Marquette 2003

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=90 BGCOLOR="#006699" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="002285a1erlcgo.gif"> <div> <FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#FFCC66" FACE="Arial" ><B>www.chapmansfriend.com</B></FONT><B>     |     </B><A HREF="default.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="www.chapmansfriend.com"><U><B>home</B></U></A></div> <div>                                                   </div> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" width=210 BGCOLOR="#FFCC66" TEXT="#080000" background="001d2c00dkelyh.gif"> <div> <A HREF="id29.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="MinutebyMinute."><U>Minute-by-Minute.</U></A></div> </td> <td valign="top" height=390 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <I>Marquette 2003</I></div> <div> During the World Cup games last summer, one of the fun things I found on the Internet was a section in <A HREF="http://www.guardian.co.uk" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.guardian.co.uk"><U><I>The Guardian</I></U></A><I> </I>website where each match was recapped as it was happening, with updates coming in each couple of minutes. Even if you were watching each particular match, it was fun to keep up with the recaps because it was interesting to see the match through the eyes of somebody else.</div> <div> This is not <I>quite </I>the same thing, because I'm not updating during the games themselves, but as long as Marquette is still playing in the NCAA tournament, and as long as I'm able to see the game, I'm going to keep a running commentary on the action, posting the whole thing afterwards. I don't claim that these will be as entertaining as the <I>Guardian </I>updates, but let's see what happens.</div> <bR> <div> APRIL 5:</div> <div> Marquette vs. Kansas</div> <div> National Semifinals</div> <bR> <div> 3:00-- Pregame show starts… and within 30 seconds, I see a Marquette montage including shots of Al McGuire. That's a partial answer to my question-- how long will it take to reference Al, and what will be the other “human interest” story from MU that they emphasize? It will probably be one of the following:</div> <div> Trey Schwab's impending lung transplant;</div> <div> Travis Diener's cousin in Iraq; and</div> <div> Dwyane Wade's wife and kid</div> <div> It will be at least one of those, and probably all of them. The media are utterly predictable, like dumb beasts.</div> <bR> <div> 3:04-- Tom Izzo is analyst on the pregame. A good omen? Tom Crean came out of Izzo's staff at MSU.</div> <bR> <div> 3:06-- Bonnie Bernstein reporting… mmmm…</div> <bR> <div> 3:11-- We have a winner! A teaser for an upcoming feature on the Wade family.</div> <bR> <div> 3:34-- Not so fast! Airing first is a mention on the Dieners.</div> <bR> <div> 3:40-- Here's something I just found out in the last few minutes… I've been idly wondering what Bob Dukiet is doing these days, since he represented the low point of Marquette basketball in the 80's. Turns out he coached Division II for a few years, then retired to play gigs as a piano player in Florida. Wow, that was a hard fall.</div> <bR> <div> 3:41-- They are now showing the Kansas team getting off the bus at the Superdome, dressed in suits and ties. Oddly, when Marquette arrived a few minutes ago, they were already in uniform. Some Superdome locker room jinx I don't know about?</div> <bR> <div> 3:51-- Rick Majerus just picked us to win, big surprise…</div> <bR> <div> 4:07-- Interview with Trey Schwab… that's the triple play.</div> <bR> <div> 4:53-- Not a lot to note the last 45 minutes… there was a short glimpse inside the MU locker room. Tipoff is still almost 15 minutes away. </div> <bR> <div> Before the Kentucky game, I wrote that Marquette could win, but that it would be expecting a lot. I would still have to give Kansas an edge, but if we can keep playing the same way we did against Kentucky…</div> <bR> <div> I think the key to the game will be not what Wade does-- Kansas will probably plan some scheme to slow him down-- but what Diener and Merritt can do. If Diener can hit some three-pointers and keep from committing turnovers, and if Merritt can get position inside, we can take the pressure off Wade. It would also be great if we could get Kansas into foul trouble, since they are thin on the bench-- even Kansas newspaper commentators note that.