Regional Superlatives

Quickly:

Best Game: Illinois vs. Arizona
At least it looked like the best game when I watched the highlights on the Sunday morning Sportscenter.
That’s right - I didn’t see any part of this instant classic. I’ve watched a couple hundred hours of college basketball games this year and then missed the best 150 minutes of the season. I’m not mad though; what I was doing was better and more important than watching a basketball game, but still, I wish the UNC-Wisconsin tilt had been scheduled for Saturday night instead.
From what I’ve heard though, Illinois/Arizona had it all.

Best Game That I Did See: Michigan State vs. Kentucky
No buzzer beater has ever bounced around the rim longer than Patrick Sparks’.

Worst Game: North Carolina – Wisconsin
In some years, UNC-Wisconsin might have been the best regional final game, but when three other games go into OT, a game that was decided with 30 seconds left doesn’t make the cut.

Best Player: Deron Williams
What Salim Stoudamire did in the semis, Deron Williams did in the regional final: Single-handedly led his team to the next round.

Best Player (Runner-up): Sean May
Forget Felton, McCants and Marvin Williams: Sean May is the best and most important player on the Tar Heels.

Best Player (Losing Team): Kevin Pittsnogle
At some point we’re all going to have to come to the realization that it’s Kevin Pittsnogle’s world and we’re all just squirrels trying to get a nut.

Worst Player: Salim Stoudamire
At least his room will be spotless when he returns to Tucson.

Best Officiating: Ruling Sparks’ Buzzer Beater as a Three Pointer
Good call on the floor.

Worst Officiating: Taking Five Minutes To Uphold Sparks’ Buzzer Beater as a Three
Alright, once 60 seconds had passed, what did the refs think they were going to see on the replay of Sparks’ shot? Another shooter on a grassy knoll?

Best Free-Throw Shooting: North Carolina
Up one with 2:41, Marvin Williams hit two free throws, beginning a streak of ten straight by the Heels, which included Raymond Felton (a 67% FT shooter on the season) converting three consecutive front-ends of a one-and-one opportunity.

Worst Free Throw Shooting: Kentucky
Patrick Sparks’ game-tying buzzer beater wouldn’t have been necessary if he had made a free throw 45 seconds earlier. And at the beginning of the first overtime, guard Rajon Rondo failed to put his team up six points when he missed two shots from the charity stripe.

Most Deceiving Stat Sheet: West Virginia-Louisville
West Virginia shot better from the floor, beyond the arc and at the free-throw line, which would usually be indicative of a win.

Best Coaching: Tom Izzo
Izzo has been to the Final Four in exactly half of his Tournament appearances (four times in eight trips), and this year he did it with one of his least-talented teams during his time in East Lansing.

Worst Coaching: Tubby Smith
Note to Tubby: Chuck Hayes might as well be fouled out if you sit him on the bench for six of the ten minutes of overtime.
More on Tubby below.

Softest 20-point Lead: West Virginia
Did anybody really ever believe that West Virginia was going to win this game? It reminded me of the Duke-Maryland 2001 Final Four game when the Terps were up 22, yet for some reason it felt like they were down 22.

Worst Possession: (tie) Arizona (End of OT), Kentucky (End of 1st OT)
Did Hassan Adams realize that he didn’t need to take a three pointer to beat Illinois at the end of overtime? And what was Salim Stoudamire doing? He barely moved while Adams was looking for a shot.
Don’t even get me started on Kentucky’s inability to get a shot off at the end of their first overtime with Michigan State. How does that happen? The players on the floor deserve the blame, but you know Tubby Smith will get all of it. The rumblings about Tubby’s job security will no doubt get a little louder in Lexington after yet another upset-loss for Kentucky in the NCAA Tournament. I don’t really think Tubby will leave Kentucky, but maybe a new job will be best for both Smith and the boosters that want him out. (Virginia maybe?)

Quick Predictions: Illinois over Louisville / Michigan State over UNC
Sorry, one way or another, I don’t think the dream match-up will happen.