Monday, March 23, 2009

Looking at the Sweet 16 and Elite 8

After a weekend of basketball, we are down to sixteen teams.

Except Arizona, the Sweet 16 is looking like chalk city.

This is kinda a bummer. It's always good to see some Cinderella still dancing after the weekend.

But, I feel as if there is VERY good basketball still to be played.

Let's take a look at the matchups.


MIDWEST

1. Louisville over 12. Arizona
-The Cardinals are just too much for a weaker Pac-10 team and the Cats have their dream come to an end.

3. Kansas over 2. Michigan State
-This has the feel of a thriller already. I think Kansas gets the edge though due to some great inside play recently.


EAST

1. Pittsburgh over 4. Xavier
- Sam Young is making a point. He'll be tough to stop and this team that lost to Duquesne earlier this year shouldn't be able to stop the Panthers.

3. Villanova over 2. Duke
- This one will be a classic. In the end though I think the Nova guards will make some big shots and squeak a win out in overtime over the very game Blue Devils.


SOUTH

1. North Carolina over 4. Gonzaga
- The Zags just can't handle the speed of Lawson. UNC in a blowout.

3. Syracuse over 2. Oklahoma
-While the Sooners have been playing great, I just like the Orange in this one. It will be close, but expect Devenbarf to make some shots late and send the Cuse on.

WEST

1. Connecticut over 5. Purdue
-UConn is just the better team. Purdue won't have answers for Adrian or Thabeet. Huskies cruise into the Elite 8.

2. Memphis over 3. Missouri
- Memphis is getting hot at the right time. This one will be close, but I see the Tigers (of Memphis) pulling it out.

___ ___ ___


MIDWEST

3. Kansas over 1. Louisville
- Don't know why I like Kansas so much. But I think they are going to pull this thriller out. The Ville hasn't looked great so far, and I think they'll struggle against KU.


EAST

1. Pittsburgh over 3. Villanova
- Nova is one of only four teams to beat Pitt this season. I think the Panthers get their revenge and knock off Villanova in a close one to go to the FInal 4.


SOUTH

1. North Carolina over 3. Syracuse
- The Tar Heels are one of the best free throw shooting teams in the nation. Syracuse is one of the worst due to Onuaku shooting around 30% for the year. That will be the difference.

WEST

2. Memphis over 1. Connecticut
- An epic battle. This one will be great. I don't know much about the Tigers this year and I might know too much about the Huskies. But I'm going to take Memphis in a tight one.

___ ___ ___

So, there you have it. My Final 4 looks like this:

Kansas vs. Memphis

Pittsburgh vs. North Carolina

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