1. Increasingly, I'm learning that I cannot imagine what might happen when one team plays another by thinking about what they've done against other opponents. Earlier in the season, I watched Loyola-Chicago have to play an overtime period before defeating Southern Illinois, a lesser team in their conference. Judging from that game, I would have said that the highly regarded Illinois team, seeded #1 in their region, would dispense with Loyola-Chicago with little trouble. But, today, the teams met and the game I imagined was very different from the game that actually happened. I would have never imagined that Illinois would be so frustrated by Loyola-Chicago's defense and that Loyola-Chicago would be able to dictate the pace of the game and play so well against Illinois' defense. But, Loyola-Chicago outplayed Illinois today and beat them, 71-58. It was entertaining and almost, for me, unbelievable.
2. Another entertaining and unbelievable game featured Oregon State and Oklahoma State. I had watched Oklahoma State play several times this season and was very impressed with their quickness and physical play and was really impressed with their superb 6'8" all-purpose freshman, Cade Cunningham. Oregon State had had a middling season in the Pac 12 conference, but they won four games in a row to win the conference tournament and had surprised Tennessee, beating them handily on Friday.
Tonight, Oregon State missed 11 of their first 12 shots to begin the game, but turned their performance around in the first half and dominated Oklahoma State as the half progressed, leading by 14 at halftime. Oregon State had some rough stretches in the second half, but they hit shots at well-timed moments, matched and often exceeded Oklahoma State's toughness on the boards, and, relying largely on Ethan Thompson's steady hand and excellent shooting, especially at the free throw line, defeated Oklahoma State, 80-70.
3. Around 4:30, Christy, Carol, Paul, Paul's mother, Pat, Zoe, and Jason got together at Carol and Paul's for family dinner. Christy knocked this dinner out of Teeter's Field -- in fact, I think she hit the King Coal sign -- with her lemon Italian chicken, potato salad, and stuffed celery. I brought a batch of slow cooked baked beans and Zoe baked rolls. Carol and Paul provided wine and Zoe made a killer chocolate mousse for dessert.
With our expanded number of diners, our conversations ranged far and wide, getting caught up on family news, sharing our basketball observations, and finding ways to have plenty of good laughs.
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