Originally Posted by
flyingdutchdevil
Tatum, Allen, Kennard, Frank Jackson, Giles... 2nd round exit
Weak explanation -- NC "bathroom bill" led NCAA to relocate the game to Greenville, SC, where the Gamecocks have a huge following. Less weak explanation -- anything can happen in single elimination format -- SC, a poor offensive team, got incredibly hot in the 2nd half.
Bagley, Carter, Allen, Trent... Elite Eight exit
You explain it -- three-point lead AND the ball in regulation with under a minute left. Horrible block call on Wendell in OT.
Zion, RJ, Cam, Tre... Elite Eight exit
Scooby-dooby-SHOE. Strangest occurrence in the history of college hoops? A legendary player playing the top rival at home in front of a former U.S. President and the best current player in the NBA,* and his shoe explodes 30 seconds into game, injuring his knee and causing him to miss a bunch of games. Don't lose your star for a bunch of games, says Kyrie about 2011 and UNC's Kenny Smith about 1984.
OTOH we upset top seeds Temple in 1988, Georgetown in 1989, UConn in 1990, and Purdue in 1994 to reach the Final Four. I know, I feel the same way -- "What have you done for me lately?"
Kindly,
Sage
* Not to mention world's most famous boxer and his entourage of 17.
Sage Grouse
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'When I got on the bus for my first road game at Duke, I saw that every player was carrying textbooks or laptops. I coached in the SEC for 25 years, and I had never seen that before, not even once.' - David Cutcliffe to Duke alumni in Washington, DC, June 2013