NCAA Tournament Day Four: Stars Of The Day

If the second half of the Round of 32 is anything like the first then there will be approximately zero people still interested in their brackets come the Sweet Sixteen next week.

The first No. 1 seed, Gonzaga, is off the board. They fell to No. 9 Wichita State Saturday night right after No. 3 Marquette knocked off our other favorite March darling, No. 6 Butler, in yet another late-game comeback.

In fact, all of the well known — and popular — mid-majors said goodbye yesterday. Along with Gonzaga and Butler were two other popular sleeper picks, St. Louis and VCU, who both went down hard Saturday.

What will Sunday bring?

Ask the stars of the day

Ramon Galloway, La Salle: Ramon Galloway’s 24 points, four rebounds and three assists on 6-of-10 shooting from behind the arc got La Salle right where they want to be. Tied or ahead with five minutes to go. In that spot the Explorers’ are a perfect 23-0 this season, an incredible stat. No. 13 La Salle defeated Marshall Henderson and No. 12 Ole Miss 76-74. They are the first team in this tournament to win three games, and are trying to be the second First Four to Final Four team ala VCU in 2011. They’re trying to accomplish all of this while making their first tournament in 21 years, ending any remaining perfect bracket’s in the process.

Mike Rosario, Florida: One of the major knocks on the Gators was that they are lacking a true “closer.” Well, if Mike Rosario continues to light it up that won’t be a problem. Despite a broken finger, bad hip, sore back and tender ankle, Rosario’s 25 points, including 6-of-9 from behind the arc, led the No. 3 Gators to a 78-64 route of No. 11 Minnesota. Down by 21 at halftime (large in part due to Rosario’s 17 first half points), the Golden Gophers whittled away Florida’s lead to single digits, but Rosario was there to pick them back up and carry the Gators into the Sweet Sixteen for the third straight season.

Bernard Thompson/Brett Comer, Florida Gulf Coast: The Eagles of Florida Golf Coast are surging into next weeks Sweet Sixteen. Tonight they have Thompson and Comer to thank. Thompson’s 23 points, five steals, four rebounds and two assists paced the Eagles, but Comer’s brilliant passing (10 points and a tournament-high 14 assists) helped No. 15 FGC break away from No. 7 San Diego State in the second half, defeating the Aztecs 81-71. FGC will get No. 3 Florida in the Sweet Sixteen.

Victor Oladipo, Indiana: The Big Ten defensive Player of the Year and Sporting News Player of the Year came up big again for No. 1 Indiana. Behind Oladipo’s timely defense on Wyatt and clutch shooting, the Hoosiers were able to escape No. 9 Temple’s upset bid 58-52. The first team All-American finished with 16 points and eight rebounds, just enough to get Indiana back to the Sweet Sixteen for the second straight season where they’ll meet No. 4 Syracuse Thursday night.

Khalif Wyatt, Temple: Wyatt was sizzling in the first half Sunday afternoon. The senior guard had 20 of Temple’s first 24 points on 8-of-14 shooting. He simply couldn’t be stopped. And then they played the second half. Wyatt finished with 31 points (tying his previously set tournament high from Friday) and made several big shots in the second half, but Victor Oladipo was able to keep him quiet enough to allow the Hoosiers to pull off the win.

Aaron Craft, Ohio State: What more can be said about Aaron Craft? Often the smallest player on the court, Craft is the best defender, floor general and quite possibly the biggest winner in America. His game-winning 3-point jumper lifted No. 2 Ohio State past No. 10 Iowa State 78-75. Craft finished with 18 points and six assists and outscored the Cyclones 7-2 over the last 2:37 in the game. His uncharacteristic struggles from the free throw line down the stretch didn’t deter Craft from taking the games last shot. And it never should have. With .2 seconds left on the clock, instead of celebrating his game winner, Craft quickly assembled the Buckeyes into the proper defensive position. What else is new?

Korie Lucious, Iowa State: Unfortunately for the Cyclones they were on the losing end of the tournaments best game so far, but that doesn’t mean they didn’t have a star of their own. Lucious — a senior guard and a former Michigan State standout — is not one to be intimidated by the Buckeyes. And he sure didn’t play like it. Lucious finished with 19 points and four assists including a myriad of big 3-pointers (5-of-7 total) that helped rally the Cyclones back from a 13-point second half deficit with under 10 minutes to play.

LaQuinton Ross/Deshaun Thomas Ohio State: Craft may have been the hero, but he would not have gotten his game-winning opportunity if it had not been for the all-around stellar play of Ross and Thomas. Coming off the bench, Ross lifted a stalling Buckeyes offense with 17 points on 3-of-5 shooting from behind the arc. He seemed to make play after play when the Buckeyes needed him most. And then there is Thomas, Ohio State’s Mr. Everything on the offensive end. Thomas did not disappoint, as he again led the Buckeyes with 22 points and five rebounds. Thomas can score from anywhere, and he can score with the best of them. As the tournament wanes on, his offensive skill set will continue to become more valuable, as few players can replicate what he brings to the table for Ohio State.

Jeff Withey, Kansas: The Senior center proved to be too big a force in the middle for the inexperienced Tar Heels. Behind 16 points, 16 rebounds and five blocks from Withey, No. 1 Kansas avoided another upset bid, defeating No. 8 North Carolina in a rematch of last years Final Four 70-58. The Jayhawks are back in the Sweet Sixteen, where they will meet another storied program, the Michigan Wolverines.

Plays of the day