Heeeere we go again. My tweets, and any comments thereon, will appear in the first window below. Tweets from everyone on my college basketball list will appear in the second window below.
You can join the dialogue either by clicking “Make a comment” on the top window, or by tweeting something @brendanloy, or by emailing 13909@scribblelive.com.
GOOO BUTLER!!! BEEEEAT KANSAS STATE!!! And, uh, Go West Virginia!
UPDATE: Below is a complete transcript of my tweets, followed by a complete transcript of the list’s tweets:
MY TWEETS
brendanloy: 2:48 PM Elite 8 live-tweeting, Day 1 ff.im
brendanloy: 2:49 PM Same thing killed Butler vs. Florida in ’07. RT @greggdoyelcbs Refs letting ’em play. If continues, KSU wins. KSU more physical, aggressive.
brendanloy: 2:51 PM Good news: Butler up 13-8 with 10:30 left, first half. Bad news: Matt Howard on the bench with two fouls.
brendanloy: 3:04 PM twitpic.com – Got the t-shirt on. GO BUTLER!!! 18-10. #midswin #season6forever
brendanloy: 3:04 PM 
brendanloy: 3:07 PM Mids fly together! RT @midmajority: Kansas State looks jet-lagged. Thanks, X.
brendanloy: 3:11 PM RT @midmajority: 20-14 good guys at the 43rd commercial break. K-State guards have nothing. Danger time if they keep pounding paint though.
brendanloy: 3:11 PM RT @BracketDobber: K-State with signs of life, but that won’t matter if Butler keeps doing what they’re doing.
brendanloy: 3:23 PM RT @thrashsoundly: @midmajority #toobigyo tweetphoto.com
brendanloy: 3:23 PM 
brendanloy: 3:24 PM RT @midmajority: SMC last night in 1H: 17 pts. KSU today in 1H: 20. Hope all you MSM snarkies out there are making as much fun with this.
brendanloy: 3:25 PM RT @Mark_Schlabach: Tired legs stat: last nine teams to win OT games in NCAAs are 0-9 the next game
brendanloy: 3:25 PM RT @JohnGasaway: Legs schmegs, Butler played outstanding D.
brendanloy: 3:29 PM RT @MattZemek_CFN: If Butler hadn’t dozed off in the final minute, this would be an 11-pt game. | Instead, 27-20. Still not too shabby.
MattZemek_CFN: 3:31 PM @brendanloy: Not too shabby at all, but as @midmajority says, gotta work 5 times harder and be much better. Late-first-half slips can matter
brendanloy: 3:44 PM Proving your point, KSU rallies to within 3. Ruh-roh. RT @MattZemek_CFN Not too shabby at all, but…late-first-half slips can matter.
brendanloy: 3:49 PM KSU on 10-0 run dating back to first half; within 1.
brendanloy: 3:52 PM Now Butler on a 7-0 run. Up 8 with 16:09 left. YES. #midswin #fate
brendanloy: 3:53 PM “Two 5 seeds reach Elite Eight for first time ever” = dumb statistic. Who cares? Two 8 seeds made the Final Four in 2000.
brendanloy: 3:54 PM RT @midmajority: Holy sweet 3-point hop lob, this is a hellcoaster of a game.
brendanloy: 3:54 PM And Gus Johnson’s calling it. RT @midmajority Holy sweet 3-point hop lob, this is a hellcoaster of a game.
brendanloy: 3:55 PM RT @Mark_Schlabach: KState has missed 13 shots inside the paint — about 10 at point-blank range
brendanloy: 4:01 PM twitpic.com – Somebody’s trying to tweet…
brendanloy: 4:01 PM 
brendanloy: 4:03 PM Butler 42, Kansas State 32 with 12:35 left. YES. GO DAWGS. #midswin #season6forever #fate
brendanloy: 4:05 PM RT @aglock Vanzant’s last name was tailor-made for Gus Johnson | Imagine if he were taking a crucial late shot. “Van-zaaaAAAAAAAnt…!!!!”
brendanloy: 4:06 PM A couple of wasted Butler possession there. Not good. 42-34 with 11:27 left. Can’t let up now. #finishthem #midswin
brendanloy: 4:09 PM Basketball’s Boise State? RT @aglock: Butler only loses Veasley from their top-seven minutes getters for next season. Sick.
brendanloy: 4:18 PM Butler by 10 at eight minute TV timeout. #finishthem #midswin #season6forever
brendanloy: 4:21 PM Finally just got one. Up 7. RT @MattZemek_CFN: Butler has m
missed two straight front ends of one-and-ones. Killers. Killers. Killers
brendanloy: 4:24 PM Butler NOT finishing them. K-State within 2 and going to the line. #gulp
brendanloy: 4:24 PM K-State takes the lead, 52-51 with 4:46 left. It’s over. Butler’s doomed. #reversejinx
brendanloy: 4:28 PM Butler 53, Kansas State 52 at four-minute TV timeout. #gulp Gus Johnson getting warmed up.
brendanloy: 4:33 PM 2:41 left. Butler 56, Kansas State 54.
brendanloy: 4:34 PM RT @midmajority: Ecclesiastes 3 is missing a verse: there is also a time for BALLS. That time is now.
brendanloy: 4:38 PM Butler 60, Kansas State 54 with 53.4 seconds left!!! WOOOOOOOOOO
brendanloy: 4:39 PM RT @ballinisahabit: Ho. Lee. Sheeeeeeeyit. This is happening
brendanloy: 4:41 PM RT @BMW_TRW: Butler!
brendanloy: 4:41 PM WOOOOOOOOOOOOO Butler up 6, 18.4 left
brendanloy: 4:41 PM #FATE bit.ly
brendanloy: 4:42 PM BUTLER WINS!!!!! BUTLER GOING TO THE FINAL FOUR!!!! BACK TO INDY!!!! @midmajority SEASON 6 LIVES!!!!!!! #midswin #holyshit #fate #fate #fate
brendanloy: 4:43 PM BEST!!!!!!!!!!!!! TOURNAMENT!!!!!!!!!!!! EVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!
brendanloy: 4:43 PM RT @midmajority: We’re comin’ home. 🙂
brendanloy: 4:44 PM RT @MattZemek_CFN: @midmajority: This should improve your health. Couldn’t happen to a better bunch of kids… and to a better advocate, …
brendanloy: 4:45 PM @midmajority I told you it was #fate! bit.ly Congrats!
brendanloy: 4:57 PM Season 6 of @midmajority will end at Sports Bubble Stadium, with Butler in the Final Four. You can’t make this stuff up. bit.ly
brendanloy: 5:24 PM @polarscribe @jskarp No kidding. Unbelievable. #fate bit.ly
brendanloy: 5:53 PM RT @thrashsoundly: @midmajority FINAL FOUR BABY! #toobigyo tweetphoto.com
brendanloy: 5:53 PM 
brendanloy: 6:15 PM RT @PeteThamelNYT: Ever seen a statline like this. West Virginia is 0-15 from 2, 8-15 from 3 and winning. Why? Kentucky is 0-8 from 3.
brendanloy: 6:22 PM Butler gives Casey Zak pool lead ff.im
brendanloy: 6:27 PM West Virginia 36, Kentucky 28 with 17 minutes left. I need a WVU win to stay alive in my office pool. Go ‘Eers!
kramtsew: 6:58 PM @brendanloy john walls back must hurt carrying this team.
rkessler: 7:13 PM @brendanloy Has WVU never practiced beating the press?
brendanloy: 7:24 PM RT @ESPNAndyKatz: John Wall just fouled out of the game. Great one season in college. It was a good watch. Enjoy the NBA.
brendanloy: 7:24 PM RT @JohnGasaway: That was a fun college career to watch, John Wall.
brendanloy: 7:25 PM West Virginia leads Kentucky 69-61 with 51.3 left. CBS execs bury heads in hands. Duke is only hope left to avoid total F4 ratings disaster.
brendanloy: 7:25 PM Best-case scenario championship game, ratings-wise, is now… Duke vs. Butler?
corcoran310: 7:29 PM @brendanloy come on bro. screw their ratings!! lets root for Baylor vs Butler for all the marbles!
brendanloy: 7:33 PM RT @JohnGasaway: Lower seeds 2-0 today. Look out, Duke and Michigan State.
brendanloy: 7:33 PM RT @jonathanbunton Aaand, that should do it, folks. Time to go on burning couch alert. #wemustignitethiscouch
brendanloy: 7:34 PM West Virginia 73, Kentucky 66, final. How about a Butler vs. Butler title game? (The university vs. DeSean)
brendanloy: 7:35 PM @corcoran310 I would actually prefer Butler over Duke, not for ratings but b/c 1) David-over-Goliath ending, and 2) I win my office pool 🙂
THE LIST’S TWEETS
JohnGasaway: 2:47 PM Butler’s first-shot D’s been excellent (and low-foul). If they can take care of the defensive glass, KSU’s in for a game.
TheBigLead: 2:47 PM Freakishly athletic Wally Judge doesn’t look tired – because he fouled out in 20 mins thurs. Clemente/Pullen short on 1st 2 shots. legs?
greggdoyelcbs: 2:47 PM Refs letting ’em play. If continues, KSU wins. Because KSU more physical, aggressive. But I had UTEP beating Butler
Mark_Schlabach: 2:48 PM Frank Martin just ripped into freshman Martavious Irving during the timeout. Irving turned it over driving for layup
rushthecourt: 2:48 PM SLC: Butler playing well enough to win but gonna need to do something about giving up off boards.
BracketDobber: 2:48 PM Mark me down as someone who isn’t really thrilled about the idea of 3D TV.
Mark_Schlabach: 2:49 PM KState only 4-for-15 from floor. Clemente and Pullen combined 0-for-3. Ride the horses that got you here, right?
lukewinn: 2:49 PM K-State’s band has the Michael Jordan of cowbell. The dude plays it with his tongue out.
midmajority: 2:50 PM #44 Andrew Smith (barely-used freshman, hasn’t played more than 10 min), are you ready to be a hero?
greggdoyelcbs: 2:52 PM Andrew Smith averages 5 minutes per game yet he’s on floor first half of regional final for Butler. That ain’t good.
ballinisahabit: 2:52 PM Butler is doing a really good job of keeping the ball out of Pullen/Clemente’s hands. Watch on defense. face guarded last possession
greggdoyelcbs: 2:52 PM Then again, Andrew Smith has Butler’s last three points. Did I mention I had UTEP beating Butler?
Mark_Schlabach: 2:54 PM So much for ‘Cats not having tired legs. Dogs beating them to every loose ball right now. And killing them on off. glass
greggdoyelcbs: 2:54 PM Butler beating K-State on boards. K-State is dog tired from playing 2OT 36 hours ago
BracketDobber: 2:54 PM K-State has been so bad, CBS is deducting points from them.
Mark_Schlabach: 2:54 PM Apparent requirement for Martin’s staff: yell as loud as he does
greggdoyelcbs: 2:54 PM Oh, and Mariotti left his seat 10 minutes ago. Watching on TV already. Hate him, and he won’t say a word to me. Coward.
midmajority: 2:55 PM Smith has been THE MAN on every play since Howard sat. 3 pts, ball tips, screens. Hoops Nation folk hero alert.
jppalm: 2:55 PM RT @GaryParrishCBS: @tsnmike @WojYahooNBA “Can you talk about….?” only slightly better. I wonder if the answer is ever “no.”
rushthecourt: 2:55 PM SLC: wouldn’t want to be in Frank Martins huddle right now.
ballinisahabit: 2:55 PM I’ve never been one to buy into the tired from a game two days ago theory … but damn, K-St looks dead.
BracketDobber: 2:56 PM Indeed, on MASN here, so I can pop it on the other TV. RT @hokieguru: @BracketDobber #FightingSioux on shortly!!!
midmajority: 2:57 PM C’mon Dawgs, keep it up, don’t make me go back to shrimp blogging. 18-10 at 8:56 1H.
greggdoyelcbs: 2:58 PM Same great pass. Smith misses bunny. Who does he think he is, Cole Aldrich?
Mark_Schlabach: 2:58 PM ‘Cats turned it over four of last five trips. Look a lot like ‘Cuse did
BracketDobber: 3:00 PM Butler-KSU on HD, Miam-UAH pip, UND-Yale on SD set
espn4d: 3:01 PM Butler busy being Butler, I see. Just finished interviews where with the Spartans and Vols.
BracketDobber: 3:01 PM Butler-KSU on HD, Miami-UAH pip, UND-Yale on SD set
lukewinn: 3:01 PM K-State now has seven turnovers without a single assist. Beard/Clemente haven’t scored. So yeah, not a bad start for Butler.
ballinisahabit: 3:01 PM The only good thing that comes from college basketball season being done soon: I may actually leave my apartment #YouGotDominoesNumber?
greggdoyelcbs: 3:02 PM Matt Howard has ONE foul. Hasn’t played in hours. And still Butler by 8.
ballinisahabit: 3:02 PM RT @lukewinn: K-State now has seven turnovers without a single assist. Beard/Clemente haven’t scored. So yeah, not a bad start for Butler.
midmajority: 3:02 PM Kansas State looks jet-lagged. Thanks, X.
ballinisahabit: 3:04 PM That’s what I suspected. What is this “real world” I keep hearing about then? RT @TourneyTrip: there isn’t anything out there man.
greggdoyelcbs: 3:04 PM CBSSports.com tracker says one. Maybe it’s wrongRT @BigEZ: Does he only have one? I thought he had two.
espn4d: 3:04 PM RT @BigTenLaTonya A look at the famous Izzo quick tournament turnaround prep: a piece @espn4d wrote last year…http://bit.ly/3jpNuJ
Mark_Schlabach: 3:04 PM KSt missing a lot of bunnies right now
greggdoyelcbs: 3:05 PM Clemente hunched over, hands on knees, and it’s first half with LOTS of timeouts … not good
BracketDobber: 3:05 PM For those of you who want to kill hockey in places where it doesn’t snow, Yale’s goalie is from Santa Monica, CA.
