NCAA Tournament 2019: Top takeaways from Elite Eight games

Every Elite Eight game went down to the wire as four unexpected teams punched their tickets to the NCAA Tournament Final Four in Minneapolis. Here are the biggest takeaways from the Elite Eight.

The 2019 NCAA Tournament largely lacked excitement during the first weekend – all four Elite Eight games more than made up for it.

Three of the four games either went into overtime or were decided by a single point while the fourth wasn’t due to a technical foul committed by Gonzaga’s Josh Perkins that allowed Texas Tech to build their lead.

The Elite Eight also brought us the best game, best ending, and best moment of the tournament when Virginia forced overtime at the end of regulation before winning in overtime.

That victory pushed Virginia into the Final Four for the first time since 1984, continuing what has been an excellent turnaround for the Cavaliers after losing to UMBC last year. They are joined by two programs in Texas Tech and Auburn that are participating in the Final Four for the first time, while Michigan State is here for the third time this decade.

We start this Rauf Report with that Virginia-Purdue thriller and break down the biggest takeaways from that stunning game.

Virginia 80, Purdue 75 (OT)

Carsen Edwards, March Madness legend and first-round NBA Draft pick

Purdue was 0.1 seconds away from going to the Final Four and Edwards was the biggest reason why. He has been the player of the tournament as his 139 points are the most by a player in the first four games of the NCAA Tournament since 2000, and no performance was better than his 42-point performance against Virginia.

With his play, Edwards not only solidified himself as an NCAA Tournament legend but also as a first-round pick in the upcoming NBA Draft. He showcased his elite shooting and shot-creating abilities, most of which came off isolation plays and pick-and-rolls. Those are vital components of NBA offenses and Edwards showed he can do them at a high level.

Edwards tested the waters last season and got good feedback from teams. This year, given the relatively weak draft class and lack of top-end point guards, he has played his way into being a top 30 selection.

Virginia’s offense is good enough

The biggest knock against Virginia during the last several years has not been a problem with this year’s team. They have three players they can rely on to consistently get them a bucket when they need it and it showed against Purdue.

Kyle Guy and Ty Jerome matched Edwards virtually every possession during that ridiculous second half, allowing the Cavaliers to weather that onslaught in a way they have not been able to in past years.

De’Andre Hunter and Mamade Diakite both scored in double figures as well after Kihei Clark did so in their Sweet 16 win over Oregon.

Defense has been and always will be Virginia’s identity under Tony Bennett, but this team’s offense is not a liability or something they have to overcome.