Difference between revisions of "L15 NTT64"

Revision as of 17:49, 2 April 2011

Season 64 National Title Tournament

Season 64 showed how much the current state of college basketball has so much parody. No teams ended the season undefeated as eventual champion, Durham, knocked off the only remaining unbeaten team, Phoenix in the NTT title game. The tournament itself had two teams that some might consider Cinderella's, in #15 Bangor and #10, Ann Arbor, but experts knew both squads were strong and it wasn't surprising to see them both make a deep run.

Three #1 seeds advanced to the Elite Eight as well as two #2's.

Prior to the tournament, the top ranked team was Jersey City, followed by Phoenix, Alexandria and Corpus Christi.

Brackets

Northwest Region

Southwest Region

Northeast Region

Southeast Region

Final Four

Game Summaries

Northwest Region

First round

Second Round

Regional Semifinals (Sweet Sixteen)

Regional Final (Elite Eight)

Southwest Region

First round

Second Round

Regional Semifinals (Sweet Sixteen)

Regional Final (Elite Eight)

Northeast Region

First round

Second Round

Regional Semifinals (Sweet Sixteen)

Regional Final (Elite Eight)

Southeast Region

First round

Second Round

Regional Semifinals (Sweet Sixteen)

Regional Final (Elite Eight)

FINAL FOUR

(1) Phoenix 64 - (8) Dayton 53

Darren Hinman scored 15 points in his return from an ankle injury, also grabbing 4 rebounds and 3 assists in just 24 minutes of play. While the Eunuchs scoring leader, Doyle Mcgonagle onlyl took 8 shots, it was the bench play of Clifford Lusk and Theodore Henley who came up big, each scoring 13 points in limited time.

Phoenix were simply amazing on the defensive end, holding the Kingslayers to just 38% shooting from the field and 2-7 from behind the arc. Dayton turned the ball over 18 times and committed 20 fouls, as they looked very frustrated at the immense pressure coach Kmoney's squad brought on the court.

Kenny Reed did score 18 for Dayton, but he was the only Kingslayer to scored in double digits. Luke Davidson was shut down by the two forward combo of Julian Kelly and George Pulliam, as neither gave him much room to breathe inside or out.

(2) Durham 90 - (1) Corpus Christi 79

Durham, known for it's big time offense, played intense defense for 40 minutes holding the favorite, Soup Rocks, to just 36% shooting from the field. It was a foul ridden first half as both teams couldn't seem to avoid the ref's whistle. Although they seemed to struggle offensively, the score was 53-41 at the half as Durham went into the break with a 12 point lead.

Corpus Christi attempted a few comebacks, but the play inside of the Devils, Andrew Ludwig was key, as the 6'10 sophomore scored 17 points and grabbed 15 rebounds. Durham sustained their lead, hit their free throws at the end and marched into their first NTT title game in school history.

Billy Lee and Roy Matos combined for 40 points for the Devils, while Elmer Boan came off the bench, scoring 11 points in 8 minutes. Adam McKay led the Soup Rocks with 18 points, while Don Qualls added 16.

NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP

(2) Durham 86 - (1) Phoenix 84 Wow, after 2 amazing weeks of games, it's incredible that we saw such a fantastic finish in the Durham-Phoenix National Title Tournament final.

In the end, freshmen forward, Leonel Smith won it for Durham on a gutsy game-winning shot. His length and 6'11 frame made all the difference in the closing seconds as he was able to get off a good shot over 6'8 Jackson Isaac of the Eunuchs.

It was an amazing comeback by the Devils as they went down 50-39 at the break. The Devils went on a 16-2 run to overcome Phoenix's lead in the first 5 minutes of the second half. Durham's talented backcourt of Billy Lee and Roy Matos scored all of their teams points during their run, hitting shots from all over the court.

Phoenix continued to build leads in the second half, but it seemed the Devils always had an answer, grinding back with big rebounds or clutch free throws. When Daunte Lowery hit a 3-pointer with 41 seconds left, Lee again came up big, nailing a deep 2-pointer with 27 seconds left. Doyle Mocgonagle's lay in with 9 seconds left tied the game once again, but left enough time for Smith to deliver his game winning shot.

Durham got a No. 2 seed in the Northeast Region, but they sure looked like a No. 1 seed in the NTT, baby! Matos ended the night with 24 points while Lee added 20. Senior center, Keith Moran grabbed 9 big rebounds and Smith dished out 7 assists from the wing. Phoenix hit 8-19 shots from behind the arc and got a huge effort out of Darren Hinman, who scored 30 points and grabbed 6 rebounds. Mcgonagle added 17 and Theodore Henley came off the bench, hitting 9-11 shots for 24 in just 14 minutes.

The win gave the Devils an identity -- they now have their name permanently etched with all the other great programs who have won a National Title.