Day 2 Journal From NCAA Tournament In Denver

The Mile High City seems to be the place where higher seeded teams go to die in this year's NCAA Men's Basketball Championship.  Three of the four lower seeded teams were victorious Thursday, as the 11, 12 and 13 seeds move on to Saturday's third round in Denver, Colorado.  Oh, how I love being in basketball heaven!

It all started with one of Thursday's fantastic finishes.  Morehead State was able to battle all game long against 4th-seeded Louisville.  With the Cardinals up 61-59 and 23 seconds left on the clock, the Eagles had the ball.  Senior guard Demonte Harper was called on to take a potential tying or winning shot.  Harper hit a three from the top of the key with 4.2 seconds left, which put the Eagles in front 62-61.  Louisville had one last chance, but Mike Marra's 3 from the left wing was blocked at the buzzer by Morehead State's Kenneth Faried for an Eagles victory.  The final score was 62-61 Morehead State.

Harper was asked, take us through the last shot, what were you thinking.  Was it three?  Were you going for the win all the time?  Harper said,

During the media timeout, coach said, I dreamt about this last night, this exact position we would be in this situation.  He said, I know exactly where I'm going to, I'm going to put it right in your hands, Demonte.  I don't want you to drive to the hole, I want you to pull up and win the game off a three-pointer.  He told me in the media timeout.  I said, Coach, I'm going to hit the shot.  He said, at six seconds, I want you to attack him hard, pull up and hit the shot.  I hit the shot and it feels unreal right now (smiling).

Harper finished with only eight points, but none bigger for the Senior from Nashville, Tennessee.  In the immortal words of CBS' Bill Raftery, "ONIONS!"

Little did the Pepsi Center crowd know that would be just the start.

In the second game of the day session, the 12th-seeded Richmond Spiders dug themselves an early 11-point hole against 5th-seed Vanderbilt.  Thanks to the play of Senior guard Kevin Anderson, they roared back.  Two big shots by Anderson inside of three minutes left were critical.  Anderson's right baseline hanger over Vandy's 6-11 Festus Ezeli with 20 seconds left was the dagger.  "ONIONS FOR A SECOND HELPING" (CBS' Bill Raftery)!  Richmond pulled the upset 69-66.

The night session began with a battle between 3rd-seed BYU and the 14th-seed Wofford Terriers.  The Cougars led by only four at half, 33-29, but pulled away in the second half behind 32 points from the "Jimmer," for a74-66 win.  Overall, four BYU players finished in double figures, as Fredette led the way, but Wofford also had four players in double digits.  It was Fredette that was the difference.  No upset here!

The last game probably isn't considered an upset, but still a lower seeded team won.  The 11th-seed Gonzaga Bulldogs raced past the 6th-seed St. John's Red Storm 86-71.  The Zags shot 54 percent from the field, which included 60 percent from 3-point range, and out-rebounded the Red Storm 43-to-20.  Marquise Carter led three Bulldogs in double figures with 24 points.  St. John's Dwight Hardy had 26 in the loss.

So the "glass slipper" fit three times Thursday in Denver.

I can't wait for Saturday, when Morehead State takes on Richmond at 3:15 pm, Mountain time, and BYU faces Gonzaga at 5:45 pm.  Both games will be on CBS.

Oh by the way, it will be the first ever meeting between the Cougars and Bulldogs, who will be conference rivals starting next season.

Four games down and two to go.  Check back Saturday for more excitement from Denver.

By the way, how's your bracket?