Sixteen Candles

A look at those burning the brightest in the tournament so far...

Best Game (Texas A+M vs. Louisville)
This game was a war. The lead changing hands every possession. Everybody in foul trouble. Exhausted. Each possession taking the game to new heights. This game was a heavyweight fight to the final bell. Texas A+M survived against Louisville, led by their fearless point guard Acie Law IV and a surprise 21 points from defensive Captain (Dominique) Kirk, who boldly went where he had never gone before with his career high. Player of the game though was Louisville's freshman point guard Edgar Sosa, who went 20 above his average dropping 31 on the Aggies...including 15 of 15 from the charity stripe UNTIL...less than a minute, Aggies by one, and he misses them both!! After a Cardinal foul, Aggies miss both of theirs as well, but Sosa's unnecessarily rushed and too deep 3 bricked off the rim and A&M prevailed. The Freshman took Louisville farther than they could have ever expected but in the end couldn't close it.


Cheating Death (Ohio State vs. Xavier)
The X-Men comic books are about regular people who get superhuman powers after they get too close to a nuclear explosion. Similarly, the X-Men of Xavier University are an ordinary team that played with the strength of a super hero, irradiated by their in-state hate of Ohio State, who stole their coach and is too afraid to schedule regular season games against them (*last contest over 20 years ago). Xavier had the Buckeyes flatlining, leading the game throughout and holding a 9 point advantage late. Ohio State then executed a stunning turnaround, capped by a perfect 3 by Lewis with but a second left in regulation and the Buckeye nation erupting, sending it into an overtime that they would dominate against the suddenly crestfallen Musketeers. Is this is a case of a champion showing the guts to walk through fire or a simple case of the Buckeyes not being that great a team? Next round against TN will show…

Best Dunk
Patrick Ewing Jr., who threw down a stirring reverse slam reminiscent of his Pops (who was there supporting him) at the most key 11th hour.

Best Block
Vandy survivied in double OT against Wash St, thanks to an unbelievable soaring swiping block by their leading scorer, Derrick Byars, as the Cougars were shooting what might have been the winning shot.