A sports blog by and for Midwest Sports Fans
This was originally posted on March 27th, 2011
I feel like I just watched Kirk Gibson hit a hobbled home run, because all I can think right now is, “I don’t…believe…what I just saw!”
But it wasn’t a Kirk Gibson home run that I just saw; it was a VCU Rams home run. More like a grand slam, against #1 seeded Kansas. And now the Virginia Commonwealth Rams, led by Shaka Smart, will be facing the Butler Bulldogs, led by Brad Stevens, in the Final Four.
Wow.
The first Elite 8 game is over, and it was a good one, resulting in the Butler Bulldogs going back to the 2011 Final Four in Houston!
Florida was up by one at halftime, after leading by 10 early on, but the Bulldogs battled back. In the 2nd half, the same thing happened. Florida built a double-digit lead, but Butler regained their footing and slowly but surely chipped away at it, finally tying the game at 57 with 2:30 minutes to play.
The game ultimately went into OT with the Bulldogs winning by three to reach their second straight Final Four. More analysis coming, but I need to take a few deep breaths first…
As we get prepared for the March Madness 2011 onslaught that will commence beginning next week, I am reorganizing some of our NCAA Tournament history posts. I just posted a simple table that shows the schools with the most NCAA College Basketball Tournament Championships – but to hang a banner, you first have to make the Final 4.
In this post, we review every Final 4 since the NCAA Tournament started in 1939, showing you the champion, the runner-up, the score of the NCAA title game, the other two Final 4 participants, each team’s tourney seed, and the Final 4 location.
The 2010 Final Four will mark the 6th time that the event has been held in Indianapolis, the best city for amateur sports in the world.
And while you could probably make a pretty compelling argument that college basketball should not really be considered “amateur”, that is a debate for another day.
This post is designed to give you everything you need to know about the 2010 Final Four in Indianapolis, especially if you plan on attending, as well as the history of the Final 4s that have been held in the great city that I once called home.
This post and all of our March Madness coverage this year is sponsored by Armorex Exterior Coating, the company that helps keep you inside watching sports went you want to be…not outside re-painting your house. Do it right the first time, for a lifetime.
Can you feel it? March Madness is quickly approaching. For basketball junkies from Indiana like me, there is no more exciting time of the year. 65 of the best teams in college basketball get together and decide – on the court – who is the champion.
College football…are you paying attention? (No.)
Back by popular demand, this is your March Madness 2010 preview, complete with everything you need to know about this year’s NCAA mens basketball tournament, including dates, locations, and ticket information for each of the 1st & 2nd round sites, the Sweet 16 and Elite 8 sites, and of course, the Final Four in Indianapolis.
Update: This post is a year old! Get ready for this year’s NCAA Tournament with our March Madness 2010 preview post.
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After Indiana’s trashing at the hands of the Michigan State Spartans yesterday, I think it is time to admit the obvious: the Indiana Hoosiers will not be making the NCAA Tournament.
Not that this is surprising of course; but, it is still strange to say this early in the season. Unlike Indiana and its fans, who are suffering through an awful season with no hope of postseason play, hundreds of other teams and fan bases are still holding out hope of playing deep into March.
Here is a breakdown of the key dates and locations for the 2009 Mens Basketball Tournament. First the dates:
And now the locations of the 2009 NCAA Mens Basketball Tournament. And remember how the whole “pod” system works. During the first two rounds of the tourney, eight teams play at each host site. The top four seeds in each region are placed at a site as close to the school’s location as possible. with other three teams in the top-seeded teams’ bracket “pod” also playing at that site. Here are the first and second round locations for March Madness 2009:
First and Second Round NCAA Tournament Locations, March 19 and March 21
2009 NCAA Tournament First and Second Round Tickets
Tickets for the First and Second Round sites listed above. The links below will take you directly to the all-session purchase page. (Note: To browse all available tickets, including single-session options, use the link highlighted in gray above.)
NCAA Tournament Greensboro Tickets – Strip (Includes all Sessions) March 19 2009
NCAA Tournament Kansas City Tickets – Strip (Includes all Sessions) March 19 2009
NCAA Tournament Philadelphia Tickets – Strip (Includes all Sessions) March 19 2009
NCAA Tournament Portland Tickets – Strip (Includes all Sessions) March 19 2009
First and Second Round NCAA Tournament Locations, March 20 and March 22
Tickets for the First and Second Round sites listed above. The links below will take you directly to the all-session purchase page. (Note: To browse all available tickets, including single-session options, use the link highlighted in gray above.)
