Sweet 16, Part 2!!!

Arizona 64, Louisville 103

The Ville just continues to cruise right along as they won their 13th straight dating back to Feb. 15. They're still yet to play anybody in the Tournament, although Siena did provide them with a little scare. Moreover, except for their 7-point win over Siena in round 2 of the Big Dance, The Cards have won every game by double-digits in the Tournament and in the Big East Tournament. Earl Clark led the way for them with 19 points ad 9 boards. 

Syracuse 71, Oklahoma 84

Although Oklahoma was the higher seed, you wouldn't have known it by the number of people (or lack thereof) who gave them no chance to beat the Orangemen. However, they proved the doubters wrong Friday night, crushing  'Cuse, behind 30 points and 14 boards for the freak that is Blake Griffin, and 28 from the SCORCHING Tony Crocker, whose night included 6 treys. The final score doesn't give a true reflection of just how badly the Sooners did 'Cuse. Johnny Flynn led Syracuse with 22. Eric Devendorf and Andy Rautins, the Orangemen's most lethal shooters, combined to go 7-24.

Just How Much Of A Freak Is Blake Griffin???

That's insane.

Gonzaga 77, North Carolina 98

North Carolina ran Gonzaga out of he gym. Period. The Heels shot damn near 60% in the first half, 53% in the game, and went 11-19 from deep. Tyler Hansbrough led Carolina with 24 and 10, while Wayne Ellington and Ty Lawson each had 19. Lawson had 17 in the first half. Can we just deem him, Roy Williams, and the entire Tar Heels program as liars, because clearly, whatever toe injury he had supposedly had hasn't slowed him down one bit.

Kansas 62, Michigan St. 67

Luckily one of Friday's Sweet 16 mathcups was actually competitive. Michigan St. and Kansas was a classic battle of two talented teams with excellent coaches. Kansas was up by as many as 13 in the first half, but couldn't fend off the Michigan St. rally. Michigan St.'s execution was the difference maker as it has been all season for them. Coming out of timeouts, Coach Izzo always had something for the Spartans to run, and they executed time and time again coming down the stretch. Furthermore, as has been the case in the last few weeks, Michigan St. got great play from Kalin Lucas (18, 7 assists, and 4 steals) and Goran Suton (20, 9 boards, and 5 steals) and small contributions from a handful of other guys (i.e. Travis Walton, Chris Allen, Durrell Summer, Draymond Green, Raymar Morgan). The Jayhawks were led by Sherron Collins' 20, ad Cole Aldrich's 17 points, 14 boards, and 4 blocks.

Other NCAA Basketball News...

Anthony Grant To Alabama!!!

Virginia Commonwealth's Anthony Grant has been hired at Alabama.

Grant confirmed to ESPN he has accepted the job on Friday. A formal agreement is expected to be signed later in the night.

The 42-year-old Grant, a former Florida assistant, led VCU to two NCAA tournaments in three seasons. He becomes the most prominent black coach hired at Alabama and the first in the two major sports, football and men's basketball.

..."We have been given the opportunity to create a very special situation for men's basketball at the University of Alabama and we look forward to getting started," said Grant, who played at Dayton. "There's a commitment throughout the athletic department to make sure that we have the resources necessary to compete for championships."

...Grant has been an instant success -- and hot commodity -- as a head coach. After helping Billy Donovan win a national championship with the Gators during a 10-season stay at Florida, he guided VCU to three straight Colonial Athletic Association regular-season titles. His first season was highlighted by a victory over Duke in the NCAA tournament.

Grant's one of my favorite coaches, and certainly one of the best young coaches in the country, so I'm happy he's gotten the chance to lead a high level program, though he did a fantastic job at VCU. But I hope he gets things goin' quickly at 'Bama, because you already know they'll be quick to run him out of town if he doesn't. And for more reasons than just his win/loss record.

Full story here.

Via: ESPN