2011 NCAA Tournament: Sweet 16
Once again, my quest for a perfect bracket has come to an end. I never really had a chance, I mean who had Morehead St. beating Louisville or VCU reaching the Sweet 16 along with Richmond. Not me that's for sure. In fact, I only managed to get 9 of the Sweet 16 correct, which is pretty sad. Having a perfect bracket is like trying to drive a toaster through a car wash, it's basically impossible. Well, maybe next year.
A lot of talented teams and players still remain, but there have been a lot of "Holy Crap" moments so far.
-(13) Morehead St. upsetting (4) Louisville
-(12) Richmond beating (5) Vanderbilt
-(8) Butler's Matt Howard and his last second lay up to defeat (9) Old Dominion
-(7) Temple and Rudy Fernandez's game winning jumper over (10) Penn State
-(10) Michigan St. climbing all the way back to almost beat (7) UCLA
-Jimmer dropping 66 total points in two games
-Kemba continues his hot shooting and dominates Bucknell and Cincinnati
-Kansas State's Jacob Pullen putting up 38 points in a loss to Wisconsin
-The wild finish between Arizona and Texas. From the so called 5 second call and no foul being called on the final play.
-(11) VCU manhandling Georgetown and Purdue en route to the Sweet 16
-(1) Ohio State making 16 three-pointers in a blow out of George Mason
But wildest of them all, the end of the Pitt-Butler game. Butler had it won, then the foul by Shelvin Mack on Gilbert Brown to possibly give the game to Pitt. All Brown had to do is make two free throw's, but he couldn't even do that. The importance of free throws. Pitts Nasir Robinson fouled Butler's Matt Howard on the rebound, why he was even down there is a question for Pitt coach Jamie Dixon, and Howard nailed two free throws that ended up costing Pitt the game and a shot at a National Championship. A wild finish full of "Holy Crap's" and "C'mon Man's."
The "Holy Crap" and "C'mon Man" moments will continue as the tournament goes on and now for the Sweet 16 match-ups that very few people saw coming.
BYU over Florida. I think Florida will win, but I'm taking BYU for two reasons. First, I'm not much of a Florida basketball fan. Every year there are teams in the tournament that I don't really care for. This year, West Virginia, Purdue, Butler, Wisconsin, Florida, and Michigan St top the list. And every year I can't pull myself to pick these teams to go very far and it always comes back to bite me in the back side. This year of course, Butler had to beat my Final Four pick in Pitt, Wisconsin beat Belmont and Kansas St. and WVU beat Clemson. I originally had BYU upsetting Florida and I'm sticking to it, mainly because of the Jimmer.
I like BYU over the Gators because of Jimmer Fredette. We haven't seen this kind of performance from a non-power six conference player since Stephen Curry made a run with Davidson two years ago. When a team has a super star, like the Cougars have in Jimmer, it's hard to pick against them. Jimmer has scored 66 points in two games so far and you could say that he struggled shooting the ball some what. I hate to see him have a good shooting night, because he might drop 60. BYU and Florida met last year in the first round with BYU winning in double overtime. This year will have the same result, BYU wins behind Jimmer in overtime to advance.
Duke over Arizona. Even without Kryie Irving, I thought Duke had a Final Four basketball team. Now that Irving is back, the Blue Devils very well may be hoisting another championship banner. Arizona might have the best NBA prospect in Derrick Williams, but Duke has much better role players. Arizona cannot match the skills of Kyle Singler and Nolan Smith. Then with the Plumlee brothers down low and guys like Kelly, Seth Curry and Dawkins coming off the bench, just too much fire power. The experience for Duke helps them advance to take on UConn.
Butler over Wisconsin. This is picking the Steelers or the Steelers. Butler is a great story, they have a good team, and Brad Stevens is one of the best young coaches in the game, but that game against Pitt still has be upset. I don't know why, but I never have liked watching Butler play, it's not flashy or fast paced, it's boring. But then their is Wisconsin, who two weeks ago scored 33 points in Big Ten tournament game against Penn State. "C'mon Man." And if you think Butler is boring to watch, Wisconsin basketball is even worse. This game is about as exciting as watching paint dry or grass grow and Butler will win a sleeper. Hope I can stay awake.
