2012 NCAA Tournament: Top 10 Stories

[Built Ford Tough]

http://i.usatoday.net/communitymanager/_photos/campus-rivalry/2012/04/02/davis-MOPx-large.jpg

 

The Kentucky Wildcats defeated the Kansas Jayhawks 67-59 in the national championship game Monday night to bring a close to the 2012 edition of the NCAA Tournament.

 

The win marked the school's eighth national championship, which ranks second to the UCLA Bruins' 11.

 

Like all NCAA Tournaments, the 2012 edition was filled with fantastic matchups, gigantic upsets, dramatic moments, thrilling finishes and marquee moments that fans have come to expect from March Madness. Every year something happens that is simply unfathomable and results in pure jubilation for one team and heartbreak for another.

 

All tournaments feature so many compelling stories that it is nearly impossible to narrow it down to just 10.

 

Despite that, here is my best effort to bring you what I believe were the top 10 stories of the 2012 NCAA Tournament.

 

 

10. Gorgui Dieng's Seven Blocks Lead Lousiville Past Michigan State

 

The West Regional semifinals saw Louisville face Michigan State in a battle of two of the best defenses in the nation.

 

The game would see Louisville's defensive anchor, Gorgui Dieng, put on a shot-blocking clinic against the No. 1 seed Spartans. Dieng would finish with seven blocks and altered countless other attempts. He was a one-man defensive wrecking crew and single-handedly struck fear into the entire Spartan team.

 

With Dieng swatting shots left and right, the Spartans shot a meager 27 percent from the floor and fell to the fourth-seeded Cardinals 57-44.

 

 

9. Baylor's Brady Heslip Hits Nine Three-Pointers Against Colorado

 

In a third-round game between the Baylor Bears and the Colorado Buffaloes, Baylor shooting guard Brady Heslip had the the kind of hot shooting streak that we are rarely privileged to see.

 

Heslip would make 9-of-12 three-point field goals, becoming the ninth player in NCAA Tournament history to make nine or more three-pointers in a game and the third to convert those nine threes by shooting 75 percent or better.

 

Heslip would finish with 27 points as Baylor cruised to an 80-63 victory behind the Burlington, Ontario, native's torrid shooting.

 

 

8. Indiana Returns to the National Stage

 

Indiana is one of college basketball's most storied programs, but the Hoosiers had fallen on hard times of late. After former coach Kelvin Sampson was found guilty of multiple violations, new coach Tom Crean entered into a program in shambles. And in his first three seasons as coach, the Hoosiers went 28-56.

 

But this season, Indiana, led by Christian Watford, Jordan Hulls, Victor Oladipo and Cody Zeller, finished 27-9 and made the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2008. The Hoosiers also managed to pick up their first tournament win since 2007.

 

They would make it to the Sweet Sixteen before falling 102-90 to eventual champion Kentucky. Despite the loss, it was a great season for the Hoosiers who returned to the national spotlight after some of the worst seasons in the school's history.

 

 

7. March 13th Play-in Comebacks

 

Most people don't pay much attention to the play-in games. After all, they usually feature mediocre teams that have no chance of making any noise when the "real" tournament begins.

 

However, those people who tuned in on March 13th were treated to some historic comebacks.

 

In the tournament's first game, Western Kentucky found itself trailing Mississippi Valley State by 16 points with 4:51 remaining. The game looked to be over, but Western Kentucky would go on a furious rally and come away with a 59-58 comeback win.

 

This was the largest comeback in the final five minutes in NCAA Tournament history.

 

In the second game of the night, Brigham Young found itself facing a 25-point deficit against Iona. But BYU would fight back and eventually come away with a 78-72 victory. Like the game before, this would also set a record. This time it was for the largest comeback in NCAA Tournament history.

 

Neither team would advance past the second round, but both etched their names in the history books.

 

 

6. Ohio Makes Up 25 Percent of Sweet Sixteen

 

The Ohio Bobcats, Ohio State Buckeyes, Cincinnati Bearcats and Xavier Musketeers were the four teams that represented the state of Ohio in this year's tournament. All four would manage to advance to the round of 16, marking the first time in the tournament's history that four teams from a single state made it to the Sweet Sixteen.

 

However, they didn't fare well once they got there. Ohio lost in overtime to North Carolina. Xavier's comeback fell short in a 75-70 loss to Baylor. And Ohio State eliminated Cincinnati in a physical affair, becoming the only Ohio team to advance to the Elite Eight.

