Chasing Big John.

[Soapy]

Cincinnati's Late Rally Not Enough As Michaud, Holloway Lead Wolfpack to Elite Eight
NCAA March Madness: Mar. 27, 2015 - Frank Erwin Center, Austin, Texas

vs.

CIN | 34 | 38 | 72
NEV | 46 | 35 | 81

Starting Lineups
Willis Clarke, Sr. - G - Manourou Chavis, Fr.
Jared Acasio, Jr. - G - Christano Bitee, Sr.
Laron Truscott, Jr. - F - B.A. Barber, So.
Drake Mouton, Sr. - F - Ira Holloway, Sr.
Paullus Niparavicius, Sr. - C - Armando Michaud, Fr.



Cincinnati Bearcats (27-8) Top Performers:
G Willis Clarke, Senior: 6 pts, 3 ast, 4 to, 2-6 FG, 2-4 3PT, 0-0 FT
F Laron Truscott, Junior: 15 pts, 5 reb, 3 ast, 3 stl, 5-14 FG, 3-5 3PT, 2-2 FT
F Drake Mouton, Senior: 17 pts, 5 reb, 6-9 FG, 3-5 3PT, 2-2 FT
C Paullus Niparavicius, Senior: 14 pts, 12 reb, 3 stl, 7-14 FG, 0-2 3PT, 0-0 FT

Nevada Wolf Pack (29-7) Top Performers:
G Manourou Chavis, Freshman: 13 pts, 4 ast, 2 stl, 2 to, 4-10 FG, 3-8 3PT, 2-2 FT
G Christano Bitee, Senior: 16 pts, 2 ast, 3 stl, 6-10 FG, 4-8 3PT, 0-0 FT
F B.A. Barber, Sophomore: 6 pts, 2 reb, 2 blk, 2-10 FG, 2-9 3PT, 0-0 FT
C Ira Holloway, Senior: 18 pts, 9 reb, 2 blk, 9-14 FG, 0-0 3PT, 0-1 FT
C Armando Michaud, Freshman: 17 pts, 16 reb, 6 ast, 4 stl, 3 to, 7-15 FG, 0-0 3PT, 3-7 FT

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Sweet Sixteen
#1 Iowa State def. #4 Arizona, 93-60
#2 Syracuse def. #3 Southern Miss, 84-58
#1 Florida def. #5 Washington, 95-71
#3 Oregon def. #7 Duke, 69-64
#8 Nevada def. #4 Cincinnati, 81-72
#2 Louisville def. #3 Alabama, 91-85
#1 Indiana def. #5 West Virginia, 82-61
#7 Texas Tech def. #6 Texas A&M, 72-67

[Soapy]

NCAA Tournament Elite Eight Preview: vs. No. 2 Louisville Cardinals
Record: 29-8, 15-3 Big East
Head Coach: Rick Pitino (702-256)
Offensive Style: Motion
Defensive Style: Man to Man

Team Leaders
Scoring: F Darren Klatsky, Senior (22.5 ppg)
Rebounding: F Darren Klatsky, Senior (6.1 rpg)
Assist: G Abdul Dockery, Senior (3.7 apg)
Steals: G Gus Paul, Senior (1.7 spg)
Blocks: F Darren Klatsky, Senior (1.6 bpg)

Season Average
PPG: 79.6
RPG: 31.8
APG: 14.8
SPG: 8.2
BPG: 5.6
FG%: 43.1
3PT%: 37.8
FT%: 77.3

Team Injuries
None

Louisville Cardinals Projected Starters
G #2 Cornell Urbina, Senior | 5'10", 178lbs | 91 ovr, 88 med, 83 3pt, 90 layup, 88 dunk, 88 handling, 81 pass, 96 speed
G #32 Gus Paul, Senior | 6'1", 208lbs | 96 ovr, 85 med, 94 3pt, 79 layup, 78 dunk, 86 handling, 74 pass, 93 speed
F #21 Abdul Dockery, Senior | 6'8", 247lbs | 94 ovr, 87 close, 83 med, 93 3pt, 85 layup, 83 dunk, 88 handling, 86 def, 89 speed
F #40 Darren Klatsky, Senior | 6'9", 260lbs | 93 ovr, 92 close, 86 med, 77 layup, 81 dunk, 84 blk, 95 reb
C #52 Harlan Webb, Freshman | 6'11", 246lbs | 82 ovr, 93 close, 68 med, 63 dunk, 84 blk, 88 reb

[Soapy]

Cardinals Fail To Secure Defensive Rebounds As Wolfpack Survive and Advance
NCAA March Madness: Mar. 29, 2015 - Frank Erwin Center, Austin, Texas

vs.