North Carolina over Marquette. Despite the Tar Heels falling behind by double digits in most of their games over the past two weeks, I like them to beat the Golden Eagles. Marquette was able to knock off Xavier and fellow Big East foe Syracuse and that's no easy task. Carolina has great freshman in Kendell Marshall and Harrison Barnes, who will be playing in the NBA, and they get great play from Tyler Zeller down low. The Heels have too much young talent to be ousted by Marquette.
Kansas over Richmond. Who had Richmond going to the Sweet 16? Although it is an impressive feat, the Spiders simply have not faced anyone like Kansas all season. The A-10 Conference fails in comparison to the Big 12 on all levels and Kansas should have their way with Richmond. The Morris twins are a load down low and Richmond can't guard both of them. Kansas lost to a mid-major in last year's tournament, but they don't let that happen again this year.
Ohio State over Kentucky. In my opinion the best match-up in the Sweet 16. Dickie V is going to be so excited watching three of the best "Diaper Dandies" in college basketball all on the court at the same time. Kentucky's Terrance Jones and Brandon Knight along with Ohio State's Jared Sullinger, NBA scouts will definitely be in Newark for this one. Kentucky is a young team and their inexperience may be their downfall. Ohio State has seniors Jon Diebler and David Lightly, who know what it takes and along with William Buford, they should beat John Calipari and his Wildcats.
VCU over Florida St. Again, who had a match-up of Virginia Commonwealth and Florida St. in the Sweet 16, not many I'm guessing. I didn't even have VCU getting out of first round and here they are in the Sweet 16. The Rams have beaten USC, Georgetown and Purdue along the way and even though Florida St. roughed up Notre Dame, I like VCU to advance to play Kansas in the regional final.
"Holy Crap" do I love March Madness.
A lot of talented teams and players still remain, but there have been a lot of "Holy Crap" moments so far.
-(13) Morehead St. upsetting (4) Louisville
-(12) Richmond beating (5) Vanderbilt
-(8) Butler's Matt Howard and his last second lay up to defeat (9) Old Dominion
-(7) Temple and Rudy Fernandez's game winning jumper over (10) Penn State
-(10) Michigan St. climbing all the way back to almost beat (7) UCLA
-Jimmer dropping 66 total points in two games
-Kemba continues his hot shooting and dominates Bucknell and Cincinnati
-Kansas State's Jacob Pullen putting up 38 points in a loss to Wisconsin
-The wild finish between Arizona and Texas. From the so called 5 second call and no foul being called on the final play.
-(11) VCU manhandling Georgetown and Purdue en route to the Sweet 16
-(1) Ohio State making 16 three-pointers in a blow out of George Mason
But wildest of them all, the end of the Pitt-Butler game. Butler had it won, then the foul by Shelvin Mack on Gilbert Brown to possibly give the game to Pitt. All Brown had to do is make two free throw's, but he couldn't even do that. The importance of free throws. Pitts Nasir Robinson fouled Butler's Matt Howard on the rebound, why he was even down there is a question for Pitt coach Jamie Dixon, and Howard nailed two free throws that ended up costing Pitt the game and a shot at a National Championship. A wild finish full of "Holy Crap's" and "C'mon Man's."
The "Holy Crap" and "C'mon Man" moments will continue as the tournament goes on and now for the Sweet 16 match-ups that very few people saw coming.
