The Elite 8 has delivered its first verdict, Villanova and Duke are the first qualified for the Final Four. Who performed? What images should be remembered? Come on, let’s go for the recap.
Les scores
- Villanova (#2) – Houston (#5) : 50 – 44
- Duke (#2) – Arkansas (#4) : 78 – 69
Villanova, get out the barbed wire!
Limit the antagonist to 44 points, the kind of performance that Jay Wright, Villanova’s legendary coach, must have particularly appreciated. And yet, in their previous three games, the Houston Cougars had scored 82, 68 and 72 points, without ever having the slightest difficulty in taking advantage of the largesse of their opponents. The Wildcats thus won an Elite 8 game with a shooting percentage of… 29%. It’s awful, but thanks to the work on the other side of the floor, the awful has become tolerable. Constantly bothered by a hand, an arm, an assist, the Cougars shot 1/20 from 3-pointers, the kind of professional error that does not forgive. Merit for Villanova therefore, but a blame for the camp opposite.
The performance to remember
How strong is this little Paolo Banchero. The flow of a modern strong winger who exudes mobility. His score sheet? Some 16 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 interception and 1 block at 4/11 shooting. It is not for nothing that he is announced Top 5 of the Draft 2022 by nbadraftroom! The colleagues from wingspan opt for… a Top 2, just behind Chet Holmgren. Good and then anyway, there is not really a choice in terms of performance of the night: no player has exceeded 20 points. We could have mentioned Kyler Edwards for his 0/8 from 3-pointers against Villanova – who we hope will follow him for as short a time as possible – but our cowardice has its limits that reason ignores.
Paolo Banchero heating up ???? Coach K loving it. pic.twitter.com/wbeMumwl4R
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) March 27, 2022
The nice moment
Yes yes Paolo Banchero, he is the GOAT. For his last dance at the head of a university team – and a team at all – Mike Krzyzewski has the right to a last cartridge. A Final Four offered on a platter. Isn’t this an exceptional opportunity to punctuate Coach K’s career? To punctuate the career of the best university coach in history? This Final Four will be his thirteenthit is up to him to punctuate it like four of the previous twelve (1991, 1992, 2001 and 2010).
« This is the GOAT right here. » ????@Pp_doesit had to show love to Coach K ???? #MarchMadness pic.twitter.com/wlyJVgczE9
— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) March 27, 2022
The perfs of prospects
Paolo Banchero (Duke): 16 points (4/11 shooting, 1/2 from afar), 7 rebounds and 3 assists against Arkansas.
Adrian Griffin (Duke): 18 points (7/9 shooting, 2/3 from afar) and 3 rebounds against Arkansas.
Wendell Moore Jr. (Duke): 14 points (5/10 shooting) 2 rebounds and 2 assists against Arkansas.
Jaylin Williams: 19 points (8/17 shooting, 0/2 from afar), 10 rebounds and 3 assists against Duke.
Highlights
JAYLIN WILLIAMS OMG ????????????#MarchMadness pic.twitter.com/yicAw92eNW
— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) March 27, 2022
Can’t believe this happened again ????
S/O to the @RazorbackMBB cheerleaders ???? #MarchMadness pic.twitter.com/ixB59RrmbG
Jermaine Samuels with the spin cycle ????@NovaMBB | #MarchMadness pic.twitter.com/JzbWAAcm9C
— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) March 26, 2022
— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) March 27, 2022
TREVOR KEELS BEATS THE FIRST HALF BUZZER! ????????
Coach K was HYPED #MarchMadness pic.twitter.com/vuCsK0Xl9t
— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) March 27, 2022
BANCHERO. KNOCKDOWN ????
Duke bench is loving it #MarchMadness pic.twitter.com/UVDhVF0rgA
— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) March 27, 2022
DUKE KEEPS DANCING! ????
Next stop, the @MFinalFour! #MarchMadness pic.twitter.com/GF8unp7zXL
— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) March 27, 2022
Sunday’s program
20h20 : North Carolina – Saint Peter’s
23h05 : Kansas – Miami
The Elite 8 has delivered its first verdict, we are attacking again this Sunday with two new meetings. Who from North Carolina, Saint Peter’s, Kansas or Miami will complete this Final Four?