BRADLEY'S UPSET BID GOES UP IN SMOKE VS. MEMPHIS.

Byline: Ramona Shelburne Staff Writer

OAKLAND - Rodney Carney was too much for Bradley ... and apparently a few of the NCAA's computer monitors.

The 6-foot-7 Conference USA Player of the Year scored a game-high 23 points as top-seeded Memphis breezed to the Elite Eight for the first time since 1992 with an 80-64 victory over 13th-seeded Bradley on Thursday in the Oakland Regional semifinals.

Midway though the second half, Carney grabbed an offensive rebound, threw down one of his monstrous dunks and ignited the crowd of 19,596. Moments later, a power surge fried two computer monitors used for keeping statistics.

Smoke emanated from both as frantic arena personnel rushed to get the monitors away from the court.

``I saw that smoke. I guess we were putting up way too many stats and they couldn't keep up so they blew up,'' sophomore point guard Darius Washington Jr. joked.

Said Carney: ``I was wondering what that smoke was. ...That's my job, I guess - to give us a spark.''

Memphis (33-3) has won each of its three NCAA Tournament by 16 points.

The Tigers have beat 16th-seeded Oral Roberts in the first round, No. 9 seed Bucknell in the second round and now Bradley, the lowest seeded team remaining in the Sweet 16.

Before the tournament began, Memphis was regarded as the most vulnerable of the four No. 1 seeds, partly because Conference USA was down after losing several of its top schools to bigger conferences.

``We don't really listen to what people say,'' Carney said. ``We just go out and play. We don't buy into that or let them get us mad or anything.''

Somewhat surprisingly, Bradley (22-11) decided to run with Memphis. The Tigers go about nine-deep on most nights, with eight players averaging over 15 minutes and no one averaging more than 27.1.

``They wanted to try to run with us and ... that's Memphis basketball,'' said Washington, who added 18 points. ``Coach (John) Calipari always wants to try to push you more than your body can handle. When you're tired, raise the fence and come out of he's going to put a new fresh body in there.''

Despite having no players taller than 6-foot-9, Memphis was largely able to neutralize Bradley's 7-foot NBA prospect Patrick O'Bryant. He had just 8 points on 3-of-7 shooting and 14 rebounds. In the Braves' upset of No. 5 seed Pittsburgh on Sunday, O'Bryant had 28 points and seven rebounds.

Braves' senior Marcellus Sommerville scored a team-high 18 points and grabbed eight rebounds, but made just four field goals.

Bradley was making its first appearance in the Sweet 16 since 1955.

Ramona Shelburne, [phone]

ramona.shelburne(at)dailynews.com

CAPTION(S):

photo

Photo:

Memphis' Rodney Carney, right, tries to score over Bradley's Patrick O'Bryant on Thursday. Carney finished with 23 points.

Marcio Jose Sanchez/Associated Press