. Austin's Eric Bell, listed at 5-3, is among the shortest players in NCAA Division I basketball. But nobody can make the junior point guard from DeSoto feel small these days.
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03/16/2009

NCAA Tournament chat: Is there a method to this madness?

A.J. Abrams and Texas face Minnesota in a first-round game.
Reuters
A.J. Abrams and Texas face Minnesota in a first-round game.

The NCAA Tournament bracket is set, so let the picking – and whining – begin. SportsDay's Kate Hairopoulos answered questions about the tournament field in Monday's chat.
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03/17/2009

Texas A&M's Turgeon upset with Fraschilla's remarks
Texas A&M coach Mark Turgeon wasn't exactly pleased with ESPN analyst Fran Fraschilla's work in the Big 12 tournament.

Texas A&M's Carter hopes to be ready for BYU
In a perfect world, Texas A&M would have preferred to play Friday in the NCAA Tournament so Josh Carter could rest his sprained left ankle. No such luck.

03/16/2009

NCAA Tournament trivia quiz (3/16)

Texas, Texas A&M have tough road to NCAA Tournament's Sweet 16

To have a shot to last more than a weekend, A.J. Abrams (left) and Texas would likely have to top Duke. Donald Sloan (right) and Texas A&M might have to face UConn.
AP
To have a shot to last more than a weekend, A.J. Abrams (left) and Texas would likely have to top Duke. Donald Sloan (right) and Texas A&M would have to face UConn.

Texas and Texas A&M learned what happens when you do enough to safely make the NCAA Tournament, yet not enough to distinguish yourself from all those other power conference at-large teams, writes Chuck Carlton.
Cowlishaw | Previews
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03/15/2009

Bad seeds: NCAA Tournament slights some good squads
I hear all the time that college football's top division needs a playoff to make matters more fair and balanced for the non-power conference teams, writes Tim Cowlishaw. Oh ... you mean like the men's basketball tournament?

Texas A&M in, Baylor out as NCAA Tournament field announced

Blake Griffin and Oklahoma earned a No. 2 seed in the NCAA Tournament.
AP
Blake Griffin and Oklahoma earned a No. 2 seed in the NCAA Tournament.

Texas plays Minnesota, Texas A&M gets BYU, Oklahoma State faces Tennessee and Oklahoma plays Morgan State. For the latest NCAA Tournament info., look for updates on our Colleges blog.
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Oklahoma State men to face Tennessee in NCAA Tournament
Oklahoma State's bracket for the NCAA tournament features some familiar foes. The Cowboys learned Sunday that they'll be seeded eighth in the East regional and play a Friday game against ninth-seeded Tennessee.

Texas A&M men draw BYU in NCAA Tournament

Texas men to face Minnesota in NCAA Tournament

Oklahoma men to face Morgan State in NCAA Tournament

03/16/2009

NCAA Tournament team previews
This might be the year to let yourself go a little when filling out your NCAA Tournament bracket. Since all four No. 1 seeds made it to the Final Four last season for the first time ever, there's no way it would happen again. Right?

03/14/2009

Conference tournament drama won't sway NCAA selection committee

Jeff Capel's Oklahoma Sooners likely lost their chance at a No. 1 seed by losing to Oklahoma State in the Big 12 tournament.
Getty Images
Jeff Capel's Oklahoma Sooners likely lost their chance at a No. 1 seed by losing to Oklahoma State in the Big 12 tournament.

The 10-member NCAA selection committee entered the week determined not to be swept away by the drama of conference tournaments. Find out if they stick to their guns today (5 p.m., Ch. 11) when the 65-team NCAA Tournament bracket is revealed.
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Baylor running on empty in 73-60 loss to Missouri

Baylor's Kevin Rogers, confetti swirling in the background, covers his face as he leaves the court.
AP
Baylor's Kevin Rogers, confetti swirling in the background, covers his face as he leaves the court.

Missouri treats fatigue like sharks do chum. The Tigers fully understood Baylor's situation Saturday and took advantage of it in a 73-60 win over the Bears in the Phillips 66 Big 12 Men's Basketball Championship final, writes Chuck Carlton.
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Big 12 men's basketball tournament notebook
Missouri coach Mike Anderson was nothing if not persistent in vowing to bring a championship to Columbia, Mo.

03/13/2009

24-game skid vs. UT is past; Baylor seeks NCAA Tournament present

Bayor guard Curtis Jerrells gets between Texas' Justin Mason (left) and Dexter Pittman to put up a shot.
Getty Images
Bayor guard Curtis Jerrells gets between Texas' Justin Mason (left) and Dexter Pittman to put up a shot.

Any other time, Baylor ending a 24-game losing streak against Texas would overwhelm all other story lines. But with Friday's 76-70 win over UT in the Big 12 tournament semifinals, the Bears are one victory from an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament, writes Chuck Carlton.
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03/14/2009

Missouri ousts OSU to reach final
Zaire Taylor and No. 14 Missouri continue to show that playing fast doesn't necessarily mean playing pretty.

