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Game: Definitely has to go to Cal State Northridge-Memphis. This figured to be the worst game of the first session, but was close throughout (at least, until Memphis predictably pulled away at the end). Cal State even led the game with nine minutes left after a thrilling few minutes of back-and-forth basketball. In the end, Northridge went cold and Memphis took advantage like a two-seed should. Good show by the Matadors nevertheless.
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↵Man: Roburt Sallie ... and it’s not even close. The Memphis guard averaged 4.5 points per game this season. Today, he scored 35(!) off the bench on 12-16 shooting, including draining 10 threes. He single-handedly kept Memphis in the game in the first half and locked up the win by hitting back-to-back threes down the stretch. March’s first hero is born. ↵
↵↵Disappointment: None of the three games came down to the end. March Madness is all about the thrilling finish. Well that, and upsets. An eight over a nine hardly counts. ↵
↵↵Bracket Status: Fair condition. Vital signs have leveled out after that Cal State scare that threatened to put many a bracket on life support. The other losers -- BYU and Butler -- certainly were not in many people’s Sweet 16 or beyond. Your trash can remains hungry. ↵
↵↵Implications: LSU’s win over Butler sets up a potential match-up with UNC, which could be a good one. The Tigers have a big man -- Tasmin Mitchell -- to match-up with Hansbrough and a guard -- Marcus Thornton -- who can light it up (he scored 30 today). The Tar Heels will certainly want Ty Lawson for that game, assuming they get past Radford in the opening day’s second session, which is just underway. ↵
↵This post originally appeared on the Sporting Blog. For more, see The Sporting Blog Archives.