For awhile, Thursday was going remarkably well: San Diego State was handling Connecticut. Then the second game started, and BYU, including star Jimmer Fredette, decided to have a slow start against Florida. By the time they had fought their way into a 36-36 tie at halftime, BYU was fighting exhaustion and a hostile pro-SEC crowd.
BYU had an uphill battle, not just because of Florida's bigs and quick guards, but also due to the officiating crew's decision to "let them play." That decision heavily favored Florida, since they had a much deeper bench and could afford to have players beaten up. BYU didn't have that luxury.
BYU's scrappiness had to be commended, for they fought their way into overtime for the second year in a row against the Gators. However, by then Fredette was totally spent, with legs like jelly. Somehow, he had cut his chin on air during a non-foul. Somehow, he had been pushed and banged around while officials were studying the cheerleaders.
Is this an excuse for BYU's loss? No. Florida was the better team, regardless of the promote-thuggery officiating. They were bigger, and their guards played good defense for the most part. Coach Donovan's strategy was sound, and Fredette's teammates weren't able to stay consistently hot like they had been against Gonzaga. The Cougars had a very thin bench, thanks to spotty recruiting, two-year LDS missions, and the school's Honor Code, which had led to star guard Michael Lloyd (who had scored 22 against Florida last year) transferring out last spring and forward Brandon Davies being suspended for this year's postseason. Fredette was held scoreless in overtime, and Florida won 83-74.
While few could say BYU was the better team against Florida, most would say San Diego State was the better team against Connecticut. That's not to say that UConn didn't have the best player on the court, Kemba Walker, who scored 36 points in the victory. The Aztecs had great size, its own star guard D. J. Gay, and a supportive crowd. It did not have the favor of the officiating crew. When Walker did a flop after brushing by an Aztec at the beginning of a time-out, the officials called the Aztec with a technical foul. Two free throws later, the momentum had shifted, and the Huskies were on their way.
It's true the Aztecs did not play smart basketball down the stretch, with many missed opportunities and botched assignments. Still, the officials could have been more balanced.
By the end of the first two games, it looked like officiating crews had it in for teams from the West. That was not the case in the Arizona-Duke game, where the Wildcats from Tucson surprisingly received the lion's share of the calls. As a result, it was Duke getting pushed around. As a result, Arizona's Derrick Williams went wild, turning in a superhuman effort.
Williams had kept his team in the game during the first half when Duke held the advantage. A 19-2 second half run, assisted by several Blue Devils' foul trouble, put the Wildcats ahead to stay. Duke, favored by 8 1/2, lost by 16, 93-77. Coach K will have to wait until next season to break Bobby Knight's record for most career wins. Though disappointed, Coach K was again a model of decorum in defeat, graciously congratulating Williams and the rest of the Wildcats. The West is still alive!
The best game of the night, and the best coaching of the night, occurred in New Orleans between Butler and Wisconsin. Butler was in control for most of the game, but the Badgers fought back, showing tremendous character. Guard Shelvin Mack had an off game, but reliable Matt Howard was rock steady for the Bulldogs. Butler countered Wisconsin's size with quickness and teamwork. The Bulldogs held off the late Badger rally and won 61-54. Will Butler make it two years in a row in the Final Four? Almost as important, how much longer will Butler's Coach Brad Stevens remain with the small school?
It's about game time for Day Six. Time to pull for more underdogs: Virginia Commonwealth and Richmond. Enjoy the tournament!
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