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7:20 p.m. With this one winding down (Xavier 75-56, 1:59 to go), let's apply a bit of styling mousse to the hair-band-standard-turned-pep-band-song Top 5 of the day:
• "Separate Ways," Journey (Missouri).
• "Living on a Prayer," Bon Jovi (Xavier).
• "Paradise City," GNR (Cornell).
• "Cum On Feel the Noize," Quiet Riot (Marquette).
• "Crazy Train," Ozzy Osborne (Xavier). I know, everyone plays this one. That's why it's No. 5, and squarely on the bubble, heading into the nightcap.
***
6:48 p.m. Depth is one of those factors that always seems to separate out teams from the power conferences from the mid-majors.
That's really evident here. Xavier bench has outscored Portland State's, 15-4. Missouri's depth wore down Cornell, with the Tigers' bench outscoring Cornell's, 21-6. Benches weren't a big factor in Marquette-Utah State -- the Aggies' bench outscored Marquette 3-2, but on a meaningless three-pointer at the buzzer.
***
There is a decent Portland State turnout, however. 4:26 p.m. Some notes from the Missouri-Cornell post-game press conferences:
• The turnover battle: As far as the numbers go, Ivy League champion Cornell did a surprisingly good job of handling the athleticism and pressure of Big XII champion Missouri. Cornell turned over the ball only nine times, yet Missouri pulled away to a 78-59 win.
To Missouri coach Mike Anderson -- a disciple of Nolan Richardson, who won a national championship at Akansas with a pressing defense -- the defense still was decisive Friday. The pressure forced Cornell to focus more on protecting the ball than on shooting. "Our defense is to disrupt what other people want to do."
Cornell coach Steve Donahue said he had to "respectfully disagree" with Anderson. Donahue said the pressure helped his team get some good shots. Cornell, however, shot only 36 percent for the game.
• Shock value? What did Anderson say -- or not say -- when his favored team went into the half with only a 29-25 lead?
Senior forward DeMarre Carroll wouldn't offer up many details -- but said, with a grin, that Anderson delivered a "great speech."
Anderson downplayed his halftime talk. Even though Cornell scored at the half to pull to within four points, Anderson said he remained calm. "And that probably shocked them. ...
"I thought we just had to settle down more than anything else."
3:19 p.m. Just went final. Mizzou, 78-59. But the doors open at 3:55 for the "night" session.
Gotta love wall-to-wall basketball.
3:09 p.m. Cornell fans haven't given up. They just started up a "haircut" chant as dreadlocked Missouri forward DeMarre Carroll shot free throws. But with 2:22 to go, Missouri's up 71-55.
Missouri put on one impressive run in second half, which looks like it's going to be more than enough to get them to Round 2. And Missouri's athleticism sets up a quality second-round matchup with Marquette.
2:55 p.m. Missouri 60, Cornell 46, 6:56 to go. If the Big Red have a big comeback in them, these may be their last chance. Missouri's gone a little cold from floor, and Cornell went on a mini 5-0 run.
2:42 p.m. Missouri 56, Cornell 40, 11:29 to go. The fact that Mizzou has hung 16 points in the past five minutes tells you something. Not only are they hitting their shots this half, they're pressing off of made baskets -- and Cornell is having a lot of problems breaking the press. The athleticism of the Big XII tournament champions is taking this one over.
2:23 p.m. Missouri 40, Cornell 31, 16:37 to go. Cornell timeout off a turnover/Matt Lawrence layup. This has the feel of a game that could get away.
Update on the '80s MTV standards gone pep band. Missouri: "Separate Ways," Journey. Nothing from the big hair era from Cornell, at least that I've heard.
2:04 p.m. Halftime: Missouri 29, Cornell 25. Missouri started to stretch this one out before the break. Cornell guard Chris Wroblewski hit a jumper at the buzzer to draw Cornell closer, and stem the Tigers' run.
10:13 a.m. Welcome to the live notebook. I will be updating throughout all four games today.
• "Separate Ways," Journey (Missouri).
• "Living on a Prayer," Bon Jovi (Xavier).
• "Paradise City," GNR (Cornell).
• "Cum On Feel the Noize," Quiet Riot (Marquette).
• "Crazy Train," Ozzy Osborne (Xavier). I know, everyone plays this one. That's why it's No. 5, and squarely on the bubble, heading into the nightcap.
***
6:48 p.m. Depth is one of those factors that always seems to separate out teams from the power conferences from the mid-majors.
That's really evident here. Xavier bench has outscored Portland State's, 15-4. Missouri's depth wore down Cornell, with the Tigers' bench outscoring Cornell's, 21-6. Benches weren't a big factor in Marquette-Utah State -- the Aggies' bench outscored Marquette 3-2, but on a meaningless three-pointer at the buzzer.
***
There is a decent Portland State turnout, however. 4:26 p.m. Some notes from the Missouri-Cornell post-game press conferences:
• The turnover battle: As far as the numbers go, Ivy League champion Cornell did a surprisingly good job of handling the athleticism and pressure of Big XII champion Missouri. Cornell turned over the ball only nine times, yet Missouri pulled away to a 78-59 win.
To Missouri coach Mike Anderson -- a disciple of Nolan Richardson, who won a national championship at Akansas with a pressing defense -- the defense still was decisive Friday. The pressure forced Cornell to focus more on protecting the ball than on shooting. "Our defense is to disrupt what other people want to do."
Cornell coach Steve Donahue said he had to "respectfully disagree" with Anderson. Donahue said the pressure helped his team get some good shots. Cornell, however, shot only 36 percent for the game.
• Shock value? What did Anderson say -- or not say -- when his favored team went into the half with only a 29-25 lead?
Senior forward DeMarre Carroll wouldn't offer up many details -- but said, with a grin, that Anderson delivered a "great speech."
Anderson downplayed his halftime talk. Even though Cornell scored at the half to pull to within four points, Anderson said he remained calm. "And that probably shocked them. ...
"I thought we just had to settle down more than anything else."
3:19 p.m. Just went final. Mizzou, 78-59. But the doors open at 3:55 for the "night" session.
Gotta love wall-to-wall basketball.
3:09 p.m. Cornell fans haven't given up. They just started up a "haircut" chant as dreadlocked Missouri forward DeMarre Carroll shot free throws. But with 2:22 to go, Missouri's up 71-55.
Missouri put on one impressive run in second half, which looks like it's going to be more than enough to get them to Round 2. And Missouri's athleticism sets up a quality second-round matchup with Marquette.
2:55 p.m. Missouri 60, Cornell 46, 6:56 to go. If the Big Red have a big comeback in them, these may be their last chance. Missouri's gone a little cold from floor, and Cornell went on a mini 5-0 run.
2:42 p.m. Missouri 56, Cornell 40, 11:29 to go. The fact that Mizzou has hung 16 points in the past five minutes tells you something. Not only are they hitting their shots this half, they're pressing off of made baskets -- and Cornell is having a lot of problems breaking the press. The athleticism of the Big XII tournament champions is taking this one over.
2:23 p.m. Missouri 40, Cornell 31, 16:37 to go. Cornell timeout off a turnover/Matt Lawrence layup. This has the feel of a game that could get away.
Update on the '80s MTV standards gone pep band. Missouri: "Separate Ways," Journey. Nothing from the big hair era from Cornell, at least that I've heard.
2:04 p.m. Halftime: Missouri 29, Cornell 25. Missouri started to stretch this one out before the break. Cornell guard Chris Wroblewski hit a jumper at the buzzer to draw Cornell closer, and stem the Tigers' run.
10:13 a.m. Welcome to the live notebook. I will be updating throughout all four games today.
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