TheBigLead: 3:05 PM is the guy who is shutting down Jacob Pullen the same one who put the cuffs on Andy Rautins Thurs? Excellent job denying the ball
Mark_Schlabach: 3:05 PM Merriewether and Jukes just banged knees; KSt guy limps off
jppalm: 3:05 PM KSU missing layups, look a bit slow a foot, and always seem slow to get up when someone hits the deck.
rushthecourt: 3:05 PM SLC: not sure why KSU didn’t learn from Syracuse tape. Butler will not let you post entry pass easily.
BracketDobber: 3:06 PM Miami just scored their 2nd on UAH.
greggdoyelcbs: 3:06 PM If K-State’s legs are gone now, what happens in second half??!
ballinisahabit: 3:06 PM Is that a first? Yup…That’s a first.RT @MattZemek_CFN: Len Elmore makes an important point.
Mark_Schlabach: 3:06 PM U.Conn transfer Curtis Kelly only one keeping ‘Cats in game right now
ballinisahabit: 3:07 PM So you think we could have used Kelly this year @jeffborzello @raphiellej @theuconnblog ?
greggdoyelcbs: 3:07 PM Howard has two, now Jukes has two. Curtis Kelly only reason this is even a ballgame
Mark_Schlabach: 3:07 PM Kelly with nice spin move. Jukes goes to bench with 2 PFs. Dogs, 20-14
ballinisahabit: 3:08 PM Am I the only that rewinds a game to hear Gus Jeezy’s calls?
greggdoyelcbs: 3:09 PM If K-State is playing possum, it’s a possum on I-20
espn4d: 3:09 PM Last night’s story on IzzoBall: espn.go.com
rushthecourt: 3:09 PM SLC: Curtis Kelly. Get to know him again. Keeping KState alive.
ballinisahabit: 3:10 PM If K-St’s legs are gone, then Martin ran them too hard yesterday.
espn4d: 3:10 PM And this on Prince and Tennessee: sports.espn.go.com
midmajority: 3:10 PM 20-14 good guys at the 43rd commercial break. K-State guards have nothing. Danger time if they keep pounding paint though.
BracketDobber: 3:10 PM K-State with signs of life, but that won’t matter if Butler keeps doing what they’re doing.
greggdoyelcbs: 3:10 PM Butler has 20 points in 17 minutes and is winning … by 6. Math makes no sense
BracketDobber: 3:11 PM Yale just took a 1-0 lead on North Dakota on what looked to be an own goal.
greggdoyelcbs: 3:13 PM Gordon Hayward made $3 mill with that shot
Mark_Schlabach: 3:13 PM Clemente and Pullen now 0-for-6. Clemente just missed layup.
midmajority: 3:14 PM #toobigyo #3pointhoplob 23-14
Mark_Schlabach: 3:14 PM Tired legs stat: last nine teams to win OT games in NCAAs are 0-9 the next game
CBSSportsGang: 3:14 PM RT @giantspathanlon: 4800 feet ain’t nothin’ to Gus…BTW, Lenny Elmore is still as cool as he was when he was a Terp…
greggdoyelcbs: 3:14 PM Butler struggling with KSU pressure, and this is KSU at about 40 percent
midmajority: 3:14 PM RT @thrashsoundly: @midmajority #toobigyo tweetphoto.com
midmajority: 3:14 PM 
greggdoyelcbs: 3:15 PM Curtis Kelly is Rolando Blackman. Rest of KSU is Paul Mokeski
ballinisahabit: 3:15 PM If Kelly doesn’t get the ball EVERY SINGLY POSSESSION Martin needs to be fired.
Mark_Schlabach: 3:16 PM Jamar Samuels just picked up his 3rd PF with 1:18 to go in first half
rushthecourt: 3:16 PM SLC: Butler perimeter D on Clemente and pullen is phenomenal thus far.
TheHoopsReport: 3:16 PM Ronald Nored is one of the best defenders in the country. He’s shutting down Pullen and did the same to Rautins the other day.
greggdoyelcbs: 3:17 PM Colon should be fresh. Didn’t do squat vs. Xavier
BracketDobber: 3:18 PM I wouldn’t want to be a fly in the wall in the K-State locker room over the next 20 minutes.
JohnGasaway: 3:18 PM Legs schmegs, Butler played outstanding D.
BracketDobber: 3:18 PM Frank Martin nearly burned a hole in the Stepford floor with that last glare.
aglock: 3:19 PM finishing up interview stuff at the Dome. Will Butler hold on for 20 more mins?
midmajority: 3:19 PM SMC last night in 1H: 17 pts. KSU today in 1H: 20. Hope all you MSM snarkies out there are making as much fun with this.
TomJolly: 3:19 PM Agreed. RT @gqwilson: @JeffCutler @TomJolly: Either accept or don’t accept. Under no circumstances edit a comment.
TheBigLead: 3:20 PM Jacob Pullen 3 turnovers, 0-2 shooting. Tired, or #5 from Butler locking him up? Probably a bit of both. KSU 0-2 from three, 0-4 FTs LOL!
greggdoyelcbs: 3:22 PM Bill Frieder here. Freaks me out always. Ice-blue eyes, beak nose … looks like a falcon
rushthecourt: 3:23 PM Re: the game of tennis, Boris Becker used to say about the 5th set “At that point, it’s not about tennis.” Same here. Fatigue factor gone.
rushthecourt: 3:24 PM SLC: Butler kind of game. KState has to hope Clemente and pullen find their offense. Not easy against this defense.
jppalm: 3:25 PM Any chance Frank Martin is trying to pump them up? Nah, probably ripping them up.
kenpomeroy: 3:25 PM An all-2 half for K-State? Amazing.
BracketDobber: 3:27 PM 2006 RT @EvanDanielscout: Random thought going into tonight. Has their ever been a NCAA tourney where a 1 seed didn’t make the Final Four?
greggdoyelcbs: 3:29 PM Yes. Minus 998,000 followers RT @joshwikler: @greggdoyelcbs Mokeski? Who are you…Bill Simmons?
greggdoyelcbs: 3:32 PM KSU out early for layup line. 6 minutes left in half. They ought to be sitting somewhere
BracketDobber: 3:32 PM RT @the506: Remember folks….turn all your lights and appliances on at 8:30 tonight to protest how ridiculously stupid Earth Hour is.
greggdoyelcbs: 3:33 PM At the half, Curtis Kelly has 12 points. The rest of K-State has EIGHT
midmajority: 3:34 PM I’m a glass half-broken kinda guy, so I’m still worried about physical play wearing BUTL down and that KSU guards woke up at the end of 1H.
midmajority: 3:35 PM Pace-wise, a Butler point has to be at least worth 2.75 on the open exchange… RT @UDFlyers Difference is St. Mary’s was down by 30!!
Mark_Schlabach: 3:35 PM Pullen and Clemente, who combined for 46-pt avg in 1st 3 NCAA games, scored 2 in first half.
Mark_Schlabach: 3:36 PM Clemente has looked pretty gassed whole game. Not even participating in warmpus before 2nd half
TheBigLead: 3:36 PM RT @Mark_Schlabach: Clemente has looked pretty gassed whole game. Not even participating in warmpus before 2nd half
Mark_Schlabach: 3:37 PM Jim Harrick back in the house. Chatting up a K-State fan and going over halftime box score
Mark_Schlabach: 3:38 PM They have one of those big Jacob Pullen heads in the stands. I’m still trying to find him on the court
midmajority: 3:38 PM Also, made a poopie by upping new economics .gif to the wrong place (which is severely hotlinked), so the secret of the new Red Line is out.
Mark_Schlabach: 3:39 PM Samuels starts 2nd half on bench with 3 fouls
JohnGasaway: 3:39 PM Frank Martin to his team at half: “We missed 17 shots, they have more offensive rebounds than we have.” Rebound margin is dead.
aglock: 3:39 PM Nope, not at all. RT @AndyHutchins: @aglock Would you be surprised to hear that Bruce Pearl has some tempo-free leanings? I wouldn’t.
Mark_Schlabach: 3:40 PM Clemente just tweaked his left ankle again. Limping pretty good.
theupsetblog: 3:40 PM RT @ballinisahabit: If K-St’s legs are gone, then Martin ran them too hard yesterday.
aglock: 3:40 PM Is it sad I was thinking the same thing? RT @CHJournal: Frank Martin ignores tempo-free rebounding stats in an effort to fire his team up.
Mark_Schlabach: 3:41 PM Not a good start for Dogs. Howard picks up 3rd and two TOs
aglock: 3:41 PM Altho he sort of suggested it by providing his team’s denominator. I guess yelling something about a 14% OReb % wouldn’t motivate as much
Mark_Schlabach: 3:42 PM Clemente nails 3 to make it 27-24. Butler timeout with 18:24 to go. Pretty gutty by Clemente
SethDavisHoops: 3:42 PM Now this is the K State we know and love. Junkyard dogs in the house. Howard’s third foul is a concern with so much time left on the clock.
TheBigLead: 3:43 PM Len Elmore doesn’t know why Kelly is kicking it outside to Pullen/Clemente? You mean KSU’s best players, who need to get on track? #duh
midmajority: 3:44 PM 27-24; KSU run. I’ve had lots of bad health news in the past year, so as a def mechanism I think of my insides in Warner Bros. toon terms…
Mark_Schlabach: 3:45 PM Christopher Walken conducting KState band. Plenty of cowbell
SethDavisHoops: 3:45 PM Yes, Vols fans you heard me right. I like Tenn over Mich St tomorrow. The question is will @TSNMike follow suit?
lukewinn: 3:45 PM Can’t believe there were no calls on that Howard-Colon exchange. MH discarded LC, LC complained, got up, threw MH down, ran over him
midmajority: 3:45 PM …so my stomach is a jello-filled balloon in a sausage grinder. Bet the Butler fans out there are experiencing it 80 times more intensely.
TheBigLead: 3:49 PM Tenn favored by 2 RT @SethDavisHoops I like Tenn over Mich St tomorrow. The question is will @TSNMike follow suit?
TheBigLead: 3:52 PM Where is Wally Judge? 4 pts, 4 rebs in limited mins in 1st half … get him in there, Martin. Need his energy, athletic ability inside
Mark_Schlabach: 3:52 PM Big 3 by Hayward from right wing makes it 34-26. Dogs fight off ‘Cats rally. KState timeout with 16:09 to go
jppalm: 3:52 PM KSU missing a lot of layups.
rushthecourt: 3:52 PM SLC: Hayward says hello.
midmajority: 3:53 PM Holy sweet 3-point hop lob, this is a hellcoaster of a game.
BracketDobber: 3:53 PM Butler knows how to respond.
jppalm: 3:53 PM and now dunks.
Mark_Schlabach: 3:54 PM KState has missed 13 shots inside the paint — about 10 at point-blank range
JohnGasaway: 3:54 PM Hayward’s 28% 3pt shooting a baffling mystery. Big makes today. Excellent FT shooter. Made 45% of 3s last yr.
BracketDobber: 3:56 PM And there’s even Cubs preseason baseball on the TV! Reminds me I need to book my flights to Chicago and Seattle.
TheBigLead: 3:56 PM DUI, Assault – great 1st impression in Arizona! RT @realfreemancbs Innocent until proven guilty but damn, Joey Porter: bit.ly
BracketDobber: 3:57 PM One of the Ricketts in the stands in a jersey and cap…LOVE THAT
jppalm: 3:57 PM Hey! A layup for K-State!
aglock: 3:57 PM Maybe he got too big, yo? RT @JohnGasaway: Hayward’s 28% 3pt shooting a mystery. Big makes today. Excellent FT shooter. Made 45% 3s last yr.
jppalm: 3:58 PM Don’t mean not to – they’re doing great. RT @eddieperez23: give Butler some credit. As a Cuse fan they clamped us down and now KSU.
SethDavisHoops: 3:58 PM Wow Butler plays some incredible halfcourt D. Can’t even imagine how big a story it would be to have them home in Indy next week.
aglock: 3:59 PM I’m trying to recall the last deep mid-major run that happened a year before it was supposed to. Anyone?
midmajority: 4:00 PM Smith needs a nickname. We’ve got this dude for three more years, well into the post-Spankmaster/Monsterizer era.
rushthecourt: 4:02 PM Shelvin Mack continues to be one of the most underrated guards in the nation. PG by training who can shoot it, likes taking the big shot.
midmajority: 4:02 PM RT @jtanHC: @midmajority It’s really hard to watch this game on my laptop in the library w/o getting attention for multiple fist pumps.
aglock: 4:02 PM Vanzant’s last name was tailor-made for Gus Johnson to say it repeatedly
ballinisahabit: 4:03 PM RT @aglock: Vanzant’s last name was tailor-made for Gus Johnson to say it repeatedly
ballinisahabit: 4:03 PM Was about to say the same thing RT @JamesonFleming: The amount of mid-range and long twos Butler has forced today is astounding.
aglock: 4:05 PM Yeah, but they had Lovedale/Richards as very key seniors. RT @jppalm: @aglock Davidson in Curry’s soph year? Didn’t make tourney as a Jr.
