Sweet Sixteen
Midwest Region-Left Side of Bracket
Thursday March 26, 2015
9:45 PM EST-CBS
25-9 (11-7) #5 West Virginia
36-0 (18-0) #1 Kentucky
(In Cleveland)
25-9 (11-7) #5 West Virginia
Great Wins:
-#17 Connecticut 78-68 in Championship of Puerto Rico Tip-Off.
-NC State 83-69 in Gotham Classic.
-#18 Oklahoma 86-65 (Home)
-#22 Oklahoma State 73-63 (Road)
Single-Digit Losses:
-LSU 74-73 (Home)
-#17 Iowa State 74-72 (Home)
-#9 Kansas 76-69 in Overtime (Road)
NCAA Tournament Run:
-#12 Buffalo 68-62 in Round of 64 (in Columbus)
-#4 Maryland 69-59 in Round of 32 (in Columbus)
Key Contributors:
---#3 Juwan Staten (SR)
-14.2 PPG, 2.8 RPG, 4.8 APG, & 1.1 SPG.
---#5 Devin Williams (SO)
-11.6 PPG & 8.2 RPG.
---#2 Jevon Carter (FR)
-8.2 PPG, 2.4 RPG, 1.8 APG, & 2.0 SPG.
---#1 Jonathan Holton (SR)
-7.6 PPG, 5.7 RPG, & 1.1 SPG.
---#4 Daxter Miles Jr. (FR)
-7.5 PPG, 2.3 RPG, & 1.1 SPG.
---#14 Gary Browne (SR)
-7.2 PPG, 1.9 RPG, & 1.3 SPG.
---#0 Jaysean Paige (JR)
-5.8 PPG, 1.9 RPG, & 1.1 SPG.
36-0 (18-0) #1 Kentucky
---SEC Regular Season Champions
---SEC Tournament Champions
Great Wins:
-#5 Kansas 72-40 in Champions Classic (in Indianapolis)
-#6 Texas 63-51 (Home)
-#21 North Carolina (Home)
-UCLA 83-44 in CBS Classic (in Chicago)
-#4 Louisville 58-50 (Road)
-#18 Arkansas 84-67 (Home)
-#21 Arkansas 78-63 in SEC Tournament Championship (in Nashville)
NCAA Tournament Run:
-#16 Hampton 79-56 in Round of 64 (in Louisville)
-#8 Cincinnati 64-51 in Round of 32 (in Louisville)
Key Contributors:
---#2 Aaron Harrison (SO)
-11.1 PPG, 2.5 RPG, & 1.2 APG.
---#1 Devin Booker (FR)
-10.1 PPG & 2.0 RPG.
---#12 Karl-Anthony Towns (FR)
-10.0 PPG, 6.8 RPG, & 2.4 BPG.
---#15 Willie Cauley-Stein (JR)
-9.3 PPG, 6.4 RPG, 1.7 BPG, & 1.3 SPG.
---#5 Andrew Harrison (SO)
-9.2 PPG, 2.2 RPG, & 3.6 APG.
---#41 Trey Lyles (FR)
-8.5 PPG & 5.3 RPG.
---#44 Dakari Johnson (SO)
-6.6 PPG & 4.8 RPG.
---#3 Tyler Ulis (FR)
-5.8 PPG, 1.9 RPG, 3.8 APG, & 1.0 SPG.
"[I] salute them [Kentucky] to getting to 36-0. But tomorrow they're gonna be 36-1." -West Virginia's Daxter Miles Jr. (FR)
Hmm, okay! Interesting prediction from the youngster Dexter Miles Jr., on Wednesday as he predicted a West Virginia win over undefeated Kentucky. Hahahaha like that is going to happen! But let's keep an open mind for now and review how the Mountaineers moved to the Sweet Sixteen.
