Stellar Thursday-Friday as the Road to NRG Stadium in Houston continues with the Sweet 16 on deck. Here are brief previews and predictions.
Thursday
East Region
No.7 Michigan State (seeded) vs. No. 3 Kansas State
Records: Michigan State (21-12), Kansas State, (25-9)
Madison Squeah Gahden, New Yawk, New Yawk
5:30 PM CT
TBS
Mich State by 2
This is going to be a slugfest and more like a hard hitting, physical football game than a basketball game; though there is plenty of skill on both sides. Kansas State point Markquis Nowell is the best point guard left in the tournament, and one of the top five players still in the tournament. But I’ll take Tom Izzo and the Spartans, barely.
Michigan State 67, Kansas State 66
West Region
No. 8 Arkansas (22-13) vs. No. 4 UConn (27-8)
T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas
6:15 PM CT
CBS
UConn by 3 1/2
Maybe I’m picking the Huskies because I don’t want to see Eric Musselman take off his shirt again. Come on, Musselman. Let’s not do that again. Please.
UConn 65, Arkanas 61
East Region
No. 9 Florida Atlantic (33-3) vs. No.4 Tennessee (25-10)
The Gahden, again
8 PM CT
TBS
UT by 5 1/2
I loved what I saw out of the Vols last Sunday versus Duke. They keep that up and they have a shot to make it to Houston and advance there.
Tennessee 62, FAU 55
West Region
No. 2 UCLA (31-5) vs. No.3 Gonzaga (30-5)
T-Mobile Arena, Vegas
8:45 PM CT
CBS
Bruins by 2
I picked the Zags to win it all in my bracket, so I can’t go against that, though this will be a war.
Gonzaga 66, UCLA 64
Friday
South Region
No.1 Alabama (31-5) vs. No.5 San Diego State (29-6)
KFC Yumi Center, Louisville
5:30 PM CT
TBS
Bama by 7 1/2
It’s hard to think of Alabama basketball and not think about the tragedy a couple of months ago and how poorly Nate Oats and the Alabama administration handled it. S has run into a problem with freshman Tony Mitchell, a high 4 star safety from Thompson High School in Birmingham. Mitchell was driving 141 MPH in Florida and had a lot of pot and money in the car along with a gun. S said there is no such thing as wrong place, wrong time. He’s suspended indefinitely. This guy will be held accountable. Too bad Nate Oats, Athletics Director Greg Byrne and President Stuart R. Bell didn’t get that memo. It just doesn’t seem like they care. And that’s pathetic.
Alabama 60, San Diego State 56
Midwest Region
No.5 Miami (27-7) vs. No. 1 Houston (33-3)
T-Mobile Center, Kansas City
6:15 PM CT
CBS
Houston by 7
Houston looked like the best team in the country in the second half last Saturday against Auburn at Legacy Arena in Birmingham. Amazing how this Committee put Auburn in Birmingham and let them have consecutive home games as a No.9 seed. I thought the committee lacked intelligence in some of their decisions. The No.1 seed didn’t care. I like the Cougars to take the next step.
Houston 74, Miami 66
South Region
No.15 Princeton (23-8) vs,. No.6 Creighton (23-12)
KFC Yumi Center, Lousiville
8 PM CT
TBS
Creighton by 10
The Tigers have been an amazing story. Knocking off No.1 seed Purdue, wow. Purdue struggles in the tournament, but Princeton blasted Missouri on Saturday as well. I do like Creighton here, but that takes nothing away from what Princeton has accomplished. They’ll scrap, that’s for sure.
Creighton 64, Princeton 60
Midwest Region
No. 3 Xavier (27-90 vs. No.2 Texas (28-8)
T-Mobile Center, KC
8:45 PM CT
CBS
Texas by 4
I’ve got Hook’em Horns in my Final Four, so need to take them. Looking for a thrilluh here.
8 Responses
As you stated there should be some great games in the sweet 16. There is a classic NIT game tomorrow night with Vandy playing the Blazers of UAB. Looking forward to all of the games DW.
Thanks, Bama G. Yes, very pumped for Wednesday Night in Memorial.
Like your picks, DW! Tom Izzo’s teams always seem to pick it up in the NCAA tournament. Would like to see "Mr. March" Izzo make it to the final four. Agree with your comments on the Alabama program.
Thanks a ton, T!
Like your picks.
Alabama has the easiest route. Every other region will be a war.
Looks like Alabama/Houston/UConn and KState to me based on opponents and how they looked the last week
Thanks, MB. I like MIch State, but that’s fine. K State is high quality.
Looking forward to this slate of teams in this 16.
Great information. Thx.
Me too, SH. Thanks a lot.