[ad_1]
When Georgetown lost 63-48 at home to Creighton and fell to 5-10 overall on February 9, it seemed like the only good argument for coach Patrick Ewing to keep his job for a fifth season could be the solid five. men. recruiting class he brought together in the 2021 cycle. The Hoyas seemed lost in the field, as they often did in Ewing’s early tenure.
But after what Georgetown did on Friday night in a Big East 66-58 semi-final victory over Seton Hall, there is finally a feat on the field for Ewing. No.9 seed Hoyas is heading to the Big East Tournament title game for the first time in a decade with their former star center leading the sideline.
This recruiting class – ranked # 10 nationally right now by 247Sports – is still coming up, and there is now tangible progress to be matched with the group. Winning Saturday’s final is the only way Georgetown (12-12) can advance to the NCAA tournament, but even if the Hoyas falter, the end-of-season turnaround Ewing has crafted must be held in high regard.
Unlike last season where the Hoyas lost seven in a row to close out the year, this team is leaping at the right time, making Georgetown and Ewing one of Friday’s clear winners in college basketball.
Spoiler: Ewing wasn’t the only renowned coach in the sport to lead a No.9 seed in an NCAA tournament qualifier as we move closer to the selection on Sunday.
Winner: Rick Pitino and Iona
Looks like there might be a Pitino in this year’s NCAA tournament after all. As Richard Pitino’s Minnesota team hesitated down the home stretch to fall out of contention for an all-around bid in the Big Ten Tournament, his father’s first team at Iona are set to earn an automatic qualifier. . The No. 9 seeded Gaels won their third game of the week by knocking out No. 5 seed Niagara in Friday’s semi-final to reach Saturday’s title game. If Iona wins, Pitino will join Lon Kruger and Tubby Smith as one of only three coaches to lead five programs at the NCAA tournament.
Beware, though, the Gaels probably shouldn’t have been the No.9 seed after going 6-3 in the league in the regular season. They only landed that bad seed because the MAAC ranked their tournament by total wins instead of winning percentage. – Cobb
In a normal year, Virginia and Kansas would have no reason to worry about whether they make the NCAA tournament. Both teams have had strong seasons, which makes them worthy of receiving general offers for the Big Dance. Instead, however, both programs will wait on pins and needles for COVID-19 results and contact tracing measures after their elimination from their conference tournaments on Friday, as each had a positive player test.
Their issues with COVID-19 have cast a veil over two of the most compelling conference tournaments and reminded everyone that the virus will be a force to be reckoned with during the NCAA tournament. – Cobb
Winner: Arkansas stays hot, advances in SEC tournament
Arkansas won their 12th (!) Straight game against an SEC opponent on Friday, ousting Missouri 70-64. Very few teams have been as hot or deadly as in the past two months, and it was a picturesque example of how balanced this team can be. Check this out: Freshman star Moses Moody – the team’s top scorer – only scored five points in the win. But JD Notae, who averages less than 13 points per game and suffered from an illness, took over to score 27 points on the bench.
“He played phenomenally,” Arkansas coach Eric Musselman said of Notae. “He threw up at one point, then he started again at half-time. I didn’t know if he was going to play in the second half. I think it was food, to be honest with you.”
This is a dangerous list trained by Musselman who is gaining confidence day by day and improving his seed line quickly in the process. They entered the day a seeded 3 in Bracketology from Jerry Palm and can’t seem to help but win. If there’s one team that doesn’t get its due as a real and legitimate title contender, it’s Arkansas. – Boone
Loser: Blueblood domination in the ACC tournament
Duke was forced to withdraw from the ACC tournament because a player tested positive and North Carolina withdrew Friday with a 69-66 loss to Florida State. That means Saturday’s ACC tournament title game will be the first since 1996 in which neither Duke nor North Carolina will be featured. 1996! Year “Macarena” finished year # 1 on the Billboard Top 100. Make you feel old? – Boone
Winner: Iowa pulls out Badgers at three turds
Iowa grabbed the broom and started sweeping late Friday night when they knocked down Wisconsin in the Big Ten 62-57 quarterfinals. It was the Hawkeyes’ third win over Wisconsin of the season, but by far the most important as it kept Iowa alive for a tournament title and marked the team’s eighth victory in nine. exits. – Boone
Winner: Cade Cunningham, the Cowboys continue to sail
Oklahoma State won its eighth game in its last nine outings on Friday when it knocked out No.2 Baylor – the top-ranked team in the Big 12 tournament – with an 83-74 victory. It was a continuation of dominance for the Cowboys and for first-year superstar Cade Cunningham, who led the way with 25 points and led his team down the home stretch. OSU entered the day as a projected No.3 seed in support from CBS sports bracket expert Jerry Palm, but a victory over a projected No.1 seed at Baylor and possibly another Saturday. in the title game against Texas has this team on such a rapid rise as any team in the sport right now. – Boone
There has been a feeling of celebration around Wichita State basketball in recent weeks. The Shockers closed the regular season strong to claim the seed in the AAC tournament and removed the interim tag from coach Isaac Brown as a reward for his hard work leading the team this season after. the resignation of Gregg Marshall.
