The Accidental Career of Guy West (CH2k8)

[waytofailself]

Re: The Accidental Career of Guy West (CH2k8)

Preview: #7 Drexel vs #10 St. Bonaveture

We're in Denver at the Pepsi Center preparing for the start of the NCAA Tournament. Fans in Denver are in for a treat with a number of marquee teams on display -- including defending National Champion Drexel and perennial powerhouse Kansas. The two seems to be on a collision course, but each will need to take care of business on Day 1 of the Tournament.

Keys to the Game

1) Don't Get Sloppy: The Dragons may not have realized how much they missed Josh Payton and Perry McCarthy until they were gone. Both were outstanding defenders, and for the most part both did a good job taking care of the ball. McCarthy may have had off nights, but it was nothing like what the Dragons have seen this year from Dean, Legans, and Braxton. St. Bonaventure is one of the best defensive teams in the country, and the Dragons will need to stay disciplined on offense instead of trying to force big plays.
2) Hold the Line: Although the Bonnies have some quality players, the Dragons have far superior talent. It starts with star center Femi Ramsey, but there is a huge gap in talent in depth on the bench. Duncan Richard and Dallas Marsh would likely be starters on the Bonnies and log significant minutes, and both are rotation players for the Dragons. If West can exploit that depth, his team will make it to the second round.

The St. Bonaventure Bonnies enter the game as an at-large bid out of the Atlantic Ten after finishing third in the conference and reaching the conference semi-finals. The Bonnies were supposed to be a year away. Led by Deji Ray and Deki Hampton, the Bonnies rely on their defense to create offense. They are not the best jump shooting team in the world, instead relying on a motion offense to create open looks, burn the shot clock, and keep the score and pace of the game low. The Bonnies are experienced and have quality size to match up with the Dragons. They will do everything they can to spring the upset.

Keys to the Game

1) Control the Pace: This is a classic game of style-vs-style. The Dragons love to go fast and hard, while the Bonnies milk the shot clock as deep as possible via a deliberate offense. It would create a significant advantage if the Bonnies could pull the Dragons out of their fast-break game. Not only would the Dragons be denied easy baskets in transition, but it would mean the Bonnies would not have to dig as deep into their bench by being forced into a track meet.
2) Unleash Ray: The Bonnies, in a way, are where the Dragons were two or three years ago. They have some pieces, but their future rests largely on Sophomore center Deji Ray. The Bonnies rely on Ray on both ends of the court, and he will have to be extra disciplined to stay on the floor later today. Drexel is notorious for their imposing front line -- but it is not out of the question that Ray could singlehandedly give the Dragons a good fight.

The winners of this game, barring some bizarre March Miracle, will be rewarded with a date with the Kansas Jayhawks. Both teams better fight hard -- this might be the only win they get in the Tournament.

[superjames1992]

Re: The Accidental Career of Guy West (CH2k8)

That is amazing.

I have read a few people say that about the Atlantic 10. So far in this dynasty they have been solid and have had some good years sending teams to the Tournament. However, they usually get knocked out during the first week of games.

The Atlantic Ten got six teams in the tournament last year (2022-2023) in my legacy.

[waytofailself]

Re: The Accidental Career of Guy West (CH2k8)

#7 Drexel vs. #10 St. Bonaventure

Well, that was ugly.

This was a game for the "what might have been" crowd. Both Drexel and St. Bonaventure had plenty of open looks. The problem? No one could hit a shot. No one. Not the Dragons when they had chances. Not the Bonnies when they created extra chances off the offensive glass.

But someone had to win the game.

St. Bonaventure came out strong and stout on defense. Their 2-3 gave the Dragons fits not so much because it stopped Femi Ramsey when he got the ball. Instead, it denied him access. The Dragons were forced to shoot over the Bonnies, and miss after miss after miss left the door open for St. Bonaventure to take advantage.

Boy did they take their dear sweet time. For awhile in the first half, the Drexel Dragons were handing the game to St. Bonaventure by missing shot after shot. Duncan Sow did his part by getting two fouls in the first minute. But once the Dragons started gift-wrapping the game by turning the ball over, the Bonnies began to take control. Kentrell Dean especially had trouble handling the increased pressure -- he could not find his shot and he could only manage to pass the ball to players in brown shirts.

And worse? He let Lorenzo Hazel and Deki Hampton start to get open looks in his area of the zone or when drifting off of his man. For the first time all game, St. Bonaventure was getting eseparation, and it would take four straight points by Femi Ramsey to get the Dragons within striking distance at the half.

Coach West needed to make some adjustments, but more importantly he needed a spark. The first noticeable change in the second half was Kentrell Dean getting nice and comfortable on the bench while Shannon Legans got the bulk of the minutes. Even if the Freshman could not find his shot either, at least he was not a turnstile on defense.

As for the spark, that would come from an unlikely source.

Dallas Marsh breaks open the game for the Dragons.

Although Dallas Marsh has seen significantly less minutes since his Freshman year, he still works hard and brings energy when he's on the floor. No time was that needed more than to break a tie early in the second half. Marsh received the ball off a double screen and pump faked before driving to the basket. Not only did Marsh make a layup, but he burned four Bonnies in the process. On the next possession, Marsh was open in the corner as the defense sagged off in its 2-3. His three pointer gave the Dragons their biggest lead of the game: 5.