</div> <bR> <div> 4:59-- Let's win this one for all the small schools who never got a chance to be here. No, wait, I've watched <I>Hoosiers </I>too often.</div> <bR> <div> 5:00-- Jim Nantz and Billy Packer. Ick. Another “X” factor-- can Novak keep shooting the way he's been shooting?</div> <bR> <div> 5:04-- Almost game time. Pessimistic as always, I predict a 5 point loss, but I'm willing to be persuaded otherwise.</div> <bR> <div> 5:05-- Introductions. CBS continues its idiosyncratic use of player's signatures in the opening intros.</div> <bR> <div> 5:06-- A reminder-- Collison and Hinrich are both Iowa boys. Oh, they'll pay for that… I didn't catch them all, but are any KU players <I>from </I>Kansas? Merritt, Jackson and Diener are from Wisconsin…</div> <bR> <div> 5:09-- Tipoff-- two minutes behind schedule.</div> <bR> <div> 5:11-- MU looks out of synch. KU, 3-0.</div> <bR> <div> 5:12-- KU got a baseline drive for an easy layup. KU 5-0.</div> <bR> <div> 5:14-- Merritt has finally gotten us on the scoreboard. KU 7-2. </div> <bR> <div> 5:15-- Wade hits from outside. KU 7-4</div> <bR> <div> 5:16-- Diener hits a 3, but KU gets back for a quick one. Then Merritt ties it with a tip, 9-9.</div> <bR> <div> 5:17-- TV TO, 15:17 left in the half, KU 12-9. We looked very tight the first few minutes, but better toward the TO.</div> <bR> <div> 5:22-- Townsend is shooting two FTs… but only makes one. KU, 12-10</div> <bR> <div> 5:23-- Great block by Jackson, then Novak saves the ball. Wade gets fouled on the other end. Tied, 12-12</div> <bR> <div> 5:25-- Novak misses a three, then Hinrich hits one. Wade gets fouled while hitting a layup. KU 17-14</div> <bR> <div> 5:26-- Another KU three. Got to stop them getting open shots from outside. KU 20-14</div> <bR> <div> 5:27-- MU timeout, just before the media TO. Hinrich made another three… what did I tell them? KU 23-14</div> <bR> <div> 5:30-- Merritt misses a no-footer, but Kansas throws it away on the break. <I>Now </I>the TV TO. Same score, 11:58 left in the half.</div> <bR> <div> 5:35-- Kansas is beating us on the break and inside. KU, 29-16</div> <bR> <div> 5:37-- Another MU TO, 9:05 left-- it's bad right now. Collison just got the ball inside for a slam. KU 31-16</div> <bR> <div> 5:40-- TV TO, 7:59 left in the half. The main problem so far is Marquette missing at least 3 or 4 inside shots, which leads to KU fastbreaks. That's not the <I>only </I>problem, but it's a big part. KU 33-16.</div> <bR> <div> 5:45-- Merritt is shooting FTs, but it's still 39-20</div> <bR> <div> 5:48-- 5:02 left, Jackson was forced to take a TO to avoid a 5 second call. KU 41-22</div> <bR> <div> 5:52-- Novak has missed 4 three-pointers-- just not his night. TV TO, KU 44-26. To have any hope of getting back into the game, there have to be some defensive stops coming up before the half.</div> <bR> <div> 5:58-- KU 54-28. I'd say this is just about over.</div> <bR> <div> 6:01-- Halftime, KU 59-30. Ouch. At what point did this begin? It was 12-12 once. It's a combo of KU getting up and down the floor quickly, our missing some makable shots inside, and Novak not getting any shots to fall despite getting good looks each time.</div> <bR> <div> Just for the heck of it, let's see how bad it can get…</div> <bR> <div> 6:20-- First half, MU shooting 26%, KU 60%.</div> <bR> <div> 6:22-- Second half begins.</div> <bR> <div> 6:24-- Nothing has changed… KU 64-30.</div> <bR> <div> 6:27-- MU TO, 16:46 left in the season… it's <I>71-32 </I>Kansas.