My Beloved 105 Bloggees:
One of my favorite Broadway songs is "You Gotta Have Heart" from the play, Damn Yankees http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=06103o2dv5c . It is a terrific way to describe the play on Saturday of Gator 5 ' 8 point guard, Erving Walker, in the Gators' 73 - 65 victory over UCLA to earn its 7th ticket to the Sweet Sixteen next Thursday http://www.gatorzone.com/basketball/men/boxscore.php?gameid=9886 .
Walker showed heart not just because of his 21 points on 5 for 8 shooting and 3 for 5 from downtown scoring 10 of the Gators' last 12 points, but some of his shots were Jerry West-like, so clutch. Running into UCLA's 300-pounder Josh Smith, trying to draw his 5th foul while miraculously flipping the ball into the basket, displayed his large valentine. His ability to knock down a deep three-pointer with 1:14 left to extend the lead to four when he was left open for an instant by a defender, demonstrated his will to capitalize on the brief opening. Also, his perfect, free throw shooting on his four attempts in the last 30 seconds (including when Billy Donovan "iced" him with a team time out to discuss strategy) exhibited his desire in such pressure situations.
Billy did a phenomenal job of managing the fouls of each of the Gator centers, Vernon Macklin, Patric Young and Erik Murphy in their attempts to combat Josh Smith. All three of them had 4 fouls and continued the streak of having no Gators foul out this year...the only team in the nation to accomplish that feat. Alex Tyus had 13 rebounds including 2 gigantic ones in the last minute. Chandler Parsons' primary contribution was blocking a shot by Smith with 6:30 left which led to a go-ahead three-pointer by Kenny Boynton, a lead Florida never relinquished. Scottie Wilbekin played well defensively in the last few minutes in place of the injured Boynton and the freshman will need to step up his game next Thursday against BYU and Jimmer Fredette (who had 34 points and 6 assists in the Cougars win over Gonzaga 89 - 67 http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/basketball/boxscore?gid=201103190068 ).
To watch the Gators post-game press conference go to http://www.gatorvision.tv/mediaPortal/player.dbml?id=761123&db_oem_id=6500 . Of course, bloggee Kevin # 1 was at the game covering it for the Gainesville Sun. Here are his post-game thoughts http://video.gatorsports.com/ . NEXT
On my next trip to Birmingham's dog track I am bringing Shelvin Mack of Butler with me. He has to be the luckiest guy on the planet when after he "Chris Webered" (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NH1ujxNwrkA) by fouling a Pitt player 45 feet from the basket with 1.4 seconds left with a one-point lead, miraculously, Butler still won the game in regulation. Pitt's Gilbert Brown missed one of two free throws and his teammate, Nasir Robinson, pulled an even bigger "Chris Weber" by fouling Butler's Matt Howard on the rebound with .8 seconds left. Howard walked the 75 plus feet to the other end and made a free throw to win. Shelvin Mack was redeemed from making such a bonehead play that would have scarred him for life. http://rivals.yahoo.com/video/college-basketball/ncaa-tournament-butler-vs-pittsburgh-1093800;_ylt=Am6.VgAaoRBVC2FklWZwhL8SvbYF . NEXT
Kentucky is another team that has proven me wrong, so far, after its 71 -63 victory
http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/basketball/boxscore?gid=201103190292 . They can win with just 6 players doing most of the work. In 39 minutes Brandon Knight certainly helped with 30 points on 9 for 20 shooting and 9 for 10 on the free throw line. This was just one game after he only had one field goal on Thursday against Princeton (but, of course, it was the game winner.) NEXT
All-BB Kenneth Faried finished up his collegiate career by putting up his customary double-double, 11 points and 13 rebounds, but it was not enough as Morehead State lost to Richmond 65 - 48 http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/basketball/boxscore?gid=201103190487 . We will see more of Faried in the NBA. THAT'S IT
Enjoy.......I know bloggee Jeff (and possibly his daughter bloggee Alison) will be in Auburn today for the first round game of the NCAA Women's Tourney with 14 -seed Samford and blog-favorite Emily London, leading Division 1 (men and women) in free throw percentage at 93.4 %, going up against the Seminoles of Florida State on ESPN2 at 4:15 CDT,
Barry
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