Many people (including myself) underestimated Butler coming into the tourney, but they were fools doing that. Butler has not lost since Dec. 22, 2009, as they are currently on a 22 game win streak coming into their Sweet 16 matchup with Syracuse. Syracuse has breezed through the first two rounds, and have done so without their starting center Aeinze Onuaku. Onuaku will miss his third game in a row against Butler.
SyracuseComing into the tournament all experts on ESPN wanted to talk about was the fact that Syracuse had lost two games in a row. They even gave them the label of a "Slumping Team," but Syracuse has proven that is far from the truth. Syracuse has been one of the most impressive teams so far, and the only team you can compare them to is Kentucky. They have beaten their opponents by an average of 22.5 points, and they have done this minus their starting center.
Syracuse is led by the Big East Player of the Year, Wes Johnson. Johnson is averaging 24.5 ppg, 10 rpg, 1.5 apg, 1.5 spg, and 1.5 bpg. He is shooting 61% from the field, including 64% (7-11) from 3's. He's simply playing like the Player of the Year right now. Senior Andy Rautins is also stepping up with 18 ppg, 6 rpg, 5 apg, 1.5 spg. Freshman Brandon Triche has ended his late season shooting slump, as he's averaging 11.5 ppg through the first two rounds. Also, look for Rick Jackson to have some success down low, as Butler had trouble guarding UTEP's Derrick Caracter until he got into foul trouble.
Syracuse needs to keep their intensity up in the 2-3 zone. Their athleticism and length have made this year's version of the 2-3 zone very hard to beat. These players are dedicated to playing the zone to the best of their ability. The fact that they are playing minus their center has made this zone a lot faster.
ButlerButler is the hottest team in the nation right now, and it is really confusing why they are a #5 seed in the first place. They are a balanced team that feeds off of each other's energy. They have also gotten by the first two rounds without their star player, Gordon Hayward, putting up the same stellar numbers he did in the season.
Butler's Shelvin Mack is the reason they are even in the Sweet 16, because they would have lost without Mack's 7-9 3-pointers in the UTEP game. As a team, Butler has hit 20 3-pointers, and they have to do the same to beat a team that plays a 2-3 zone like Syracuse.
They need to turn Syracuse into a jump shooting team, because Butler lacks height and will have a tough time preventing Syracuse from scoring in the paint. Also, they need to send multiple people at Syracuse's Wes Johnson because he will tire one defender out. If Butler plays like they did in the first half against UTEP, then Syracuse will blow them out. So, by an means necessary they need to keep the game close.
My Pick: Syracuse, because they are just playing so good right now. They are a balanced team which makes them very hard to figure out. The only way I see Butler winning is if they somehow get Syracuse in big time foul trouble, because Syracuse honestly only goes 7 deep.
This is a good Sweet Sixteen match up, and has the potential to be the best game this round. Kansas State is actually better this year than two years ago when they had Michael Beasley and Bill Walker, who now both play significant minutes in the NBA. Xavier got its revenge in the second round, after Pittsburgh eliminated them from last year's tournament. Xavier is a very underrated team. These teams met in December, and Kansas State won 71-56.
Kansas StateIn the first match up Kansas State got an early lead and never looked back. If they can get out to an early lead in this game, then they will have no trouble winning. They have a lot of length and athletcism that allows them to play with anyone in America.
Dennis Clemente (18 ppg) and Jacob Pullen (24.5 ppg) form one of the best guard tandems in the nation. If they are both on, then they will win without a doubt. Pullen scored 34 points in only 29 minutes against BYU, and if Xavier gives him any room to shoot he will make them pay. Against BYU, Pullen was 7-12 from 3's.
Kansas State had a tough task against BYU, and that was keeping Jimmer Fredette in check. Although Fredette scored 21 points, Kansas State forced him into many bad shots. They will have to play that same type of defense against Xavier's Jordan Crawford. In the first matchup Kansas State held Xavier to 29% shooting from the field.
Xavier
Yes, Xavier lost the earlier match up but they are a different team now then they were in December. Xavier shot themselves in the foot by shooting 64% (21-33) from the free throw line. They'll have to shoot a better percentage if they want to have a real chance of moving, but so far in the tourney they've shot around 64% from the line.
This cannot be the Jordan Crawford show, if Xavier wants to win he needs help. He's averaging 27.5 points so far in the tourney, but in the first round game he was the only person on the team to score double figures. Matter fact, he was the only player on Xavier who was being aggressive and looking for his shot against Minnesota. In the second round he did get help from Jason Love (14) and Terrell Holloway (13).
Xavier is also going to need their big men to hit the glass and grab rebounds. They just can't stand around in the paint, they have to play aggressive. In the first round, the starting big men combined for 20 rebounds, but that fell to 14 in the second round as Pittsburgh guards out rebounded them. The only way to beat a tall and athletic team like Kansas State is by hitting the boards and staying aggressive in the paint, and do not allow them to push you around.
My Pick: Xavier, but I'm not too sure. I really like that Jordan Crawford kid and with revenge on the line I think he will will his team to victory. A star has been born and the nation will soon take notice.
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