The N.C. State sharpshooter dealt with an ailing stomach, while Michigan State squeezed in a few laughs before the big game.
As Louisville and North Carolina State battled each other on the court, the Wolfpack’s Anthony “Cat” Barber and Louisville’s Terry Rozier were battling their own bodies.
Both Barber and Rozier were significantly ill the night before and hours leading up to their clash in the East Regional semifinal at the Carrier Dome on Friday night.
Barber, one of N.C. State’s potent backcourt shooters, showed violent symptoms of a stomach virus according to head coach Mark Gottfried.
After not scoring for nearly a month, the sophomore helped the Cardinals pull away in the second half.
Louisville head coach Rick Pitino said he had a conversation with reserve guard Anton Gill earlier this week and told the sophomore he was “mentally in a funk.”
But instead of giving Pitino lip service, Gill responded with a promise that he would be ready to play. So when Pitino was forced to go to his bench in the second half of Friday’s East Regional at the Carrier Dome against North Carolina State, he chose Gill over Shaqquan Aaron at the three-spot.
Then Gill delivered on his promise in the biggest way.
One N.C. State player reached out to the president, while coaches reflected on their own friendships and relationship with Jim Boeheim.
N.C. State guard Anthony “Cat” Barber is locked in for Friday night’s Sweet 16 matchup against Louisville.
But only after reaching out to the leader of the free world during the week.
After the Wolfpack upset top-seeded Villanova in the third round, television cameras caught Barber asking, “The f--- wrong with Barack Obama?” The obscenity was an obvious reference to the president’s bracket, which had the Wildcats advancing to the next round.
Lundquist has been calling NCAA Tournament games for more than 30 years.
Verne Lundquist witnessed the legendary Iron Bowl in 2013 between Alabama and Auburn and famously narrated the rise to fame of an uncontrollable golfer in the 1996 comedy film “Happy Gilmore.”
Still, the 74-year-old broadcaster said the excitement surrounding the NCAA Tournament beats all other scenes in sports.
Fans of all ages will be able to see each of the four teams competing at the Carrier Dome during Thursday's fan-friendly event.
Looking to be a part of this weekend's NCAA East Regional without having to break open your piggy bank?
Well then you're in luck.
On Thursday, practice for Friday's Sweet 16 games will be open with free admission at the Carrier Dome to all fans, including those without tickets to the rest of the "Madness." Gates open to the public at 11 a.m., with practices beginning at noon.
Each of the four teams competing (North Carolina State, Louisville, Michigan State and Oklahoma) will take the court for 50 minutes throughout the afternoon. The schedule is as follows:
The big man capitalized on the Cardinals' lack of depth to give SU its first win over a ranked opponent this season.
Rakeem Christmas said he felt sick to his stomach and didn’t want to do anything or go anywhere after his underwhelming game in a loss to No. 4 Duke last Saturday.
A resurgent performance against No. 12 Louisville (20-6, 8-5 Atlantic Coast) Wednesday night turned out to be exactly what the doctor prescribed.
Fouls and offensive inefficiency plague the Orange in its second defeat.
In a game that needed overtime to yield a victor, Syracuse fell 2-1 to Atlantic Coast Conference rival Louisville Friday night, snapping an eight-game win streak.
The Orange (12-2-0, 4-2-0 ACC) boasts one of the premier back lines in the nation, having allowed only three goals coming into the contest. Friday, however, marked the first the time team yielded more than two goals this year.
Laura Hurff's three goals lead SU to its third and fourth victories in a row.
No. 13 Syracuse vs. No. 5 Louisville
After being outscored 9-3 through its first three Atlantic Coast Conference games, Syracuse finally found an offensive groove against the Cardinals (10-3, 3-2 ACC).
Freshman Laura Hurff scored a pair of goals to help the Orange (9-3, 1-3 ACC) upset the Cardinals, 3-1, at J.S. Coyne Stadium Saturday.
Two Friday games and a date with the defending national champions highlight the home slate.
On Tuesday, Syracuse Athletics released the full 2014 schedule for the Syracuse University football team. SU is preparing for its second season as a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference.
The Orange will host a pair of Friday night games: the season-opener against Villanova on Aug. 29 and a Big East reunion with Louisville on Oct. 3 in the team's first ACC matchup. The latter will be televised by ESPN.
A weekly look at Syracuse sports, featuring reporters from TheNewsHouse.com — your resource for news, sports and what's happening at Syracuse University.
The GameTime Talk gang take their act on the road in following the men's basketball team to Atlanta for the NCAA Final Four -- sort of. Mark Volain, Joe Diglio and Tyler Greenawalt break down a wild weekend over Indiana and Marquette, and look ahead to games against Michigan and the Louisville-Wichita State winner.
Mark and Joe then return home to break down the men's lacrosse team in a dominating performance over Canisius, and a national championship rematch when the women's team fell at Northwestern on Saturday.