The Sweet Sixteen
I have been debating starting up a blog that focuses in on the Southern Utah sports scene for a while and I have finally decided to launch it. For what it is worth, this first post will focus in on the NCAA Tournament and the round of sixteen. Here is a little primer on what to look for both today and tomorrow.
#1 Duke vs. #4 LSU--in a lot of cases I look for the team with the better inside presence to win out and so the Tigers have a leg up using traditional thought, but this is Duke and they have some pretty special players. I suggest you look for both Sheldon Williams and Josh McRoberts to look to get to the line early by taking it right into the chests of the LSU big men. Redick will score his, but look for the real damage to be done by Williams. My pick--Duke by 7.
#2 Texas vs. #6 West Virginia--Yes, The Mountaineers have been here before and, yes, they have exceptional big men, who can shoot, but Texas is playing with purpose now and they have every bit the talent of the top teams in this tourney. This will be close but look for the Longhorns to get to the line late and pull away. My pick--Texas by 6.
#1 Memphis vs. #13 Bradley--On the outside, it would be foolish to choose Bradley to beat the Tigers, but...but...nothing. The speed and athleticism of Memphis will ultimately lead them to a blowout in this one. I hope I'm wrong, but Calipari beats teams he's supposed to beat and even though his team is young it is unbelievably disciplined. My pick--Memphis by 15.
#2 UCLA vs. #3 Gonzaga--These teams are very evenly matched in almost every single way, except one; defense. UCLA can defend and Gonzaga cannot. In the end that will prove to be the big difference in this one. Gonzaga needs Raivio and Altidor-Cespedes to come up big and I don't see it happening. My pick--UCLA by 9.
#1 Connecticut vs. #5 Washington--I am tempted to switch on this game if only because Connecticut hasn't found its rhythm yet and Washington definitely has. Roy and Dentmon have been awesome so far in the tourney, but I think Jim Calhoun will find a way to eliminate their penetration and that will make them very vulnerable to a team that will get out and break opportunistically. My pick--Connecticut by 11.
#7 Wichita State vs. #11 George Mason--I didn't think I'd see this matchup at all when I first looked at the brackets, but here it is. I like that George Mason won this one back during the Bracket Busters, but this is a different tourney and the Shockers look to be the more dangerous team. This will be tight but look for the Shockers to pull away in the second half. My pick--Wichita State by 3.
#1 Villanova vs. #4 Boston College--I am a believer in the fact that guards win tournaments, but I really like B.C. in this matchup. I am not going to get into an X's and O's discussion because I'd talk myself out of my pick. That said, my pick is BC by 5.
#3 Florida vs. #7 Georgetown--I am picking Florida over everyone right now. Georgetown has played exceptionally disciplined b-ball to this point and that slow down may harass the Gators for a little while, but this Gator team is so intelligent and so quick on both sides of the ball that I think they will pull away pretty easily. My pick--Florida by 10.
So that's it, folks. Welcome to the Southern Utah Sports Blog, where I will try to touch all the pertinent local sports as well as the big sports we all love and know. Welcome and Come Back.
#1 Duke vs. #4 LSU--in a lot of cases I look for the team with the better inside presence to win out and so the Tigers have a leg up using traditional thought, but this is Duke and they have some pretty special players. I suggest you look for both Sheldon Williams and Josh McRoberts to look to get to the line early by taking it right into the chests of the LSU big men. Redick will score his, but look for the real damage to be done by Williams. My pick--Duke by 7.
#2 Texas vs. #6 West Virginia--Yes, The Mountaineers have been here before and, yes, they have exceptional big men, who can shoot, but Texas is playing with purpose now and they have every bit the talent of the top teams in this tourney. This will be close but look for the Longhorns to get to the line late and pull away. My pick--Texas by 6.
#1 Memphis vs. #13 Bradley--On the outside, it would be foolish to choose Bradley to beat the Tigers, but...but...nothing. The speed and athleticism of Memphis will ultimately lead them to a blowout in this one. I hope I'm wrong, but Calipari beats teams he's supposed to beat and even though his team is young it is unbelievably disciplined. My pick--Memphis by 15.
#2 UCLA vs. #3 Gonzaga--These teams are very evenly matched in almost every single way, except one; defense. UCLA can defend and Gonzaga cannot. In the end that will prove to be the big difference in this one. Gonzaga needs Raivio and Altidor-Cespedes to come up big and I don't see it happening. My pick--UCLA by 9.
#1 Connecticut vs. #5 Washington--I am tempted to switch on this game if only because Connecticut hasn't found its rhythm yet and Washington definitely has. Roy and Dentmon have been awesome so far in the tourney, but I think Jim Calhoun will find a way to eliminate their penetration and that will make them very vulnerable to a team that will get out and break opportunistically. My pick--Connecticut by 11.
#7 Wichita State vs. #11 George Mason--I didn't think I'd see this matchup at all when I first looked at the brackets, but here it is. I like that George Mason won this one back during the Bracket Busters, but this is a different tourney and the Shockers look to be the more dangerous team. This will be tight but look for the Shockers to pull away in the second half. My pick--Wichita State by 3.
#1 Villanova vs. #4 Boston College--I am a believer in the fact that guards win tournaments, but I really like B.C. in this matchup. I am not going to get into an X's and O's discussion because I'd talk myself out of my pick. That said, my pick is BC by 5.
#3 Florida vs. #7 Georgetown--I am picking Florida over everyone right now. Georgetown has played exceptionally disciplined b-ball to this point and that slow down may harass the Gators for a little while, but this Gator team is so intelligent and so quick on both sides of the ball that I think they will pull away pretty easily. My pick--Florida by 10.
So that's it, folks. Welcome to the Southern Utah Sports Blog, where I will try to touch all the pertinent local sports as well as the big sports we all love and know. Welcome and Come Back.
posted by Cool Dad at 11:57 AM
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