So, we know that Michigan State has moved on to the NCAA Championship Game. Will they play the surprise Wildcats of the Big East or the Season Long favorite Tar Heels from the ACC?
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My pick: UNC over Villanova
(3:22) - For some reason I find Jim Nantz's introductions of the starting lineups to be real boring. Where's JE? UNC wins the tip, two rare missed free throws from Tyler Hansbrough, and already two offensive rebounds by Villanova. North Carolina has trailed for the first time since the game against Gonzaga. Nice stat. Heels are real rusty early.
(3:24) - I'm kinda curious as to how much of the 70+ thousand people stayed around for this game, especially since the home state team already played. After a Lawson three, Villanova just grabbed its third offensive rebound of the game. The 'Cats can't be afraid to get to the rim, right now they are acting like the they are afraid. But, if they are going to keep hitting shots, just like Corey Fisher just did, maybe its ok.
(3:28) - Villanova gets another Offensive board into a flush, but yet they trail to the better shooting Tar Heels 10-8 at the first TV Timeout.
(3:33) - Villanova is not in a good position. Down by 9 points and watching the Heels shoot extremely well. Another offensive board by Nova but a block by North Carolina. The Cats finally try to work something inside, but turn it over. The wildcats are shooting 4-16 from the field to start and now trail by 11 as they need an early timeout.
(3:38) - I'm fearing that CBS News may break into coverage soon of this game. Fox News is reporting the following:
"All North Korea would need to launch a rocket appears to be in place, a senior U.S. official told FOX News.
"It would seem everything is aligned and ready," the official said.
The weather conditions appear to be favorable with no precipitation or wind concerns."
(3:39) - Coach Wright has to find a way to work the ball inside. The CBS guys did say that a pick and roll would be a good idea, and I agree, but they are using it to work for outside shots. This one is starting to get ugly.
(3:41) - Clark Kellogg noticed a difference in the long range shooting of both teams. North Carolina is shooting in a nice, calm, comfortable rhythm, while Villanova is hurried and out of sync. The percentages back that up, as UNC is shooting 67%, while the Wildcats are shooting 30% from the field. 26-12 Carolina at the under 12 TV Timeout
(3:46) - North Carolina just hit its fifth three, and we are only halfway through the first half. Villanova is all over the place right now, and right now that doesn't mean anything good. 2 Missed free throws by Villanova, another offensive board, yet no point. Right now if you're Villanova, you can't have empty possessions like they are getting.
(3:51) - Nova finally has a three, but right now they seem really lost defensively. North Carolina is penetrating and kicking and getting the Wildcats out of position. 11 point Tar Heels lead at the Under 8 TV Timeout.
(3:57) - One thing that Villanova has done well is win the battle of Offensive Rebounding, 10-5 right now. But they aren't putting in the second chance points. Down 15 right now, then need to button down defensively and get on a run before the end of the half. There's another offensive board. Dante Cunningham was not boxed out and he had the easy finish. Yet, Danny Green gets another three-pointer. Six threes for UNC. That's a number Villanova wishes they had.
(4:02) - Via text message, our own JE chimes in."It's over...UNC vs. MSU equals UNC championship again." Well, remember last year when Kansas was down by a huge amount and made a run to get back in the game. Down 28 to be exact. We haven't gotten there yet, but it feels like a 28 point deficit which is right now 14.
(4:09) - Scotty Reynolds is starting to find a rhythm. Villanova has scored the last seven points, and Scotty has the latter 5. It's now a 9 point game as North Carolina is forced to call a Timeout to stop the momentum.
(4:11) - One of the reasons why Roy Williams is a great coach. Calls a timeout at the right time to stop the momentum, and follows the time out with a great play to pick up a 2 and get back up by 11.
(4:13) - 30 Seconds left in the half, and it is important for the Wildcats to get back in single digits before the half is over. Big bucket by Fisher in traffic, to get within 9, and now UNC Free Throws. Lawson goes 0-2 of the FT line, and Villanova trails by single digits going into the locker room.
