Strategy, Strategy, Strategy! The Josh Drake Story

[JMD]

Sweet Sixteen:

EAST:

(1) North Carolina 76, (5) West Virginia 65

(3) Mississippi 70, (10) Memphis 58

MIDWEST:

(1) Syracuse 71, (12) Duke 68

(2) Cincinnati 81, (3) Wisconsin 71

SOUTH:

(4) Grand Canyon 95, (1) Pittsburgh 79

(2) Virginia 91, (6) Michigan 65

WEST:

(1) Kansas 73, (4) Michigan State 61

(2) Florida 68, (3) Georgetown 57

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Elite Eight:

EAST:

(1) North Carolina 112, (3) Mississippi 89

MIDWEST:

(1) Syracuse 81, (2) Cincinnati 60

SOUTH:

(4) Grand Canyon 85, (2) Virginia 75

WEST:

(1) Kansas 76, (2) Florida 52

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FINAL FOUR:

(E1) North Carolina VS. (MW1) Syracuse

(S4) Grand Canyon VS. (W1) Kansas

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Me and my girlfriend Kimberly are on a honeymoon in this tournament.

Final Four VS. Kansas

The first half was very competitive, seeing the two teams trading the lead 12 times and ending with GCU scoring a halftime buzzer-beater to take a 40-39 lead.

The 2nd half was no different as the Jayhawks and Antelopes took it down to the wire. Kansas hit a half-court shot as time expired to send the game into overtime tied at 82.

In the overtime period, GCU took the lead with 24.1 seconds left on a 2-point jumper. Coach Bill Self called a timeout to discuss the strategy. KU missed the 3-point shot, followed by missing a layup, then missing a 2-point jumper, and it was over. 99-97 (OT).

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Final Four game #2: (MW1) Syracuse 69, (E1) North Carolina 65

CBI Championship: Marshall 63, Western Kentucky 53

NIT Championship: Tennessee 77, Texas 64

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National Championship VS. Syracuse

We were taking on a team that had been as undefeated as 26-0 before losing @ Florida State by 13. It also didn't help that there were two players tied for the lead on the Syracuse team's Points-Per-Game rankings: Wesley Poole and Corsley Flanders at 16.3 PPG.

The 1st half was back-and-forth the entire way, with 11 lead changes occurring in the half. Grand Canyon hit a 3-point buzzer beater to lead at halftime 37-36.

The 2nd half saw similar action as GCU trailed Syracuse 65-68 with 49 seconds left. After 2 quick scores left Grand Canyon with a 69-68 lead with 33.9 seconds to go, Syracuse held for the final shot and missed it. Grand Canyon was declared the National Champion. 69-68.