Off to Atlanta

The Final Four game previews that were posted this morning are going to be the last posts until Sunday or Monday, as I am about to leave for the airport to head to Atlanta to watch the Final Four and the title game live from the Georgia Dome. If you are going to be in the Atlanta area, feel free to drop me an e-mail at marchmadnessallseason@yahoo.com. Even if you aren’t going to be watching the Final Four in person, don’t hesitate to contact me.

In the meantime, check out the complete Final Four preview here on the site.

Enjoy the games! It should be a terrific weekend of college basketball.

Florida vs. UCLA Preview

For a complete preview of the Final Four, click here.

It’s not often that college basketball gets a Final Four game matching last season’s national finalists. However, that’s exactly what the country will have Saturday night. Florida, the defending champion, will take on UCLA, who rode the #2 seed in the West to the Final Four—just like last season. Can Florida keep their dreams for a repeat title alive? Moreover, can UCLA overcome last year’s loss to the Gators and make it back to the title game? It seems fitting that the greatest dynasty of all-time (UCLA) is facing off against the new “dynasty.”

Florida, the #1 seed, has not played to their potential thus far in the NCAA Tournament. However, it seems that the Gators have a switch that they turn on down the stretch to pull away. They dominated the second half against Jackson State in the opening round after trailing for most of the first half. In the second round, the Gators were down again to Purdue, but the experienced players made plays late in the game to get the victory. Against Butler in the Sweet Sixteen, Florida had an athleticism and talent advantage again, but they needed more clutch performances to advance. They faced a very hot team in the Elite Eight in Oregon. However, the Ducks got in foul trouble and essentially ran out of bullets down the stretch, enabling Florida to advance.

UCLA didn’t come into the Tournament with momentum, losing two in a row, which dropped them from a likely top seed to the #2 slot. However, it hasn’t mattered—as UCLA ended up in the Final Four for the second straight year. They dominated Weber State in the first round, but didn’t have as easy of a team with Indiana in the second round. They looked well on their way to an easy win, but they allowed the Hoosiers back in the game before pulling out the W. Against Pittsburgh in the Sweet Sixteen, the teacher vs. protégé angle was hyped up with Ben Howland and Jamie Dixon, but Howland and the Bruins used their defense to control the entire game for the victory. In the Elite Eight, the Bruins faced a more talented and more athletic team in Kansas, but UCLA’s defense frustrated the Jayhawks all day, and a dominant second half allowed UCLA to advance.

Florida came into the season as one of the favorites to win the National Championship, and, aside from a late-season slump, the Gators have been up to the task. Will the Gators be the first team since Duke to repeat, though? That remains to be seen. Florida can play multiple styles, and is never out of a game due to their talent and experience. They are one of the most complete teams in the country. Joakim Noah and Al Horford lead the way for the best frontcourt in the country. Noah is athletic and can do a variety of things. Horford is a very good rebounder and scorer in the post, while Corey Brewer is one of the best two-way players in the country. Taurean Green is an underappreciated point guard, while Lee Humphrey is one of the best three-point shooters around. Chris Richard is a banger off the bench that would start for most teams. Walter Hodge is quick on the perimeter. The Gators have all the ingredients for a title.

UCLA has been a threat to repeat their trip to the Final Four since the preseason. Like most Ben Howland teams, they play terrific defense, and will never be out of a game due to that side of the floor. Moreover, the Bruins have several weapons on the offensive end. UCLA has arguably the best backcourt in the country, at both ends of the floor. Darren Collison has developed into a terrific point guard, due to his speed and quickness. Arron Afflalo is an All-American candidate, but he has struggled somewhat in the Tournament. Throw in Josh Shipp, and the Bruins are loaded on the perimeter. Inside, Luc Richard Mbah a Moute can do a variety of things, and Lorenzo Mata provides rebounding and defense. Mbah a Moute made a name for himself last year in the Dance, but he hasn’t played well lately. Michael Roll provides shooting off the bench, and Russell Westbrook is a good combo guard. Alfred Aboya is a solid performer inside.

This rematch of last year’s national title game should be a lot closer than the previous meeting. Two of the best coaches in America will go against each other—with Billy Donovan potentially heading to Kentucky after the season an underlying story for the weekend. Will Ben Howland get back to the title game, after essentially bringing the UCLA program back to prominence? This should be a terrific contest. Both teams are outstanding half-court defensive groups, with the Bruins being arguably the best defensive team in the country. They have plenty of quick perimeter defenders that can disrupt dribble penetration. Florida dominates the backboards and makes it tough for opponents to get points in the paint.

In terms of personnel, the big key is going to be UCLA’s ability to defend Florida’s post players. Luc Richard Mbah a Moute is not overly physical and Lorenzo Mata is not very athletic. Joakim Noah and Al Horford could have huge games. If that’s the case, Florida should come out on top. If the Gators are going to keep their repeat hopes alives, they will need to take advantage of their edge inside. Noah is too versatile for Mata, and Horford is far too athletic and strong for either of them. On the perimeter, Lee Humphrey needs to knock down his shots. He was terrific last year in the Final Four and last week against Oregon, and he needs to give them perimeter production again. Taurean Green also needs to take care of the ball against the quickness of UCLA’s Darren Collison. Corey Brewer has to play within the offense, and not try to force things like he did against Butler. Defensively, they can’t allow Arron Afflalo or Josh Shipp to get hot from the wing, and they have to contain Darren Collison. For UCLA to pull off the upset, they have to control Horford and Noah down low, as mention above. They can’t allow those two to dominate. Furthermore, they have to cut off the perimeter shots for Florida. If the Gators become one-dimensional, they are easier to beat. Offensively, Darren Collison needs to set the tone immediately and outplay Green. Arron Afflalo has to be the go-to-guy that he is, and Josh Shipp has to give the Bruins the third option they desperately need offensively. Production inside from Mbah a Moute would be huge. In the end, I think that Florida has too much balance at both ends and too many options offensively. I think that UCLA could have a lot of trouble scoring unless Afflalo or Shipp has a huge game. The Gators advance.

Prediction: Florida 68, UCLA 62

Ohio State vs. Georgetown Preview

For a complete preview of the Final Four, click here.

The Final Four is stacked with rematches from last season’s NCAA Tournament this year. Georgetown faced Ohio State in the second round in 2006, and the Hoyas came out on top, upsetting the second-seeded Buckeyes. Basketball fans, whether you like the college game or the pro game, are looking forward to this game. That is because of the battle of the big men—Georgetown’s Roy Hibbert vs. Ohio State’s Greg Oden. That is just one of the many storylines heading into the first game of the Final Four.

Ohio State, a #1 seed, had not been overly impressive so far in the NCAA Tournament prior to their Elite Eight game. They dominated Central Connecticut State in the opening round, but needed overtime to beat Xavier—and probably should have lost in regulation. OSU survived due to missed free throws by Justin Cage (and a possible intentional foul by Greg Oden) and a deep three by Ron Lewis at the end of regulation. Against Tennessee, the Buckeyes came back from down by 20 to beat the Volunteers by one on two Mike Conley free throws. However, against Memphis in the Regional Final, the Buckeyes got off to a good start and hit their free throws down the stretch to win going away.

Georgetown has had struggles in every game thus far, but their play late in games has been the difference. Belmont jumped out to an early lead on the Hoyas in the first round, but Georgetown dominated the second half en route to an easy win. In the second round against Boston College, it was a back-and-forth contest for much of the game before the big men for Georgetown took over late in the battle. Vanderbilt was up big early on in the Sweet Sixteen, but the Hoyas chipped away and put themselves in position to win. Down one with the clock winding down, Jeff Green hit a shot to give the Hoyas to win. They needed more late-game heroics to beat North Carolina in the Elite Eight. The Hoyas overcame a double-digit deficit in the second half, capped by a Jonathan Wallace three in regulation, and dominated the overtime period for the win.

Ohio State was one of the best teams in the country all year, and only lost three games—at North Carolina, at Florida, and at Wisconsin. The Buckeyes are very young, but they have two of the best freshmen in the country in Mike Conley and Greg Oden. Conley is a terrific distributor and is very quick, while Oden has the potential to dominate in the paint. Conley has developed into the go-to-guy late in games for the Buckeyes. Another freshman, Daequan Cook, and Ron Lewis provide wing scoring, while Jamar Butler is a very good long-range shooter next to Conley. Lewis has been very clutch late in games with his ability to score and get to the foul line. Ivan Harris provides a match-up problem with his ability to draw bigger defenders away from the goal due to his shooting prowess. Matt Terwilliger and Othello Hunter give solid minutes off the bench inside, backing up Oden. David Lighty is athletic and strong on the perimeter.

Georgetown had a rough start to the season, but turned it around near the beginning of Big East play, winning both the regular-season and conference tournament championships. Their size and efficient offensive system makes them difficult to defend. They are mostly a half-court team that beats teams on the glass and in the paint. If their perimeter players are taking some of the pressure off the big guys, they are tough to defend. The Hoyas are led by one of the best frontcourt tandems in the country in forward Jeff Green and center Roy Hibbert. Green is an excellent all-around player, while Hibbert has developed into a terrific big man. Dajuan Summers is another solid performer up front. Their perimeter is their weakness, but Jonathan Wallace has been a good point guard this year, and Jessie Sapp has been a do-it-all type of player for the Hoyas. Patrick Ewing, Jr. is an athletic energy player off the bench.

