2019 Gallery

I try to do a gallery every year, but sometimes just don't have time. You'll see more than pictures, because I like to look at these years later to refresh myself of what happened. So this is insight now, and a walk down memory lane later.

Without further ado, I give to you, the 2019 gallery...



Gardner-Webb earns 1st bid

They call themselves the Runnin' Bulldogs and they compete in the Big South Conference (UNC Asheville, Coastal Carolina, Radford, Winthrop). ACU is located in Boiling Springs, North Carolina. They've previously played in the CBI tournament (in 2015) and CIT (in 2013), but this is the first time they've won the Big South conference tournament, and subsequently the first time they've danced. On Selection Sunday, they were pretty happy when they heard they were going to face Virginia in the first round, hoping maybe they could send the 1-seed packing for the 2nd year in a row. And they put a scare into Virginia. They were leading by 6 at the half and there was definitely a buzz in the air: "Could they blow it 2 years in a row?". But Virginia woke up and sent Gardner-Webb packing. Still, this was a memorable year for Gardner-Webb.


Abilene Christian also gets first bid

Last year the Northwestern Wildcats earned their first bid into the NCAA Tournament. I mention them only because Abilene Christian are also the Wildcats and they share the same team colors. ACU is in Abilene, Texas and they play in the Southland Conference. You may better know this conference if I told you Stephen F. Austin (SFA) typically represents this conference in the tourney (5 of prior 6 years). SFA had a bad year, Sam Houston State had the best conference record, but ACU had a 27-7 overall record and won the conference tournament (over New Orleans - who danced in 2017). In the NCAA Tournament, ACU faced Kentucky. Wildcats vs Wildcats. UK held ACU to 13 points in the first half- which is an NCAA Tournament record - after which UK rolled to victory, sending the 15-seed home with their tail between their legs.

GAME CHANGERS

Zion Williamson, Duke Blue Devils

At 6-7 285 pounds, Zion is probably going to be named Player of the Year. He's a nightmare for opponents. At the start of the year, Duke was feeding RJ Barrett - a star in his own right - but as the year's progressed, Zion has proven himself to be the GoTo for Coach K. Zion shoots 70% from the floor, averages 22 per game, he blocks shots, rebounds, but perhaps his best attribute is the combination of size and agility. He reminds me of Blake Griffin when he was in college, a guy with a large physique with incredible hops. In Duke's game against UCF, Duke was down late in the game when Zion drove right at 7-foot-6 Tacko Fall, took it to him, scored, and drew the foul, which was Tacko's 5th. Duke went onto win by a point thanks in large part to Zion. When he gets going, he's like a freight train and not too many guys are going to get in his way. I'm not sure if you remember, but he's the guy who blew out of his Nikes and got hurt in the process. He did it on a hard cut, and while that shouldn't happen to a shoe, I imagine no matter what brand he was wearing, they would have been destroyed, as big as he is and as hard as he hit the brakes. If hadn't been ready for the tournament, it would have been the equivalent of many years ago when Cincy lost Kenyon Martin, and I would have to say most of us - if not all 35 of us - wouldn't have been taking Duke all the way.

Tacko Fall, Central Florida Knights

7-foot-6 Senior. This guy isn't prolific at anything he does, but he's a game changer because he disrupts opponents by making them shoot the ball higher, or try to go around him. Statistically he's below average IMO. He averages 11 points, 8 boards, and just under 3 blocks per game - 9th in the nation. But against VCU he had 18 rebounds and 5 blocks. Another year or two in school and he might be averaging 20/15/5. Had he not fouled out against Duke, maybe they would be in the Sweet 16. I do believe this guy will either get drafted or signed, end up in the G League, and then who knows if he'll have a future in the NBA. Mamadou N'Diaye is 7-6 with a similar skillset and he's overseas now.

Quack Report

Onto the Sweet 16

This is a great time of year every year, but especially for the Ducks. They lost 7-2 Bol Bol for the year, and Kenny Wooten was out for awhile with a broken face. But lately Wooten has been all over the place, blocking shots, disrupting opponents, Payton Pritchard has been a floor general and hitting key shots, and defensively they're hitting on all cylinders. It's impressive to watch.

#GoDucks

The Journey

Highlights of 2019:
  • Duke is the top overall seed and they barely beat UCF to advance to the Sweet 16.
  • 2 teams (mentioned above) got bids for the first time in school history.
  • 3 12-seeds pulled upsets in the first round (Oregon, Liberty, and Murray State).
  • Every 9 seed beat every 8 seed.
  • Every 10-seed, except Seton Hall won (Florida, Iowa, Minnesota) in the 1st round.
  • Based on seeds, there were 12 upsets in the first round.
  • There was only 1 (mild) upset in the 2nd round when 5-Auburn beat 4-Kansas

Lowest seeds in the S16:
  • 12-Oregon
  • 5-Auburn


Elite 8:
1 Duke vs 2 MSU
1 Zags vs 3 Texas Tech
1 UVA vs 3 Purdue
5 Auburn vs 2 UK

Final 4:
2 MSU vs 3 TT
1 UVA vs 5 Aub

THE UPSETS...

There were 22 total upsets, based on seeds. These are the ones that made the list



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