TheHoopsReport: 4:08 PM If Butler hangs on here, who had Butler, Tennessee or Michigan State in the National Championship in their bracket? Incredible.
aglock: 4:08 PM Butler only loses Veasley from their top-seven minutes getters for next season. Sick.
aglock: 4:09 PM I enjoy watching K-State, but from a story angle, how can you not want to see a mid-major playing in the F4 in its own city?
ballinisahabit: 4:09 PM What’s the record for the most stupid effing shots taken in one game?
TheHoopsReport: 4:10 PM Keep in mind, everybody but Jukes and Veasley is back next year for Butler. If they’re this good now, how good are they gonna be next year?
jppalm: 4:10 PM Not many to choose from. GMU 06, Kent St 02, Tulsa 2000, Zags 1999 most recent. Skipping A-10, Memphis.
greggdoyelcbs: 4:11 PM Twitter back. Mariotti? Gone after 4 1/2 minutes of second half
espn4d: 4:12 PM Amen RT @ aglock I enjoy K-State, but from a story angle, how can you not want to see a mid-major playing in the F4 in its own city?
greggdoyelcbs: 4:12 PM Who is Rodney McGruder and why is shooting for Kansas State? Or playing?
Mark_Schlabach: 4:12 PM Dogs in the bonus with 9:14 to go. Pullen just picked up 3rd
aglock: 4:12 PM That’s who I was thinking of, not Lovedale. RT @SandlapperSpike: @aglock Re: Davidson, they also lost Thomas Sander. Bigtime glue guy.
greggdoyelcbs: 4:13 PM And what did he do with Jacob Pullen?
JohnGasaway: 4:13 PM It was a time of empty possessions. For both teams.
jppalm: 4:13 PM yeah, me too. RT @aglock: yeah, limited sample. just in awe of the possible “early arrival.”
aglock: 4:13 PM I joked yesterday, wondering if they were ineligible to play there. RT @BrendanPrunty: @aglock: Butler U. is also HOSTING the Final Four.
greggdoyelcbs: 4:14 PM Dagger right there by Mack
SethDavisHoops: 4:14 PM Here is what the game looks like on the big wall in the studio w/ @TheoRabinowitz. Can I get one for my bat cave? yfrog.com
SethDavisHoops: 4:14 PM 
rushthecourt: 4:15 PM SLC: frustration, thy name is Wildcat.
Mark_Schlabach: 4:15 PM Big-time 3 by Mack there to answer Pullen’s 3 at other end. Butler 49-39 at 7:25 timeout
jppalm: 4:15 PM Before the season – before Hummel’s injury – all the talk was could Purdue play in Indy? Nobody thought Butler could.
midmajority: 4:16 PM Attention: “Blue Balls” is now the highest compliment in the world. #toobiggo…nads
rushthecourt: 4:16 PM SLC: imagine if She-Mack stayed in Lex and played for UK. They might be 36-1 instead of 35-2!! Unheralded but so clutch.
rushthecourt: 4:16 PM But the pace is starting to quicken…guys starting to hit shots. We need a Dave Johnson “AND DOWN THE STRETCH THEY COME!”
SethDavisHoops: 4:17 PM What’s the over/under on technicals? RT @johnclayiv: Officials are Kentucky-West Virginia are Curtis Shaw, Ted Valentine and Jamie Luckie.
TheHoopsReport: 4:18 PM The last 2 yrs, I’ve always said if I had a choice to hire any coach to build my program, it would be Brad Stevens, and ppl call me crazy.
greggdoyelcbs: 4:18 PM Horrific call. Right on front of me. That ball was velcroed to KSU’s groin until it went OB
Mark_Schlabach: 4:18 PM Looked like a bad call there. KSt down 7 and has ball
greggdoyelcbs: 4:19 PM I miss Karl Hess. And his yicky fingers
aglock: 4:19 PM That’s a brutal call.
aglock: 4:20 PM Butler had 23 TOs combined in its first three wins and has 18 today, and is up by 7
midmajority: 4:21 PM Five against eight,
Mark_Schlabach: 4:21 PM KState getting good mins from freshman Rodney McGruder, down 7 after 2 Hayward FTs
BracketDobber: 4:21 PM Denny Kearney just made it 2-0 Yale with a little more than 7 mins left in the 2nd.
greggdoyelcbs: 4:23 PM Pullen catching second wind. Butler playing bad enough to lose this thing
Mark_Schlabach: 4:23 PM KState down 2 after Pullen foul shots. This game goes either way now
jppalm: 4:23 PM but nobody had them in a preseason final four. RT @TJQuinn41: they were preseason top 20 a lot of people thought they could play.
midmajority: 4:23 PM Such a fine line, as I keep saying. 40% shooting, get beat on the boards, win on ball control. 18 turns today. Very nervous times.
jppalm: 4:24 PM Announcer ooops moment-Gus “Hayward so fundamentally sound” the instant before he loses the ball on his own dribbling. lol
RealJayWilliams: 4:24 PM Kansas St needs to attack more rather than settle for 3’s. A lot of questionable calls by the refs though.
BracketDobber: 4:24 PM Miami survives UAH, 2-1
Mark_Schlabach: 4:24 PM Clemente 3 puts KState up 52-51. Butler falling apart. Never seen them this rattled
greggdoyelcbs: 4:25 PM I’ll be damned but McGruder was the spark, and now KSU is on fire
aglock: 4:25 PM Gusty rally by K-State. Is Butler getting “mid-major legs?” A lot can do it for 35 mins. Few can for 40.
Mark_Schlabach: 4:25 PM So much for tired legs. Helluva comeback by KState. Clemente and Pullen heating up
TheHoopsReport: 4:25 PM OK, so we’re gonna have another great finish in the 2010 NCAA tournament. What else would you expect?
SethDavisHoops: 4:26 PM Ten minutes ago with Butler up 10, Bill Self looked at me and said “This is going to be a 1 possession game.” Man knows his hoops.
TheBigLead: 4:26 PM it took 35 mins for Gus Johnson to get into it, but “Clemente for threeeee PURE!” means he’s ready to close his announcing season in style
midmajority: 4:26 PM Ecclesiastes 3 is missing a verse: there is also a time for BALLS. That time is now.
BracketDobber: 4:26 PM Time for another patented Butler response.
rushthecourt: 4:26 PM SLC: odd to see Butler lose its poise here.
ballinisahabit: 4:26 PM I would take either Welllington Smith or Kevin Jones over Devin Ebanks. Sorry CBS
greggdoyelcbs: 4:27 PM Gordon Hayward can JUMP. Woody Harrelson over here
jppalm: 4:27 PM Don’t know how long Final Four has had an official host school, but I believe Butler could be the first to play as host.
SethDavisHoops: 4:27 PM Gus Johnson on Gordon Hayward: “Don’t let the smooth taste fool you.”
CBSSportsGang: 4:27 PM Rise and Fire….Gus Johnson and Len Elmore with another good one in Salt Lake!!!
aglock: 4:27 PM “Don’t let the smooth taste fool ya?” Umm, what, Gus?
BracketDobber: 4:28 PM Your suspicions were correct. RT @fetch9: penalty shot. i think id rather have a pp
aglock: 4:29 PM Maybe an “animal style” ref, too? #LoveIn’nOut RT @AndyHutchins: Gus really needed to call that jump shot with “IN AND OUT” or something.
Mark_Schlabach: 4:29 PM timeout with 3:35 left. Howard going to line, Butler up 53-52. Howard came up empty last 2 1-and-1s
TheBigLead: 4:29 PM If Mike Dunleavy can be a lottery pick … how can Gordon Hayward not be? If he played for Duke, Vitale et al would jock the kid
rushthecourt: 4:29 PM An all-timer. That’ll be on the GJ Soundboard ASAP RT @SethDavisHoops: Gus Johnson on Gordon Hayward: “Don’t let the smooth taste fool you.”
Mark_Schlabach: 4:29 PM Yes, I was here RT @jamescurtin3: @Mark_Schlabach did u see the butler-cuse game?
ballinisahabit: 4:29 PM RT @bomani_jones: ok, gus is quoting king cobra ads now. he’s a G among G’s. #butidontdrinkthatstuff #monkeyoil
BracketDobber: 4:31 PM 3-0 Yale. Stunning
ballinisahabit: 4:31 PM That is funny. Frank Martin’s daughter is ASLEEP. Great atmosphere in SLC apparently…
aglock: 4:31 PM “‘Chip’s real close, it’s at our back door. Get a few dubs we’ll be in the Final Four.” — G-Time, he’s Too Big, Yo!
jppalm: 4:32 PM Detroit was the host school. RT @rock_mamola: MSU playing in Detroit last season not count??
aglock: 4:32 PM I’m so hungry now. RT @AndyHutchins: @aglock That would make announcing double-doubles easier, too.
jppalm: 4:32 PM By host – I don’t mean hosting on home court. I mean in the era of neutral court tourneys.
rushthecourt: 4:33 PM SLC: pretty neat that Butler is running lobs backdoor.
aglock: 4:33 PM Is it too much to hope for a Butler buzzer-beater to feed the media machine AND have a Gus Johnson Moment? Great game.
aglock: 4:34 PM Struggled to lead the team in scoring and rebounding? RT @GregAnthony50: Hayward, has struggled all year but big today…
jppalm: 4:35 PM actually, it would be perfect. just doesn’t hold enough fans. RT @seancotter: NCAA in Hinkle wouldn’t work, no.
CBSSportsGang: 4:35 PM RT @SethDavisHoops: Gus Johnson on Gordon Hayward: “Don’t let the smooth taste fool you.”
midmajority: 4:35 PM Who’s got the FINAL FOUR BALLS
JohnGasaway: 4:35 PM K-State’s making the mistake of thinking shots *have* to be taken by Pullen, even if they’re bad shots.
greggdoyelcbs: 4:36 PM What was THAT foul? That call was so silly I’m giggling
aglock: 4:37 PM Dear ref: Please either call the foul when it happens, or don’t. Don’t make it up four secs later for no reason. Kthx.
midmajority: 4:38 PM SHOW US YOUR FINAL FOUR BALLS #metaphorically
aglock: 4:38 PM Everytime I hear “Nored,” I think of War Games. “Would you like to play a Final Four game at home?”
TheHoopsReport: 4:38 PM Gordon Hayward is the fricking truth.
jppalm: 4:38 PM not entirely sure. handle some media relations, I know. sure there’s more. RT @ABippus: What are the responsibilities of the host school?
ballinisahabit: 4:38 PM Ho. Lee. Sheeeeeeeyit. This is happening
Mark_Schlabach: 4:39 PM Clutch baskets by Nored and Hayward put Butler up 6 with :53.4 left. Great save by Mack, too, after big block
JohnGasaway: 4:39 PM Did Hayward, the baby-faced assassin just log another kill?
rushthecourt: 4:39 PM In terms of the hustle plays, Butler has won the day. They’ve made ALL of them.
rushthecourt: 4:39 PM (But not necessarily the game…)
BracketDobber: 4:40 PM Up six with a minute to go…but Butler needs to keep it up.
TheBigLead: 4:40 PM Butler is going to the Final Four. wow. who had that in their bracket?
SethDavisHoops: 4:40 PM Per Wayne Fidelman….11 of Butler’s last 12 opponents scored under 60 points.
aglock: 4:41 PM This will happen. Congrats, Butler. Awesome.
TheHoopsReport: 4:41 PM Butler is one of the best “teams” I’ve ever seen.
RealJayWilliams: 4:41 PM I call it right now. Welcome to the Final Four Butler!!!!!!
jppalm: 4:41 PM Gus, excitedly: “Butler 18 seconds away from going home!!!” In the tournament, that’s usually a bad thing. Not this time.
midmajority: 4:41 PM We’re comin’ home. 🙂
SethDavisHoops: 4:41 PM SHARPIE ON BUTLER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
BracketDobber: 4:42 PM K-State with a goaltend, further summing up their afternoon
greggdoyelcbs: 4:42 PM I’m sticking up for KSU in my story tonight. Damn shame they had to play this game, this early. I mean it
TheBigLead: 4:42 PM loved Hayward’s game and effort today, but the MVP has to be Nored, No. 5, who absolutely shut down Jacob Pullen (3-12 FGs)
jppalm: 4:42 PM Could not be happier for Butler!!
TheHoopsReport: 4:42 PM You gotta love it. College basketball at its finest right here. Butler=Final 4. Who’da thunk it?
