March Madness Mayhem

Countdown to 40,000 Words - Huskies Win Women's Title; Hammies Awarded

Summarizing Connecticut's 76-54 win over Louisville in the NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament Final won't take long.  About 75% of the story can be collapsed into two words - Tina Charles.  The Huskies' center scored a team-high 25 points and pulled down a personal-best 19 rebounds in the performance of her career.  Her shotblocking and defensive presence helped hold the Cardinals to 31% shooting.  Her 11-13 shooting performance led the Huskies to 50% field goal shooting as a team.  In what had to be a unanimous vote, Charles was named the Most Outstanding Player of the Women's Final Four. (photo David E. Klutho/SI)

The Huskies came out a little overpsyched to complete their perfect season.  Turnovers and lack of blockouts along with hot shooting by Louisville star Angel McCoughtry allowed the Cardinals to stay tied with UConn as late as 17-17 with about 8 minutes to go in the first half.  Behind Charles 13 points and 12 rebounds, the Huskies won the rest of the half by 22-8 and led 39-25 going into the locker room.

The first few minutes of the second half established that the rest of the game would determine the final score, with Connecticut the winner.  Almost immediately, Connecticut expanded its lead to 21 points at 46-25 and eventually to 26 at 71-45.  Charles continued to score almost at will on crisp passes from her teammates, while dominating the backboards and the middle on defense.  Usual Huskie scoring leaders Maya Moore and Renee Montgomery struggled from the field, shooting a combined 12-32, but Charles made sure that the misses didn't matter.

The win gives Connecticut a 39-0 overall record and the school's sixth national championship, all under the coaching of Geno Auriemma.  However, the title was the first for UConn's seniors, particularly Montgomery, who'd been a big part of other teams that came close but couldn't get past the likes of Tennessee.  The season was also historically unique statistically, as the Huskies won each of the 39 games by at least 10 points.  More of the same may be in store for women's college basketball in 2009-10 as the Huskies lose only Montgomery, returning Charles, Moore and other starters Tiffany Hayes and Kalana Greene for an attempt to repeat as national champs.

Hammies and Eggs

The "Shaq In His Prime" Hammie goes of course to Tina Charles, who did everything a woman can do help her team win.

The "Look Inside" Hammie for Pinpoint Passing goes to Charles's teammates, but especially Maya Moore and Renee Montgomery, who recognized the hot hand and consistently fed Charles with accurate passes she could convert into layups.

The "Talent Is The Great Equalizer" Hammie goes to Connecticut coach Geno Auriemma, who last year jokingly reminded people that while he was better looking, better dressed and a better coach, LSU coach Van Chancellor had Sylvia Fowles.  The Tigers whipped UConn in a regional final.  Credit goes to Auriemma for challenging Charles to become his own Fowles, which she did with room to spare.

No eggs go to Louisville, who overachieved by beating #1 seeds Maryland and Oklahoma to get to the final game.

The only egg goes to gushing ESPN play-by-play announcer Mike Patrick, who as far as I can tell has two broadcasting skills, lauding greatness and reporting how many points and/or rebounds a particular player has after a given play, especially if that player is doing well.  Fortunately for the viewer, analyst Doris Burke provided some insight and technical information, else the saccharine spewing from Patrick might have spilled onto the floor and injured a player.

Whew - 40,071 words, including these.  No need for that sentimental essay.  March Madness Mayhem was a blast.  See you next year!

NCAA Women's Basketball Final (Title Sponsor Unknown) Live Blog - Connecticut Rolls to Sixth National Championship

9:27 pm - 1 FT for Montgomery.  Basket for LU.  72-49.  Then Montgomery misses two FTs.  Rebound to UConn.  Lefty layup. 74-49.

Long three by McC.  74-52.

Moore scores.  76-52.  No mercy by UConn.  Starters still playing.

Reid layup for LU.  76-54.  Timeout.  1:15.  Lots of smiles on UConn bench.

UConn ball.  UConn timeout to give starters big sendoff.  Montgomery out.

LU ball.  Steal by Moore.  UConn timeout.  Charles and Moore out.  Airball.  UConn recovers.  Timeout.  Hayes out.  25 second left.  Shot clock violation.