</div> <bR> <div> 6:32-- TV TO, Kansas 73-32. In retrospect, this was the game I was afraid of when they played against Kentucky. I don't know-- would it have been better to have this happen then, or now when it's so much more visible?</div> <bR> <div> 6:37-- To top it all off, Wade is down after a forearm to the nose. KU 77-36. When Kansas hits 100 points, how many will we have? I say 55.</div> <bR> <div> 6:44-- TV TO, 11:29 left to go. KU 82-43. Hey, it's only a 13-possession game… <I>it can be done! </I>Heh.</div> <bR> <div> 6:48-- We finally got Kansas into foul trouble! Now we're cooking! KU 82-45.</div> <bR> <div> 6:55-- TV TO, KU 85-48, 7:27 left. It's garbage time, although the entire game could be considered garbage time for Marquette.</div> <bR> <div> 7:03-- Nice block by Wade. In another game, that would be an important play… KU 89-52.</div> <bR> <div> 7:05-- TV TO, the last of the Marquette season. KU 92-52. What boxer was it that said, “I'm gonna wrap you in my cocoon of horror”?</div> <bR> <div> 7:09-- Wade for three. Yay. Strangely, he's not having a bad game, and neither is Jackson. There was just never anything else. KU 92-56.</div> <bR> <div> 7:11-- Diener, in and out for three. Typical. KU 92-58. Wade and Diener are out of the game, maybe for the night. Wade, maybe for his career.</div> <bR> <div> 7:14-- Over, finally. 94-61, Kansas. Silver lining? We kept them under 100, and we avoided (by one point) the worst Final Four loss ever.</div> <bR> <div> I gave up a night of work for this? </div> <bR> <div> Looking back on my pregame prediction… 5 points? If only. I'm not sure there can possibly be a turning point in a 33 point blowout, but it was fairly competitive early. From that point, virtually nothing went right, particularly on defense. Wade ended up with 19 points, which doesn't look bad, but the scoring balance wasn't there. I don't buy the Billy Packer argument that Wade should have been more aggressive in the first half. If he had, then I'm sure he would have said Wade was pressing too much-- as he said about Diener!</div> <bR> <div> Put the magnitude of the loss aside, and it still was a nice ride to get to the Final Four. For next year, will Wade be there (I doubt it), and will Crean still be there?</div> <bR> <div> I feel kind of like a Buffalo Bills fan…</div> <bR> <div> Do they still have the third-place game, I wonder?</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> MARCH 29:</div> <div> Marquette (#3) vs. Kentucky (#1)</div> <bR> <div> I'm just about to begin watching the tape of this game. Before it starts… what am I expecting? Realistically, Marquette could win, but it is expecting a lot of them to beat the #1 team in the country. I think I'll just be happy if they are competitive, after so many big-game disappointments… That's what I say now-- just ask me again when the game is being played!</div> <bR> <div> 11:03-- Tipoff</div> <bR> <div> 11:04-- 1st possession-- they looked out of synch, or maybe it's just tight defense-- UK 1-0</div> <bR> <div> 11:05--complete defensive breakdown, UK scores a layup-- UK 5-2</div> <bR> <div> 11:07-- Merritt gets a steal, passes ahead to Diener-- who fumbles it. Tied 5-5</div> <bR> <div> 11:08-- UK is completely controlling the offensive boards-- but they just missed 2 FTs-- still tied</div> <bR> <div> 11:11-- TV TO-- Jackson had a steal, then a put-back on the other end-- Merritt just blocked a shot before the TO, so its UK ball, MU lead 8-7. Verne Lundquist just called us the “Golden Warriors”. Heh. We haven't played real well so far, but somehow we are hanging in. Maybe it's just nerves. 15:29 left, 1st half.</div> <bR> <div> 11:16-- Wade gets a rebound, then a dunk on the other end-- MU 10-9</div> <bR> <div> 11:18-- UK is still killing us on the offensive boards-- UK 11-10</div> <bR> <div> 11:20-- TV TO, 11:36 left in the half. MU still not playing well, especially on the boards, and we have gotten very few good looks. UK just committed a charge-- UK 14-10</div> <bR> <div> 11:23-- Wade hits an unusual 3-- UK 14-13</div> <bR> <div> 11:24-- Jackson gets a tip-- MU 15-14</div> <bR> <div> 11:26-- Bradley hits a 3!