Marcus Paige has scored more points than Michael Jordan at North Carolina.
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Virginia is 8-1 ATS when it is 6-point favorites or less with 140 or more total points scored in four of those matchups. Niang became the first player in NCAA Tournament history to record three-straight games with at least 25 points, five rebounds and three assists in the same tournament.
“What a finishing piece, for this group to advance”, Bennett said.
Gill leads Virginia with nine points at the break, and Niang has 15 points for Iowa State on three 3-pointers. By any measure, it’s a insane level of accomplishment for a program that reached just two NCAA tournaments between 1998 and 2011.
“We have a lot to hold our heads high for”, forward Jameel McKay said. Until then, enjoy the big win. Oddly, despite the Cyclones not scoring almost as much as the normally do, the team still shot over 50 percent from the field.
It’s not entirely fair given the often random nature of a one-and-done tournament, but it’s reality. “Understand that we should be here, we’ve played our way into this position, and we should just enjoy it and play”.
Old-school sensibilities meet college basketball’s current tempo of choice in tonight’s first Sweet 16 showdown at the United Center. “Having some of that experience is a big thing, being on that stage before”. Defensively, Iowa State yields 75.0 points against the opposing teams. The game’s start time and more is available below.
Yes, it could get worse for Iowa State – and better for Virginia.
Virginia was leading 49-35 early in the second half when Iowa State went on a 9-2 run that Monte Morris finished with a floater, drawing a roar from a large contingent of Cyclones fans. But you don’t dwell on it. It’s here in the moment.
It’s hard to say what’s more impressive – that Paige passed Jordan, or that Jordan was just 12th in the first place. “I’m not sure that’s something that can be put into words until we get it done”.
The Cavaliers have the look of a legit national title contender. You can’t say that about all No. 1 seeds-especially this season. “It’s a great teacher”. You have to admire the toughness. On the other hand, Iowa State has seen a 140 or higher o/u in every single one of their games, with the under covering 16 times and the over hitting 14 times. “It doesn’t take away from what’s been built, what’s been established all those games before, but it’s an opportunity to be at this spot and take the next step”.
It sounds so simple for Virginia: One step forward and a lifetime of labels change.
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As soon as the NCAA Tournament bracket was revealed on Selection Sunday, any talking points for Virginia’s Final Four hopes revolved around the presence of Michigan State, the team that has sent a top-seeded Wahoos team each of the last two seasons, in the Midwest Region. “But obviously I’m a Cyclone now and that doesn’t mean anything to me anymore”. “That’s really how I see it”.