JohnGasaway: 4:42 PM Both sides of The Red Line will be in Indy. And I love it.
theupsetblog: 4:42 PM Butler deserves this win. What a performance.
jppalm: 4:43 PM Tomorrow could be another feather in the Butler cap – Baylor coach Scott Drew is a grad.
rushthecourt: 4:43 PM SIGNATURE TIME for Butler! They will SIGN THEIR NAMES on Saturday. Congratulations to the Bulldogs!
goodmanonfox: 4:44 PM When I wrote Butler had a decent chance to get to Final 4 in Indy on my preseason visit, not even sure if I truly believed it. Now reality.
midmajority: 4:44 PM RT @brendanloy: BUTLER WINS!!!!! BUTLER GOING TO THE FINAL FOUR!!!! BACK TO INDY!!!! @midmajority SEASON 6 LIVES!!!!!!! #midswin #holysh …
espn4d: 4:44 PM Well. How awesome was that?
midmajority: 4:44 PM RT @NovaYankee: @midmajority This season is NEVER GOING TO END! GO BUTLER!
midmajority: 4:44 PM RT @simmonsclass: Butler is going to the Final 4. “What a team!” indeed. Enjoy the trip @midmajority
jppalm: 4:44 PM 1% of people in CBSSports.com bracket challenge picked Butler for the Final Four. I wasn’t one of them.
midmajority: 4:44 PM RT @chicolbball: BUTLER is in the Final Four congrats to @Title_BU, @midmajority and all those other fans who have waited a long time fo …
BracketDobber: 4:44 PM Another week of @midmajority! Enjoy, Kyle! Congratulations and keep it going, Butler Bulldogs!
ballinisahabit: 4:45 PM RT @dgoneil1: I picked Butler and MIchigan State in the Final Four. OK it was November and I’ve backed off, but c’mon!
theupsetblog: 4:45 PM KState’s Final 4 run ends one Mid Major W short of Indy. Would not have defeated a BCS school during the entire West Region.
midmajority: 4:46 PM 🙂 RT @MattZemek_CFN This should improve your health. Couldn’t happen to a better bunch of kids& to a better advocate, Mr. Whelliston.*HUGS*
TheBigLead: 4:46 PM Impressive. Who else did he have? RT @BrendanPrunty Nice job by @bracketboy for putting Butler in the Final Four.
midmajority: 4:46 PM RT @BracketDobber: Another week of @midmajority! Enjoy, Kyle! Congratulations and keep it going, Butler Bulldogs!
BracketDobber: 4:46 PM A potential Final Four of K-State, MSU/UT, UK/WVU, Duke would have challenged the fan in me. I’d be OK with Baylor making it.
midmajority: 4:46 PM RT @allanjlewis: @midmajority SEASON SIX LIVES!! have a great time in Indy!!!! #toobigyo!
midmajority: 4:46 PM RT @chris_coletta: @midmajority MY BRACKET JUST BLOWED UP. And it feels good.
jppalm: 4:47 PM Not to mention… RT @HoopsTournNet: And what about Da’Sean Butler?
TheBigLead: 4:47 PM RT @dgoneil1: For the record, I must say now: I picked Butler and MIchigan State in the Final Four. OK it was November and I’ve backed o …
rushthecourt: 4:47 PM SLC: who had Butler getting to the 4 before Gonzaga????
greggdoyelcbs: 4:47 PM I’m in Final 4!! RT @owensjp: #twitterhoops matchups for Final 4 @greggdoyelcbs vs. @goodmanonfox @aglock vs @ESPNAndyKatz
midmajority: 4:48 PM I just want to recognize @goodmanonfox, the only MSMer who believed this could happen. Everyone thought he was crazy.
aglock: 4:48 PM I just went Sharpie on Greg Anthony! RT #twitterhoops matchups for Final Four @greggdoyelcbs vs. @goodmanonfox @aglock vs @ESPNAndyKatz
ballinisahabit: 4:49 PM RT @clubtrillion: Congrats to HS teammate G Hayward for making F4. Brownsburg HS now has 2 FFs & our rival Avon has 0. Suck it, Avon.
ballinisahabit: 4:49 PM RT @JamesonFleming: Joe Mazzulla will be West Virginia’s fifth starter tonight after starting Casey Mitchell on Thursday.
midmajority: 4:50 PM RT @rosslancaster: @midmajority HOW GOOD IS THIS?! #midswin
jppalm: 4:50 PM FB RT: This calls for Jim Nabors and a chorus of Back Hoooooome in In-dee-aaaa-nahhh!
midmajority: 4:50 PM RT @albolte: Butler, one request: make sure that @midmajority’s Epilogue blog post comes on Tuesday. Wrapped in a locker room tee and hat.
aglock: 4:50 PM Still awesome. Chuck D! RT @CharlieDavies9: What do you guys think? Thanks @hoover_dam for a great banner! tweetphoto.com
aglock: 4:50 PM 
midmajority: 4:52 PM RT @jskarp: By the way, was there any doubt this was going to happen after @midmajority wrote this? bit.ly – Fate speaks. …
BracketDobber: 4:52 PM RT @JerodMSF: Folks, either Butler, MSU, or Tenn will be in the National Championship game. And Butler’s the best of the bunch.
TheBigLead: 4:53 PM Joey Porter, arrested at Taco Bell in 2010. Lofa Tatupu, arrested at McDonald’s 2008. What LB gets cuffed at Arby’s in 2012?
midmajority: 4:53 PM RT @RedLineUpsets: [RED LINE UPSET ALERT] Butler 63, Kansas State 56 | is.gd
ballinisahabit: 4:54 PM Butler beats Kansas State, is going to the Final Four: So. Butler is in the Final Four. Yes, that Butler. The one … bit.ly
rushthecourt: 4:54 PM It should also be said, we think: congrats to Kansas State…GREAT season. You surprised everyone, and were super to watch this year.
midmajority: 4:55 PM RT @gmoore21566: @midmajority Congrats Kyle. All of us loyal followers know how much this means to u. Soak it in and enjoy the entire w …
aglock: 4:55 PM RT @defiantlydutch: You know what makes me happy? The thought of kids in 3rd world nations wearing K St West Region champ shirts.
TomJolly: 4:56 PM We moderate all comments. RT @gqwilson: @TomJolly @JeffCutler If comments get out of hand we turn comments off for that story.
RealJayWilliams: 4:57 PM Go ahead and preach the word my brother RT @kerryrhodes: anything can happen in college bball! #LB
TomJolly: 4:57 PM Can Butler make title game? Up next: Tenn. or Mich. St. ow.ly
aglock: 4:58 PM I just annihilated a BBQ sandwich and a quesadilla. #miracleofroomservice
midmajority: 4:58 PM I was holding it together until the tweets/e-mails/texts about poetry, the CPIA, SB Stadium, closed circles, fate and not ending in a loss..
goodmanonfox: 4:59 PM I am going to pound Doyel into submission. @owensjp: #twitterhoops Final 4: @greggdoyelcbs vs. @goodmanonfox @aglock vs @ESPNAndyKatz
midmajority: 4:59 PM Thank you all. This is for all of us, but mostly for them.
midmajority: 5:00 PM RT @dcbradley: @midmajority I’ve been watching this team since I was 9 years old. I accepted the fact this would never happen. And now? …
jppalm: 5:00 PM probably, but no sure thing he’d leave. RT @RossMacLochness: If a high-profile position were open, would Brad Stevens be on the short list?
goodmanonfox: 5:01 PM Yep. At KY-West Va. RT @JBRU23: @goodmanonfox You working today? Haven’t heard much from you today?
jppalm: 5:01 PM #twiiterhoops or is this a pay-per-view event? RT @goodmanonfox: I am going to pound Doyel into submission.
RealJayWilliams: 5:01 PM I don’t know about that??? RT @starchild112: the winner of Tenn/MSU is gonna beat Butler!!!!! Congrats 2 them but not enough weapons
goodmanonfox: 5:01 PM Looks like Joe Mazzulla will get the start tonight for West Virginia.
BracketDobber: 5:01 PM Hold on, @hokieguru and @fetch9 3-2 Yale up with 14 mins left. RIT just took the lead in Albany
jppalm: 5:02 PM It’s not happening yet? RT @mschmitty24: How long before media starts screaming for Final4 to be reseeded?
goodmanonfox: 5:02 PM Take your pick. RT @jppalm: #twiiterhoops or is this a pay-per-view event? RT @goodmanonfox: I am going to pound Doyel into submission.
midmajority: 5:02 PM RT @polarscribe: If you filed a Certificate of Emotional Investment in Butler when Season 6 began in November, dig it out and post it pr …
midmajority: 5:02 PM RT @Smith_Family: @midmajority thanks for all the hard work over the years. I know you will represent us well this week. Go #Butler
jppalm: 5:02 PM no – thrilled for them I’m sure. RT @JoeInBugaha: you think Todd Lickliter is sick to his stomach right now? I would be.
goodmanonfox: 5:03 PM Brad Stevens is the Tom Glavine of college hoops coaches. Never, ever shows any emotion. So even-keeled.
TheBigLead: 5:04 PM Poor Dick Enberg. That Duke-Baylor-whatever thing was painful. And on his last College hoops telecast! #happenstothebestofus
jppalm: 5:04 PM RT @SeanFarnham: Teams that have played in OT games have now lost 10 straight updating the stat after the K-State
ballinisahabit: 5:05 PM RT @GregAnthony50: Steve Lavin reportedly taking the St. Johns job…has not been confirmed
midmajority: 5:05 PM There were 61 TMM Butler Bulldogs “Certificates of Investment” from November. is.gd Hold them high, this moment is for you.
tsnmike: 5:06 PM WVU opens in 1-3-1. Solves some of their matchup problems, but doesn’t stop Patterson from scoring low.
midmajority: 5:06 PM OH yeah! RT @tahobgoo @midmajority I assume it will be the Dawg-Majority all week?
RealJayWilliams: 5:06 PM Love the initial defensive move by #WestVirgina playing zone. You have to force Kentucky to make shots from the perimeter.
tsnmike: 5:08 PM Huggs said Friday he just wanted his team to make some shots. So far, so good. Smith, and Jones.
BracketDobber: 5:08 PM UNH just tied it up in Albany. One minute left in the 1st
midmajority: 5:08 PM Screencapitrons launch! RT @KraigW we are trying to get bally on tv behind gus johnson during the post game show look for him
espn4d: 5:10 PM Closing the laptop, off to watch UK-West Virginia now. Hope we get another great game.
ESPNAndyKatz: 5:10 PM I wasn’t going to take that charge. RT @goodmanonfox: Katz was ready to run for his life at courtside seat. Incoming: DeMarcus Cousins.
ESPNAndyKatz: 5:11 PM Oregon’s attention turns to Minnesota’s Tubby Smith again as Mark Turgeon staying at Texas A&M.
DanWetzel: 5:11 PM RT @GregAnthony50 Steve Lavin reportedly taking the St. Johns job…has not been confirmed
ESPNAndyKatz: 5:11 PM I was with Butler in Anaheim (WVA was there too shows great field). Butler’s poise is something to behold. Class program, staff, players.
ESPNAndyKatz: 5:12 PM Let’s watch the Final Four at Hinkle instead of Lucas Oil.
SethDavisHoops: 5:12 PM Billy Gillispie interviewed for Houston job yesterday in Dallas. They’re also looking at Tim Floyd among others.
DanWetzel: 5:13 PM The so-called “Butler Way” has always been about a program built on class, trust and hard work. Now onto Final Four
kenpomeroy: 5:14 PM I was wondering where he came from. 102 mins all year RT @binx310: #44 Andrew Smith of Butler not on your site but appears a Off Reb machine
jppalm: 5:14 PM is there a pool on that? RT @seancotter: how many years will it be before #NCAA takes this season away from UK? 3, 4 ?
jppalm: 5:15 PM Clarifying OT stats: All five teams this year and both teams in 09 that won in OT lost their next game…..
midmajority: 5:15 PM The only Hoosiers reference I’ll throw at you this week: “Let’s win this one for all the small schools that never had a chance to get here.”
jppalm: 5:16 PM Kansas won the 08 title in OT and their next tourney game, but not in same tourney….
aglock: 5:16 PM West Cornell feeling the brunt of a UK run. #seenthisbefore
JohnGasaway: 5:16 PM Yow, West Virginia without offensive boards is not pretty.
jppalm: 5:17 PM WKU last to win in OT then win next game in same tourney (also 2008), but beat San Diego, which was also coming off OT win.
ESPNAndyKatz: 5:18 PM But at this juncture I expect Tubby to stay at Minnesota and so too do the Gophers.
aglock: 5:18 PM Katz saw the #twitterhoops F4 matchup. RT @goodmanonfox: @ESPNandykatz was ready to run for his life just now at his courtside seat.
jppalm: 5:19 PM Last team to win in OT and beat someone that didn’t was Ohio St in 2007
PeteThamelNYT: 5:20 PM St. John’s folks saying that Lavin is a candidate, but any talk of him taking the job is premature.
ballinisahabit: 5:21 PM RT @PeteThamelNYT: St. John’s folks saying that Lavin is a candidate, but any talk of him taking the job is premature.
ESPNAndyKatz: 5:22 PM Steve Lavin hasn’t been talked to at St. John’s at this point from what I have been told. But could be by next week.
PeteThamelNYT: 5:22 PM Bob Huggins predicted that Joe Mazzulla could break out today. Said he’s shot lights out in practice. Just hit first 3 of the season.
midmajority: 5:23 PM I made a “good luck” CPIA res for Thurs, but I honestly have no idea how I’m getting there RT @raphiellej Do you get to go to Indy? Hope so
rushthecourt: 5:23 PM Did Mazzulla just hit his first three of the YEAR? Will it be that kind of day for WVU?
