NIT Semifinal Notes
by Ray Floriani
NEW YORK – The NIT finals will have two familiar faces, as Michigan will tip off against South Carolna Thursday to decide the champion of the 69th National Invitation Tournament. Michigan captured the title in 2004, while South Carolina is the defending champion, edging Saint Joseph’s a year ago.
Scores
Michigan 66, Old Dominion 43
South Carolina 78, Louisville 63
Players of Note
Courtney Sims, Michigan: 18 points
Chris Hunter, Michigan: 10 points 9 rebounds
Drew Williamson, Old Dominion: 10 points 5 rebounds
Renaldo Balkman, South Carolina: 23 points 8 rebounds
Tarence Kinsey, South Carolina: 21 points
Taquan Dean, Louisville: 21 points
In the semifinals on Tuesday there were no last-second heroics in either game. Both Michigan and South Carolina made statements and rolled to convincing victories.
Michigan had a little tougher time for a while, as ODU had a 21-14 lead in the early portion of the game. Michigan then tightened up defensively and did not allow the Monarchs a field goal over the final twelve minutes of the first half.
Down 33-24 at the half, the Monarchs came out burying three-pointers over the first four minutes after the break to get right back in it. Brian Henderson had three treys in that four-minute stretch as ODU rallied. Again Michigan’s defense adjusted and ODU struggled for the remainder of the game.
“We stepped up the defense,” Michigan senior guard Daniel Horton said. “I would not say we stepped up the physicality, I just think we gave more effort and it paid off.”
While ODU struggled from the floor at 28 percent, Michigan had a good offensive showing, especially as they wore the Monarchs down inside.
South Carolina trailed early, then after gaining the lead traded it several times with the Cardinals. In the latter part of the half the Gamecocks pulled away to enjoy a 42-32 halftime margin.
South Carolina continuously got inside with dribble penetration. When the defense adjusted, the big men like Renaldo Balkman and Brandon Wallace (19 points) were waiting to finish. On the other hand, Louisville hardly had a big man who could seal the verdict offensively in the paint. Rick Pitino’s club settled for a steady diet of three-point attempts, and unfortunately for the Cardinals it was famine rather than feast. The Cards shot 43 percent for the game, including 9-of-24 beyond the arc. The “three ball” did not get Louisville back. If anything, it contributed to their demise as South Carolina would frequently grab the long rebounds off the misfired threes and turn them into fast break opportunities. Inside play and transition were two factors for which Louisville just didn’t have an answer.
Notes
- ODU coach Blaine Taylor feels his team’s perimeter defense was good. The difference was inside. “I think we lost the game in the paint,” Taylor said. “They were able to exploit us there more than we’ve been exploited.”
Taylor refused to dwell on health but ODU’s two big men were injured and that did contribute to the disparity inside. Alex Loughton, ODU’s 6-9 senior, injured his ankle in the quarterfinals against Hofstra, Loughton gave a heroic effort against Michigan but in 27 minutes he struggled to a 4-point, 9-rebound evening. Arnaud Dahi, a 6-7 forward, left the game near the end of the half with a knee injury and didn’t return. Again, Taylor emphasized that Michigan’s inside game was outstanding but his own interior attack was severely depleted. - Horton emphasized the Michigan run this season was due to the “three Hs”. What are they? “Hungry, happy and healthy,” said coach Tommy Amaker. “It’s nice to have seniors (like Horton) who remember those things and internalize what we talked about the beginning of the season.”
- Isaiah Hunter, ODU’s fine senior guard, epitomized his team’s struggles. Hunter scored three points and suffered through an uncharacteristic 1-for-15 performance from the field. “Without Isaiah we would not be here,” Taylor said. “He has 28 at Colorado and 29 at Hofstra (both NIT games). Those two programs lost one home game all year. We rode the horses that got us here.”
- Dave Odom will be in his fourth NIT final this millennium. He led Wake Forest to the 2000 title. In 2002 his South Carolina club lost to Memphis in the championship before gaining the title last season. Tommy Amaker was on the sidelines when Michigan stopped Rutgers for the 2004 title.
- Forget Cinderella for a minute. Taylor likens his team’s journey to another character. “It was a dream come true,” he said. “I think from where we came from to be one of the last eight teams standing in the land and all of a sudden to land in such a magical place (MSG). I feel like Alice in Wonderland a little bit.”
- As ODU struggled missing shot after shot, a member of the Monarch pep band shouted a humorous line, “where were you guys when you weren’t in class?”
- Remember that patented pressure of Pitino? It didn’t bother South Carolina. The Gamecocks committed only seven turnovers and continually sliced and diced their way through the pressure, and by breaking it created a number of transition opportunities.
- Both teams are solid at guard, but the Michigan-South Carolina game will be decided inside – or at least by the inside players. The 6-8 Balkman was a handful for Louisville. The South Carolina junior brings a great deal of energy and runs the floor like a deer. Inside he is tough on the boards and a strong finisher. Teammate Brandon Wallace, a 6-10 junior, is equally dangerous. Michigan has Courtney Sims and Chris Hunter. “Courtney did what he’s capable of doing,” Amaker said, “that’s finish around the goal.” In transition, Sims can also hit the eighteen-footer trailing the break. Hunter is even more dangerous, as the 6-11 forward can and will hit the three-pointer if a similar situation in transition materializes.
On The Baseline
- South Carolina was the only school minus a band. They also brought just two cheerleaders and the mascot. “It was the school’s decision,” said cheer coach Erica Goodwin. She is hoping with the Gamecocks in the final, a band and more cheerleaders will head north.
- How about ODU’s trip to New York? “Do I have a story for you,” said ODU cheer coach Christina Kinerk, who recently cheered for the St. Louis Rams. “We were getting ready to check into our hotel across the street from the Garden and a man and woman got into a verbal argument that got worse.” Most of ODU’s cheerleaders never visited New York. Christina did say after the initial shock they did walk around town and enjoy the better sights and sounds of the city.
