Dude…
We had 64 teams, and now we are down to 16. The four number one seeds are all still in the tournament. St. Johns is the only two seed out, thanks to Arkansas. Two three seeds got replaced by six seeds. All but one four seed made it as Michigan beat Texas A&M. No Cinderella teams remain, even though Drake, McNeese, and Colorado State all made it out of the first round, none of them advanced to the Sweet Sixteen. The SEC and Big 12 dominate, as the Big Ten gains some entries as well. The one lone ACC team rounds out the field. Who wins? The Dudes have their Sweet Sixteen predictions coming your way right now
#1 Auburn vs. #5 Michigan- The number one seed has looked almost unbeatable during the first two rounds. Obviously, Auburn cruised past the 16 seed Alabama State, but they did have issues in the first half against Creighton. However, in the second half they asserted their dominance and beat Creighton by double digits. Johni Broome is a top contender to be the player of the year. Along with Chad Baker-Mazzara, Tahaad Pettiford, and Miles Kelly will be a tough matchup for any backcourt. We can’t sleep on Denver Jones who has continued to improve this year and has been excellent this tournament. Michigan beat a tough UC San Diego team and then went off in the second half against Texas A&M to secure the Sweet Sixteen spot. The two big men in Vlad Goldin and Danny Wold run a 1 2 combo on the block, as Wolf will slip beyond the three point line and be a consistent threat. Tre Donaldson leads the backcourt and once this guy is hot, there is no stopping him. In an interesting matchup on the inside, I feel like Broome will be able to handle the front court of Michigan. Whereas Michigan will not be able to handle Auburn’s deep and lethal back court. Give me Auburn to move on from a brilliant performance and an all time game in the Sweet Sixteen.
#2 Michigan State vs. #6 Ole Miss- Tom Izzo is March. Plain and simple. When the Spartans are in the game, you always go with Izzo. Michigan State dismantled #15 Bryant and beat #10 New Mexico with ease. The backcourt trio of Jaden Adkins, Jase Richardson, and Tre Holloman have been good for Izzo. Izzo loves his bigs and Jaxon Kholer has turned into a classic Izzo big. Ole Miss has Chris Beard, who is also a phenomenal coach. They ended RJ Davis’s career in the first round as they easily handled #11 North Carolina, and then upset #3 Iowa State who was without their top scorer. Sean Pedulla is the guy to watch from Beard’s team as he averages almost 20 points per game, and shoots 39% from deep. Beard is great, but this is Izzo in March. I cannot see Ole Miss winning this game, as Izzo simply has too many weapons. Give me Michigan State to face Auburn in the Elite Eight.
#1 Florida vs. #4 Maryland- This is going to be the matchup of the Sweet Sixteen. No doubt in my mind. Florida, obviously beat the #16 seeded Norfolk State, but had to fight for their lives and allow Walter Clayton Jr. to announce that he was here, to beat #9 UCONN, ending the Huskies hope for a three peat. Walter Clayton Jr. Remember the name, because he is like that on offense. Along with Alijah Mitchell and Will Richard will offer plenty of offensive support. Alex Cordon and Rueben Chinyelu are the big men who are going to be a force on the defensive end and massive lob threats at the rim. Maryland was one of my dark horses this year, and they have played that role to a T. Maryland smoked #13 Grand Canyon and gave us our first true buzzer beater in the second round to knock off a smoking hot #12 Colorado State team. Derik Queen. An awesome Center who can move like a guard. He will show up. However, the Terps need Ja’Kobi Gillespie, Julian Reese, and Rodney Rice to shoot better if they want to compete with Florida. In an instant classic, I think Walter Clayton takes over late and seals the win for Florida. The kid is just too nice. Give me Florida moving on.
#3 Texas Tech vs. #10 Arkansas- Shout out to John Calipari man. The guy was ran out of Lexington. After everything he gave them, they pushed him out. Started 0-5 in SEC play and now finds himself in the Sweet Sixteen while defeating 2 Hall of Fame Coaches in the process. Arkansas beat Kansas (not a surprise, thank god Hunter Dickinson can now go work a 9-5) but it was close throughout the entire game. After the win, they faced #2 St. John's in the second round and beat them as well. Boogie Fland was hurt, but can back for the tournament and has been a significant contributor to Calipari’s squad. Calipari also has veteran Johnell Davis and DJ Wagner as well. The Razorbacks are long and lengthy, which was a proven issue for opposing teams in the last 2 rounds. Texas Tech was also one of my dark horses before the tournament started (side note, how did all three of my dark horses end up on the same side as 2,3,4? That sucks) and has continued to be a contender to go far in the tournament. Texas Tech beat UNC Wilmington in the first round. Then beat up on #11 Drake on the interior to move onto the Sweet Sixteen. Shout out Drake and our guys Bennett Stirtz and Isaia Howard. Hopefully you both go to Iowa with McCollum and cause havoc in the Big 10. JT Toppin is a dog on the interior and Deron Williams is an incredible counterpart for Grant McCassland’s Red Raiders. I had no faith in Calipari’s team in the first round, and I certainly don’t have faith in them against Texas Tech. Give me the Red Raiders to face Florida in the Elite Eight.