But the Shockers almost suffered a shocking loss in the quarterfinals of the AAC tournament on Friday. They led 41-32 at halftime, seeded South Florida’s No.9, before rallying for a 68-67 victory. A loss would have been a blow to their hopes of a full-scale NCAA tournament bid, and this team may still be unclear. Wichita State must win its semifinal game against No.5 seed Cincinnati on Saturday because even that would be seen as a bad loss in the watered-down AAC. If the Shockers can grab another victory, maybe they can finally breathe out and enjoy what has been a season of renewal. – Cobb
Loser: Seton Hall’s overall hopes take a huge hit
An already shaky resume in general for Seton Hall took a hit on Friday when he fell 66-58 to Georgetown Hoyas from Patrick Ewing. The Pirates (14-13) could be kissing their NCAA tournament hoping goodbye with this one. They’ve lost five of their last six games with just one win over bubbly St. John’s in the past three weeks. After starting the day with quality wins and always away watching Jerry Palm’s tournament screenings, that stumble could cost them a chance to go dancing. – Boone
Winner: Alabama looks deadly
So if Alabama wins the SEC tournament, can it steal the fourth seeded No. 1 in the NCAA tournament? That’s a matter to consider since Crimson Tide looked absolutely deadly during an SEC tournament quarterfinal bombing in Mississippi State on Friday. The 85-48 battle against the No.9 Bulldogs offered a perfect display of the uncompromising defense and 3-point marksmanship that carried Alabama to the SEC regular season title. If that also leads them to an SEC tournament title, you’ll be able to make a compelling case for Crimson Tide to be on the front line. – Cobb
Loser: Big Ten sportsmanship
Apparently, there was lingering bad blood between Michigan and Maryland in their two regular season meetings. Whatever the beef, it spread in a major way in the Wolverines’ 79-66 Big Ten tournament quarterfinal victory. Michigan coach Juwan Howard received two technical fouls and had to be prevented from heading to Turgeon midway through the second half. Turgeon also had T’d, and the ordeal seemed to benefit Maryland at first. But after a brief 5-0 run for the Terrapins, Michigan surged ahead for their third series victory this season. – Cobb
Winner: Ohio State Looks Like One Again
After losing four straight games to end the regular season, then struggling to pass a shocked Minnesota team in the second round of Thursday’s Big Ten Tournament, Ohio State finally started to look alike again on Friday. No.4 seed Buckeyes outlived the No.5 seeded Purdue 87-78 in overtime despite losing starting forward Kyle Young to an injury early in the second period after have exploded for 18 points in the first half. The resilience continued into overtime after leading scorer EJ Liddell fouled for the Buckeyes. This team was once on the No.1 seed line projected in Palm’s Bracketology and fell to the No.2 seed line during their late season struggles. Purdue’s victory should help stabilize things, however. – Cobb
Loser: Jackson State’s tournament dreams are dashed
Mars can be as cruel as it is cool, and no team has learned firsthand the agony of loss and the truth of that statement than Jackson State, which fell 84-81 in overtime to Texas Southern in the semifinals of the SWAC. The Tigers clocked a perfect 11-0 SWAC regular-season record and last lost on December 20, 2020, but that stunning fall dashed their NCAA tournament hopes after a brilliant season. Texas Southern will face the winner of Grambling State and Prairie View A&M for the league’s automatic bid on Saturday. – Boone
Winner: Florida State dodges pesky UNC team
In its third semi-final appearance at the ACC tournament in four seasons, Florida State successfully qualified for the title game on Friday, beating North Carolina 69-66. The Seminoles, a 4-seeded in Jerry Palm’s Bracketology, held off a Tar Heels team that exploded in the second half to beat them 42-34 behind Balso Koprivica’s 17-point, 11-rebound exit. They will face Georgia Tech on Saturday with a chance to win their second championship of the ACC tournament. – Boone
[ad_2]
Source link