Upset Alert! Upset Alert! Bobby Hurley's Buffalo team is going to upset Bob Huggins's West Virginia Mountaineers! That is what everyone heard from ESPN and other television networks that were making predictions when the NCAA Tournament field came out on Selection Sunday. Guess what?! That didn't happen as West Virginia, led by a combined thirty-two points from leading scorers Juwan Staten and Devin Williams, prevailed in a six-point victory. Two nights later, West Virginia played number four seeded Maryland for the right to go to the Sweet Sixteen, but I noticed they were playing differently. Then it The difference between West Virginia' in the Round of Sixty-Four and Round of Thirty-Two was huge
Prediction:
---#1 Kentucky 73, #5 West Virginia 61
7:15 PM EST-CBS
30-4 (17-1) #7 Wichita State
31-5 (14-4) #3 Notre Dame
(In Cleveland)
30-4 (17-1) #7 Wichita State
---Missouri Valley Conference Regular Season Champions
Solid Regular Season Wins:
-New Mexico State 71-54 (Home)
-Memphis 71-56 (in Sioux Falls)
-Seton Hall 77-68 (Home)
-Alabama 53-52 (Home)
-Illinois State 70-62 (Home)
-Loyola (IL) 67-53 (Road)
-Evansville 61-41 (Road)
-Indiana State 74-57 (Home)
-Illinois State 68-62 (Road)
-Evansville 62-43 (Home)
-Indiana State 63-53 (Road)
-#10 Northern Iowa 74-60 (Home)
Losses:
-#25 Utah 69-68 in Overtime (Road)
-George Washington 60-54 in the Championship of the Diamond Head Classic.
-#18 Northern Iowa 70-54 (Road)
-Illinois State 65-62 in Semi-Final of Missouri Valley Conference Tournament (Arch Madness) (in St. Louis)
NCAA Tournament Run:
-#10 Indiana 81-76 in Round of 64 (in Omaha)
-#2 Kansas 78-65 in Round of 32 (in Omaha)
Key Contributors:
---#31 Ron Baker (JR)
-14.9 PPG, 4.4 RPG, 2.5 APG, & 1.3 SPG.
---#23 Fred Van Vleet (JR)
-13.2 PPG, 4.4 RPG, 5.3 APG, & 1.9 SPG.
---#12 Darius Carter (SR)
-11.1 PPG & 5.3 RPG.
---#32 Tekele Cotton (SR)
-9.9 PPG, 4.0 RPG, 2.9 APG, & 1.5 SPG.
---#24 Shaquille Morris (FR)
-4.8 PPG & 2.7 RPG.
31-5 (14-4) #3 Notre Dame
---ACC Tournament Champions
Great Wins:
-#19 Michigan State 79-78 in Overtime of ACC/Big Ten Challenge (Home)
-#18 North Carolina 71-70 (Road)
-#4 Duke 77-73 (Home)
-#16 Louisville 71-59 (Road)
-#2 Duke 74-64 in Semi-Final of ACC Tournament (in Greensboro)
-#19 North Carolina 90-82 in ACC Tournament Championsip (in Greensboro)
Losses:
-Providence 75-74 in Semi-Final of Hall of Fame Tip-Off (in Uncasville, CT)
-#3 Virginia 62-56 (Home)
-Pittsburgh 76-72 (Road)
-#4 Duke 90-60 (Road)
-Syracuse 65-60 (Home)
NCAA Tournament Run:
-#14 Northeastern 69-65 in Round of 64 (in Pittsburgh)
-#6 Butler 67-64 in Overtime in Round of 32 (in Pittsburgh)
Key Contributors:
---#22 Jerian Grant (SR)
-16.8 PPG, 3.1 RPG, 6.6 APG, & 1.6 SPG.
---#30 Zach Auguste (JR)
-12.6 PPG & 6.4 RPG.
---#24 Pat Connaughton (SR)
-12.5 PPG & 7.3 RPG.
---#11 Demetrius Jackson (SO)
-12.4 PPG, 3.6 RPG, 3.0 APG, & 1.6 SPG.
---#32 Steve Vasturia (SO)
-9.8 PPG, 3.0 RPG, & 1.7 APG.
---#3 V.J. Beachem (SO)
-6.3 PPG.
---#35 Bonzie Colson (FR)
-5.6 PPG & 2.7 RPG.
Was it just me or did the best two rivilary match-ups of the first weekend occur in the bottom half of the Midwest Region? Lucky for we fans was the fact that the seeds held and were able to see two great matchups as the third seed Notre Dame faced the sixth seed Butler and number two seed Kansas played number seven seeded Wichita State. In the first mentioned, the Fighting Irish kept fighting and ended up prevailing in an edge of your seat game with Butler. Although, Star Senior Jerian Grant played very well and ended the night with seventeen points, five rebounds, and five assists, the player of the game had to be "Stud Sophomore" Steve Vasturia. Vasturia, who was held to his second lowing scoring total of the season at three pointd in the Round of 64, led Notre Dame with a season-high twenty points. While a Sophomore led the Fighting Irish, in Omaha Sunday, "The Fantastic Four" flexed their muscles in a rivilary game.
