1) There isn't anything in sports like the first day of the NCAA tournament. Period. If you're a basketball fan, it's pretty much heaven. You can spend literally the entire day watching teams battle for their lives as every program looks to make their mark on the sport. The first day did not disappoint as upsets and wild finishes were in abundance, which brings me to my next thought.
2) People often complain about the pace and style of the college game, namely that it's boring. While that might be true in some instances, it definitely doesn't apply come tourney time. And when there's five minutes left in a close game, there is no greater basketball to watch on the planet. The stakes ratchet up to a fucking 100 as these kids are playing the hardest, most passionate basketball of their lives, which has led to some of the amazing games and finishes we've seen this weekend. God I love March.
And not just because it's the best month to be an alcoholic!
3) This is a weird year for the tournament for two reasons:
3a) Despite the numerous upsets that occurred this weekend, there aren't really any Cinderellas in the Sweet Sixteen. I mean, UCLA is the lowest seed left in the field at 11, but come on, this is UCLA. Even if they arguably shouldn't have qualified for the tournament (I still maintain they didn't deserve a seed), UCLA--along with Duke, Kentucky, North Carolina, and Kansas--is part of the college basketball aristocracy. You can't a be a Cinderella when you are the winningest program in the history of the tournament. Wichita State doesn't qualify as a Cinderella either since they went to the Final Four two years ago as a true Cinderella. No one outside of West Virginia actually cares about the Mountaineers, so they don't count. North Carolina State is the only candidate left, but they don't fit the bill either considering this team beat Duke, Louisville, and North Carolina. So despite the seeding, they weren't catching anyone by surprise. It'll be interesting to see how the rest of the tournament fairs without a true Cinderella. Of course, all of this could be moot because:
3b) Kentucky isn't going anywhere, and it's time we start taking this team seriously. Don't get me wrong, the general consensus before the tournament was that Kentucky was about to run the table and win the whole thing. But while we all thought this, I think a lot of us believed, or maybe even hoped, there would be a team that would bring down the Wildcats. Now that they've survived the first two games, the attitude is certainly changing and it appears that the only ones that can stop the Wildcats are themselves. While the West region is littered with teams that could run with the Cats, the fact remains that Kentucky is only four games away from a historic undefeated season. And if they were going to have a brain-fart game that ruined their perfect season, it would've happened already. All we can do is wait and see what happens, but as long as the Cats are still in the hunt, it seems almost pointless for every remaining team in the field.
Much like the rest of you, my bracket is far from perfect despite my aforementioned expertise in all things basketball. So let's go ahead and break down the Sweet Sixteen.
MIDWEST REGION
#1
Pick: Kentucky
So my Rocky III analogy for their game against Cincinnati was dead on. The Bearcats did their best Clubber Lang impression, pushing the Wildcats into the corner and wailing on them with everything they had. All of a sudden, Apollo Creed screamed, "Now!", and the Cats flipped the script by getting out in transition and completely shutting down the paint on defense by volleyball spiking almost every Cincinnati shot attempt.
Meanwhile, West Virginia survived a scare against Buffalo to turn things around against Maryland. Led by ruff and gruff coach Bob Huggins, West Virginia is one of the best teams in the nation when it comes to creating turnovers and converting those into points. This could work in West Virgina's favor considering Kentucky is frequently looking to race up and down the court, making them prone to turnovers. If the Mountaineers can make life a living hell for the Harrison twins and take away possessions from Kentucky, they have a chance at grabbing the win of the tournament. However, as I just spent most of the intro explaining, Kentucky isn't going out in this round.
#3 Notre Dame vs #7 Wichita State
Pick: Wichita State
Alright Notre Dame, you got the drop on me this time and made me look foolish for doubting you. While you were lucky to escape the Northeastern scare, you did slug it out with Butler in maybe the most exciting game of the tourney so far. And for that, I congratulate you on your accomplishments. But with all due respect, there's no way in hell you win this game.
