Road to the Final Four

Author:
SI Staff
Publish date:
Mar 31, 2013

Road to the Final Four

Louisville 85, Duke 63

<bold>Peyton Siva scored 16 points for Louisville, including a layup during a 20-4 run that put the game out of reach. </bold> Defeated North Carolina A&T 79-48 Defeated Colorado St. 82-56 Defeated Oregon 77-69 Defeated Duke 85-63 Next: vs. Wichita State

Louisville 85, Duke 63

<bold>This game was the first time Louisville coach Rick Pitino and Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski had met in the regional finals since that 1992 classic that ended with Christian Laettner's improbable buzzer-beater, a game now considered one of the best in NCAA tournament history.</bold> <bold>Defeated North Carolina A&T 79-48</bold> <bold>Defeated Colorado St. 82-56</bold> <bold>Defeated Oregon 77-69</bold> <bold>Defeated Duke 85-63</bold> <bold>Next: vs. Wichita State</bold>

Wichita State 70, Ohio State 66

<bold>Ohio State's Aaron Craft (4) and Wichita State's Fred Van Vleet (23) diving for a loose ball in an Elite Eight game won by the underdog Shockers of Wichita State. </bold> <bold>Defeated Pittsburgh 73-55</bold> <bold>Defeated Gonzaga 76-70</bold> <bold>Defeated La Salle 72-58</bold> <bold>Defeated Ohio State 70-66</bold> <bold>Next: vs. Louisville</bold>

Wichita State 70, Ohio State 66

<bold>Cleanthony Early of Wichita St. rises for a shot against Ohio State in the Elite Eight. </bold> <bold>Defeated Pittsburgh 73-55</bold> <bold>Defeated Gonzaga 76-70</bold> <bold>Defeated La Salle 72-58</bold> <bold>Defeated Ohio State 70-66</bold> <bold>Next: vs. Louisville</bold>

Wichita State 70, Ohio State 66

<bold>Ron Baker (31) of Wichita State goes in for a block against Ohio State. </bold> <bold>Defeated Pittsburgh 73-55</bold> <bold>Defeated Gonzaga 76-70</bold> <bold>Defeated La Salle 72-58</bold> <bold>Defeated Ohio State 70-66</bold> <bold>Next: vs. Louisville</bold>

Syracuse 55, Marquette 39

<bold>Marquette's Trent Lockett (22) skies for a layup attempt against the Orange defense. </bold> <bold>Defeated Montana 81-34</bold> <bold>Defeated California 66-60</bold> <bold>Defeated Indiana 61-50</bold> <bold>Defeated Marquette 55-39</bold> <bold>Next: vs. Michigan</bold>

Syracuse 55, Marquette 39

<bold>Syracuse's C.J. Fair throws down a dunk against Marquette in their regional final. </bold> <bold>Defeated Montana 81-34</bold> <bold>Defeated California 66-60</bold> <bold>Defeated Indiana 61-50</bold> <bold>Defeated Marquette 55-39</bold> <bold>Next: vs. Michigan</bold>

Syracuse 55, Marquette 39

<bold>Syracuse guard Michael Carter-Williams dribbles under pressure in the Orange's game against Marquette. </bold> <bold>Defeated Montana 81-34</bold> <bold>Defeated California 66-60</bold> <bold>Defeated Indiana 61-50</bold> <bold>Defeated Marquette 55-39</bold> <bold>Next: vs. Michigan</bold>

Michigan 79, Florida 59

<bold>Nik Stauskas, one of three freshman starters, made all six of his three-pointers and finished with 22 points as the Wolverines made the Final Four for the first time since 1993.</bold> <bold>Defeated S. Dakota State 71-56</bold> <bold>Defeated VCU 78-53</bold> <bold>Defeated Kansas 87-85</bold> <bold>Defeated Florida 79-59</bold> <bold>Next: vs. Syracuse</bold>

Michigan 79, Florida 59

<bold>Jordan Morgan and the Wolverines jumped to a 13-0 lead against Florida and maintained a double-digit advantage throughout the game.</bold> <bold>Defeated S. Dakota State 71-56</bold> <bold>Defeated VCU 78-53</bold> <bold>Defeated Kansas 87-85</bold> <bold>Defeated Florida 79-59</bold> <bold>Next: vs. Syracuse</bold>