NCAA Tournament Boise Tickets – Strip (Includes all Sessions) March 20 2009
NCAA Tournament Dayton Tickets – Strip (Includes all Sessions) March 20 2009
NCAA Tournament Miami Tickets – Strip (Includes all Sessions) March 20 2009
NCAA Tournament Minneapolis Tickets – Strip (Includes all Sessions) March 20 2009
Regional Semi-Final and Regional Final NCAA Tournament Locations, March 26 and March 28
2009 NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 and Elite 8 Tickets
Tickets for the Regional sites listed above. The links below will take you directly to the all-session purchase page. (Note: To browse all available tickets, including single-session options, use the link highlighted in gray above.)
NCAA Tournament East Regional Tickets – Strip (Includes Tickets for both Semifinals and the Final) March 26 2009
NCAA Tournament West Regional Tickets – Strip (Includes Tickets for both Semifinals and the Final) March 26 2009
Regional Semi-Final and Regional Final NCAA Tournament Locations, March 27 and March 29
Tickets for the Regional sites listed above. The links below will take you directly to the all-session purchase page. (Note: To browse all available tickets, including single-session options, use the link highlighted in gray above.)
NCAA Tournament Midwest Regional Tickets – Strip (Includes both Semifinals and the Final) March 27 2009
NCAA Tournament South Regional Tickets – Strip (Includes both Semifinals and the Final) March 27 2009
2009 Final Four Location, April 4 and April 6
2009 NCAA Tournament Final Four Tickets
Tickets for the Final Four. The links below will take you directly to the all-session purchase page. (Note: To browse all available tickets, including single-session options, use the link highlighted in gray above.)
NCAA Final Four Tickets – Strip (Includes both Semifinals and the Finals) April 04 2009
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And now the the tournament pairings have officially been announced, here is the breakdown for each of the four brackets:
| Game | Matchup | Date | Time | Location | Announcers | Spread |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FIRST ROUND | ||||||
| 1 | #1 Louisville def. #16 Morehead St 74-54 | Fri, 3/20 | 7:10 PM | Dayton | Lundquist-Raftery | LOU -20 1/2 |
| 2 | #9 Siena def. #8 Ohio State 74-72 | Fri, 3/20 | 9:40 PM | Dayton | Lundquist-Raftery | OSU-3.5 |
| 3 | #13 Cleveland St. def. #4 Wake Forest 84-69 | Fri, 3/20 | 9:40 PM | Miami | Eagle-Spanarkel | WFU -8 |
| 4 | #12 Arizona def. #5 Utah 84-71 | Fri, 3/20 | 7:10 PM | Miami | Eagle-Spanarkel | AZ -1 |
| 5 | #2 Michigan St. def. #15 Robert Morris 77-62 | Fri, 3/20 | 9:50 PM | Minneapolis | Johnson-Elmore | MSU -17 |
| 6 | #10 USC def. #7 Boston College | Fri, 3/20 | 7:20 PM | Minneapolis | Johnson-Elmore | USC -2 |
| 7 | #3 Kansas def. #14 N. Dakota St. 84-74 | Fri, 3/20 | 12:30 PM | Minneapolis | Johnson-Elmore | KU -10 |
| 8 | #11 Dayton def. #6 West Virginia 68-60 | Fri, 3/20 | 3:00 PM | Minneapolis | Johnson-Elmore | WVU -8.5 |
| SECOND ROUND | ||||||
| 9 | #1 Louisville def. #9 Siena 79-72 | Sun, 3/22 | 5:20 PM | Dayton | Lundquist-Raftery | UL -11 1/2 |