Last possession for Louisville at 10 seconds. LU misses uncontested layup at buzzer.  Fitting.  LU competitive for about 15 minutes.  Lost touch as soon as McCoughtry went cold.

Connecticut 76  Louisville 54.  39-0 record.  UConn's sixth national championship.  Every win by at least 10 points.

 

 

9:18 pm - McC misses FT.  Makes second.  59-41.

Moore makes three.  62-41.

McC layup.  62-43.

Moore again.  64-43.

Charge on Byrd.  She fouls out.  LU's only point guard. 

6 minutes left.  Moore pass inside to Charles.  Layup.  66-43.  25 for Charles.  Player of game by wide margin.

LU turnover.

Lefty layup by Greene.  68-43.  Biggest lead.

Bingham scores.  68-45.

Montgomery three.  71-45.  Biggest lead of game.

McC makes. Hines putback.  71-47.

Montgomery fouled on drive.  Timeout 3:26 left.

 

 

 

 

 

9:09 pm - Louisville will have to tighten up to stay within 20.  UConn was a little nervous at the beginning, but Tina Charles carried them until everyone was ready to play.

Reid makes FT.  55-34.  Makes another.  55-35.

Big pileup.  Louisville calls quick TO while they have possession. 

Tough shot by McC misses.

Greene scores on baseline drive.  57-35.

Shot blocked.  Montgomery misses.

McC misses.  LU rebounds.  Next shot blocked OB.  10 minutes left.  Basket for LU. 57-37.

UConn miss. 

Tipped into backcourt.  McC misses long one.

Moore short on 3-pointer.

Howard makes three for LU.  57-40.

Foul before shot.  McLaren scored, but foul came first.

Charles back for McLaren. Charles to Moore for layup.  59-40.

Charles fouls McC on shot.  TV timeout at 7:18 left.

 

 

8:52 pm - Another missed layup by LU.

Montgomery misses

Two misses by LU

Montgomery misses.  Charles rebounds.  Back to Montgomery.  Foul on LU.  Montgomery makes.  Third foul on Byrd.  46-25.

No FG in almost 9 minutefor LU .  Another miss and Charles rebound.

Charles travels.  TV timeout.

Way too many missed layups by LU.

McC misses. Moore rebounds.  Turnover by UConn on pass.

33 gets away and score layup for LU.  46-27.

Charles inside move.  Scores and Reid foul.  48-27.  Makes FT. 49-27.

Byrd misses short.  McC rebounds and scores. 49-29. 

Steal by LU.  Foul on Moore.  Missed three by Bingham.

Green layup.  51-29.

Hard to see how Louisville beat two #1 seeds.  Charles blocks McC.  Bingham rebounds and scores.  51-31.  Technical on Walz.  Wanted foul on Charles.

Montgomery makes one of two.  52-31.

Bad turnover by McLaren.

Drive and foul on Charles.  Her first.  Amazing.  Bingham shoots for LU.  Makes one.  And two.  52-33.

McLaren to Charles.  Layup and foul.  54-33.  Nice interior pass.  Makes FT.  55-33.  Under 13 minutes.  Playing for final score now.

LU turnover.  McLaren misses.  LU turnover.

Charles gets first break.  LU ball.  McLaren fouls McC on drive. Two FTs coming.  TV timeout.  11:45 left.  55-33.

8:43 pm - First five minutes of second half should determine whether a game or blowout is underway.  I'm betting on the blowout as Moore should warm up.

UConn shoots first.  Greene misses.

Louisville misses layup. 

Hayes sinks three for UConn.  42-25.

Steal by Montgomery.  Lob pass stolen.

Byrd shot rolls off.  Charles rebounds.

Moore misses.

Foul on UConn's Greene away from the ball.  McC misses.  Bingham tips ball out.

Montgomery misses three.  Charles rebounds and scores.  44-25.  Mike Patrick can surely count.

8:18 pm - Louisville ball.  3:49 left.  McC misses. Ball to UConn.

Moore misses from foul line.

Byrd misses.  Gets own rebound and misses again.  Rebound by Charles.