After the First Half: North Carolina 49, Villanova 40
I'll be back closer to the start of the second half to bring you some key numbers and keep the live blog going!
Key 1st Half Numbers:
Nova: 2-12 3-Pt's, 12 Off Reb
UNC: 9 Ast, 6-11 3 Pt Shooting
(4:38) - We are underway in the second half, and Villanova commits a stupid foul on a jump shooter exactly a minute in. UNC goes 1-2 from the line, and Villanova follows with a three to get within seven.
(4:40) - Breaking news on the North Korean rocket. From Breaking News Online:
BULLETIN -- NHK SAY NORTH KOREAN ROCKET WAS LAUNCHED AT 11:32 JST
(4:41) Momentum is right now on the side of Villanova. Clark gets a second chance bucket, then Psycho-T gets called for an offensive foul. 22-10 run for the Wildcats. Can anyone quiet the Tar Heels outside shooting? Danny Green with yet another 3. And then UNC extends the lead off a steal, bucket, and harm.
(4:43) - More details on the breaking news in North Korea from Breaking News Online:
NHK says the North Korea rocket now moving over the Pacific Ocean.
(4:46) - Villanova needs to be careful that they dont fall into the all long range, all the time shooting spree. Three straight 3's missed in one posession. Green hits his fourth three pointer, and extends the lead back out to 13 as we hit the under 16 media timeout.
(4:52) - Via twitter, iDews contributes: "nova trying to live by the 3s, we all know how that works." Yeah, ask St. Joseph boys basketball. They will tell you in great detail.
(4:55) - Big 4th foul on Dwayne Anderson for Villanova, as he has double-digit rebounds for Nova, and right away as he comes out, UNC gains an advantage on the boards, followed by a bucket and harm to take a 61-49 lead going into the TV Timeout.
(5:03) - Ty Lawson has worn his third different jersey in this game. He went from #5, to #25, and they have brought out another #5 jersey, as his first one was bloodied. Villanova is 3/23 from beyond the arc. Terrible number.
(5:07) - 4th foul on Tyler Hansbrough forces him to sit out, and while that sounds like a big deal, UNC is so balanced, that I don't think it is that big of a deal. Wild shot on the fast break by Fisher when they shouldve just taken their time. Big three for Ellington 3-Pointer number 10 for the Heels to go back up by 15.
(5:11) - Hate to say it, but watch the Wildcats right now, and you'll see that they are out of gas. Worked too hard to try to keep the game close. Jump shots are having a harder time going down. I believe that this one may be too far out of reach.
(5:12) - Via twitter, people are talking about the N. Korea rocket launch. One person in Oahu says, "Hickam AFB just scrambled F-15's and an AWACS... I can see from OWT 16th floor lanai."
(5:14) - You start to see the metal of a team when their backs are against the wall. Villanova is losing the team concept right now. Big three by Redding, followed by a turnover, a bucket, and a UNC foul. Uh oh. Villanova back within 13 with 4:20 left.
(5:20) - This game is certainly not over, as Nova is down by 12, and while they need to hurry their comeback, they also need to be smart.
(5:28) - Daunte Cunningham just fouled out, and gave one heck of an effort, as did the entire Villanova team, but I think we all know how good UNC is, as they are 2:15 away from a rematch with Sparty for the title.
(5:32) - Already getting predictions for MSU/UNC on Monday Night. JE says Carolina by 12. John via facebook says Michigan State. I'm going with a 7 point UNC win on Monday night.
(5:35) - That's it. 83-69 UNC win over Villanova, which means Tar Heels vs. Spartans in Mondays championship.
Join me on Monday's JPS at 11 am to break down the game, and then we will live blog it right here at ESPNHawaii.com on Monday afternoon. Look forward to seeing you there!
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