| 10 | #12 Arizona def. #13 Cleveland State 71-57 | Sun, 3/22 | 2:40 PM | Miami | Eagle-Spanarkel | AZ -3 1/2 |
| 11 | #2 Michigan State def. #10 USC 74-69 | Sun, 3/22 | 5:00 PM | Minneapolis | Johnson-Elmore | MSU -4 1/2 |
| 12 | #3 Kansas def. #11 Dayton 60-43 | Sun, 3/22 | 2:30 PM | Minneapolis | Johnson-Elmore | KU -7 1/2 |
| SWEET 16 | ||||||
| 13 | #1 Louisville def. #12 Arizona 103-64 | March 27 | 7:07 PM | Indianapolis | Johnson-Elmore | UL -9 1/2 |
| 14 | #2 Michigan State def. #3 Kansas 67-62 | March 27 | 9:37 PM | Indianapolis | Johnson-Elmore | MSU -2 1/2 |
| ELITE 8 - REGIONAL FINAL | ||||||
| 15 | #2 Michigan State def. #2 Louisville 64-52 | March 29 | 2:20 PM | Indianapolis | Johnson-Elmore | UL -7 |
| Game | Matchup | Date | Time | Location | Announcers | Spread |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FIRST ROUND | ||||||
| 1 | #1 North Carolina def. #16 Radford 101-58 | Thu, 3/19 | 2:50 PM | Greensboro | Nantz-Kellogg | UNC -27 |
| 2 | #8 LSU def. #9 Butler 75-71 | Thu, 3/19 | 12:20 PM | Greensboro | Nantz-Kellogg | LSU -2 1/2 |
| 3 | #4 Gonzaga def. #13 Akron 77-64 | Thu, 3/19 | 7:25 PM | Portland | Harlan-Bonner | GON -11.5 |
| 4 | #12 Western Kentucky def #5 Illinois 76-72 | Thu, 3/19 | 9:55 PM | Portland | Harlan-Bonner | ILL -4 |
| 5 | #2 Oklahoma def. #15 Morgan St. 82-54 | Thu, 3/19 | 9:40 PM | Kansas City | Brando-Gminski | OU -16.5 |
| 6 | #10 Michigan def. #7 Clemson 62-59 | Thu, 3/19 | 7:10 PM | Kansas City | Brando-Gminski | CLEM -5.5 |
| 7 | #3 Syracuse def. #14 Stephen F. Austin 59-44 | Fri, 3/20 | 12:15 PM | Miami | Eagle-Spanarkel | SYR -12.5 |
| 8 | #6 Arizona St. def. #11 Temple 66-57 | Fri, 3/20 | 2:45 PM | Miami | Eagle-Spanarkel | ASU -5 |
| SECOND ROUND | ||||||
| 9 | #1 North Carolina def. #8 LSU 84-70 | Sat. 3/21 | 5:45 PM | Greensboro | Nantz-Kellogg | UNC -11 1/2 |
| 10 | #4 Gonzaga def. #12 Western Kentucky 83-81 | Sat. 3/21 | 8:10 PM | Portland | Harlan-Bonner | GON -10 1/2 |
| 11 | #2 Oklahoma def. #10 Michigan 73-63 | Sat. 3/21 | 5:50 PM | Kansas City | Brando-Gminski | OU -6 1/2 |
| 12 | #3 Syracuse def. #6 Arizona State 78-67 | Sun, 3/22 | 12:10 PM | Miami | Eagle-Spanarkel | SU -1 1/2 |
| SWEET 16 | ||||||
| 13 | #1 North Carolina def. #4 Gonzaga 98-77 | March 27 | 9:57 PM | Memphis | Nantz-Kellogg | UNC -8 1/2 |
| 14 | #2 Oklahoma def. #3 Syracuse 84-71 | March 27 | 7:27 PM | Memphis | Nantz-Kellogg | OU -1 1/2 |
| ELITE 8 - REGIONAL FINAL | ||||||
| 15 | #1 North Carolina def. #2 Oklahoma 72-60 | March 29 | 5:05 PM | Memphis | Nantz-Kellogg | UNC -6.5 |
| Game | Matchup | Date | Time | Location | Announcers | Spread |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FIRST ROUND | ||||||
| 1 | #1 Pittsburgh def. #16 E. Tenn. St. 72-62 | Fri, 3/20 | 2:55 PM | Dayton | Lundquist-Raftery | PIT -20 |
| 2 | #8 Oklahoma St. def. #9 Tennessee 77-75 | Fri, 3/20 | 12:25 PM | Dayton | Lundquist-Raftery | TENN -2 |
| 3 | #4 Xavier def. #13 Portland St. 77-59 | Fri, 3/20 | 7:25 PM | Boise | Bolerjack-Wenzel | XU -11 |
| 4 | #12 Wisconsin def. #5 Florida State 61-59 | Fri, 3/20 | 9:55 PM | Boise | Bolerjack-Wenzel | FSU -3 |
