Missed Layups Cost Southern Illinois, Texas A&M and Tennesseee

Missed layups proved costly in Thursday night's NCAA Regional games. In three games that saw teams lose by one basket (or one point-Texas A&M and Tennessee) Southern Illinois' Bryan Mullins, Texas A&M's Acie Law IV, and Tennessee's Ramar Smith all missed easy transition layups that, ultimately, may have prevented their respective teams from winning. Mullins and Law IV were pressured by defenders. Smith got caught showing off-he turned what should have been an easy layup into an around the back "hot sauce" finger roll. But he missed. Ouch. As one of my high school coaches once screamed, "can somebody please make a friggin' layup?"



Update:

In the opening line of his 1991 classic, "Mama Said Knock You Out," L.L. Cool J announced: "(d)on't call it a comeback; I've been here for years." In the last two days, Ohio State and North Carolina have made amazing second half comebacks en route to knocking their opponents out. Last night Ohio State overcame a seventeen point second half lead by Tennessee. Tonight, North Carolina came back from trailing USC by sixteen in the second half.

That's hard to do. Especially this late in the Tournament (every team in the Sweet Sixteen is legit).

North Carolina and Ohio State are such talented teams that they've been able to overcome their own poor play. Tennessee and USC outplayed their opponents for much of their respective games, but, in the end, just weren't in the same league as the Buckeyes and Tar Heels. Ultimately, however, both teams will have to play much better as they will face opponents who are nearly as talented as they are - if they make it to the Final Four.



Georgetown is really, really lucky. In the final seconds of their game against Vanderbilt, with Vanderbilt up by one point, Georgetown's Jeff Green hit a basket that won the game for the Hoyas. Unfortunately, Green probably traveled on the play. The picture above shows Green going up for the shot in question.

Green was tied up by two Vandy defenders. He pivoted and pivoted and pivoted. Then he pivoted, spun and threw up an off balance bank shot, which went in. But in the process of pivoting and pivoting some more, Green appears to have picked up his pivot foot. If so, Green traveled. Vanderbilt should be in the Elite Eight. Oh well.