If you like top-notch big men going at each other, this is the game for you. If you like athletic, versatile forwards, this is the game for you. If you like clutch, fundamentally-sound guards, this is the game for you. In other words, Saturday’s game between Ohio State and Georgetown should be a must-see for any college basketball fan. Both teams are very good in the half-court offensively, but they can also get out and run to score points in transition. Defensively, both the Hoyas and the Buckeyes are very solid and limit opportunities for their opponents. It should be a terrific contest.

Obviously, the key match-up is in the paint, between Ohio State’s spectacular freshman Greg Oden and Georgetown’s future lottery pick Roy Hibbert. Neither play has faced someone that can match-up with them, size-wise. Whoever wins the battle in the post will give their respective team an edge overall. If Ohio State is going to advance to the title game, they will need to take advantege of their superior perimeter group. Mike Conley is a terrific point guard, and he is quicker than Jonathan Wallace. Ron Lewis is more athletic and should have the edge over Georgetown’s DaJuan Summers. Furthermore, they have to try to get Hibbert in foul trouble. Defensively, Oden has to stay out of foul trouble, but he needs to control Hibbert in the post. Ivan Harris has to do a good job on Jeff Green—don’t be surprised if Othello Hunter gets some minutes on Green because of his height and athleticism. For Georgetown to get the victory, the Hoyas need to attack Oden right away. Memphis constantly penetrated the line for points, and the Hoyas have some players that can attack the basket. Jeff Green needs to dominate. He has a huge edge on Ivan Harris and the rest of the Ohio State forwards. Jonathan Wallace and Jessie Sapp will also need to take care of the ball in the half-court. Mike Conley loves to play the passing lanes, igniting the Buckeyes’ fastbreaks. Defensively, Wallace and Sapp have to control Conley at the point of attack, and DaJuan Summers will need to defend Ron Lewis well. They can’t allow Lewis to get hot. In the end, I think that Ohio State’s advantage on the perimeter will be the difference. Oden should control Hibbert, and if the Buckeyes can contain Green offensively, Thad Matta and co. will get to the title game.

Prediction: Ohio State 70, Georgetown 66

Final Four Preview, Part Three

For a complete preview of the Final Four, click here.

Best Point Guard
1. Darren Collison, UCLA
2. Taurean Green, Florida
3. Mike Conley, Ohio State
4. Jonathan Wallace, Georgetown

Best Shooting Guard
1. Arron Afflalo, UCLA
2. Lee Humphrey, Florida
3. Jessie Sapp, Georgetown
4. Jamar Butler, Ohio State

Best Wing
1. Corey Brewer, Florida
2. Ron Lewis, Ohio State
3. Josh Shipp, UCLA
4. DaJuan Summers, Georgetown

Best Power Forward
1. Jeff Green, Georgetown
2. Joakim Noah, Florida
3. Luc Richard Mbah a Moute, UCLA
4. Ivan Harris, Ohio State

Best Center
1. Greg Oden, Ohio State
2. Al Horford, Florida
3. Roy Hibbert, Georgetown
4. Lorenzo Mata, UCLA

Final Four Preview, Part Two

For a complete preview of the Final Four, click here.

Best Go-To-Guy
1. Jeff Green, Georgetown: His versatility is the key. Can shoot the jumper from both inside and outside the arc, and can also take people down on the block. Has been very clutch.
2. Arron Afflalo, UCLA: Has come up big in numerous games this year. Can score both inside and outside. His inconsistency in the NCAA Tournament has hurt him some, though.
3. Mike Conley, Ohio State: Has shown the ability to create shots for himself and his teammates. He and teammate Ron Lewis have come up big late in games for the young Buckeyes.
4. Taurean Green, Florida: The most unheralded starter on Florida, Green is who they go to when it counts. Can create shots for teammates, and also get into the lane as well as shoot the three.

Best Three-Point Shooter
1. Lee Humphrey, Florida: One of the best shooters in the country has had his ups and downs this season. However, his ability to hit threes at crucial times separates him from the pack.
2. Jonathan Wallace, Georgetown: Very underrated player on a national leve was one of the best gunners in the Big East. Has deceptively long range, and is not afraid to take big shots.
3. Darren Collison, UCLA: Despite his quickness, defenders can’t back off of him. Doesn’t look for his own shot very often, but he has very good range, and is shooting 46% from three-point range.
4. Jamar Butler, Ohio State: Isn’t leading the Buckeyes in three-point percentage, but if I had to choose one OSU player to take a three, it would be Butler. He has experience and confidence.

Best Second Option
1. Al Horford, Florida: Is very tough to stop once he gets the ball down low. He is too strong for most defenders, and is also athletic enough to get around players. His stock is rising.
2. Roy Hibbert, Georgetown: Has picked up five straight double-doubles and is dominating in the Big Dance. His size and touch inside make him very difficult to defend down low.
3. Ron Lewis, Ohio State: While the Buckeyes go to Greg Oden inside and Mike Conley down the stretch, Lewis is the best scorer on the team. Can shoot the ball and is very adept at getting fouled.
4. Darren Collison, UCLA: One of the best point guards in the country, Collison is more of a creator than a scorer. He can get into the lane on anyone due to his quickness, and is also a good shooter.

Best Coach
1. Ben Howland, UCLA: Prepares his team very well for any team they face. Is nearly impossible to beat when you give him several days to make a gameplan. Brought UCLA back to prominence.
2. Billy Donovan, Florida: Was known as an underachiever heading into last year, but the title proved otherwise. Has kept this year’s team focused and playing their best basketball in March.
3. John Thompson III, Georgetown: The Hoyas don’t have as much talent as the other teams in Atlanta, but his offensive system and ability to get the most out of his players has been crucial.
4. Thad Matta, Ohio State: Has molded a group of young kids into a Final Four team. Didn’t let potential chemistry issues get in the way of the team’s ultimate goal. Some are still not sold, though.

Final Four Preview, Part One

For a complete preview of the Final Four, click here.

Best Backcourt
1. UCLA- Darren Collison and Arron Afflalo form arguably the best guard duo in the country, at both ends of the court. Russell Westbrook provides depth.
2. Ohio State- The Buckeyes’ perimeter group is deep and versatile. Mike Conley is one of the best; Ron Lewis is clutch; and Jamar Butler is very solid.
3. Florida- Taurean Green is capable of big games, while Lee Humphrey is an outstanding three-point shooter. Walter Hodge provides depth.
4. Georgetown- Often overshadowed by the Hoyas’ outstanding frontcourt, Jonathan Wallace and Jessie Sapp form a very solid duo. They are underrated.

Best Frontcourt
1. Florida- The best frontcourt trio in America. Al Horford is a beast at both ends; Joakim Noah can do a variety of things; and Corey Brewer is a great two-way player. Chris Richard provides depth.
2. Georgetown- The Hoyas have one of the better tandems in the country in Roy Hibbert and Jeff Green, both likely lottery picks. DaJuan Summers is rising quickly, and Pat Ewing is active.
3. Ohio State- Any group with Greg Oden leading the way is one of the best. He is a dominator at both ends, while Ivan Harris stretches the defense. Othello Hunter and Matt Terwilliger are solid.
4. UCLA- This group is overshadowed by the Bruins’ terrific backcourt. Josh Shipp is a big-time wing scorer; Luc Richard Mbah a Moute is versatile; and Lorenzo Mata is decent in the post.

Best Bench
1. Ohio State- According to Thad Matta, the Buckeyes have “nine starters.” Daequan Cook is a good scorer, David Lighty provides athleticism, and Othello Hunter and Matt Terwilliger are solid.
2. Florida- The Gators don’t need great production from the bench, but it’s solid. Walter Hodge is very good at both ends, Chris Richard would start for most teams, and Matt Werner is decent.
3. UCLA- Alfred Aboya leads a deep group of decent post players, Michael Roll can shoot the three with efficiency, and Russell Westbrook can play both guard spots. Versatile group.
4. Georgetown- Not a lot of depth for the Hoyas. Patrick Ewing, Jr. is active and can do several things, Vernon Macklin is athletic, and Jeremiah Rivers sees decent minutes in the backcourt.

Best Inside-Outside Combo
1. Florida (Tauren Green/Al Horford): Green is the unsung hero of the Gators' junior class, while Horford has developed into a standout player on both offense and defense for Florida.
2. Ohio State (Mike Conley/Greg Oden): Conley has developed into one of the premier point guards in the country, while Oden has the ability to dominate down low.
3. Georgetown (Jonathan Wallace/Jeff Green): Wallace is an underrated guard who can score and distribute, while Green might be the best all-around player in the country.
4. UCLA (Arron Afflalo/Luc Richard Mbah a Moute): Afflalo is one of the best two-way players in the country. Mbah a Moute is a versatile forward, but isn’t a go-to-scorer up front.

Best Trio
1. Florida (Taurean Green/Al Horford/Joakim Noah): The experience gives them the added edge over most trios. Green can play the point as well as anyone; Horford is tough to stop at both ends; and Noah is a difficult match-up. You can easily put Corey Brewer in this mix as well.
2. Ohio State (Mike Conley/Ron Lewis/Greg Oden): Terrific inside-outside balance. Conley has shown that he is one of the best point guards around; Lewis can score in a variety of ways and has been clutch for the Buckeyes; and Oden can dominate at both ends of the floor.
3. UCLA (Darren Collison/Arron Afflalo/Josh Shipp): The only thing holding this group back is its lack of an inside player. The Bruins are predicated on their perimeter play. Collison and Afflalo ater outstanding players at both ends of the court, and Shipp is a very good wing scorer.
4. Georgetown (Jonathan Wallace/Jeff Green/Roy Hibbert): A group this talented shouldn’t be in last, but that’s how good this year’s Final Four is. Green and Hibbert form one of the best frontcourt duos in the country, while Wallace is a vastly underrated point guard.

