Xavier, Ohio St, Cincy all win, move on; Georgia St shocks Baylor; Which local kids are shining in March Madness?

With the round of 64 starting up yesterday, it was excitement personified in March Madness. Here's the SELive Hot 5 topics for first day of round of 64.

(1) All the Ohio teams won - making them 4-0 in the tourney so far.
Ohio really is the hot state for hoops, so how fitting that Ohio St, Xavier, Cincy, and UD all won their first round games? The Buckeyes was led by freshman sensation D'Angelo Russell who dropped 28, and survived OT with win over VCU; Xavier cruised, while Dayton survived and Cincy won a thrilling game in OT vs Purdue.

(2) Multiple 13 seeds upset 4 seeds, send them packing.
Georgia St pulls off improbable W with hobbled coach as Miami (Ohio) grad Ron Hunter coached his boys - with a torn Achilles no less -to a magical win over Baylor. Wayne grad and Forward Marcus Crider had a very solid game, with double figures in scoring, and being a "Point Forward", and battling the bigs for Baylor, despite being undersized. R.J. Hunter scored 12 of last 13 pts for Georgia St. After struggling all game, he hit a 26-footer to win the game.
  UAB also pulled off a major win as well, defeating Iowa St in a close one.

(3) Local kids having major impact in March Madness
Every year it seems like a kid from Dayton area is balling out in the tourney. This year is no different at you look at the list of players who are in the tounament - and having a major impact. Here's the list:

Juwan Staten - PG - West Virgnia
Marcus Crider - F - Georgia St
Vince Edwards - F - Purdue
Jordan Sibert - G - Dayton
Travis Trice - G - Michigan St

Thats a nice group of players, wouldn't u say?
All starters, key players

(4) March Madness Hooper of the day
D'Angelo Russell - PG - Ohio St
The smooth lefty dropped 28 & was key in the OT win over VCU, as they move on to play Arizona. Can u say NBA Top 10 pick?


(5) Key games today for Locals

#5 West Virginia vs #12 Buffalo
#11 Dayton vs #6 Providence
#7 Mich St vs #10 Georgia


Note:
Upset Special - Dayton over Providence

NBA prospect Juwan Staten shows why LeBron had so much faith in him as West Virginia defeats Kansas

  

Juwan Staten reppin' West Virginia after huge W

    Seven years ago Juwan Staten was "The Man" in the state of Ohio. A junior at Thurgood Marshall out of Dayton, Staten had led his squad to the Ohio High School State Finals and had just fallen short of winning a state title, which had sent the All-State guard in tears. LeBron James, on the sideline watching Staten put on a show to keep the Cougars in the game, had consoled the young star, letting him know his future was bright, that he had balled out and dominated in the presence of one the best players in the NBA, all the while patting him on the back and hugging the distraught Staten.

LeBron consoles Staten at HS State Finals

     Staten would then go to a prep school his senior year, leaving Thurgood, to better prepare himself for college. He would use those words for inspiration that LeBron had left him. When he decided to stay at Dayton, the whole city was in shock. The best player in Ohio - who left for prep school - will comeback to play for his hometown?

This was sure to bring a level of respect, love and appreciation to Juwan, as he would be able to lead the Flyers to the promise land right?

In the words of Borat the Entertainer, "Not so much."

In a tumultuous year at UD, Staten decided to transfer after his freshman year. He was badgered by the city. He was dissed by the UD faithful. Called a quitter, a trader, and not loyal. It hurt him and his family, especially his father, Bill Staten, who had carefully watched his son throughout the whole process, and was not hesitant to step in, when he felt needed. Staten had coached at Thurgood and Colonel White, and heard all the negative words that was said about his son. Not to mention the fact that Staten wasn't starting his freshman year. Whether he was ready to start or not, is another story, but then-coach Brian Gregory decided to bring him along slowly, which was not happily taken by Staten. This caused a rift between Staten and the staff, and ultimately would lead to Staten heading to West Virginia.

 While that moment wasn't a storybook ending for Staten, this season sure has been, with his signature moment at the hands of the mighty Kansas Jayhawks.

