2012 NCAA Tournament In-Game: #7 Notre Dame Fighting Irish vs #10 Xavier Musketeers

2012 NCAA Tournament: Greensboro second-round review

It was an exciting and long day as four 2012 NCAA Men's Basketball Championship Tournament second-round games took place at the Greensboro Coliseum in Greensboro, N.C. on Friday.#8 Creighton Bluejays vs #9 Alabama Crimson Tide...

In-Game notes:

Wrapping up second-round action in Greenboro, N.C., the #7 Notre Dame Fighting Irish meet up with the #10 Xavier Musketeers in what promises to be another closely-contested ame in this year's Tournament

1st half:

• Xavier starts the game off with a dunk from Kenny Frease and is soon followed up by a three-pointer from TU Holloway - Musketeers ahead 5-0 with just over 18 minutes to play
• Xavier doesn't slow down and pushes the lead to 7-0 as Notre Dame continues to struggle in its shooting and turning the ball over
• The Irish finally get on the boars with a three-pointer from Eric Atkins - 7-3 Xavier with 16:35 to play
• Notre Dame connects on another three-point shot and the lead is only one
• The Irish eventually tie it at 8-8 before Exvier hits another run and outscore the Irish 8-1 and take the lead 16-9 with 13:06 to go
• Notre Dame goes on a seven-point run of its own and ties the score over a period three minutes - the score is tied with at the halfway point 
• Entering the latter part of the half both teams are trading baskets - eventually both teams are tied 29-29 with 2:26 to play
• Notre Dame takes advantage of  its opportunities as Cooley and Alex Dragicevich score layups while Xavier manages another point off a FT

 At the half: Notre Dame leads 33-31 

Notes of interest at the half:

Notre Dame:  shooting 14-27 (51.9%) - leading scorer - Jack Cooley - nine points


Xavier: shooting 11-24 (45.8%) - leading scorer - Kenny Frease - 10 points

2nd half:

•  Xavier starts the half off with a quick basket
• Cooley goes the FT line and drops both - Notre Dame leads 35-33
• The Irish hits a three and extends the lead further
• Notre Dame on an 7-0 run over the past 3:44 - now leads 40-33 with 15:37 to go
• The Fighting Irish build on their run as it now extends to 10-2 over the past 5:21 - lead is now 43-35 with 13:36 to play
• Cooley scores an easy layup underneath while Xavier goes to the line - 45-38 with 12:44 to play
• Both teams starting to open up their offenses as they trade three-point shots - first from the Irish' Eric Atkins and matched by Xavier's Mark Lyons
• Tu Holloway hits a three-pointer to get Xavier closer
• Xavier takes advantage of Irish turnovers and score - Irish now leading 51-49 with 7:24 to play
• Holloway hits a baseline  jumper and ties the score s the he Irish's Scott Martin scores easily under the basket on the layup - hits another on fthe FT - Irish lead 54-51
• Injury  note: Xavier's Andre Walker being evaluated by doctors - possible vision issues
• Notre Dame leading 57-55 with five minutes to play
• Big foul call on Xavier that coach Chris Mack is not happy about
• AS the Musketeers press, draw the fouls and Dezmine Wells scores both FT shots - Xavier traling by one
• Big steal by Holloway who drives and lays it up and in - Xavier leading 59-58 with 2:30 to go
• Notre Dame with ball control and score a layup from Cooley
• Cooley denises a shot from Robinson, but Holloway is fouled on his attempt - game now tied 60-60
•  With a minute to play Eric Atkins hits a three-point shot to put the Irish ahead 63-60 with 50.3 seconds remaining
• Xavier scores and now trails by one and the Irish throw it away on a bad paass
• Xavier with the chance to take the lead and they do with a baby jumper from Holloway - kissing the glass and in - Xavier leads 64-63 with 12.8 seconds to play
• Irish with the ball and will work to score
• They take the shot as Jerian Grant puts it up and Xavier rebounds it - Dezmine Wells at the FT line adds another point to the lead - Xavier up 65-63
• Atkins is fouled and will go to the line to tie it - 2.8 seconds left - he makes the first and the Notre Dame is called for a lane violation which cancels the second shot - Xavier ball
• Musketeers inbounding and Irish looking to foul  which they do but also take a technical foul - lead extends to three and one more FT  finishes it

Final score: Xavier 67, Notre Dame 63

2012 NCAA Tournament In-Game: #1 North Carolina Tar Heels vs #16 Vermont Catamounts

2012 NCAA Tournament: Greensboro second-round review

It was an exciting and long day as four 2012 NCAA Men's Basketball Championship Tournament second-round games took place at the Greensboro Coliseum in Greensboro, N.C. on Friday.#8 Creighton Bluejays vs #9 Alabama Crimson Tide...

In-Game notes:

The top-seeded Tar Heels hold the home-court advantage at the Greensboro Coliseum as the stands are awash in Carolina Blue and will present the #16 Vermont Catamaounts a great test and experience during this game being played on Friday during second-round play in the 2012 NCAA Men's Championship Tournament.