03/13/2009

Men's Big 12 tournament notebook
Rick Barnes still hasn't won a Phillips 66 Big 12 Men's Basketball Championship.

03/12/2009

Oklahoma State edges Oklahoma in Big 12 tournament

Oklahoma State's Ryan Wright (1) gets a hand on the ball in a battle with Oklahoma's Blake Griffin.
AP
Oklahoma State's Ryan Wright (1) gets a hand on the ball in a battle with Oklahoma's Blake Griffin.

Oklahoma State ended its five-game losing streak to its in state rival, winning 71-70 in a bizarre finish. James Anderson hit a pair of free throws to give Oklahoma State a one-point lead with 2.3 seconds remaining.
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Texas Tech's Big 12 trek ends with loss to Missouri
DeMarre Carroll scored 19 points and No. 14 Missouri used a pair of second-half spurts to avoid an upset at the Big 12 tournament, beating Texas Tech 81-60 in the quarterfinals Thursday night.

Texas tops Kansas State to reach Big 12 semifinals

Dexter Pittman of Texas blocks a shot by Kansas State's Dominique Sutton.
AP
Dexter Pittman of Texas blocks a shot by Kansas State's Dominique Sutton.

Dexter Pittman had 19 points – including the go-ahead three-point play – and pulled down 20 rebounds to power Texas past Kansas State and into the Big 12 semifinals. The Longhorns will face Baylor on Friday.
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Bear necessity: Baylor gets needed upset of Kansas

Kansas' Tyrel Reed (14) and Curtis Jerrells of Baylor go after a loose ball during Thursday's quarterfinal game.
AP
Kansas' Tyrel Reed (14) and Curtis Jerrells of Baylor go after a loose ball during Thursday's quarterfinal game.

For all the attention that followed Baylor's 71-64 win over top-seeded Kansas on Thursday, the Bears understand much work remains, writes DMN colleges columnist Chuck Carlton. "We didn't come to get halfway there," Baylor senior Kevin Rogers of South Oak Cliff said.
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Texas Tech rallies from 21 down, shocks Texas A&M, 88-83

CAPTIONHERE
AP
Mike Singletary was the surprise hero for Texas Tech.

Texas Tech clawed its way back from a 21-point deficit to post a stunning 88-83 victory. Mike Singletary finished with 43 points, breaking Marcus Fizer's tournament record, writes Chuck Carlton.
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03/11/2009

Texas too much for Colorado in Big 12 tournament
Dexter Pittman dominated inside with a career-high 26 points and 10 rebounds, leading the Longhorns past Colorado 67-56 Wednesday in the first round of the Big 12 tournament.

Baylor bounces Nebraska in Big 12 tournament opener

Baylor's Josh Lomers dives for a loose ball during the Bears' victory over Nebraska.
AP
Baylor's Josh Lomers dives for a loose ball during the Bears' victory over Nebraska.

Led by a career-high 20 rebounds from Kevin Rogers, the Bears posted a 43-18 advantage on the boards en route to a 65-49 win over Nebraska in the opening game of the Big 12 tournament.
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Oklahoma State knocks Iowa State out of Big 12 tournament
Marshall Moses matched his career high with 18 points and provided a much-needed inside threat as Oklahoma State held off scrappy Iowa State 81-67 on Wednesday night in the first round of the Big 12 Conference tournament.

Big 12's lower seeds seek four-won conclusion

Coach Scott Drew (right) and his Baylor Bears open the Big 12 tournament today.
AP
Coach Scott Drew (right) and his Baylor Bears open the Big 12 tournament today.

Some of the men's basketball teams seeded Nos. 5-12 that open Wednesday in the Big 12 tournament have legitimate NCAA hopes; others must run the same gantlet that faces Baylor, with four wins in four days. No one has ever done it in Big 12 history, writes Chuck Carlton.
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Tuesday's Big 12 tournament notebook
Texas coach Rick Barnes has never won the Phillips 66 Big 12 Men's Championship. Then again, he's never exactly targeted it, either.

03/10/2009

Turgeon has Texas A&M basketball bouncing back

Coach Mark Turgeon saw his men's basketball team at Texas A&M upset Missouri on Saturday.
AP
Coach Mark Turgeon saw his men's basketball team at Texas A&M upset Missouri on Saturday.

The Texas A&M Aggies not only have won six games in a row, but, barring a flop Wednesday against Texas Tech, they've probably played their way into the NCAA Tournament, writes Kevin Sherrington. What got into them? Plenty.
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Texas A&M's Carter iffy for Big 12 opener
Leading scorer Josh Carter is questionable for Texas A&M's opening game Wednesday against Texas Tech in the Big 12 Men's Basketball Championship, coach Mark Turgeon said.

03/05/2009

NCAA Championship scores
A list of the final scores of the championship game of the NCAA Tournament.

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