Elite 8 South Region: Michigan 79, Florida 59

[Newton_14]

Use this thread for pre-game, in-game, and post-game comments on Michigan vs Florida Elite 8 game.

[pfrduke]

I retract my previous statement - just a quick glance at previous brackets and of all teams 1999 Duke had an easier path seed wise:

16 - FAMU
9 - Tulsa
12 - SW Missouri St.
6 - Temple

Total =43

OSU's will only be 40 which is the same as St. John's back in 1985. They were my first favorite team - loved Chris Mullin.

Pulling this from another thread because Florida, it if wins, will take the new lead as easiest (by seed) path:

14 - Northwestern State
11 - Minnesota
15 - Florida Gulf Coast
4 - Michigan

Total = 44

This Florida team is the second team to beat three teams seeded 11 or below in a single tournament. The other? Florida, in 2006, beating 14 S. Alabama, 11 UW-Milwaukee, and then 11 George Mason in the Final Four

[1 24 90]

Pulling this from another thread because Florida, it if wins, will take the new lead as easiest (by seed) path:

14 - Northwestern State
11 - Minnesota
15 - Florida Gulf Coast
4 - Michigan

Total = 44

This Florida team is the second team to beat three teams seeded 11 or below in a single tournament. The other? Florida, in 2006, beating 14 S. Alabama, 11 UW-Milwaukee, and then 11 George Mason in the Final Four

Good point. Just to clarify I did not examine every tourney to determine who had the easiest path. Once I looked at Duke in 1999, I stopped since I found a team that had an "easier" path seed wise than OSU. There could be others but I haven't done all the research since 1985.

[pfrduke]

Good point. Just to clarify I did not examine every tourney to determine who had the easiest path. Once I looked at Duke in 1999, I stopped since I found a team that had an "easier" path seed wise than OSU. There could be others but I haven't done all the research since 1985.

Right you are. Kansas in 2008 had a 46 path:

16 - Portland St
8 - UNLV
12 - Villanova
10 - Davidson

[Newton_14]

Pulling this from another thread because Florida, it if wins, will take the new lead as easiest (by seed) path:

14 - Northwestern State
11 - Minnesota
15 - Florida Gulf Coast
4 - Michigan

Total = 44

This Florida team is the second team to beat three teams seeded 11 or below in a single tournament. The other? Florida, in 2006, beating 14 S. Alabama, 11 UW-Milwaukee, and then 11 George Mason in the Final Four

I can't recall the year, but think it was in the 90's, UNC made it to the Final Four without playing a single ranked team.

[davekay1971]

Right you are. Kansas in 2008 had a 46 path:

16 - Portland St
8 - UNLV
12 - Villanova
10 - Davidson

Then they beat the snot out of some sorry team in powder blue, got bored beating the snot out of that sorry team, let them up off the mat just to make things interesting...then beat the snot out of them again. Can't remember which sorry powder blue team that was, but I do remember that the 2008 Jayhawks beat them so badly that the sorry powder blue team's coach showed up at the next game wearing a Jayhawks pin.

I loved that Kansas team on that fine Final Four Saturday...sniff...

[pfrduke]

I can't recall the year, but think it was in the 90's, UNC made it to the Final Four without playing a single ranked team.

1991. They played a 16, 9, 12, and 10. Even easier than Kansas, checking in at 47.

16 - Northeastern
9 - Villanova
12 - Eastern Michigan
10 - Temple

That was the year Richmond beat Syracuse as a 15/2 upset in UNC's region. Temple took out 3 seed Oklahoma State in overtime to get to the Elite 8. Eastern Michigan won a 12/13 matchup (in overtime) against Penn State (which had upset UCLA).

[davekay1971]

1991. They played a 16, 9, 12, and 10. Even easier than Kansas, checking in at 47.

16 - Northeastern
9 - Villanova
12 - Eastern Michigan
10 - Temple

That was the year Richmond beat Syracuse as a 15/2 upset in UNC's region. Temple took out 3 seed Oklahoma State in overtime to get to the Elite 8. Eastern Michigan won a 12/13 matchup (in overtime) against Penn State (which had upset UCLA).

That was Mark Macon's senior year. I always think of that team when UNC fans around here whine about Duke's "easy" path in 2010. But no one ever accused UNC fans of having good memories...just selective ones. After all, UNC fans probably have selected to forget the 1991 NCAA Tournament given everything that happened in the Final Four...

Their other easy ride, if not by seed than by location, was 2008, when they reached the Final Four without ever leaving the state of North Carolina, playing the first two rounds in Greensboro, then the regionals in Charlotte. When they finally left the state of North Carolina...well...see my post above.