| 5 | #2 Duke def. #15 Binghamton 86-62 | Thu, 3/19 | 9:40 PM | Greensboro | Nantz-Kellogg | DUKE -21.5 |
| 6 | #7 Texas def. #10 Minnesota 76-62 | Thu, 3/19 | 7:10 PM | Greensboro | Nantz-Kellogg | UT -4 |
| 7 | #3 Villanova def. #14 American U. 80-67 | Thu, 3/19 | 7:20 PM | Philadelphia | Enberg/Blackburn-Bilas | VU -17 |
| 8 | #6 UCLA def. #11 VCU 65-64 | Thu, 3/19 | 9:50 PM | Philadelphia | Enberg/Blackburn-Bilas | UCLA -7 |
| SECOND ROUND | ||||||
| 9 | #1 Pittsburgh def. #8 Oklahoma State 84-76 | Sun, 3/22 | 2:50 PM | Dayton | Lundquist-Raftery | PITT -8 1/2 |
| 10 | #4 Xavier def. #12 Wisconsin 60-49 | Sun, 3/22 | 2:20 PM | Boise | Bolerjack-Wenzel | XAV -3 1/2 |
| 11 | #2 Duke def. #7 Texas 74-69 | Sat, 3/21 | 8:15 PM | Greensboro | Nantz-Kellogg | DUKE -7 1/2 |
| 12 | #3 Villanova def. #6 UCLA 89-69 | Sat, 3/21 | 1:05 PM | Philadelphia | Enberg/Blackburn-Bilas | NOVA -2 1/2 |
| SWEET 16 | ||||||
| 13 | #1 Pittsburgh def. #4 Xavier 60-55 | March 26 | 7:27 PM | Boston | Lundquist-Raftery | PITT -7 1/2 |
| 14 | #3 Villanova def. #2 Duke 77-54 | March 26 | 9:57 PM | Boston | Lundquist-Raftery | DUKE -2 1/2 |
| ELITE 8 - REGIONAL FINAL | ||||||
| 15 | #3 Villanova def. #1 Pittsburgh 78-76 | March 28 | 7:05 PM | Boston | Lundquist-Raftery | PITT -2 |
| Game | Matchup | Date | Time | Location | Announcers | Spread |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FIRST ROUND | ||||||
| 1 | #1 UConn def. #16 Chattanooga 103-47 | Thu, 3/19 | 3:00 PM | Philadelphia | Enberg/Blackburn-Bilas | UConn -20.5 |
| 2 | #9 Texas A&M def. #8 BYU 79-66 | Thu, 3/19 | 12:30 PM | Philadelphia | Enberg/Blackburn-Bilas | BYU -2 |
| 3 | #4 Washington def. #13 Mississippi St. 71-58 | Thu, 3/19 | 5:00 PM | Portland | Harlan-Bonner | NL |
| 4 | #5 Purdue def. #12 Northern Iowa 61-56 | Thu, 3/19 | 2:30 PM | Portland | Harlan-Bonner | PU -8.5 |
| 5 | #2 Memphis def. #15 Cal St. Northridge 81-70 | Thu, 3/19 | 12:25 PM | Kansas City | Brando-Gminski | MEM -19 |
| 6 | #10 Maryland def. #7 California 84-71 | Thu, 3/19 | 2:55 PM | Kansas City | Brando-Gminski | CAL -1 |
| 7 | #3 Missouri def. #14 Cornell 78-59 | Fri, 3/20 | 3:00 PM | Boise | Bolerjack-Wenzel | MIZZOU -13 |
| 8 | #6 Marquette def. #11 Utah State 58-57 | Fri, 3/20 | 12:30 PM | Boise | Bolerjack-Wenzel | MARQ -4.5 |
| SECOND ROUND | ||||||
| 9 | #1 UConn def. #9 Texas A&M 92-66 | Sat, 3/21 | 3:35 PM | Philadelphia | Enberg/Blackburn-Bilas | UConn -10 1/2 |
| 10 | #5 Purdue def. #4 Washington 76-74 | Sat, 3/21 | 5:40 PM | Portland | Harlan-Bonner | WAS -1 1/2 |
| 11 | #2 Memphis def. #10 Maryland 89-70 | Sat, 3/21 | 3:20 PM | Kansas City | Brando-Gminski | MEM -9 1/2 |
| 12 | #3 Missouri def. #6 Marquette 83-79 | Sun, 3/22 | 4:50 PM | Boise | Bolerjack-Wenzel | MIZZOU -3 1/2 |
| SWEET 16 | ||||||
| 13 | #1 UConn def. #5 Purdue 72-60 | March 26 | 7:07 PM | Glendale | Enberg-Bilas | UConn -6 1/2 |
| 14 | #3 Missouri def. #2 Memphis 102-91 | March 26 | 9:37 PM | Glendale | Enberg-Bilas | MEM -4 1/2 |
| ELITE 8 - REGIONAL FINAL | ||||||
| 15 | #1 UConn def. #3 Missouri 82-75 | March 28 | 4:40 PM | Glendale | Enberg-Bilas | UConn -5 |
