It's Been a Good Day to Be a Louisville Basketball Fan

The Louisville men's and women's basketball teams earned a place in the Final Four and Elite Eight respectively. (https://www.facebook.com/GoCards)

The University of Louisville is known for their storied basketball tradition. The men's program has made 39 NCAA tournament appearances, 10 Final Fours, and won two national championships (1980 and 1986). The women's program does not have as impressive a history, but is steadily improving under head coach Jeff Walz. Walz led the Cardinals to their first Final Four in 2009, where they finished runners-up to Connecticut.

Both teams were in action on Easter Sunday. The men's team was set to battle Duke with a trip to the Final Four in Atlanta on the line. The women's team faced a huge challenge facing the No. 1 overall seed in Baylor in a Sweet Sixteen matchup.

The men's Elite Eight game between Louisville and Duke got off to an evenly matched start. The Cardinals led 21-20 with 6:33 left in the first half when a game-changing incident happened. Louisville guard Kevin Ware jumped as he attempted to block a 3-pointer by Tyler Thornton.As he landed, his leg severely broke and he collapsed to the ground.

Players, coaches, and fans were all visibly shaken. The Louisville players were overcome by emotion. Chane Behanan sobbed on the floor, Wayne Blackshear was on his hands and knees, Montrezl Harrell was doubled over and Russ Smith wept visibly as he pulled his jersey over his head to cover his tears. Even the Duke players could be seen clearly crying and distraught over what had occurred.

The Cardinals players gathered together. They weren't sure how they would be able to move on from this. Head coach Rick Pitino called his players over to where Ware lay on the ground. The sophomore guard couldn't walk, but he was fully capable of talking to his teammates.

"Kevin told us to win this game for him, so we had to take it upon ourselves to do that," Harrell said. "That's what we had to do. We didn't have a choice."

"He told us countless times: 'Just go win this game for me. Just go win this game. Don't worry about me, I'm fine. Just go win this game,'" explained Peyton Siva. "I don't know how he did it. I don't know how he got strength to do it, but he told us to go out there and win."

In the second half, the Louisville players held up their end of the bargain. With the score tied 42-42, the Cardinals went on a 17-2 run that proved to be the knockout punch to a Duke that could never recover. When the final buzzer sounded, they had prevailed 85-63.

There has been one question in women's college basketball that no seemed to be able to answer. How do you stop Brittney Griner? Baylor had won 32 straight games and 74 of 75 behind Griner, who is among the greatest players ever in her sport. Louisville finally found the answer during their Sweet Sixteen game Sunday night. As a result of doing so, they were able to accomplish one of the biggest upsets in the history of women's basketball.

The strategy the Cardinals utilized was referred to as box-and-chase. They tried to keep defenders both in front and in back of Griner. They were successful enough to hold Griner to 14 points on 4-of-10 shooting, which tied for the fourth fewest field goals she has attempted in a game this season.

Louisville made it interesting though. During the final 7½ minutes of the game, they blew a 17-point advantage. As the final seconds began to tick off the clock, the Cardinals forced Griner into another mistake. She committed a foul with 2.6 seconds left in the game that gave Louisville a chance to win.
Senior forward Monique Reid made both foul shots to propel the Cardinals to a 82-81 victory.

The Louisville women's basketball team has already accomplished history. They pulled off one of the most colossal upsets in the history of women's sports. The Cardinals will now face the University of Tennessee in the Elite Eight. The winner will advance to the women's Final Four in New Orleans.

As the Louisville men's team posed with their Midwest Regional trophy, what they were focused on was the No. 5 jersey with the name Ware emblazoned on it that they proudly held up. They knew what they had accomplished for their fallen comrade. The Cardinals know that their mission is not complete yet. The team will head to Atlanta, where they are two victory away from becoming national champions. That No. 5 jersey will provide all the motivation they need.

Michigan Completes Incredible Comeback to Defeat Kansas

Trey Burke’s clutch three from way beyond the arc sent the game to overtime, where Michigan emerged with the win. (Greg Nelson)

The University of Michigan's men's basketball team has always had a large contingent of doubters. People said they can't win the big game. Even Wolverine fans I know have told me that this team just isn't good enough. Their pessimism loomed large over a team with high expectations on the line.

Michigan struggled at times in Big Ten play. They split the regular season series with their rivals Ohio State and Michigan State and were swept by Wisconsin and Indiana. They lost five of their last 10 games to close the regular season, including a Big Ten quarterfinal loss to Wisconsin. This made the Wolverines a trendy upset pick heading into the NCAA tournament.

