A Live Blog No One Will Be Following Live
Yeah … I know it’s awkward because no one else is here, but grab whatever you want from the fridge and avoid the eye contact. Game-wise, I’m really hoping we can get two quasi instant-classics.
7:04 – A little Foo Fighters to get us going and both Davis and Kellogg like UNC (someone take a chance!), while they’re split on the Xavier-WVU tilt, with Davis liking the boys above.
7:10 -They just showed Enberg looking confused and Bilas writing some notes. Ah, live television. Wait … Xavier-West Virginia? That’s more like it! Some Raftery to start my night? Positively.
7:15 – It seems the UCLA fans are not quite there yet. Can’t blame ‘em, they think it’s better to save money on a Phoenix trip and get the better hotel room in San Antonio. It’s 8-0, Xavier and West Virginia seems to have some jitters. I can’t get too comfortable, though.
7:16 – No joke, I just felt the little bit of flab I’ve developed in my abdominal area over the past six months … and then I see this new balance running ad. Yeah, I’ll hit the sidewalks tomorrow. Dammit.
7:27 – And the Hi-Def has been switched over to UNC-Washington State. Thank god I have two television and live near New York City (which allows me to have two different CBS feeds).
7:29 – Xavier is alreadyy up 21-7 and I’m ecstatic. Hansbrough seemed befuddled that he wasn’t fouled on a jump ball call.
7:34 – “I think it’s important they score on the offensive end,” Clark Kellogg says in response to Wazzu’s chances of winning against Carolina. Ah … don’t be so shaky so early, Clark!
7:39 – CBS has taken the Connecticut feed away from the Xavier game. Time for some MMOD.
7:50 – Joe Alexander’s on the bench with two fouls, WVU has gotten better since he’s gone to the bench; 28-20, Xavier. UNC is playing very poised but only leads by one.
8:04 – WVU making a strong run to end the half, 32-25 Muskies. UNC is playing smart and getting timely steals, Wazzu can’t afford not to take advantage of second-chance points. 24-15 Heels and it’s getting hairy quickly.
8:11 – I know clubbers from Long Island that aren’t as tan as Roy Williams. “Yay-guh-bahms.”
8:14 – Lawson buries a three from the corner to end the first half. Washington State is on pace to lose this game by a legitimate 20 points right now. 37-21 Heels at the half.
8:26 – WVU in the midst of a 19-4 run. C’mon Xavier. Don’t blow this.
8:32 – Western Kentucky watches the game from some pretty nice seats. Reminds me of the varsity watching the JV squad play up until the end of the third quarter.
8:39 – Hansbrough defending on the next level will be quite fun(ny) to watch. Wazzu can’t hit anything right now, Hansbrough’s finding his awkward groove.
8:44 – Joe Alexander is also starting to find his groove, which is considerably less awkward and Duncan just got his fourth foul. Xavier barely holding onto this lead.
8:49 – Just an absolutely ridiculous foul was called that you’ll never see on the highlights. A miserable alley-oop attempt to Hansbrough went awry, yet WSU gets called for just happening to be Psycho T’s landing pad after the errant pass?? 43-27, Light Blue.
8:52 – 51-50, West Virginia has taken their first lead of the ball game with 9:41 to go.
9:01 – I decided to turn on the DVR. Feeling like it could be a Raftery-induced hysterical moment in the next 20 minutes.
9:04 – Hey, I just noticed this … what’s with the floors at two different sites being identical? No, no, no, NCAA! You want unique floor designs! Monotony is not what this Tournament is about! Bad, bad decision there. Tie game, five minutes to go in the Xavier-WVU tilt.
9:11 – Sorry if I’m about to get all Jay Bilas on you but … Joe Alexander can face up and shoot a 13-17 foot jumper as well as anyone in college basketball. Xavier might be losing their grip…
9:14 – Alexander just picked up his fourth and Josh Duncan is clutch. If the Muskies can get this win, Duncan should/will get the game ball in the locker room. All tied up, less than two minutes to go.
9:15 - Duncan just got a rebound after about six WVU layups wouldn’t fall. Incredible. Duncan sinks both. 64-62, X.
9:23 – After a bad, foul-inducing attempt of a shot by Lavender, it’s a jump ball. WVU’s got it … I’m just going to make this one long entry … wow…NO FOUL on that Alexander shot, but it’s called anyway … free throw’s no good and WOW almost out on Xavier… here we go … ALMOST falls for Lavender at the buzzer. Damn. I thought that was in. OT it is.
9:27 - 4:30 to go in OT and Alexander fouls out. Huge. So huge and I think that’s an iffy call. His last game in college?
9:34 – Seems like Raftery is pulling for West Virginia in this one. West Virginia is starting to find ways to get the points where they need them. 71-67 WVU with 2:57 to go. “Brown becomes the second Musketeer to foul out. One more and they could write a novel,” Lundquist says. Ehhhh….
9:40 – My housemates have come home and are clearly rooting for WVU. Just then, WVU gives up the ball. Wow, crazy stat: that was the first turnover in the second half AND OT?
9:41 – Raymond hits the three and an ONIONS! call from Raftery!!