I think we can all say for certain that there was a reason Bill Self and Kansas never scheduled the Shockers during the regular season. Also, it can be said that Juniors Fred Van Vleet and Ron Baker, with Senior Defensive stopper Tekele Cotton made the young Sophomore guards from Lawrence look...well YOUNG. In fact not only the "Fantastic Four" (Baker, Van Vleet, Cotton, and Carter) doninated their opponent but the forgotten man, Evan Wessel, who drained four three-pointers for twelve points. With the offense clicking and the confidence high for coach Gregg Marshall's club, the defense led by All-Missouri Valley Conference Defensive members, Fred Van Vleet and Tekele Cotton, held the Jayhawks to 35.1% from the field. If the Shockers can do the same tonight, we should expect to hear the song that goes "You Don't Want to go to War, With the Shockers."
Prediction:
Let me make this simple, if the winning score is above sixty-seven points, Notre Dame wins, if under, Wichita State moves on. But besides the fact that the Fighting Irish are a great offensive team while the Shockers are the defensive power, I believe Notre Dame moves on to play the winner of Kentucky/West Virginia in the Elite Eight. For one, I think Notre Dame has more offensive weapons, and if they decide to put Van Vleet on Grant, and Tekele Cotton, Wichita State's best defender, on Pat Connaughton, Grant will feast on his counterpart. In addition, I do not forsee the hometown kid from Akron, Ohio, Darius Carter winning his matchup with Zach Auguste or Ron Baker versus Steve Vasturia and if that does not happen Notre Dame should dance right into the next round. And who knows, maybe if Cotton guards Grant and Connaghton is guarded by Wessel, CBS will stand for "Connaughton Blasts Shockers" on this night."
---#3 Notre Dame 70, #7 Wichita State 66
Midwest Region-Left Side of Bracket
Thursday March 26, 2015
7:47 PM EST-TBS
26-11 (11-7) #4 North Carolina
33-3 (16-2) #1 Wisconsin
(In Los Angeles)
26-11 (11-7) #4 North Carolina
Great Wins:
-#22 UCLA 78-56 in Consolation Bracket of Battle 4 Atlantis.
-#18 Florida 75-64 in Consolation Championship of Battle 4 Atlantis.
-#12 Ohio State 82-74 in CBS Sports Classic (in Chicago)
-#5 Louisville 72-71 (Home)
-NC State 81-79 (Home)
-#14 Louisville 70-60 in Quarterfinal of ACC Tournament (in Greensboro)
-#3 Virginia 71-67 in Semi-Final of ACC Tournament (in Greensboro)
Losses to Unranked Opponents:
-Butler 74-66 in Quarterfinal of Battle 4 Atlantis.
-Iowa 60-55 in ACC/Big 10 (Home)
-Pittsburgh 89-76 (Road)
-NC State 58-46 (Home)
NCAA Tournament Run:
-#13 Harvard 67-65 in Round of 64 (in Jacksonville)
-#5 Arkansas 87-78 in Round of 32 (in Jacksonville)
Key Contributors:
---#5 Marcus Paige (JR)
-14.1 PPG, 2.9 RPG, 4.5 APG, & 1.7 SPG.
---#11 Brice Johnson (JR)
-12.9 PPG, 7.9 RPG, & 1.1 BPG.
---#3 Kennedy Meeks (SO)
-11.6 PPG, 7.4 RPG, & 1.3 BPG.
---#44 Justin Jackson (FR)
-10.6 PPG, 3.7 RPG, & 2.3 APG.
---#13 J.P. Tokoto (JR)
-8.4 PPG, 5.6 RPG, 4.3 APG, & 1.5 SPG.
---#22 Isaiah Hicks (SO)
-6.6 PPG & 2.9 RPG.
---#0 Nate Britt (SO)
-5.5 PPG.
33-3 (16-2) #1 Wisconsin
---Big Ten Regular Season Champions
Great Wins:
-Georgetown 68-65 in Semi-Final of Battle 4 Atlantis.
-Oklahoma 69-56 in Championship of Battle 4 Atlantis.
-#25 Iowa 82-50 (Home)
-Michigan State 68-61 (Home)
-#23 Ohio State 72-48 (Road)
-Michigan State 80-69 in Overtime in Big Ten Championship (in Chicago)
Losses:
-#4 Duke 80-70 in ACC/Big 10 Challenge (Home)
-Rutgers 67-62 (Road)
-#14 Maryland 59-53 (Road)
NCAA Tournament Run:
-#16 Coastal Carolina 86-72 in Round of 64 (in Omaha)
-#8 Oregon 72-65 in Round of 32 (in Omaha)
Key Contributors:
---#44 Frank Kaminsky (SR)
-18.4 PPG, 8.1 RPG, 2.7 APG, & 1.5 BPG.