It would be the last points Marsh scored, but it would open the door for everyone else to get involved. The team got stuck in on defense and shut down both the paint and the perimeter. Duncan Sow and Femi Ramsey combined for 7 blocks during the closing stretch. Most importantly, St. Bonaventure was held to an appalling 16 points in the entire second half.

But because the Dragons had trouble shooting, the game remained in reach until the closing minutes. Femi Ramsey continued to keep the Dragons head, but it was Woody Morandais who closed the deal by sinking two three pointers in three possessions.

As a whole, the game was a slow, defensive grind that seemed to favor St. Bonaventure. But credit the Dragons, they managed to find a way to win against a very tough for and advance to face the Kansas Jayhawks by a final score of 63-54.

St. Bonaventure Bonnies at Drexel Dragons
Mar 21, 2016	1ST	2ND	SCORE
#10 St. Bonaventure (21-10)	38	16	54
#7 Drexel (26-6)	35	28	63

St. Bonaventure Bonnies (RPI: 35 OVR: 81)
STARTERS	MIN	FGM-A	3PM-A	FTM-A	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TO	PTS
M. Higgins	24	2-11	0-2	4-4	3	3	0	1	0	8
D. Hampton	25	7-12	0-0	0-0	3	1	0	0	1	14
J. Hooper	20	1-7	0-2	0-0	3	0	1	0	0	2
D. Ray	20	5-10	0-0	0-0	7	1	1	2	0	10
L. Hazel	24	4-8	1-3	0-0	2	5	2	0	1	9
BENCH	MIN	FGM-A	3PM-A	FTM-A	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TO	PTS
D. Wilder	3	1-2	0-0	0-0	2	0	0	0	1	2
E. Jennings	14	2-9	0-1	1-2	6	0	0	0	0	5
D. Shimokawa	12	2-4	0-0	0-2	13	3	2	0	2	4
J. Gibbs	2	0-1	0-1	0-0	0	0	0	0	0	0
K. Spaulding	7	0-0	0-0	0-0	2	0	0	0	0	0
TEAM TOTALS		24-64	1-9	5-8	29	13	6	3	5	54

Drexel Dragons (RPI: 31 OVR: 89)
STARTERS	MIN	FGM-A	3PM-A	FTM-A	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TO	PTS
S. Legans	22	2-5	0-2	0-0	2	8	0	0	3	4
D. Braxton	19	1-8	1-5	0-2	5	2	0	0	0	3
W. Morandais	19	4-8	3-4	0-0	2	2	1	0	1	11
D. Sow	12	3-6	0-0	0-0	4	1	0	3	0	6
F. Ramsey	23	10-11	0-0	3-4	2	3	1	6	1	23
BENCH	MIN	FGM-A	3PM-A	FTM-A	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TO	PTS
T. Cottrill	13	3-9	0-0	2-2	3	0	0	1	0	8
D. Richard	12	0-1	0-1	0-0	4	1	0	0	1	0
K. Dean	8	0-2	0-1	0-0	0	0	0	0	2	0
D. Marsh	10	2-2	1-1	0-0	2	1	1	0	0	5
J. Vassallo	2	0-0	0-0	0-0	1	0	0	0	0	0
G. McLaughlin	8	1-2	0-0	1-1	2	1	1	1	0	3
H. Padilla	-- DID NOT PLAY --
TEAM TOTALS		26-54	5-14	6-9	27	19	4	11	8	63

Coach's Take: It's a testament to the team's character that we were able to shrug off our early shooting trouble and lock in on defense. Some nights the ball is just always going to find the rim instead of the net. Fortunately we were able to escape by stopping their offense. But we need to find our shooting touch fast if we want to stick around in this dance.

[waytofailself]

Re: The Accidental Career of Guy West (CH2k8)

2016 First Round Results

Another NCAA Tournament, another bunch of hopes and dreams crushed on the opening day of the Dance. So goes the one-and-done nature of one of the greatest happenings of sports. That's what makes it so compelling. That's why we love to watch. This year may not have been as "upside down" as last year, but it was definitely not short on drama.

East Regional
#1 Missouri 97 #16 Mississippi Valley State 67
#8 Memphis 73 #9 UNLV 70
#5 Oklahoma State 79 vs #12 Utah 70
#4 West Virginia 90 #13 Georgetown 80
#6 Florida Atlantic 80 #11 Iowa 89
#3 LSU 91 #14 Norfolk State 94
#7 Ohio State 80 #10 California 56
#2 Marquette 76 #15 Southern Utah 71

The biggest upset of the day came early, as Norfolk State got 32 points from Senior big man Greg Seymour en route to a last gasp victory over Tournament Dark Horse Favorite LSU. Meanwhile, Marquette got a scare from Southern Utah, but it was not the biggest scare of the Round (more on that later). Iowa shocked no one by offing the Florida Atlantic Owls, and and Memphis managed to pull away a victory from the jaws of defeat from the free throw line. Otherwise the East Regional maintains the status quo.