Burke fouls for Louisville. 1 and 1 for UConn.  Shooter is big 41.  Makes first.  34-24.  McLaren is the shooter.  Misses second.

Steal by Montgomery.  Takes it all the way. 36-24.

Three misses by Louisville.  Charles blocks two.  Moore fouls on inbound.  McC misses on drive.  Montgomery fouls on rebound.  Reid makes one FT 36-25.

Moore makes one FT.  Misses second.  37-25.

Louisville shoots 28%.  Another miss.  Charles rebounds.  Her 12th.  0:25 left in half.

Montgomery holding in backcourt.  Charles layup at 0:06.  Louisville heave at buzzer misses.    Halftime score 39-25 UConn.

Walz says Louisville has to shoot better.  Auriemma wants UConn to block out better.

8:10 pm - Louisville ball.  Nice shot by Byrd.  23-19

Moore misses jumper.  3-10

Charles blocks shot.  Scores layup.  Gets fouled.  25-19.  10 for Charles with 8 rebounds and a block. Makes FT 26-19.

Burke drains three.  26-22

Montgomery drives.  McC fouls.   First FT good.  Second good.  28-22.

Burke misses three.  Charles rebounds.

Montgomery misses three.  Moore feeds Charles for layup.  30-22.

Foul on UConn.  Miss and two tips.  Bingham scores.  30-24.

Montgomery hits three. 33-24.

McC misses lefty drive.  Montgomery miss at other end.  Ball out to Louisville. TV timeout.

8:02 p.m. - Louisville hanging in.  McCoughtry carrying the offense.  Whole team playing defense and rebounding. The longer the game stays close the bigger risk for UConn.

Press by UConn.  They get a steal. Moore scores on layup.  17-15. 

Burke jumper. 17-17.

Moore misses open shot.

Good pass inside.  Layup misses.

Montgomery races downcourt and pulls up for jumper.  19-17.

Steal for UConn.  Charles misses.  Moore tips.  Misses jumper.

Louisville ball.  Foul away from the ball. Miss by Green.

Inside pass to Charles for layup.  21-17.

McC misses three.  Montgomery rebound.  Another pass to Charles for layup.  23-17.  Louisville timeout.  Has no answer for Charles so far.  7:52 left.

Louisville confused by defense assignments.  TV timeout with 7:44 left.

7:52 p.m. - FT good. 9-9.

Bingham misses reverse. UConn rebounds.

UConn miss. Bad dribble.

McC misses.

Inside pass by Moore.  Layup by Charles.  11-9 UConn.

McC drives and gets fouled.  Two shots.  Makes one.  And two.  11-all.

UConn travel vs press.  4th turnover.

Byrd misses jumper.

Montgomery misses three.  Pileup.  Foul on Louisville's Byrd.  Her second.  Moore misses bank shot.

UConn 4-12 so far. Louisville air ball.  Pass inside from Moore to Charles.  13-11.

McC answers for Louisville.  13-13.  She has nine.

Drive and miss. Moore saves rebound.  Charging on Hayes.  Turnover to Louisville.

McC makes another.  15-13 Louisville.

Moore answers. 15-15.  TV timeout 11:17 left.

7:42 p.m. - I'm not thrilled with the Gateway Arch pattern on the floor.  Makes it hard to see the court boundaries.  Nikko Smith, despite being Ozzie's kid, seemed a little out of his league with the National Anthem.

Louisville gets the first score on a 3-pointer by McCoughtry.

Putback by UConn cuts the lead to 3-2.

Byrd misses in lane.  UConn breaks.  Moore fouled. Two shots.  First one good. 3-3.  And second. 4-3 UConn.

Louisville turnover.  Unforced.  Now UConn turnover.

Louisville scores.  Then UConn does. 6-5 UConn.

Near steal.  Nice pass inside.  7-6 Louisville.

Louisville steals.  Louisville scores on third shot.  9-6

Green scores for UConn. Draws foul.  9-8.  TV timeout at 15:43.  A real ballgame so far.  Louisville playing great defense and rebounding.  UConn a little flustered on offense and not blocking out.

