Elite 8 - Part 2

Today is going to be a good day of games. You have two #1 vs. #2 games. Like I said before, I have my pick for NCAA champion playing today.

2:20pm EST

Michigan St. vs. Louisville - Michigan State pulled out a close one against Kansas. The thing they showed me is that they have that fight in them. They were down 13 and they ended up winning. I like Lucas and the rest of this cast, but the light they see coming down the tunnel is a train. Louisville looked awesome playing against Arizona. I mean the Wildcats had a rough time inbounding the ball. I think Rick Pitino got a basket during the game (let me check the box score). Louisville looked so good, I can't in good confidence pick anyone over them right now.

Projected Winner - Louisville

5:05pm EST

Oklahoma vs. North Carolina - Oklahoma showed me something against Syracuse. I think that they showed me that they can play even without their All American, Blake Griffin. This team has scoring on the perimeter and when they have Blake Griffin in the post, he's gonna get you 20 and 10 if he's sleep walking. North Carolina destroyed Gonzaga in the same manner that Louisville beat Arizona. I think that Carolina is deep enough in the front court to handle Blake Griffin. The Heels are deeper and they have the better point guard in Ty Lawson. Lawson looked okay yesterday, but if you watched him he was running differently, he wasn't running on his toes, he was running flat footed. With back to back games, we'll see just how good that toe is feeling. Still, Heels will be too much.

Projected Winner - North Carolina

Sweet Sixteen - Part 2

Great games last night, but tonight is THE night. In most of my brackets, the winner of the tournament is coming from one of these games. Let's take a look at the tale of the tape.

7:07pm EST - Arizona vs. Louisville - Yes, I was surprised that Arizona made the tournament, but once they were in, I knew they'd mess up some people's brackets. These guys have talent and actually started playing well late in the season and they look like the team that many thought they would be throughout the year. They have their own big 3 in Budinger, Hill, and Wise. These guys have NBA talent and they are scary.

Louisville has the best coach to ever wear a white suit and a few guys that will just flat out out play you. Terrance Williams is possibly the best all around player in the tournament and when you add Clark and Samuels to the mix, that makes this pressing and running team tough to beat. I have Louisville in the title game, so there should be no question about which team I pick.

Projected Winner: Louisville

7:27pm EST

Syracuse vs. Oklahoma - The team on the roll against the team with the National Player of the Year (yes let's just go ahead and give it to Blake Griffin, no one even close). The Cuse as we all have seen (whoever stayed up to watch that 6 OT game against UCONN) have been playing well. They have one of the best point guards in the country in Jonny Flynn. Along with Flynn they have 4 other guys that average 10+ points a game. To me that means that any of these guys could go off on you at any time. Dangerous team.

Oklahoma is led by Griffin. Blake Griffin. He's a double double machine and he just seems to command attention. The Syracuse 2-3 zone will help limit his touches where he's most dangerous, in the paint. Oklahoma is going to have to hope their guards can hit those 3's. So, with that said, Austin Johnson is going to have to be hitting on all cylinders.

Projected Winner: Syracuse

9:37pm EST

Kansas vs. Michigan State - Big Ten vs. Big 12. This Kansas team is dangerous because they are deep. Bill Self might play 12 people tonight. Sherron Collins is the cog in the wheel, but this team is balanced and they play a good team game. Aldrich already had a big game, can he do it again?

Michigan State is led by Kalin Lucas and Raymar Morgan. But this Spartan team is also balanced and they push the ball pretty well. Coach Izzo has his team poised to make some noise this year, and I think they take care of Kansas.

Projected Winner: Michigan State

9:57pm EST

Gonzaga vs. North Carolina - Never has a big toe caused such a stir. Ty Lawson has said he will play and everyone wearing Carolina blue is praying for his toe to heal. If Lawson is at full strength, I don't see anyone beating them. They have too many horses in Ellington, Hansbrough, Green, Thompson, and Frasor. Without Lawson, the Heels will have problems with Gonzaga.

Gonzaga is playing well and they look to be a tough out. I am going to say that I am a Josh Heytvelt fan. This guy hustles and he can stretch the floor with his shooting range. He's a forward but plays mostly center for this team. Austin Daye gives the Bulldogs a Twin Towers look. Although Daye is probably 100 pounds wet with weights on, he throws his body around on the boards and has a decent mid range game for a big. You throw in Bouldin and Pargo and you got a chance for an upset.

Projected Winner: UNC


Ok, I did go with the ACC with my picks, but I think they pull this whole thing off. Can Gonzaga beat UNC? Do you see any other upsets happening?

Trojan Upset

Corvallis, Oregon. Before last night, I didn't even know this place existed. For most Trojan fans, it's a place that they will never want to return to, but they will think about it for the rest of this year. The Oregon State Beavers shocked the world last night by beating the #1 team in the nation, the USC Trojans. The stadium looked like a bad orange juice commercial, but it was orange and the fans were loud as the Beavers jumped out to a 21-0 score going into halftime. The Beavers were led by diminutive freshman running back, Jacquizz Rodgers. This guy ran for 186 yards on 37 carries and had 2 TDs. Jacquizz is 5-6 and 180 pounds, until last night. He had to have lost about 10 pounds from the workout he had. 37 carries against a stout USC defense that just destroyed #5 Ohio State weeks ago. The Beavers played an all around great game on both sides of the ball. Rodgers got all of the sizzle for the game but his O line did work. They were running the ball right up the middle of the USC D. No trick plays, not too much motion, just 'hey we're running the ball right here'. The Beavers D did a great job also. They pressured the normally unflappable Sanchez for most of the night. They played some kind of zone that gave the Trojans fits because the defensive backs were just playing an area (which is normal in a zone), they were allowed to read the patterns of the receivers and make plays. USC looked out of sorts and never really got it together. Sanchez was over throwing receivers, sure handed Joe McKnight couldn't hold on to the ball or get those lanes that he's used to running down hill through. As good as they looked against Ohio State, they looked as equally bad against the Beavers. I'm not saying that to give the Trojans a pass, because they got it handed to them the entire game last night by a gutty Oregon State team. The noise you heard last night were the fireworks going of in Oklahoma, Florida, Georgia, and LSU.