West Regional
#1 NC State 91 #16 Winthrop 49
#8 Tennessee 88 #9 Temple 82
#5 Oklahoma 77 #12 Elon 83
#4 Ole Miss 86 #13 Montana 70
#6 North Carolina 94 #11 Arizona State 79
#3 Iona 71 #14 Missouri State 77
#7 Nebraska 90 #10 Saint Mary’s 76
#2 Connecticut 99 #15 Monmouth 65

In a regional devoid if many close games, there were still some significant shake ups. The Elon Phoenix rode a strong game from Brandon Gooden to defeat the Big 12 Champion Oklahoma Sooners. Meanwhile, Missouri State is up to their party-crashing ways after throwing the brakes on Iona's fiery offense. Everyone else advanced without much controversy, but North Carolina has to be wary of facing the Bears after seeing how much damage they did in the Tournament last year.

South Regional
#1 UCLA 85 #16 Stetson 83
#8 DePaul 83 #9 Clemson 89
#5 Oregon 90 #12 Troy 72
#4 Vanderbilt 75 #13 Butler 69
#6 Cincinnati 74 #11 Loyola Marymount 56
#3 Washington State 76 #14 UMBC 50
#7 Gonzaga 71 #10 Stanford 73
#2 Louisville 81 #15 Princeton 53

History almost happened. Stetson led by 4 at the half and as much as 10 in the first half. But UCLA did just enough to overcome a spirited effort by the Cowboys. Meanwhile, DePaul's proud return to the NCAA Tournament was spoiled early, and Stanford out shot Gonzaga in the second half. Finally, Vanderbilt faced a strong effort from Butler, but a big second half from Emmet Frank gave the Commodores the separation they needed to advance.

Midwest Regional
#1 Purdue 94 #16 Towson 64
#8 Duke 86 #9 UC Irvine 60
#5 Villanova 74 #12 Utah State 72
#4 Arizona 84 #13 Western Michigan 79
#6 Xavier 44 #11 Maryland 85
#3 Georgia Tech 100 #14 Tennessee Martin 72
#7 Drexel 63 #10 St. Bonaventure 54
#2 Kansas 96 #15 UT-Arlington 75

If anyone was debating whether the ACC was deep this year, and they really should not, look no further than Maryland's demolition job of Xavier. The Terps will face Georgia Tech, who looked equally efficient in blasting the Skyhawks. Utah State's dreams of another deep tournament run were dashed by a last second shot by Villanova. The defending champs may soon have their dreams dashed as well against Kansas. The Drexel Dragons looked very vulnerable in their opening round win.

[waytofailself]

Re: The Accidental Career of Guy West (CH2k8)

Round 2 Preview: #2 Kansas vs #7 Drexel

Credit Coach West, he has never been one to back down from a challenge. Not that has a choice, considering he has no say over the bracket or how it breaks down. But in the whole of Drexel's championship run last season, the Dragons never faced a team the likes of Kansas. Its entire starting 5 could be playing in the NBA today -- and not just warming the bench either. The Big 12 Powerhouse is poised for a deep tournament run, but they are not going to be looking past the Dragons. The element of surprise went away the moment the Dragons started cutting down those nets.

No one gets the easy road to the Sweet Sixteen today.

Keys to the Game

1) Use Star Power: Everyone in the Pepsi Center knows there is one player the Dragons are going to have to lean on today. The only player who could possibly crack the Kansas starting 5: Femi Ramsey. Coach West is not afraid to use him, and today the Dragons are going to have to lean on him. But there's a catch. The Dragons can't just stand around and watch him on defense, and they cannot expose him to foul trouble. Ramsey needs to be the focal point, not the only moving piece.
2) Survive: You know the popular Tournament saying? Survive and advance? If Drexel is going to win today, they're going to need to survive. Kansas is going to go on a run. Kansas is going to flex its talent again and again. If the Dragons can weather the storm and keep their head, they can keep it close. If the Dragons are within 5 points in the final few minutes, they'll have a shot.

To evaluate the Kansas Jayhawks, it is probably best to get a look at the big picture first:

They have quite possibly the best Starting 5 in the country, and maybe the most talented team as a whole. The top 9 players in their rotation are all better than a few of the Dragons players. It is no surprise that they are ranked #1 in the country, and it is almost shocking that they were not seeded #1. But the committee was not impressed with their out of conference schedule, and it was a bit of an off-year for the Big 12 as a whole.

The Jayhawks finished first in the Big 12, but lost to Oklahoma State in the Big 12 Tournament semi-finals. But Bill Self has been down that road before, and his team has collected itself and is ready to take their talent all the way to the Final Four. The Jayhawks have size, they have skills, and they can shoot. Their backcourt of Mose Fray and Norman Northcutt is better than any other in the nation. They can both shoot from anywhere on the floor and are absolute ball hawks on defense. Kevan Crawford is a destructive force in the low block, and few shots get by Butch Schmieder.

If the game were played on paper, this would be no contest. But the Jayhawks are far too aware of what happens when they take their eyes off the prize.

