Post by admin on Mar 14, 2005 13:40:10 GMT -6
sports-att.espn.go.com/ncb/ncaatourney05/news/story?id=2011869
MIDS THAT COULD PULL AN UPSET -- OR TWO
Old Dominion (41) -- Monarchs are 28-5, have adequate size, good offensive balance, sound defense and star power in big man Alex Loughton. And coach Blaine Taylor has taken two other teams to the Dance, so he knows what he's getting into.
Wisconsin-Milwaukee (42) -- Has won 17 of its last 18 games and plays a problematic, pressing style. UW-M came within a missed layup of upsetting Notre Dame two years ago as a No. 12 seed, and have several players who experienced that near miss.
St. Mary's (43) -- Outscored opposition by 252 points from 3-point range this year. Solid rebounding team that plays consistent defense, too.
Penn (44) -- Quakers have won 16 of their last 17 after toughening themselves early against Big Five competition and others. The good news: coach Fran Dunphy has taken seven other Penn teams to the Dance. The bad news: he's 1-7 once he gets there.
Creighton (45) -- Dana Altman took the Bluejays to five straight tourneys from 1999-03. This year's team comes in smokin' hot, having won eight straight in the tougher-than-you-think Missouri Valley Conference.
Old Dominion (41) -- Monarchs are 28-5, have adequate size, good offensive balance, sound defense and star power in big man Alex Loughton. And coach Blaine Taylor has taken two other teams to the Dance, so he knows what he's getting into.
Wisconsin-Milwaukee (42) -- Has won 17 of its last 18 games and plays a problematic, pressing style. UW-M came within a missed layup of upsetting Notre Dame two years ago as a No. 12 seed, and have several players who experienced that near miss.
St. Mary's (43) -- Outscored opposition by 252 points from 3-point range this year. Solid rebounding team that plays consistent defense, too.
Penn (44) -- Quakers have won 16 of their last 17 after toughening themselves early against Big Five competition and others. The good news: coach Fran Dunphy has taken seven other Penn teams to the Dance. The bad news: he's 1-7 once he gets there.
Creighton (45) -- Dana Altman took the Bluejays to five straight tourneys from 1999-03. This year's team comes in smokin' hot, having won eight straight in the tougher-than-you-think Missouri Valley Conference.
FIVE UNKNOWNS READY TO MEET AMERICA
Juan Mendez (46), Niagara -- Power forward is a 2,000-point career scorer who has peeled off 20 double-doubles this season and has scored at least 14 points in every game.
Tiras Wade (47), Louisiana-Lafayette -- Wing player averages 20.4 points and 6.0 rebounds for the Ragin' Cajuns. Lit up the Sun Belt tournament for 27.2 points per game.
Nick Fazekas (48), Nevada -- Long (6-11) sophomore played a supporting role to Wolfpack star Kirk Snyder last year, then this year exploded to average 21.4 points and 9.0 rebounds.
Ed McCants (49), Wisconsin-Milwaukee -- Rashad McCants gets all the pub, but cousin Ed is a pretty fair 6-3 shooting guard himself. Volume shooter who can get hot (11 games with at least four made 3s, including a high game of nine).
Michael Haney (50), Eastern Kentucky -- Great rebounder for his size (6-6), the Colonels' cornerstone senior averages 13.5 points and 8.3 rebounds.
Juan Mendez (46), Niagara -- Power forward is a 2,000-point career scorer who has peeled off 20 double-doubles this season and has scored at least 14 points in every game.
Tiras Wade (47), Louisiana-Lafayette -- Wing player averages 20.4 points and 6.0 rebounds for the Ragin' Cajuns. Lit up the Sun Belt tournament for 27.2 points per game.
Nick Fazekas (48), Nevada -- Long (6-11) sophomore played a supporting role to Wolfpack star Kirk Snyder last year, then this year exploded to average 21.4 points and 9.0 rebounds.
Ed McCants (49), Wisconsin-Milwaukee -- Rashad McCants gets all the pub, but cousin Ed is a pretty fair 6-3 shooting guard himself. Volume shooter who can get hot (11 games with at least four made 3s, including a high game of nine).
Michael Haney (50), Eastern Kentucky -- Great rebounder for his size (6-6), the Colonels' cornerstone senior averages 13.5 points and 8.3 rebounds.