UL | 30 | 45 | 75
NEV | 37 | 40 | 77

Starting Lineups
Cornell Urbina, Sr. - G - Manourou Chavis, Fr.
Gus Paul, Sr. - G - Christano Bitee, Sr.
Abdul Dockery, Sr. - F - B.A. Barber, So.
Darren Klatsky, Sr. - F - Ira Holloway, Sr.
Harlan Webb, Fr. - C - Armando Michaud, Fr.



Louisville Cardinals (29-9) Top Performers:
G Cornell Urbina, Senior: 2 pts, 13 ast, 5 to, 1-1 FG, 0-0 3PT, 0-0 FT
G Gus Paul, Senior: 12 pts, 2 reb, 4 ast, 4 stl, 3 to, 5-7 FG, 0-1 3PT, 2-2 FT
F Abdul Dockery, Senior: 36 pts, 2 reb, 3 ast, 15-20 FG, 3-6 3PT, 3-4 FT
F Darren Klatsky, Senior: 11 pts, 2 ast, 3 stl, 4-9 FG, 1-2 3PT, 2-2 FT
C Harlan Webb, Freshman: 8 pts, 7 reb, blk, 3 to, 4-6 FG, 0-0 3PT, 0-0 FT

Nevada Wolf Pack (30-7) Top Performers:
G Manourou Chavis, Freshman: 13 pts, 2 ast, stl, 3 to, 5-11 FG, 3-9 3PT, 0-0 FT
G Christano Bitee, Senior: 9 pts, 2 stl, 3-9 FG, 3-6 3PT, 0-1 FT
F B.A. Barber, Sophomore: 10 pts, 2 reb, 4 stl, 4-7 FG, 2-5 3PT, 0-1 FT
C Ira Holloway, Senior: 10 pts, 8 reb, 5 ast, 3 blk, 4-10 FG, 0-0 3PT, 2-2 FT
C Armando Michaud, Freshman: 17 pts, 9 reb, 5 ast, 2 stl, 8-12 FG, 0-0 3PT, 1-2 FT

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Elite Eight
#2 Syracuse def. #1 Iowa State, 83-79
G Angelo Wierzba (Sr): 40 pts, 6 reb, 2 ast, 4 stl, 12-19 FG, 4-8 3PT, 12-16 FT
F Domonic Dewitt (Jr): 19 pts, 7 reb, 6 to, 5-11 FG, 4-7 3PT, 5-6 FT

#3 Oregon def. #1 Florida, 64-66
F Brody Badiane (Jr): 14 pts, 7 reb, 3 ast, stl, blk, 4-6 FG, 3-4 3PT, 3-4 FT
F Rickey Reynolds (Sr): 15 pts, 11 reb, 3 ast, 3 blk, 4-14 FG, 2-5 3PT, 5-6 FT

#7 Texas Tech def. #1 Indiana, 83-75
G Earnest Eisentrout (Sr): 17 pts, 5 reb, 4 ast, 2 to, 6-9 FG, 2-3 3PT, 3-4 FT
F Smackey Fellows (Jr): 23 pts, 4 reb, 3 stl, 7-13 FG, 4-6 3PT, 5-7 FT

[The JZA]

Not too big on Cincy losing to Nevada, but F it Final 4 here we come

[Soapy]

NCAA Tournament Final Four Preview: vs. No. 7 Texas Tech Red Raiders
Record: 27-10, 8-8 Big 12
Head Coach: Dana Altman (533-288)
Offensive Style: Motion
Defensive Style: Man to Man

