Thursday, 24 March 2011

Sweet Heavens, It Is The Sweet 16

It is still March, meaning that we still have a host of NCAA tournament games to play.  I'm not exactly the biggest proponent of college basketball, but I'll tip my hat to this tournament.  The players and coaches have treated the fans to some (dare I say it?) quality basketball, with the notable exception of the Pitt and Butler game which was the single worst ending of a basketball game I've ever seen.  But here is to hoping that the games stay exciting and the upsets continue.  Let's take a quick look at the four games that are today.

#1 Duke vs. #5 Arizona
A popular pick for the Sweet 16, Arizona made fans sweat it out last weekend against Texas.  They arguably stole a game straight from the hearts of Texas.  Duke, on the other side, had no easy task with Michigan last round either, only squeaking out a two point win.  So what should we expect of these two teams that barely won their second round games?  Arizona's team is Derrick Williams.  He's long, strong and finishes with impunity.  Unfortunately for him, Duke has a platoon of big men to throw at him and wear him down.  Irving, Nelson and Singler pour in the points and the Evil Empire continues to roll.
Winners: Duke

#2 San Diego State vs. #3 UConn
San Diego State: a team that is new to the tournament, has not seen later round games before, little coaching experience in tournament games.  UConn: a lock for the tournament each year, several National Championships, and one of the longest tenured coaches in the ranks.  As far as I'm concerned, SDSU is a bigger cinderella than the likes of Butler or Marquette.  Given their little tournament experience, I am shocked they didn't drop one of their first two games.  I suspect Kemba and co. will roll through SDSU and into the Elite Eight.
Winners: UConn

#2 Florida vs. #3 BYU
I will try to set my personal bias for Jimmer aside and look at this objectively.  As a two seed, Florida is ranked too high.  As a three seed, BYU is ranked too high to be relying so heavily on one player.  So we're stuck watching a game of two teams that are not as good as their seeds indicate.  I am now considering revising my statement about this NCAA tournament being so great.  But in all seriousness, I think that BYU will have trouble keeping up with the athleticism displayed in Florida's full-court press.  Florida has some tremendous athletes who will ball-hawk the BYU guards into turnovers.  Jimmer will keep BYU in this for most of the game before Florida wears the Cougars down and advances.
Winners: Flordia

#4 Wisconsin vs. #8 Butler
The media tries to warn us saying that Butler was overlooked at the start of the tournament.  A team that made it to the National Championship game last year and only lost one starter ended up as an eight seed?  How could they not make a deep run?  Meanwhile, Wisconsin limped into the tournament after losing in the quarterfinals of the Big10 Tournament to Penn State 36-33.  What have these two teams done since then?  Wisconsin rolled Belmont, a popular first round upset, and then pounced on Kansas State, another popular pick to make it to the Final Four.  Butler needed a miracle finish against Old Dominion and a preposterously stupid foul by Pitt to make it to the Sweet 16.  I'm picking the Badgers based on previous results and the fact that my bracket depends on it.
Winners: Wisconsin


Those are my first half of the Elite Eight: Duke, UConn, Florida and Wisconsin.  Traditionally strong basketball programs advancing as most expected in this watered-down field.  But, then again, you may not want to hear the predictions from the guy who has only 10 of his 16 left.

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