---#15 Sam Dekker (JR)
-13.3 PPG & 5.4 RPG.
---#10 Nigel Hayes (SO)
-12.6 PPG, 6.4 RPG, & 2.1 APG.
---#12 Traevon Jackson (SR)
(Is expected to play despite missing the last 19 games with foot injury.)
-9.4 PPG, 1.7 RPG, 2.9 APG, & 1.1 SPG.
---#24 Bronson Koenig (SO)
-8.6 PPG, 1.7 RPG, & 2.4 RPG.
---#21 Josh Gasser (SR)
-6.8 PPG, 3.4 RPG, & 1.7 APG.
---#13 Duje Dukan (SR)
-4.9 PPG & 2.7 RPG.
For most people these two teams were suppose to get this far, but for these two Sweet Sixteen teams the road was not as easy as some may believe. After surviving three game-winning attempts from Harvard in the last forty seconds of their Round of sixty-four game, the fourth seeded North Carolina Tar Heels' defense held Bobby Portis and Michael Qualls' Arkansas Razorbacks to 36.9% shooting from the field in a track meet of a game that ended with the score of 87-78. While the defense was contesting just enough shots to keep the margin of victory in a good position, Marcus Paige led the offense with twenty-two points, six rebounds, and five assists. Helping Paige in the scoring department was underclassmen Justin Jackson and Nate Britt and Junior J.P. Tokoto, who combined for thirty-nine points. In addition, the Tar Heels second leading scorer, Brice Johnson was a rebounding machine and grabbed thirteen rebounds on the evening. The same performance from the previously mentioned players, if not more, will be required if UNC wants to enjoy more than one night in L.A.
The Tar Heels opponent tonight, and the top seeded team in the West Region is the Wisconsin Badgers. The Badgers, who were picked by many to get to the Final Four for the second straight season, won easily in their first game against Coastal Carolina and then survived a huge thirty-point game by Oregon star Joseph Young in the Round of 32. Star Senior on Wisconsin Frank Kaminsky had a good game against the Ducks as he continued to raise draft stock with seven rebounds to go along with sixteen points. Other players that greatly contributed included Sam Dekker, Nigel Hayes, and Bronson Koenig, who bucketed forty-three of their team's seventy-two points.
Prediction:
Can North Carolina hang around with Wisconsin? Sure they can! The Tar Heels have many weapons that can score the baskeball and cause trouble for Wisconsin's defense, which comes in allowing only 56.8 points per game to opponents. Personally, both teams are very easily matched besides at the point guard position, where North Carolina has an advantage because of Marcus Paige and at the center position, where Wisconsin has the better player in Frank Kamisky. With that being said, the team that can get the most production outside their stars will win this game in my opinion. But the reason that I see the Badgers winning is because of Kaminsky and how great of a player he is. Not only can "Frank the Tank" dominate in the post, but he can step out on the perimeter and knock down a trey (Kaminsky comes in shooting 40.7 from beyond the arc). Think about it, not too many players in college can be a threat from inside and outside, which makes him very hard to guard. Lastly, the play of Marcus Paige this season had been very inconsistent, which makes him someone I feel could struggle and have another off-shooting night like against Arkansas. Nevertheless, I expect a great game that gives the star-studded state of California exactly what it wants on a Thursday Night in the month of March.
---#1 Wisconsin 73, #4 North Carolina 67
10:07 PM EST-TBS
23-13 (9-9) #6 Xavier
33-3 (16-2) #2 Arizona
(In Los Angeles)
23-13 (9-9) #6 Xavier
Great Wins:
-#25 Georgetown 70-53 (Home)
-#19 Seton Hall 69-58 (Home)
-#21 Georgetown 66-53 (Road)
-#19 Butler 73-56 (Home)
-#22 Butler 67-61 in Overtime in Quarterfinal of Big East Tournament (in New York City).
-#23 Georgetown 65-63 in Semi-Final of Big East Tournament (in New York City).
"Never Shoulda Happened" Losses:
-UTEP 77-73 in Semi-Final of Wooden Legacy.
-Long Beach State 73-70 in Third Place Game of Wooden Legacy.
-Auburn 89-88 in Overtime (Road)
-Creighton 79-72 in Overtime (Home)
NCAA Tournament Run:
-#11 Ole Miss 76-57 in Round of 64 (in Jacksonville)
-#14 Georgia State 75-67 in Round of 32 (in Jacksonville)
Key Contributors:
---#40 Matt Stainbrook (SR)
-12.3 PPG, 6.9 RPG, & 2.4 APG.
