East Region Recap
by Adam Shandler
From the other side of the bracket . . .
(1) Maryland 85, (16) Siena 70
With all the upsets going on this weekend, I’m sure all us bracket nerds are relieved that 17-18 Siena didn’t pull off the biggest coup of the tournament. Nope, Maryland staved off the upstart Saints, who are the only team to go home with a losing record and still win a tournament game. Juan Dixon owned this game, scoring 20 of his 29 points in the first half. Siena, which turned the ball over 16 times, had a dismal shooting night, especially from 3-point range. They were led by James Clinton’s 16 points, and Tuesday night’s hero, Prosper Karangwa was hassled in a 2-for-8 shooting affair. The Terps will be challenged by Wisconsin in Round 2 on Sunday evening.
(8) Wisconsin 80, (9) St. John’s 70
Well, Marcus Hatten needed to be on for the Red Storm to win this game. Hatten was, scoring 28 points and bringing down 6 rebounds. But Mike Jarvis’s team had only 5 other players score, and that was a problem. Wisconsin on the other hand had contributions from just about everyone who entered the game. Five of Bo Ryan’s players scored in double figures. Kirk Penney had a Badger-best 19 points, complemented by teammate Freddie Owens’s 18. The big key to the Wisconsin win: only 9 turnovers.
Second Round Game:
(1) Maryland vs. (8) Wisconsin
Every possession will count for the Badgers. Every possession. Maryland will hurt you with their open floor, run-n-gun mentality. But even in their most disciplined, Zen-like moments, the Badgers will be tormented by this Terps team on a mission. Maryland’s the safe, logical choice, but don’t take it from me. I shredded my bracket two days ago.
