Bests
How do you like us now?
On Selection Sunday, national analysts questioned Virginia Commonwealth’s inclusion in the NCAA Tournament. After three wins in five days, including Sunday’s rout of Purdue behind 23 points by Bradford Burgess, right, the only question is who is going to stop the Rams?
Nothing finer.
North Carolina advanced to the second weekend of the NCAA tourney for a record 24th time.
Sweet, but expected.
Duke is in the Sweet 16 for the 12th time in 14 years and has won eight consecutive NCAA Tournament games.
Denver Post staff and wire services
Worsts
Bad day to be a three.
Both No. 3 seeds playing Sunday not only lost, but to double-digit seeds. In the East Regional, Syracuse committed 18 turnovers in a 66-62 loss to Big East rival Marquette. At least the Orange competed. In the Southwest Regional, Purdue had no answers for the speed and depth of Virginia Commonwealth and lost 94-76.
Waking up a sleeping giant.
George Mason jumped out to an 11-2 lead and began taunting the tournament’s top seed, and mainly, fantastic freshman Jared Sullinger. A couple hours later, the Buckeyes had outscored the Patriots 96-55 the rest of the way to win 98-66. Denver Post staff and wire services
George Mason players get plenty of ink
George Mason’s Andre Cornelius would fit in with the fans who normally fill the home of the Cleveland Cavaliers.
He’s no fan of LeBron James, either.
“I’m not a LeBron fan,” he said. “Kobe, man. Come on. Kobe’s the best player.”
Cornelius was impressed with the Cavaliers’ locker room after a tour before Saturday’s practice. It was his first time in an NBA locker room.
“That was nice,” he said. “I’ve never seen anything like that.”
Like so many college players, Cornelius is inked with tattoos. He’s lost count of the total number. He has the comedy-tragedy masks on his right arm with the slogan “Laugh Now, Cry Later.” Why? “I don’t know. I just got it,” he said. “It doesn’t mean anything.”
One of his favorites is close to his heart — actually his bellybutton. He yanked up his jersey to reveal “My first true love” written on top of a basketball in the shape of a heart on his stomach.
He tried to hide his first tattoo from his parents. But George Mason coach Jim Larranaga noticed it on a recruiting trip and told him, “Nice tattoo, Andre.” “My parents were like, ‘A tattoo? Where?’ ” he said. “That’s how they found out.”
The Patriots were one of three Colonial Athletic Association teams to make the NCAA Tournament. Their run ended Sunday with a loss to top-seeded Ohio State. But George Mason did finish with something to boast about.
“We’re the most tatted team in the NCAA,” Cornelius said.
The Associated Press
Notes
SWEET CAROLINA
Duke, UNC tough in state.
It’s hard to beat Duke and North Carolina in their home state at the NCAA Tournament.
The Blue Devils extended their streak to 16 consecutive wins in NCAA games played in North Carolina with a 73-71 victory over Michigan on Sunday, hours after the Tar Heels ran their string to 25 in a row with an 86-83 win against Washington. Duke is 32-4 in NCAA play in the state, and North Carolina is 29-1.
Top-seeded Duke and No. 2 seed North Carolina both made defensive stops in the final seconds to advance.
MISSING OUT
Player out sick.
George Mason forward Luke Hancock did not play Sunday against Ohio State because of an illness.
Hancock scored 18 points and hit a 3-pointer with 21 seconds left in a 61-57 win over Villanova on Friday.
He averaged 10.9 points and 4.2 rebounds this season.
TRUTH IN NUMBERS
Walking tall.
Put point guard Joey Rodriguez next to his Virginia Commonwealth teammates and all will stand a head taller, often more.
So Joey, are you REALLY 5-foot-10?
“I’m really not,” Rodriguez confessed. “I’m like 5-9 and three-quarters.”
Sure it’s not 5-8, maybe?
“No, I’m not 5-8,” Rodriguez said as his teammates snickered. “I take that to heart.”
The Associated Press
