2013 NCAA Sweet Sixteen & Elite Eight Recap

The Sweet Sixteen and Elite Eight were just as crazy as the first 3 rounds. There were 6 upsets in the 12 games played. I only expected Louisville to advance to the Final Four of the 4 teams that did. This Final Four is sure to be exciting. I will also give my opinion on the All-Regional teams and Regional MOPs. 

Midwest Region - Indianapolis, Indiana:

In the first Sweet Sixteen, #1 seed Louisville faced #12 seed Oregon. In this game Louisville was control for basically the entire game. Louisville led 45-31, but Oregon was able to make the game closer in the 2nd half. Louisville still won the game 77-69. With that win Louisville advanced to their 13th Elite Eight in school history and 2nd straight since 2012. In the 2nd Sweet Sixteen, #2 seed Duke toke on #3 seed Michigan State. This game was very close for most of the game. Duke only had a one point lead at half at 32-31. Duke was able to go up 10 points with 8 minutes left and ended up winning by 10 points, 71-61. With the win Duke advanced to their 19th Elite Eight in school and first time since 2010. In the Elite Eight, Louisville and Duke faced faced off for the right to play in Atlanta in the Final Four. Louisville and Duke played very close in the first half. Duke was able to lead by 3 points but Louisville was up 35-32 at half. There was a very at about the 6:40 mark of the first half. Kevin Ware jumped to contest a three point shot and came down normal but what happened was not normal. He came down and his leg snapped and broke in two places as well as the bone was about 6 inches out of his leg. Despite the very scary injury Louisville came out very strong in the 2nd half and led by 13 with 10 minutes left. Louisville ended up winning by 22 points, 85-63. This is Louisville's 10th Final Four and second straight since 2012. 

The five players in the Midwest Regional team were Seth Curry and Mason Plumlee from Duke and Russ Smith, Peyton Siva and Gorgui Dieng from Louisville. Russ Smith won Midwest Region MOP. Curry averaged 21.0 PPG and 3.5 RPG in the 4 Tournament games. Plumlee averaged 16.0 PPG and 8.0 RPG in the 4 Tournament games as well as a double-double in the Elite Eight.They were the main reason that Duke advanced to the Elite Eight. Smith averaged 26.0 PPG in 4 tournament games. He scored over 23 points in all 4 games and scored 31 vs. Oregon in the Sweet Sixteen. Siva averaged 9.0 PPG and 5.0 APG in 4 tournament games. Dieng averaged 11.0 PPG, 7.5 RPG and 2.5 BPG in 4 tournament games. All three are major reasons Louisville won this region and advanced to their 2nd straight Final Four. I completely agree with the pick of Smith for the Region MOP. 

South Region - Arlington, Texas:

In the first Sweet Sixteen, #1 seed Kansas faced #4 seed Michigan. This game was close for basically the entire game. Kansas led by 10 points late in the first half and led by 6 at half 40-34. Kansas was able to get another 10 point lead with 13 minutes left in the game. Kansas even led by 10 points with 2:22 left in the game but Michigan didn't want to lose this game. Michigan went on a 14-4 run to end regulation with the help of Trey Burke. Burke had 7 points in the run and the game tying three with 5 seconds left. In overtime, Michigan led by Trey Burke won the game 87-85 after Kansas' potential game winning three missed as time expired. With that win Michigan advanced to their 10th Elite Eight in school history and first since 1994. In the 2nd Sweet Sixteen, #3 seed Florida toke on #15 seed Florida Gulf Coast. This game was close for most of the game. Florida Gulf Coast, the first 15 seed to play in the Sweet Sixteen, came out firing. They led 19-9 with 7 minutes left in the 1st half. Florida Gulf Coast even led 24-20 with 3:30 left in the first half. After that point though it was all Florida. Florida turned it around and went on a 21-6 run to take a 11 point led with 11 minutes left in the game. Florida controlled the rest of the game and in the end won 62-50 and ended Florida Gulf Coast's storybook run. With the win Florida advanced to their 7th Elite Eight in school and third straight since since 2011. In the Elite Eight, Florida and Michigan faced faced off for the right to play in Atlanta in the Final Four. This game was all Michigan it got kind of close at times but Michigan was in control all 40 minutes. Michigan led 20-4 after just 7 minutes in the game. Michigan was up 30-11 with 7 minutes left in the 1st half. At little closer at half but Michigan was up 47-30. Michigan extended the lead to 64-44 with 10 minutes left in the game. Michigan ended up winning by 20 points, 79-59. This is Michigan's 7th Final Four and first straight since 1993. 