Final Four Preview

With the Final Four games coming up this weekend, it is time to re-evaluate the teams that are remaining. Similar to the NCAA Tournament Preview, the Final Four Preview is going to contain rankings of backcourts, frontcourts, shooters, etc. In addition, I will be previewing both of Saturday's games.

Part One
Best Backcourt
Best Frontcourt
Best Bench
Best Inside-Outside Combo
Best Trio

Part Two
Best Go-to-Player
Best Three-Point Shooter
Best Second Option
Best Coach

Part Three
Best Point Guard
Best Shooting Guard
Best Wing
Best Power Forward
Best Center

Part Four
Ohio State vs. Georgetown
Florida vs. UCLA

North Carolina vs. Georgetown Preview

25 years ago, the Michael Jordan legend was born. His jumper that gave North Carolina the 1982 title over Georgetown will be forever remembered. Will any additional memories be made in East Rutherford this Sunday, when the two teams match-up again? Let’s hope so.

North Carolina, the #1 seed, has struggled in every game so far in the Tournament, but their second-half play down the stretch has been nothing short of remarkable. In the opening round, the 16th-seeded Eastern Kentucky Colonels were within four points early in the second half, but the Tar Heels pulled away for an easy win. Against Michigan State, North Carolina was in a dogfight, but they made plays down the stretch for another double-digit win. Their Sweet Sixteen battle against USC demonstrated their depth better than anything. They were down by as many as 16, but UNC eventually wore down the Trojans for the W. They need a better start against Georgetown.

Georgetown, like North Carolina, has had struggles in the first three rounds, but their play late in games has been the difference. Belmont jumped out to an early lead on the Hoyas in the first round, but Georgetown dominated the second half en route to an easy win. In the second round against Boston College, it was a back-and-forth contest for much of the game before the big men for Georgetown took over late in the battle. Vanderbilt was up big early on in the Sweet Sixteen, but the Hoyas chipped away and put themselves in position to win. Down one with the clock winding down, Jeff Green hit a shot to give the Hoyas to win. Every team needs a miracle play to win the National Championship; will Green’s leaner—and travel—to beat Vandy be the one?

North Carolina was one of the favorites to reach Atlanta heading into the season, but they have been inconsistent for the most part—especially late in the ACC season. However, they won the ACC Tournament with relative ease, and have been very solid in the second halves in the NCAA Tournament. They need to put together an entire game, though. UNC loves to get up and down the court, scoring points in transition. When their running game gets going, they are impossible to beat. They are the deepest and arguably the most talented team in the country. Tyler Hansbrough and Brandan Wright form one of the best post tandems around. Hansbrough is relentless around the basket, while Wright is long and athletic. Tywon Lawson has done a terrific job at controlling tempo from the point, while Reyshawn Terry has been a consistent contributor. Wayne Ellington has one of the best three-point strokes in America. Marcus Ginyard and Danny Green provide depth on the wings, while Deon Thompson is the main man off the bench down low.

Georgetown had a rough start to the season, but turned it around near the beginning of Big East play, winning both the regular-season and conference tournament championships. Their size and efficient offensive system makes them difficult to defend. They are mostly a half-court team that beats teams on the glass and in the paint. If their perimeter players are taking some of the pressure off the big guys, they are tough to defend. The Hoyas are led by one of the best frontcourt tandems in the country in forward Jeff Green and center Roy Hibbert. Green is an excellent all-around player, while Hibbert has developed into a terrific big man. Dajuan Summers is another solid performer up front. Their perimeter is their weakness, but Jonathan Wallace has been a good point guard this year, and Jessie Sapp has been a do-it-all type of player for the Hoyas. Patrick Ewing, Jr. is an athletic energy player off the bench. The Hoyas will need their guards to step up against the Tar Heels.

This is going to be a terrific battle between two of the best teams in the country. It will also be a contrast of styles, as North Carolina loves to get out and run to score points in transition, while Georgetown would rather grind-it-out in a half-court game with their tough-to-defend offensive sytem. The frontcourt battle is going to be fun to watch. Both teams have terrific post tandems, and Georgetown hasn’t played a team with this type of frontcourt in weeks. Whoever wins the match-up between Jeff Green/Roy Hibbert and Tyler Hansbrough/Brandan Wright will have the inside track to victory. For North Carolina to advance, they will need to control the tempo. Tywon Lawson is extremely quick, and his speed will force the game to be uptempo. Moreover, the Tar Heels’ perimeter players need to knock down their three-pointers, to take some off the attention off of Hansbrough and Wright. On the other side, Georgetown can’t let North Carolina get into a running game. They won’t beat UNC if the Tar Heels are allowed to constantly get points in transition. Moreover, they have to take advantage of their experience in the backcourt. Remember, North Carolina starts three freshmen. In the end, I think that the North Carolina perimeter group is going to be the difference. The Tar Heels can match Georgetown inside, and they have a clear edge in the backcourt. Expect a close one, though.

Prediction: North Carolina 71, Georgetown 67

Florida vs. Oregon Preview

The Midwest region has been different than any other region in the NCAA Tournament. They had the lowest seed to win in the first round (Winthrop), the lowest seed to advance to the Sweet Sixteen (UNLV), and the lowest seed in the Elite Eight (Oregon). Can the “Cinderella” Ducks knock off the defending champion Florida Gators?

Florida, the #1 seed, has not played to their potential thus far in the NCAA Tournament. However, it seems that the Gators have a switch that they turn on down the stretch to pull away. They dominated the second half against Jackson State in the opening round after trailing for most of the first half. In the second round, the Gators were down again to Purdue, but the experienced players made plays late in the game to get the victory. Against Butler in the Sweet Sixteen, Florida had an athleticism and talent advantage again, but they needed more clutch performances to advance. They can’t afford a slow start against Oregon.

Oregon is one of the hottest teams in the country, dating back to the Pac-10 Tournament that they dominated. They have shed the “underachiever” label people have placed on them the past few years, and are now in line for a trip to Atlanta. They opened the Tournament with a hard-fought win over Miami (Ohio) in a game that went down to the wire. In the second round, the Ducks killed any Cinderella run Winthrop had in mind with a dominant second-half. Against UNLV in the Sweet Sixteen, Oregon controlled most of the game, but the Rebels made a late-game run that nearly brought them back in it. The Ducks need to keep their hot streak alive.

Florida came into the season as one of the favorites to win the National Championship, and, aside from a late-season slump, the Gators have been up to the task. Will the Gators be the first team since Duke to repeat, though? That remains to be seen. Florida can play multiple styles, and is never out of a game due to their talent and experience. They are one of the most complete teams in the country. Joakim Noah and Al Horford lead the way for the best frontcourt in the country. Noah is athletic and can do a variety of things. Horford is a very good rebounder and scorer in the post, while Corey Brewer is one of the best two-way players in the country. Taurean Green is an underappreciated point guard, while Lee Humphrey is one of the best three-point shooters around. Chris Richard is a banger off the bench that would start for most teams. Walter Hodge is quick on the perimeter. The Gators have all the ingredients for a title.

Oregon was projected to be a middle-of-the-pack Pac-10 team despite their high talent level, mostly because of the disappointing seasons they have had in the past few years. However, they have played to their potential this season. Oregon is a perimeter-oriented team that has a multitude of guys that can shoot the three. If they are hitting their threes, they are nearly impossible to beat. As mentioned previously, they are led by their terrific perimeter group. Aaron Brooks was a Player of the Year candidate for most of the season, and freshman Tajuan Porter can really stretch the defense. He had 33 points in the Sweet Sixteen Bryce Taylor is a good scorer, and Malik Hairston is extremely talented and has plenty of potential. Maarty Leunen gives them a good option down low. He can do a variety of things up front. The starters play most of the minutes, but Joevan Catron is a banger down low. The Ducks have the personnel to beat anyone.

This is going to be a very entertaining match-up between two teams that like to score. Expect plenty of points. Florida is better in a half-court setting than Oregon, but when the Ducks are knocking down their three-pointers, look out. Both teams have plenty of options offensively. If Florida is to make the repeat trip to the Final Four, they are going to need to take advantage of their post advantage. Oregon doesn’t have the big men to handle Joakim Noah and Al Horford down low, and the Gators have a huge edge there. Taurean Green needs to handle the ball pressure that Oregon is sure to provide. He can’t turn the ball over, which will give Oregon transition opportunities. Defensively, they need to get out on the Ducks’ shooters, and not allow them to get hot from deep. On the other side, Oregon has to find a way to defend the Florida post players. Oregon has a quickness advantage, but Florida is simply bigger and strong down low. Offensively, they need to take advantage of their perimeter players. Malik Hairston could be a key player, with his athleticism and versatility up front. Moreover, Aaron Brooks needs to be the catalyst for Oregon. He has to control the tempo, and outplay Taurean Green at the point of attack. In the end, I think that Florida has too much size down low. Oregon won’t have an answer for Noah and Horford. If the Ducks continue their hot shooting, though, expect a close game.

