Community Picks: Syracuse 0% vs Virginia 0%

Bennett has a long history with Windy City. It's only right that the Cavaliers' benchmark win happened in the city. Continue to Article

March 25, 2016 11:56:pm EST

With the crowd roaring, momentum shifting and a 17-point deficit down to eight, Iowa State seemed poised to put actual game pressure on Virginia for the first time Friday night. Then a costly foul short-circuited any hope of a Cyclones' comeback. Georges Niang, the biggest gun in fourth-seeded Iowa State's arsenal of weapons, had to go to the bench after picking up his fourth foul with over 13 minutes to go contesting a Marial Shayok jumper. Niang protested the call vehemently and Steve Prohm told reporters afterward he thought it may have been a clean block, though it seemed the Iowa State star may have gotten a piece of both the ball and Shayok's elbow. I'll vote for whatever presidential candidate promises to fix college basketball officiating. https://t.co/UEbPVq56jo — Mike Welch (@RealMikeWelch) March 26, 2016 By the time Prohm called timeout with 9:02 to go to get Niang back on the floor, Virginia had extended its lead to 15 points. The Cavaliers led by 10 or more points the rest of the way en route to an 84-71 victory in the first of two Midwest Regional Sweet 16 games in Chicago. "It was tough when [Niang] went out," Iowa State point guard Monte Morris told reporters in Chicago. "That's our backbone. We look to him to provide a lot for us. He had it going tonight, and when he went out, we had to look elsewhere for production. We just didn't come through." Virginia's victory clinched its first Elite Eight appearance since 1995 and coach Tony Bennett's first of his illustrious career. The top-seeded Cavaliers can advance to their first Final Four since 1984 if they defeat either 10th-seeded Syracuse or 11th-seeded Gonzaga in Sunday's regional final.  While defense has been Virginia's trademark under Bennett, it's the Cavaliers' efficient offense that has helped them avoid an early NCAA tournament exit for a third straight year. Virginia sank 18 of its first 22 second-half field goal attempts to put away persistent Butler in the second round and it shredded Iowa State's vulnerable defense five nights later. Sensing that Iowa State was vulnerable in the paint, Bennett had his guards feed big men Anthony Gill and Mike Tobey the whole night. Gill and Tobey combined for 41 points and London Perrantes, Malcolm Brogdon and Devon Hall had 21 assists and zero turnovers. "I think we were just playing inside out," Brogdon said. "The big guys were able to make a few shots, and then it opened up the guards for a few rhythm shots and we were able to attack off the sides." For a while it seemed like Virginia might win in a rout until Niang got rolling. When Virginia guarded him with a bigger player, he rained down catch-and-shoot jump shots. When Virginia switched Brogdon onto him, he shrewdly backed the smaller guard down in the post. When Virginia sent a double team, Niang saw it coming and fed the open man.  Niang already had 23 of his 30 points when he picked up his fourth foul. He may not have been able to rally Iowa State all the way back had he been able to stay on the floor, but he might have made Virginia's late flurry of missed free throws a little more costly. "I probably could have done a better job of not putting myself in position to pick up fouls," Niang told reporters in Chicago. "Obviously that was frustrating, but this is do or die, win or go home, so I really just had to figure out a way to get through it. My teammates did a good job of encouraging me, and I'm just bummed that we couldn't continue this run." With Iowa State still down double figures and 26 seconds left in the game, Iowa State coach Steve Prohm removed Niang so that he could get a final ovation from the Cyclones fans in the building. It was a moment of appreciation for a senior who has been brilliant throughout his Iowa State career and came through one final time Friday night even in a losing effort. - - - - - - - Jeff Eisenberg is the editor of The Dagger on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at daggerblog@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter! Follow @JeffEisenberg Continue to Article

March 25, 2016 9:34:pm EST