NCAA Tournament: Midwest Region Sweet Sixteen Recaps
(3) Oregon Ducks outlast (7) Michigan Wolverines
This Midwest Region game was a hard one to predict before these two teams took the court. Michigan Wolverines have been a hot shooting team in this tournament, especially from the 3-point line. On the other hand, Oregon Ducks have been playing very well, even with making adjustments after Chris Boucher’s season-ending injury.
The game stayed close the whole way through, as both teams struggled shooting early and then started getting hot. Michigan relies on the three, so if they wanted to stay with this Oregon team, they knew they had to shoot well from behind the arc.
The Wolverines began doing just that – especially Tyler Dorsey, who shot 5/7 from 3-point range. However, the Wolverines also struggled with turnovers, committing seven in the first half. The Ducks did not take great advantage of this, scoring only 6 points off of them. Derrick Walton Jr. had a good first half for the Wolverines as they stuck with it. Oregon led 35-33 after the first 20 minutes.
In the second half, both teams continued fighting strong. With around 11 minutes left in the game, Oregon went about three minutes without making a basket. They followed with a 6-0 run, though, keeping them in the game. Moritz Wagner struggled this game, scoring just seven points after posting a career-high 26 against Louisville last round. Jordan Bell, on the other hand, continued doing his thing for the Ducks. He finished with a double-double (16 PTS, 13 REB) right behind Dorsey with 20.
Jordan Bell with the one handed finish! ? pic.twitter.com/YYqBQTh0Ct
— LeadingNCAA ™ (@LeadingNCAA) March 23, 2017
FINAL: Oregon 69, Michigan 68
(1) Kansas Jayhawks fly into the Elite Eight
With a tough (4) Purdue Boilermakers team playing against the high-scoring Kansas Jayhawks, we knew this game would be an interesting one. Purdue came out looking very confident, playing well in transition early against a Kansas team that does the same.
The Boilermakers struggled early with turnovers, though, committing nine in the first half – something they knew they had to limit. Caleb Swanigan and Isaac Haas played okay but struggled to keep the ball in their hands. Meanwhile, Frank Mason III, Devonte’ Graham, and Josh Jackson just started to get heated up as the Jayhawks finished the half on a 22-7 run to give them a 47-40 lead at the half.
Josh Jackson ?#Sweet16 pic.twitter.com/63fFvtwUlp
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) March 24, 2017
The Jayhawks then completely took over in the last 20 minutes of this game. Graham and Mason III did a great job of attacking the rim to draw fouls against Purdue’s big men. As time went on, Kansas’s lead continued to grow.
The Boilermakers continued struggling with turnovers and in handing the ball over seven times in the second half, they handed Kansas the game with it. Kansas began speeding up the game, and Purdue couldn’t keep up the pace.
The Jayhawks thrived, shooting 55% from the field as Purdue’s season found its end. Mason III led the Jayhawks with 26 points, seven rebounds, and seven assists. Graham also had 26 points, followed by Jackson’s double-double (15 PTS, 12 REB). Caleb Swanigan scored 18 points for Purdue.
FINAL: Kansas 98, Purdue 66
(1) Kansas vs. (3) Oregon will be played Saturday in Kansas City. The time of the game is still to be determined.
AUSTIN, TX – FEBRUARY 25: Frank Mason III #0 of the Kansas Jayhawks drives around Andrew Jones #1 of the Texas Longhorns at the Frank Erwin Center on February 25, 2017 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Chris Covatta/Getty Images)