Alright, maybe I shouldn't say there's no way in hell, because the possibility of Notre Dame hitting every three pointer in sight is always a possibility. They also have Jerian Grant, which means he could go off for 30 for no reason other than he felt like it. But this Wichita State team is of a different breed. They play the game with the furiosity of five really pissed off Russell Westbrook's.
As I mentioned in the introduction, Wichita State isn't sneaking up on anyone because they have recently made a deep run in the tournament. This also means that they know what it takes to get over the hump. While I applaud Notre Dame for beating a very good Butler team, I don't like their chances against a team that is clearly on a mission. Because remember who was the undefeated team last year? And remember who ruined their perfect season?
The answers were Wichita and Kentucky, man. Don't you know what foreshadowing is?
WEST REGION
#1 Wisconsin vs #4 North Carolina
Pick: Wisconsin
I feel like this game would have been very easy to pick a few weeks ago. Wisconsin had been on a tear and North Carolina had been floating somewhere around the middle. It seemed as though the Badgers would get the best of the Tar Heels. But then this weekend happened.
Oregon's Joseph Young lit up the Badgers for 30 points and almost single-handily carried the Ducks to an upset. While Bo Ryan's squads are known for being great defensively, they have to be concerned that they let someone get loose and pour 30 on them (granted, the Badgers only allowed one other player on the Ducks to score double figures. So, the team defensive scheme still worked, kinda). This has to be concerning because they will be playing against Marcus Paige, whom went on a second half tear against Arkansas on his way to 20 points. Factor in the fact that God cannot stand Bo Ryan, and suddenly this game looks like a toss up. How bad does God hate Bo Ryan, you ask? Well, God chose Aaron Harrison over him last year, which should tell you enough.
Gross
Of course, there's also the Kennedy Meeks injury that definitely changes things. As of March 23 at 4:05 PM PST, the team is calling it a knee sprain and are waiting for the MRI results to know what they are dealing with. If the double-digit scorer can't play against the Badgers, then UNC will have virtually no shot. Even if he does play, I still like the balance and poise of last year's Final Four squad to move on.
#2 Arizona vs #6 Xavier
Pick: Arizona
I'll be honest, like most of you I'm pretty butt-hurt that Xavier knocked out tournament darling, Georgia State. Between Ron Hunter, his son RJ (great name by the way), and the rebirth of Kevin Ware , this was the true Cinderella the tournament needed in the Sweet Sixteen. [WARNING!!!! If you're one of my readers that don't follow basketball and tend to look up some of the names I mention, I beg you for the love of God, DO NOT GOOGLE KEVIN WARE. YOU WILL SEE ONE OF THE WORST INJURIES OF ALL TIME. IT'S LITERALLY SOMETHING I CAN NEVER UNSEE. For my readers that have seen this injury, please be distracted by this picture of a kitten].
For the love of God, LOOK AT THE DAMN KITTEN!!!
But while we were distracted by Georgia State and their Achilles-blowing-shenanigans, there's a chance you might have missed out on Arizona continuing to beat the ever-loving shit out of anyone that crosses their path. Now, they did catch a break with Ohio State super freshman D'Angelo Russell throwing up enough bricks to build a Super Mario level.
However, Arizona really flexed their muscles in the second half of that game. Their own super freshman, Stanley Johnson, had an even more miserable game than Russell and it didn't mean a motherfucking thing. Sean Miller is on God's coaches shit list, along with Bo Ryan, Bill Self, and Mark Few, but this might be his best Arizona team. And lately they have looked awesome.
EAST REGION
#4 Louisville vs #8 NC State
Pick: Louisville
I never thought I'd see the day where a WTF game would happen in the Sweet Sixteen, yet here we are. To clarify, this is not the typical WTF game we all know and love. This is a WTF game because we have absolutely no idea WTF to make of these teams. I mean, in my last post I referred to NC State as the Wildcards, because they do have moments when they look like world-beaters. Then they have other moments where they look like they play in the WCC and not the ACC.
That's right West Coast Conference, SHOTS FIRED!!! NO ONE'S SAFE!