-- MU 18-14… and UK gets called for a charge on the other end. Novak took the charge. I hear the first “We are Marquette” chant.</div> <bR> <div> 11:28-- Jackson just made a nice move-- MU 20-15</div> <bR> <div> 11:30-- A nice jumper for Wade, but then Bogans hits a 3. MU 22-19</div> <bR> <div> 11:32-- A great sequence by Wade-- he made a great block on the defensive end, got the ball back, drove to the basket, and UK was called for goaltending. 6:29 left in the half, MU 26-19. Kentucky should be able to dominate the inside, but they appear to be taking a lot of perimeter shots, and they have missed a few FTs. Don't know if they are just toying with us or not. TV TO.</div> <bR> <div> 11:36-- Wade just *almost* made a great ESPN shot. He's shooting FTs, made 2. MU 28-19</div> <bR> <div> 11:37-- Second time in a row UK committed an over-the-back foul. Jackson is getting better position for rebounds. He just made 1 FT for a MU 29-19 lead.</div> <bR> <div> 11:39-- Another UK turnover-- 5:01 left in the half. Diener hits a 3! MU 32-19</div> <bR> <div> 11:40-- Diener takes a charge!</div> <bR> <div> 11:41-- Wade calls a TO as falling out of bounds. 4:21 left in the half, still 32-19.</div> <bR> <div> 11:42-- You know, I watched that Coke commercial 3 or 4 times before I realized it was Courtney Cox and David Arquette.</div> <bR> <div> 11:45-- Merritt just picked up his 3rd foul. Jackson has 2 himself, so that could be a problem. TV TO, MU 32-21, 3:37 left in the half. I still don't think Kentucky is going to let it come easily. I'm sure they have a monster run coming up soon.</div> <bR> <div> 11:48-- Novak hits his first 3-- MU 35-21</div> <bR> <div> 11:48-- Another Novak 3! MU 38-21</div> <bR> <div> 11:50-- Jackson gets the layup, but then gets hit with a foul on the other end. I think that's 3. MU 40-24</div> <bR> <div> 11:52-- Novak is just unconscious. MU 43-24</div> <bR> <div> 11:53-- 18.8 seconds left, and Tubby calls a 20. After a Jackson inside basket, it's 45-24.</div> <bR> <div> 11:54-- Halftime. UK got a basket out of the TO, so it's 45-26. Stat heard-- MU outscored UK 27-11 over the last 8 minutes. I'd really like to see the shooting %, and the rebound figures. It was as if somebody flipped a switch with about 12 minutes left, and all UK's dominance on the boards went away, because after that we got *much* better positioning.</div> <bR> <div> In 1987, Iowa had a 17 point lead at the half in a regional final, then blew it all against UNLV. Needless to say, that example is front and center in my mind right now.</div> <bR> <div> 12:15-- Start of the second half. First half stats, MU 50%, rebound edge 25-21.</div> <bR> <div> 12:17-- Wade is limping-- OW!</div> <bR> <div> 12:18-- Wade 360 dunk! This after two quick UK baskets. MU 47-33</div> <bR> <div> 12:23-- TV TO, 15:09 left. MU 51-38. Kentucky is playing better, and chipped 6 points off the lead. </div> <bR> <div> 12:27-- Wade is shooting FTs-- there's one… but misses the 2nd. MU 52-38</div> <bR> <div> 12:28-- Wade just made a highlight reel basket-- but then committed a foul on the other end. MU 54-41.</div> <bR> <div> 12:30-- Novak. From way downtown. Bang. MU 57-43, after a UK putback.</div> <bR> <div> 12:31-- Terrific sequence. A Diener steal, dish to Jackson, who got his own miss and scored. MU 59-43.</div> <bR> <div> 12:32-- TV TO. 11:38 left, still 59-43. UK ball out of the timeout.</div> <bR> <div> 12:37-- Whew. It was almost a UK basket and a foul shot, but it's charging instead. MU 59-47</div> <bR> <div> 12:40-- Wade just topped himself-- A Dominique-Wilkins-style tomahawk dunk, and a foul! MU 64-47</div> <bR> <div> 12:44-- TV TO, 7:42 left. After a Wade 3-pointer, it's MU 67-49. Can this really be happening? And the way it's happening?</div> <bR> <div> 12:45-- Wade is an assist and a rebound away from a triple-double.