Hi Folks,

It's 6:30 p.m. CDT.  The game starts in about an hour.  Please check back then for a live blog for as long as I can hold out.

A short preview of this game is available at MMM Women's Final Preview.

Thanks,

MMM

NCAA Women's Basketball Final Preview (Title Sponsor Unknown)

Goliatha vs Davida, the 50-foot Woman vs Tinker Bell, The View vs Helen Keller.  Yes, the NCAA Women's Basketball Final matchup of Connecticut vs Louisville looks like a real mismatch - even moreso than the men's final between North Carolina and Michigan State.

The Connecticut women are one game from an historic season - a 39-0 record with every win by more than 10 points.  Average margin of victory in the Big East regular season - 28 points.  Average margin of victory in all games - 31 points.  Connecticut's best player, forward Maya Moore was the national player of the year.  Her teammate, guard Renee Montgomery, won the MVP award for the East Regional.

Louisville's best player is 6'1" do-everything forward Angel McCoughtry, who led the Cardinals in every statistical category and the nation in steals at 4.5 per game.  They fought back from a 16-2 deficit to beat highly-ranked Oklahoma, whose star, Courtney Paris, had promised her school a national championship (or their money back), but now won't even be able to play for it.  The Cardinals enter the game with a gaudy 34-4 record.

Still, the Cardinals struggled to beat a depleted LSU team in the second round, and may have given all they had to upset Oklahoma.  The Huskies beat the Cardinals by 28 and 39 points in the regular season.  As the Michigan State Spartan men showed in their second blowout loss of the season to North Carolina, a lot has to change to give Louisville a chance.

If Connecticut coach Geno Auriemma can convince his team that Louisville poses a threat, the Huskies ought to win by 25 points.  If not, they'll still likely keep their streak and season of double digit victories.

I look for a repeat of Connecticut vs Stanford with the Huskies breaking out to huge lead and the Cardinals (rather than Cardinal) showing enough heart to keep the final margin within 20.  Let's say UConn 85 Louisville 67.

The Unknown Comic, representative of the Unknown Sponsor of this game, would insert a joke here, but he's forgotten them all since he appeared on The Gong Show more than 30 years ago.   GONG!

MMM Needs 2,311 More Words to Reach 40,000

MMM's IT department has informed the editorial department that about 2,300 more words are needed for March Madness Mayhem to reach the 40,000 word mark before the end of the March (and April) Madness blogging season.

Obviously, this presents a considerable challenge given that there is just one game left, the Sponsor-to-be-Named (Maybe) Women's Final tonight.

Blogging analysts project 100 words from this gratuitous announcement, another 300 words of preview, 1,000 words of live blog coverage and perhaps 300 words each of post-morteMMM and Hammies, for a total of 2,000 words, leaving MMM about 300 words short of 40,000.

A highly sentimental and particularly gratuitous 300-word essay about the MMM blogging experience is very likely.

Tree-Mendous Two Hammies (and Just One - Make That Two - OK Three - Eggs)

The "I'm Glad Dean Smith Is Still Alive To See This" Hammie for Best Team Play goes to the North Carolina Tar Heels for their 89-72 demolition of Michigan State to claim the school's fifth NCAA Men's Basketball title.  Smith coached the Tar Heels to championships in 1982 and 1993.  Current coach Roy Williams, a former Smith assistant, now matches his mentor with two championships in 2005 and 2009.  I thought that one of Williams' comments about Smith in the postgame celebration was a little odd, "I hope Coach Smith enjoyed the game, wherever he is."  I would have expected Smith to be at Ford Field with the university that named their basketball arena after him while he was still alive.  This made me go to Wikipedia to make sure that Dean Smith is still alive.  He is, at 78 years old.  Maybe his health prevented him from traveling.

Future UNC pros Tyler Hansbrough, Ty Lawson, Danny Green and Wayne Ellington win the "2008 USA Basketball Redeem Team" Hammie for erasing the memory of disappointing ends to the last three NCAA tournaments - upset by George Mason in the 2006 Elite Eight; blowing a big lead to Georgetown in an Elite Eight game in 2007; and going down early 40-12 to eventual champ Kansas in last year's Final Four semifinal.  These guys stayed in school to win a championship and they did in style, winning every game by at least 12 points and being seriously challenged only once, by LSU, who played them evenly for about 30 minutes in Round Two before losing by 14.