 

But with its teams making up 25 percent of the Sweet Sixteen, the state of Ohio proved that it is quickly becoming a basketball power.

 

 

5. Kendall Marshall's Wrist Injury Kills UNC's Championship Aspirations

 

The North Carolina Tar Heels were considered one of the favorites to reach the Final Four and win it all. They boasted a prolific offense, spearheaded by Cousy Award-winning point guard Kendall Marshall.

 

Marshall set a single-season ACC assist record and was UNC's most indispensable player. Not only was he the best playmaker in college basketball, he was the Heels' unquestioned leader.

 

When he broke his wrist in UNC's third-round game against Creighton, it crushed the Tar Heels' chances.

 

UNC would manage to pick up an overtime win over Ohio in the Sweet Sixteen, despite committing a season-high 24 turnovers and struggling mightily on offense.

 

However, the loss of Marshall was too much to overcome in the Elite Eight. UNC would not score a basket in the final 5:46 as Kansas went on 12-0 run to pick up the 80-67 win.

 

There will be no redemption for this unit. Tyler Zeller graduated, and Harrison Barnes, John Henson and Marshall all declared for the 2012 NBA Draft, which leaves UNC fans with the lingering question of "what if?''

 

 

4. Kansas Jayhawks: Comeback Kids

 

Kansas had a flair for the dramatic. Normally a powerhouse team that dictates the outcome of games, the Jayhawks found themselves on the opposite end of the spectrum this year.

 

In their third-round game against Purdue, the Jayhawks found themselves trailing by as many as 11 points. But they managed to fight back and pick up a 63-60 win, despite trailing until the final minute. Luckily for them, that minute was all that they needed.

 

In its Sweet Sixteen matchup with the North Carolina State, Kansas would end up facing another double-digit deficit. This time, it was Jeff Withey's defensive dominance that would prove to be the difference. He blocked 10 shots to help Kansas overcome its abysmal offensive effort and pick up yet another three-point comeback win.

 

Against Ohio State in the Final Four, Kansas once again found itself in a large hole. The Jayhawks scored the game's first basket, but would not see a lead again until the game had just 2:48 remaining.

 

OSU led by as many as 13 points. Kansas led only a grand total of 3:48. Yet, once again, the Jayhawks would squeak out a 64-62 comeback win.

 

Unfortunately for Kansas, its magic ran out when it was unable to complete a fourth double-digit comeback in the finals against Kentucky.

 

 

3. Block Party: Jeff Withey and Anthony Davis Set Records

 

Kansas' Jeff Withey was a one-man wrecking crew in the paint. He had 10 blocks against N.C. State in the Sweet Sixteen, one shy of the record for most blocks in an NCAA Tournament game. He also had seven blocks against Ohio State in the Final Four and five against Detroit in the second round.

 

Withey would finish the tournament with 31 blocks, an NCAA Tournament record.

 

Kentucky's Anthony Davis was also establishing records with his shot-blocking prowess. He set a single-season record for most blocks by a freshman with 183. He would block seven shots against Western Kentucky in the opening round, six against both Baylor in the Elite Eight and Kansas in the Finals, and five against Louisville in the Final Four.

 

He would block 29 shots, which tied him with former Florida Gator Joakim Noah for the second-most blocks in tournament history.

 

Add in the shot-blocking abilities of guys like Louisville's Gorgui Dieng and UNC's John Henson, and we fans were treated to a block party seemingly every night of this tournament.

 

 

2. No. 15 Seeds Lehigh and Norfolk State Pull Engineer Shocking Upsets

 

Very rarely do we see a No. 15 seed pick up a win in the second round of the tournament. Before this year, it had happened only four times.

 

What was unheard of? Two No. 15 seeds upsetting two No. 2 seeds in the second round. That is exactly what happened this season when Norfolk State beat Missouri 86-84 and Lehigh beat Duke 75-70.

 

While both upsets were complete shocks, the Missouri loss was especially surprising. The Tigers were considered by many to be a Final Four team. Many fans and experts had them going to the Final Four. So when they were knocked out in the second round, it sent a shock wave through a vast majority of brackets.

 

Later that day, when Lehigh beat Duke, the sound of brackets being ripped apart and thrown in the trash could be heard around the world.

 

While neither Norfolk State nor Lehigh was able to pick up another victory (both lost by double-digits in their third-round games), they will be forever etched in history due to their remarkable upsets.

 

 

1. Anthony Davis' Great Season

 

Anthony Davis established himself as a force the minute he stepped on the floor for Kentucky. In his first game, he scored 23 points, grabbed 10 rebounds and blocked five shots in just 23 minutes. After seeing that performance, everybody knew he was going to be an impactful player.