Team Leaders
Scoring: G Friedrich Granger, Junior (11.6 ppg)
Rebounding: C Lionel Blankson, Sophomore (6.3 rpg)
Assist: G Elliah Skomsky, Senior (4.5 apg)
Steals: G Earnest Eisentrout, Senior (1.4 spg)
Blocks: C Lionel Blankson, Sophomore (2.1 bpg)

Season Average
PPG: 73.8
RPG: 29.8
APG: 14.9
SPG: 7.7
BPG: 5.6
FG%: 43.2
3PT%: 36.0
FT%: 75.4

Team Injuries
None

Texas Tech Red Raiders Projected Starters
G #1 Elliah Skomsky, Senior | 6'2", 217lbs | 92 ovr, 80 med, 80 3pt, 82 layup, 96 handling, 90 pass, 92 def, 96 speed
G #15 Earnest Eisentrout, Senior | 6'5", 227lbs | 92 ovr, 78 med, 86 3pt, 91 layup, 76 dunk, 92 handling, 92 def, 94 speed
F #32 Britton Bone, Senior | 6'11", 230lbs | 89 ovr, 93 close, 79 med, 77 3pt, 80 layup, 92 dunk, 85 def, 84 reb, 98 speed
F #51 Nate Underwood, Senior | 6'9", 254lbs | 91 ovr, 93 close, 78 med, 78 3pt, 84 layup, 75 dunk, 82 blk, 95 reb
C #54 Lionel Blankson, Sophomore | 6'7", 229lbs | 92 ovr, 98 close, 78 med, 72 dunk, 90 blk, 94 reb

[Soapy]

Not too big on Cincy losing to Nevada, but F it Final 4 here we come

We were able to slow down Willis Clarke and prevent him from having the game from the 3pt line that Abdul Dockery had for Louisville. We prolly lose that game if Clarke shows up.

[Soapy]

By sticking to the basics, Nevada finds itself at the top of college basketball
Tiny Porter -- ESPN.com Senior College Basketball Writer

Nevada head coach Isaiah Mohammed might be the only basketball coach in America that would be smiling from ear to ear that his team advanced to the Final Four by not making their free throws but instead getting the offensive rebound and stalling out Louisville's comeback effort.

"I'm extremely hard on my bigs," a smiling Mohammed said after the game, "So when they close the game out like that, by just outworking the other team, I'll take that over some free throws any day of the week and twice on Ramadan."

The Wolfpack outrebounded the Cardinals front-court by eleven rebounds with twelve offensive rebounds going to Nevada, including two on the final two free throw attempts that helped Nevada clinch their win. It should come to no one's surprise as only Florida has more offensive rebounds than Nevada in the country and the Wolfpack have one of the country's biggest front courts consisting of seven-foot-two freshman Armando Michaud, six-foot-ten Ira Holloway and six-foot-eleven Isaac Ridnour coming off the bench along with the mobile and agile six-foot-seven Marko Mance.

In a sport and tournament that's often been dominated by experienced guard play, Mohammed has built Nevada's program in the image of a bygone era that revolved around big men. Mohammed would know firsthand that the recipe has a chance for success, having played alongside Patrick Ewing during his time at Georgetown, winning a national championship with the Hoyas in 1984 as a junior.

"Players of all shapes and sizes can be great players and make an impact on this game," Mohammed said of his team's size advantage against upcoming opponent Texas Tech, "But basketball always has the potential to be a big man's game. It's the ultimate equalizer and if you don't have the bodies to throw at it, a skilled and knowledge big man can always take over a game a lot more efficiently than a smaller player, it's just physics at that point."

It was instincts, however, that got Nevada over the hump and into the program's first ever Final Four appearance. Mohammed's Wolfpack were reeling on both sides of the ball coming out of halftime as Louisville Abdul Dockery was heating up. Nevada had primarily played a 3-2 zone in the first half but switched to man defense to try to slow down Dockery to no avail. With Louisville taking a four point lead, Mohammed looked to his assistant coaches and the message was clear.

"Let's just get back to basics and what we do," Mohammed recalls, "If we lose that way, I sleep like a baby at night."