The "Basket Looks Like a Recycle Bin and I'm Christian Laettner Tossing an Empty Vitamin Water Bottle" Hammie for Marksmanship goes to Tar Heel guard Wayne Ellington who shot 7-9 from the field in the first half (3-3 from behind the arc) to pace North Carolina's record-setting 55 points and 21-point lead.

The "Artful Dodger" Hammie for Best Individual Defensive Performance goes to North Carolina guard Ty Lawson, who picked eight Spartan pockets (tunics?) to set Final Four record for steals in a game.

The "Jared Fogle" Hammie for Best Performance by a Sub goes to Tar Heel reserve big man Ed Davis, who scored 11 points and grabbed a team-high 8 rebounds in just 14 minutes of play.  As if the Spartans didn't have enough problems with the Tar Heels starting lineup.

The "Let the Economy Suffer a Couple More Days" Hammie for Best Motivational Quote goes to UNC Coach Roy Williams for convincing his team that defense and determination could defeat destiny.  In an interview with ESPN, when asked about the emotional lift that a Michigan State win could bring to the economically-batttered state, he responded with a chuckle, "Let 'em suffer a couple more days.  North Carolina's got problems too."

The "Cubs Fan" Hammie for Crowd Support in a Losing Cause goes to the Michigan State fans, who despite the dire first half deficit never stopped cheering their team or going crazy on the rare occasions their boys did two things in a row correctly.

The Billy Packer Hammie for Continued Basketball Broadcasting Excellence goes to CBS.   They do their best work in the early rounds as they scramble to show the best parts of many games being played simultaneously, but their coverage of the Elite Eight and Final Four games was solid as well.  I know he's an ESPN guy and a Dookie, but Jay Bilas would be my choice as the on-court analyst for the Final Four.  He does his homework, knows the game, states his opinions forcefully, and does it all without trying to be the star, ala Dickie V or other more personality-driven analysts.  Jim Nantz isn't the most exciting play-by-play guy, but no one else stands too far out.  Dick Enberg would, but he's a little long in the tooth.  Maybe CBS can hire Bob Costas.

The "Get 'Em All Wrong" Egg for Prognostication Ineptitude goes to CBS studio analyst Greg Anthony, who picked Michigan State to lose to Kansas, Louisville and Connecticut before changing horses and saying that "defense, depth and destiny" would carry the Spartans to victory over the Tar Heels.  At least I got the last game right, or I'd have to share this egg with Greg.

Again, I hate to give out Eggs to college kids, but if there has to be one it will be the "Turned Over" Egg to the Michigan State offense, who made just one more basket (22) than they committed turnovers (21).  Sure, Lawson made eight steals, but many of the Spartan turnovers were unforced, showing the teams' nervousness.  Particularly egregious was a play after a UNC field goal in which the MSU inbounder just tossed the ball toward a clutch of players that included an MSU guard and two UNC defenders pressing him, as if to say, "Here it is, boys.  Go fight for it."  Of course, UNC won the fight and got an easy two-on-one layup. If I was watching correctly, the passer came out of the game at the next break in action.

A final, non-basketball Egg - The "In-ap-pro-pri-ate" Egg goes to Burger King for a bizarre commercial promoting their Kids' Meals.  In the spot, the plasticized Burger King figure raps a song that sounds suspiciously like the "R"-rated rap song by Sir Mix-a-Lot,"Baby Got Back."  The connection is amplified by the wiggling tushes of several young females, on each of which is a box.  The boxes line up to form a level platform, which has something to do with why you should buy a Burger King Kids' Meal for your child.

NCAA Post-MorteMMM - Tree-Mendous Two Analysis

"I've Seen That Movie Too" sang Elton John almost 40 years ago.  That's the way I felt watching the North Carolina Tar Heels dismantle the Michigan State Spartans in the 2009 Tree-Mendous Two, Sponsored by the US Forest Service, NCAA Men's Basketball Final game on Monday night.