#16 Vermont Catamounts warm-up before tipping off against #1 North Carolina

1st half:

Due to technical difficulties, this game is in progress with five minutes remaining in the first half

Note: John Henson is not playing in this game today

•  The Tar Heels lead the Catamounts 26-19 abut the top-seed in the Midwest Regional is having to work hard to kee ahead of the scrappy Catamounts
• Carolina's offense continues to be complemented with long-range three-point baskets but is not dominating Vermont at this point
• Vermont is really being tested against the Tar Heels and their endurance continues to be pushed to the limit during the first half of play
• Believe it or not, both teams shooting close to the same percentage (UNC - 39%, Vermont - 35%) as both teams are still trading baskets - Tar Heels leading 33-23 with 1:12 to play
• Not to mislead the situation - North Carolina is controlling the pace of this game and hasn't blown it wide open yet because they are not shooting well
• For the Catamounts, great and gutsy play from Sandro Carissimo is keeping his team closer to the Tar Heels than may have been expected
• North Carolina taking advantage of using its size and experience in the paint, scoring 18 points under the basket and adding 13 points from Vermont turnovers
• Vermont is leading in bench points with 11 so far

At the half: North Carolina 37, Vermont 25 

Interesting notes at the half:

North Carolina - shooting 12-29 (41.4%) - leading scorer - Tyler Zeller - 15 points


Vermont - shooting 11-29 (37.9%) - leading scorer - Sandro Carrisimo - 6 points

2nd half:

• Carolina starts with the ball and works a nice shot in early as McAdoo drops a little jumper
• Vermont has been playing a zone defense throughout the game against the Tar Heels and and have created some turnovers - few
• Tar Heels are denying the Catamounts scoring opportunities but they are missing their share of easy opportunities as well
• Vermont only trailing by 10 points - 39-29 with 16:36  to play
• Carolina begins to t pick up the pace and tightening up defensively as the Catamounts' Pat Bergmann is rejected by Zeller on the lay-up - crowd cheering loudly
• Tar Heels leading 46-33 with 12:36 to play in the half
• Slowly the Tar Heels are dropping shots and extending their lead to 51-35 with under 10 minutes to play
• P.J. Hairston hits a three that hits all twine and Carolina now leads the Catamounts by 20 with 8:33 to go
• Harrison Barnes working hard under the basket and scores a basket and gets the foul and finishes the three point play
• Vermont not out of it as they hit a three-pointer but not before Zeller and Justin Watts score uncontested back-to-back baskets - Tar Heels leading 64-40 now
• Vermont fighting for respect and score as Four McGlynn gets two - not as many as he scored against Lamar though
• Reggie Bullock hits a three-pointer with under five minutes to play - Carolina leads 71-46 to the pleasure of the Tar Heel faithful in attendance
• Even as Vermont works hard to get baskets in the paint, the ball is still not dropping
• North Carolina getting much of its bench into the game while leading 75-52 with 1:34 remaining
• Time winds down and signifies the end of this one

Final score: North Carolina 77, Vermont 58

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2012 NCAA Tournament In-Game: #8 Alabama Crimson Tide vs #9 Creighton Bluejays

2012 NCAA Tournament: Greensboro second-round review

It was an exciting and long day as four 2012 NCAA Men's Basketball Championship Tournament second-round games took place at the Greensboro Coliseum in Greensboro, N.C. on Friday.#8 Creighton Bluejays vs #9 Alabama Crimson Tide... 

 In-Game notes:

The 8/9 seed starts 2012 NCAA Tournament action off at Greensboro Coliseum in Greensboro, N.C. on Friday afternoon.

The Crimson Tide come into today's game playing in its first NCAA Tournament game since 2006 and will face a Bluejays team that is effective around the perimeter and from three-point land.

Tip-off in a few minutes.


Players to watch: 

Alabama: JaMychal Green

Creighton: Doug McDermott


1st half:

• Creighton wins tip but doesn't score on their possession
• Alabama hits its first shot - 2-0 w/ 18:24 to go
• Creighton possess good length inside as McDermott is the go-to guy with four points already
• Big three from Jahenns Manigat - Creighton leading 7-2 - with 15:15 to play 
• Alabama climbing back in it to tie the score 7-7 with 13:46 left
• Spotty crowd, but about half full in the Greensboro Coliseum for this game so far - will fill in later for North Caroline and Duke games
• Creighton's Ethan Ragge hits two big threes and the Bluejays now lead 13-9 with 11:47 to go
• Alabama has put some points on the board and now leads by one, 14-13 
• A few more shots at the FT line and the Crimson Tide extends the lead to 15-13 with 9:24 to play
• Manigat drops a three-pointer and the Bluejays take the lead
• Creighton still leading 19-18 with 7:23 to play
• The Bluejays using a zone D to defend against the Crimson Tide which slows ball movement a little
• Both teams hit some baskets and we have a 23-22 lead for the Bluejays
• Alabama still playing man-on-man which is fine for the Bluejays, but they are missing shots
• Trevor Lacey with a big three-point shot and Alabama is back in the lead with 3:05 to play
• Easy baskets underneath are not dropping for the Bluejays - might come back to haunt them later as Gregory Echenique misses an easy one
• Alabama come down and scores a few more on FT's before stealing it and an easy layup and the Tidee leads 28-23 with 1:39 to play
• With the Crimson Tide leading 30-28, Creighton's Antoine Young turns it over while trying to drive to score the last basket of the half
• Alabama ball with 3.4 seconds left and they drew a play up even - but they turn it over with 2.2 seconds left
• Creighton can't inbound it successfully so Alabama gets it back and takes a long shot but it hits the rim

