As promised, here are the seedings and tournament results from the teams that were “drafted” last week.---
Seedings
1. UCLA
2. North Carolina
3. Kansas
4. Louisiana State
5. Michigan State
6. Michigan
7. Syracuse
8. Arizona
9. Florida
10. Indiana
11. Duke
12. Connecticut
13. Kentucky
14. Texas
15. Memphis
16. Utah
First Round
1. UCLA vs. 16. Utah
As hard as it was to do,
Utah comes into this tournament as the weakest team. Surprisingly enough, this
game is closer than some might think, but UCLA pounds it inside to
Abdul-Jabbar, Walton, and Love, scoring easy bucket after easy bucket. Andre
Miller does the best he can, posting a line of 16 points, 5 rebounds, and 8
assists coupling with Bogut’s line of 19 points and 11 rebounds. However, UCLA
proves to be too much, as Abdul-Jabbar scores 27 while pulling down 15 rebounds
and K. Love comes off the bench for 20 points and 7 boards.
Final Score: UCLA 95,
Utah 78
2. North Carolina vs.
15. Memphis
This high-scoring,
high-paced game is a real treat to watch. The up-and-down style of both teams
leads to bunches of highlight plays and rim-rocking dunks. Memphis’ lack of a
solid big man is their downfall in this matchup. Joey Dorsey cannot contain
Hansbrough and Wallace, as Hansbrough posts 20 points and 11 rebounds and Wallace
goes for 27 and 9 rebounds. Rose paces the Tigers with 30 points, 3 rebounds,
and 8 assists, while Penny’s line included 19 points, 7 rebounds, and 7 assists.
Final Score: North
Carolina 111, Memphis 97
3. Kansas vs. 14. Texas
Classic Big-12 battle here,
as the Jayhawks take on the Longhorns. Durant goes nuts in this game with
54 points, while Aldridge posts a double-double with 22 points and 18 rebounds.
Kansas counters with 25 points from Paul Pierce and 24 from Danny Manning. The
deciding factor in this game is Wilt, who simply beasts Mihm on the block.
Durant’s big game isn’t enough, as Wilt scores 46 points and pulls down 22
rebounds.
Final Score: Kansas
100, Texas 85
4. Louisiana State vs.
13. Kentucky
Pistol and Shaq playing
the two-man game might be the hardest thing in the world to defend, and
Calipari’s group of freshmen cannot keep up. Pistol scorches the nets for 31,
and Shaq has a workman-like 28 points and 20 rebounds, absolutely abusing the
frail Anthony Davis. DeMarcus Cousins paces the Wildcats with 18 points and 10
boards, while Rondo scores 11 and dishes out 17 assists. Nonetheless, this game
is never even close.
Final Score: LSU 96,
Kentucky 67
6. Michigan vs. 11.
Duke
In a rematch of that famed
championship game so many years ago, there is still plenty of bad blood. Duke
executes Coach K’s systematic offense to perfection. Jay Williams scores 18
while dishing out 9 assists, and JJ shoots his way to 25 points. On the other
side of the ball, the Wolverines are out for revenge. Chris Webber plays
possessed on his way to a masterful triple-double of 27 points, 12 rebounds,
and 10 assists. J Crossover Jamal Crawford adds 19 as the Wolverines exact
their revenge.
Final Score: Michigan
90, Duke 85
8. Arizona vs. 9. Florida
The historic Wildcats
against the core players of Billy Donovan’s repeat championship teams. Florida
take advantage of their bigs, as Horford and Noah combine for 46 points and 26
rebounds. Jason Williams adds 14 flashy assists to go with his 15 points. For
‘Zona, the game is won in the backcourt. The three-guard rotation of Bibby,
Arenas, and Gardner is far too much for the Gators. Bibby scores 14 to go with
7 assists, Arenas scores 30 and Gardner has a solid game of 15 points and 10
assists off the bench.
Final Score: Arizona
80, Florida 72
Second Round
1. UCLA vs. 9. Arizona4. Louisiana State vs.
5. Michigan State
This matchup is more about
players who played at their schools a long time ago, instead of some of the
other teams with more recent graduates. Magic is the focal point of the Spartan
offense again, but has an off shooting night, posting a line of 12 points, 6
rebounds, and 14 assists. LSU rides the Pistol-Shaq combo again, as the two
combine for 60 points, but it is Abdul-Rauf that shines in this game, as he
scores 24 points while handing out 8 assists.
Final Score: LSU 98,
Michigan State 85
2. North Carolina vs.
7. Syracuse
Another game that is
closer than one might think. Melo has another big game and scores 37 and Dave
Bing chips in 18. However, the simple fact is they are going against a man by
the name of Michael Jordan. He rises to Anthony’s challenge and scores 40
leading the Tar Heels to a closer-than-you’d-think victory.
Final Score: North
Carolina 86, Syracuse 79
1. UCLA vs. 4.
Louisiana State
This might be the most
exciting game of the tournament. Shaq battles Kareem in the post and ends up
getting the upper hand. Shaq scores 30 while snagging 18 rebounds, and Kareem
scores 22 along with 11 boards. Tyrus Thomas gets the start for LSU and his
length and athleticism gives Walton fits, limiting him to 6 points and 8
rebounds. Reggie Miller shoots lights out for UCLA on his way to a team-leading
26 points, but it is LSU’s strong backcourt again that combines for 53 points
and 17 assists. LSU sneaks this one out in typical March Madness fashion.
Final Score: LSU 112,
UCLA 109
2. North Carolina vs.
6. Michigan
Michigan is drained
physically and emotionally after their big win against Kansas, and it clearly
shows against UNC. Rice leads the Wolverines with 25 but it just isn’t anywhere
near enough. Jordan scores 34, Carter adds 21 off the bench and Lawson dishes
out 12 assists.
Final Score: North
Carolina 100, Michigan 83
Championship
2. North Carolina vs.
4. Louisiana State
This championship game is
one to remember. It is back and forth all the way through, right until the
final shot decides the game. Abdul-Rauf scores 26, Pistol goes for 30 and Shaq
adds 31 points and 14 rebounds for the Tigers. Jordan leads the Tar Heels with
44 points, Worthy nets 22, and Carter has another big game with 21. However, in
the final minute of the game, Marcus Thornton is left open off of a double team
on Shaq. He finds Thornton, who nets a wide-open 16-footer for his 14 point and
a one-point lead with 7 seconds on the clock. North Carolina inbounds, and
everyone in the gym knows who is shooting the ball: Michael Jeffrey Jordan.
Jordan crosses over Pistol at the free throw line, takes one dibble into the
paint and pulls up for the game winner … only to see it swatted away by Shaq at
the buzzer.
Final Score: LSU 101,
North Carolina 100