Kansas, Oregon, Oklahoma, Villanova Claim NCAA Victories

Print

Published on March 25 2016 6:58 am
Last Updated on March 25 2016 6:58 am

Whether it was nifty moves near the basket or a jumper that fell right all night, Perry Ellis was determined to do whatever he could to push top-seeded Kansas a little bit deeper in the NCAA tournament.

And thanks to teammates who followed the senior forward's cool lead, the Jayhawks are one step closer to the Final Four.

Ellis scored 27 points to match a season high, Wayne Selden Jr. added 19 and Kansas topped No. 5 Maryland for a 79-63 South Region semifinal victory Thursday night. The win put the Jayhawks back into the Elite Eight for the first time since 2012, when they went on to reach the NCAA championship game before losing to Kentucky.

It took time for the Jayhawks (33-4) to get going. Once they finally seized the lead late in the first half, everything else fell into place for their 17th straight victory. They emerged from the break by making their first six shots and steadily took control behind Ellis, who made 10 of 17 from the field.


Oregon 82, Duke 68

The Oregon Ducks took a double-digit lead early in the second half against the defending national champions, and they never flinched down the stretch.

After taking down mighty Duke with remarkably little drama, these high-flying Ducks are on the brink of the Final Four.

Dillon Brooks scored 22 points, and Oregon advanced with an 82-68 victory over the Blue Devils on Thursday night in the West Region semifinal of the NCAA tournament.

Elgin Cook had 16 points and nine rebounds for the top-seeded Ducks (31-6), who will meet Oklahoma on Saturday. The second-seeded Sooners routed Texas A&M 77-63.


Villanova 92, Miami 69

The Villanova Wildcats keep looking for a better shot, not content with simply a good look at the basket.

As a result, they're putting on quite the clinic in the NCAA tournament with their latest performance putting them into the Elite Eight for the first time since 2009.

Ryan Arcidiacono and Kris Jenkins each scored 21 points and No. 2 seed Villanova never trailed in routing third-seeded Miami 92-69 Thursday night in the South Region semifinal of the NCAA tournament. The Wildcats turned in their best shooting performance yet in this tournament, shooting 62.7 percent.

"If any team is shooting the way we're shooting right now, they'll easily be the most dangerous team in the country," Villanova senior forward Daniel Ochefu said. "But hopefully, we'll keep shooting like that, so we can keep playing the way we are."

The Wildcats (32-5) earned their third trip to the regional final with coach Jay Wright and seventh overall, coming through with former coach Rollie Massimino, who led Villanova to the 1985 national championship, sitting nearby.


Oklahoma 77, Texas A&M 63

The Oklahoma Sooners proved they can thrive quite nicely in the NCAA tournament even if Buddy Hield isn't going off.

Because of that, the Sooners are one win away from returning to the Final Four for the first time in 14 seasons.

Jordan Woodard scored 22 points and Hield had 17 points and 10 rebounds to lead the second-seeded Sooners to a 77-63 romp over third-seeded and cold-shooting Texas A&M in the NCAA West Regional on Thursday.

It was a nice display of teamwork by the Sooners (28-7), who had five players in double figures as they advanced to the Elite Eight for the first time since 2009. They'll play Saturday against No. 1 seed Oregon, which beat fourth-seeded and defending national champion Duke 82-68.


Friday, March 25 Schedule (All Times Central)

#4 Iowa State vs. #1 Virginia, 5:10 p.m.

MEN'S BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP - MIDWEST REGION - SWEET 16

#7 Wisconsin vs. #6 Notre Dame, 5:27 p.m.

MEN'S BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP - EAST REGION - SWEET 16

#11 Gonzaga vs #10 Syracuse, 7:40 p.m.

MEN'S BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP - MIDWEST REGION - SWEET 16

#5 Indiana vs. #1 North Carolina, 7:57 p.m.

MEN'S BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP - EAST REGION - SWEET 16


Saturday, March 26 Schedule (All Times Central)

#2 Oklahoma vs. #1 Oregon, 4:09 p.m.

MEN'S BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP - WEST REGION - ELITE 8

#2 Villanova vs. #1 Kansas, 6:49 p.m.

MEN'S BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP - SOUTH REGION - ELITE 8