TomJolly: 5:23 PM Birthday dinner (having long reached the age of not needing to celebrate on the date). (@ Blue Point Grill) 4sq.com
aglock: 5:23 PM We cannnnnn’t go forward … until you mail it back … #damnyoucatchycensusrappers
goodmanonfox: 5:24 PM Who reported it????? RT @GregAnthony50: Steve Lavin reportedly taking the St. Johns job…has not been confirmed
aglock: 5:24 PM In a chair, but plate on spare bed. Pretty much spot on. RT @CHJournal: Are you seated Indian style on the bed w/ napkins about? I hope so
midmajority: 5:26 PM I’d be happy to have my mind asploded! RT @wbryan08 ..Maybe it doesn’t have to always end in a loss….
aglock: 5:26 PM Twitter survey: Which is more satisfying? “Drunk 2am food” or “I’m hungry room-service food?”
aglock: 5:28 PM I must say, the 27″ rounded screen standard def TVs at the media hotel in St. Loo are strong. #welcometo2003
midmajority: 5:28 PM Calm, shaking, but one poem away from locking myself in a bathroom. RT @JohnWillmott K is either running around ecstatically or crying.
goodmanonfox: 5:29 PM Source told FOXSports.com that it’s not 100 percent that Mark Turgeon is out of mix completely for Oregon.
aglock: 5:30 PM Great call. RT @raphiellej: @aglock Drunk 2 am food. You don’t spend every bite thinking about how expensive it was.
aglock: 5:31 PM That’s atrocious, refs. How was that NOT a backcourt violation?
BracketDobber: 5:31 PM Interesting backcourt call there…Kentucky up 7 now
BracketDobber: 5:31 PM And Yale just knocked North Dakota out
kenpomeroy: 5:32 PM Enberg doesn’t understand the backcourt rule of course. Should have been a violation. Wall touched it last.
PeteThamelNYT: 5:32 PM West Virginia has zero two-point field goals. Huggins is irate at Curtis Shaw, as replays show the officials blew the call. UK up 16-9.
aglock: 5:32 PM I half-saw the replay. Still looked odd. RT @frequencyblog: Yer like Enberg. Wait for the replay. Mazzulla gets his hand on the ball.
tsnmike: 5:33 PM Yes, it should have been over/back. Mazzulla knocked the ball loose, but it appeared to strike Wall’s foot. That makes it a violation.
aglock: 5:34 PM Yeah, that’s what I thought. Wall kicked it into the backcourt. That’s brutal
kenpomeroy: 5:34 PM Score one for Bilas. One of the few analysts that knows the backcourt rule.
aglock: 5:35 PM I’d like to wait and see Wall have to run halfcourt offense against comparable athletes, but what a physical specimen.
tsnmike: 5:35 PM There are moments when John Wall simply takes your breath away. There is no other No. 1 pick. (Unless the Bulls, Jazz or Hornets get No. 1.)
midmajority: 5:36 PM This is better than Rock Bottom karaoke RT @Adam_Coppinger @midmajority This is good. This is real good. This is damn good.
goodmanonfox: 5:36 PM John Wall certainly proving why he’s received so much hype this season. Imposing his will early in this one instead of settling in.
midmajority: 5:37 PM I have to return this car to the airport + have a flight back to RI Monday. Other than that, I have no plan at all, as in Coke zero.
tsnmike: 5:38 PM In Curtis Shaw’s defense, the over/back was a very difficult call. Mazzulla clearly hit the ball, and the foot deflection wasn’t EZ to see.
tsnmike: 5:38 PM And that’s a first: Me defending Curtis.
tsnmike: 5:38 PM Da’Sean finally scores at 6:58. 3 from left of circle.
aglock: 5:39 PM Whichever team trailed in the final min and had to foul? RT @AndyHutchins: 2007-08 Memphis vs. 2009-10 Kentucky: Who wins?
midmajority: 5:39 PM Bally-yootiful. RT @thrashsoundly FINAL FOUR BABY! #toobigyo tweetphoto.com
midmajority: 5:39 PM 
goodmanonfox: 5:40 PM West Virginia is 4-for-18 from the field and 4-of-9 from beyond the arc.
PeteThamelNYT: 5:40 PM West Virginia still hasn’t hit a two-point goal or a a free throw. Trail 16-15.
aglock: 5:40 PM No 2-pt FGs in almost 15 mins for WVU is crazy with the way they typically attack the offensive glass.
tsnmike: 5:41 PM Every WVU basket has been a 3. 18-all.
goodmanonfox: 5:41 PM Will West Virginia ever hit a shot inside the 3-point line?
tsnmike: 5:42 PM UK — terrible body language into timeout after Da’Sean Butler hits third straight 3.
ESPNAndyKatz: 5:42 PM What was that about Truck Bryant being an issue? Joe Mazzulla has played fantastic, throwing his body around, taking chances, steals, shots.
PeteThamelNYT: 5:42 PM Double check. Great play on the pick and pass by Mazzulla. RT @SITimLayden: Check that. D’Sean Butler’s hand is fine
ESPNAndyKatz: 5:42 PM Big Shot Da’Sean Butler has arrived in Syracuse.
BracketDobber: 5:42 PM WVU can’t keep this up the entire game? Can they?
TheHoopsReport: 5:42 PM West Va needs to stop shooting 2’s. It’s just not their game. If they have an open layup, pass it out and shoot the 3. Higher pct shot.
kenpomeroy: 5:43 PM The all-3 half better than all-2’s, but neither a good sign. RT @kpelton: Looks like WVa might raise K-State with an all-3 first half.
BracketDobber: 5:43 PM OK, just for fun, I tried the Boss Button on MMOD. It’s not fooling anyone.
DanWetzel: 5:43 PM This is frist true challenge Kentucky has faced in this tournament. We’ll see how they respond
aglock: 5:43 PM I was pondering his riddle, too. Didn’t get it. RT @AndyHutchins: Enberg just tried to improvise a new Schoolhouse Rock song. And he failed.
BracketDobber: 5:45 PM Michigan just took the lead on Bemidji in Ft. Wayne. 1-0 13:45 1st
TheBigLead: 5:45 PM Phil Knight had 0 interest, didn’t think Turgeon was big enough name RT @ESPNAndyKatz Oregon’s attention…Mark Turgeon staying at Tex A&M.
kenpomeroy: 5:46 PM For those that haven’t heard, this is probably the last tourney game for Enberg. bit.ly
TheBigLead: 5:47 PM yeah, he’s terrible #sarcasm RT @thinkkaz Hayward is a nice player, but he’s a wind who isn’t athletic, goes only left & has a poor handle
ESPNAndyKatz: 5:47 PM Kentucky 0 and 7 on 3s. All 7 WVA field goals are 3s.
JohnGasaway: 5:47 PM RT @kenpomeroy: For those that haven’t heard, this is probably the last tourney game for Enberg. bit.ly
midmajority: 5:47 PM RT @ButlerBlue2: So America, how you like me now?!
midmajority: 5:49 PM Also, it’s really wonderful that the team has been giving @ButlerBlue2 presents for his sixth birthday all week long. (Six wins?)
goodmanonfox: 5:49 PM Da’Sean Butler: Welcome to the national stage – where everyone will know your name now.
BracketDobber: 5:49 PM WVU has a shot to score points from some place other than 3 point land.
aglock: 5:49 PM So West Virginia found a stray copy of Cornell’s gameplan from Thurs, and thought “Hmm, we have better athletes … maybe this would work?”
TheHoopsReport: 5:50 PM It’s all about Butler today.
ballinisahabit: 5:50 PM Umm, jeeeeeeeeez Butler is on fire right now. You’re not supposed to make a heat check
BracketDobber: 5:50 PM RIT takes the lead back in Albany 2-1 with 6:38 left in the 2nd
goodmanonfox: 5:51 PM You’ve got to give DeMarcus Cousins a lot of credit; Not a lot of big men play harder than him.
BracketDobber: 5:51 PM 3-1 RIT!
TheBigLead: 5:51 PM Stat guys, quick: Has a team ever made ONLY three-point baskets in the half? WVU 8 hoops, all from deep. losing reb battle, 20-8
rushthecourt: 5:51 PM Which Butler is having a better day so far? Da’Sean or the University?
aglock: 5:51 PM Refs now miss a blatant walk on WVU … and then compound it by T’ing up a UK player. Lovely.
BracketDobber: 5:52 PM 6:24 left in the 2nd and the Tigers are up 2. Got it in off the rebound.
DanWetzel: 5:52 PM Butler to hold midnight pep rally at Hinkle Fieldhouse. Team arrives from SLC at 1 am
tsnmike: 5:52 PM Oh, there he goes again. Curtis Shaw. Thank goodness he’s not reffing after this. Always has to show who’s boss.
TheHoopsReport: 5:52 PM I don’t blame Liggins. That was a blatant walk/double-dribble.
ESPNAndyKatz: 5:52 PM Interesting Tech on DeAndre Liggins. I’m about 15 feet away and I couldn’t see it.
SethDavisHoops: 5:52 PM As predicted! Curtis Shaw tees up DeAndre Liggins. Quickest trigger in history of zebras. Ridiculous call.
TheHoopsReport: 5:52 PM Sure, players have to be under control in a big game like this, but the refs have to be on their game in a big game like this as well.
BracketDobber: 5:53 PM Curtis Shaw sucks.
ballinisahabit: 5:53 PM Come on that tech. He reacted to a call. Understand the game situation.
tsnmike: 5:54 PM I wonder. When Curtis is an officials supervisor and a coach calls to complain about a game — can Curtis tech him from behind a desk?
aglock: 5:54 PM Welcome to Curtis Shaw’s world. RT @ESPNAndyKatz: Interesting Tech on DeAndre Liggins. I’m about 15 feet away and I couldn’t see it.
SethDavisHoops: 5:54 PM Right now Ted Valentine is thinking, “I can’t let Curtis get one on me.” Keep your lips zipped guys!
tsnmike: 5:54 PM RT @SethDavisHoops: As predicted! Curtis Shaw tees up DeAndre Liggins. Quickest trigger in history of zebras. Ridiculous call.
TheHoopsReport: 5:54 PM This is unbelievable. They have to make a 2 eventually, right?
PeteThamelNYT: 5:54 PM Quick Draw Curtis Shaw lives up to his rep. Odd, because the officials had stayed out of way. Watch, Teddy V will want to show up up.
DanWetzel: 5:55 PM One of beauties of NCAA tourney is shifting support. Right now much of America rooting for Bob Huggins
PeteThamelNYT: 5:56 PM DeMarcus Cousins picked up second foul. Looks unhappy. Gets a stern talking to from Orlando Antigua on UK bench.
BracketDobber: 5:56 PM 4-1 RIT 5:03 2nd The orange and black support at the bldg. formerly known as Knickerbocker is going nuts.
TheBigLead: 5:56 PM WVU has done it: Finished the half with no 2-pointers. shot 8-31 for the half, 8-15 from three. amazing. leading, too: 28-26
goodmanonfox: 5:57 PM I’ve been told by sources not to discount Fran McCaffery from the equation at Iowa.
aglock: 5:57 PM WVU: 8 3s, 4 FTs, 0 2s. Crazy.
BracketDobber: 5:57 PM And WVU is up 2 after one of the oddest halves I’ve seen in awhile.
ballinisahabit: 5:57 PM I think it goes without saying that WVU needs to figure out a way to score inside the arc. No way they shoot 8-15 from deep again.
DanWetzel: 5:58 PM West Virginia leads 28-26 without making a two-point basket. 8 threes. 4 free throws
ballinisahabit: 5:58 PM RT @BrettmcmurphY: Bobby Bowden would have won a few more national titles if FSU could make 3’s like WVU
aglock: 5:58 PM Just wondering … if every media folk watching is mocking Shaw (and Valentine), why doesn’t anyone stop him from ruining games w/ Ts?
rushthecourt: 5:58 PM No 2-point FGs for WVU. Is UK feeling good or bad about this? I vote good. WVU/Butler can’t keep this up.
DanWetzel: 5:59 PM How tough is UK interior defense? WVU 0-15 from inside the arc. UK dominates boards 24-10. WVU leads anyway
ESPNAndyKatz: 5:59 PM Curtis Shaw barking back at Ky asst John Robic to tell his players to settle down.
ESPNAndyKatz: 5:59 PM NCAA officiating chief John Adams heading into the locker room to talk to Shaw. I asked if this is his last game and he said he doesn’t know
TheBigLead: 5:59 PM bizzaro world in Syracuse: Kentucky won rebs, 25-12. Has 9 offensive boards. Turnover prone WVU only has 3, Kentucky has 10. #stats
DanWetzel: 6:00 PM No. At NCAA hoops. For UFC follow @kevinI and @stevecofield RT @stlouis0 @DanWetzel Are you doing any live tweets for tonights UFC?
aglock: 6:00 PM Someone should send Shaw a mocked-up SMC-style t-shirt: “It’s all about the T”
aglock: 6:01 PM Good for Adams. RT @ESPNAndyKatz: NCAA officiating chief John Adams heading into the locker room to talk to Shaw.
ballinisahabit: 6:01 PM RT @JamesonFleming: Curtis Shaw has dished out 202 more technicals than any other referee in college basketball in the past 13 years.