 

What they didn't know was that they were about to witness one of the greatest individual seasons in college basketball history.

 

I could go on and on about just how great Davis is, but all of his awards speak for themselves. Davis won the following awards:

 

• 
   
  
• Sporting News Player of the Year
  
• CBSSports Player of the Year
  
• AP Player of the Year
  
• Naismith Player of the Year
  
• Freshman of the Year
  
• Defensive Player of the Year
  
• 2012 NCAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player
  
• 2012 NCAA All-Tournament Team
  
• Adolf Rupp Trophy winner
  
• First Team All-American
  
• Pete Newell Big-Man Award
  
• SEC Player of the Year
  
• SEC Freshman of the Year
  
• SEC Defensive Player of the Year
  
• First Team All-SEC
  

 

That is all that needs to be said about this young man. You can also add another accomplishment to that list in June when he becomes the first overall pick in the 2012 NBA Draft.

 

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1129814-brackets-busted-top-10-stories-of-the-2012-ncaa-tournament

[Flash]

Only one I'd have higher is Marshall's injury but great work, BFT! The college ball discussion really picked up with the tourney hopefully we can get it for the whole season next year.

[Built Ford Tough]

Only one I'd have higher is Marshall's injury but great work, BFT! The college ball discussion really picked up with the tourney hopefully we can get it for the whole season next year.

 

Where would you have it?

 

I couldn't decide between having it 4th and Kansas' comebacks 5th or the other way around. Obviously, I settled on the other way around. If Kansas wouldn't have made it to the Finals I probably would've had it 4th but with them having 3 huge comebacks and nearly completing a 4th against Kentucky I ultimately put that 4th instead of Marshall.

[Flash]

I'd honestly have it 2 or 3. UNC was really the team most thought could knock off UK if they ever got that rematch so their best player getting hurt kinda ruined that chance.

[Built Ford Tough]

I'd honestly have it 2 or 3. UNC was really the team most thought could knock off UK if they ever got that rematch so their best player getting hurt kinda ruined that chance.

 

Fair enough.

 

Originally I was going to have Lehigh and Norfolk's upsets as two seperate stories but decided to combine them into one. Then I didn't really know what to include (I'd had most of this written before the final game) but then when I saw both Withey and Davis set records for blocks I decided that was a pretty big story to have two players having such a large impact defensively.

 

I'd honestly be fine with whatever order the 5th/4th/3rd stories were put in. I wouldn't have any of the three in the top 2, but can definitely see were you are coming from if you had it (Marshall's injury) 3rd.

[Flash]

Im gonna try and read up as much as possible this summer about what'll be going on at the camp and AAU circuit so we keep some good offseason discussion going.

[Built Ford Tough]

Speaking of, I wonder what Kentucky winning it all this year will do for their recruiting.

 

It is blatantly obvious that they are the go to place for one-and-dones since Cal took over. I read something about how a lot of programs don't even really bother trying to recruit some high school players because they know that they simply can't compete with Kentucky.

 

The thing is, there was this stigma attached to young tams and how you can't win it all by throwing out a lineup full of freshmans and sophomores. Now that Kentucky won it this year with only one senior and no juniors in the rotation does that strengthen their recruiting pitch even more? If winning eliminates the stigma of young teams being unable to win it does not bode well for the rest of the programs who were already at a disadvantage when it came to many of these 0ne-and-done players.

[Flash]

I think you HAVE to recruit one and dones to be consistently successful in CBB at this point. Not everyone is gonna be like Butler or even Kansas this year even though T-Rob is basically a one and done (didn't he not play much last year?). Not only that but the odds of getting kids to stay like UNC has is pretty slim. I think a lot of people are getting a little scared of what Cal is capable of now that he's got a title under his belt.

 

I'd be VERY worried if I were a Duke fan these days.

Edited April 4, 2012 by Flash

[fish7718]

Nice article, good read

[Built Ford Tough]

I think you HAVE to recruit one and dones to be consistently successful in CBB at this point. Not everyone is gonna be like Butler or even Kansas this year even though T-Rob is basically a one and done (didn't he not play much last year?). Not only that but the odds of getting kids to stay like UNC has is pretty slim. I think a lot of people are getting a little scared of what Cal is capable of now that he's got a title under his belt.

 

I'd be VERY worried if I were a Duke fan these days.