Prediction: Florida 74, Oregon 69

Kansas vs. UCLA Preview

Kansas. UCLA. Phog Allen. John Wooden. Wilt Chamberlain. Lew Alcindor. Danny Manning. Bill Walton. Clyde Lovellette. Gail Goodrich. Two of the winningest—and most storied—programs in college basketball go head-to-head with a Final Four bid on the line.

Kansas was inconsistent early in the season, but they ran off eleven wins in a row to finish the year, and have played well thus far. They overcame their first-round fear by beating Niagara in the opening round—their first NCAA Tournament win in three tries. In the second round, they were back-and-forth with Kentucky for awhile, but they dominated the second half for an easy win. The Sweet Sixteen brought Southern Illinois. The Salukis’ terrific defense and slow-down offense caused Kansas problems, but several late baskets and defensive stops gave the Jayhawks a hard-fought win. Their ability to play different styles will be important going forward.

UCLA didn’t come into the Tournament with momentum, losing two in a row, which dropped them from a likely top seed to the #2 slot. However, it hasn’t mattered—as UCLA ended up in the Elite Eight for the second straight year. They dominated Weber State in the first round, but didn’t have as easy of a team with Indiana in the second round. They looked well on their way to an easy win, but they allowed the Hoosiers back in the game before pulling out the W. Against Pittsburgh in the Sweet Sixteen, the teacher vs. protégé angle was hyped up with Ben Howland and Jamie Dixon, but Howland and the Bruins used their defense to control the entire game for the victory.

Kansas came into the season as a Final Four candidate, and they have shown why throughout the year. The Jayhawks are hitting their stride at the right time. KU can play at multiple speeds, and has terrific athletes and talent at both ends of the floor. They like to force turnovers and get out and run to get points in transition. This team has all the ingredients, personnel-wise. Julian Wright is one of the best all-around players in the country; he can do it all with the ball. Brandon Rush is a terrific shooter, both in the mid-range and from behind the arc. He can also defend well. Russell Robinson and Mario Chalmers are both solid play-makers who are also terrific defenders. Freshman guard Sherron Collins is very difficult to guard offensively. Darrell Arthur is an athletic freshman down low, and Sasha Kaun gets points on put-backs in the paint. Darnell Jackson is a banger inside who provides toughness. They are still relatively inexperienced, though.

UCLA has been a threat to repeat their trip to the Final Four since the preseason. Like most Ben Howland teams, they play terrific defense, and will never be out of a game due to that side of the floor. Moreover, the Bruins have several weapons on the offensive end. UCLA has arguably the best backcourt in the country, at both ends of the floor. Darren Collison has developed into a terrific point guard, due to his speed and quickness. Arron Afflalo is an All-American candidate, but he has struggled somewhat in the Tournament. Throw in Josh Shipp, and the Bruins are loaded on the perimeter. Inside, Luc Richard Mbah a Moute can do a variety of things, and Lorenzo Mata provides rebounding and defense. Mbah a Moute made a name for himself last year in the Dance, but he hasn’t played well lately. Michael Roll provides shooting off the bench, and Russell Westbrook is a good combo guard. Alfred Aboya is a solid performer inside.

This Elite Eight game will be a contrast between two completely different styles. Kansas loves to get out in transition, getting points from all over the court due to their multitude of options. On the other side, UCLA likes to play in the half-court—only getting baskets in transition when the opportunity presents itself. Both teams play terrific perimeter defense, and there are plenty of quality perimeter players in this game. If Kansas is to get to Atlanta, they will need to play better in the half-court. They struggled against Southern Illinois’ tempo, and UCLA is similar in that respect. Kansas will also have to establish the inside game right away. Moreover, they need to control Darren Collison. Russell Robinson needs to take care of the ball at one end, and slow him down at the other. For UCLA to win, they need Arron Afflalo to start hitting shots. He is an All-America and needs to play like it. They also need to get the tempo at their pace. UCLA won’t win if it’s a full-court game. Moreover, UCLA needs to stop Kansas’ athletes, both when driving to the basket and also on the backboards. I think that the Jayhawks are going to win due to their superior athletes and their ability to play at multiple speeds. Julian Wright is going to be the key.

Prediction: Kansas 67, UCLA 64

Ohio State vs. Memphis Preview

#1 vs. #2. Despite all the parity discussed this season in college basketball, all four one seeds and three of the four two seeds reached the Elite Eight. The South region is no exception, as Ohio State and Memphis advanced for the right to go to Atlanta.

Ohio State, the #1 seed, has not been overly impressive so far in the NCAA Tournament. They dominated Central Connecticut State in the opening round, but needed overtime to beat Xavier—and probably should have lost in regulation. OSU survived due to missed free throws by Justin Cage (and a possible intentional foul by Greg Oden) and a deep three by Ron Lewis at the end of regulation. Against Tennessee, the Buckeyes came back from down by 20 to beat the Volunteers by one on two Mike Conley free throws. The Buckeyes are going to have to play better in the first half against Memphis—a slow start will cost them.

Memphis came into the Tournament on a 22-game winning streak—but was not a popular Final Four selection, likely due to their level of competition in Conference-USA. However, they have disproved the doubters.They opened the Tournament with a win over a game North Texas team, followed by a competitive win over Nevada. In the Sweet Sixteen, Memphis won a classic against Texas A&M. It was back-and-forth all game, until Acie Law missed a lay-up for A&M, and Memphis grabbed four offensive rebounds resulting in two made Antonio Anderson free throws. Don't think that Memphis is just happy to be here, though—they fully expect to get to Atlanta.

Ohio State was one of the best teams in the country all year, and only lost three games—at North Carolina, at Florida, and at Wisconsin. The Buckeyes are very young, but they have two of the best freshmen in the country in Mike Conley and Greg Oden. Conley is a terrific distributor and is very quick, while Oden has the potential to dominate in the paint. Conley has developed into the go-to-guy late in games for the Buckeyes. Another freshman, Daequan Cook, and Ron Lewis provide wing scoring, while Jamar Butler is a very good long-range shooter next to Conley. Lewis has been very clutch late in games with his ability to score and get to the foul line. Ivan Harris provides a match-up problem with his ability to draw bigger defenders away from the goal due to his shooting prowess. Matt Terwilliger and Othello Hunter give solid minutes off the bench inside, backing up Oden. David Lighty is athletic and strong on the perimeter.

Memphis was near the top of the rankings throughout the season, and for good reason. They are one of the most athletic and talented teams around, and can not be rivaled in terms of their length and depth by most teams. The Tigers love to pressure the ball and get points in transition. When their run-and-gun game is going, they are very difficult to defend. The Tigers are loaded with wings. Chris Douglas-Roberts is a very good offensive player who is difficult to defend due to his length and finishing ability, while Jeremy Hunt can stroke it from deep. Antonio Anderson can do a variety of things at both ends. At the point, Willie Kemp and Andre Allen are very quick. Up front, Robert Dozier has loads of potential and has played well in the NCAA Tournament, while Joey Dorsey is a very good athlete who can block shots and rebound the ball. Doneal Mack can really stroke the three, and Kareem Cooper is a space-eater down low.

This is going to be a very interesting game between two different types of teams. Ohio State doesn’t mind running, but getting the ball inside to Greg Oden is their main objective. On the other side, Memphis likes to play transition basketball all game. If Ohio State is to advance, they need to take advantage of Oden down low. He can dominate the smaller Memphis post players. Additionally, Mike Conley will need to handle the Memphis pressure. The Tigers’ press can rattle point guards, and Conley is still only a freshman. They will also need to get quality wing production. For Memphis, they need to stop Oden. Oden has the height advantage on Joey Dorsey, but Dorsey is physical and athletic. Both have had foul problems lately, though. Chris Douglas-Roberts needs to play well offensively, and the wings are going to have to hit their threes. Robert Dozier could be a key performer for the Tigers, as well. My money is on Memphis in what could be a last-possession game. I think they are going to find a way to control Oden, and their pressure will shut down the OSU wings.

