needs to slow down. The faster the tempo, the bigger the disadvantage.

Good timeout by Howland.

Collison and Westbrook taking over in halfcourt. Defense still needs to improve on CDR and on Rose.

One pt game.

DUH!
makes out loss pretty aggravating

Shipp has taken three quick shots already. He's made just one of three. Again, Howland is screaming at them in the timeout to slow down.

If ucla could keep the pace down, they'd be fine.  Those fast break points are killing them, and if they get tempted to play fast, they're screwed.

Has to be the #1 pick in the draft. Just... awesome.

Killing UCLA. Easily the best player on the floor.

28 pts in 12 minutes is not the pace at which UCLA needs to play.

Making UCLA look unathletic. That's wild.

UCLA hasn't played a team this quick and athletic at all.

Only the third gets called

Only Memphis opponent matching their athleticism early.

UCLA would be in big trouble if he hadn't hit two threes early.

That's two bad shots from him. UCLA's shown zero ability to stay in front of CDR or Rose. A 16 foot jumper from Taggert with 25 on the shot clock is terrible.

Not bad considering how many easy fast break points they allowed early.

Or Memphis scores and heads into half with momentum and confidence.

Big two for UCLA going into the half.  It feels like they should be down more, but a 3 point deficit is a good spot for UCLA, especially with the 2 fouls on Dorsey and Taggert.  They have to slow the game down, foul on fast break opportunities and hope that Memphis cools down from the FT line.  Those fast break dunks and layups are just demoralizing.

Ketchum at Orangebloods is reporting that he ran into an NBA scout who said that Augustin is learning heavily toward turning pro. No surprise.

Arizona guard Jerryd Bayless turns pro.http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/draft2008/news/story?id=3331393 Bayless will be drafted ahead of DJ if Augustin does turn pro.  

Start of the 2nd half includes 3 quick fouls by officials.  Make that 4....3 on dorsey and taggert.  Wow.

Three on Dorsey. Now three on Tagget.

More fast break points....wow, UCLA is struggling with that Memphis length, too.  Not totally surprising, but it's been the story of the game so far in those turnovers leading to easy Tiger points.

They were down 11, back to seven now, but still in a bit of trouble.

Packer is right, Love needs touches on the low blocks.

I've really enjoyed watching him this year at UCLA.  I wonder if he'll leave early?

the question is, will the refs be willing to call his 5th or look the other way?

that Texas was good enough to make the Final Four. This UCLA team is beatable for us. Unfortunately, we ran into the worst possible matchup: a team with an abundance of talent, size, and athleticism that can play hard-nosed, physical defense.

Weren't we considered the strongest 2 seed? It's too bad we were stuck with Memphis, who is obviously not the weakest 1 seed. But you knew the committee was going to put UCLA in Phoenix and UNC in Raleigh. We can't play KU because I don't think it's allowed to have 1/2 seeds in the same conference, so we're stuck with these beasts. Too bad.

by CDR. WOW.

Is that supposed to be a cowboy hat?

These guys are freaks.

Wow from Rose. Game over.

Memphis has really controlled this entire second half.  They've essentially neutralized Collison entirely.  If they hold on to win, they've earned a shot at the national title.  Peaking at the right time of year, to say the least.

They just can't handle the Memphis Speed.

Impressive.

for both DJ/James to come back. What Memphis type teams would we have to worry about next year? KU will be much worse, UCLA will probably lose Love and Westbrook, etc.

If they come back, we'd probably win the Big 12 and definitely get to a Final Four at least.

I thought DJ played his way out of the lottery against memphis, but after seeing what memphis just did to collison, i think memphis is just a freak show of a team.  

he's gone.

Memphis just making great teams look silly, game after game. I do like KU-UNC winner to be a better match up against the Tigers than anyone they've seen to date, though.

no big white guys for announcers to excessively fawn over.

if it ends up being a Kansas/Memphis final, who will billy packer fellate on air?  sasha kaun?

Look at that tie...

This is the worst pregame speech I've ever heard.

Hands in his pockets? Hoping for things to happen? Weird.

PB, do we need a drinking game for Hansbrough "tenacious" references?

Making Hansbrough play defense and working the high-low really well early.

Lawson struggling to get good looks as well.

Gotta force Hansbrough to make that one. At the line, he's deadly.

is the best in the country. Their guards can get to the paint or knock down the three. And their posts are excellent passers, finishers, and rebounders.

If UNC doesn't score fast break points, they are not going to beat KU.

UNC looking sloppy

I just mentioned the KU offense, but their D is phenomenal as well.

Make him knock down contested jumpers. Don't foul.

on fire
man i miss horns basketball already :-(

ripped by Robinson at full speed. Fantastic D continues.

Watching him shake his head is very enjoyable for the Duke part of my basketball fandom.

Kansas looks unbelievable. WOW!!

The Big XII may get their first bball national championship ever on Monday night.

Also, Cole Aldrich has come a long way this year. I was not impressed with him at all in Nov and Dec. Now, he looks like he'll be a key player next year and a definite issue for the Longhorns in years to come.