Strange but true: It’s been nearly 20 years since the 2000 publication of “Sole Influence” by Dan Wetzel and Don Yeager, whose book uncovered the shameful dynamics infusing the relationship between athletic shoe companies and college basketball.
Jarett Culver’s 22 points were a mere subplot in third-seeded Tech’s 63-44 takedown of Michigan in the West Region – a victory that set up an intriguing Elite Eight showdown against Gonzaga, which boasts the country’s leading offense.
Ty Jerome scored 13 points, including a go-ahead 3-pointer with 3:34 remaining, and No. 1 seed Virginia reached its second regional final in four years with a 53-49 victory over No. 12 Oregon on Thursday night in the NCAA Tournament.
Carsen Edwards scored 29 points as Purdue advanced to the Elite Eight for the first time since 2000, needing overtime to beat Tennessee 99-94 after blowing an 18-point lead in the South Regional semifinal.
If you couldn’t get one of Gonzaga’s players to admit before Thursday’s game that this hangover of shame was prominent in their thinking, you simply had to go to the next locker to get another Zag to confirm it.
Phil Cofer wasn’t on the floor with the Seminoles Thursday, but his Florida State teammates still made room for the redshirt senior prior to their Sweet 16 clash against Gonzaga.
Everything suggested Gonzaga would probably finish with a better 3-point clip than Florida State, that they’d beat the Seminoles in transition points and furnish a cleaner assist-to-turnover ratio.
Leading up to the game, the focus was on how Gonzaga would respond to the athleticism of Florida State. After all, the Zags were pushed around in last year’s Sweet 16 matchup, letting FSU control every inch of the hardwood.
Southern California and the occasion of the Sweet 16 lured a variety of celebrities to the Honda Center for Thursday’s games between Gonzaga and Florida State, and Michigan and Texas Tech.