Not unlike Villanova in the semifinal, a game group of dark-shirted underdogs found themselves outside the building looking in after white-clad (with lovely argyle details as my fashion-conscious  daughter noted) North Carolina blew them into the snow with a 34-11 burst in the game's first ten minutes. From that point, the Spartans found their legs, but could never pull closer than 13 points, as their eyes (shooting) and hands and arms (ballhandling and passing) never answered the call of their spirited fans (Let's Sparty Like It's 1979, said a very clever sign), who urged their boys on without great effect.  Twenty-one Spartan turnovers to just seven for the  Tar Heels sealed their fate.

With a Final Four (and Tree-Mendous Two) record-setting 55 points and 21-point lead after the first half (on 57% shooting), set appropriately enough on a breakaway dunk off an MSU turnover by guard Wayne Ellington, who led the Heels with 17 first-half points and shot 7-9 for the game, North Carolina's offense slowed in the second half, with most of their points coming from the free throw line as the Spartans fouled to stop the clock.  Ty Lawson, who missed 7 of 17 free tosses against Villanova, was much more accurate against the Spartans, making 15 of 18, more like his seasonal 82% success rate.  Lawson shot 35 free throws (making 25) in the Final Four.

The team with four likely NBA draft picks (Lawson, Hansbrough, Ellington and Green) were just too much for a team with one possible pick (Lucas) and a couple of "take a look" guys (Suton and Morgan).

After spending years in the exciting world of forest fires, Smokey the Bear obviously couldn't get too worked up about 34-11 and its aftermath. He stirred midway through the second half to mumble, "Only you can . . ." before drifting back to sleep.  Treebeard claimed that the Ents were really excited about the game, having gone two-for-two on their Final Four pics, but a quick walk through the Fangorn Forest at halftime revealed that all but Treebeard were completely dormant, and Treebeard wasn't far behind.  "Tar. . . old . . . good," were his last three words before settling in for a 200-year-or-so nap to prepare for a cosmos-jumping trip back to Middle Earth.  The Ents may not have been glib, but Treebeard went 3-0 on the Final Four, better than any of CBS's so-called experts.

Fortunately, MMM's exclusive arrangement with the US Forest Service  has a yearly renewal clause for both parties, so it's possible that a sponsor with more lively representatives could be chosen for 2010.

MMM Reveals Details of USFS "Tree-Mendous Two" Exclusivity Deal

MMM is disappointed to report that the exclusivity arrangement did result in a financial penalty.  The change, apparently initiated by a US Senator from a state with a school eliminated in the Elite Eight games and without significant forest lands (Oklahoma fits both descriptions, though they were never identified by name), reduced MMM's remuneration to the book "Fire Breaks for Dummies" and a voucher for a tour by a family of four to any USFS forest ranger station. 

The change was based on discovery of a federal statute from the 1830s that prohibits the US government from "conducting or sponsoring" athletic competitions "in which an inflated spheroid be bounced upon a wooden surface and then propelled toward an elevated iron ring," unless "such sponsorship shall result in payment of items of little or no value."  Prophetic stuff given that basketball wasn't invented for another sixty years. 

I'm not ready to challenge the Department of Justice on this one.  Consider it a lesson learned.  Back to Google to find a match for 2010.

Countdown to the Final Score - Tree-Mendous Two Second Half; The Sparty's Over - Tar Heels Win 89-72

10:39 p.m. - The Sparty's over.  UNC runs clock.  MSU fouls. Lawson back to line.  Has made 12 of 14.  Another.  85-68.  Misses second. Green fouls out.  Played in 145 games for UNC.  Team record.

Free throw made.  85-69.  And second 85-70.  Shooter was Thornton. 1:41 left. 

More Lawson free throws - two made. 87-70. 

MSU misses three.  Can't save rebound.

MSU defense drops back from Lawson.  UNC calls timeout to empty the bench.  33 free throws for Lawson in Final Four.

Layup just ahead of shot clock.  89-70.

MSU long miss.  UNC misses breakaway layup.    Thornton misses.  MSU puts back.  89-72.  That's the final score.  UNC stands alone in the Forest of March Madness.

