This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2015/mar/26/ncaa-tournament-notre-dame-beat-wichita-state-to-reach-elite-eight

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
NCAA Tournament: Notre Dame and Wisconsin advance to Elite Eight NCAA Tournament: Kentucky, Arizona, Notre Dame and Wisconsin advance to Elite Eight
(about 3 hours later)
Notre Dame’s march through March is picking up speed. Demetrius Jackson scored 20 points and the third-seeded Irish dominated Wichita State 81-70 in the Midwest regional semi-finals on Thursday night to advance to the Elite Eight for the first time in 36 years. Perfect and pulverizing. Kentucky made West Virginia’s press look pathetic.
Trey Lyles scored 14 points, Andrew Harrison added 13 and the unbeaten Wildcats, chasing history and a ninth national title, rolled to a 78-39 victory over the Mountaineers on Thursday night in the Midwest Regional semi-finals of the NCAA Tournament.
The tourney’s top seed and an overwhelming favorite to cut down the nets next month in Indianapolis, Kentucky (37-0) advanced to Saturday’s regional final to play third-seeded Notre Dame, an 81-70 winner over Wichita State in the other semi-final.
With stunning ease, the Wildcats built a 26-point lead in the first half over the Mountaineers (25-10), who led the nation in steals and figured their full-court press would at least bother Kentucky into some turnovers. Not only did the press not work, West Virginia shot only 24.1% (13 of 54), including 2 of 15 from three-point range, against the Wildcats, who resemble a forest of blue-tinted redwoods inside the paint.
West Virginia didn’t eclipse 20 points until the 11:41 mark of the second half.
It was over long before then. At halftime, the Mountaineers had nearly as many fouls (14) as points (18) and there was no hint they would be able to cut into Kentucky’s lead. The Wildcats, seeking to become the first team to go undefeated since Indiana in 1976, seemed to be sending a message to the rest of the tournament that everyone else is playing for second place.
Elsewhere, Notre Dame’s march through March is picking up speed. Demetrius Jackson scored 20 points and the third-seeded Irish dominated Wichita State 81-70 in the Midwest regional semi-finals to advance to the Elite Eight for the first time in 36 years.
The Irish (32-5) shot 75% (18 of 24) in the second half, easily pulling away from the seventh-seeded Shockers (30-5) after Wichita State took its first and only lead on a layup by Darius Carter early in the second half. Pat Connaughton added 16 points and 10 rebounds for Notre Dame and Jerian Grant had nine points and 11 assists as the Irish won their eighth straight. Notre Dame will play either unbeaten Kentucky or West Virginia on Saturday night with a Final Four spot on the line.The Irish (32-5) shot 75% (18 of 24) in the second half, easily pulling away from the seventh-seeded Shockers (30-5) after Wichita State took its first and only lead on a layup by Darius Carter early in the second half. Pat Connaughton added 16 points and 10 rebounds for Notre Dame and Jerian Grant had nine points and 11 assists as the Irish won their eighth straight. Notre Dame will play either unbeaten Kentucky or West Virginia on Saturday night with a Final Four spot on the line.
Fred VanVleet led Wichita State with 25 points but the Shockers simply couldn’t keep up with the sharp-shooting Irish. The Shockers appeared ready to take control after climbing out of a 13-point deficit to go up 38-37 on Carter’s basket with 16:37 to go. Jackson knocked down a 3-pointer to put the Irish back in front and Wichita State – eyeing a rematch with the Wildcats in the regional final after Kentucky ended the Shockers’ perfect season last spring – couldn’t respond. Fred VanVleet led Wichita State with 25 points but the Shockers simply couldn’t keep up with the sharp-shooting Irish. The Shockers appeared ready to take control after climbing out of a 13-point deficit to go up 38-37 on Carter’s basket with 16:37 to go. Jackson knocked down a three-pointer to put the Irish back in front and Wichita State – eyeing a rematch with the Wildcats in the regional final after Kentucky ended the Shockers’ perfect season last spring – couldn’t respond.
Notre Dame didn’t give them a chance.Notre Dame didn’t give them a chance.
Once Grant decided to become a distributor after missing all five of his first-half shots, the Irish soared. Notre Dame hit eight straight during a 38-18 surge that left Wichita State reeling pushed the Irish to the Elite Eight for the first time since 1979, when Bill Laimbeer, Orlando Woolridge and Kelly Tripucka fell to Magic Johnson and eventual national champion Michigan State.Once Grant decided to become a distributor after missing all five of his first-half shots, the Irish soared. Notre Dame hit eight straight during a 38-18 surge that left Wichita State reeling pushed the Irish to the Elite Eight for the first time since 1979, when Bill Laimbeer, Orlando Woolridge and Kelly Tripucka fell to Magic Johnson and eventual national champion Michigan State.
Carter had 19 points and eight rebounds for the Shockers but guard Ron Baker had just nine points and went scoreless in the second half. Wichita State said it had the firepower to keep pace with Notre Dame. The Shockers did for 25 minutes, after that the ACC Tournament champions took flight.Carter had 19 points and eight rebounds for the Shockers but guard Ron Baker had just nine points and went scoreless in the second half. Wichita State said it had the firepower to keep pace with Notre Dame. The Shockers did for 25 minutes, after that the ACC Tournament champions took flight.
Elsewhere, Sam Dekker scored a career-high 23 points, Frank Kaminsky added 19 and top-seeded Wisconsin rallied in the final 10 minutes to hold off North Carolina 79-72.Elsewhere, Sam Dekker scored a career-high 23 points, Frank Kaminsky added 19 and top-seeded Wisconsin rallied in the final 10 minutes to hold off North Carolina 79-72.
Zak Showalter came off the bench to score six points in the Badgers’ 19-7 comeback run that sent them into the West Regional final Saturday against either No2 seed Arizona or sixth-seeded Xavier. Zak Showalter came off the bench to score six points in the Badgers’ 19-7 comeback run that sent them into the West Regional final on Saturday.
Brice Johnson and Justin Jackson scored 15 points each for the fourth-seeded Tar Heels (26-12), who got within one with 4:21 remaining but couldn’t retake the lead they owned for much of the second half.Marcus Paige hit consecutive three-pointers that again drew Carolina within one with 54 seconds to go, but Wisconsin (34-3) made all eight of its free throws over the closing seconds.Brice Johnson and Justin Jackson scored 15 points each for the fourth-seeded Tar Heels (26-12), who got within one with 4:21 remaining but couldn’t retake the lead they owned for much of the second half.Marcus Paige hit consecutive three-pointers that again drew Carolina within one with 54 seconds to go, but Wisconsin (34-3) made all eight of its free throws over the closing seconds.
In Thursday’s final game, Arizona overcame a scare to beat Xavier. The Musketeers had led several times during the semi-final but the No2 seed stretched away in the final minutes to record a 68-60 victory. Arizona will play Wisconsin for a place in the Final Four.