Games 394-395: Pair of finalists in Atlanta

395 - Washington State women at Georgia Tech
WNIT semifinals
March 29 at McCamish Pavilion in Atlanta, GA
espn3.com

Despite awful nights from both three-point range (3-of-17) and at the free-throw line (12-of-26!), the Tech women joined their male classmates in the finals with Wednesday's 69-61 victory.

Rebounding was a huge factor as Tech had a 50-35 edge - Zaire O'Neal and Elo Edeferioka each had 16 boards. O'Neal was the main cuplrit from the line (6-of-13), but she also scored a game-high 20 points and added four assists.

Tech, 22-14, visits Michigan in Saturday's championship game.

394 - Cal State Bakersfield vs. Georgia Tech
NIT semifinals
March 28 at Madison Square Garden in New York, NY
ESPN

The season for the Georgia Tech men had already been incredible before Tuesday's 76-61 win when you consider that they (1) had a new head coach and (2) many thought they'd maybe win one or two games in the ACC (they won eight). For the Yellow Jackets to get to the title game - and pick up their 21st win - has as much to do with the development of post player Ben Lammers and the immediate contribution from freshman Josh Okogie as anything.

Lammers went from a bench player to the ACC's top defensive player and a legit scoring threat inside and from the mid-range in less than a year, while Okogie turned in one of the finest freshman seasons in the conference. Lammers had 15 and 11 with five blocked shots; Okogie contributed a game-high 22 points with nine rebounds in Tuesday's win.

Tech will play in its second NIT final (and first since 1971) against TCU on Thursday.

* Couple other nice performances in this one, including Tech reserve guards Tadric Jackson and Justin Moore, who combined for 20 points on 7-of-14 shooting with four assists and just one turnover. Bakersfield's Dedrick Basile hit five threes and led the Roadrunners with 18 points.

Game 134 - California at Washington State

February 21 at Beasley Coliseum in Pullman, WA
ESPNU

Sometimes you just have to turn the announcers off and instead listen to a bunch of music.

We'd done it a number of times at the baseball site, but Sunday night's 80-62 California win was our first 200 Game Season Mute Mix.


Listened to selections from the following albums:

First half

Royal Philharmonic - Beethoven Symphony No. 6
David Bowie - Let's Dance
Willie Nelson - Stardust
Dave Matthews Band - live at Yoshi's, 5/10/95
Bangles - Different Light
Alfredo Rolando Ortiz - Harp for Quiet Moments

2nd half

Prince - 1999
The Byrds - Free Flyte
Paul Simon - Graceland
Markevitch Lamoureux Orchestra - Beethoven Symphony No. 5
Deep Purple - Fireball
Rolling Stones - Aftermath
Rush - Signals