So who the fuck knows what's going to happen with this team. Meanwhile, Louisville has only scored 61.5 points per game in the first weekend. They barely escape UC Irvine in the first round and then proceeded to beat a solid, not great, Northern Iowa team. Last post I compared their offense to condoms you buy in a gas station bathroom, meaning things are going okay until it breaks and you realize you are in big, big, trouble. So again, who the fuck knows what's going to happen with this team.
I know, because like I said, I'm fucking genius. But transcending brilliance aside, the fact remains that Rick Pitino is one of two coaches in the history of the game to have taken three different programs to the Final Four. The other? Fellow coaching mafia member, John Calipari. Much like Tom Izzo, Pitino does his best coaching in March, which will be enough to get them to the next round.
#3 Oklahoma vs #7 Michigan State
Pick: Michigan State
You see what I did just there? That's what I call a flawless transition, which is the best way to describe Michigan State during the first weekend. Their transition game has been phenomenal and their fast paced attack has to convincing wins in both games his past weekend. Led by point guard Too Nice Trice (nickname pending because someone has to do something with his currently abysmal nickname T-Squared), and big man Brandon Dawson, the Spartys have made the selection committee look incredibly stupid for pegging them as a 7 seed.
Meanwhile, Oklahoma, along with West Virginia, has emerged as survivors of the Big 12 holocaust this weekend. Kansas, Baylor, Texas, Iowa State, and Oklahoma State, all fell victim to lower seeds this past weekend, and Oklahoma barely avoided scares against Albany and Dayton. Now, Oklahoma beat Dayton by absolutely annihilating the boards, using their overwhelming size advantage to dominate the glass, especially on the offensive end. While offensive rebounding is one of the Sooner's strengths, Michigan State is a team that rarely gets out rebounded. With the East bracket open for the taking thanks to Villanova getting ousted, look for the suddenly hot Spartys to capitalize on this.
SOUTH REGION
#1 Duke vs #5 Utah
Pick: Duke
Utah does have a chance. In the past, teams with a dominate point guard have a track record of succeeding in March. The Utes have a guard in the Kemba Walker/ Shabazz Naiper mold in the form of Delone Wright. One of the nation's best scorers, it's definitely plausible that he could have a big night against the defense deficient Blue Devils.
But oh my Jahlil Okafor! Duke has been the most impressive 1 seed in the tournament so far and a lot of that has to do with the big freshman in the middle for the Blue Devils. Okafor is a rare player in today's game, a big man with a complete back-to-the-basket game. And whenever Duke needs a bucket, they know they can throw it into Okafor and he can make something happen.
Good lawd!
For being the most scrutinized 1 seed coming into the tournament, the Blue Devils have made their critics eat their words. In my last post I said, "As unconvincing as they are as a 1 seed, this is still arguably the only team in the nation with more talent than Kentucky. And they have proven in big games that they've got the goods to play with anyone in the nation. While brick-city Duke could rear its ugly head at any moment during the tournament, beast-mode Duke also has the possibility of showing up and bending over everyone in the field. Because when Duke is on, they are fucking ON." Beast-mode Duke might be here to stay and that's terrifying.
#2 Gonzaga vs #11 UCLA
Pick: Gonzaga
The Zags finally got the monkey off their back and moved onto the Sweet Sixteen for the first time since 2009. Meanwhile, UCLA is making the most of their opportunity and have splashed in the Sweet Sixteen. Here's the thing though: 1) As mentioned earlier, UCLA had no business being in the tournament in the first place. 2) They caught the luckiest of breaks that SMU imploded down the stretch and then got screwed by an outrageous goaltending call. Then they went on and beat 14 seed UAB in the WTF game in the next round. In other words, UCLA shouldn't be feeling themselves as hard as they are right now.
With that said, there is something looming over this game that makes it tough to completely write off the Bruins, and it involves the most traumatic experience of my basketball life. It was the last time UCLA and Gonzaga met in the Sweet Sixteen, back in 2006. I had just turned 16 a few days before that game, and I sat in front of the TV and cheered for the school I hoped to one day attend. I watch Adam Morrison and the Zags open up a huge lead against future NBA players Aaron Affalo, Jordan Farmar, Darren Collison, and others. And then, it all crumbled so, so fast.
