Five Teams Represented by Australia
In Men's NCAA Tourney
www.aussiehoopsamerica.com
17 Mar 2008
In theory the 2008 Final Four could have an Australian on each team; in theory. A.J. Ogilvy and Vanderbilt were expected to make the Big Dance. Vandy is seeded 4th in the Midwest Bracket. They will begin their tournament against #13 seed Siena, the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference's Tournament Champion on Saturday in Australia in Tampa, Florida. The Saints of Siena had a 22-10 overall record this season, including a 13-5 conference record. They have won six straight games entering the tournament. If Vandy wants to advance to the Final Four, they'll have to knock off some serious teams. Clemson, Georgetown, USC, and Kansas are just some of the clubs standing in their way.
Aron Baynes and Washington State, also no surprise, are seeded 4th in the East Bracket. Wazzu takes on #13 seed Winthrop, Champions of the Big South Conference Tournament on Friday in Australia in Denver, Colorado. Winthrop had a 22-11 record, including 10-4 in the Big South. Winthrop won their fourth straight league title and eighth NCAA tournament berth in 10 years. Teams in the East Bracket that stand in WSU's path to the Final Four include Tennessee, Louisville, and North Carolina.
A team that may have been somewhat nervous, was St. Mary's College. Pat Mills, Carlin Hughes, Lucas Walker, redshirt Ben Allen and Assistant Coach David Patrick will be the #10 seed in the South, facing ACC squad Miami, a #7 seed on Saturday in Australia in Little Rock, Arkansas. Miami finished with a 22-10 record, including 8-8 in the ACC. The Hurricanes had a memorable win over Duke on February 20th. If St. Mary's gets by Miami, they'll likely face #2 seed Texas in the second round, a team that hammered the Gaels, 81-62 on January 5th. Longhorn guard D.J. Augustin dropped 30 points on the Gaels, humbling Patty Mills in a forgettable game. Other teams worth noting in the South Bracket are Stanford, Pittsburgh, and Memphis.
Sweating it out more than any other team was Baylor University and senior guard Aaron Bruce. Baylor, which was knocked out of the Big 12 Tournament in the first round by Colorado finished the season 22-10 and 9-7 in the Big 12. As the selection show wound down, and with only one spot remaining in the 65 team tournament, Baylor's name was announced. Bruce was seen hugging a teammate in relief as the Bears are tabbed as the #11 seed in the West, facing #6 seed Purdue of the Big Ten on Friday in Australia in Washington D.C. Purdue finished the season 24-8, including 15-3 in the Big Ten. Baylor finds itself in the West Bracket with such teams as Duke and UCLA.
Also in the West Bracket is Daniel Dillon and Arizona. The Wildcats will be the #10 seed facing #7 seed West Virginia out of the Big East on Friday in Australia in Washington D.C. WVU finished the season 24-10 and 11-7 in conference play.
FULL BRACKET
NCAA Tournament Central
NIT