The Wolfpack deployed a full court trap with a 3-2 zone for Louisville's half-court set, getting the ball out of the hands of their playmakers and forcing turnovers. Louisville's lead would be short-lived as Nevada's renewed focus on getting the ball in the paint to Holloway and Michaud would again lead them to victory.

It's the ability to build a roster to fit his playstyle as well as his great in-game adjustments that have made Mohammed a hot commodity for job openings at the Power 5 level. Earlier in the month, he had been rumored to be a potential candidate for the Georgia head coaching job but just a few games later, the Bulldogs would be the ones begging for an interview, not the other way around.

"If I'm a school and I see what [Mohammed] has done at Nevada of all places, with no disrespect, I'm making the call today for him to be my head coach. They're well coached, fun to watch and might just win the whole thing," ESPN analyst Seth Greenberg said on Monday amid rumors that legendary head coaches Jim Boeheim, Roy Williams and Mike Krzyzewski are contemplating retirement.

Mohammed has brushed aside those rumors, instead opting to redirect the attention back to his players and the program they've built over the past six years.

"I just look at it as validation that we're doing the right things and that people see the success that our players are having. It's a testament to the great job that the players have done, the coaching staff, the support personnel, really everyone in our program and we can't do it without the support of our great fans."

Nevada will play Texas Tech on April 4 for the chance to play in the program's first ever national championship game.

[chosenone58]

[Soapy]

reno, we here!

[Soapy]

Bitee, Chavis Rediscover Their Stroke (ayoooo!) as Wolfpack Advance to National Championship Game
NCAA March Madness: Apr. 4, 2015 - SEFCU Arena, Albany, New York

vs.

TTU | 42 | 31 | 73
NEV | 49 | 33 | 82

Starting Lineups
Elliah Skomsky, Sr. - G - Manourou Chavis, Fr.
Earnest Eisentrout, Sr. - G - Christano Bitee, Sr.
Britton Bone, Sr. - F - B.A. Barber, So.
Nate Underwood, Sr. - F - Ira Holloway, Sr.
Lionel Blankson, Fr. - C - Armando Michaud, Fr.



Texas Tech Red Raiders (27-11) Top Performers:
G Elliah Skomsky, Senior: 7 pts, 2 reb, 7 ast, 3 stl, 2 blk, 8 to, 3-5 FG, 1-2 3PT, 0-1 FT
G Earnest Eisentrout, Senior: 9 pts, 2 reb, 2 ast, 2 stl, 3 to, 4-11 FG, 1-5 3PT, 0-0 FT
F Britton Bone, Senior: 25 pts, 5 reb, 4 ast, 2 stl, 2 blk, 11-17 FG, 2-5 3PT, 1-2 FT
F Nate Underwood, Senior: 6 pts, 2 reb, 3 ast, stl, 3 blk, 2-3 FG, 0-1 3PT, 2-2 FT
C Lionel Blankson, Freshman: 9 pts, 5 reb, 2 stl, 4-6 FG, 0-0 3PT, 1-1 FT

Nevada Wolf Pack (31-7) Top Performers:
G Manourou Chavis, Freshman: 23 pts, 2 reb, 3 ast, 2 stl, 8-14 FG, 7-11 3PT, 0-0 FT
G Christano Bitee, Senior: 20 pts, 3 reb, 3 ast, 3 stl, 4 to, 7-16 FG, 5-13 3PT, 1-1 FT
F B.A. Barber, Sophomore: 5 pts, 2 ast, 4 stl, 2-6 FG, 1-4 3PT, 0-0 FT
C Ira Holloway, Senior: 2 pts, 2 reb, 2 ast, 3 to, 0-2 FG, 0-0 3PT, 2-2 FT
C Armando Michaud, Freshman: 19 pts, 8 reb, 2 stl, 3 blk, 9-12 FG, 0-0 3PT, 1-5 FT

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Final Four
vs

ORE | 44 | 44 | 88
SYR | 32 | 50 | 82

ORE F Shawan Straight, Senior: 16 pts, 10 reb, 2 ast, stl, blk, 6-14 FG, 1-5 3PT, 3-4 FT
SYR G Herbert Emerson, Senior: 22 pts, 7 reb, stl, blk, 3 to, 7-13 FG, 2-5 3PT, 6-8 FT