This is basically a battle of talented teams who did not play to their potential this season. Everyone knows Texas started off 17-0 and climbed to the top of the polls only to go 7-9 the rest of the way, and eventually fall all the way out of the Top 25. Texas became only the 5th team in NCAA history to fall from #1 to out of the top 25 in the same season. Wake Forest had all the talent this season to compete for an ACC title, especially since it was a down year for the conference. With NBA prospect Al-Farouq Aminu return to Wake Forest, everyone expected more from Wake Forest but they did not live up to the hype. Both of these teams do not lack size and it should be a battle down low as Texas’ Dexter Pittman is 6-10 and Wake Forest’s Chas McFarland is 7 foot. The winner of this game will have Kentucky to look forward to next round.
If Texas can get back to playing like they were at the beginning of the season, then the sky is the limit for them. I’ve wanted to pick Kentucky to lose this game because they sometimes play down to the level of competition and Texas has the length to matchup with Kentucky. Also, Avery Bradley of Texas has the defense to contain John Wall. Bradley’s defense alone makes him a late 1st round prospect this year as a freshman! Best matchup will be DeMarcus Cousins (Kentucky) vs. Dexter Pittman (Texas) as both players are mirror images of each other, but Cousins is a lot better. The upset could happen, but I’d say the safe bet is to pencil in Kentucky as the winner.
I honestly will not consider this an upset when/if Cornell beats Temple. This is the safest bet for a 12 seed to win in all of this year’s 5-12 matchups. Temple is good, but a team like Cornell is built for the NCAA Tournament.
Like I previously stated, Cornell is a team that is built for the NCAA Tournament. They are the best 3-point shooting team in the tournament, and the ability to knock down the 3-ball makes them one of the most dangerous teams. Also Cornell has two skilled big men, including a 7-footer. So, don’t think that Cornell is all 3-pointers, but one of their big men, Ryan Wittman (well he doesn’t really play the PF/C role), is 6-7 and has hit 100 3’s this season, including a record 6 in the Ivy League Championship game. They will give every team they play hell, including Kentucky (Jay Bilas has Cornell beating Kentucky and advancing to the Elite 8, I’m not that brave!)
Hobson easily is one of the hottest players in the nation entering the tournament. After mysteriously not playing his first two-years at New Mexico, for reasons I do not know, he is averaging a cool 16.2 ppg, 9.2 rpg, and 4.6 apg as a 6-7 combo guard. He is the definition of a stat sheet stuffer, and if New Mexico plans on going far in the tournament they will need him to continue his brilliant play. He’s entering the tournament off of a “bad” game where he had 15 points, 7 rebounds, 7 assists, 2 steals, and a block. See what I mean about stat sheet stuffer.
Um DUH! Obvious choice, I know! Do I really need to even write anything about John Wall? You know enough! He’s averaging 16.9 ppg, 6.4 apg, and 4.2 apg all that while being the leader of a team filled with NBA talent.
I hate picking #1 vs #2 because it barely happens, but this should happen. Both of these teams are the most talented and deepest teams in this region. As of now, I’m picking West Virginia to win a close game over Kentucky because of their senior leader in Da’Sean Butler. If Butler continues to play the way he did in the Big East Tournament, then West Virginia will be in the Final Four!
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