The five players in the South Regional team were Ben McLemore from Kansas, Mike Rosario from Florida and Trey Burke, Mitch McGary and Nik Stauskas from Michigan. Trey Burke won South Region MOP. McLemore averaged 11.0 PPG and 4.3 RPG in the 3 Tournament games. He helped led Kansas to the Sweet Sixteen. Rosario averaged 14.3 PPG and 2.8 RPG in the 4 Tournament games as well as a 25 point game in the 3rd round. He led Florida to the Elite Eight. Burke averaged 15.5 PPG and 7.8 APG in 4 tournament games. He also had a double-double in the Sweet Sixteen vs. Kansas. McGary averaged 17.5 PPG and 11.5 RPG in 4 tournament games. As well as two double-doubles in the 3rd round and Sweet Sixteen and 25 points in the Sweet Sixteen. Stauskas averaged 12.3 PPG in 4 tournament games. All three are major reasons Michigan won this region and advanced to their first Final Four in 20 years. I completely agree with the pick of Burke for the Region MOP. 


East Region - Washington, D.C.: 

In the first Sweet Sixteen, #1 seed Indiana faced #4 seed Syracuse. This game was close in the beginning but Syracuse had in control for the most part. Syracuse jumped out to a 8 points lead at 11-3 6 minutes into the game. Kansas was able to get another 10 point lead with 13 minutes left in the game. Syracuse continued to lead at 22-9 with 6 minutes left in the half. Syracuse had in control a half leading 34-22. The second half was the same story but Indiana did try to comeback. Indiana cut Syracuse's lead to 6 points at 38-32 with 14 minutes left. Syracuse built the lead back to 15 when they led 52-37 with 7 minutes left. Syracuse held on and pulled off the upset winning by 11 points, 61-50. With that win Syracuse advanced to their 9th Elite Eight in school history and second straight since 2012. In the 2nd Sweet Sixteen, #2 seed Miami (FL) toke on #3 seed Marquette. This game was dominated by Marquette even though the final score doesn't show it. Marquette led 12-5 with 10 minutes left in the 1st half. Marquette was able just 2 minutes later to have their lead grow to 12 at 22-10. Both teams struggled a lot to end the half and the halftime score had Marquette leading by 13 at 29-16. Marquette extended their lead to 19 at 51-32 with 10 minutes left in the game. Marquette even led by 21 at 67-46 with 2 and a half minutes left. Miami (FL) made the score look respectable after rallying the few minutes. The final score had Marquette winning 71-61. With the win Marquette advanced to their 7th Elite Eight in school and first since since 2003. In the Elite Eight, Marquette and Syracuse faced faced off for the right to play in Atlanta in the Final Four. This game was all Syracuse besides the first three minutes. Syracuse was in control almost the entire game. Marquette  had no answer for Syracuse's 2-3 zone. Syracuse led by 9 points at 15-6 with 10 minutes left in the first half. It was close at half with Syracuse ahead 24-18. Syracuse had a 12 point lead at 37-25 with 11 minutes remaining. Syracuse kept the lead safe and won by 16, 55-39. Marquette scored an Elite Eight record low for points in the shot clock era. This is Syracuse's 5th Final Four and first straight since 2003.

