Game 772 - (5) Auburn vs. (1) Virginia

NCAA Tournament national semifinals
April 6 at US Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, MN
CBS

Virginia is one win away from its first national title after a crazy ending Saturday.

Kyle Guy was fouled (?) by Samir Doughty on a three-point attempt with no time on the clock and knocked down all three free throws to secure the Cavaliers' 63-62 victory. Guy finished with 15 points and those were his only free throw attempts. Ty Jerome was great for the Cavaliers, scoring 21 points on 8-of-16 shooting.

No field goals were made after Bryce Brown's three with 1:56 left gave Auburn a 59-57 cushion. Brown hit four threes, but he and Jared Harper were just 8-of-22 combined from the floor to help send the Tigers home.

The Cavaliers, now 34-3, advance to the title game after losses in the 1981 and 1984 final four.

Virginia was also the first No. 1 seed to lose to a 16 in the opening round as Maryland-Baltimore County got the Cavs in last year's tournament. 

Game 771 - (3) Texas Tech vs. (1) Gonzaga

NCAA Tournament regional final
March 30 at Honda Center in Anaheim, CA
TBS

Games 769-770: Final two Elite 8 spots up for grabs

770 - (4) Virginia Tech vs. (1) Duke
NCAA Tournament regional semifinals
March 29 at Capital One Arena in Washington, DC
CBS

"dribble drives"

13:52 left in first half, Bill Raftery

769 - (5) Auburn vs. (1) North Carolina
NCAA Tournament regional semifinals
March 29 at Sprint Center in Kansas City, MO
TBS

Game 766-767: Thursday doubleheader

767 - (12) Oregon vs. (1) Virginia
NCAA Tournament regional semifinals
March 28 at KFC Yum Center in Louisville, KY
TBS

766 - (3) Purdue vs. (2) Tennessee
NCAA Tournament regional semifinals
March 28 at KFC Yum Center in Louisville, KY
CBS

Game 765 - (10) Iowa vs. (2) Tennessee

NCAA Tournament second round
March 24 at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, OH
CBS

Chris Webber:

"it's an adjustment in heart"
"he didn't try to play hero ball"

Games 763-764: Saturday, part 2

764 - (10) Minnesota vs. (2) Michigan State
NCAA Tournament second round
March 23 at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines, IA
CBS

763 - (12) Murray State vs. (4) Florida State
NCAA Tournament second round
March 23 at XL Center in Hartford, CT
TNT


Other game watched:

(9) Baylor vs. (1) Gonzaga (second round)

Games 761-762: Saturday

762 - (7) Wofford vs. (2) Kentucky
NCAA Tournament second round
March 23 at Veterans Memorial Arena in Jacksonville, FL
CBS

"a workhorse forward"
"he understands the pulse of his team"
"the savvy junior"
"big blue nation"
"a heady lead guard"

761 - (11) Tennessee women vs. (6) UCLA
NCAA Tournament first round
March 23 at Xfinity Center in College Park, MD
ESPN2



Other games watched:

(10) Auburn women vs. (7) BYU (first round)
(10) Florida vs. (2) Michigan (second round)

Games 759-760: First round continues

760 - (16) Iona vs. (1) North Carolina
NCAA Tournament first round
March 22 at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, OH
CBS

759 - (14) Georgia State vs. (3) Houston
NCAA Tournament first round
March 23 at BOK Center in Tulsa, OK
TBS

A single-elimination tournament can be quite cruel.

GSU (24-10) had its worst shooting performance at the worst time as Houston ran away in the second half and won 84-55.

The Panthers, in the tournament in consecutive seasons for the first time in school history, hit a season-low 30% from the field and after setting a school-record for three-point field goals, made just six of their 23 attempts from behind the arc against a really good Houston defense.

In their final collegiate games, Devin Mitchell scored 12 points, including a pair of threes, Jeff Thomas had just five points on 2-of-10 shooting, Jordan Tyson grabbed five rebounds in 15 minutes and Sun Belt Tournament MVP Malik Benlevi was never a factor and finished with as many personal fouls (4) as points and rebounds.

In what could've been his final game at the college level, junior D'Marcus Simonds led the way with 18 points. We'll see if Simonds declares for the NBA Draft or returns for his senior season.

