Today's Games:
#12 Oregon (28-8, 12-6 Pac-12) vs. #1 Louisville (31-5, 14-4 Big East) @ 7:15 on CBS
Road to the Sweet 16:
Oregon: Defeated #5 Oklahoma State 68-55 and #4 Saint Louis 74-57
Louisville: Defeated #16 North Carolina A&T 79-48 and #8 Colorado State 82-56
Louisville has had many ups and downs all season long and they got hot at the right point in the season. Oregon came into the tournament without receiving much respect from the selection committee. The entire PAC-12 was shafted with their spots and most of the conference has overachieved thus far in the tournament. Whether or not the Ducks will stop or even slow down one player on Louisville will likely decide whether or not they are going back to Oregon tomorrow.
That one player Oregon should be worrying about is point guard Peyton Siva. Siva has been hot and cold all season and the Cardinals record reflects his overall play. His play towards the end of the season as well as during the Big East Tournament is why Louisville ended up with the number one overall seed in the tournament. As long as he plays well the Cardinals should keep advancing.
My Prediction: #1 Louisville win 80-69
#4 Michigan (28-7, 12-6 Big Ten) vs. #1 Kansas (31-5, 14-4 Big 12) @ 7:37 on TBS
Road to the Sweet 16:
Michigan: Defeated #13 South Dakota State 71-56 and #5 Virginia Commonwealth 78-53
Kansas: Defeated #16 Western Kentucky 64-57 and #8 North Carolina 70-58
I picked the Jayhawks to win the national championship early on in the season and stuck with that pick for the tournament. The more and more I watch Michigan play, the more and more I think there might be an upset tonight. The Wolverines have two sons of former NBA players in Glenn Robinson III and Tim Hardaway Jr. and along with Trey Burke the three present a lot of problems for opposing teams.
If the Jayhawks are going to win this game and possibly advance even further in the tournament they are going to need Ben McLemore to step it up on the offensive end. He's been one of the best players in the country all season and has disappeared so far in the tournament. In the first two games of the tournament he only has 13 combined points while not making a shot from the field during the round of 32 game against North Carolina.
Jeff Withey has been consistent all season so you can expect the big-man to get you close to a double double every game to go along with his ability to guard the rim. In the last two games Withey has 12 blocks and has made it so opposing teams aren't getting easy buckets around the rim. If Michigan is going to get past Kansas they are going to have to get Withey in foul trouble early so he's not as much of a factor. This game should be the game to watch on Friday night and the winner will likely move on to the Final Four.
My Prediction: #1 Kansas win 69-66
#3 Michigan State (27-8, 13-5 Big Ten) vs. #2 Duke (29-5, 14-4 ACC) @ 9:45 on CBS
Road to the Sweet 16:
Michigan State: Defeated #14 Valparaiso 65-54 and #6 Memphis 70-48
Duke: Defeated #15 Albany 73-61 and #7 Creighton 66-50
Michigan State vs. Duke just looks so awesome on paper. These teams are arguably two of the best 10 teams of the last 25 years. Coach K and Tom Izzo are two of the greatest college coaches in the history of the sport both could use another championship to add to their trophy cases.
The Blue Devils are led by Seth Curry, Ryan Kelly and Mason Plumlee. Duke has played much better since Kelly has returned and could possibly make a run to the championship as long as everyone stays healthy. Michigan State is one of the most well-rounded teams in the tournament and receives double digit scoring from four players in Keith Appling, Gary Harris, Adreian Payne and Derrick Nix. They are also one of the best defensive teams in the country.
I'm expecting this game to go back and forth for the full 40 minutes. The coaches will more than likely even each other out as they are easily two of the best five coaches in the nation today. I'm expecting either Kelly or Plumlee to be they key player in this game. The Spartans should be able to keep Curry in check and the Blue Devils will need one of their bigs to step up and carry the load. Duke should win this game, but I'm definitely not ruling out any Tom Izzo led team in March.
My Prediction: #2 Duke win 68-66
#15 Florida Gulf Coast (26-10, 13-5 A-Sun) vs. #3 Florida (28-7, 14-4 SEC) @ 9:57 on TBS
Road to the Sweet 16:
Florida Gulf Coast: Defeated #2 Georgetown 78-68 and #7 San Diego State 81-71
Florida: Defeated #14 Northwestern State 79-47 and #11 Minnesota 78-64
Before this year's tournament started I had no idea that Florida Gulf Coast was a real university. It really sounds like one of those fake schools that movies make up. After two upset performances over Georgetown and San Diego State it is now apparent that this team is for real. Now the small Florida school will have to play against a team that they are all so familiar with.
The Florida Gators have been playing scary good up to this point. This team is starting to remind me of the team that won it all in 2006 and repeated in 2007. I'm not saying they are as good as them, or that any of their players will end up being Joakim Noah or Al Horford, I'm just saying the way they are getting hot at the right time in the season makes me think they could get past Kansas or Michigan after FGCU.
As great as it is to see a Cinderella team progress in the tournament I just don't think FGCU will be able to keep this up. If they were playing against any other team I'd give them a better chance, but I think the Gators will be out to prove they are the best team in Florida, including Miami.
My Prediction: #3 Florida win 77-68
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