THE SPORTZ ASSASSIN  SportzAssassin.COM

                     Your mascot is needed back with the Dr Teeth and the Electric Mayhem band

UCONN'S MAGIC HORSESHOE:  You know that UConn is the best team in this tournament.  And the sad thing is they haven't shown it yet.  Another sad thing is that they could very well be gone by now.  Washington had UConn on the ropes, but Anderson's huge 3-pt shot with less that two seconds left sent the game into overtime.  Marcus Williams was stellar, controlling the game late and dumping in 26 points.  UW hung tough, but wilted down the stretch [a theme the last few days, eh?].  Another theme is bad calls.  UCLA had plenty against them.....as did Washington did tonight [what, no goaltending?]....and Boston College [what, a guy pulling you to the ground is traveling??].   

Anyways, UConn committed 26 turnovers.....ouch....but got 47 FTs on an amazing 33 fouls called on Washington.  Another staggering stat is that Washington attempted 29 more FGs than UConn and got just 9 assists on 80 shot attempts. 

THE UNDERCARD:  With big dogs battling each other, the undercard was clearly the George Mason-Wichita State game.  And G-Mason made sure that no one cared they were missing it.  The Patriots took a 16 point halftime lead [which ballooned to 19 a few minutes later] and just coasted in the 2nd half to dispose of the Shockers.  While beating Wichita State doesn't have the buzz and ring to it as beating Michigan State and North Carolina....still it gets them to their first Elite 8 and a major upset away from getting to the Final Four.

If George Mason gets to the Final Four, it will be the first mid-major school not named UNLV to do so since 1979 when Penn and Indiana State got to the Final Four. 

VILLANOVA TOPS BOSTON COLLEGE:  Add BC to the list of teams that couldn't hold on to a lead in the Sweet 16.  The Eagles owned thisgame from the start...jumping to a 9-0 run....but bad calls, shots not falling and Nova' Randy Foye helped to eliminate them.  That, and a goaltending call that scored the game winner for the Wildcats. 

FLORIDA'S RUN CONTINUES:  Corey Brewer hit a shot that I have no idea how he even got in the air.  With someone pulling on his arm, Brewer got his hands free and threw something toward the rim while fading away.  The ball went in, a foul was called, and Florida was on it's way to victory. 

SO, WHAT'S THIS ELITE 8 THING:  Some good games, nice matchups.  The Texas-LSU game should be physical and played above the rim.  I like Texas to win that one.  In Memphis-UCLA, I like those huge pressing Tigers to finish off the Bruins.  In UConn-George Mason, let's just say it won't be the biggest tournament upset that happens.  And in Villanova-Florida, Nova's guards will come up big against the Gators.  So, I have a Texas, Memphis, UConn, Villanova Final Four. 

DOMINANCE:  In a Sweet 16 filled with overtimes, buzzer beaters, clutch plays and nail biters....there were only two games that seemed to be in hand.  Memphis won one of those games and George Mason [?] won the other.  Both beat....ta-da....Missouri Valley Conference teams.

CONFERENCE ROLL CALL:  Okay, the Big Ten was caput after the first weekend.  The ACC won their first 6 tournament games....and then lost their next 4.  So the ACC is gone.  What is left is the Big East [UConn, Villanova], SEC [Florida, LSU], Big XII [Texas], Conference USA [Memphis], Pac-10 [UCLA] and Colonial [George Mason]. 

NICKNAME ROLL CALL:  Okay, we have a Gator, a Husky, a Wildcat and two Tigers, a Longhorn, a Bruin and a Patriot.  Only one that ain't an animal. 

EVERYONE IS NEW:  With West Virginia losing to Texas, that means that NONE of last year's Elite 8 teams are in this year's Elite 8.  Last year, North Carolina, Illinois, Michigan State, Louisville, Wisconsin, Arizona, Kentucky and West Virginia comprised the regional finals.  In fact, of our 2006 Elite 8 teams, only Villanova was even in the Sweet 16 last year. 

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