Prediction: Memphis 73, Ohio State 71

Friday's Sweet Sixteen Previews

Florida vs. Butler (7:10 PM): Looking at this game on paper, one might see a complete mismatch in favor of Florida. However, Butler has exceeded expectations all season long, and is looking to pull off another big win. Additionally, the Gators have looked lackadaisical at times this March, and were down to Purdue much of the game. This game might be closer than you think. Florida, the defending champions, is balanced and complete. They have a terrific inside duo in Al Horford and Joakim Noah, and Corey Brewer is a great two-way player. Taurean Green is one of the better point guards around. Butler is not explosive, but they get the job done. A.J. Graves can really shoot the ball, and Mike Green is an underrated all-around point guard. Pete Campbell is a terrific shooter up front. The key for Butler is going to be their ability to stop the inside game of Florida. They don’t have the size or athleticism to match-up with Florida, but one could’ve said the same about their game with Maryland. Brandon Crone and Brian Ligon need to play big. Offensively, A.J. Graves need to knock down his shots. He’s been inconsistent at times, and needs to score. Florida has to take advantage of their athleticism and talent advantage. Al Horford should dominate the paint, and Corey Brewer should take care of the perimeter defense on one of the guards. If Florida doesn’t play complacent and to their potential, they should get the win due to their experience and balance. Prediction: Florida 67, Butler 56

Georgetown vs. Vanderbilt (7:27 PM): A rematch of an early-season game between these two clubs. That was won by Georgetown, in Vanderbilt, by sixteen. Of course, both teams are playing very differently than they were in November—they have both improved drastically. Georgetown is led by their outstanding frontcourt duo of Roy Hibbert and Jeff Green, and Jonathan Wallace is an underrated point guard. Vanderbilt has a terrific wing duo in SEC Player of the Year Derrick Byars and shooter Shan Foster. Dan Cage is also an excellent three-point shooter. This game has some very interesting match-ups, none more so than Jeff Green vs. Derrick Byars. They were both their respective conference player of the years. Green has the height advantage, but Byars is quicker and might be able to take Green off the dribble. Byars will need to play good defense on Green, as he is the focal point of the Hoyas’ offense and can take over games, even without scoring. Green can’t let Byars get hot from long-range. Does Vanderbilt have the size to handle Roy Hibbert inside? Vandy starts four perimeter players, and Hibbert might be able to dominate. The key for the Hoyas will be to not allow the Commodores to get hot from outside. They can really kill teams with their three-point shooting. Georgetown is a physical half-court team, and I don’t think Vanderbilt has the size to match-up. Prediction: Georgetown 69, Vanderbilt 59

Oregon vs. UNLV (9:40 PM): Two of the hotter teams in the country match-up for the right to go to the Elite Eight. Oregon has looked very impressive over the past few weeks, and could be peaking at the right. Aaron Brooks is one of the best point guards in the country, and Bryce Taylor and Tajuan Porter can really shoot the three. Malik Hairston is a versatile forward. UNLV was vastly underseeded heading into the Tournament, and has proved it. They are quick on the perimeter, led by Kevin Kruger and Wink Adams. Wendell White is a tough 6-6 forward; he has been one of the best players in the NCAA Tournament. This is going to be a terrific battle between two perimeter-oriented teams that love to shoot the three and push the ball offensively. The best match-up will be Aaron Brooks vs. Kevin Kruger. The UNLV perimeter players love to force turnovers, and Brooks has to take care of the ball and utilize his superior talent. Kruger can’t Brooks to penetrate into the lane all game, and will also need to knock down his perimeter shots. Another battle to watch is between Malik Hairston and Wendell White. Both are undersized power forwards. White has the edge inside, but Hairston is very athletic and multi-talented. If Oregon is to win, they need to make sure to get out on the UNLV perimeter shooters. The Runnin’ Rebels rode three-point shooting to wins over Wisconsin and Georgia Tech. On the other side, UNLV needs to force turnovers and shut down the Ducks’ long-range shooters. The difference will be Aaron Brooks—he is a clutch performer and will get the job done. Prediction: Oregon 75, UNLV 69

North Carolina vs. USC (9:57 PM): This might be the game I’m looking forward to the most. Both teams have been impressive in the early rounds, with North Carolina overcoming struggles against Eastern Kentucky and Michigan State to pull away at the end, and USC blowing both Texas and Arkansas out in the first two rounds. UNC is one of the deepest and talented teams in the country, and star Tyler Hansbrough has regained his All-American form. Tywon Lawson is really developing at the point spot, and Wayne Ellington can knock down shots. USC has been underrated all year, but have terrific perimeter players, led by Nick Young. Gabe Pruitt and Lodrick Stewart are very good shooters, and Taj Gibson has been very good down low. In order for USC to win, they have to control the inside play of the Tar Heels. Taj Gibson can only guard either Tyler Hansbrough or Brandan Wright, leaving Nick Young in a mismatch, size-wise. Moreover, they have to control tempo, and not get into the up-and-down game that UNC wants. The Trojans can run, they can’t allow Tywon Lawson to have unabated drives to the basket in transition. Offensively, Nick Young has to be the star scorer he is, and the perimeter guys have to hit their threes. Taj Gibson needs to provide balance. For North Carolina to get the victory, they have to get out on the USC shooters. They have plenty of quality perimeter guys that can cause problems for UNC. Brandan Wright needs to regain his form—he has disappointed in the Dance. Moreover, they have to get the ball inside to take advantage of their size advantage. In the end, I think that the Tar Heels’ depth and size are going to be the difference. Prediction: North Carolina 73, USC 65

Thursday's Sweet Sixteen Previews

Kansas vs. Southern Illinois (7:10 PM): A very intriguing contrast of styles. Kansas likes to get up and down the court with their plethora of athletes, while Southern Illinois is a half-court team that plays arguably the best defense in the country. Kansas is led by their forward tandem of Brandon Rush and Julian Wright, while they have a terrific trio of guards in Russell Robinson, Mario Chalmers, and Sherron Collins. They’re loaded. SIU has a very good backcourt in Jamaal Tatum and Tony Young, while Randal Falker anchors in the interior. The key match-up is going to be Brandon Rush against Tony Young. Young is a terrific defender, while Rush can really shoot the ball. Inside, it’s going to be interesting to see if SIU can match Julian Wright. Matt Shaw is a very good inside-outside player, but he’s doubtful for the game. He might be too athletic for anyone on SIU. For Kansas, they need to stop Jamaal Tatum. The Jayhawks have tons of defensive talent on the perimeter, and they should be able to keep him under control. Kansas is not explosive when they play against physical teams that can control tempo, but I think their athleticism and overall talent will be the difference. The Jayhawks are one of the few teams in the country that can play at multiple tempos as well as they do. Moreover, Julian Wright should have a big game for the Jayhawks—his all-around play will be key. Prediction: Kansas 67, Southern Illinois 61

Memphis vs. Texas A&M (7:27 PM): One of the best games of the Sweet Sixteen. It’s another contrast of styles, as Memphis presses all game, forcing turnovers and speeding the tempo of the game up. On the other side, Texas A&M is a terrific half-court defensive team and they like to play at a slower tempo. Memphis is a deep and talented team, especially on the wings. Chris Douglas-Roberts is a terrific finisher and Jeremy Hunt can really shoot it. Robert Dozier is athletic and active up front, while Joey Dorsey is a big-time shot-blocker and rebounder down low. A&M is balanced and have plenty of options. Acie Law is the most clutch player in the country, and Josh Carter can shoot the lights-out. Joseph Jones and Antanas Kavaliauskas are tough down low. The tempo game will be the key to this game. Louisville tried to press the Aggies, and A&M was well-schooled. If the Tigers can force turnovers and get it into a running game, they have the advantage. Moreover, they have to take advantage of Robert Dozier inside. He is too athletic for the inside players of A&M, and could have a big game. Additionally, they have to hit their outside shots. A&M needs to slow the game down and break the Tigers’ pressure. They need to get the game at their tempo. Moreover, Acie Law needs to dominate from the point position, and the A&M big guys need to get Joey Dorsey in foul trouble. In terms of foul trouble for A&M, Joseph Jones needs to stay in the game and off the bench. The difference, I think, is going to be A&M’s ability to handle the Memphis pressure and the presence of Acie Law at the point. He is going to come through down the stretch. Prediction: Texas A&M 74, Memphis 70

UCLA vs. Pittsburgh (9:40 PM): This game features one of the best storylines of the Sweet Sixteen. Ben Howland, who brought Pittsburgh to Big East prominence, is now the UCLA coach and has transformed the Bruins into the national power it once was. Both teams like to play a physical game, mostly in the half-court. UCLA has a terrific backcourt in Darren Collison and Arron Affalo, two of the best two-way guards in the country. Josh Shipp is another scorer on the perimeter. Luc Richard Mbah a Moute leads the way up front. Pittsburgh is balanced and has multiple options. Aaron Gray is a go-to-guy down low, and Levance Fields and Mike Cook lead a deep group of perimeter players. For Pittsburgh to win, they are going to need to go to Aaron Gray inside early and often. He has a big advantage in the paint, and could have a huge game. Moreover, they will need to get perimeter scoring, even though UCLA has terrific defensive players at the guard spots. Levance Fields has to take care of the ball against Darren Collison, who can really rattle opposing point guards. UCLA plays unbelievable defense, but their offense will be the key. Arron Afflalo is a very good go-to-guy who has come through in the clutch; he needs to have a big game. Josh Shipp also needs to be more consistent as a scorer. Defensively, they need to keep Pittsburgh off the offensive glass. Pitt’s Sam Young, Aaron Gray, and Levon Kendall crash the boards with vigor, and UCLA is not overly talented down low. They need to slow down Gray on the interior. The difference will be UCLA’s defense and their guard play. Prediction: UCLA 63, Pittsburgh 59

Ohio State vs. Tennessee (9:57 PM): A rematch of a non-conference game played in January. Ohio State won that one in Columbus, by two points on a Ron Lewis jumper late in the game. Tennessee is looking for revenge—and a trip to the Elite Eight. Ohio State has improved as the season went on, typical for a young team like the Buckeyes. Greg Oden is a dominator at both ends of the floor, while OSU’s myriad of perimeter players are tough to defend. Mike Conley is one of the better point guards in the country, and Ron Lewis can score in a variety of ways. Tennessee is also a young team, and looked better late in the year. Chris Lofton has unlimited range, and JaJuan Smith can also score. Wayne Chism is an inside-outside threat down low. If Tennessee is to get the victory, Chris Lofton needs to play better. He struggled in the first meeting. Moreover, the Vols need to get the tempo at their pace, and they need to force turnovers. Lastly, Wayne Chism and Duke Crews have to be able to contain Greg Oden down low. For Ohio State, their perimeter players need to knock down shots. The Buckeyes need to keep some of the attention off of Oden, and guys like Daequan Cook and Ron Lewis need to score. Moreover, Mike Conley has to take care of the ball against the Tennessee press. If he gets rattled by the pressure, it’s going to be tough for the Vols. The difference is going to be Greg Oden down low—he is simply too big for anyone on Tennessee. Prediction: Ohio State 72, Tennessee 66

