The Sweet 16 will end
this Friday, and it will go out with a bang with plenty more March Madness to
come.
At this
point of the tournament having a busted bracket is just part of the game. The
competition is getting fiercer round by round, and there is still room for a few
upsets along the way. We have four games that will be played on Friday (Check out Times/TV Channel here).
Here are
my preview and predictions for Friday's Sweet 16 match-ups.
#1 Virginia Cavaliers
vs #4 Michigan State Spartans
The
Cavaliers have been dominate all season. That's why they were awarded a #1 seed
instead of teams like Louisville and Michigan State. They are allowing the
fewest points in the NCAA and have not allowed their last five opponents to
score over 63 points. They are shooting above 80% from the free throw line
and 46% from downtown.
The Spartans have been an offensive machine during the tournament. Coach Tom
Izzo has implemented a pass happy team that has them averaging about 16 assists
per game. They have also been clutch at the charity strike, shooting 85% as a
team. Their center Adreian Payne was a monster in the first game with 41 points,
while Branden Dawson took control of the second with 26 points and 9 rebounds.
The difference maker in this game will be coaching. Coach Izzo is the better
coach of the two and he has his squad playing their best ball of the season. The
Cavaliers will put up a fight but expect Sparty takes control down the stretch.
Prediction:
 |
| Getty Images |
Michigan State 68, Virginia
63
#7 Connecticut Huskies vs
#3 Iowa State Cyclones
The
Huskies won a difficult overtime game in the second round against an upset
minded Saint Joseph's team. Then they went on to beat the
#2 seed out of the East region, Villanova thanks to senior guard Shabazz Napier's 25 points.
Napier has been doing his best Kemba Walker impression during the tournament
(averaging just below 25 ppg). The Huskies defense has also been doing work in
the turnover department, averaging 8.5 steals per game during the tournament.
The Cyclones have had an impressive season that included winning the Big 12
tournament and have not lost since the beginning of March. They Cyclones lost a
key piece of their offense in their first game when Georges Niang who is the team’s
leading scorer (24 ppg) and second in both assists (4 apg) and rebounds (6 rbg)
broke his foot. Their coming off a nice victory over North Carolina, although
that one ended a little bizarre. DeAndre Kane stepped up
in Niang’s absence scoring 24 points to go along with 10 rebounds and 7
assists.
This is an upset to some but easy decision for me, the Connecticut Huskies will
get the victory over Iowa State. The Cyclones already are out their leading
scorer and if it wasn't for a missed timeout by the officials in their last
game, this could very well be a UNC vs UConn match-up. Napier is hoopin' right now, and thanks to being Kemba's right hand
man in their last national championship he knows exactly what you have to do to
get back.
Prediction:
 |
| (Jessica Hill/Associated Press) |
Connecticut 82, Iowa
State 74
#11 Tennessee Volunteers vs
#2 Michigan Wolverines
The
Tennessee Volunteers have had the longest journey in the tournament. First they
had to win their play-in game just to get into the tournament, which they did
over Iowa, then they knocked off a UMass team that was ranked way higher than
they should have been, and after that they faced a Mercer team that was still
coming down from their biggest win in school history. The Volunteers true test
lies ahead when they put their season on the line against the Michigan Wolverines. Expect big games from the Vol's Jarnell Stokes and Jordan McRae.
The
Wolverines have played a relatively easy schedule. The Wolverines have been winning
with great defense and even better shooting. They are shooting a very
respectable 46% from the 3-point line, with most of those coming from Nik
Stauskas(7-15). Stauskas was the floor general against Texas, racking up 8
assists and is averaging 16 ppg through the tournament.
This game
could be decided by whichever team can make the most runs and grab the most
rebounds. The Volunteers should win the rebound battle like Texas did in
Michigan's last game. They should also be able to keep up with the scoring of
Michigan and will steal the win for the upset.
Prediction:
 |
| Adam Lau/GoVolsXtra |
Tennessee 76, Michigan 72
#8 Kentucky Wildcats vs #4
Louisville Cardinals
The
Kentucky Wildcats are coming off a win over previously undefeated Wichita State
and are bringing nothing but confidence against one of the schools biggest
rivals. This Kentucky team has been up and down all season but may have finally
got things together, and just in time. They have been dominating the boards in
the tourney, bringing down 72 rebounds in their first two games. The Harrison
twins have been the conductors of this machine.
Louisville
has been given an easy road to the Sweet 16 and will finally have a test when they
play Kentucky. They had some issues with turnovers in their last game against
St Louis, but the Billikens had turnover issues of their own that Louisville
capitalized on. Luke Hancock, who had his own shining moments during last year’schampionship run, took the game over against St Louis knocking down 21 points.
The
winner of the "Battle of the Bluegrass" NCAA tournament style is a
toss-up for the most part. They are instate rivals so the tenacity is
automatically there but who can perform with the pressure of the bright lights
in the NCAA tournament best. I give the advantage to a team with some senior
leadership and that's Louisville. Like I said this one could go either way.
Kentucky won their meeting earlier in the season, but Coach Pitino and his boys
should be able to withstand the storm this time around.
Prediction:
 |
| (AP Photo/Darron Cummings) |
Louisville 79, Kentucky
77
This is
going to set up a great Elite 8 this weekend and I know I can't wait. Now get
to your TV and put the games on!
Any problems with my Sweet 16 Predictions? Leave me a comment and
tell my why or contact me via Twitter @therealrikrok89.
