2020 NCAA Tournament Sim: East Region, Elite 8

2020 NCAA Tournament Sim: East Region, Elite 8 There is plenty on the line for the remaining for four teams in the East Region, mostly a trip to Atlanta. Contact/Follow @HardwoodTalk & @MWCwire The East region is complete and we have our regional …

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2020 NCAA Tournament Sim: East Region, Elite 8


There is plenty on the line for the remaining for four teams in the East Region, mostly a trip to Atlanta. 


Contact/Follow @HardwoodTalk & @MWCwire

The East region is complete and we have our regional champion. 

The Sweet Sixteen is in the books of our NCAA Tournament simulation and in the East Region we were provided with a fan favorite this season in the Dayton Flyers the number one seed in the region, going up against a blue chip juggernaut in the Duke Blue Devils. Both vying for a trip down south to Atlanta, Georgia and a Final Four appearance.

As a reminder, we are simulating these games over at What If Sports and are doing just like the NCAA Tournament, one loss and you’re out.

East Region 

Final Score: No. 1 Dayton 93, No. 3 Duke 88 

New York, NY–This one was a ratings booster as fans all around the country tuned in to watch an overtime thriller featuring the Flyers and Blue Devils in Madison Square Garden.

The game was hard-fought by both sides, as Duke took the lead going into half-time 43-36. But a half-time speech by Dayton head coach Anthony Grant fired the Flyers up as they retook the lead in the second half, outscoring Duke 43-36 to ultimately send this one into overtime.

A match up everyone was on the lookout for was in the post, as two potential future lottery picks in sophomore Obi Toppin and freshman Vernon Carey Jr. battled it out. On paper this battle was won by Carey Jr. junior who used a slight size advantage effectively all night, ending the game with 23 points, 13 rebounds and one block. But games are won by teams not individual players and Dayton outplayed Duke in overtime, outscoring them 14-9 to seal the victory.

It was a team effort by the Flyers who had four starters score 18-points or more on the night. Including two double-doubles, one by junior guard Jalen Crutcher who finished with 18-points and 11 assists. And the other by senior guard Trey Landers who finished the night with 18 points and 13 rebounds. Ultimately taking advantage of continuous Toppin double-teams to scoop up offensive boards and make second-chance baskets.

The Flyers advance to their first Final Four appearance since 1967 when Dayton beat North Carolina 76-62 to advance to the national champion. They would lose 64-79 to a legendary UCLA Bruins team that featured one of the best coaches to ever coach the game in John Wooden and one of the best to ever play the game Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.

 

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NCAA Tournament Simulation: First Round, West Region

The Mountain West Wire 2020 NCAA Tournament Simulation rolls on, as we look at the results of the first round of the West Region.

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NCAA Tournament Simulation: First Round, West Region


A shocking upset ends a dream season abruptly


Contact/Follow @andrewdieckhoff & @MWCwire

Our NCAA sim heads out West as the first round rolls on.

The results are already in from the Midwest and East regions, and now our third slate of games comes from the West Region. Gonzaga, San Diego State, and Oregon are all playing in the Pacific time zone, while Seton Hall is staying close to home to start things off.

As a reminder, we here at Mountain West Wire are using the final bracket generated by the Bracket Matrix and simulating games via WhatIfSports. A hearty thanks to both for helping us get some catharsis in these trying times. As a further reminder, each game is only simulated once — whatever happens, happens. That’s the beauty of the Big Dance.

Without further ado, let’s jump into the results.

(#4) Oregon 69, (#13) Akron 67

Full Box Score and Play-by-Play

SPOKANE, Wash. — The first game of this Spokane pod is an absolute classic. The Ducks survive a scare from the Zips, thanks to a Payton Pritchard buzzer-beater. Akron’s Loren Jackson led all scorers with 26 points. The 13-seed jumped out to an early lead, but the Ducks stormed back in the second half. An 8-0 run from Akron tied the game with 3:25 to play, and the teams mostly traded baskets down the stretch. Thankfully for the Ducks, their All-American had the final shot — and he did not miss.

(#6) Penn State 77, (#11) Wichita State 63

Full Box Score and Play-By-Play

ALBANY, N.Y. — The most successful season of the Pat Chambers era continues as the Nittany Lions never really had to sweat in this one. Wichita State kept it respectable, but a 20-point performance from Lamar Stevens kept the Shockers at arm’s length all game. In the aftermath of the loss, six Wichita State players announce they are transferring out of the program, unexpectedly throwing head coach Gregg Marshall into the hot seat. Penn State moves on to face the winner of the Seton Hall-Hofstra game.

(#8) LSU 87, (#9) Rutgers 78

Full Box Score and Play-by-Play

SPOKANE, Wash. — The second Spokane pod gets started with this 8-9 matchup of two teams who were both in the Top 25 during the season. Though the Scarlet Knights can officially celebrate their first NCAA Tournament berth in 30 years, the party is short-lived as Will Wade’s club wages a balanced attack. All five starters end up in double figures for LSU, but off-the-court distractions start to pop up as buzz builds for a new documentary detailing the FBI investigation into college basketball, which brings Wade’s past improprieties back into the national zeitgeist.

(#3) Seton Hall 86, (#14) Hofstra 66

Full Box Score and Play-by-Play

ALBANY, N.Y. — The Pirates easily dispatch their seaboard compatriots, but curiously, Naismith candidate Myles Powell is relatively quiet in this one. The star guard scores just 12 points on 5-of-10 shooting and attempts just two three-pointers all game. Instead, Seton Hall relies on strong performances from Sandro Mamukelashvili and Jared Rhoden. The CAA champs trailed by 18 at the half and never really threatened an upset. A bit of a dull game as we head into the midday doldrums.