#1 Duke vs. #4 Arizona- Caleb Love ended Coach K’s career last time, can he do it to Cooper Flagg’s phenomenal freshmen year as well? The Duke Blue Devils blew past the 16 seed in Mount St. Mary’s and routed 9 seed Baylor to cruise into the Sweet Sixteen. Cooper Flagg is the obvious choice for #1 in the draft, but he has 2 other freshmen teammates in Kon Kneppel and Khaman Maluach who are going to go in the top 10 in the same draft. Veteran leader Tyrese Proctor helps command these 3 high powered offensive threats into a well oiled machine. The Blue Devils have been scary all season and look to continue to dominate during this tournament. The Arizona Wildcats and Caleb Love come to town with a purpose. After defeating 13 seed Akron, they were heavily tested in their round of 32 matchup against 5 seed Oregon. Caleb Love is the heart and soul of Tommy Lloyd’s Wildcats, but he needs the guys around him to give them a chance to beat the Blue Devils. Henri Veesaar is going to be a bonafide star, and could have a big game against Duke. The backcourt help of Trey Townsend and Jaden Bradley could be a key to beating Duke. Although I think this is going to be a close game, I think Duke’s veteran leadership will help them go to the Elite Eight. As the Main Man from Way Out West would say “it’s Proctor’s team’ and I think he will prove that in this matchup. Give me the Blue Devils to continue dancing into the Elite Eight.
#2 Alabama vs #6 BYU- We might witness the best offensive game we have ever seen in this matchup. Both teams love to score and hate playing defense. The Alabama Crimson Tide is known as a football school, but these days, their basketball team has been good too. Alabama beat 15 seed Robert Morris that had every fan on the edge of their seat as Robert Morris almost pulled the upset of the tournament. They beat 7 seeded St. Mary’s with ease to advance. Mark Sears is trying to lead the Tide to another Final Four birth for the second year in a row. Grant Nelson is his dynamic duo that can shoot and rim run as a power forward. Aden Holloway and freshmen Labaron Philon need to contribute to help Nate Oat’s team get into the next round. The BYU Cougars lost Mark Pope at the beginning of the year to Kentucky, but has found its way into the second weekend. BYU beat a VCU team that was heavily picked to upset the Cougars. The train didn’t stop there. The Cougars went to war against 3 seeded Wisconsin and played good defense on the final shot to send BYU to the Sweet Sixteen. Richie Saunders and Egor Demin are a hot and lightning fast backcourt. They may be one of the best shooting pairs in the nation. Kevin Young in his first year at BYU hasn’t lost any momentum the Cougars had going for them and the train isn’t slowing down. In a great matchup, I think the veterans are going to prevail. Give me Nate Oats and the Crimson Tide to face Duke in the Elite Eight.
#1 Houston vs. #4 Purdue- Will Houston continue the 1 seed to the Elite Eight trend? Or will Purdue play spoiler? Houston beat up on the first time in the big dance SIUE as a 16 seed, and then beat a really hot Gonzaga team, ending Mark Few’s consecutive Sweet Sixteen appearances streak. LJ Cryer transferred from Baylor 2 years ago, and is now the offensive weapon of choice for Kelvin Sampson’s team. Emanuel Sharp and Milos Uzan make up the rest of the back court who will support LJ in case he is off. J’Wan Roberts locks down the middle. Sampson’s team is a defensive juggernaut, only allowing just over 58 points per game. You will need to be on your A game on offense to beat this team. The Purdue Boilermakers find themselves in the Sweet Sixteen yet again, just under different circumstances. The Boilermakers beat 13 seeded High Point, who I honestly thought would beat Purdue in round 1. Then they ended a Cinderella story in McNeese with a convincing win over Will Wade’s squad. Braden Smith is one of the best point guards in the nation. Along with Trey Kauffman-Renn as his big, the pick and roll game is lethal. They have experienced shooters around the 3 point line in Fletcher Loyer and CJ Cox. Matt Painter’s team looks impressive, but Houston just looks better. I have seen this team shut down offenses all season. Give me the Houston Cougars in a defensive affair to move on.
#2 Tennessee vs #3 Kentucky- The trilogy is here. Kentucky has owned this matchup all season, winning both times. Tennessee had to beat 15 seeded Wofford and then handled 7 seeded UCLA to set up this matchup. If Tennessee wants to win, they need Chazz Lanier to go off. Plain and simple. If he does not, there is no chance they win this game. Veteran guard Zakai Zeigler will be an interesting x factor in the game. The true x factor for the Volunteers is Jordan Gainey. Can he contribute enough to help Tennessee reach the Elite Eight? The Kentucky Wildcats and first year head coach Mark Pope have been the surprise of the season. When Pope was announced as the new head coach, everyone thought he would need a year. He did not. Kentucky beat 14 seeded Troy with ease, and then battled a tough 6 seed in Illinois, who just came up short against the Wildcats. Now, they face a familiar foe who they’ve beat twice this season. They lost their 2nd leading scorer near the end of the season with Jaxson Robinson. However, Otega Oweh has been a bonafide baller. Koby Brea has been LIGHTS OUT all season behind the three point line. Lamont Butler brings the NCAA Tournament experience. Finally, Amari Williams is a force inside on the offensive side and defensive side of the ball. In an all out slug fest, the veteran leadership will come in clutch for Kentucky. It should be a great game, but I have been a Chazz Lanier doubter since day 1. He’s a great player and could find his way onto an NBA roster, but the shooting that Kentucky has will be too much for Tennessee. Give me Kentucky in the sweep as they face Houston in the Elite Eight.
Comments