 

It isn't necessarily that teams don't want to recruit one-and-dones, its just they realize that they simply can't compete with Kentucky for those kind of players and they know it so they turn their attention elsewhere.

 

Here is that story I was talking about:

 

Whether or not you choose to believe it, there is a perception that exists in the world of college basketball at this very moment. It’s the conviction that many within the inner sanctums at the highest levels of college basketball share. Some even acknowledge it though they won’t say so publicly.

 

They can’t beat Kentucky on the recruiting trail.

 

When asked if it was a good idea to root for John Calipari and UK in the championship game, one high-major assistant conceded. “I probably should,” the coach said. “Maybe he’ll leave [for the NBA] if they win.”

 

And that’s what it has come to for people who aspire to recruit against the Wildcats.

 

The Kentucky Wildcats, under Calipari, are the dominant recruiting program in college basketball. They own the nation’s past three No. 1 recruiting classes and have an inside track on an unprecedented fourth in modern times. They are in the midst of a recruiting dynasty and Monday night’s championship game was the coronation of the champion on and off the court.

 

Beating Kansas 67-59 allowed Calipari to hoist the national championship trophy and exorcise any basketball demons that haunted him in past shortcomings. There isn’t a coach in the country who can continue to use the “they can’t win the big game with one-and-dones” anymore.

 

Whispers heard. Point proven.

 

Calipari has established an ongoing pipeline from Lexington to the greenroom of the NBA draft. He holds the keys to an NBA future and that’s the single most important thing to kids of this generation. Tyler Hansbrough coveted a national championship. Those guys are few and far between in terms of the elite players, in 2012 and beyond.

 

The mindset of many players has changed and evolved. Kids would rather go through the drive-thru line than take their time and stay a while in college. Kentucky is the undisputed leader -- and it’s not even that close -- of one-and-done players. Calipari doesn't agree with the NBA rule but he sure knows how to work within the confines of it. Plus, the guys they’ve put into the league are, for the most part, playing well in the NBA.

 

Trust me, the elite programs in college basketball know this is true. They also know that the climate in college basketball, the setup Kentucky has and the roll that it has on is as close to a sure thing as we’ve seen in quite some time. The Cats sit atop the college basketball world both on the court and in recruiting arena.

 

It’s not crazy to adopt a new ideal. Using the theory “he’s going to Kentucky,” especially if it’s a one-and-done player until otherwise notified, isn’t a bad bet. There are too many cases to argue otherwise. Sure, every now and then they’ll lose out on a guy they truly wanted. That might happen next week. But at this moment they are prohibitive favorites for nearly any player that they elect to offer a scholarship. They are that dominant.

 

The Wildcats are national champions. They are also a problem for the upper crust of college basketball programs that don’t reside in Lexington, and that includes everybody. From Duke to Carolina, from Kansas to UCLA, Florida to Connecticut and everyone in between.

 

http://espn.go.com/blog/collegebasketballnation/post/_/id/57448/kentuckys-recruiting-pitch-is-complete

 

 

Nice article, good read

 

Anything you'd change other than the already mentioned 3/4/5 stories that I acknowledged could go in any order?

[fish7718]

Anything you'd change other than the already mentioned 3/4/5 stories that I acknowledged could go in any order?

Wish I could help, but this probably the most distant I've been from college basketball since like 06, so I really wasn't paying attention to the season, mainly why I enjoyed reading it, gave me an idea of the things that happened in basketball this season.

[Flash]

Honestly, the only schools that can really get on Kentucky's level are UNC and UCLA in terms of just dominating the recruiting trail. If UCLA gets this big 3 and get to the Final 4 next year that'll be big.

[Built Ford Tough]

Honestly, the only schools that can really get on Kentucky's level are UNC and UCLA in terms of just dominating the recruiting trail. If UCLA gets this big 3 and get to the Final 4 next year that'll be big.

 

I know you think that UCLA has an edge based on their location and the history of the program, but I honestly don't think any school has what it takes to out recruit Kentucky, UCLA or UNC included.

 

Sure, there will be times when UK misses out on some of the marquee guys, such as Barnes or potentially Muhammad or Noel this year (I still think they get at least one of them) but on a whole I just don't see anybody being able to consistently out recruit or even compete with Cal and the might of Kentucky behind him. He is just simply on a different level when it comes to recruiting.

 

I just think that Kentucky winning it all this year was the icing on the cake. By showing that a team full of one-and-dones and sophomores ready to make the jump to the NBA it gives him too much of an advantage over anybody else.

 

I do hope I am wrong, though.