Sweet Sixteen Breakdown: South Region

Favorite: Texas A&M. This is a wide-open region, with the top three seeds remaining. However, with the final two rounds in San Antonio, the edge has to go to Texas A&M. The Aggies have played very well in the opening two rounds, dominating Pennsylvania for much of the game in the first-round, and holding off a very tough Louisville team in the second round. Their game against the Cardinals was one of the best games of the Tournament. Acie Law is the most clutch player in college basketball, and can carry the Aggies. Dominique Kirk has stepped up the past two games, and Josh Carter is a terrific long-range shooter. Inside, Joseph Jones and Antanas Kavaliauskas form one of the better post duos in the country. Moreover, Texas A&M might be the best defensive team in the country. The Aggies are going to face a pressing team in Memphis, but they faced one in Louisville, and handled it very well. If they face Ohio State in the Elite Eight, A&M has the big men to throw at Oden, and I think that Acie Law can win games for the Aggies as long as they keep it close.

Cinderella: Tennessee. With the top three seeds advancing, the only other team left is the 5 seed Volunteers. Tennessee was absolutely sensational in the opening round against Long Beach State, scoring 121 points and hitting shots from everywhere. They got off to a hot start against Virginia, and made plays in the second half and down the stretch to pull out the victory. Chris Lofton is the best three-point shooter in the country, and has unlimited range. If he gets hot, look out. JaJuan Smith is an underrated scorer on the wing and Ramar Smith is quick at the point. Dane Bradshaw is a glue guy and freshmen Wayne Chism and Duke Crews are athletic players down low. They nearly knocked off Ohio State in Columbus this year, when Lofton wasn’t very good. If they can use their pressure and force turnovers, they can spring the upset. They might not have the inside players to match-up, though.

Most intriguing personnel match-up: Ohio State’s Ron Lewis vs. Tennessee’s Chris Lofton. This is going to be a terrific battle on the wing. Lewis made a name for himself in the second round, when he hit the long three at the end of regulation to force overtime, but he has been doing that all year. He can score driving to the basket, and can also knock down perimeter shots. He is extremely efficient at getting fouled. Lofton is a big-time gunner who can carry the Volunteers if he gets hot. He has also developed his offensive game, so he is not one-dimensional. The key for both of these players will be their defense. Lewis can’t allow Lofton to get open shots on the perimeter, and he especially can’t let him get into a rhythm right off the bat. Lofton has to be able to guard the strong and more physical Lofton. There are also several interesting battles in the Memphis-Texas A&M game, including Robert Dozier vs. Antanas Kavaliauskas and Chris Douglas-Roberts (if he plays) vs. Dominique Kirk.

First weekend knockout that will be here next year: Louisville. The Cardinals were an Edgar Sosa jump-shot from reaching the Sweet Sixteen, but they will definitely make it in 2008. They lose only one player, guard Brandon Jenkins, and their depth this year will allow them to fill that hole with no problem. Sosa is a developing point guard, while Jerry Smith is a very good shooter. Up front, Terrence Williams will be an all-conference player. He could have a break-out season next year. David Padgett and Derrick Caracter are great down low. They also have versatile weapons in Juan Palacios and Earl Clark. With Rick Pitino at the helm, the Cardinals are going to run, press, and shoot their way to a high seed in the NCAA Tournament. Provided no one goes pro, this team is loaded.

All-First Weekend Team:
Guard- Acie Law, Texas A&M: 23.0 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 2.0 apg
Guard- J.R. Reynolds, Virginia: 27.0 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 1.5 spg
Guard- Marcelus Kemp, Nevada: 22.5 ppg, 9.0 rpg, 4.0 apg, 1.5 spg
Guard- Chris Lofton, Tennessee: 22.5 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 2.0 apg, 2.0 spg
Center- Greg Oden, Ohio State: 16.5 ppg, 11.0 rpg, 1.5 bpg
Sixth Man- Sean Singletary, Virginia: 21.0 ppg, 6.0 rpg, 7.0 apg

Sweet Sixteen Breakdown: East Region

Favorite: North Carolina. It’s mostly a toss-up between the Tar Heels and Georgetown, but I think that, at their best, North Carolina is better than Georgetown. As a result, I’m going with UNC as the favorite heading into the Sweet Sixteen. They have struggled in both of their first two rounds, allowing Eastern Kentucky back into the game for a short stretch before pulling away, and going back-and-forth with Michigan State for most of the game. However, they are the deepest and arguably the most talented team in the country. Tyler Hansbrough and Brandan Wright form one of the best post tandems around; Hansbrough seems to have regained his dominant form. Tywon Lawson has done a terrific job at controlling tempo, while Reyshawn Terry has been a consistent contributor. Against USC, the Tar Heels will have to contain the Trojans’ perimeter players, especially Nick Young. They have a huge edge inside, though. If they face Georgetown in the Elite Eight, the battle in the paint between the big men for both teams is going to be interesting, but UNC has the edge on the perimeter.

Cinderella: USC. The Trojans are a higher seed than Vanderbilt, but many people had the Commodores pegged for the Sweet Sixteen. On the other hand, USC has flown below the radar this year, and were a popular upset pick in the first round to Arkansas, and were almost completely overlooked heading into the Texas game. They dominated both games, especially in the second half. I’ve been on the Trojans’ bandwagon for most of the season, and it’s nice to see them finally putting it all together. Nick Young is a terrific wing player who creates match-up problems due to his athleticism and scoring ability. Gabe Pruitt and Lodrick Stewart can shoot it from the perimeter, and Taj Gibson is tough down low. If their guards are hitting their threes, and Gibson can control the paint, the Trojans have a shot at beating anyone. They might not have the size to knock off North Carolina, but it will be interesting.

Most intriguing personnel match-up: Georgetown’s Jeff Green vs. Vanderbilt’s Derrick Byars. This should be a terrific battle between two of the best all-around players in the country. Green was the Big East Player of the Year and is stock has risen considerably over the past few months. He can do it all, and is a versatile offensive player. He can shoot it, drive to the basket, and is a very good passer. Byars, the SEC Player of the Year, is one of the nation’s most improved players. He stepped into the national spotlight with his terrific performance in the ‘Dores win over Florida. He can shoot the three with efficiency, and is tough when driving to the basket. Both players can play inside and outside, making for a very entertaining match-up. Green has the height advantage, but Byars is quicker and might be able to take Green off the dribble. Byars will need to play good defense on Green, as he is the focal point of the Hoyas’ offense and can take over games, even without scoring. Green can’t let Byars get hot from long-range.

First-weekend knockout that will be here next year: Texas. The Longhorns were a trendy pick to reach Atlanta this season, mainly because of Kevin Durant. However, he didn’t get enough help against USC and Texas was bounced. Next year, Texas will reach the Sweet Sixteen, with or without Durant. If he stays, they are immediately on the short list of national title contenders. If he goes to the NBA, D.J. Augustin and A.J. Abrams will still form one of the best backcourts in the country. Moreover, with the addition of two quality big men in Clint Chapman and Gary Johnson, Damion James should be able to move away from the basket, enabling him to utilize his athleticism and all-around game some more. The young Longhorns will all be one year older and more experienced; they’ll be back.

All-First Weekend Team:
Guard- Tyrese Rice, Boston College: 24.0 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 3.5 apg
Guard- Drew Neitzel, Michigan State: 19.0 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 5.0 apg, 1.5 spg
Forward- Nick Young, USC: 21.0 ppg, 7.0 rpg, 1.0 spg, 1.0 bpg
Forward- Kevin Durant, Texas: 28.5 ppg, 8.5 rpg, 2.0 spg, 1.5 bpg
Center- Tyler Hansbrough, North Carolina: 27.0 ppg, 9.5 rpg, 2.0 apg
Sixth Man- Taj Gibson, USC: 17.0 ppg, 11.0 rpg, 2.0 bpg

Sweet Sixteen Breakdown: West Region

Favorite: Kansas. Much like the Gators, the Jayhawks came into the NCAA Tournament as the favorite to win the region, and they might be more of a favorite after the first weekend. Kansas looked very impressive in their dismantling of Niagara in the first-round, and then used their overall talent and depth advantage to take down Kentucky in the second round. The Jayhawks are hitting their stride at the right time. This team has all the ingredients. Julian Wright is one of the best all-around players in the country, while Brandon Rush is a terrific shooter, both in the mid-range and from behind the arc. Russell Robinson and Mario Chalmers are both solid play-makers who are also terrific defenders. Sherron Collins is very difficult to guard offensively. Darrell Arthur is an athletic freshman down low, and Sasha Kaun. Against Southern Illinois, Kansas will need to be disciplined and patient against the Salukis’ defense. If they get past that, either Pitt or UCLA will await. Both teams have the weapons to knock off Kansas, but the Jayhawks look like the best bet to roll to Atlanta.

