Eight more games determines this year’s Sweet 16. Thumbnail tales for each Regional quarter-final.
Gonzaga – Syracuse: Two teams in mirror image of each other. Senior shooting guards contribute glue-like play-making attributes. Matt Bouldin (Gonzaga) and Andy Rautins (Syracuse) are one in the same. Bouldin scores 15 and assists on four a game. Rautins scores almost 12 and assists on five. Brandon Triche (SU) and Demetri Goodson (Gonzaga) inherited the point from some flashy players – Jonny Flynn and Jeremy Pargo – do you remember him? SU scores 81 a game; Gonzaga goes for 77. The Zags can match the tempo of the Orange, but can they sustain it?
Georgia Tech – Ohio State: Evan Turner is known to many. Gani Lawal and Derrick Favors should be. Both teams score 73 a game. The Ramblin’ Wreck could match the Buckeyes for physical play.
Cornell – Wisconsin: Screens, back door cuts, one foot in the paint on help side. The only thing missing would be the peach baskets. Coaches, cue the tape. This will be a how-to video.
Missouri – West Virginia: Now that we know the Big East is not the best conference by far (the Big Least also does not fit), this game could serve as an accurate gauge. Missouri gets 11 steals per game. The Mountaineers aren’t exactly known for their ball-handling. Kevin Jones averages almost four offensive rebounds per game for West Virginia.
Michigan State – Maryland: Tom Izzo and Gary Williams – do you need anymore motivation to watch this game? With the Kansas loss, pundits think the Midwest opened up for Ohio State. Did they forget about these two teams? Kalin Lucas and Greivis Vasquez don’t take losing lightly. Do you think they get their attitudes from their respective coaches?
Xavier – Pittsburgh: A re-match of last year’s East Regional semi-final. The Panthers won that one 60-55. How will the Panthers neutralize Jordan Crawford? How will the Musketeers respond? Xavier’s Jason Love 11.7 and 8.5. The Panthers will need to keep a body on him.
Texas A&M – Purdue: It looks like the Boilermakers have recovered from the loss of Robbie Hummel. Both teams get 71 a game. Can the Aggies get that many when the Boilermakers limit their number of possessions?
California – Duke: Cal bounced the Blue Devils back in 1993. Can the Golden Bears reach back into history and find that mojo? Is this Jon Scheyer’s last NCAA game?
Comments? Insights? Opinions? Reactions? Reflections? Let’s hear it from the Pine.
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