DAILY REPORT : Regional Not So Weak After All

The West was regarded as the weakest of the four regionals heading into Sweet Sixteen play, however, the three best games played over the weekend all were at McNichols Arena.

The three games were decided by a combined total of eight points, with Syracuse gaining an 83-81 overtime victory over Georgia on Friday and a 60-57 victory over Kansas on Sunday to advance to the Final Four.

“People can say whatever they want about us or the teams we played,” Syracuse’s John Wallace said. “We really don’t care. We did what we had to and that’s why we’re going to New Jersey [site of the Final Four].”

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Syracuse’s Todd Burgan had to be the most relieved person to see Kansas’ Jacque Vaughn miss a potential game-tying three-point shot in the final seconds. That’s because Burgan missed three consecutive free throws that could have clinched the game in the final minute.

“Man, I was really worried there for a second,” said Burgan, a 66% free throw shooter for the season who has missed 14 of his last 19 attempts. “I just hope I get a chance to redeem myself.”

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It was not a good day for the estimated 8,000 Kansas fans who drove more than eight hours on highway I-70 to Denver for the game. Not only did the Jayhawks lose to Syracuse, but many of their fans were forced to stay an extra night because of a weekend snow storm that forced the closure of I-70.