This game is going to be hanging over the Zags (even though most of them were like 12 when it happened).With that said, the Zags already played UCLA this year at Pauley Pavilion and beat them so bad the Bruins literally went back to the drawing board and revamped their season. Zags will advance to their second Elite Eight appearance in school history.
ELITE EIGHT
MIDWEST REGION
#1 Kentucky vs #7 Wichita State
Pick: Kentucky
Last year, the game of the tournament was Kentucky vs Wichita State, which is why I'm not surprised the Shockers ended up in this region with Kentucky this year. As alluded to earlier, Wichita State was in the midst of a perfect season as well, building off of their Final Four success from the year before. In the second round, they ran into the star studded Kentucky squad that had under-achieved its way to an 8 seed. What happened next was one of the most exciting 40 minutes of amateur basketball you could have hoped for. Kentucky would ultimately make a run to the national championship game, but not without dashing the Shockers hope of a perfect season first. This year, it's Kentucky chasing perfection, and no one on the planet wants to ruin that more than Wichita State.
I know the Shocker's motto is to "Play Angry" but goddamn, these dudes are pissed! The moment it was revealed they were in Kentucky's bracket, you know Wichita vowed to destroy everyone in their path in order to reach Kentucky and avenge last season's defeat. If any team from the Midwest region was ever going to beat the Wildcats, it was always gonna be these guys.
They won't though. When the Cats shocked Wichita last year, they did it with a relentless attack on the boards. Julius Randle looked like he was possessed by Moses Malone, and Kentucky's size was simply too much for the Shockers. Kentucky only got bigger this year. Granted, Kansas' size was supposed to bother the Shockers as well, but the Cats are in a league of their own when it comes to size. I mean, their shortest starter is 6'6" and that's the fucking point guard. Now, Devin Booker is gonna need to figure his shit out and get out of his funk soon if the Cats want to achieve perfection. This might be the breakout game he needs to get going into the Final Four.
WEST REGION
#1 Wisconsin vs #2 Arizona
Pick: Wisconsin
Is this the year of the rematches or what? So Arizona lost a heart-breaker to Wisconsin last year in the Elite Eight, which means they are going to be gunning at the Badgers with full force. Wisconsin is a team that can matchup with the Wildcats' size and they have one of the most versatile offenses in the country. So basically this boils down to who does God hate more: Bo Ryan or Sean Miller?
Until last season, Bo Ryan had never made it to the Final Four despite being a perennial powerhouse in the Big Ten. Meanwhile, Sean Miller has been to the Elite Eight more times than Pacman Jones has been to prison, and literally every year has ended with a wild ending resulting in a loss. Seriously, I don't know if a coach has fallen from more buzzer-beaters and late game meltdowns in this round. Fast forward to this year, and the Wildcats have looked extremely impressive and like this is going to be the team to finally break through for Miller.
However, it all comes back to Kentucky. As mentioned earlier, God rewarded the Wildcats with a clutch three pointer to put Bo Ryan and the Badgers back in their place. The Badgers have not forgotten this, and they want their shot at redemption against the team that dashed their dreams last year. In my last post I mentioned that this team reminds me of the San Antonio Spurs in the sense that they are balanced on offense, disciplined on defense, and have an outstanding big man as their leader. In the 2013-2014 season, the Spurs played for one purpose and one purpose only: meet Miami in the Finals and exorcise the demons of the previous season. I think Wisconsin is playing with the same mindset. It'll likely be another wild finish, and once again, coach Miller's team is going to be on the short end of things.
Why God, why?
EAST REGION
#4 Louisville vs #7 Michigan State
Pick: Michigan State
Despite all the shit I've talked about Louisville's offense, this is still a very good team that is only two years removed from a national championship. They will be in for a fight as they will face a team that plays exactly like the Cards. Michigan State excels in playing tough defense, forcing turnovers, and scoring most of their points in transition. Louisville excels at, gasp, tough defense, forcing turnovers, and scoring in transition.
