March 18th, 2012, rounding up this last week in sports. A week up progress, expansion and unexpected failure.
#87 returns to the NHL, MLS receives a 19th team and the NCAA Tournament gets shaken up.
We’ll also take a peak at some of the more substantial transactions in the NBA.
The Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby returned to action on Thursday against division rival the New York Rangers. With a 5-2 win, #87 notched two assists helping line-mate Matt Cooke, a goon, net two goals. Also back in the line-up that game was number one pairing defenceman Kris Letang who also had one helper and career-high plus 5 rating. Pittsburgh was back at two days later against the Devils with another convincing 5-2 victory. Crosby had 3 assists, helping the Cookie monster deliver another two goals. In just 11 games this season, the Penguin’s captain has 17 points.
Major League Soccer now has a 19th team. The Montréal Impact made their inaugural MLS season debut against the Vancouver Whitecaps March 10, 2012 losing 2-0 in Vancouver. The following game, they faced the Chicago Fire at home and drew 1-1 to a sold out crowd of almost 60,000. Montréal is one of three Canadian teams in the MLS
I wonder the percentage of NCAA Tournament brackets that crumbled on Friday?
The number 15 seed Norfolk State beat out the number 2 seed Missouri in a 86-84 nail biter. Kyle O’Quinn missed both free throws with 4 seconds left in the game, setting up Missouri for a hopeful buzzer beater. Unfortunately for the Show-Me-State, Phil Pressey couldn’t knock down a 3-point jump shot from 27 feet out.
Next up, the heavily favoured number 2 seed Duke lost to 15th seed Lehigh in a slightly less dramatic game 75-70. Even with a horrendous Field Goal Percentage, C.J. McCollum put up 30 points, twenty of which were from the line. However, Gabe Knutson had was perfect from the field, 1/1 from beyond the arch and 6/7 from the line knocking down some clutch free throws equalling to 17 points and a victory.
To those of you who picked Missouri or Duke to the final four, you’re in a boat the size of Titanic, and for those homer’s in the rubber dinghy, good luck.
This year’s NBA deadline was pretty quiet. A few teams made some considerable splashes, but nothing major.
LA Lakers
In:
Ramon Sessions
Out:
Derek Fisher
San Antonio Spurs
In:
Stephen Jackson
Out:
Richard Jefferson
Indiana Pacers
In:
Leonardo Barbosa
Out:
Second round pick
Washington Wizards
In:
Nene
Out:
Nick Young
LA Clippers
In:
Nick Young
Out:
Brian Cook
Portland Trail Blazers New Jersey Nets
In: In:
Mehmet Okur/Shawne Williams for Gerald Wallace