</div> <bR> <div> 12:46-- Trading baskets. Fine with me. MU 69-54</div> <bR> <div> 12:47--Wade for another layup, and a foul. The UK bench looks despondent. MU 72-54, after the FT. He has our last 11 points… </div> <bR> <div> 12:49-- Jackson just picked up #4. He didn't have 3 at the break, only 2. MU 72-57</div> <bR> <div> 12:52-- Diener fouled on a jumper. Wade has his triple double. MU up, 77-59, 3:39 left. OK, I admit it, this *is* actually happening. We are beating the #1 ranked team in the country like we are playing against South Florida or East Carolina. Actually, East Carolina *did* beat us earlier his year… TV TO.</div> <bR> <div> 12:56-- Jackson, a feed from Diener. MU 79-59</div> <bR> <div> 12:57-- UK basket, then a TO. Give Tubby this, he hasn't thrown in the towel. MU 79-61, 2:10 left.</div> <bR> <div> 1:01-- Novak hits the 3, and is fouled. MU 83-61. Wade is taken out of the game. I'm just going to let this sink in for a while…</div> <bR> <div> 1:06-- Final Four. MU 83-69.</div> <bR> <div> Wow.</div> <bR> <div> Wade gets the big headline (29 points, 11 rebounds, 11 assists), but Jackson had a big game too-- 24 points, and 15 rebounds.</div> <bR> <div> I think we may just have lost Tom Crean to a bigger program…</div> <bR> <bR> <div> MARCH 27:</div> <div> Marquette (#3) vs. Pittsburgh (#2)</div> <bR> <div> Unfortunately, I have no minute-by-minute recap of this game, since the only way I was able to see it was in an Iowa City bar watching the DirecTV feed. However, if I had been able to write any recaps, the final entry would have been something like "WAHOOOOO!" The game made me so happy, and the only thing that might make me happier would be, oh, to beat Kentucky...</div> <div> I'll be watching the tape of the game later tonight (Saturday the 29th), while trying to avoid hearing any game details throughout the workday. Each time I do this, it reminds me of the <I>SportsNight </I>episode where Dan Rydell walked through the newsroom shouting, "I am now walking through the newsroom carrying the tape! Please stop all conversations regarding Orlando Rojas and the Orioles game!"</div> <div> Does Marquette have a chance against Kentucky? I'd like to think so, but is it wishful thinking? I'd still think Kentucky is the favorite, so just remember...</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.gif" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">I've been to Kentucky. The grass? Not blue-- it's green like everywhere else.</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.gif" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Ashley Judd movies? Overrated.</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.gif" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Who really wants to watch a bunch of horses running around a track for a few measly roses, anyway?</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.gif" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Tubby Smith? Isn't really "tubby", at all. False advertising.</div> <div> Go Marquette.</div> <bR> <div> MARCH 22:</div> <div> Marquette (#3) vs. Missouri (#6)</div> <bR> <div> 2:32-- Tipoff</div> <bR> <div> 2:35-- Merritt is off to a good start but it's MO 7-4.</div> <bR> <div> 2:36-- Wade takes his first shot-- a 3 pointer? MO 8-4.</div> <bR> <div> 2:39-- a good few minutes. Wade made a good move to score, then made a steal on the other end. Diener for three, then Jackson scored inside. Missouri is taking lots of off target threes. TV TO, 14:50 left in the half, MU 13-8.</div> <bR> <div> 2:47-- a quiet stretch, then Novak hits a 3! MU 16-10.</div> <bR> <div> 2:48-- Merritt makes 2 freethrows. 11:47 left in the half, MU 18-12.</div> <bR> <div> 2:52-- MO is getting inside more, but Diener responds with a layup. MO throws the ball away. MU 20-17 at the halfway point of the half.</div> <bR> <div> 2:54-- Jackson is being quiet again, but just drew a foul.</div> <bR> <div> 2:56-- Jackson just committed an offensive foul, and had a shot blocked a minute ago-- but as I'm writing this Wade made a steal and broke away for the jam! MU 22-20 at the TV TO.