Keys to the Game

1) Run and Gun: Drexel likes to go a fast pace, but Kansas is one of the few teams that can go even faster. Highlight fast break plays not only get the crowd involved, they also demoralize the other team. More importantly, if the Jayhawks can keep the pace to where it wears out Drexel's starting five, they will be able to match their superior conditioning against the Dragon's much weaker bench.
2) Attack the Wings: Coach West's squad had struggled to stop teams that can shoot over their defense, especially ones that can exploit space along the baseline and along the wings. The Jayhawks will need to move the ball to take advantage of the Dragons weak spots on defense -- especially their young back court. Coach Self had to be salivating as he saw game tape where St. Bonaventure missed open three after open three after open three. If those shots are available tonight, his squad will easily bury the Dragons.

For all the star-studded fire power, this game actually will tip off the Second Round as teams vie for a spot in the Sweet Sixteen. The winner of the game faces the winner of the #3 Georgia Tech vs #11 Maryland match up later today.

[VandyRedskins21]

Re: The Accidental Career of Guy West (CH2k8)

I'm predicting that Femi Ramsey is gonna carry you to the sweet 16. It doesn't look like Kansas has anyone who has the size to handle him. Good luck

[waytofailself]

Re: The Accidental Career of Guy West (CH2k8)

I'm predicting that Femi Ramsey is gonna carry you to the sweet 16. It doesn't look like Kansas has anyone who has the size to handle him. Good luck

Ha, I see two people from that screen grab at least.

Unfortunately, laptop battery ate my post, so I will have to wait to churn it out until tomorrow.

[waytofailself]

Re: The Accidental Career of Guy West (CH2k8)

#2 Kansas vs. #7 Drexel

We knew Coach Guy West and Coach Bill Self were great recruiters. Today's game was a test of which Coach is a better motivator.

For two teams who have "been there" and "done that," it is a bit of a surprise that both would come out tight. The Dragons started in the 1-3-1 and tried to work the inside out game. Kansas attempted to get bucket after bucket after bucket. But both teams could not get a shot to save their lives. West and Self made continuous adjustments, but they matched parry to parry and thrust to thrust.

Credit the Dragons, they were hanging with one of the best teams in the entire country after faltering against lowly Colonial Athletic Association opponents. But inevitably it would have to break. Mose Fray began to take charge and attack the basket, and Norman Northcutt began to exploit the weak parts in Drexel's zone. Soon the basket got a whole lot bigger for the Jayhawks, and Coach West called time out after Kansas jumped to an 11 point lead.

Cameras caught very clearly what Coach West told his team in the huddle. He did not have his usual fiery demeanor about him, instead directing his players with a more determined tone:

"Look, we knew this was coming. They'll jump out, then go for the knock out blow. They try and crush teams early, but get vulnerable when they can't. Keep your head in it, we're going man to man. Stay in front of your man. Keep your feet under you. Woody stay tight on Fray. We're going to turn them into a bunch of jump shooters."

It was a different approach then the bulk of yelling and screaming the Dragons have been used to hearing during defensive breakdowns in conference season. And the message clicked. The switch to man-to-man made it easier to disguise defenses and switch players appropriately. No longer could Northcutt attack the weak spots of the zone, and no longer could Crawford attempt to exploit the baseline.

The Dragons chipped their deficit. Kansas took the jump shot opportunities the Dragons gave them -- but they were not falling. The crowd came to a roar when Drexel took their first lead of the game in the closing seconds of the first half off a bank shot in the post by Ramsey.

The lead did not come easy. Both teams were shooting under 40 percent, and the Dragons had shot themselves in the foot by committing 7 turnovers in the first half -- mostly due to Kansas' fast hands on defense. However, the Dragons were able get to the line and hit free throws to get back into the game. Coach Self had to be beside himself -- the Jayhawks had not shot a single free throw. And it was not because of referees not calling fouls, but because his players had backed off their aggression.

Just as West had predicted, the #1 Ranked and #2 seeded Jayhawks' confidence crumbled to vulnerability. Indecisiveness. In the Big 12 Tournament the Jayhawks lost because they thought they won in the first 10 minutes. And Coach Self would not allow the same breakdown to happen two weeks in a row.

Except the Dragons came out an entirely different team in the second half. Focused. Energized. And quite frankly, just a little bit pissed off.

"We knew what we had to do," said Femi Ramsey after the game, "Coach knew it too. We knew how to win it in the second half."

Drexel's 7 first half turnovers? A thing of the past. Settling for jump shots? Not when Legans, Morandais, and Baxton all attacked the basket. But as determined as the Dragons were, it would still take one sequence to get them on a roll.

Ramsey & Braxton's tenacity fired up the Dragons in the second half.

Femi Ramsey slammed the ball right over top of Butch Schmieder. Looking to bounce back quickly, the Jayhawks tried to inbound the ball quickly and work their way up the floor fast -- except Dez Braxton was waiting to jump on the pass. Enough of the Jayhawks saw the interception to get in position, but instead of holding up the ball or taking a quick jump shot, Braxton attacked the basket and scored a layup over two Kansas defenders.

The outburst put the Dragons on a roll that they would never quite come off of. Coach West wisely decided to ride it out, leaving his starters on the floor for most of the half. Braxton, Legans, and Morandais each hawked the passing lanes and created baskets on the other end. And although Duncan Sow was struggling to find his shot on offense, he remained a disruptive presence on defense.

