Are you ready to dance?
Games played in this window:
- West: Georgia (14) vs Xavier (3) 12:20pm
- Midwest: Portland State (16) vs Kansas (1) 12:25pm
- South: Temple (12) vs Michigan State (5) 12:30pm
It looks like the New York City CBS affiliate will get the Michigan State-Temple game that starts at 12:30pm. That should be an interesting game as we get to see if the three-day layoff will sap Georgia of any momentum they may have gathered during their amazing run through the SEC tournament. I’ll be keeping my eye on the other two games during the first window of the day - somehow I doubt I’ll really need to look into the latter game.
Pre-Game
In my bracket, I have Temple, Xavier, and Kansas advancing.
Start of Window #1
12:20pm: Here we go! Looks like we’ll get Xavier-Georgia to start.
12:21pm: You think they’ll mention Xavier’s spectacular collapse against Ohio State in last year’s tournament?
12:24pm: After missing a point-blank shot, Anderson goes down with an injury. It doesn’t look good - he looks like he’s in a lot of pain.
12:30pm: We’re being moved to the Michigan State-Temple game now. Georgia was leading Xavier, 9-8.
12:32pm: God, I love Gus Johnson.
12:36pm: We get to the under-16 timeout - a lot sooner than in the Xavier-Georgia game - with Temple up 7-6 over Michigan State.
12:43pm: Georgia’s definitely up for the challenge as they’re leading 19-17 with under 9 minutes to go in the half.
12:44pm: On the other hand, Kansas is already up in double digits, 22-12 with over 10 minutes left in the first half.
12:45pm: Under-8 timeout and Michigan State is up 11-9.
12:52pm: Kansas is up 31-18 with over 7 minutes to go. This is well on its way to being a laugher.
12:57pm: Under-8 timeout and Michigan State leads Temple, 17-15.
1:00pm: A great game between Georgia and Xavier as Georgia leads by 3 with 2:32 to go in the half.
1:03pm: Michigan State is forcing Temple into some pretty bad shots.
1:06pm: Temple is looking awful as they’ve fallen behind 26-17 with under 4 minutes to go.
1:07pm: Georgia is looking really good as they’ve jumped out to a 33-24 lead with under a minute to go.
1:08pm: At the half, it’s Georgia over Xavier, 35-26. Does Georgia have another upset in them?
1:11pm: Kansas and Portland State are at halftime with Kansas up 49-26. This is officially a laugher.
1:20pm: It’s halftime and after falling behind by 13, Temple’s drawn a bit closer with Michigan State up 35-26.
1:30pm: Bonus coverage of the Xavier-Georgia game. This game could ruin a lot of brackets.
1:33pm: Lavender gets an easy layup and draws Xavier closer, now down 37-30 with under 18 minutes to go. If Xavier’s going to win, Lavender’s gonna have to step it up.
1:35pm: We’re getting moved back to Michigan State-Temple after the break. Georgia’s up by 11 now.
1:43pm: Does Temple even want to win this game? They’ve come out of the locker room looking piss-poor as they now trail 40-26. Even Gus can’t get excited for this game.
1:44pm: As if answering my prayers, we’ve been switched to the Xavier-Georgia game. Georgia’s up 43-34 with over 15 minutes to go.
1:52pm: With just over 12 minutes to go, Xavier’s drawn to within 6, down 46-40.
1:53pm: After a scrum for the ball, Xavier grabs it and calls timeout before a held ball can be called. Xavier’s now down 46-42 with under 12 minutes to go.
1:55pm: Temple over Michigan State appears to be the wrong 12-5 upset as Michigan State is now up 44-28 with just over 14 minutes to go.
2:02pm: I can’t be the only one who thinks that Xavier’s been pretty bad at boxing out.
2:04pm: After a dunk on the breakaway, Xavier’s now down 3, 49-46 with under 9 minutes to go.
2:05pm: Three-pointer by Xavier and it’s tied at 49!
2:06pm: Another three-pointer and they’re now up 52-49 with over 7 minutes to go.
2:12pm: Tough shot for Lavender but he makes it to stretch Xavier’s lead to 54-49.
2:15pm: Steal, made shot, plus one free throw - not a good stretch for Georgia. Xavier’s up 59-51 with over 5 minutes to go.
2:16pm: The only question is how much will Kansas win by? They’re up 82-58 with just over 2 minutes to go.
2:18pm: 61-56, Xavier leading at the under-4 timeout.
2:22pm: It’s over between Kansas and Portland State - Kansas 85, Portland State 61.
2:25pm: Georgia’s still in it, down 4 with under 2 minutes to go.
2:27pm: A miss from the free throw line for Xavier - not the time to have that happen. 1 for 2 on this trip. They’re up 64-59.
2:27pm: Timeout Xavier with 1:24 to go and the lead at 64-61.
2:31pm: Great acrobatic save by Xavier on the missed free throw by Georgia.
2:32pm: Free throws push Xavier’s lead to 68-61 with 51.1 seconds to go.
2:34pm: Missed shot by Georgia and this game is just about over with Xavier at the line with 33.8 seconds to go.
2:35pm: Two free throws later and Xavier now leads 70-61.
2:37pm: It’s over! Xavier 73, Georgia 61.
2:38pm: Michigan State also advances - Michigan State 72, Temple 61.
End of Window #1
Alright, that’s all for now - I’ll be back for the third window of the day.
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