Breaking down the Madness Part IV

July 3, 2009 – | Comments

Lake The Posts, which is by all means not only the best (only?) Northwestern blog on the internet, but, in the spirit of Northwestern academia, one of the most well organized, well written, and well put together sports websites I’ve seen, recently held a Big …

Read the full story »

Basketball

“It is the road less traveled. We leave everything on the floor. We go to class. We graduate. We respect the game. We are building a tradition the right way. We Are Penn State basketball”

Big Ten

Catch up on the rest of the Big Ten conference

Football

“They ask me what I’d like written about me when I’m gone. I hope they write I made Penn State a better place not just that I was a good football coach”

More Sports

Get all the action in volleyball, baseball, soccer and other Olympic sports at Penn State

Videos

Watch videos and highlights of the Nittany Lions

Home » Penn State

Breaking down the Madness Part IV

Submitted by Charlie on March 18, 2008 – Comments

Part IV of a multi-part series breaking down this year’s Madness.
Part I | Part II (East) | Part III (Midwest) | Part IV (West) | Part V (South)

WEST REGIONAL

Team	Record	Conference	Team	Record	Conference
#1 UCLA	31-3	Pac 10	#16 Mississippi State	17-15	SWAC
#8 BYU	27-7	Mountain West	#9 Texas A&M	24-10	Big 12
#5 Drake	28-4	Missouri Valley	#12 Western Kentucky	27-6	Sun Belt
#4 Connecticut	24-7	Big East	#13 San Diego	21-13	West Coast
#6 Purdue	24-8	Big Ten	#11 Baylor	21-10	Big 12
#3 Xavier	27-6	Atlantic 10	#14 Georgia	17-16	SEC
#7 West Virginia	24-10	Big East	#10 Arizona	19-14	Pac 10
#2 Duke	27-5	ACC	#15 Belmont	25-8	Atlantic Sun

College Basketball Stats by StatSheet.com

Representing the league in the West Regional we have one of the biggest surprises and youngest teams in the Big Ten. The Purdue Boilermakers far exceeded expectations being led by freshman forward sensation Robbie Hummel. Of the starting five, four are underclassmen with forward Nemanja Calasan the only junior exception. The Baylor Bears are led by junior guard Curtis Jerrells who pace the high scoring offense. The Bears have an advantage over the Boilermakers in depth with 3 point-threat guard LaceDarius Dunn and 7-foot shot-blocking center Mamadou Diene on reserve. But both these teams are balanced and able to put together a sweet 16 run. Unfortunately for the Bears, this is their first tournament appearance since 1988.


Record	overall	24-8	20-10
	conference	15-4	9-8
	against tournament teams	4-3	5-8
Resume	RPI	46	43
	SOS	114	49
	Quality Wins	5	7
Team Stats per game	Points	68.7	81.4
	Turnovers	12.9	12.6
	Rebounds	35.8	40.9
	Free throw %	0.706	0.742
	3pt %	0.37	0.382
	Blocks	4.3	4.4

Unfortunately for the Bears, they come limping into this contest having lost 6 of their last 10. Their last game prior to Selection Sunday? A loss to last place Colorado in the Big 12 tournament. Not exactly a hot streak to be playing upstart Purdue in their first round matchup. Baylor is one of those teams that literally live and die by the 3. The last team this reliant on the long range shots? Think Illinois the year they lost to North Carolina in the Championship game. So a cold spell could easily doom Baylor and turn their first round game into a nightmare. But this also gives them a good chance at an upset if the 3s begin falling. Look for a close contest between the Boilers and Bears but with Purdue prevailing in the last few minutes.