Michigan 79, Florida 59

<bold>Scottie Wilbekin and the Gators were no match for Michigan. It was the third straight year Florida lost in a regional final. </bold> <bold>Defeated S. Dakota State 71-56</bold> <bold>Defeated VCU 78-53</bold> <bold>Defeated Kansas 87-85</bold> <bold>Defeated Florida 79-59</bold> <bold>Next: vs. Syracuse</bold>

Florida 62, Florida Gulf Coast 50

<bold>FGCU's Chase Fieler bowling over a Florida defender as he goes in for a layup. The Eagles lost their Sweet 16 game after capturing national attention with two stylish upset wins in the opening rounds as a 15 seed. </bold> <bold>Defeated Northwestern St. 79-47</bold> <bold>Defeated Minnesota 78-64</bold> <bold>Defeated FGCU 62-50</bold>

Florida 62, Florida Gulf Coast 50

<bold>Mike Rosario (3) of Florida dribbles past FGCU defender in Florida's win on Friday.</bold> <bold>Defeated Northwestern St. 79-47</bold> <bold>Defeated Minnesota 78-64</bold> <bold>Defeated FGCU 62-50</bold>

Florida 62, Florida Gulf Coast 50

<bold>Scottie Wilbekin (5) of Florida goes for a layup in Florida's win over FGCU Friday night. </bold> <bold>Defeated Northwestern St. 79-47</bold> <bold>Defeated Minnesota 78-64</bold> <bold>Defeated FGCU 62-50</bold>

Duke 71, Michigan State 61

<bold>Mason Plumlee (5) of Duke attempts a hook shot against Michigan State on Friday night. </bold> <bold>Defeated Albany 73-61</bold> <bold>Defeated Creighton 66-50</bold> <bold>Defeated Michigan St. 71-61</bold>

Duke 71, Michigan State 61

<bold>Rasheed Sulaimon (14) of Duke skies for a rebound in the Blue Devils' win over Michigan State on Friday.</bold> <bold>Defeated Albany 73-61</bold> <bold>Defeated Creighton 66-50</bold> <bold>Defeated Michigan St. 71-61</bold>

Duke 71, Michigan State 61

<bold>Duke guard Tyler Thornton guards Michigan State's Denzel Valentine. Thornton had three points, two steals, and two assists in the Blue Devils' win. </bold> <bold>Defeated Albany 73-61</bold> <bold>Defeated Creighton 66-50</bold> <bold>Defeated Michigan St. 71-61</bold>

Michigan 87, Kansas 85

<bold>Michigan's Glenn Robinson III goes in for a dunk against Kansas on Friday night. Robinson II had 13 points and eight rebounds in the game. </bold> <bold>Defeated S. Dakota State 71-56</bold> <bold>Defeated VCU 78-53</bold> <bold>Defeated Kansas 87-85</bold>

Michigan 87, Kansas 85

<bold>Kansas guard Travis Releford (24) goes in for a layup against Michigan in the Sweet Sixteen.</bold> <bold>Defeated S. Dakota State 71-56</bold> <bold>Defeated VCU 78-53</bold> <bold>Defeated Kansas 87-85</bold>

Michigan 87, Kansas 85

<bold>Kansas guard Elijah Johnson drives into the paint for a layup against Michigan. Johnson missed a free throw and threw a pass on a potentially game-tying drive in the dying seconds of the Michigan win. </bold> <bold>Defeated S. Dakota State 71-56</bold> <bold>Defeated VCU 78-53</bold> <bold>Defeated Kansas 87-85</bold>

Louisville 77, Oregon 69

<bold>Arsalan Kazemi (14) of Oregon battling Gorgui Dieng (10) of Louisville for rebound. </bold> <bold>Defeated North Carolina A&T 79-48</bold> <bold>Defeated Colorado St. 82-56</bold> <bold>Defeated Oregon 77-69</bold>

Louisville 77, Oregon 69

<bold>Wayne Blackshear (20) of Louisville slashes inside for a basket against the Oregon Ducks. Louisville withstood a late rally from Oregon to advance to the Elite Eight. </bold> <bold>Defeated North Carolina A&T 79-48</bold> <bold>Defeated Colorado St. 82-56</bold> <bold>Defeated Oregon 77-69</bold>