The five players in the East Regional team were Vander Blue and Davante Gardner from Marquette and Michael Carter-Willams, C.J. Fair, James Southerland from Syracuse. Michael Carter-Williams won East Region MOP. Blue averaged 18.3 PPG and 3.0 RPG in the 4 Tournament games. He also had a 29 point game in the 3rd round vs. Butler. Gardner averaged 11.3 PPG and 4.5 RPG in the 4 Tournament games. They were the main reasons Marquette advanced to the Elite Eight. Carter-Williams averaged 13.0 PPG, 5.8 RPG and 4.8 APG in 4 tournament games. He also had a 24 point game in the Sweet Sixteen vs. Indiana. Fair averaged 13.8 PPG and 6.0 RPG in 4 tournament games. Southerland averaged 11.0 PPG and 5.5 RPG in 4 tournament games. All three are major reasons Syracuse won this region and advanced to their first Final Four in 10 years. I agree with the pick of Carter-Williams for the Region MOP. 


West Region - Los Angeles, California:

 In the first Sweet Sixteen, #9 seed Wichita State faced #13 seed La Salle. This game was in Wichita State's control for the most part. With only 8 minutes gone Wichita State led by 11 at 17-6. Wichita State continued to increase their lead and led by 16 points, 38-22, at half. The second half was more of the same. Wichita State led by 15 with 9 minutes left at 55-40. The lead grew to 18 but Wichita State ended up winning by 14, 72-58. With that win Wichita State advanced to their 5th Elite Eight in school history and first since 2006. In the 2nd Sweet Sixteen, #2 seed Ohio State toke on #6 seed Arizona. This game was a tale of two halves. Arizona was in control the first and Ohio State in the second. Arizona led 26-17 with 9 minutes left in the 1st half. Ohio State was to cut the lead to 6 with 3 and half minutes left with Arizona leading 36-30. Ohio State was able to make it very close at half. Arizona only led by 4 points, 38-34, going into half. Ohio State came out of half on a run and lead by 8 at 50-42 with 12 minutes left in the game. Arizona cut the lead to 4, 63-59, with 6 minutes left. Arizona trailed by 5 in the final two minutes but Mark Lyons' 5 points they tied the game at 70 with 21 seconds left. Ohio State had a chance at the win and LaQuinton Ross stepped up and it the game winning three with 2 seconds left and Ohio State won 73-70. With the win Ohio State advanced to their 15th Elite Eight in school and second straight since since 2012. In the Elite Eight, Ohio State and Wichita State faced faced off for the right to play in Atlanta in the Final Four. This game was all Wichita State but Ohio State made it very close in the end. Wichita State led by 10 points, 25-15 with 6 and a half minutes left in the half. Wichita State grew their lead to 13 and was up 35-22 at half. Wichita State even led by 20 at 53-33 with 12 minutes left. Ohio State went a huge 28-12 run to cut the lead to to 4 at 65-61 with 2:10 remaining. Ohio State cut to four again at 70-66 with 6 seconds left and fell short and that was the final score. Wichita State continues their Cinderella run and advances to the Final Four as a #9 seed. They will look to become the highest seed ever to make the championship game. This is Wichita State's 2nd Final Four and first straight since 1965.
The five players in the West Regional team were Mark Lyons from Arizona. Deshaun Thomas and LaQuinton Ross from Ohio State. Malcolm Armstead and Carl Hall from Wichita State. Malcolm Armstead won West Region MOP. Lyons averaged  24.3 PPG in the 3 Tournament games. He scored over 23 or more in all 3 games and scored 27 vs. Harvard in the 3rd round. He helped carry Arizona to the Sweet Sixteen. Thomas averaged 22.3 PPG and 3.5 RPG in the 4 Tournament games. He scored 20 more in all 4 Tournament games. Ross averaged 15.0 PPG and 4.0 RPG in the 4 Tournament games. They were the main reasons Ohio State advanced to the Elite Eight. Armstead averaged 15.5 PPG, 5.3 RPG and 3.8 APG in 4 tournament games. He also had a 22 point game in the 2nd round vs. Pittsburgh. Hall averaged 10.8 PPG, 4.8 RPG and 3.0 BPG in 4 tournament games. They were the major reason Wichita State won this region and advanced to their second Final Four in school history and first Final Four in 48 years. I agree with the pick of Armstead for the Region MOP.