ESPNAndyKatz: 6:02 PM Shaw is going to be the head of the Big 12 officiating next season. This could be it.
ESPNAndyKatz: 6:02 PM I asked Adams about the half and his response was: “interesting half.”
midmajority: 6:02 PM Indianapolis Fun City!!! RT @sarah_black @midmajority Butler nation twitpic.com !!!
midmajority: 6:02 PM 
aglock: 6:04 PM Tonight’s refs are 1, 6 and 9 on that list. Sick RT @dlabay: @aglock No one even close to Shaw in T’s since 1996. tinyurl.com
aglock: 6:06 PM If you’re calling a T every two games like Shaw is, there is the need for an intervention. That’s ridiculous.
midmajority: 6:06 PM This is my brain right now. is.gd Too many ideas. Prolly wait until tomorrow to make any solid logistical decisions.
aglock: 6:07 PM He’s a fan of reb %s, not margins. RT @TheBigLead: @CHJournal not a fan of rebounding? interesting stat here: is.gd
midmajority: 6:07 PM SNL, baby. Scissors, nets and ladders. is.gd #toobigyo
PeteThamelNYT: 6:09 PM Ever seen a statline like this. West Virginia is 0-15 from 2, 8-15 from 3 and winning. Why? Kentucky is 0-8 from 3.
TheBigLead: 6:09 PM i thought he said no. maybe raising offer? RT @AndyHutchins @onlygators: reliable source Oregon ready 2 ask permission 2 speak 2 Donovan
ESPNAndyKatz: 6:14 PM Coaching carousel chatter blog: bit.ly
kenpomeroy: 6:14 PM The “no 2” feat is really rare. I’ve been crunching through some PBP, Have found 1 case with no 2’s in 1st half, up to 1800 games so far.
ballinisahabit: 6:14 PM There’s an NCIS Los Angeles? And it stars LL Cool J? WTF is wrong with the world?
midmajority: 6:14 PM F that; u be G-Time, I’ll be D-Rizzo, Orlando Shaq = Geno RT @Adam_Coppinger Will they have the Butler fight song at Rock Bottom karaoke?
ESPNAndyKatz: 6:16 PM Adams said Shaw said the player used profanity (Liggins) and then the end of half was a warning to a Ky player running his mouth in 1st hlf
goodmanonfox: 6:17 PM They are too smart and will wait for better jobs. RT @THEARK85: @goodmanonfox: Why woulnd’t Iowa hire Ben Jacobson or Brad Stevens?
TheHoopsReport: 6:17 PM From @ESPNAndyKatz coaching carousel blog: “(DePaul has) tried to generate interest from (Jamie) Dixon and UCLA’s Ben Howland.” Hilarious!!!
PeteThamelNYT: 6:17 PM NCAA Coordinator of officials John Adams said that Liggins’ Technical was from using “multiple profanities.”
tsnmike: 6:17 PM John Adams, NCAA coordinator of officials, said tech was called because player used multiple profanities in protesting OB call.
midmajority: 6:17 PM “Too Big Yo” MP3 listens on TMM over the past 24 hours: 153,048 is.gd
tsnmike: 6:17 PM A warning would have sufficed.
DanWetzel: 6:18 PM Kentucky is 0-8 from three. Could really use Jodie Meeks right now
CBSSportsGang: 6:18 PM Mayor of Syracuse delcared today Dick Enberg day
kenpomeroy: 6:18 PM Correction, haven’t found one yet in 3500 games. This game game the closest: bit.ly UTPA hit a 2 with :42 left in 1H.
ballinisahabit: 6:18 PM HAHAHA RT @llcoolj: @ballinisahabit wow… lol.. thanks a lot…
SethDavisHoops: 6:20 PM Wow…third on Cousins. Problem.
goodmanonfox: 6:20 PM DeMarcus Cousins with a low blow. Picks up his 3rd foul.
rushthecourt: 6:20 PM Very late call on that even if it was a shot down there…
TheBigLead: 6:20 PM old demarcus just show up? He hit a ball there … that’s for sure. 3rd foul, enjoy the bench.
ESPNAndyKatz: 6:21 PM Wow. They showed the replay on the big board of Cousins. Crowd now into it. Cousins telling Cal he didn’t do anything on purpose.
DanWetzel: 6:21 PM Double dribble on Cousins
goodmanonfox: 6:21 PM This was not a Herb Pope low blow. Should not be a technical on Cousins.
ballinisahabit: 6:21 PM I hope I’m not the only one laughing my ass off. Butler’s face afterwards is too funny.
tsnmike: 6:21 PM No intent on Cousins, just bad aim. Like on the shot that preceded it.
PeteThamelNYT: 6:21 PM Cousins picked up his third foul for slapping Butler in the groin. Takes out mouthpiece in disbelief. Back on bench. WVU up 31-26
TheHoopsReport: 6:21 PM I’m trying to think of a funny comment for that Cousins foul, but I got nothing.
TheBigLead: 6:22 PM CBS said this was the 1st NCAA game since Marquette in 2007 that a team hasn’t hit a 2-pointer inside the arc in a half.
rushthecourt: 6:22 PM A 2-point FG for West Virginia!!!
ESPNAndyKatz: 6:22 PM First time Kentucky looks flustered since……..not sure when.
DanWetzel: 6:22 PM In a bold strategic move, Huggins orders his players to hit a 2-point shot. WVU extends lead to 33-26
TheHoopsReport: 6:23 PM OK, I got it: West Virginia just needed a slap in the balls to hit their first 2-pt shot of the game.
goodmanonfox: 6:23 PM John Flowers with a 3-pointer. West Virginia now up 10, but still early. Trust me – KY will make a run soon.
aglock: 6:23 PM I figured it out! WVU brought Beilein back to coach this game.
DanWetzel: 6:23 PM UK is on the canvas. WVU 36-26 and playing with typical confidence.
DanWetzel: 6:24 PM RT @AdamZagoria Lavin, St. John’s have ‘interest’ www.zagsblog.com #stjbb
TheBigLead: 6:24 PM guess when Cal brings back Cousins? I’ll say 14:00 RT @goodmanonfox Trust me – KY will make a run soon.
ESPNAndyKatz: 6:24 PM Even in losses to Tennessee and South Carolina or close game with Miss State. Kentucky wasn’t this flustered. I still sense a run though.
kenpomeroy: 6:24 PM Found a 25 minute drought: Iowa beat Northwestern by making only 2 2’s the whole game on 2/7/09 bit.ly
ballinisahabit: 6:25 PM I take it back. NCIS LA is my favorite show on TV #thismademynight RT @llcoolj: @ballinisahabit lol..and your laughin…wooooooow hahaha
greggdoyelcbs: 6:25 PM RT @TheDrewFranklin: West Virginia can’t act like its the first time cousins has touched their balls
JohnGasaway: 6:26 PM With all due respect for freak occurrences, WV’s held Kentucky to 0.74 PPP. That’s why they don’t need 2s.
DanWetzel: 6:26 PM RT @TheDrewFranklin West Virginia can’t act like its the first time cousins has touched their balls
ESPNAndyKatz: 6:26 PM Good confidence boost for Cousins to get that jam out of timeout.
SethDavisHoops: 6:26 PM That three by John Flowers was the seventh he has made all season. Guessing that wasn’t in the scouting report.
rushthecourt: 6:27 PM Here comes the Wildcat comeback. . .
SethDavisHoops: 6:29 PM Here is something that is not said nearly enough: DeMarcus Cousins has a very high basketball IQ.
goodmanonfox: 6:29 PM DeMarcus Cousins is doing too much crying right now – needs to just stay focused.
aglock: 6:30 PM If WVU and Baylor win, the ratings for this F4 will be terrible. I wonder if/how that would impact NCAA on TV contract opt-out/expansion
ESPNAndyKatz: 6:30 PM More bodies are crashing to the floor at this end. How does Joe Mazzulla get to the rim untouched twice in this half?
rushthecourt: 6:30 PM Defining moment for Kentucky/Cousins right now. Will they/he step up or sulk?
midmajority: 6:31 PM Thanks to ServerAxis for handling our annual March traffic crush. But we’re happy to offload some #toobigyo luv: toobigyo.ytmnd.com
tsnmike: 6:31 PM This is where youth is an issue. Adversity is undermining Cousins. Bad decisions by Bledsoe. And where are UK upperclassmen to handle it?
ESPNAndyKatz: 6:31 PM Mazzulla has been a stud in this game. Bledsoe overpenetrated on the drive before and got bailed out by Cousins. Need better decisions.
DanWetzel: 6:32 PM Wait till WVU and Baylor join them RT @arrenrovell1 Not that Kansas St was a powerhouse, but Butler in Final 4 is bad for CBS ratings.
kenpomeroy: 6:33 PM 7 cases in 11,208 PBP’s in the database of no 2’s in the 1st half. 0.06% of games.
tsnmike: 6:35 PM You knew Bledsoe’s 4th wouldn’t be well-spent. Slapping from behind on an ORB that West Virginia had locked.
goodmanonfox: 6:35 PM That’s Eric Bledsoe’s 4th foul. Liggins needs to play big and give them 5-6 quality minutes.
TheBigLead: 6:36 PM People love Eric Bledsoe, but I don’t see the Russell Westbrook comparisons. maybe if he runs point next yr, but just a shooter, IMO
goodmanonfox: 6:36 PM Kentucky is now 0-for-11 from beyond the arc.
midmajority: 6:37 PM Sean Connery with a message to Gordon Hayward and all other aspiring slam poets is.gd #yourethemannowDAWG
ballinisahabit: 6:37 PM That was a helluva screen by Mazzulla. He does so much for this team.
goodmanonfox: 6:38 PM I expect John Wall to impose his will on this game soon and lead Kentucky back. Let’s see what he does.
midmajority: 6:38 PM Sean Connery with a message to Gordon Hayward and all other aspiring slam poets is.gd #youthemannowDAWG
goodmanonfox: 6:39 PM Eric Bledsoe just asked to go back in with 4 fouls. Calipari gave him the green light.
BracketDobber: 6:39 PM Joe Mazzulla picked the right time to make himself known.
DanWetzel: 6:39 PM Joe Mazzulla, the prie of Johnston, Rhode Island just smoked Mr. No. 1 draft pick. WVU rolling, 47-36
ESPNAndyKatz: 6:39 PM I will tweet it again: How is Mazzulla getting in to the basket untouched? It’s amazing how much less aggressive KY’s defense is tonight.
BracketDobber: 6:39 PM 5-1 RIT with 9:59 left. All over but the crying for UNH now.
ESPNAndyKatz: 6:39 PM West Virginia has had a phenomenal game plan.
ballinisahabit: 6:40 PM Does anyone remember the performance Mazzulla had in the 08 tourney when WVU beat Duke? This shouldn’t surprise you. Kid can play
rushthecourt: 6:40 PM Not a good sign when Rod Strickland is the one advising John Wall
DanWetzel: 6:41 PM This feels like 2003 when Marquette upset UK to get to Final Four. Only with Mazzulla playing the Dwyane Wade role
ballinisahabit: 6:41 PM The Butler did it? RT @JamesonFleming: If WVU wins, I know my story…
kenpomeroy: 6:41 PM RT @vegaswatch: WVU 76% to win according to Pinnacle odds.
ballinisahabit: 6:41 PM I’m not exactly sure what that is referring to, but it definitely made me laugh haha RT @FromTheBarn: @ballinisahabit Kevin Costner?
DanWetzel: 6:41 PM Don’;t cry for CBS Final Four ratings. They’ll make it up 10-fold at Masters if Tiger’s in it
TheBigLead: 6:42 PM RT @tgriff13: @rapperbigpooh Demarcus Cousins big overrated and lazy…sound like a Clipper to me.
ballinisahabit: 6:42 PM Sure is RT @2ndnShort: @ballinisahabit #thebutlerisdoingit
JohnGasaway: 6:43 PM Weakness of the WV D this year was 3pt defense. Kentucky ill-equipped to capitalize.
TheHoopsReport: 6:43 PM West Virginia, like Butler , is a better “team” than Kentucky. It’s not about the individual talent. It’s about the game plan and coaching.
midmajority: 6:43 PM Both are great unselfish TEAMS. I only wish we had social media back then. RT @habes123 which is sweeter: Mason ’06 or Butler ’10?
DanWetzel: 6:43 PM Kentucky now 0-14 from three
midmajority: 6:44 PM Both are great unselfish TEAMS. I only wish we had good social media back then. RT @habes123 which is sweeter: Mason ’06 or Butler ’10?
ballinisahabit: 6:44 PM Dick Enberg just said Kentucky was a “great shooting team”, Bilas answers “Kentucky has not been a great 3pt shooting team all season long”
TheHoopsReport: 6:44 PM Obviously, Kentucky is an incredible team. But so is West Virginia. And at some point, experience comes into play.
aglock: 6:45 PM This isn’t a spelling bee RT @AndyHutchins: Kentucky doing their own multiplication from beyond the arc: Zero times infinity is still zero.