Houston's Corey Davis led all scorers with 26 points, including seven 3-pointers. GSU couldn't stop Davis in the first half, and really not much of anything throughout the night. Houston (32-3) shot 51% from the field in each half and had an absurd 51-27 rebounding advantage that felt like 151-27.

Game 757-758: First round

758 - (10) Seton Hall vs. (7) Wofford
NCAA first round
March 21 at Veterans Memorial Arena in Jacksonville, FL
TBS

757 - (10) Florida vs. (7) Nevada
NCAA first round
March 21 at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines, IA
CBS

"dribble drive"

9:30 left in second half, Reggie Miller

Game 756 - (16) Fairleigh Dickinson vs. (16) Prairie View A&M

NCAA first four
March 20 at Dayton Arena
TruTV

Game 607: Villanova

NCAA Tournament national championship game
(3) Michigan vs. (1) Villanova
April 1 at Alamodome in San Antonio, TX
TBS

There were a ton of great stories in this NCAA Tournament:

* Maryland Baltimore County becoming the first No. 16 seed to defeat a No. 1 seed, stunning the top overall seed Virginia 74-54 in the South Region.

* Also in the South - No. 14 seed Buffalo blew out No. 3 Arizona in the first round and Loyola-Chicago went from a No. 11 seed to the final four.

* Syracuse does what Syracuse apparently does all the time now - win tournament games as a low seed, this time taking a No. 11 and winning a first four game, then upsetting sixth-seeded TCU and third-seeded Michigan State to get to the Sweet 16. The Orangemen lost to No. 2 seed Duke by just four.

* Michigan got hot at the right time, winning the Big 10 Tournament, then reaching the national title game with a five-game run in the NCAAs, which included a buzzer-beater over No. 6 seed Houston in the round of 32.....

....but there was one great team - Villanova, which won its second national championship in three years with a convincing, 79-62 victory over the Wolverines on Monday.

Games 598-600: Final four is set

NCAA Tournament regional finals

600 - (3) Texas Tech vs. (1) Villanova
March 25 at TD Garden in Boston, MA
CBS

The Wildcats got to their second final four in three seasons (and third in Jay Wright's 17 seasons) thanks to huge edges in rebounding (51-33) and at the free throw line (29-of-35, Tech attempted 18).

I'd put Villanova as a slight favorite to win the whole thing, though Midwest champion Kansas, its opponent in next week's national semifinals, is just as capable of winning two more games.

599 - (9) Florida State vs. (3) Michigan
March 24 at Staples Center in Los Angeles, CA
TBS

598 - (11) Loyola-Chicago vs. (9) Kansas State
March 24 at Philips Arena in Atlanta, GA
TNT

Not much more to say about the Missouri Valley Conference champions, which shot 57% from the field, hit half of their 18 three-point attempts and rolled into the program's first final four since winning the title in 1963.

This was actually the first comfortable outcome for the Ramblers, who won by a combined four points in their first three tournament games, but 78-62 on Saturday. This one really wasn't all that close for much of the day. Ben Richardson was fantastic (23 points on 7-of-10 shooting) and his 3-pointer 3 1/2 minutes into the game put Loyola up for good. The lead grew to as much as 61-38 on a Lucas Williamson lay-up with 9:40 to go.

What a run and it continues in the national semifinals, next Saturday against Michigan.

Games 596-597: Elite 8 begins to take shape

NCAA Tournament regional semifinals

597 - (4) Stanford women vs. (1) Louisville
March 23 at Rupp Arena in Lexington, KY
ESPN

ACC player of the year Asia Durr had 24 points on 7-of-14 shooting and added five of Louisville's 17 assists, while Myisha Hines-Allen scored 17 points and passed the 2,000-point plateau for her career in an 86-59 win.

I've liked the Cardinals to reach the national title game and nothing changed after Friday's performance. They're well-balanced (two others were in double figures and six total players scored at least eight points), are a good defensive team (opponents are averaging just 57 points in three tournament games) and have Durr, a future WNBA star who is capable of taking over any game.