Of course, UNC deserves no blame for the easy path in 1991 or in 2008 (they earned the favorable locations in 2008 by virtue of a great regular season)...but their insufferable fans deserve to be reminded about the circumstances of those Final Four achievements whenever they try to discredit the 2010 Duke team's much more impressive accomplishment in making it to tournament's final weekend. And, ahem, our team won when they got there...

[BlueDevilBrowns]

OK, from a Duke perspective, should we pull for Michigan or Florida?

I'm thinking we match up best with the Gators if we're fortunate enough to get to next Monday.

Your thoughts?

[hurleyfor3]

OK, from a Duke perspective, should we pull for Michigan or Florida?

I don't dislike Florida per se, but would prefer not to see Donovan with three titles. Not before K wins a fifth, at least.

[BlueDevilBrowns]

18-4 Michigan lead. McGary dominating so far. Stat Nerds getting nervous.

[Papa John]

I don't dislike Florida per se, but would prefer not to see Donovan with three titles. Not before K wins a fifth, at least.

Is Michigan playing lights out good right now, or is Florida being exposed as "not as good as advertised"? My guess is a mixture of both... Michigan seems to have hit their stride at the right time, and Florida (reliant on defense, streaky on O) has simply run into a buzz saw...

[hurleyfor3]

Ken Pomeroy's TI-83 just divided by zero.

[Wildling]

Whew! Michigan is shooting the lights out!

[BlueDevilBrowns]

Michigan ahead 41-17. Wolverines are insane from 3 right now, shredding Florida's zone.

Well, pencil Michigan in as the heavy favorite in their game against Syracuse.

[COYS]

Stauskas is putting on a shooting clinic. 5-5 from three. Mitch McCary playing like a seasoned vet in the post.

[RoyalBlue08]

Michigan looking really good to be in the title game. I would think their 4 guard lineup is going to give the Cuse zone problems.

[COYS]

Wow, UF really messed up at the end. They had pulled to within 15 and had the ball with 54 seconds on the clock. They could have played 2 for 1 on possessions and possibly even have gotten the lead down to single digits with two made threes with a stop sandwiched in. Instead, they give up an open court steal resulting in a layup. They get the ball back and score two to cut it back to 15. Then, with .4 seconds on the clock, they foul Stauskas on a three point attempt after he had already released it (the shot was an air ball). He makes two out of three to push the lead back to 17. With better management, Florida could have had anywhere from a 9-13 point deficit going into the half. That's not good, but it's also not too terrible considering the wolverine's hot shooting. Instead, they turn a two for one in their favor into a two for one in Michigan's favor.

[dukelifer]

Michigan ahead 41-17. Wolverines are insane from 3 right now, shredding Florida's zone.

Well, pencil Michigan in as the heavy favorite in their game against Syracuse.

Why? Syracuse's zone is different. No way Michigan has this kind of success against it.

[FerryFor50]

Why? Syracuse's zone is different. No way Michigan has this kind of success against it.

Because Michigan has zone busting outside shooters. Syracuse won't be able to pack in the zone against Michigan...

[BlueDevilBrowns]

Why? Syracuse's zone is different. No way Michigan has this kind of success against it.

Well, on CBS' halftime show, Jim Beoheim just said Michigan is the toughest matchup for them over anyone else.

With McGary playing well in the middle and multiple 3 point shooters/slashers on the outside, it's a recipe for Syracuse being forced to outscore Michigan, which I doubt it can do.

[moonpie23]

loooooonnnnnnnnnggggggg halftime.......

like starting over....

[Papa John]

"I'm feeling much better."

Michigan: "No you're not, you'll be stone dead in a moment."

[moonpie23]

looks bad for fla.... 71-53 with 4:47 to play.......they got knocked back so hard in the first half........can't recover against a team like MI....


mi punches their ticket...

i kinda felt bad for billy........they got tore up...

[hurleyfor3]

Congrats, Wolverines. First Final Four since 1993 1992 1989.

[monkey]

Just a moment to mark the passing of former Blue Devil recruit Kenny Boynton's career

[NovaScotian]

did anyone else notice Joe Alleva sitting behind the scorer's table?

[BlueDevilBrowns]

Just a moment to mark the passing of former Blue Devil recruit Kenny Boynton's career

Ya know, I always regretted us missing out on him. I always thought of him as a poor-man's Jason Williams.

BTW, a disappointing day in the Murphy household, for sure.