Why Duke? Wow Gonzaga.

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Gonzaga’s Demetri Goodson, who Coach Mark Few said was in the game for defensive purposes, hit the shot of the day, a running, fastbreak layup with .9 seconds left to send the Bulldogs into the Sweet 16 with an 83-81 win over Western Kentucky in the South Regional. But who can’t leave this first four days of the tournament without appreciating Hilltoppers guard Orlando Mendez-Valdez and his 25 points and floor dives and defensive ferocity?

And, yes, it’s trendy to bash Duke, but goodness, why is it that Texas has a three-point shot drop almost all the way in before coming back out and an offensive rebound try rim almost all the way in and back out in the last minute or so, thus helping the Blue Devils win, 74-69? It just seems to always happen that way.

But those two games salvaged what had been a pretty dull day of second-round games. May Sunday be better.

Here’s a video of Goodson’s game-winning shot:

-- Diane Pucin