EIGHT BALL

What a completely excrutiating, but ultimately victorious, game by the Wildcats (I apologize to Rob and Karl for driving them crazy the entire time). Villanova edged BC in OT, 60-59, on Friday night to advance to the Elite Eight. BC led 9-0 early on, and 25-9 at one point in the first half, before Villanova cut it to 4 at the half, while going 0/8 from 3-pt land. They chipped away, though, and got their first lead with 2:18 left, and almost won it in regulation if not for an incredible block by BC's Sean Williams on a seemingly wide open Lowry 3-point attempt with 0:06 left. Then in OT, on an inbounds pass with 8 seconds left, Sheridan somehow ended up with a wide open layup under the basket; Williams blocked this shot too, but this time was called for goaltending to give Nova the basket and the win. I don't think I've ever seen a game end that way.

Villanova vs. Florida tonight, and the winner goes to the Final Four. All I know is that 35% shooting, including 4/19 from behind the 3 point arc, will NOT get you there. Man, this tourney is killing me, I don't know how much more I can take! I'm going to watch some golf (where Ames is trying to shake his "9&8" nickname at the Players) and forget about it for a while . . .

LET'S GO NOVA!


P.S. One other observation, which applies to every team: if you're up by 3 in the closing seconds, and the opposition has the ball, how about you FOUL ONE OF THEM? If they're not in the act of shooting, they can only get 2 free throws. It's happened about a half a dozen times in this tourney, and bitten the losing team in the ass every time.