</div> <bR> <div> 3:00-- 2 MO freethrows, and it's tied, 22-22.</div> <bR> <div> 3:02-- Wade is getting more active in creating opportunities-- he just assisted on a 3 pointer. Jackson is playing a little better now, though he just missed a jumper. 5:37 left in the half, our ball, 27-24 lead.</div> <bR> <div> 3:04-- Sanders just made a good play to get back and break up a drive-- then a Diener steal and a layup. MU 29-24.</div> <bR> <div> 3:07-- MO misses another shot, and then commits a foul. A graphic: MU shooting 57%, MO 37%. 3:38 left in the half, TV TO, MU 31-26.</div> <bR> <div> 3:11-- Picture of Quin Snyder shown. It's the new thing from Europe: it's called a comb. Look into it, Quin.</div> <bR> <div> 3:12-- Wade gets the defensive rebound, then hits a nice jumper from just inside the 3 point line. MO TO, 2:10 left in the half, MU 36-26.</div> <bR> <div> 3:15-- Paulding is left open for a shot and hits it. MU, 36-28. </div> <bR> <div> 3:17-- Paulding and Chapman traded threes. MU 39-31.</div> <bR> <div> 3:18-- Wade is fouled with .3 seconds left and makes both. At the half, MU 41-31. We shot 63% in the half! But can that last?</div> <bR> <div> Unfortunately for me, I have to leave right now, but I'll watch the rest on tape later tonight, when this recap will continue</div> <bR> <div> OK, I'm back. </div> <bR> <div> 10:26-- start of the half. We had the ball, but turned it over. Monster jam on the other end. MU 41-33.</div> <bR> <div> 10:29-- Wade gets a breakaway. MU 45-35.</div> <bR> <div> 10:32-- nice move by Merritt to score, but Paulding keeps hitting 3 pointers for MO. MU, 49-41.</div> <bR> <div> 10:34-- TV TO, 15:53 left. A couple of quick fouls on Marquette. MO seems to be getting more aggressive, which might spell trouble. Paulding might have kept them in the game just long enough for them to figure that out… Still, MU 49-41.</div> <bR> <div> 10:37-- Why are we switching to the UConn-Stanford game? There are 8 minutes left and it's not that close… They promise it's just a look-in.</div> <bR> <div> 10:38-- We're back… MU 51-44.</div> <bR> <div> 10:40-- Wade hits a nice jumper. MU 53-44.</div> <bR> <div> 10:41-- Somebody named Grimm is in for MU. Never heard of him… Wade hits another one! MU 55-44.</div> <bR> <div> 10:42-- Guess what, Paulding for 3… sigh. MU 55-47.</div> <bR> <div> 10:43-- A disastrous minute. Paulding made <U>another </U>3, then MO scores inside. MU TO, 11:37 left, MU 55-52.</div> <bR> <div> 10:47-- Diener for 3. I love that kid. MU 58-52.</div> <bR> <div> 10:48-- TV TO, 10:16 left. Same score, but MO ball after the timeout. I'd feel better if Paulding wasn't making everything he puts up from 3 point land… He has something like 29 points already, with 7 3-pointers.</div> <bR> <div> 10:51-- Back from a war update, and teams have traded baskets. Paulding appears to have a wrist injury.</div> <bR> <div> 10:52-- Diener hits a fadeaway, and gets fouled. This after making a three on the last possession. He converts, for a 66-56 lead.</div> <bR> <div> 10:54-- Uh-oh, Paulding back in the game…</div> <bR> <div> 10:55-- Diener for another three, but MO hits one in response. MU 69-61.</div> <bR> <div> 10:55-- Damn… we just switched to the end of the UConn game. From the score ticker, looks like there's a TV TO with no score change. 7:31 left.</div> <bR> <div> 10:57-- Excruciating. The game we are switched to is in timeout, so now we can't even watch the ticker…</div> <bR> <div> 10:59-- Back to the game-- MU 71-67. </div> <bR> <div> 11:00-- Just in time for another Diener 3! MU 74-67.</div> <bR> <div> 11:01-- Graphic-- Diener has scored 15 of our last 19! MU, 74-68, 5:27 left.</div> <bR> <div> 11:06-- Novak just grabbed a crucial loose ball-- MU 78-75.</div> <bR> <div> 11:07-- 2:08 left, MO TO. We just wasted the last two trips down the court. Three point lead…</div> <bR> <div> 11:09-- Big rebound by Jackson. Merritt was fouled, will shoot freethrows. 1:38 left.</div> <bR> <div> 11:11-- Misses… MU, 78-75.