Sweet 16
UConn over San Diego St. One of the most intriguing games of the tournament, as the Aztecs are making their first Sweet 16 appearance, while the Huskies are in familiar territory. Both teams are well coached and been on fire, especially UConn, but I like Kemba Walker to carry the Huskies into the Elite 8. Walker is arguably the best player in the country and will be playing in the NBA next year. He can shoot from the outside, drive to the hoop, dish it to open teammates and he gets to the free throw. The Aztecs are very athletic, but they have no one that can guard Kemba Walker, not many teams do. Too much Kemba, as UConn advances to the Elite 8.BYU over Florida. I think Florida will win, but I'm taking BYU for two reasons. First, I'm not much of a Florida basketball fan. Every year there are teams in the tournament that I don't really care for. This year, West Virginia, Purdue, Butler, Wisconsin, Florida, and Michigan St top the list. And every year I can't pull myself to pick these teams to go very far and it always comes back to bite me in the back side. This year of course, Butler had to beat my Final Four pick in Pitt, Wisconsin beat Belmont and Kansas St. and WVU beat Clemson. I originally had BYU upsetting Florida and I'm sticking to it, mainly because of the Jimmer.
I like BYU over the Gators because of Jimmer Fredette. We haven't seen this kind of performance from a non-power six conference player since Stephen Curry made a run with Davidson two years ago. When a team has a super star, like the Cougars have in Jimmer, it's hard to pick against them. Jimmer has scored 66 points in two games so far and you could say that he struggled shooting the ball some what. I hate to see him have a good shooting night, because he might drop 60. BYU and Florida met last year in the first round with BYU winning in double overtime. This year will have the same result, BYU wins behind Jimmer in overtime to advance.
Duke over Arizona. Even without Kryie Irving, I thought Duke had a Final Four basketball team. Now that Irving is back, the Blue Devils very well may be hoisting another championship banner. Arizona might have the best NBA prospect in Derrick Williams, but Duke has much better role players. Arizona cannot match the skills of Kyle Singler and Nolan Smith. Then with the Plumlee brothers down low and guys like Kelly, Seth Curry and Dawkins coming off the bench, just too much fire power. The experience for Duke helps them advance to take on UConn.
Butler over Wisconsin. This is picking the Steelers or the Steelers. Butler is a great story, they have a good team, and Brad Stevens is one of the best young coaches in the game, but that game against Pitt still has be upset. I don't know why, but I never have liked watching Butler play, it's not flashy or fast paced, it's boring. But then their is Wisconsin, who two weeks ago scored 33 points in Big Ten tournament game against Penn State. "C'mon Man." And if you think Butler is boring to watch, Wisconsin basketball is even worse. This game is about as exciting as watching paint dry or grass grow and Butler will win a sleeper. Hope I can stay awake.
North Carolina over Marquette. Despite the Tar Heels falling behind by double digits in most of their games over the past two weeks, I like them to beat the Golden Eagles. Marquette was able to knock off Xavier and fellow Big East foe Syracuse and that's no easy task. Carolina has great freshman in Kendell Marshall and Harrison Barnes, who will be playing in the NBA, and they get great play from Tyler Zeller down low. The Heels have too much young talent to be ousted by Marquette.
Kansas over Richmond. Who had Richmond going to the Sweet 16? Although it is an impressive feat, the Spiders simply have not faced anyone like Kansas all season. The A-10 Conference fails in comparison to the Big 12 on all levels and Kansas should have their way with Richmond. The Morris twins are a load down low and Richmond can't guard both of them. Kansas lost to a mid-major in last year's tournament, but they don't let that happen again this year.
Ohio State over Kentucky. In my opinion the best match-up in the Sweet 16. Dickie V is going to be so excited watching three of the best "Diaper Dandies" in college basketball all on the court at the same time. Kentucky's Terrance Jones and Brandon Knight along with Ohio State's Jared Sullinger, NBA scouts will definitely be in Newark for this one. Kentucky is a young team and their inexperience may be their downfall. Ohio State has seniors Jon Diebler and David Lightly, who know what it takes and along with William Buford, they should beat John Calipari and his Wildcats.
VCU over Florida St. Again, who had a match-up of Virginia Commonwealth and Florida St. in the Sweet 16, not many I'm guessing. I didn't even have VCU getting out of first round and here they are in the Sweet 16. The Rams have beaten USC, Georgetown and Purdue along the way and even though Florida St. roughed up Notre Dame, I like VCU to advance to play Kansas in the regional final.
"Holy Crap" do I love March Madness.
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