596 - (5) Clemson vs. (1) Kansas
March 23 at CenturyLink Center in Omaha, NE
CBS

Well, Bill Raftery out-dribble drove himself in this one.

18:07 left in the first half: "a little dribble drive blow by!"



Other games watched:

(6) Oregon State women vs. (2) Baylor - Huge upset for OSU, which snapped Baylor's 30-game winning streak.
(5) West Virginia vs. (1) Villanova
(11) Syracuse vs. (2) Duke
(3) UCLA women vs. (2) Texas

Games 594-595: On to the Elite 8

NCAA Tournament regional semifinals

595 - (9) Florida State vs. (4) Gonzaga
March 22 at Staples Center in Los Angeles, CA
TBS

The Seminoles held the No. 4 seed to 33% shooting from the field and won 75-60 to advance to the school's first Elite 8 since 1992-93.

Florida State, which will play No. 3 Michigan in Saturday's West regional final, handed out 19 assists on 27 made field goals, blocked nine shots (reserve Mfiondu Kabengele had four) and had eight steals.

Florida State and Michigan will meet for the first time in the tournament.

594 - (11) Loyola-Chicago vs. (7) Nevada
March 22 at Philips Arena in Atlanta, GA
CBS

Loyola has won three tournament games by a combined four points - 64-62 over Miami, 63-62 over Tennessee and Thursday's 69-68 victory.

The 11th-seeded Ramblers and ninth-seeded Kansas State will play in Saturday's South regional final with a trip to the final four on the line.

Incredible.



Other games watched:

(7) Texas A&M vs. (3) Michigan
(9) Kansas State vs. (5) Kentucky

Games 588-589: Double dribble drive

NCAA Tournament second round
March 18 at Spectrum Center in Charlotte, NC

589 - (16) UMBC vs. (9) Kansas State
TruTV

588 - (7) Texas A&M vs. (2) North Carolina
CBS

The origins of the made-up nonsense phrase "dribble drive" really go back to Bill Raftery. I'm not 100% sure Raftery was the first broadcaster to shout this phrase, but he is definitely one of the first I ever heard. Since, dozens of announcers use it even though it means absolutely nothing.

Again:

YOU CAN'T DRIVE WITHOUT DRIBBLING.

So it's an incredible day at 200 Game Season that not only did we get Raftery for two games, but he wasted no time in saying "dribble drive".

A&M-UNC: said for the first time at 19:07 left in first half

UMBC-Kansas State: said 19:31 left in first half



Other games watched:

(9) Villanova women at (1) Notre Dame

Game 585 - (13) Charleston vs. (4) Auburn

NCAA Tournament first round
March 16 at Viejas Center in San Diego, CA
TruTV

Charleston was trying to become the third 13-seed to win these past two days (Buffalo, Marshall), but fell just short, 62-58.

Auburn advanced despite not shooting the ball well at all - 5-of-24 from three-point range and 35% overall - and two of its top players being held in check. Point guard Jared Harper, who is top-30 nationally in assists, was held to just two in 18 minutes because of really early foul trouble, and Bryce Brown had just 10 points on 3-of-11 shooting.

Harper came through when it mattered, though, drilling a go-ahead 3-pointer with 1:18 left. It looked like Charleston's Grant Riller was fouled on the arm on a potential tying three with seven seconds to play, but the guard didn't get the call. Riller played all 40 minutes and scored 16 points, while Jarrell Brantley led all scorers with 24.

Mustapha Heron paced Auburn with 16 points.

Marquise Pointer's three with 3:10 to go was the last field goal of the day for the Cougars, who turned the ball over 21 times in their first NCAA appearance since 1998-99.



Other games watched:

(14) Bucknell vs. (3) Michigan State
Springfield (MA) vs. Nebraska Wesleyan (NE) - Division III semifinals
(16) UMBC vs. (1) Virginia - ** UMBC wins 74-54! First No. 16 seed to beat a 1 in the history of the tournament. The last 12 minutes were wonderful. **

Games 583-584: Daytime doubleheader

584 - (10) Northern Colorado women vs. (7) Michigan
NCAA Tournament first round
March 16 at Ferrell Center in Waco, TX
ESPN2

The duo of Katelynn Flaherty and Hallie Thome were too much for the Big Sky champions as the Wolverines advanced with a 75-61 win.