It's not that I think Michigan State is necessarily the better team, I just think this is where Louisville's deficiencies start to catch up with them. So far, Louisville hasn't ran into a great defensive team that can expose their scoring problems. Michigan State is the team that can do that.
SOUTH REGION
#1 Duke vs #2 Gonzaga
Pick: Gonzaga
I know, I realize that I am betting on Coach freaking K getting out-coached by Mark Few.
EAST REGION
#4 Louisville vs #7 Michigan State
Pick: Michigan State
Despite all the shit I've talked about Louisville's offense, this is still a very good team that is only two years removed from a national championship. They will be in for a fight as they will face a team that plays exactly like the Cards. Michigan State excels in playing tough defense, forcing turnovers, and scoring most of their points in transition. Louisville excels at, gasp, tough defense, forcing turnovers, and scoring in transition.
It's not that I think Michigan State is necessarily the better team, I just think this is where Louisville's deficiencies start to catch up with them. So far, Louisville hasn't ran into a great defensive team that can expose their scoring problems. Michigan State is the team that can do that.
SOUTH REGION
#1 Duke vs #2 Gonzaga
Pick: Gonzaga
I know, I realize that I am betting on Coach freaking K getting out-coached by Mark Few.
"You realize you're completely full of shit, right?"
These two teams match up perfectly with one another as both have excellent guards and giants that can score in the paint. The two-headed monster of Karnowski and Sabonis will have their hands full with Lord of the Paint, Jahlil Okafor. Kevin Pangos will be battling against Tyus Jones for title of the best point guard. Quinn Cook and Gary Bell Jr. will be bombing away from deep. Kyle Wiltjer will be a nightmare inside and out, while Justise Winslow continues his best Kawhi-Leonard-in-the-Finals impression.
The two most important players in this game are going to be Byron Wesley for the Zags and Winslow for Duke. Winslow is the Zags worst fear come true. He's a physical, do-it-all forward that plays as if Coach K stabs an injection of adrenaline into his heart before every game Pulp Fiction style.
These two teams match up perfectly with one another as both have excellent guards and giants that can score in the paint. The two-headed monster of Karnowski and Sabonis will have their hands full with Lord of the Paint, Jahlil Okafor. Kevin Pangos will be battling against Tyus Jones for title of the best point guard. Quinn Cook and Gary Bell Jr. will be bombing away from deep. Kyle Wiltjer will be a nightmare inside and out, while Justise Winslow continues his best Kawhi-Leonard-in-the-Finals impression.
The two most important players in this game are going to be Byron Wesley for the Zags and Winslow for Duke. Winslow is the Zags worst fear come true. He's a physical, do-it-all forward that plays as if Coach K stabs an injection of adrenaline into his heart before every game Pulp Fiction style.
#Pregame
He is a match up nightmare, especially against the slow footed Wiltjer. On the other side, Wesley will likely have the most favorable match up against the Blue Devils. The senior transfer from USC is a fearless attacker, and if he has a mismatch, he has to get the most out of it in order for the Zags to win. I like Wesley's game, because he's not afraid to force the issue when the Zags get stagnant. When shit gets sticky for the Zags, he takes it upon himself to make a play. I'm not saying Wesley drops 30 or even 20, but don't be surprised if he has a big bucket down the stretch. Maybe it's because I've been drunk all day (WELCOME TO THE BLOG, BABY!), but I feel like this is finally the year for the Zags to reach their first Final Four.
Like I said last year, am I biased? Yes. Do I give a shit? Hell no!
FINAL FOUR AND CHAMPIONSHIP BREAKDOWNS COMING NEXT WEEK!!
Stats, photos, and other shit courtesy of:
Like I said last year, am I biased? Yes. Do I give a shit? Hell no!
FINAL FOUR AND CHAMPIONSHIP BREAKDOWNS COMING NEXT WEEK!!
Stats, photos, and other shit courtesy of:
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