Of course, Femi Ramsey continued to assert his will in the middle when the ball reached to him. Going in, the Dragons knew they would need to get a lot from Ramsey's supporting cast. And in the second half, it was an entire team effort.

There is a rub though. Matching Drexel's team against Kansas' squad, the Jayhawks still have more talent. And it would be Coach Self who would make the final push. The Jayhawks tightened their defense one last time and for the first time since early in the game the three ball began to start falling. Two quick baskets by R. (that's actually his first name) Gola cracked Drexel's 9 point lead all the way down to 3 with less than two minutes to go.

If you had asked the Dragons before the game if they would have liked to be ahead by three at this stage, all of them would have said yes. But maybe not under these circumstances with Kansas heating up.

The Dragons needed an answer. Ramsey had been pulling the team through spots like this for the past four years. Tonight we may have seen a passing of the torch.

Shannon Legans hits the clutch three with 1:22 to go -- but the game was far from over.

The Jayhawks were lined up in a match-up zone, and Ramsey received a feed from Morandais in the middle on the low block. It is a perfect position for Ramsey, who over the years has become a far more adept passer out of the post. Shannon Legans snaked his way through the middle to get behind the three point line along the baseline. Northcutt knew what was coming when Ramsey threw the pass to the corner, but he was a step too slow. Legans rose up from beyond the arc and buried the three to push Drexel's lead back to 6.

The Jayhawks needed points fast, but they wisely did not start attempting to chuck three pointers in desperation. Not with over a minute left in the game. Instead, Northcutt attacked the basket and was fouled on the way up. The ball hanged on the rim, but eventually rolled harmlessly off the side. It would be two of the biggest trip to the line in Northcutt's career -- Kansas needed these points to get back into the game.

But the Senior Captain of the Jayhawks missed both free throws.

The Dragons took the ball back down the floor to burn the clock, and Ramsey was fouled in the post with 34 seconds to go. Forced to foul, the Jawhawks sent Shannon Legans to the line for a 1-and-1.

But the Freshman Point Guard missed the front end. Kansas still had life and worked the ball quickly down the floor, this time throwing up the desperation three pointer Coach Self so wanted to avoid. It rang harmlessly off the rim and was rebounded by Morandais, who could only hit half of the one-and-one. Still, a 7 point lead in the closing seconds made it a three possession game.

That lead looked far more perilous when Karl Konopka hit a miraculous three point shot with fifteen seconds left. Down by 4, the Jayhawks eagerly fouled Freshman Shannon Legans and waited to watch him crack under the pressure.

He did not. Legans coolly hit both free throws to extend Drexel's lead to six. Then, as the Jayhawks attempted to get the ball quickly up court, Dez Braxton once again tipped a lob pass. This time the ball bounced straight to Legans, who was fouled and sent to the line. The Freshman put the game out of reach by hitting two more free throws to make the score 65-57.

A lot has been made about the Dragons having to break in a new back court this year and just how much of an impact West's departing Seniors had on last year's title run. Well, this is this year, and today the Dragons showed that they have grown up in a hurry. Today it's the Dragons' team effort that carries the day -- and it was the young guns that led the way to victory.

Kansas Jayhawks at Drexel Dragons
Mar 23, 2016	1ST	2ND	SCORE
#2 Kansas (26-6)	31	26	57
#7 Drexel (27-6)	32	33	65

Kansas Jayhawks (RPI: 9 OVR: 94)
STARTERS	MIN	FGM-A	3PM-A	FTM-A	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TO	PTS
N. Northcutt	25	2-8	1-5	0-2	1	6	1	2	3	5
M. Frey	23	4-15	1-3	1-2	1	1	0	0	0	10
R. Goia	16	4-8	2-2	0-0	3	2	2	0	0	10
K. Crawford	24	4-7	0-0	0-0	10	1	0	3	0	8
B. Schmieder	24	5-8	0-0	0-0	4	1	2	2	1	10
BENCH	MIN	FGM-A	3PM-A	FTM-A	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TO	PTS
K. Konopka	12	2-7	1-3	0-0	2	3	0	0	1	5
C. Adeleke	10	1-2	0-0	0-0	2	0	1	0	1	2
B. Waller	8	1-3	1-1	0-0	2	0	2	0	0	3
R. James	8	2-4	0-0	0-0	1	0	0	1	2	4
L. Cummings	-- DID NOT PLAY --
T. Hamilton	-- DID NOT PLAY --
D. Haynes	-- DID NOT PLAY --
TEAM TOTALS		25-62	6-14	1-4	26	14	8	8	8	57

