Sweet Sixteen Preview

Breaking down the Sweet Sixteen games. 

Atlanta

     (1) Duke vs (4) LSU -- Duke should get it's first real test vs LSU on Thursday in Atlanta.  The young, athletic Tigers have nothing to lose.  Great matchup inside with Glenn Davis of LSU facing Duke's Sheldon Williams.  Greg Paulus is stepping up at the right time and J.J. Redick is finding his range.  How can you pick against Coach K?  Winner:  Duke

 Greg Paulus is stepping up at the right time for the Blue Devils with 14 assists in the tourney.

     (2) Texas vs (6) West Virginia -- The Longhorns are just itching for another chance at Duke after getting throttled by them back in December (by 31 points none the less).  Texas is athletic, strong in the middle with LaMarcus Aldridge, has great guard play and good depth.  The Mountaineers will not be phazed having been in the Sweet Sixteen last year with Mike Gansey and Kevin Pittsnoggle.  If West Virginia is going to make a run to the Elite Eight and a chance at Duke they'll need to hit their three's, hit the boards and push Texas around inside.  Winner:  Texas

Oakland

     (1) Memphis vs (13) Bradley -- Patrick O'Bryant gives Bradley an inside presence that Memphis will have problems matching up with.  The problem for Bradley is that's the only one.  Memphis is showing exactly no signs of slowing down.  No team in this tournament is as exciting to watch as the Tigers when they get out and running.  Watch for Rodney Carney to open it up and for Darius Washington to get him the ball.  If I could change my pick in this region I'd have Memphis going to the Final Four.  Winner:  Memphis

 Morrison will have to score like the nation's leading scorer that he is for the Zags to move on.

     (3) Gonzaga vs (2) UCLA -- The matchup everybody has been waiting to see will happen Thursday night in Oakland.  The two best teams on the West coast will clash to see if the mid-major in Gonzaga is better than the best Pac-10 team in UCLA.  We found out vs Indiana the Zags are more than just Adam Morrison.  Everybody else stepped up and helped push the Zags past the Hoosiers.  Sean Mallon has been huge inside with J.P. Batista for Gonzaga.  UCLA counters with Ryan Hollins and Luc Richard Mbah a Moute.  The Bruins have the better shooters Arron Afflalo and Jordan Farmar, but need to improve their free throw's to move on to the Elite Eight.  I have to stay with my original pick.  Winner:  Gonzaga

Washington, D.C.

     (1) UConn vs (5) Washington -- Too bad this game isn't being played in the state of Washington for the Huskies.  Washington wants an uptempo game vs UConn's pound it inside game.  The Huskies should dominate inside with Josh Boone and Hilton Armstrong.  Brandon Roy was spectacular for the Huskies vs Illinois (21 points, seven rebounds and three assists).  He's going to have to do even better for the Huskies to move on to the Elite Eight.  Marcus Williams has been great for UConn.  He's been scoring and handing out the rock (20 points, eight assists vs Kentucky).  Staying with my picks.  Winner:  UConn

 Mr Above the Rim Rudy Gay everybody

     (11) George Mason vs (7) Wichita State -- The rematch from February 18 (George Mason won 70-67) in Wichita has to make the Patriots feel good about this matchup, but watch for the Shockers' Paul Miller and Kyle Wilson to step up inside.  Nobody would have thought George Mason would get past Michigan State and UNC, two Final Four teams from a year ago.  Incredible run.  One mid-major moves on to the Elite Eight.  Winner:  Wichita State

Minneapolis

     (1) Villanova vs (4) Boston College -- Talk about two contrasting styles matching up.  Villanova's four guard lineup likes to get up and down the court while the Eagles want to get it down low.  Jared Dudley and Craig Smith should be able to do whatever they want inside, but the Eagles will need the shooting from behind the arc that can sometimes disappear.  The Wildcat's guards (i.e. Randy Foye) will want to get up and down the court to avoid Dudley, Smith and Sean Marshall.  If Villanova doesn't control the pace, BC moves on.  Winner:  Boston College

 Randy Foye and Villanova will be pushing it up the court vs BC.

     (3) Florida vs (7) Georgetown -- No player in the tournament is playing better than the Gators' Joakim Noah.  The 6'11 Noah will match up with the Hoyas' 7'2 Roy Hibbert inside.  Taurean Green is going to have to step up after not playing well the last few weeks.  Georgetown has long, athletic guards which will cause havoc for Green if he's not ready to play.  Who steps up inside for the Gators (Al Horford) or the Hoyas (Brandon Bowman) will determine who moves on to the Elite Eight.  Winner:  Georgetown

Tidbits

*  At Babe's in Madison Sunday watching the games before the Coldplay concert.  Guy at the bar is getting completely toasted.  He say's 'What the hell is wrong with West Virginia's uniforms?  Nobody wears grey!  They need a new manager.  What's he washing them with?  Don't they have laundry detergent in West Virginia yet?'  Laugh out loud funny. 

*  CBS commentator Bill Raftery is great.  During the Bradley/Pittsburgh game he says to partner Verne Lundquist 'Hey Verne, did you see Brad Pitt? (Brad 17, Pitt 13...get it?).  Verne says 'No, where?'  Raftery circles Brad and Pitt on the teleprompter and says 'Verne...I'm going to need you to concentrate on the game more.'  Maybe you needed to hear it, but boy was it funny.

*  My Final Four is still intact, but I'm weary of a couple teams.  First of all, Memphis is ready to pounce on anybody.  If Memphis gets by Bradley, I honestly don't see UCLA or Gonzaga beating them.  Second, UConn hasn't played up to its capabilities yet.  Being down ten to Albany didn't scare the Huskies straight.  They should be trouncing teams like Kentucky at this point.  Talent won't get you to the Final Four boys.  I'm sticking with what I've got though...for now.  Duke, Gonzaga, UConn, Boston College.