---#5 Trevon Bluiett (FR)
-11.0 PPG, 4.2 RPG, & 1.9 APG.
---#15 Myles Davis (SO)
-10.6 PPG, 2.4 RPG, & 2.1 APG.
---#1 Jalen Reynolds (SO)
-9.9 PPG, 6.1 RPG, & 1.0 BPG.
---#11 Dee Davis (SR)
-9.0 PPG, 2.4 RPG, 6.0 APG, & 1.3 SPG.
---#10 Remy Abell (JR)
-8.4 PPG & 2.0 RPG.
---#55 J.P. Macura (FR)
-5.4 PPG.
33-3 (16-2) #2 Arizona
---PAC-12 Regular Season Champions
---PAC-12 Tournament Champions
Great Wins:
-#15 San Diego State 61-59 in Championship of Maul Invitational
-#9 Gonzaga 66-63 in Overtime (Home)
-#8 Utah 69-51 (Home)
-Oregon 90-56 (Home)
-UCLA 57-47 (Home)
-#13 Utah 63-57 (Road)
-UCLA 70-64 in Semi-Final of PAC-12 Tournament (in Las Vegas).
-Oregon 80-52 in PAC-12 Championship (in Las Vegas).
Losses:
-UNLV 71-67 (Road)
-Oregon State 58-56 (Road)
-Arizona State 81-78 (Road)
NCAA Tournament Run:
-#15 Texas Southern 93-72 in Round of 64 (in Portland)
-#10 Ohio State 73-58 in Round of 32 (in Portland)
Key Players:
---#5 Stanley Johnson (FR)
-14.0 PPG, 6.6 RPG, 1.7 APG, & 1.5 SPG.
---#21 Brandon Ashley (JR)
-12.1 PPG & 5.2 RPG.
---#23 Rondae Hollis-Jefferson (SO)
-11.1 PPG, 6.8 RPG, & 1.2 SPG.
---#4 T.J. McConnell (SR)
-10.3 PPG, 3.9 RPG, 6.3 APG, & 2.2 SPG.
---#35 Kaleb Tarczewski (JR)
-9.2 PPG & 5.3 RPG.
---#1 Gabe York (JR)
-9.1 PPG & 2.1 RPG.
Prediction:
---#2 Arizona 70, #6 Xavier 60
East Region-Right Side of Bracket
Friday March 27, 2015
7:37 PM EST-TBS
22-13 (10-8) #8 NC State
26-8 (12-6) #4 Louisville
(In Syracuse)
22-13 (10-8) #8 NC State
Great Wins:
-#2 Duke 87-75 (Home)
-#9 Louisville 74-65 (Road)
-#15 North Carolina 58-46 (Road)
"Never Shoulda Happened" Losses:
-Wofford 55-54 (Home)
-Clemson 68-57 (Home)
-Wake Forest 88-84 (Road)
-Boston College 79-63 (Road)
Tournament Run:
-#9 LSU 66-65 in Round of 64 (in Pittsburgh)
-#1 Villanova 71-68 in Round of 32 (in Pittsburgh)
Key Contributors:
---#1 Trevor Lacey (JR)
-15.7 PPG, 4.6 RPG, & 3.5 APG.
---#22 Ralston Turner (SR)
-12.8 PPG & 3.3 RPG.
---#12 Anthony Barber (SO)
-12.1 PPG, 3.3 RPG, & 3.7 APG.
---#32 Kyle Washington (SO)
-6.8 PPG, 4.1 RPG, & 1.1 BPG.
---#0 Abdul-Malik Abu (FR)
10:07 PM EST-TBS
25-11 (12-6) #7 Michigan State
24-10 (12-6) #3 Oklahoma
(In Syracuse)
South Region-Right Side of Bracket
Friday March 27, 2015
7:15 PM EST-CBS
22-13 (11-7) #11 UCLA
34-2 (17-1) #2 Gonzaga
(In Houston)
9:45 PM EST-CBS
26-8 (13-5) #5 Utah
31-4 (15-3) #1 Duke
(In Houston)
PW's NCAA Tournament Pick'em Record: 4-0
PW's Postseason Pick'em Record: 4-0
PW's Missouri Valley Conference Tournament Prediction Record: 8-1
PW's Regular Season Prediction Record: 205-70 (81-18 in the MVC)
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