</div> <bR> <div> 11:12-- 45.9 seconds left, MU TO. Paulding for three, to tie the game 78-78. AARRGGHH.</div> <bR> <div> 11:13-- 30.4 seconds left, MO TO. Wade made a little runner, to make it 80-78. But with Paulding shooting threes, will that be enough?</div> <bR> <div> 11:15-- Missouri shooting two freethrows, but he's a poor shooter…</div> <bR> <div> 11:16-- 19.7 seconds left, MU TO, all tied up. Guess he wasn't so bad after all. We should have a chance for the last shot…</div> <bR> <div> 11:19-- Wade missed a shot, then Paulding missed the last shot. We are going to overtime, 80-80.</div> <bR> <div> 11:22-- Overtime tipoff.</div> <bR> <div> 11:23-- Timeout. We have traded threes so far (Novak for us). 83-83, MU ball.</div> <bR> <div> 11:25-- Back from a war update, MU 88-85.</div> <bR> <div> 11:26-- Wade gets a jumper. Then MO responds. MU, 90-89.</div> <bR> <div> 11:27-- Novak for 3! MU 93-89, 2 minutes left.</div> <bR> <div> 11:28-- Timeout, 1:48 left, still 93-89.</div> <bR> <div> 11:29-- Wade rebounds a MO miss…</div> <bR> <div> 11:30-- Merritt picks up a bucket. Paulding misses a 3, we rebound. Diener is shooting FTs. He makes both, MU 97-89.</div> <bR> <div> 11:31-- Wade rebounds a missed 3 for MO, and is fouled. He's shooting, with 34.8  left.</div> <bR> <div> 11:32-- We have the ball back, with 28 seconds left. 99-89. Diener fouled again… and CBS has “projected” us to win!</div> <bR> <div> 11:34-- we run the clock out, final, 101-92! Whew!</div> <bR> <div> OK, I'm going to have to watch the end of the game again just to savor it, but from what I can tell, we scored on every possession of overtime. Novak made three three-pointers in OT. 21 points in 5 minutes of overtime! Diener was huge again, and Wade played more consistently than in the Holy Cross game. Jackson was a bit of a disappointment again. Still, this would never even have gotten into OT if Paulding for MO hadn't hit virtually every shot he took. Unbelievable. If the rest of the Tigers had played nearly as well, the results might have been different.</div> <div> On to the Sweet 16, Baby! Only the second time since the championship year.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> MARCH 20:</div> <div> Marquette (#3) vs. Holy Cross (#14)</div> <bR> <div> 11:20-- Tipoff.</div> <bR> <div> 11:21-- HC appears to have all players wearing white headbands. Jackson scores inside… MU 2-0</div> <bR> <div> 11:24-- both teams look sloppy, missed shots and turnovers. HC converts a 3-point play, HC 5-4</div> <bR> <div> 11:27-- 15:02 left in the half, first TV timeout. 9-6 HC, all 9 points by a big guy named Szatko. We don't seem to be playing bad defense, but this guy breaks down the coverage at the end of the possession. </div> <bR> <div> 11:31-- Diener just hit his 2nd shot-- HC 9-8.</div> <bR> <div> 11:33-- Diener for 3! MU 11-9.</div> <bR> <div> 11:35-- Another one! After he came up with the loose ball on the other end. Diener has 10 points, it's MU 14-9. HC took a timeout, even though it was time for the TV break. A worry: HC is in the bonus already, and still hasn't committed a foul.</div> <bR> <div> 11:40-- 10:51 left in the half, here's the TV TO. HC has scored the last 4 points, and have started in on the bonus free throws.</div> <bR> <div> 11:44-- Why is Wade taking 3 pointers? MU, 16-13 at the halfpoint of the 1st half.</div> <bR> <div> 11:48-- Novak hits a 3… Merritt is getting inside points… and Wade just made a great block at the other end. MU 21-13.</div> <bR> <div> 11:49-- 7:12 left in the half, same score. We seem to be doing better on keeping HC from getting the open shots inside, and they still haven't made a shot from outside the paint.</div> <bR> <div> 11:53-- We are now taking looks at other games, only a score and time update along the bottom of the screen. Gonzaga is beating Cincy, and Cal is beating NC St. Now back to our game.</div> <bR> <div> 11:57-- Wade is still scoreless, but Diener hit another basket. 23-13, MU, but Wade has just committed his 2nd foul.