BracketDobber: 6:46 PM Kentucky has literally no clue…
ballinisahabit: 6:46 PM RT @FromTheBarn: @ballinisahabit perhaps he meant historically?
aglock: 6:46 PM If this result holds, who wants to play Calipari Bingo later? I’ve got “youngest team in the tournament” and “my kids didn’t quit”
DanWetzel: 6:48 PM Kentucky now 0-16 from three but WVU lead cut to 7. Wall deciding to play like UK asst coach Rod Strickland
ESPNAndyKatz: 6:48 PM John Wall’s one-man fast break keeping Kentucky in the game. Kentucky still hasn’t hit a 3-pointer, 0 for 16 on 3s.
aglock: 6:49 PM This made me laugh evilly. #CBSwantsDuke RT @Giantandre: @aglock If WVU holds on … the calls tomorrow are going to be brutal
ballinisahabit: 6:49 PM #sloppyseconds RT @jeffborzello: RT @llcoolj: @jeffborzello lol.. nah no need..much love..
ESPNAndyKatz: 6:50 PM RT @BUCoachStevens: See you soon in Indy!
PeteThamelNYT: 6:50 PM Kentucky is 0-for-17 from 3-point range. At some point they have to abandon that strategy.
TheHoopsReport: 6:51 PM Message to Kentucky: You’re 0-17 on 3’s. Stop shooting them. You have no Wittman/Rautins/Morningstar’s on your team.
TheBigLead: 6:51 PM Is Brad Stevens Doogie Howser? RT @bayou Great game WVU vs. Kentucky between Coaches Al Bundy and Gordon Gekko
DanWetzel: 6:51 PM Two things. 1. I don’t care about CBS rating either. 2. The Joe Mazzulla-Dwyane Wade comparison was joke. DWade had triple double that game
ballinisahabit: 6:52 PM RT @GlideHoyas: @ballinisahabit WVU man Big East family rooting Mazzulla is mauling dudes out there my goodnessssssssssss, lol…
PeteThamelNYT: 6:52 PM Very happy that I wrote about Joe Mazzulla today. He’s played his tail off, with 14 pts, just like Huggins predicted. nyti.ms
rushthecourt: 6:52 PM How many games in a row has Kentucky hit a three?
TheHoopsReport: 6:53 PM If the ‘Cats want to win this game, they have to pound the ball inside and convert points off turnovers.
aglock: 6:54 PM Media note of the day: Tenn’s Brian WIlliams noted he grew up in Co-op City in the Bronx. My MOM spent her early childhood in Co-op City.
ESPNAndyKatz: 6:54 PM Joe Mazzulla is the quarterback of this game. Just told Devin Ebanks to settle down. Went over and hugged him. Great leader tonight.
rushthecourt: 6:54 PM I know one sequence that won’t be on “One Shining Moment”
TheBigLead: 6:54 PM waiting for the zebras to help UK & F4 ratings … (Go WVU!) RT @PeteThamelNYT feature story on Joe Mazzulla today nyti.ms
aglock: 6:54 PM Excuse me. Meant to say NEAR co-op city.
TheBigLead: 6:56 PM If Tiger playing Sunday, i’ll say 4 (6.5 v 26) RT @darrenrovell1 Prediction: CBS will get 3X the ratings 4 the Masters vs. NCAA champ game.
JohnGasaway: 6:56 PM Wall, Bledsoe, Patterson, Miller, Liggins, Dodson *all* 0-for-3 on 3s.
ESPNAndyKatz: 6:57 PM 0 and 19 on 3s.
rushthecourt: 6:58 PM Time for UK to press with Mazzulla out of the game.
DanWetzel: 6:58 PM The day Jodie Meeks turned pro last spring has become one of the biggest moments of UK season.
SethDavisHoops: 6:58 PM Plan A: Shoot 20 threes. Uh…time to try Plan B?
TheBigLead: 6:58 PM Scott Drew as … Mr. Belding? RT @laurafrofro Think Brad Stevens is more of a Vinnie Delpino
DanWetzel: 6:58 PM After 23 turnovers against Washington, WVU has just 8 tonight.
aglock: 6:59 PM That’s the extremely rare quintuple-triple-bagel! RT @JohnGasaway: Wall, Bledsoe, Patterson, Miller, Liggins, Dodson *all* 0-for-3 on 3s.
ESPNAndyKatz: 7:00 PM Let’s just enjoy the Final Four and not my PICKS. How hard has this field been to project?
PeteThamelNYT: 7:01 PM My thoughts exactly. Dusted Cousins. Can’t get enough of Cam Thoroughman. RT @dforemanwv: @PeteThamelNYT Thoroughman
TheBigLead: 7:01 PM No Mel Turpin? RT @ItsTopCat Something about DeMarcus Cousins reminds me of Erick Dampier…I’m just sayin’
TheHoopsReport: 7:01 PM Most time between Final Fours: Lou Henson 19 (1970-1989), Bob Huggins (w/ a win) 18 (1992-2010), Eddie Sutton 17 (1978-1995)
rushthecourt: 7:01 PM Huge error by Calipari not pressing WVU w/Mazzulla out. Before you ask, the NCAA record book says we both have the same # of F4 trips: 0
aglock: 7:02 PM Oh sheesh. I’m so tired I can’t even count to six anymore. 🙂 RT @MattZemek_CFN: @aglock: Sextuple, right?
DanWetzel: 7:03 PM UK has missed 11 FTs and 18 three pointers. trail by 12. Even average shooting and they could lead
goodmanonfox: 7:03 PM John Calipari must be having flashbacks right now to his Memphis days with the way his team is shooting from the line.
aglock: 7:03 PM Hey, it’s a Calipari team killing itself with free throw shooting! #notashock
SethDavisHoops: 7:03 PM Sharpie is close by.
JohnGasaway: 7:03 PM The Sharpie is out….
aglock: 7:04 PM Actually, it’s the same as their FG%, isn’t it? 🙂 RT @AndyHutchins: Kentucky’s True Shooting Percentage for this game is False.
TheBigLead: 7:04 PM Kentucky 11-for-22 on FTs. 0-19 on three’s. 15 turnovers. unbelievable stats for a regional final. Freshman nerves??
BracketDobber: 7:04 PM RIT 6, UNH 2 Final Congratulations Tigers! On to Detroit!
rushthecourt: 7:04 PM If you are a media member in Syracuse tonight, you have to ask Calipari why he didn’t press.
aglock: 7:06 PM Arizona disapproves of your comment RT @CHJournal: Kentucky’s done. No team has come back from this big a deficit with this little time left
BracketDobber: 7:06 PM Michigan just made it 2-0 in Ft. Wayne 38.2 left in the 2nd
theupsetblog: 7:08 PM Could be the most satisfying TV this year. RT @raphiellej: It’s one thing to miss 3s. But if you miss foul shots you don’t deserve to win.
JohnGasaway: 7:08 PM College hoops fans, act like these minutes with Cousins and Wall are your last.
TheBigLead: 7:09 PM Who will be the 1st to ask Calipari in the presser: “In big spots, another one of your teams gagged at the line. What’s the deal?”
TheBigLead: 7:09 PM RT @kpelton: I just ran some #s that said the odds of these UK players shooting 0-of-19 from 3 are 1 in about 2,000,000.
goodmanonfox: 7:10 PM RT @foe23: If kentucky lose everybody jus gone say “their a young team” dnt wana here it!!!!!
DanWetzel: 7:10 PM WVU has played brilliantly, but UK is 0-19 from three. Almost all were open looks. Cats never stood a chance
SethDavisHoops: 7:11 PM Bilas says game is “far from over.” Looks pretty close to over to me.
rushthecourt: 7:12 PM Finally!
goodmanonfox: 7:12 PM DeAndre Liggins finally gives KY a 3-pointer. Still have a shot here.
ESPNAndyKatz: 7:12 PM First 3-pointer of the game for Kentucky by DeAndre Liggins. That means KY is 1 of 21 on 3s.
DanWetzel: 7:12 PM Finally a three and here’s the UK press. WVU 63-52
BracketDobber: 7:12 PM UK makes a 3 finally, but they’re still shooting worse than 5% from beyond the arc.
BracketDobber: 7:13 PM Now here come the makeup calls…
TheBigLead: 7:13 PM and at the 3 min mark, the refs step in. the trigger was waiting UK to hit a 3. buckle up, folks, UK is coming back
rushthecourt: 7:14 PM Now they press?
goodmanonfox: 7:15 PM Cousins yelled something at Calipari. Cal’s response: “Oh my God, do you wanna coach the team?”
rushthecourt: 7:15 PM Is that 3 point shot?
BracketDobber: 7:16 PM Tweet of the day RT @jon_bois: hey everybody take it easy on UK, they’re observing Earth Hour
DanWetzel: 7:16 PM Mazzulla fouls out on bad call. WVU has no point guard. UK still has a chance
ballinisahabit: 7:16 PM Wall and Bledsoe are 5-14 from the line. That’s more being freshman than bad free throw shooters IMO
TheBigLead: 7:16 PM RT @goodmanonfox: Cousins yelled something at Calipari. Cal’s response: “Oh my God, do you wanna coach the team?”
goodmanonfox: 7:16 PM West Virginia without Mazzulla throws out all five guys who are 6-foot-7 or 6-foot-8.
rushthecourt: 7:17 PM This is why they should have pressed 6 minutes ago. . .
BracketDobber: 7:17 PM RT @loljocks_grimey: Joe Mazzulla, the first player to ever foul someone with his face
JohnGasaway: 7:17 PM Why is John Flowers in this game?
rushthecourt: 7:18 PM RT @goodmanonfox: Cousins yelled something at Calipari. Cal’s response: “Oh my God, do you wanna coach the team?”
ballinisahabit: 7:18 PM Haha RT @goodmanonfox: Cousins yelled something at Calipari. Cal’s response: “Oh my God, do you wanna coach the team?”
rushthecourt: 7:19 PM Don’t need 3s yet. . .
BracketDobber: 7:19 PM Yikes RT @goodmanonfox: Cousins yelled something at Calipari. Cal’s response: “Oh my God, do you wanna coach the team?”
ballinisahabit: 7:19 PM Text from a UK fan: “at least the NCAA can’t take anything of note.”
goodmanonfox: 7:21 PM No doubt. RT @owensjp: If this goes to OT UK will win because of WVU s lack of a ball handler… It will come down to FT’s FREE Throws!!!!
DanWetzel: 7:21 PM Huggins close to joining Eddie Sutton as only guy fired from a college job to resuscitate career and return to Final Four another school
rushthecourt: 7:23 PM Did Ashley Judd, Drake, and Worldwide Wes not make the trip up to Syracuse?
TheBigLead: 7:23 PM John Wall’s college career over? See you in the NBA, son. Enjoy life in Jersey with LeBron
goodmanonfox: 7:24 PM Ok. Guess I was wrong on John Wall. Was disappointing down stretch and fouls out with 51.3 seconds left.
ESPNAndyKatz: 7:24 PM John Wall just fouled out of the game. Great one season in college. It was a good watch. Enjoy the NBA.
JohnGasaway: 7:24 PM That was a fun college career to watch, John Wall.
tsnmike: 7:24 PM College basketball officially bids adieu to John Wall. Gave us a heck of a show while here, and never was less than committed to UK.
TheBigLead: 7:25 PM so, uh, those are 2 “hostesses” behind the UK bench, right? sorry, back to the WVU collapse, already in progress …
rushthecourt: 7:25 PM First foul-out of the year for Wall.
PeteThamelNYT: 7:26 PM RT @D1scourse: And suddenly, Indianapolis furniture store owners are slowly realizing the couch apocalypse might be upon them.
SethDavisHoops: 7:26 PM Per CBS researcher Wayne Fidelman….Calipari about to fall to 1-8 vs Huggins.
ESPNAndyKatz: 7:27 PM RT @SethDavisHoops: Per CBS researcher Wayne Fidelman….Calipari about to fall to 1-8 vs Huggins.
aglock: 7:28 PM OK, I will get at least one F4 team, with Baylor still possible tomorrow. I think those would be the only two correct picks in my bracket
rushthecourt: 7:29 PM If WVU’s media guide doesn’t feature Jonnie West doing the “Logo” pose, I will be very disappointed
ESPNAndyKatz: 7:30 PM Darnell Dodson hits his second 3s to give ‘Cats a pulse.
TheBigLead: 7:31 PM What flashy ride will John Wall be driving around Lexington starting this week (assuming he isn’t already): Need make + model
ESPNAndyKatz: 7:31 PM Devin Ebanks just went sky high to snatch a Darnell Dodson 3-point attempt out of the air like it was nothing.
TheBigLead: 7:32 PM WVU spring break started Friday – Cancun burns! RT @slmandel It’s 9:28 pm. At what time does the first couch ignite in Morgantown?
BracketDobber: 7:33 PM And that sums up Kentucky’s night…
DanWetzel: 7:33 PM Will Huggins cry at Country Roads?
goodmanonfox: 7:33 PM This tournament continues to amaze me: West Virginia pulls off big-time upset. Headed to Final 4.
ESPNAndyKatz: 7:33 PM “Country Roads”
JohnGasaway: 7:33 PM Lower seeds 2-0 today. Look out, Duke and Michigan State.