Cinderella: Southern Illinois. With the four highest seeds advancing, there isn’t much of a Cinderella in terms of an upset special. However, SIU is still not a national power, while the other three teams in this region have been here before. The Salukis are not known for the most part, and could send shockwaves if they beat Kansas. They play outstanding defense, and have clutch scorers offensively. Jamaal Tatum is a good shooter and is very quick, while Tony Young is a lock-down defender. Randall Falker can rebound and block shots very well, and Matt Shaw (if he plays) is a solid inside-outside performer. SIU is not explosive offensively, but their defense keeps them in games, and Tatum usually comes through down the stretch. It will be interesting to see how they match-up with Kansas. If SIU can knock off the Jayhawks, despite the Salukis’ inferior talent, they can beat anyone.

Most intriguing personnel match-up: Pittsburgh’s Mike Cook vs. UCLA’s Arron Afflalo. Two physical wing scorers will battle it out for the right to go to the Elite Eight. Cook does not get a lot of publicity on a national level, but he is the key for the Panthers. If he can get points from the perimeter, and take some of the pressure off of Aaron Gray, it will be huge. He is only averaging 12 points per game in the Tournament, but on a balanced Pitt team, that is key. Afflalo is one of the best players in the country, and might be the top two-way guard around. He struggled against Indiana, but he stepped up down the stretch and made the big plays for the Bruins to advance. Afflalo has been clutch all year for UCLA. If he can shut down Cook, it makes Pittsburgh much easier to defend offensively. Similarly, Cook and fellow wing Antonio Graves can’t allow Afflalo to have a big day. Indiana slowed him, and the Hoosiers were able to overcome a horrendous first half and nearly came back for the win.

First-weekend knockout that will be here next year: Duke. For all the Duke haters out there, this was your year to make fun of them. Next year, it will stop. The Blue Devils had no seniors on this year’s team, and only Josh McRoberts is even contemplating going pro. If he heads pro, the team won’t be as loaded on the inside, but the Blue Devils will be fine. DeMarcus Nelson and Jon Scheyer can score on the wing, and Coach K brings in one of the best recruiting classes in the country. Kyle Singler is a fantastic small forward. He has terrific range and is going to make a major impact. Nolan Smith and Taylor King are two more solid wings coming in. If Greg Paulus matures at the point, and a big man steps up for Duke down low (if McRoberts leaves), the Devils will once again contend.

All-First Weekend Team:
Guard- Eric Maynor, VCU: 18.0 ppg, 2.0 rpg, 8.0 apg, 3.0 spg
Guard- Mario Chalmers, Kansas: 17.5 ppg, 1.5 rpg, 5.0 apg, 3.5 spg
Forward- Randal Falker, Southern Illinois: 11.0 ppg, 10.0 rpg, 2.5 apg, 2.5 spg, 2.5 bpg
Forward- D.J. White, Indiana: 14.0 ppg, 12.0 rpg, 2.0 apg, 3.0 bpg
Center- Randolph Morris, Kentucky: 20.5 ppg, 9.5 rpg, 2.5 bpg
Sixth Man- Darren Collison, UCLA: 14.5 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 5.0 apg, 2.5 spg

Sweet Sixteen Breakdown: Midwest Region

Favorite: Florida. Who else could I go with? The Gators came into the Tournament as the overwhelming favorite in the Midwest Region, and nothing has changed that so far. They struggled for about a half against Jackson State, but blew the door wide open in the second half. Against Purdue in the second round, Florida was in a dogfight, but they made plays down the stretch and got the victory. Sometimes, it seems as if the Gators have a switch they can turn on late in games to get wins. Taurean Green is one of the best point guards in the country; Joakim Noah is started to regain some of the emotional swagger that made him so popular last year; Al Horford’s stock is rising very quickly in the Tournament due to his play. Corey Brewer is one of the best two-players in the country, and Lee Humphrey can shoot the lights-out. They shouldn’t have too much trouble against Butler, who doesn’t have the athleticism to match-up (I could’ve said the same for them against Maryland), and they have too much size for either Oregon or UNLV.

Cinderella: UNLV. I could’ve gone with either the Runnin’ Rebels or the Butler Bulldogs, but I think that UNLV has a better shot at getting to Atlanta, and they are also the lower seed. They looked very tough to beat in their opening two rounds, getting off to hot starts against both Georgia Tech and Wisconsin. They staved off second-half runs in both games to get to St. Louis. The Rebels are led by Wendell White, a match-up nightmare inside. He is only 6-6, but he is very athletic and can finish. Kevin Kruger is a very good shooter and makes smart decisions at the point, while Wink Adams and Michael Umeh can knock down shots from the perimeter. When they are hitting their threes, they are very difficult to beat. Defensively, they force turnovers with their perimeter quickness. With their depth on the perimeter, they don’t mind getting into a running game.

Most intriguing personnel match-up: Oregon’s Aaron Brooks vs. UNLV’s Kevin Kruger. The battle between UNLV and Oregon features many interesting positional match-ups, including UNLV’s Wendell White and Oregon’s Malik Hairston—two undersized power forwards that use their athleticism to get points. However, the battle between Brooks and Kruger will have a larger effect on the game. Brooks is one of the best point guards in the country, and has been very clutch this season. He is averaging 20 points per game in the NCAA Tournament. Kruger struggled in the opening game against Georgia Tech, but he was terrific against Wisconsin, scoring 16 points, grabbing 6 rebounds, and dishing out 7 assists—with no turnovers. The UNLV perimeter players love to force turnovers, and Brooks has to take care of the ball and utilize his superior talent. Kruger can’t Brooks to penetrate into the lane all game, and will also need to knock down his perimeter shots.

First-weekend knockout that will be here next year: Georgia Tech. The Yellow Jackets came into the season as a threat to get a protected seed in the NCAA Tournament, and make a deep run in the Big Dance. However, they lost their leading scorer Lewis Clinch midway through the season due to academics, and they never seemed like they came together as a team. Next year, if Javaris Crittenton and Thaddeus Young don’t go pro, Tech should be back for more—and could actually live up to the hype. They lose only one senior in Mario West, and will get Clinch back, as well as two good recruits in Gani Lawal and Maurice Miller. Crittenton and Young will have another year under their belts, and the post players should develop some sort of consistency down low.

All-First Weekend Team:
Guard- Aaron Brooks, Oregon: 20.0 ppg, 2.0 rpg, 2.5 apg
Guard- Kammron Taylor, Wisconsin: 24.0 ppg, 2.5 apg
Forward- Wendell White, UNLV: 20.5 ppg, 5.5 rpg
Forward- Carl Landry, Purdue: 19.5 ppg, 11.5 rpg, 2.5 apg
Center- Al Horford, Florida: 16.0 ppg, 12.5 rpg
Sixth Man- Corey Brewer, Florida: 19.0 ppg, 6.5 rpg, 3.0 apg, 2.0 spg

Odds and Ends

Starting tomorrow, I will have a complete Sweet Sixteen preview, broken down region-by-region. It will include players to watch, favorites and sleepers, and much more.

Also, how is everyone's bracket doing? Yes, I know my bracket has been awful so far (as many of you have told me), and it is actually my career-worst, when you see the fact that I got only 22 first-round games and 10 second-games correct. If you use the typical one point for each first round win and two points for each second-round victory, I would have 42 points. How is everyone else's doing?

Moreover, I'm never going to go against my "gut" again. In the bracket I made as the teams were being announced, I got 24 first-round games and 13 second-round games correct. So much for research actually helping you. Always go with your gut.

Sunday's Second Round Breakdown

Virginia vs. Tennessee (12:10 PM): This could be a high-scoring battle between two terrific backcourts. The Cavaliers dominated Albany from the opening tip en route to an easy win, while Tennessee was outstanding offensively in their win over Long Beach State, 121-86. The key will be the guard match-up. Sean Singletary and J.R. Reynolds form arguably the best backcourt duo in the country, but Tennessee's Chris Lofton, Ramar Smith, and JaJuan Smith are also very good. Neither team is overly impressive on the interior, and both need a consistent third option to step up. I think the difference will be Virginia's ability to handle the Volunteer pressure. If Singletary doesn't turn it over, and a third option emerges, UVA will win. Prediction: Virginia 81, Tennessee 77

Memphis vs. Nevada (2:15 PM): One of the better games of the afternoon--between two non-BCS teams (again, why did the committee do this?). Nevada won the only overtime game of the first round, against Creighton, while Memphis struggled for awhile against North Texas, but pulled away in the second half. We still haven't seen Memphis play a good team besides Gonzaga in months, so it will be interesting to see how they react to Nevada. Nick Fazekas gives the Wolf Pack the edge down low, but Joey Dorsey is physical inside for Memphis. Ramon Sessions of Nevada will have to handle the athletic pressure of Memphis, but I think that Marcelus Kemp is going to be the key. He played outstanding against Creighton, and will need to do so again. Prediction: Nevada 73, Memphis 71

Wisconsin vs. UNLV (2:30 PM): Another potential upset in the making in a 2 vs. 7 battle. Wisconsin looked horrendous in the first half against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, but they played very well in the second half for the win. UNLV made plays late in the game to knock off Georgia Tech. Will the Badgers come out strong or will they take a half to get going? Will UNLV get off to a hot start again? This is going to be an interesting match-up. Wisconsin isn't great down low, but neither is UNLV. The key match-up will be Wisconsin's ability to guard Wendell White of UNLV, and their ability to cut down the open threes that UNLV gets. In what will likely be a close game, I have to go with the team with the best player late in the game--Alando Tucker. Prediction: Wisconsin 65, UNLV 61