Drexel Dragons (RPI: 31 OVR: 89)
STARTERS	MIN	FGM-A	3PM-A	FTM-A	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TO	PTS
S. Legans	25	3-8	2-5	5-7	3	8	3	0	0	13
D. Braxton	26	2-4	0-0	0-0	3	1	2	0	1	4
W. Morandais	23	2-4	0-1	2-5	6	3	1	0	0	6
D. Sow	21	2-7	0-0	3-4	9	0	1	2	2	7
F. Ramsey	23	9-16	0-0	4-5	5	5	0	0	4	22
BENCH	MIN	FGM-A	3PM-A	FTM-A	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TO	PTS
T. Cottrill	10	1-3	0-0	1-2	1	0	0	0	0	3
D. Richard	7	2-3	2-3	0-0	3	0	0	1	0	6
K. Dean	5	0-2	0-0	0-0	0	2	0	0	0	0
D. Marsh	4	0-2	0-1	0-0	0	0	0	0	0	0
G. McLaughlin	6	2-3	0-0	0-0	2	0	0	2	2	4
J. Vassallo	-- DID NOT PLAY --
H. Padilla	-- DID NOT PLAY --
TEAM TOTALS		23-52	4-10	15-23	32	19	7	5	9	65

Coach's Take: We played a complete game. Unbelievable. We got their best shot twice and managed to overcome. Our players stayed focused even when the shots weren't falling. We committed ourselves to defense and taking care of the ball in the second half. But credit has to the young men in the locker room at half time. I could see the transformation. This was a side of them that I have been waiting for them to show all year. We know Ramsey has it and Sow has it. But to see everyone step up like they did. To take the lead. Incredible.

[VandyRedskins21]

Re: The Accidental Career of Guy West (CH2k8)

Wow great win! That seems like one of those wins where you worked so hard and put so much effort into it that after the game, you just feel so lightheaded and you just have that weird laugh where you can't believe you pulled that off. Good luck in the second weekend!

[waytofailself]

Re: The Accidental Career of Guy West (CH2k8)

Great win! Though I definitely don't think you're out of the woods just yet. Both of the teams you face always seem to give me a good shot in the NCAAs, so I expect the same in the Sweet 16.

Yep, that's the nice part about the NCAA's. They're never easy.

[waytofailself]

Re: The Accidental Career of Guy West (CH2k8)

Wow great win! That seems like one of those wins where you worked so hard and put so much effort into it that after the game, you just feel so lightheaded and you just have that weird laugh where you can't believe you pulled that off. Good luck in the second weekend!

Thanks. It was definitely one of those wins where, during the middle of the second half, I thought to myself "this is really happening isn't it." Everything bounced my way fortunately.

[waytofailself]

Re: The Accidental Career of Guy West (CH2k8)

2016 Second Round Results

The sky is falling. The rivers are running with the blood of the elite, and the carnage of the second round will send shock waves that reverberate through the rest of the tournament. Three #1 seeds have fallen, and so have three #2 seeds, three #3 seeds, and two #4 seeds. It's anyone's Tournament now. Time to take a closer look.

East Regional
#1 Missouri 85 #8 Memphis 87
#5 Oklahoma State 65 #4 West Virginia 49
#11 Iowa 90 #14 Norfolk State 91
#7 Ohio State 92 #2 Marquette 83

With a clutch block of Missouri's last second shot attempt, the Memphis Tigers assured that none of the top four seeds will advance out of a the opening two rounds to the sweet sixteen. Unbelievable. Oklahoma State put the clamps down on the Mountaineers, while Ohio State pulled away from Marquette in the second half. And if it were not for Memphis' upset, Norfolk State's second consecutive last second victory may have gone down as the game of the Tournament.

West Regional
#1 NC State 73 #8 Tennessee 85
#12 Elon 68 #4 Ole Miss 90
#6 North Carolina 97 #14 Missouri State 92
#7 Nebraska 75 #2 Connecticut 73

The Wolfpack really thought they had a shot at greatness, but they will have to return to Raleigh and pick up the pieces after a disastrous game against the Tennessee Volunteers. North Carolina edged out Missouri State thanks to superior shooting from the free throw line, and Nebraska held on from a furious Connecticut comeback to make an incredibly unlikely run to the sweet sixteen.

South Regional
#1 UCLA 85 #9 Clemson 69
#5 Oregon 85 #4 Vanderbilt 49
#6 Cincinnati 69 #3 Washington State 65
#10 Stanford 85 #2 Louisville 87

At least one regional maintains some semblance of the status quo. UCLA redeemed itself with a huge win over Clemson, while Louisville got everything it could handle from Stanford. But of all the performances today, Oregon's destruction of Vanderbilt may be the most noteworthy. The Ducks have had a disappointing season after cracking the preseason Top 5, but it looks like they might finally be putting things together.

Midwest Regional
#1 Purdue 64 #8 Duke 67
#5 Villanova 73 #4 Arizona 83
#11 Maryland 68 #3 Georgia Tech 108
#7 Drexel 65 #2 Kansas 57

Another regional, another #1 and #2 failing to advance. Duke managed to finish off the Boilermakers are building a large second half lead, while Drexel sealed their upset victory at the free throw line. Can the defending champs make another run? They will face quite the obstacle in Georgia Tech, who completely manhandled Maryland.

[waytofailself]

Re: The Accidental Career of Guy West (CH2k8)

Sweet Sixteen Preview: #3 Georgia Tech vs #7 Drexel

Not all paths to the Final Four are created equal, but Georgia Tech and Drexel have not had easy roads. But after facing tough competition throughout the season, both teams are battle tested and ready. It's just four more games to glory. Drexel has been down this path before. The question now is whether Georgia Tech is ready to seize greatness with a Regional that has broken in their favor. Or will Coach West find a way to keep the unlikely run going.