</div> <bR> <div> 12:00-- Diener was fouled shooting a 3… let's see if he can take advantage… Only hit 2 of 3. MU, 25-14, at the last TV TO of the 1st half. HC has only scored one point in 6 minutes, and no baskets for even longer. Good defense.</div> <bR> <div> 12:03-- Graphic: no HC baskets in 7:47.</div> <bR> <div> 12:05-- HC finally got a basket, but… Diener for 3! MU, 28-16.</div> <bR> <div> 12:10-- If HC could hit freethrows, this would be much closer. MU, 29-22.</div> <bR> <div> 12:11-- Timeout, 42 seconds left, MU ball. HC has been getting the ball inside and scoring more effectively. MU, 29-24.</div> <bR> <div> 12:14-- Halftime, no more scoring since the last update. 5 points at the half is fine, but 12 (like it was a few minutes ago) would be better. Wade still scoreless, Diener has 17. If Wade can start scoring, it would give MU more of a margin for error.</div> <bR> <div> 12:30-- Start of the half… and Jackson scores, just like he had the first basket of the game. Whertey responds. MU, 31-26.</div> <bR> <div> 12:32-- Wade finally scores on an inbound, and he hits a freethrow. MU, 34-26.</div> <bR> <div> 12:34-- 17:57 left, and Whertey has his 4th foul. Merritt is shooting, and hits one of two. MU, 35-26.</div> <bR> <div> 12:35-- HC timeout, 17:30 left. MU, 35-28. </div> <bR> <div> 12:38-- Diener just dove hard to the floor to try and save a loose ball. I love that kid.</div> <bR> <div> 12:41-- TO, 15:29 left. Wade just made 2 freethrows, but HC has begun to hit outside jumpshots, and cut it to a one point game a minute ago. Right now, MU 39-36.</div> <bR> <div> 12:47-- HC has taken the lead, 40-39. EEK! We look terribly out of synch.</div> <bR> <div> 12:48-- Marquette TO, after a HC 3 pointer. 43-39.</div> <bR> <div> 12:50-- Diener for 3, then Wade steals the ball and is fouled. With the free throws, it's MU 44-43.</div> <bR> <div> 12:51-- TV TO, 11:52 left. We have a one point lead and possession.</div> <bR> <div> 12:59-- Too much happening now-- leads going back and forth. Tied, 50-50, 8:14 left.</div> <bR> <div> 1:02-- 7:50 left, TV TO. MU up 52-50 on 2 Wade freethrows, but HC has the ball coming back from the timeout.</div> <bR> <div> 1:10-- 4:21 left, TO for Holy Cross. Back and forth, as HC keeps getting inside, and we can't. But Chapman and Diener have hit 3 pointers. MU, 60-58.</div> <bR> <div> 1:13-- 3:56 left. TV TO. HC missed two freethrows, but managed to get the ball back through a held ball. Still 60-58, MU.</div> <bR> <div> 1:17-- In the last minute of play, Merritt had a great block, grabbed a loose ball, and called a TO to save possession. 3:16 left, 60-58.</div> <bR> <div> 1:21-- 47.4 seconds left, MU TO. Wade has come up big the last few minutes, with two drives to the basket through traffic for scores. MU, 64-62.</div> <bR> <div> 1:25-- 24.2 left-- Diener hits a basket, then makes a steal. MU, 68-62. I love that kid.</div> <bR> <div> 1:26-- 12 seconds left, HC hits a 3 after Diener's 2 freethrows. MU, 68-65.</div> <bR> <div> 1:29-- 6 seconds left, we're in freethrowville. Diener hit two, now Novak is shooting them. 72-65, MU.</div> <bR> <div> 1:30-- A last second 3 pointer for HC makes it a 72-68 final. Diener had <I>29 points!</I></div> <bR> <div> Well, that was much closer than I'd have liked, but we do move on. I think a lot of the problem today was that we haven't had many games lately-- between the Miracle at Louisville and today (3 week's time), only 3 games. Hopefully this will shape them up for either Missouri or Southern Illinois.</div> <bR> <div> Other than Diener, Wade came back with some big baskets in the second half (don't know how many he ended up with… maybe 15?), and Chapman and Novak made some threes. Merritt had his usual consistent game, but Jackson disappeared and fouled out early. The defensive effort was generally good, with only a few stretches where HC could get inside steadily. </div> <bR> <div> On to the next round…</div> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>