#7 Oklahoma State vs. #10 Georgia TechGeorgia Tech is a team that didn’t live up to their potential and Oklahoma State is a team that lived up past their potential. This a battle of teams that get their points in different ways, as Georgia Tech likes to go inside to Derrick Favors and Gani Lawal and Oklahoma State likes to play from the outside with James Anderson and Obi Muonelo. Favors (Ga Tech) is the big man with the most NBA potential in the country, and had he made a better college choice everyone would know he is a better player than DeMarcus Cousins (shouldn’t even be an argument). I compare him to Al Horford with a beautiful blend of quickness and strength. Anderson (Ok State) has been the definition of a scorer all season long as he has scored in double digits in every single game this season, leaving teams with little to no answer for him. Both teams enter the tourney going 6-6 in their last 12 games, so it will all depends if Oklahoma State’s guard can outshine Georgia Tech’s big men, and vice versa. In my opinion, I see James Anderson causing too much of a problem for Georgia Tech to handle.
Almost every expert in America is picking Kansas, but I’m not (Hell yeah I consider myself an expert!). They have an extremely tough road to get to the Final Four, and if the brackets were done right Kansas would easily be in the Final Four. Four of the top five seeds in the bracket are all good enough to advance to the Final Four; Maryland is the only one who can’t. If everything plays out correctly, Kansas will have to face Michigan State in the Sweet Sixteen and that is the last team Kansas wants to play. Michigan State had a 3-game slump while their starting point guard Kalin Lucas was struggling with an injury, but he is back to full health. This is the exact same team that surprised everyone and went to the National Championship game last year against UNC. They have the capability to do the same this season, and it’s all about how bad they want it. Kansas is the tourney’s favorite for a reason, as they feature a talented point guard in Sheron Collins, a NBA ready combo guard in Xavier Henry, and a dominate big man in Cole Aldrich. If Kansas were to somehow blow out a team with Michigan State’s talent, then this tourney is theirs to lose. I’m still going to go with Michigan State in a thriller.
New Mexico State has some great scorers, but I don’t think they have enough to beat Michigan State. This may be the only 5-12 matchup this season that I am willing to give the #5 seed a win without a doubt.
Ok, I promise this will be the last time I speak on Michigan State and I may live to regret being so high on them, but they have that Final Four experience and they are a deep team with talent all over their roster. They have a coach with championship experience, and he gets the best out of each of his players. I went back and forth between Michigan State and Georgetown for this spot, but at the end of the day I saw no one sleeping on Georgetown as they proved their worth in the Big East Tournament.
I honestly did not know so many people had no clue who James Anderson was, but that may have a lot to do with me living in ACC country. He is a nightmare to defend as he is the best scorer in the nation, in my opinion. His numbers back up that claim as he averages 22.6 ppg, 5.8 rpg, and 2.4 apg. The most impressive stat is that he has scored in double figures in every game this season, and also put up Kevin Durant like numbers as he scored 25 or more in 18 games this season. He should be a household name, because at 6-6 he will be a beast in the NBA. Let’s hope he has a bad tournament and somehow falls in the draft to the Nuggets (wishful thinking!).
Just think Penny Hardaway before the injuries, and you’ll see what Evan Turner is all about. He is my pick for National Player of the Year and will be a star in the NBA! His numbers (19.9 ppg, 9.1 rpg, and 5.9 apg) shows he’s the real deal. At 6-7 Turner handles the ball so good that he plays point guard for Ohio State, and add to the fact he has a beautiful shot and you’re talking about a complete offensive player. As I’ve stated before, it would not surprise me if Ohio State makes a serious run at a national title with Turner leading them. Buckeyes fans better watch these last couple of games, because he is good as gone. Also, Turner has the ability to change a GM’s mind about picking John Wall ahead of him, HE’S THAT GOOD!
I hate to pick conference rivals in the Elite 8, but that’s what it has come down to. This game has the potential to be Kansas/Michigan State vs. Ohio State/Georgetown, easily the most entertaining Sweet Sixteen! All four teams are talented enough to win the whole tournament, but I’m sticking with my prediction of an all Big Ten Regional final. Ohio State has maybe the best starting 5 in America, and given that fact it is hard to pick against them going to the Final Four.
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