Wayne Ellington is Most Outstanding Player of Final Four.  All-tourney team includes Lawson and Hansbrough from UNC and Lucas and Suton from MSU.

Post-game commentary from MMM, Smokey and Treebeard (along with Hammie Awards) in a separate post, probably tomorrow morning.  Turns out that both guest analysts slept through the second half.  Smokey can sleep for months; Treebeard for centuries.  They're hard to wake up.

10:34 p.m. - Lawson back at line.  Makes first.  And second.  82-65.  Unshaqlike tonite.

Several misses for MSU.  Lucas misses layup.  Hansbrough rebounds.  Less than 3 minutes left. 

Hansbrough fouled by Morgan on way to hoop.  Two shots.  This one is definitely over now.  Morgan fouls out.  Suton comes out.  He scored 17.  Only good shooting performance for Spartans.  Hansbrough misses two.

Steal and layup by Frasor.  84-65 UNC.

Summers swishes a three.  84-68.  Timeout MSU at 2:07 left.

Hansbrough moves to fourth on all-time March Madness scoring.  Christian Laettner is #1.   UNC running clock.  Lawson urges one in from the lane.  76-59.

Walton air ball.  Masked man rebounds.  Hansbrough fouls.  Morgan makes.  76-60.  And second.  76-61.

5:15 left.  Lawson misses layup.  Hansbrough taps rebound OB.

Hansbrough fouls Lucas.  Lucas one and one.  Bounces it in.  76-62.  And second.  76-63.  4:57 left.

Lucious fouls Lawson on the press.  Lawson back to line.  Lucious injured.  Tough foul call.  Swish. 77-63.  Another.  78-63.

Green fouls Summers on drive.  Green's fourth.  Summers shoots two.  Gets first.  And second. 78-65.

Ball kicked by MSU. 7 on shot clock.  Reset to 15 on kicked ball.  Lawson breaks down defense for layup.  80-65.

Offensive foul on Lucas with left arm against Hansbrough.  Timeout at 3:51.

10:15 p.m. - Allen makes one for MSU 72-54.  And second. 72-55.  Game also reminiscent of Florida vs UCLA of a few years ago.  Another timeout. Will keep it here.

Davis fouled by Roe on inbound.  One and one.  Misses.  MSU rebounds.

Davis fouls Lucas.  He'll shoot two.  Makes first.  Misses second.  72-56.

Hansbrough blocked.  MSU rebounds.

Missed three. Hansbrough rebounds.  Good look.

Hansbrough fights through defense and banks one in.  74-56.

Suton hits three.  74-59.  Timeout MSU.  6:11 left.

10:01 p.m. - Green makes one FT for MSU - 65-47.

Foul on Davis in pileup.  Suton rebounds Lucious miss.  Another MSU turnover - unforced.  19th of game.

Ellington posts up Morgan, draws 4th foul.  To line for two.  Makes first.  66-47. And second. 67-47.  20th free throw made for UNC.

Green layup on pass from Lucas. Draws a foul  67-49 with Green at line.  Makes.  67-50.

Hansbrough misses.  Rebound tapped to Ellington.  MSU fouls.  Heels to line for 1 and 1.  Lawson makes 68-50.  Misses second.

10 minutes left.  Jumper by Lucas.   68-52.

Foul on MSU.  Front end missed.  UNC rebounds.  Green jumper spins out.  Foul on UNC on rebound.  Draymond Green to line. One and one.  Makes first.  68-53.  Misses second.

Lawson to Hansbrough.  70-53.

Missed three by MSU.  They rebound.  Brick by Lucas.  Another.  UNC rebounds. 

Short shot by Davis.  72-53.

Davis fouls MSU driver.  7:33 to the final score.  TV timeout.

9:53 p.m. - OMG, the Burger King is rapping a version of Baby's Got Back.  It's an ad for Burger King's Kids Meals.  Very scary.

MSU scores but misses free throw.  61-43.  Davis misses but grabs 7th rebound.  Foul on Lucious of MSU.

Hansbrough misses free throw.  Makes second.  62-43.

Another MSU miss.  Quick miss by UNC.