Southern Illinois vs. Virginia Tech (2:40 PM): Another outstanding battle on Sunday. Southern Illinois led throughout against Holy Cross, and made plays in the second half to win. Virginia Tech ended their game against Illinois on a 13-0 run to gut out a close victory. The guard battle will be fun to watch. Southern Illinois plays terrific defense, and their three-guard look led by Jamaal Tatum is tough. VT's guard duo of Zabian Dowdell and Jamon Gordon wasn't great against Illinois, but they will need to step up against SIU. Can SIU's Matt Shaw defend VT's Deron Washington? Will VT be able to adapt to SIU's slow-down type of game? They struggled doing it against Illinois, and Southern Illinois is even better than the Fighting Illini. Prediction: Southern Illinois 63, Virginia Tech 56

Oregon vs. Winthrop (2:50 PM): Can Winthrop keep their terrific season going? Or will Oregon, one of the hottest teams around, move into the Sweet Sixteen. The Eagles held off a late surge from Notre Dame to win in the first round, while Oregon did the same against Miami (Ohio) in what was a closer game than expected. The perimeter battles will be key. Oregon is loaded with talented wings, while Winthrop has great shooters in Torrell Martin and Mike Jenkins. Look out for the point guard match-up between two quick ones in Aaron Brooks and Chris Gaynor. The difference in this game will be shooting--whoever is knocking down their perimeter shots will move on to the next round. I think that Oregon will get the game at the pace they want, and get the W. Prediction: Oregon 72, Winthrop 68

Florida vs. Purdue (4:45 PM): This might be the biggest mismatch of the day. Florida was down early to Jackson State, but they absolutely dominated the second half. Purdue controlled most of the game against Arizona, and used their physicality and inside edge to get the victory. In this one, Florida will have the big men to match up with Carl Landry inside, and the Gators have the superior perimeter players. If Purdue is to win this game, they will have to slow the game down tremendously, and constantly go inside to Landry. However, I don't think that Purdue has enough offensive firepower to keep up with the Gators. Unless Florida has an awful shooting day, I think they will advance easily. Prediction: Florida 69, Purdue 56

Kansas vs. Kentucky (5:05 PM): A battle between two of the big names in college basketball history. Kansas looked very impressive in their dismantling of Niagara, while Kentucky pulled away in the second half and held off a late Villanova run to get the win. Kansas has a huge edge in overall talent and athleticism, but Kentucky might have a shot to win this game if they get the ball to Randolph Morris, and he dominates. Kansas doesn't have a great inside presence, and Morris could have an advantage. Moreover, Kentucky will have to be hitting their perimeter shots and they will have to defend all five positions. I don't think that the Wildcats have enough talent or depth to compete with the Jayhawks for 40 minutes. Prediction: Kansas 74, Kentucky 62

Texas vs. USC (5:20 PM): This might be the best game of the day. Texas struggled more than expected against New Mexico State, but they made a very nice run late in the game and got the victory. USC was down early against Arkansas, but they took control midway through the first half and never looked back. The key, obviously, will be USC's ability to defend Kevin Durant. The Trojans have plenty of athletes to throw at Durant, but his size might be a problem. On the other side, USC usually struggles with teams that have a few quality big men--Texas doesn't pose that problem. Taj Gibson could have a big game down low. Moreover, the Trojans need to control tempo, and not allow D.J. Augustin to have a big game at the point guard position for Texas. If USC is knocking down their shots, they will get the win. Prediction: USC 70, Texas 69

Saturday's Second Round Breakdown

Ohio State vs. Xavier (1:10 PM): An intrastate battle that is not normally seen in the NCAA Tournament. Ohio State was very impressive in their dismantling of Central Connecticut State, while Xavier made a nice comeback in the second half to knock off BYU by two. The difference in this game will be Xavier's ability to stop Greg Oden down low. Justin Doellmann and Brandon Cole did a good job against Trent Plaisted, but Oden is a completely different match-up. Xavier is very experienced, while Ohio State is still a young team. The Musketeers have versatile frontcourt players that could pose match-up problems for the OSU frontline. The Buckeyes' Mike Conley will have to control the tempo of the game from the point. Prediction: Ohio State 67, Xavier 60

Maryland vs. Butler (3:20 PM): An interesting contrast of styles. Maryland loves to get up and down the floor, pushing the ball for baskets in transition, while Butler likes to slow the game down and make it a half-court contest at both ends. The backcourt battle will be the key to this game. A.J. Graves struggled late in the season, but if hits his three-point shots and backcourt mate Mike Green controls tempo, Butler will better off. Maryland's Greivis Vasquez needs to push the ball, freeing up Mike Jones for jumpshots and D.J. Strawberry for athletic drives to the basket. The difference in the game could be Maryland's athleticism advantage and their edge in side. Ekene Ibekwe and James Gist are tough on the glass and provide shot-blocking. Prediction: Maryland 63, Butler 59

Texas A&M vs. Louisville (3:40 PM): This has the potential to be the best game of the afternoon. Texas A&M is one of the candidates to reach the Final Four, while Louisville is one of the hottest teams in the country. A&M struggled for a stretch against Penn but won handily, while the Cardinals destroyed Stanford in the first round. Louisville will try to pressure Acie Law all game, but Law is cool under pressure and likely won't turn it over. Down low, David Padgett and Derrick Caracter of Louisville need to get Joseph Jones of A&M in foul trouble. If they do that, they have the edge down low. Both teams are very balanced and plenty of options. This game could go down to the wire, and we all know what that means--it's Acie Law time. Prediction: Texas A&M 75, Louisville 71

Washington State vs. Vanderbilt (5:40 PM): An interesting game between two teams that play completely different ways. Washington State likes to play a grind-it-out type of game, while Vanderbilt has several guys that can shoot the three-pointer, and the Commodores like to take advantage of that. However, the Cougars are very good at limiting open three-point opportunities for their opponent, meaning that Vandy could struggle offensively, especially if their shots aren't falling early. WSU has to stop Derrick Byars of Vandy. He can hurt them inside and out, and WSU might not have the frontcourt athletes to match up with him. I think the difference-maker in this one will be Kyle Weaver, who can have an impact at both ends of the floor. Prediction: Washington State 68, Vanderbilt 63

Pittsburgh vs. VCU (5:50 PM): My upset pick of the day. I had VCU going into the Sweet Sixteen heading into the Tournament, and I can't turn away now. The Rams played outstanding basketball down the stretch against Duke, and Eric Maynor was sensational. Pittsburgh had a rough stretch midway through the first half, but they dominated the second half en route to an easy win. The key for VCU will be their ability to stop Pitt's Aaron Gray. The Rams don't have a lot of size inside, but they are athletic and will create havoc in the fullcourt. Pitt has to keep the VCU guards out of the lane, especially Maynor. Their drive-and-dish offense killed Duke on Thursday. In yet another close game, I like Maynor's ability to consistently get points down the stretch. I'm not sure Pitt has that one go-to-guy late in games. Prediction: VCU 70, Pittsburgh 67

Georgetown vs. Boston College (5:50 PM): This is going to be a slow-it-down, grind-it-out type of game. Both teams are mostly half-court teams that aren't explosive offensively. Georgetown started slow against Belmont, but took control midway through the first half and never looked back. Boston College made big plays down the stretch to knock off Texas Tech. The key match-up is BC's Jared Dudley against the Hoyas' Jeff Green. They are two of the best all-around players in the country. Georgetown has the edge inside with the 7-2 Roy Hibbert, while BC might have the edge on the perimeter with Tyrese Rice and Sean Marshall. The difference is going to be Georgetown's superior frontcourt and their overall balance. BC just can't match Georgetown, personnel-wise. Prediction: Georgetown 69, Boston College 61

UCLA vs. Indiana (8:10 PM): Two of the most storied programs in college basketball history do battle. UCLA, like several high-seeded teams, struggled to start the game, but dominated most of the game against Weber State and won easily. Indiana played better than they had in weeks, controlling the second half against Gonzaga. The only way the Hoosiers can win this game is if they go inside to D.J. White early and often. UCLA does not have a very good post group, and they are vulnerable to very good big men. White needs to dominate. On the other side, UCLA's defense needs to get out on the Indiana shooters, and Darren Collison and Arron Afflalo need to get into the lane against the Hoosiers. UCLA's terrific half-court defense and the backcourt of Collison and Afflalo will get the Bruins the W. Prediction: UCLA 65, Indiana 54

North Carolina vs. Michigan State (8:20 PM): A match-up of the 2005 Final Four, the year the Tar Heels won the championship. North Carolina had trouble with Eastern Kentucky for the middle part of the game, but they pulled away late. Michigan State used terrific defense to beat Marquette fairly easily. They led the entire game. In this one, UNC needs to go down low to Brandan Wright and Tyler Hansbrough. MSU's big men are physical, but the Tar Heels are more talented in the post. On the perimeter, Drew Neitzel and Raymar Morgan need to have big games for the Spartans. Tempo will also be important. Michigan State wants to slow it down, while North Carolina wants get out and run in transition. UNC's superior depth and talent gets them to the Sweet Sixteen. Prediction: North Carolina 72, Michigan State 63