2024 Tournament: Sweet Sixteen Thursday Games Predictions

Dude…

The Sweet Sixteen is here!! Who will continue their journey into the desert? Will they be the reigning champions? Will it be a savvy defensive cougars team? Will we see Matt Painter finally make it to the Final Four? Will RJ Davis complete a true hero’s quest to bring North Carolina back? Or, will it be one of our lower seeds? We will see. The Dudes have their current predictions for the Sweet Sixteen!! So, grab your reading glasses grandpa and enjoy!

1 North Carolina vs. 4 Alabama- This matchup should be extremely high scoring. North Carolina is setting up for destiny next round if they can get past Marcus Sears and the Alabama Crimson Tide. North Carolina has ACC Player of the Year in RJ Davis. RJ has been averaging just over 21 points per game and is shooting for 43% from the floor. He has led this North Carolina team alongside big fella Armando Bacot. Bacot averaged a double double with 14 points and 10 rebounds a game. Harrison Ingram, Cormac Ryan, and Eliot Cadeau have developed into above average role players for Hubert Davis’s Tar Heels. However, Nate Oats and the Crimson Tide will not go down easily. Marcus Sears is trying to lead the number one scoring offense in the nation to a title. Trying to prove the defense really doesn’t win ball games. Sears needs some help to get over this massive hill in North Carolina. He needs Aaron Estrada and Grant Nelson to be legit factors offensively if they can slay this giant. The Sears vs. Davis' matchup will be awesome, but I believe Davis will prove why he is the ACC Player of the Year. The truth is, you need offense, but eventually lightning stops striking. I think Alabama will lose the spark and North Carolina will be set up for their destiny battle in the Elite Eight.

2 Arizona vs. 6 Clemson- Well, Well, Well… Of course I pick Clemson to do well in the ACC Tournament, but when I pick against them in the NCAA Tournament, they shock everyone. I always had faith in PJ Hall. He’s averaged just over 18 and a half points per game, and has 6 rebounds to go along with it. However, what the Tigers needed got a huge boost from Joseph Girard III and Chase Hunter scoring wise. Girard was a former Syracuse Orangemen until joining the Tigers this year. He’s averaging just over 15 points per game and has been contributing well in the first two rounds. Chase Hunter’s percentage has gone up and he’s been doing a lot as a role player. Ian Schieffelin is a great big who grabs a ton of offensive boards. Their opponent is setting up for a destiny matchup against North Carolina. Arizona is led by Caleb Love, who spent the past 3 seasons in North Carolina. He left to be the main man on his own team. The transfer has looked great for both sides, and it’s heading towards a collision course. Caleb Love who is the Pac 12 Player of the Year is averaging just over 18 points per game. He has Oumar Ballo and Pelle Larsson to help him out inside. I believe that destiny holds together as Love and company handle the Tigers with ease to move onto their legendary clash against North Carolina.

1 UConn vs. 5 San Diego State- UConn is looking to go back to back. This Huskies team is electric. Tristen Newton, Donovan Clingan, Cam Spencer, and Alex Karaban will electrocute this Aztecs team. As if the gods of college hoops are striking down on the mighty Aztec empire. The Aztecs made a Final Four last year and has Jaedon LeDee who is one hell of a warrior. This is going to be child’s play for UConn. Clingan and Karaban should shut down the best the Aztecs has to offer, as UConn wins this one easily.

2 Iowa State vs. 3 Illinois-  This will be the best game in the Thursday slate. Iowa State has been cruising since their Big 12 Tournament victory. TJ Ozleberger has another Cyclones team locked in on the defensive end of the floor. Keshon Gilbert and Tamin Lipsey are looking to stop Terrence Shannon Jr. and Marcus Domask’s high powered offense and the fighting Illini. Illinois has been clicking in all categories as well. Brad Underwood has his star in Terrence Shannon Jr. who is also under a lot of pressure to perform. He needs Coleman Hawkins and Marcus Domask to show up and show out. This game should be back and forth that goes down to the final shot. Terrence Shannon Jr. comes up clutch for Illinois to skid past the Cyclones to move onto the Elite Eight.

Come Back Tomorrow for the last 4 Games of Sweet Sixteen!!!