Keys to the Game

1) Hit Open Shots: As thrilling as Drexel's victory was over Kansas, and as expected as the win over St. Bonaventure was, the Dragons could have faced a lot less drama in the first week of games by getting the ball in the hoop. Both opponents gave the Dragons plenty of open looks. They converted enough to get by with stellar defense for the first two rounds. But miss enough opportunities and it will come back to bite the Dragons.
2) Stay Disciplined: Sometimes the Dragons are their own worst enemy -- especially against press happy teams. Eager to move the ball up the floor, the Dragons get careless. Eager to make put back baskets, the ball gets stripped out of bigs' hands. That is points taken off the table or fed to the opponent. The Yellow Jackets will press early and press often -- Coach West's guards need to be prepared to help each other out.

The Yellow Jackets are a Swiss Army Knife kind of team. They do a little bit of everything else, and can adapt to the given situation. After finishing 3rd in the ACC, the Yellow Jackets won the Conference Tournament by crushing Duke in the final.

Georgia Tech is a difficult team to defend for two reasons. Coach Hewitt's team is second in the Nation in three point percentage at 39.6%, but the focal point of their offense is Junior Center Attarrius Echols. Thus, their strategy is similar to the Dragons -- attack the inside to free up the outside, where Bryson Proffitt and Mire Krager can do their damage. Part of the danger when preparing for the Yellow Jackets is preparing for their versatility.

Keys to the Game

1) Keep the Heat On: If there is one link between Tech's victories over Maryland and Tennessee Martin, it was their hot shooting. The Yellow Jackets have been lights out so far this Tournament from all over the court. If they can maintain their production despite the four day layoff between games, they can exploit any number of defensive mismatches against Drexel's young back court.
2) Pound for Pound: Georgia Tech bullied their way through the ACC by being the most physical team in the Conference. Drexel is no stranger to being the bully, and in fact loves to shove around the competition. But sometimes they don't know what to do when teams shove back. If Echols and company can assert their presence early against the Dragons, they will be much closer to advancing to the Elite Eight.

The Yellow Jackets and Dragons are both extremely talented and more than deserve to be here. But tonight's game is going to come down to the little things. The small mental mistakes. Despite the prestige gap between the conferences these two teams hail from, this #3 vs #7 match up seems more like a mirror match. Which team will have better production in the paint? Which team's shooters will keep defenses honest.

And most importantly: who has what it takes to reach the next round?

[waytofailself]

Re: The Accidental Career of Guy West (CH2k8)

#3 Georgia Tech vs. #7 Drexel

It is one thing to face a talented team, only to be overcome because of superior talent. It would be understandable, if unfortunate.

It is another matter entirely when a team loses when it outplays its opponent, but cannot overcome its own mistakes.

Georgia Tech was in trouble early. The Dragons started the game by doing something Tech's previous opponents were hesitant to do: by attacking the basket. The Yellow Jackets' star center could not do damage from the bench, and Drexel forced Echols into two fouls early in the first half. It was smooth sailing from there. The Dragons continued to attack the basket, and Georgia Tech's collection of big men continued to college fouls.

But there was a problem. It manifested itself early when Femi Ramsey missed his first two free throws in the game. It became far clearer when Tracy Cottrill, normally a lights out free throw shooter, missed his first two from the line. For whatever reason, the Georgia Tech crowd in attendance was able to get into the Dragons' head. Or worse, the Dragons had done it themselves.

So both teams were facing problems in the first half. Georgia Tech was down, and their team needed to right the ship after committing 17 fouls in the first half. But that problem was temporary and resolve itself. The bigger issue faced Guy West's squad, who somehow managed to choke at the line. Despite shooting 24 free throws in the first half, the Dragons only managed to make 8.

At the rate the Dragons had been shooting they should have been up by at least 14 points at the half and in charge of the game. Instead, the Dragons clung to a three point lead.

With Echols back on the court at the start of the second half, the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets showed why they were so dangerous. Although the star center was contained on offense, he did most of his damage on defense shutting down and constantly stripping the ball from Femi Ramsey in the second half. Then the Jackets supporting cast began to hit shots, including three shots from beyond the arc by Stuart Nelson, and Drexel's lead was a thing of the past. The Dragons were suddenly down by nine, and the trips to the free throw line had ground to a halt.

Coach West needed a change. He tried a fast lineup. That did not work too well. He tried a large lineup, and that performed good enough to compete but not good enough to dent the lead. It wasn't until Coach West told his players to stop trying to force the ball inside that they began to make a come back.

The Dragons fought hard to get into comeback mode. Kentrell Dean, who had been in West's dog house all tournament, hit a three. Then Morandais hit a three, then another three. The Dragons offense was alive. Things were heating up.

But once again problems began to brew. Every time the Dragons would make a positive play, they would end up turning the ball over on the next play. Good plays were hard to come by in sequence, and while the Dragons chipped away at the lead, a turnover would turn into another quick Georgia Tech basket.

But with time winding down, Georgia Tech managed to breathe some life into the Dragons. Up by four, Kody Cunningham missed a free throw and left the Dragons with a lifeline with less than 20 seconds to go.