Flaherty, Michigan's all-time leading scorer for either gender, scored 20 points and Thome dominated inside, finishing with 24 points on 9-of-14 shooting. The No. 7 seed shot 57% (28-of-49) and didn't trail after Flaherty drained a 3-pointer with just over five minutes left in the opening quarter.

In its first-ever trip to the NCAAs, Northern Colorado was led by the Savannah's, Scott (game-high 25 points) and Smith (16 points).

583 - (15) Georgia State vs. (2) Cincinnati
NCAA Tournament first round
March 16 at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, TN
TBS



Other games watched:

(10) Providence vs. (7) Texas A&M
(13) Marshall vs. (4) Wichita State
(10) Minnesota women vs. (7) Green Bay
(10) Virginia women vs. (7) California

Games 581-582: First Thursday, night games

NCAA Tournament

582 - (14) Montana vs. (3) Michigan
March 15 at Intrust Bank Arena in Wichita, KS
TBS

581 - (14) Stephen F. Austin vs. (3) Texas Tech
March 15 at American Airlines Center in Dallas, TX
TruTV

What a second half for Keenan Evans.

The senior scored 19 of his 23 points in the second half and Texas Tech moved on with a 70-60 win.

Stephen F. Austin led by as much as eight points at 39-31 a couple minutes into the second half, but the Red Raiders chipped away and eventually took the lead for good on an Evans' lay-up with four minutes to play.

It's the first NCAA win for Texas Tech since the 2004-05 team beat Gonzaga to reach the Sweet 16.

The Southland Conference champions didn't make a field goal over the final 5:24, and in particular, Ivan Canete didn't make a bucket over the final 13 minutes of the game and had just two of his team-high 17 points during that final stretch.




Other games watched:

(12) Davidson vs. (5) Kentucky
(11) San Diego State vs. (6) Houston
(9) Alabama vs. (8) Virginia Tech
(13) Buffalo vs. (4) Arizona

Games 579-580: First Thursday, day games

NCAA Tournament first round

580 - (10) Oklahoma vs. (7) Rhode Island
March 15 at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, PA
CBS

E.C. Matthews hit a pair of 3-pointers in overtime, the first giving Rhode Island the lead for hood and the second a huge shot with 28 seconds to go and seven on the shot clock that put the Rams up 79-74.

Thanks to a team-high 16 from Matthews and three others in double figures, Rhode Island survived, 83-78, moving on to play second-seeded Duke in Thursday's round of 32. It's the second consecutive trip to the second round for the Rams, who before last season hadn't been to the tournament since 1998-99.

For Oklahoma's Trae Young (28 points, seven assists and six turnovers), his freshman season, and potentially a brief collegiate career, came to an end.

579 - (11) Loyola-Chicago vs. (6) Miami
March 15 at American Airlines Center in Dallas, TX
TruTV

Donte Ingram!

After Morgan William's incredible shot in last season's womens national semifinals, I've decided that any time a player hits a game-winning shot in the tournament my lead will just be their name followed by an exclamation point.

Nothing better than a senior extending his team's season and that's what Ingram did when he drained a 3-pointer with .3 seconds left to send Loyola to round two.

The winning shot was made possible by a Lonnie Walker turnover. The Miami freshman dribbled the ball off his leg with 23 seconds left (great defense by another freshman, Lucas Williamson, who helped by first deflecting the ball), and though Loyola missed a pair of shots at the other end, Walker missed the front end of a one-and-one, which preceded Ingram's dramatic bucket.

It's the first NCAA win for the Ramblers since a 70-57 triumph over SMU in the 1985 round of 32.




Other games watched:

(12) South Dakota State vs. (5) Ohio State
(9) N.C. State vs. (8) Seton Hall

Games 577-578: Tournament, day 2

NCAA Tournament first four
March 14 at University of Dayton Arena in Dayton, OH
TruTV

578 - (11) Arizona State vs. (11) Syracuse

577 - (16) Texas Southern vs. (16) NC Central

Jim Spanarkel "basketball" count:

Total: 40
first game: 19
second game: 21