CBB: Expect the unexpected
The second day of the NCAA Tournament tipped off in Columbus, Ohio, where we saw too games come down to the wire. In a tournament where upsets live on forever, we nearly saw No. 15 Colgate upset No. 2 Tennessee. Before that, though, No. 7 Cincinnati faced No. 10 Iowa in what was virtually a home game for the Bearcats. Cincinnati jumped out to a 12-point lead in the first half and Nationwide Arena was urging them on, but a late run by the Hawkeyes cut it to a 36-31 halftime deficit. The second half was a much different story as Iowa's offense continued getting better as the game went on. Luka Garza was phenomenal, scoring a game-high 20 points and seven rebounds on 72.7 percent shooting from the field. Joe Wieskamp added 19 points, including a game-sealing three-pointer.
"I really am proud of the team this year. They are a lot of younger guys on the team this season," Coreontae DeBerry, former Cincinnati player, said. "Senior Justin Jenifer has really improved his game this season. Cumberland is a really good player this year. They have been very consistent. Bearcats have always known to play hard for 40 minutes and together and having each other backs. That can take you a long way as a team. I believe they will be the top team going into next season because of the hungry basketball players they have." Jenifer had a team-high 19 points, four rebounds, and two assists on 42.9 percent three-point shooting. Cumberland, the AAC Player of the Year, didn't play his best game in the loss, but finished with 18 points. The Hawkeyes advanced to take on the winner of Tennessee and Colgate.
And at the beginning of the second game, it seemed like the sure answer was Tennessee. The Volunteers got out to a 9-0 start and looked like they might run away with it. Admiral Schofield and LaMonte Turner combined for the nine points, but the Raiders would fight back. The main reason for the comeback was Jordan Burns. He was lights out from deep and Tennessee had no answer for him on the defensive end. Burns hit back to back threes to cut into the lead and the crowd started getting into the game. The further the game got, and Colgate was still within striking distance, the more it felt like they had a chance to pull off a monumental upset. Tucker Richardson knocked down a pair of free throws to give Colgate their first lead of the game at 49-48, and then he hit a three-pointer to make it 52-50.
The Volunteers responded, though. Grant Williams, SEC Player of the Year, scored to tie the game, and then Jordan Bone and Jordan Bowden scored the next six to put Tennessee up 58-53. Even with a sliver of separation, Burns continued to fight until the end. He knocked down a jumper to cut the lead to three points, but the Vols ended the game on a 10-6 spurt to win 77-70. Schofield hit two enormous threes to ice the game. First game wasn't pretty but survive and advance. That's what it's all about," Chris Lofton, former Tennessee guard, said. "Iowa will be ready, no pressure on them to win. But I think we will be a lot better today. Got the first game jitters out." Schofield finished with a team-high 19 points, four rebounds, and an assist. Burns led the Raiders with 32 points.
"Colgate has three really good players, but the rest of the team (is) really inconsistent," Brian Williams, who played for Tennessee from 2007-2011, said. "I'm definitely impressed with the progress of the (Tennessee) players individually. Of course you got Scho and Williams, but the show don't go on without Bone. The hardest game in the tournament is the first one. Sky is the limit." Bone had been a key contributor for the Vols all year long, and continued to be in the Round of 64 victory. He had 16 points, five rebounds, and three assists. Now Tennessee and Iowa will battle with a berth in the Sweet Sixteen on the line. The Hawkeyes haven't been to the Sweet Sixteen since 1999, while the Volunteers made an appearance in 2014. ESPN FPI says Tennessee has a 79.2 percent chance to win.
Photo Credit: CBS Sports.
