by Micah Hart
We are down to the final four teams in the Bragging Rights challenge, with all four No.1 seeds advancing to the semifinals. Who will win? Check out the matchups and cast your vote to decide who will advance to Monday’s championship game! Voting ends Sunday night at midnight ET.
Once again, your Final Four contests:
West No. 1 Texas vs. Midwest No. 1 UConn
East No. 1 Wake Forest vs. South No. 1 Duke
Seen something that belongs on All Ball? Let us know via email or Twitter.
by Micah Hart
For the complete Bragging Rights rules and to vote for other matchups, click here. We move to the Final Four, where the top seed from the West meets the top seed from the Midwest.
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Texas Longhorns
Starters (all stats per 48 minutes, through 3/31):
LaMarcus Aldridge, Trail Blazers: 26.5 points, 10.4 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 1.4 blocks, 1.2 steals
D.J. Augustin, Bobcats: 20.4 points, 4.0 rebounds, 8.5 assists, 0.1 blocks, 0.8 steals
Kevin Durant, Thunder: 34.0 points, 8.3 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 1.2 blocks, 1.4 steals
T.J. Ford, Pacers: 14.1 points, 4.9 rebounds, 8.8 assists, 0.5 blocks, 2.0 steals
Maurice Evans, Wizards: 14.3 points, 4.9 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 0.4 blocks, 1.1 steals
Missed the cut: Damion James, Nets; Daniel Gibson, Cavaliers; Royal Ivey, Thunder; Dexter Pittman, Heat; Avery Bradley, Celtics
How they got here: Talk about March Madness. After easily dispatching Washington, the Horns beat UCLA literally at the buzzer, winning their matchup against the Bruins by a single vote in the Elite Eight.
Team synopsis: A real title contender, with both Durant and Aldridge providing matchup problems for just about any potential opponent. Augustin is also having a breakout season in Charlotte. Ford is somewhat redundant with Augustin on the floor, but his track record is a little better than rookie Damion James. Not a lot of bulk, but trying to keep LA and the Durantula from racking up points is going to be hard for any opponent.
by Micah Hart
All the contests are now underway for the Bragging Rights Bracket’s Elite Eight. Make sure to check out all the games and cast your vote to decide who will advance to the Final Four! Voting ends Wednesday night at midnight ET.
Once again, your Elite Eight matchups:
| West | No. 1 Texas vs. No. 2 UCLA |
| Midwest | No. 1 UConn vs. No. 3 Kentucky |
| South | No. 1 Duke vs. No. 2 Florida |
| East | No. 1 Wake Forest vs. No. 2 UNC |
Seen something that belongs on All Ball? Let us know via email or Twitter.
by Micah Hart
For the complete Bragging Rights rules and to vote for other matchups, click here. Our next matchup mirrors real life, as two teams that will meet on the hardcourt at the Final Four in Houston this weekend also meet for the chance to move the hypothetical Final Four in the Bragging Rights challenge.
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Connecticut Huskies
Starters (all stats per 48 minutes, through 3/28):
Ray Allen, Celtics: 22.6 points, 4.7 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 0.2 blocks, 1.3 steals
Ben Gordon, Pistons: 21.4 points, 4.4 rebounds, 3.9 assists, 0.4 blocks, 1.1 steals
Emeka Okafor, Hornets: 15.8 points, 14.6 rebounds, 0.9 assists, 2.8 blocks, 0.7 steals
Charlie Villanueva, Pistons: 23.9 points, 8.5 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 1.1 blocks, 1.1 steals
Rip Hamilton, Pistons: 25.2 points, 3.7 rebounds, 5.0 assists, 0.0 blocks, 1.1 steals
Missed the cut: Caron Butler, Mavericks (injured); Rudy Gay, Grizzlies (injured); A.J Price, Pacers; Hilton Armstrong, Hawks; Hasheem Thabeet, Rockets; Jeff Adrien, Warriors
How they got here: Took the USC Trojans behind the woodshed in the Sweet 16, winning by a 91%-9% margin.
Team synopsis: Things have changed a bit for UConn since their Sweet 16 win. Rudy Gay was lost to shoulder surgery and will miss the rest of the season, which by our rules makes him ineligible. Tough break for the Huskies, who are now down two starters in Gay and Caron Butler. Fortunately, Charlie V is a capable player, who like Ben Gordon is probably even better in a playground environment like this. Plus, Villanueva gives the team a little more height to go with Okafor in the middle. This is still a dynamite scoring team for the boys from Storrs. How you would stop Allen and Hamilton, two of the best shooters of all-time coming off screens, is anyone’s guess.
by Micah Hart
For the complete Bragging Rights rules and to vote for other matchups, click here. In this matchup the UConn Huskies, a top seed with 11 NBA players to choose from, take on the USC Trojans. Veal Scalabrine for everyone!
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UConn Huskies
Starters (all stats per 48 minutes):
Ray Allen, Celtics: 23.0 points, 4.7 rebounds, 3.7 assists, 0.2 blocks, 1.4 steals
Ben Gordon, Pistons: 21.5 points, 4.5 rebounds, 3.9 assists, 0.4 blocks, 1.1 steals
Emeka Okafor, Hornets: 15.8 points, 14.6 rebounds, 0.8 assists, 2.8 blocks, 0.7 steals
Rudy Gay, Grizzlies: 23.8 points, 7.5 rebounds, 3.4 assists, 1.3 blocks, 2.0 steals
Rip Hamilton, Pistons: 24.7 points, 3.8 rebounds, 4.9 assists, 0.0 blocks, 1.2 steals
Missed the cut: Caron Butler, Mavericks (injured); Charlie Villanueva, Pistons; A.J Price, Pacers; Hilton Armstrong, Hawks; Hasheem Thabeet, Rockets; Jeff Adrien, Warriors
Team synopsis: Wow. A dynamite scoring team for the boys from Storrs. This team is sort of the anti-LSU — all guard play with only Emeka there to patrol the paint. No real headaches in trying to determine their best lineup, though I suppose one could argue a spot for Charlie V due to UConn’s lack of size. Caron Butler would be in over Ben Gordon if healthy, but he’s missed too much time this year to be eligible. How you would stop Allen and Hamilton, two of the best shooters of all-time coming off screens, is anyone’s guess. (more…)
Catch up on every single game-winning buzzer beater during the season and see how it rates on the Horry Scale.
