Player of the Day: Jae Crowder, Marquette: Crowder looked very-deserving of his Big East Player of the Year award on Thursday night as he went for 25 points, 16 boards, four steals and four assists in No. 3 Marquette’s 88-68 win over No. 14 BYU. It was just the third time in NCAA tournament history that a player had posted those numbers. The previous two happened in the mid-70’s. I’d say that’s a good day.
They were good too:
- Deshaun Thomas, Ohio State: 31 points, 12 boards
- Rodney McGruder, Kansas State: 30 points, four boards
- John Jenkins, Vanderbilt: 27 points, six boards, three assists
Recaps of every game from Thursday
Team of the Day: Colorado Buffaloes: Colorado got 12 points and 16 boards from Andre Roberson and Askia Booker added 16 points off the bench as the Buffaloes continued their cinderella run in March with their fifth straight postseason win. Of course, they nearly blew a 20 point lead in the process, but the Buffaloes managed to hang on, 68-64.
Shoutouts:
- Murray State: The Racers beat Colorado State 58-41 to advance to play Marquette.
- Vanderbilt: When you’ve lost in the first round the last three times you’ve been in the tournament, any win is notable. Vandy beat Harvard 79-70.
Game of the Day: VCU 62, Wichita State 59: As has been the norm for the Rams, VCU jumped out to a big lead on Wichita State, only to see the Shockers erase the 13 point deficit and, eventually, take a two point lead with about four minutes left. But on the ensuing possession, Brad Burgess hit a three of his own, and VCU never gave the lead up again. Garrett Stutz did have a decent look at a three to tie the game, but it bounced off the back of the rim. In a day that was devoid of, well, madness, this game was pleasant dose of excitement, high-level play and thrills.
They’ve had better days: The refs in Pittsburgh: I don’t think I really need to write anything else about the way that Syracuse’s 72-65 win over UNC Asheville ended. I mean, we’ve already written four posts on the subject.
Him too: Jeremy Lamb: Down 13, in the closing seconds, Lamb stole the ball from Iowa State. He went in for what should have been a meaningless lay-in. Instead, Lamb tried to throw down a windmill dunk.
UConn’s season. Summed up in one play.
Rob Dauster is the editor of the college basketball website Ballin’ is a Habit. You can find him on twitter @robdauster.