At the half - Alabama 30, Creighton 23 

Notes of interest:

Alabama: Shooting 11-23 (47.8%) - leading scorer - Trevor Lacey (12 pts)


Creighton: Shooting 9-26 (34%) - leading scorer Doug McDermott (7 pts)

2nd half:

• JaMychal Green starts off the half for the Tide with a two and extends Bama's lead to 32-23
• Creighton hits a big shot but then Alabama hits a big shot - keeps nine-point cushion - leading 36-27 with 16:44 to play
• Grant Gibbs scores three for Creighton and must work to keep shooting % on the rise if they wan to have a chance to get back and pull this one off
• Creighton tightens up the zone and has caused Alabama to miss on two straight offensive possession while the Bluejays have gone on a 4-0 run trailing the Tide 37-34 with 13:34 remaining
• With another basket, Creighton extends its current run to 8-0 and we are tied 37-37
• Trevor Releford finally hits a short jumper and ends the drought for 'Bama - now lead 39-37 wiht 12:31 to play
• After turning it over the Bluejays totally break down the defense and allow an easy layup inside which is followed up by a baby hook shot and Alabama extends the lead to 43-39 with 11:25 to go
• Releford drops another three-pointer and the Tide leads 48-41
• Gibbs and Wragge score points for the Bluejays who now trail Alabama 50-46 with 7:11 remaining
• Creighton with the ball and Alabama applying a full court press , but once hey break it, the Bluejays make it rain with a great shot from Josh Jones
• Levi Randolph tries to drive it but is denied by Wragge but gets some points back from free throws
• Another big three-pointer in this game and Creighton is leading 51-50 with 5:04 to play
• Alabama can't score in the pait as Wragge and McDermott are blocking drives
• McDermott comes back and scores a layuop with the Bluejays leading this one 54-50 with 3:41 to play
• Alabama moving the ball around between Andrew Steeel and Trevor Releford  and working it in to Green but still not scoring easily
• With 1:15 remaining, Creighton leads Alabama 57-53
• Alabama with the ball and trying to work inside the zone and Green tips one in to reduce the Bluejays lead to two-points, 57-55
• Creighton with the ball, gets it inside to Echenique, who goes to the line and misses, but Creighton recovers the rebound and McDermott is fouled and goes to the line - Creighton leading 58-55 with 31.2 remaining
• McDermott  misses the FT and Alabama comes down to score a basket and trails by one
• Josh Jones misses a FT and Alabama races down to take the last shot and takes a timeout with 2.2 seconds left - trailing Creighton 58-57
• Alabama with a chance to win and the clock is adjusted to 2.4 seconds remaining to start play
• Ball is inbounded, the shot is up, and no foul, too short as Trevor Releford's shot is blocked and drops well short of the basket

Final score: Creighton 58, Alabama 57 

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Alabama Crimson Tide and Tuscaloosa travel up Tobacco Road

With the NC State Wolfpack extending its early-season record to 3-0 with a hard-working win for Pack Nation at Carter-Finley Stadium on Thursday over the the Cincinnati Bearcats, 30-19, the latest local big news surrounds the defending national champion Alabama Crimson Tide making a visit to Durham, North Carolina on Saturday. The Duke Blue Devils and their coach Dave Cutcliffe, an Alabama grad, host the Crimson Tide at Wallace Wade Stadium. Of note, Wallace Wade brought three national championships to Tuscaloosa, Alabama when he coached the Tide from 1923-1930.

All in all, Saturday's game is Duke's home game, but it will feel like you are in Tuscaloosa. There is a specific parking lot set aside for traveling Alabama fans to park their RV's in (with detailed rules) and many purchased Duke football season-ticket packages in order to ensure to get tickets for the game. Thus, Alabama fans are providing a great economic impact on the local economy. After Saturday's game, it will be interesting to see how much the remaining Duke home football tickets that were purchased will go for on Ebay or Craigslist. They may even give them away while they are in the stands - you never know.

In anticipation of a large crowd and more income-generation potential, the Duke athletic department installed additional seating in its end zone area below the scoreboard to support a bigger crowd. Not a bad idea when you consider local fans who didn't buy season tickets (because Alabama fans did) were still able to buy tickets to watch Alabama play Duke. When checking the Duke web site earlier this week, these end zone tickets were available for $75 apiece - the highest-priced ticket for any game being played in the Triangle this season. It will be surprising if these tickets do not all sell out.

After all, when do you get the chance to travel to Tuscaloosa, Alabama by driving to Durham, North Carolina.

View: The last time Duke and Alabama played (duke.com)