No. 4 Michigan opened their NCAA tournament with a relatively easy 71-56 win over No. 13 South Dakota State. They were set to play VCU with a trip to the Sweet 16 on the line. Expert after expert explained why the Rams' havoc defense would force the Wolverines into countless turnovers and poor shots. However, this Michigan team didn't get the memo as they throttled VCU 78-53.

Surely a Sweet Sixteen matchup with No. 1 seed Kansas would prove to be too much for Michigan. This sure seemed to be the case as the Jayhawks looked to have the victory virtually locked up as the game reached the final minutes. They led by 10 points with the ball and only two and a half minutes remaining in regulation. All Kansas needed to do was run clock, avoid turnovers and sink its free throws to advance to the Elite Eight.

Instead, the Jayhawks squandered that lead with a plethora of turnovers and blown defensive assignments. Ultimately, Elijah Johnson missed the front end of a one-and-one to give the Wolverines a chance to complete their miraculous comeback with three to send the game to overtime.

Michigan put the ball into the hands of their leader Trey Burke. He had to put all of the missed shots at the end of games he had throughout his collegiate career. It didn't matter that he hadn't scored a point during the entire first half of this game. All Burke needed to do was to find a way to make a clutch three-pointer. If he did not, his team's season would come to a close right here.

With the seconds ticking away, Burke came around a Mitch McGary screen and had just enough space to launch and bury a 25- foot bomb with five seconds left. In the overtime period, Burke and the Wolverines did just enough to hold on for an improbable 87-85 win.

Burke's heroics sends Michigan to the Elite Eight for the first time since 1994. Those were the days of the Fab Five, Chris Webber, Juwan Howard, Ray Jackson, Jimmy King and Jalen Rose. This Wolverines team is beginning to remind folks a lot of that team. Not only are they young like that team was, but the find ways to win just like the Fab Five did twenty years ago.

Fans of the Maize and Blue are beginning to hope that this team can accomplish one thing the Fab Five were unable to do. That is win a national title for Michigan. Following the improbable victory they earned tonight, anything seems possible if you simply believe it can happen.

Florida Gulf Coast Faces Tough Test Against Florida

Florida Gulf Coast University became the first No. 15 seed ever to reach the Sweet Sixteen. (Scott McIntyre)

Florida Gulf Coast University's first graduating class received their diplomas in 2001. Their enrollment is currently about 12,000 students. This is the Eagles' second year in NCAA Division I. They are playing in their first NCAA tournament ever. The University of Florida has about 50,000 students. They have won two national titles (2006 and 2007) and played in four Final Fours. The Gators are one of only four teams to make their third-straight appearance in the Round of 16 this year. They have reached the Elite Eight in four of the last seven seasons.

On Friday night, these two Sunshine State sides meet in an unlikely Sweet Sixteen matchup. If David ever met Goliath on the basketball court, this has to be it. An unheralded Florida Gulf Coast team under the direction of Andy Enfield meet up with one of the country's most established programs in Florida and future Hall of Fame coach Billy Donovan.

Florida Gulf Coast won't be intimated despite the significant statistical matchup they face. They have already slain two Goliaths to get this far. They shocked the nation by upsetting No. 2 Georgetown, 78-68. The Eagles then made history by defeating No. 7 San Diego State, 81-71, to become the first No. 15 seed to ever reach the Round of 16.

These two sides not only contrast in their experience, but they play completely different styles as well. Florida Gulf Coast plays an up-tempo brand of basketball that has earned them the nickname “Dunk City,” due to their frequent aerodynamic displays. Conversely, Florida boasts one of the nation's best defenses. They rank second in scoring defense, allowing just 53.8 points per game. The Gators have held four opponents to 40 points or fewer and 13 to less than 50 points.

Florida Gulf Coast's dynamic offense runs through Brett Comer. He is an assist machine and makes those around him better. The Eagles' leading scorer is Sherwood Brown, averaging 15.6 points per game. Bernard Thompson has scored 23 points in both of the Eagles’ tournament wins. Chase Fieler has been on the receiving end of many of his teammate's famous lobs.

Florida has a balanced offense with four players averaging in double figures. Statistically, they are led by Erik Murphy and Mike Rosario. The Gators love to open up their offense and let it rain from deep. They led the SEC with 8.4 3-pointers made per game and a .382 field goal percentage. The Eagles must try to limit those opportunities as much as possible.

Cinderella hopes the clock doesn't strike midnight yet on a magical tournament run. She will have to dance and lob her way around the big bully on the neighborhood block if she has any hope of surviving this prime time fight in the national spotlight.