   Staten was accepted by Huggins, and wasn't coddled by any means. Huggins wasn't sold on his sophomore prodigy. He wanted Staten to take more responsibility for his mistakes. Work harder. Show more. Become more mature.
So Staten did.

Staten GW shot vs Kansas

His junior year for the Mountaineers was phenomenal and you could see Huggins opening up to his star, all the while keeping him accountable. Staten made All-Big 12, and was selected this year as the Pre-Season Big 12 Player of the Year.

So with the Kansas Jayhawks leading by 1 with 9 seconds to go and Staten having missed his last two shots, who would get the ball?
Hmmm....Yep, you guessed it.

Staten went coast to coast with a smooth spin move and left hand layup to give the Montaineers the lead - then ran full speed down to the other end - beating everyone down the court, to rattle Perry Ellis into missing the shot and giving the Mountaineers the huge W, solidifying their March Madness hopes.
After the game, Staten quoted, "We keep fighting and believing. We didn't give up".

Im sure LeBron knew what he was watching that March day in Columbus.

Now the whole world knows as well.



More info?    www.SportsEffectLive.com
Subscribe to the SELive Hot 5 blog!

Dayton suprises Syracuse, UD president parties all night; Is Dayton, Ohio officially the #1 Hotbed for Hoops?

     With March Madness occurring every year, it has been an unspoken word around the Miami Valley that while college hoops is the "hot topic" around the country, its not as much here as Wright St & UD haven't been as prominent when it comes to March. As we watch Ohio St, Cincy, and  Xavier all have great success we often wonder, "Why can't Dayton or Wright St win a tourney game?"


Devin Oliver, Flyers headed to Sweet 16

Well not this year my friends! Not only are the Flyers flyin' higher than a Snoop Dogg Concert after the classic nailbiting W over the 'Cuse, but with all the teams in the tourney, the First Four being here, and the impact of players in the college game, could Little Ole Dayton, Ohio be the Official #1 Hotbed for Hoops spot at this very moment?

Now while this sounds a little overboard, considering that places like Texas, Florida, New York, Indiana, and California breed great hoopers daily,  please consider some of the facts behind this very argument:

When you look at who was the dominant player in the NCAA Tourney, up to this point, you have to give some major votes for Jefferson Grad Adreain Payne (Michigan St); Payne was sensational in his 41 point outburst (in only 25 min no less); but the second leading scorer for Mich St was Wayne Grad Travis Trice with 19. Now if everyone from Barack Obama to Dick Vitale and half of ESPN picking the Spartans to win, wonder who will be a favorite to be Most Outstanding Player if it comes to fruition?

Adreain Payne goin' insane

The First Four has been a clear WIN WIN for not only the NCAA's but for Dayton, as 3 of the 4 winning teams from the First Four advanced to the round of 32. And with the First Four added to the 1st & 2nd round hosting that Dayton does every other year the city is profiting quite well, which in  turn brings excitement back to the city, which I think has seeped into the minds of the UD players, coaches, and staff. Im sure the Flyers were bitter having to watch the Madness while other teams come to play in your house year after year. Not this year though.

And lets not forget about the ladies shall we?  Daytons Womens program has been dancing for the last 5 years (vs #11 Florida), and the Wright St ladies also are in the dance, making it 3 of 4 for the D-1 colleges in the Miami Valley getting to the big dance (Wright St men lost in Horizon League Championship Game)

With impact players all over the country making statements such as Juwan Staten (West Virginia) , Geron Johnson (Memphis) and more future great players in tow (Justin Bibbs, Luke Kennard, AJ Harris) there's no doubt that Dayton, Ohio is on the map. Question is, is the United States of America ready to accept that Dayton, Ohio is the OFFICIAL HOTBED FOR HOOPS? 

Ask President Barack Obama that question. He's convinced enough that he tweeted congrats to UD and he's ready to play Devin Oliver in some 1 on 1s. I'm sure Oliver will take him up on that offer -
only after he's finished with the Madness.


Comments are welcome