9:46 – One-for-two from the line for Mazzulla and let’s see if Burrell can hit some freebies … one-of-two … WVU needs a 3 and don’t go for it. This should be game. It’s 79-75, Muskies. My final four pick out of the West remains alive. Oh yeah … Carolina won, by the way. That’ll do it for this live blog. I’ll have another one up for the two late games.
Thursday, March 27th, 2008 @ 6:05 pm 
Live Blogs, The Tournament
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March 27th, 2008 at 7:27 pm
mmod coming in very handy as the st louis area is going to get slammed with sever thunderstorms and tornados
March 27th, 2008 at 7:29 pm
x-men dont fail us now…come on…..if they win the whole tourney…my girlfreinds four year old wins the office pool…hahahahaah….she watches all the game with me…and she knows her stuff like well 70% of the time…she may not be right on this tourney…but she was probably 70% correct on the year
i on the other hand…..was not
March 27th, 2008 at 7:33 pm
Xavier has to come through. WVU in the Elite Eight isn’t nearly as charming.
March 27th, 2008 at 7:37 pm
Wow. CBS switches the St. Louis market to the Xavier game as it turns into a one point game. Very nice move CBS!!!
March 27th, 2008 at 7:38 pm
Sorry to show up. Looks like you weren’t expecting much.
WVU seems to be on the verge of taking over this game. Someone tell me why CBS has the Xavier game, then brings us to UNC, then brings us back to Xavier when it goes to timeout. Can’t they make these decisions DURING halftime?
March 27th, 2008 at 7:42 pm
Thanks for following, guys. I really didn’t expect anyone to be around tonight. Sorry about the lack of coverage this week. Never been so swamped at work before, which was brutal.
March 27th, 2008 at 7:43 pm
Have everyone’s MMOD of the UNC game slowed down since CBS did the feed switch?
March 27th, 2008 at 7:46 pm
I can’t watch MMOD on Firefox for some strange reason. I had no issues last year, but it’s been terrrrible this year.
March 27th, 2008 at 7:49 pm
i had problems with firefox this year too…..not sure the deal there….sorry you cant get the mmod…i love mmod….one year im getting the tv package…im moving this summer so may have to switch from cable to dish
March 27th, 2008 at 7:58 pm
Washington State thanks for coming, enjoy the flight home. It looks like that one’s over.
Xavier’s tough defense combined with foul trouble may bite them in this.
March 27th, 2008 at 8:01 pm
Also, Joe Alexander has been as good as advertised after the big east tourney. I thought he’d be a letdown.
March 27th, 2008 at 8:05 pm
well…im calling ucla to exit tonight as well….why not get all the pac 10 heading home on the same night….that would fit with the pac 10’s regular season travel partner theme…..maybe ucla and wash st can be new travel buddies
March 27th, 2008 at 8:08 pm
its going to be raftery central tonight!!!! and that is terrible about the floors….didnt even catch it till you mentioned it…but not a good move
ok…..seriously heavy rain and lighting on my doorstep…..if i lose power tonight ill be sooo freaking mad
March 27th, 2008 at 8:11 pm
differnet gym, same regional……more clock problems…..how long was the end of that purdue xavier game……maybe its the lightning here is st louis causing the clock probs in phoenix….hahahha
March 27th, 2008 at 8:12 pm
I’m telling you, WVU looks like they have this. Alexander wants to win this thing himself.
March 27th, 2008 at 8:15 pm
Love it. Tie game.
March 27th, 2008 at 8:15 pm
Wow. WVU just missed about 13 bunnies.
March 27th, 2008 at 8:19 pm
Buzzer beater in us? Ruoff or Nichols for three maybe?
March 27th, 2008 at 8:20 pm
more clock probs…..so yes…buzzer beater heading our way…wow….21 minutes…wow….lot of time for the last shot!!!
March 27th, 2008 at 8:22 pm
WOW…WOW WOW…..AND WOW
March 27th, 2008 at 8:23 pm
free basketball folks
March 27th, 2008 at 8:24 pm
insane. I’m so happy.
March 27th, 2008 at 8:25 pm
My heart. Come on, Xavier. I’ll be truly pissed if they can’t gut this one out.
March 27th, 2008 at 8:28 pm
Alexander gone changes everything. Let’s see how much direction the team has without him.
March 27th, 2008 at 8:34 pm
DID VERNE JUST MAKE THAT JOKE…..DID HE REALLY MAKE THAT JOKE
March 27th, 2008 at 8:35 pm
Terrible joke. It’s the sweet 16 in overtime. Just don’t go there.
March 27th, 2008 at 8:37 pm
I get the feeling this may just be taken away from X. Glad Raf is on the game though, despite his apparent rooting for Huggy Bear.
March 27th, 2008 at 8:40 pm
crazy block. C’mon Mountaineers!
March 27th, 2008 at 8:42 pm
Yes, that was quite a defensive miss.
March 27th, 2008 at 8:49 pm
Well….I had that one wrong. Then again, I had Duke going far. Great game. I’m satisfied no matter what happens tonight.
March 27th, 2008 at 9:18 pm
That was a great game…..awesome start to the third round…..got to love it!!! And now….another overtime thriller…I am calling it!!!
This game will be easy for good old Dick to call too….every call could be “what a play by Smith!”