If you go by the seeding, then this game is a mismatch in West Virginia's favor. That is far from the truth as Washington has just as much talent as West Virginia. Both teams are hot. Washington is on a 9 game win streak and West Virginia is on a 8 game win streak.
West Virginia
Bad news for West Virginia coming into this game, as they lose their starting point guard Darryl "Truck" Bryant for the rest of the tournament due to an injury. The loss isn't a big deal, because he was playing his way out of the starting lineup anyway. He's been lost lately, as he's averaged 4 points and 2 assists in the tourney games.
West Virginia will depend on Joe Mazzulla to run the offense, which he has been doing better than Bryant already. He's averaging 4 assists in the tourney and plays great defense, but he offers little to nothing on offense. If Mazzulla can stay in front of Washington's Isiah Thomas, then West Virginia will have no trouble winning this game. That's not an easy task at all.
No question De'Sean Butler and Devin Ebanks will show up to provide West Virginia with offense, as they are the best forward duo in the nation in my opinion. They will need a player like Kevin Jones to contribute also. Also, if Mazzulla gets into foul trouble it will be smart for West Virginia to give Butler the ball handling duties.
WashingtonAfter a surprisingly easy defeat of New Mexico, no one is sleeping on Washington anymore. So ignore the fact that they're a #11 seed! Plus everyone knows if a team makes it to the Sweet 16, then they are capable of winning.
Washington has two players with extreme NBA potential. Both Quincy Pondexter (18 ppg & 8 rpg) and Isiah Thomas (17 ppg & 7.5 apg) are putting up solid numbers so far in the tournament. They will have to be on their A game against West Virginia. Thomas needs to try to get West Virginia's Mazzulla in foul, because it will make West Virginia make major lineup changes. Pondexter needs to continue to will his team to victory.
In order for Washington to pull the upset, they will need Matthew Bryan-Amaning and Elston Turner to continue their solid play in the tourney. Bryan-Amaning is giving Washington 13ppg, while Turner is providing 12 off the bench.
My Pick: I have to go with West Virginia in this game, but the upset can happen. The way West Virginia likes to wear their opponents down will be key. Also, I love West Virginia's overall enthusiasm, as you can tell they love playing together! Although Washington ran through New Mexico, they have to play another physical Big East team. They didn't do so well against Marquette's physicality.
Classic David vs Goliath matchup here. Kentucky is led by three freshman and a junior, who plays the role of the "senior" leader. All four of those players could end up first round draft picks in THIS year's NBA draft. Cornell is a smart team that loves to shoot 3's, and once they are in front it is hard to comeback on them. Also, with the game being played 60 miles away from Cornell's campus, the fans will be in attendance rooting for Cornell.
KentuckyEveryone knows this team, and most people love this team. Calipari took his pre-NBA showcase from Memphis to Kentucky and got the same results, wins. Hopefully in a few years all the things that this team accomplishes won't be thrown out the window due to NCAA violations.
Kentucky has had ZERO problems so far in the NCAA tournament, and that can continue in the Sweet 16 as long as John Wall, Eric Bledsoe, DeMarcus Cousins, and Patrick Patterson show up. Honestly they only need these four players to win this game. I smell a mismatch as Wall and Bledsoe should have no problem getting the hole, and Cousins and Patterson are too strong down low.
If Kentucky can get Daniel Orton to play like he did the first round, then they will cruise to victory. Orton had 8 points, 7 rebounds, and 3 blocks. I don't think people recognize but Orton would be a star at any other school, and once Cousins and Patterson are gone he will play himself into the NBA draft lottery.
CornellCornell may be the story of the tournament so far, but honestly a lot of experts picked them to be in the Sweet 16 (including myself). They are on a 9 game win streak, and turned some heads after beating Wisconsin by 18. Cornell is a smart team, as they ironically come out of the Ivy League.
They shot 53% (8-15) from 3's in that Wisconsin game, and have hit 17 total through the first two rounds. They will need that success to beat Kentucky, because they simply do not match up with Kentucky. Louis Dale (23.5 ppg) and Ryan Wittman (22 ppg) have to keep knocking down their shots.
Cornell's 7-footer Jeff Foote needs to be ready to play defense down low because Kentucky has height, as they are the tallest team in the nation averaging 6'7. If Foote can hold his own down low then Cornell has an honest shot at winning the game.
My Pick: Kentucky, cause I know Cornell will not be able to keep Kentucky's guards from penetrating at will. Plus everyone knows Calipari teams don't lose until the Elite 8, as he proved at Memphis.
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