Louisville 77, Oregon 69

<bold>Russ Smith (2) of Louisville makes pass inside. Smith led Louisville with 31 points in the win over Oregon. </bold> <bold>Defeated North Carolina A&T 79-48</bold> <bold>Defeated Colorado St. 82-56</bold> <bold>Defeated Oregon 77-69</bold>

Marquette 71, Miami 61

<bold>Jamil Wilson's block of a Durand Scott shot. Marquette is in the Elite Eight for the first time since 2003.</bold> <bold>Defeated Davidson 59-58</bold> <bold>Defeated Butler 74-72</bold> <bold>Defeated Miami 71-61</bold>

Marquette 71, Miami 61

<bold>Vander Blue pressures Dion Brown as Marquette moved within a win of reaching the Final Four for the first time since Dwyane Wade took them there a decade ago.</bold> <bold>Defeated Davidson 59-58</bold> <bold>Defeated Butler 74-72</bold> <bold>Defeated Miami 71-61</bold>

Marquette 71, Miami 61

<bold>Jamil Wilson goes up for a shot over Kenny Kadji. Wilson led the Golden Eagles with 16 points. </bold> <bold>Defeated Davidson 59-58</bold> <bold>Defeated Butler 74-72</bold> <bold>Defeated Miami 71-61</bold>

Ohio State 73, Arizona 70

<bold>LaQuinton Ross hit this tiebreaking 3-pointer with two seconds to play to send Ohio State to the West Regional final. The Buckeyes haven't lost since Feb. 17, beating Indiana on the road before winning the Big Ten tournament and now three NCAA tournament games. </bold> <bold>Defeated Iona 95-70</bold> <bold>Defeated Iowa State 78-75</bold> <bold>Defeated Arizona 73-70</bold>

Ohio State 73, Arizona 70

<bold>Benched early with two fouls, Aaron Craft eventually returned and helped Ohio State erase a 31-20 deficit.</bold> <bold>Defeated Iona 95-70</bold> <bold>Defeated Iowa State 78-75</bold> <bold>Defeated Arizona 73-70</bold>

Ohio State 73, Arizona 70

<bold>As the only top-eight seed left in the West, the Buckeyes will be Atlanta-bound with one more win.</bold> <bold>Defeated Iona 95-70</bold> <bold>Defeated Iowa State 78-75</bold> <bold>Defeated Arizona 73-70</bold>

Syracuse 61, Indiana 50

<bold>C.J. Fair tries to dunk over Indiana's Cody Zeller. Syracuse held Indiana to its lowest point total of the season, forced 19 turnovers, compiled 10 blocks and held the normally efficient Hoosiers to 33 percent shooting.</bold> <bold>Defeated Montana 81-34</bold> <bold>Defeated Cal 66-60</bold> <bold>Defeated Indiana 61-50</bold>

Syracuse 61, Indiana 50

<bold>Brandon Triche helped knock the second one seed out of the tournament. Coach Jim Boeheim and the Orange haven't been to the national semifinals since Carmelo Anthony led them to the 2003 title.</bold> <bold>Defeated Montana 81-34</bold> <bold>Defeated Cal 66-60</bold> <bold>Defeated Indiana 61-50</bold>

Syracuse 61, Indiana 50

<bold>Michael Carter-Williams led Syracuse with 24 points.</bold> <bold>Defeated Montana 81-34</bold> <bold>Defeated Cal 66-60</bold> <bold>Defeated Indiana 61-50</bold>

Wichita State 72, La Salle 58

<bold>Ron Baker scored 13 points and grabbed five rebounds for the Shockers.</bold> <bold>Defeated Pitt 77-55</bold> <bold>Defeated Gonzaga 76-70</bold> <bold>Defeated La Salle 72-58.</bold>

Wichita State 72, La Salle 58

<bold>Wichita State's Carl Hall and La Salle's Jerrell Wright work for position under the basket. </bold> <bold>Defeated Pitt 77-55</bold> <bold>Defeated Gonzaga 76-70</bold> <bold>Defeated La Salle 72-58</bold>

Wichita State 72, La Salle 58

<bold>Cleanthony Early and the Shockers never trailed in this matchup of small schools. Wichita State (29-8) tied the school's 2010-11 NIT Championship team for most wins.</bold> <bold>Defeated Pitt 77-55</bold> <bold>Defeated Gonzaga 76-70</bold> <bold>Defeated La Salle 72-58</bold>