PeteThamelNYT: 7:33 PM That’s West Virginia’s last Final Four, with Jerry West. His son Jonnie is one this team. RT @slmandel: It’s time to party like it’s 1959
ESPNAndyKatz: 7:34 PM By the way that’s two Anaheim Classic teams in the Final Four in Butler and West Virginia. I knew then it was the best field.
goodmanonfox: 7:34 PM John Flowers doing the John Wall dance right in front of me. Ebanks doing it on opposite sideline.
BracketDobber: 7:34 PM I flip ESPNU back on and Wisconsin is already 3-1 up on St. Cloud. Looks like the Huskies have reverted to their usual NCAA form.
ballinisahabit: 7:35 PM RT @goodmanonfox: John Flowers doing the John Wall dance right in front of me. Ebanks doing it on opposite sideline.
TheBigLead: 7:36 PM For West Virginia fans: Dwight Schrute and Narddog singing “Country Roads” www.youtube.com #FinalFour #Kentucky
TheBigLead: 7:37 PM LMAO That’s hilarious RT @NJ_StevePoliti Does Rutgers still think DaSean Butler needs a year of prep school?
rushthecourt: 7:37 PM I know who I will pick against tomorrow. RT @JonScheyer Just whooped @ndotsmitty at battleship! He had no idea where my ships were!
TheBigLead: 7:38 PM RT @goodmanonfox: John Flowers doing the John Wall dance right in front of me. Ebanks doing it on opposite sideline.
jppalm: 7:38 PM FB RT: A good day for Butlers. A bad day for Wildcats.
PeteThamelNYT: 7:38 PM A West Virginia fan reminded Jay Bilas that he picked WVU to the Final Four and he responded sternly, “Damn Straight.” Good times.
jppalm: 7:39 PM The tournament is now without a favorite. Any of the six teams left could win it and it wouldn’t be a surprise.
TheBigLead: 7:39 PM Orton 0-0 0 pts in final college game – lmao RT @chadfordinsider bitter pill 4 UK when you consider Bledsoe & Orton could go 2 NBA
BracketDobber: 7:39 PM Nice to think I got to see half the Final Four in Anaheim during Thanksgiving weekend.
TheBigLead: 7:43 PM John Wall’s new ride Monday at 9:01 am? RT @athletespremier Land Rover Supercharged with 22’s
BracketDobber: 7:45 PM Bemidji grabs a goal back. 2-1 Michigan with 9:38 left in regulation
TheBigLead: 7:45 PM RT @Trent_Apple: @TheBigLead Silver lining for UK fans: much less paperwork involved in vacating only an Elite Eight appearance.
BracketDobber: 7:48 PM And Michigan opens it back up to a two-goal lead, 3-1
TheBigLead: 7:51 PM RT @mrejr8234: On the bright side there wont be a final four for the NCAA to take away from Kentucky in 4 years
TheBigLead: 7:52 PM RT @KySportsRadio: Ashley Judd left the stands with tears in her eyes. She isnt the only one
ballinisahabit: 7:55 PM Cousins was asked in the presser about the officiating, he said, essentially, West Virginia outplayed us tonight. Young man has been trained
rushthecourt: 8:00 PM In post-game, Calipari claims “I didn’t have them as organized as they needed to be.” Wall, Cousins, Patterson give WVU all credit.
ballinisahabit: 8:00 PM DeMarcus Cousins may have an attittude, he may be a handleful to coach, but from my POV he seems like a very likeable young man
ballinisahabit: 8:02 PM Time to start drinking brotha haha RT @Kosi55: C’mon. Here in Poland is 4 AM. I need more games !
aglock: 8:02 PM Someone noted this earlier, but worth rementioning: WVU was Kentucky’s first oppt of the season in KenPom.com’s top 25.
aglock: 8:03 PM Ultimately, stats win again, as Kentucky’s ASM for the season did not suggest a national championship team.
BracketDobber: 8:03 PM 5-1 Michigan with under 2 minutes left. There will be no repeat of last year for Bemidji State.
rushthecourt: 8:04 PM Honestly? Delightful in media rm RT @ballinisahabit Cousins may have an attttude, may be a handful to coach, from my POV seems very likeable
ballinisahabit: 8:04 PM Anyone that is surprised by Mazzulla’s performance obviously does not know anything about that kid’s game.
aglock: 8:06 PM That’s the Ahmad Rashad school of “don’t ask any question in an interview” RT @SteveWolfJr: @aglock first 3 UK pressed ?s were “talk about”
aglock: 8:06 PM “It must be disappointing for you.”
TheBigLead: 8:06 PM I’ll make my guess minutes after the draft lottery RT @AroundTheHorn Oddsmakers! Chances Calipari is coaching Kentucky next season?
aglock: 8:06 PM Yup. Interestingly, the No. 2 ASM team, by a wide margin, is Duke. RT @jcook71: @aglock But Kansas’s did.
aglock: 8:08 PM Stats obviously aren’t foolproof, but everyone wondered about Kentucky’s 3pt shooting, FTs and poise in a close game vs. comparable foe. Hmm
aglock: 8:09 PM Adjusted scoring margin. Kentucky’s was much closer to teams like Mizzou than Kansas. RT @ballinisahabit: @aglock This may be dumb, but ASM?
aglock: 8:10 PM Butler’s tempo impacts theirs. UT, Baylor still need Ws RT @isaacfromCT: @aglock West Virginia 9th, Butler 33rd, Tennessee 23rd, Baylor 17th
aglock: 8:11 PM Yeah, somewhat unusual with six teams left I would think. RT @isaacfromCT: @aglock 8 of the top 10 in ASM out of the tournament
TheBigLead: 8:11 PM Dream scenario 4 David Stern: 1) Nets win draft lottery, 2) Russian owner throws $$ at Calipari, 3) LeBron to Nets. Will Stern rig lotto?
aglock: 8:13 PM Game-to-game? UK’s season ASM was troublingly low + frosh + 3s woes RT @gbishop33: ASM doesn’t mean anything on a game by game basis.
jppalm: 8:15 PM maybe it just doesn’t mean much. RT @aglock: unusual with six teams left I would think. RT @isaacfromCT: @aglock 8 of the top 10 in ASM out
aglock: 8:16 PM Final Fours by ASM: 2009 was 1, 5, 18 and 21; 2008 was 1, 2, 3 and 4 (crazy). 2007: 2, 6, 8, 9; 2006: 6, 12, 15, 17; 2005: 1, 2, 3, 7
aglock: 8:17 PM Natl champs’ ASM: 2009: 1 (UNC), 2008: 1 (Kansas); 2007: 2 (Florida); 2006: 6 (Florida); 2005: 1 (UNC)
midmajority: 8:17 PM #horchata4mids #horchata4mids #horchata4mids #horchata4mids #horchata4mids #horchata4mids #horchata4mids twitvid.com
aglock: 8:18 PM So four of the last five national champs were 1st or 2nd in ASM. Kentucky was 4-5 points lower than this season’s top two teams.
aglock: 8:19 PM Lunardi’s Nitty Gritty report has them for this season. They’re not tempo-free, btw. RT @HoopsTournNet: Where can I find ASM stats?
aglock: 8:21 PM It’s a very strong indicator most years, actually. Would love to add a tempo component and see. RT @jppalm: maybe it just doesn’t mean much.
rushthecourt: 8:22 PM We wonder if Brandon Knight has any new voicemails…
TheBigLead: 8:23 PM Here’s a photo of Flowers mocking the John Wall dance (no video, yet): is.gd
aglock: 8:24 PM Right, but it did suggest that they were vulnerable to whims of KO tourney RT @gbishop33: season ASM doesn’t predict shooting season lows
kenpomeroy: 8:26 PM log5 right now: Duke 40.3, WV 23.7, Butler17.8, Baylor 8.3, Mich St. 5.3, Tenn 4.6
aglock: 8:26 PM I know, crazy. And no one trusts No. 2 RT @jcook71: @aglock The remaining teams’ ASM’s: 2,13, 14, 26, 27, 30. Not including the tourney.
aglock: 8:27 PM ASM doesn’t acct for Butler’s tempo or Tenn playing shorthanded for awhile b/c of a guns-and-drugs rental car party, but still odd
aglock: 8:28 PM You want more odd? When’s the last FF team with six double-digit losses (and another by 9 pts)? Tennessee has only one L closer than 9 pts.
ESPNLunardi: 8:29 PM Randomly reviewing the preseason ESPN/USA Today poll for the Sweet 16.
aglock: 8:31 PM For reference, 2006 George Mason had two double-digit losses heading into the Final Four (understanding CAA isn’t the Big East or whatever)
ESPNLunardi: 8:31 PM WEST: Butler (10), Syracuse (25), Xavier (33), Kansas State (39).
midmajority: 8:31 PM TMM S6: one more week of horchata, Spanish karaoke, redheaded cheerleaders, arcane lit references, truth, justice and college basketball.
ESPNLunardi: 8:32 PM EAST: Kentucky (5), West Virginia (9), Washington (13), Cornell (48).
ESPNLunardi: 8:33 PM MIDWEST: Michigan State (2), Tennessee (11), Ohio State (17), Northern Iowa (54).
ESPNLunardi: 8:34 PM SOUTH: Purdue (7), Duke (8), Baylor (no votes), Saint Mary’s (no votes).
Pingback: Tweets that mention Elite 8 live-tweeting, Day 1 -- Topsy.com
As many commentators have noted, this has been a strange tournament in that, while most felt it was one of the most wide-open brackets ever, nobody really felt comfortable picking against the 1s and 2s — especially Kansas. Yet, we are now looking at the very real possibility of a Final Four that includes no 1 seeds.
The problem, of course, was picking who would make the deep run of upsets. Northern Iowa? Cornell? Butler? St. Mary’s? Okay fine, but hindsight is 20/20; at the time, I could’ve asked, why not Richmond? Or UNLV? Or BYU? Or UTEP?
So, having not followed much NCAA basketball this year, and knowing this was supposed to be a wide-open bracket, I created a variety of brackets for various websites relying on my own proprietary selection of certain kenpom data, and invariably, the first-round tourney results validated my approach in that I got the vast majority of upsets right, and with a couple of exceptions, the ones I didn’t get right were the ones I agonized over and ultimately didn’t pick because when the data is inconclusive, you still have to pick somebody.
Fast forward to the Sweet Sixteen and the Elite Eight. I’ve now seen four quarters of Kentucky basketball all year, and for the first three of those (Thursday and today), I was wondering how the hell I considered them to be the weakest 1 seed. Sure, their kenpom stats were underwhelming compared to Duke or Kansas (but still very impressive compared to most projected opponents); sure, they have a young team (but then, I’ve seen other young teams dominate in March); sure, Calipari doesn’t have a sterling tourney record (but then, neither did Bill Self and Roy Williams for many years). But what I saw against Cornell and again the first half against WVU, I was instantly impressed. This team was fast, this team could shoot and crash the boards, and this team was long and seemed to have Inspector Gadget arms that allowed them to reach up for defensive rebounds and blocks, or foster steals and turnovers. They appeared, in effect, a cross between Dahlsim and Chun-Li.
All that to say, my fourth quarter of Kentucky basketball left me incredibly perplexed. Sure, WVU held the lead going into halftime, but that was based on an incredible string of treys, aside from which their offense was, well, offensive. I figured the law of averages would catch up to WVU, which is statistically not an impressive three-point shooting team, and Kentucky would find their rhythm (they were alternately impressive and lukewarm, not atypical for a really good team in the early stages of a tough battle). Yet in that second half, suddenly the Wildcats lost their confidence and seemed insistent upon throwing up three-pointers as if demanding the law of averages catch up right now. The more their shots clanged off the backboard, the less motivated they became on D, and the Mountaineers took full advantage. Going into the final five minutes, Kentucky was just embarrassing themselves with something like a dozen straight missed treys. Now, I suck at basketball, but I am confident I can average 10-20% on three-point shooting. But Kentucky is fortunate in that they don’t have me on their team — they have guys like Wall, Cousins, and Patterson instead — so they have no need to throw up bricks from downtown. Instead of forcing up three-pointers, they should have forced up jumpers and shots from the paint. Sure, WVU plays a mean 1-3-1 zone, but I guarantee Cousins, Patterson, and Wall don’t go 1-for-9 from inside the arc!
In the end, while the Wildcats made things interesting in the final minute by actually hitting a couple of three-pointers and using both teams’ foul trouble to drag out the game, the reality was this was the most embarrassing half by a big-time basketball team I have seen in quite some time; it was the basketball version of, “I know what I was drinking, but what the hell was I thinking!?!?”
Contrast that with Butler, about whom I can say that if I was drafting a team solely of those teams that made the Elite Eight, I am quite certain my entire two-deep would not have a single Bulldog. And yet, as unimpressive as the players are, they sure know what the hell they are doing as a team. It’s like this team is composed of average players who all used to be championship-winning coaches in their past lives — and somehow retain that experience and knowledge. While I cannot craft a truly solid reason to pick them to beat Michigan State or Tennessee — or WVU, Baylor, or Duke in the final — neither can I craft a respectable rationale not to. My money is still on Duke finally returning to the Promised Land (at least for another 24 hours, after which I reserve the right to switch to the Baylor bandwagon), but wouldn’t it be something if Butler wins the national title over Duke despite the fact that Duke is the one team left in the tournament that has the talent, discipline, coaching, and statistical and matchup edges over the Bulldogs to make them a prohibitive favorite? Nothing else since the first round has made much sense to me, so, why not Butler?