Shannon Legans took the ball down the court. Despite being cold all game, and as has been the case this Tournament, Legans decided to take matters into his own hands.

Shannon Legans drills a three to bring the Dragons within striking distance.

Legans took the ball through the half court and veered right as he was matched up man to man. He did not have a clear look or ideal opening, but with the clock ticking away he didn't hesitate. He dribbled up to the three point line and shot. The ball sailed in the air, bounced off the backboard and rim, but settled in the net with 12 seconds to play.

The Dragons were down by two and had to foul. But this time Cunningham hit both free throws. The Dragons only had ten seconds left with no times outs to get the ball down the court for a final three point shot and be ready to foul again. And once again, Shannon Legans pulled through with another three pointer from the top of the Key to pull the Dragons within one.

Another foul on the in-bounds pass with 2 seconds to go left Georgia Tech with an opportunity to push their lead to three. This time it was Roland Bey who stepped up and hit both free throws to extend the lead.

Once again, no time outs. One again, the Dragons had to hit a three to stay alive. The pass had to be perfect and the shot had to be true. The Yellow Jackets could attempt to foul on the in-bounds pass but risk fouling during a shot. Better to not foul at all.

It was all on Woody Morandais now. The Sophomore had to make the right pass to the right player and the shot had to go up immediately. The Yellow Jackets had to be prepared for the in-bounds pass but could not afford to foul on the shot.

Instead, Bryson Proffitt intercepted the long in-bounds lob by Morandais at mid court and threw the ball high into the air. The clock ran out, and Georgia Tech advanced in a relatively fortuitous win by the final margin of 81-78.

Drexel Dragons at Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets
Mar 28, 2016	1ST	2ND	SCORE
#7 Drexel (28-6)	39	39	78
#3 Georgia Tech (23-9)	42	39	81

Drexel Dragons (RPI: 31 OVR: 89)
STARTERS	MIN	FGM-A	3PM-A	FTM-A	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TO	PTS
S. Legans	22	3-9	2-5	0-0	2	4	1	0	2	8
D. Braxton	24	4-7	0-1	0-2	1	4	1	0	0	8
W. Morandais	18	4-5	3-4	0-0	4	0	1	1	2	11
D. Sow	23	2-7	0-0	4-9	5	2	0	1	1	8
F. Ramsey	22	10-17	0-0	3-7	7	4	2	1	3	23
BENCH	MIN	FGM-A	3PM-A	FTM-A	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TO	PTS
T. Cottrill	14	6-6	0-0	1-4	2	0	1	3	0	13
D. Richard	9	1-3	0-0	0-0	3	2	0	0	0	2
K. Dean	7	1-2	1-1	0-0	1	3	0	0	0	3
D. Marsh	6	0-1	0-1	1-2	2	0	1	0	0	1
J. Vassallo	1	0-0	0-0	0-0	1	0	0	0	1	0
G. McLaughlin	3	0-3	0-0	1-2	1	1	0	0	0	1
H. Padilla	-- DID NOT PLAY --
TEAM TOTALS		31-60	6-12	10-26	29	20	7	6	9	78

Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (RPI: 23 OVR: 92)
STARTERS	MIN	FGM-A	3PM-A	FTM-A	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TO	PTS
K. Cunningham	25	6-11	0-2	3-4	3	3	0	0	1	15
M. Krager	20	5-8	0-1	0-1	2	3	1	0	1	10
B. Proffitt	25	7-14	1-3	1-1	11	5	1	1	0	16
D. Bathie	18	4-6	0-0	0-0	3	1	2	2	0	8
A. Echols	15	1-2	0-0	0-0	1	0	3	1	1	2
BENCH	MIN	FGM-A	3PM-A	FTM-A	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TO	PTS
S. Nelson	17	6-10	3-4	0-0	0	4	0	0	3	15
V. Felton	7	2-4	0-0	0-0	0	1	1	0	0	4
W. Tafo	2	0-1	0-0	0-0	1	0	0	0	0	0
D. McCullough	6	1-2	0-1	0-0	1	1	0	0	0	2
R. Bey	6	1-2	0-0	4-4	1	1	0	0	0	6
T. Bland	7	1-1	0-0	1-1	4	1	0	0	1	3
S. Watts	1	0-0	0-0	0-0	1	0	0	0	0	0
TEAM TOTALS		34-61	4-11	9-11	28	20	8	4	7	81

Coach's Take: That's a bitter pill to swallow, especially when we have shot so well at the line all year. We did not need to be in the position we were at the end of the game. We left points on the line, and we gave away points at the end of the game. Three turnovers in the final two minutes is just back breaking when you put yourself at that kind of disadvantage. When the margin of victory is that close, the margin of error is miniscule. We should be the ones moving on, but for whatever reason the pressure finally caught up with us.

Dalton Murray (Washington Daily News): Now that the season is over, would you care to comment on whether rumors of you taking over the job at Maryland.

Coach West: This is not the time or the place to discuss that. Let's just talk about the game.

[Knickerbocker91]

Re: The Accidental Career of Guy West (CH2k8)

Tough loss. Imagine a quiet locker room after this one. 16 missed free throws, that's going to stick in the air for a while.

Good luck next season.