Foul on UNC.  Lucas misses.  Makes second.  62-44.  Lead "down" to 18.  Tie up.  Ball to UNC.  Hansbrough misses.

Layup by Summers.  62-46.

Thompson misses.  Just seven points in 8 minutes for UNC in 2nd half.  Ball out to UNC. Green three.  65-46.

Green for MSU fouled on put back.  TV timeout at 11:45 left.

9:42 p.m - Suton gets the first basket of the second half.  55-36 UNC

Lawson back at the line.  Made five of six in first half.  Makes first.  And second.  57-36. Lawson had seven steals in first half!  Ties NCAA Final Four  record for an entire game.  Eight is one-game tournament record.

Offensive foul on MSU.  Their 14th turnover.

Hansbrough misses.  Then grabs rebound at other end.  Makes short wing jumper.  59-36 UNC.

Traveling on Hansbrough.  Ball to MSU.  Hansbrough rebounds.  Thompson misses.

Driving layup by Summers.  59-38

Hansbrough misses. MSU rebounds.  Lob pass OB.

Hansbrough misses buzzer bomb.  MSU's Suton makes three.  59-41.

UNC miss. Then Lawson's 8th steal.  Davis scores and gets fouled.  61-41.  TV timeout.  14:55 left to the final score.

Tree-Mendous Two More Like One in First Half; MTR/MMM Gain Exclusive Rights To Use Tree-Mendous Two Name

With 3 minutes left in the first half, the score is UNC 48 MSU 30.  UNC is going for an all-time record of 53 first half points.  Looking for a green lining, the Spartans have hung in well since an 11-34 start.  The game looks like a replay of UNC - Villanova, a good college team vs a set of future NBA stars.  Second-level players Deon Thompson and Ed Davis have added nicely to the usual production from Hansbrough, Lawson, Ellington and Green, though Green has just three points and three fouls.

While watching CBS's coverage you may have noticed the lack of use of the Tree-Mendous Two, Sponsored by the US Forest Service promotional name for the game.   In a late move just consummated today, the US Forest Service decided to give My Team Rivals and March Madness Mayhem exclusive rights to the use of the Tree-Mendous Two name.  My theory is that the USFS was wowed by MMM reaching the 30,000 word milestone in just 21 days. 

Just try to use Tree-Mendous Two now, CBS.  Our lawyers (aka US Department of Justice) will call yours!

Ellington slams home UNC's record-setting 55th point of the first half.  They lead 55-34.  That's the halftime score.  Twenty-one is also the largest-ever halftime lead in an NCAA final.  Ellington also leads the Tar Heels scoring barrage with 17 on 7-9 shooting including 3-3 on three pointers.

The Race Is On - March Madness Mayhem Tries to Get Home Before Start of Tree-Mendous Two, Sponsored by the US Forest Service, Final of NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament

Your verbose blogger is in Houston today at a medical clinic, but dearly hopes to be released in time to make the five-plus hour car trip to Baton Rouge and arrive before 8:21 p.m., when the Tree-Mendous Two, Sponsored by the US Forest Service is scheduled to begin.

By way of a quick preview, which is all you may get given the time constraints.

The North Carolina Tar Heels, #1 seed in the South Regional, blew through five tournament games winning by at least 12 points over such strong competition as LSU, Oklahoma and Villanova.  The Heels have four probable NBA draft picks - guard Ty Lawson and Wayne Ellington and forwards Tyler Hansbrough, Danny Green.  Renown for their offense, the Heels crushed the Sooners and Wildcats with smothering defense from the 3-point line to the basket.

Michigan State, a #2 seed, takes on the twin role of Cinderella (as much so as the Big Ten regular season champ can be) and favorite sons, as the Tree-Mendous Two matchup is being played in Detroit's Ford Field, just 90 miles from the Spartans' campus in East Lansing, Michigan.  The Spartans are also tasked with lifting the spirits of economically-depressed Michigan.  Coach Tom Izzo has led Michigan State to five Final Fours in the last eleven years.

My choice, at risk of denying destiny - the talented and committed North Carolina Tar Heels.

Hopefully I can get back to Baton Rouge in time for Smokey and Treebeard to record their calls.