The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Snider, Louisville deal FSU’s NCAA hopes a serious blow
Top NBA prospect Porter should play for Missouri today.
David Padgett stalked the sideline, shouting instructions to his Louisville players and urging them on relentlessly as they built a 26-point lead in the second half.
Knowing how badly they needed to win, the Cardinals certainly played that way. And it turned out, that huge cushion came in handy.
Quentin Snider scored 19 points, Ray Spalding had 18 and Louisville knocked off Florida State 82-74 on Wednesday in an ACC Tournament game with major NCAA implications.
“I’m sure this significantly helps our resume,” said Padgett, the interim coach who took over when Rick Pitino was fired before the season. “I know if we’re able to come out and get a win (today) against the No. 1 team in the country that I would surely think they’re in.”
Deng Adel added 15 points and eight rebounds for the ninth-seeded Cardinals (20-12), who won for the first time in ACC postseason play and advanced to face topranked Virginia in the first quarterfinal today at Barclays Center in New York.
Trent Forrest and PJ Savoy each had 14 points off the bench to pace No. 8 seed Florida State (20-11), which trailed 64-38 with 11½ minutes remaining.
Boston College 91, N.C. State 87: Jerome Robinson made a pull-up jumper with 17 seconds left to break a tie and then forced a turnover on an inbounds play moments later, and the Eagles (19-14) upset the Wolfpack (21-11) in the second round of the ACC Tournament.
Notre Dame 71, Virginia Tech 65: Bonzie Colson banked in a go-ahead 3-pointer that barely beat the shot clock with two minutes remaining, and the Irish (20-13) rallied from 21 down in the second half to stun the Hokies (21-11) in the second round of the ACC Tournament.
Georgia 78, Vanderbilt 62: Yante Maten scored 25 points to lead the Bulldogs (17-14) over the Commodores (12-20) in the first round of the SEC Tournament in St. Louis.
Maten was 9 of 12 from the field for 12th-seeded Georgia, which led throughout and advanced to face No. 5 seed Missouri in the second round today.
Oklahoma State 71, Oklahoma 60: Cameron McGriff scored 18 points, Jeffrey Carroll added 13 points and 13 rebounds, and the Cowboys (19-13) pulled away from the Sooners (18-13) in the first round of the Big 12 Tournament in Kansas City, Mo.
Trae Young had 22 points on 7 for 21 shooting to lead Oklahoma.
Colorado 97, Arizona St. 85: McKinley Wright IV had 20 points and 11 assists, and the Buffaloes (17-14) put a dent in Sun Devils’ NCAA hopes in the first round of the Pac-12 Tournament in Las Vegas.
Remy Martin had 20 points to lead Arizona State (20-11), which may have an anxious Selection Sunday.
Stanford 76, California 58: Reid Travis had 19 points and 13 rebounds as the Cardinal (18-14) routed the Bears (8-24) in the first round of the Pac-12 Tournament.
Bucknell 83, Colgate 54: Stephen Brown scored 22 points and reserve Nate Sestina added 16 as the Bison clinched an NCAA berth by winning their second straight Patriot League Tournament championship in Lewisburg, Pa. The second-seeded Raiders (19-13) lost to Bucknell for the third time this season.
Noteworthy
Kansas: Center Udoka Azubuike has been ruled out of the Big 12 Tournament after he sprained his left knee during a scrimmage this week. Azubuike is averaging 13.7 points and 7.1 rebounds this season.
Missouri: Freshman forward Michael Porter Jr., a fivestar recruit and potential No. 1 overall pick in this year’s NBA draft, will return today when the Tigers open the SEC Tournament. Porter has missed all but two minutes of the season after having back surgery in November. He was cleared for all basketball activities last month.
NYU: Coach Joe Nesci is retiring after 30 seasons. He guided the Violets to the NCAA Division III championship game in the 1993-94 season. He finished 512-270.
Obituary: Woody Durham, the retired “Voice of the Tar Heels” who called North Carolina football and basketball games for four decades, died Wednesday. He was 76.