"Drafted" Tourney Picks

The Sports Guys are doing something different this year. Instead of having the traditional bracket challenge, we instead conducted a draft. In this draft, we chose one team at each seed that we think could perform well. It was a snake style draft, and we could pick any team in any order. It was very strategic.

Scoring is simple... Every time one of our teams wins a game, we get a point. Most points at the end wins! If we happen to be tied at the end, the tiebreaker will be who owned the team that advanced the furthest. Here are the teams:

Greg's Team                                                 Andrew's Team

1. Kentucky                                                   1. Wisconsin

2. Arizona                                                      2. Virginia

3. Iowa State                                                  3. Notre Dame

4. Maryland                                                    4. Louisville

5. Northern Iowa                                            5. Arkansas

6. Providence                                                 6. SMU

7. Wichita State                                              7. Michigan State

8. Cincinnati                                                   8. NC State

9. LSU                                                            9. Purdue

10. Ohio State                                                10. Indiana

11. Texas                                                        11. Ole Miss

12. Buffalo                                                     12. Stephen F. Austin

13. UC Irvine                                                 13. Eastern Washington

14. Northeastern                                             14. Georgia State

15. New Mexico State                                    15. Texas Southern

16. Lafayette                                                   16. North Florida/Robert Morris

Interesting to note, we are actually going head to head in a few different spots in the first round. Those games will clearly be key. And there could be plenty more head to head matchups as the tourney progresses. Keep an eye out!

By: The Sports Guys

 

NCAA National Championship

Today is the final day of college basketball, and we can all say that nobody saw this matchup coming a few weeks ago. Although both programs have a lot of championship history, it's amazing these teams made it as 7 and 8 seeds respectively. Both have played great, beaten some very good teams, and have made all the plays down the stretch. Today, I'll look at each team and what they need to do to win.

Connecticut Huskies

Although this team started slow on Saturday, they were simply better than Florida in that game. Their defense was great throughout, and the offense was balanced the last 30 minutes. I can tell how well coached they are because they each know what they are capable of individually and rarely force anything on either end of the court. Boatright was the MVP defensively, and Daniels was a load on offense. Here are the keys tonight:

1. Boatright's defense on Aaron Harrison. I assume Boatright will take the twin that has dominated in the NCAA Tourney. And if he can shut him down like he did Wilbekin on Saturday, I really like their chances. The key will be late in the game, where Harrison has dominated.

2. Establish Daniels early and often. The unsung hero all season for this team has been Daniels, and he's been their clear MVP in their last two huge wins (MSU and Florida). Tonight he's so important due to his ability to stretch the floor on offense, and he'll likely be guarding Julius Randle on defense. Got to get this guy going!

3. Box out, don't just rely on athleticism. Kentucky has advanced this far due to offensive rebounding. And if Connecticut doesn't clear the boards, Kentucky will win again.

Kentucky Wildcats

People are now calling them the "Cardiac Cats" after their thrilling wins for four straight games. Aaron Harrison is not only establishing himself as a clutch player, but his draft stock continues to rise. This team continues to dominate the glass, and I thought they were terrific defensively down the stretch against Wisconsin. This is the "easiest" opponent they've faced since their first round (in terms of seed), but this will be their toughest game yet. Here are the keys:

1. Get James Young going. Randle will get his, as will Harrison (particularly late), but when Young scores it really takes them to another level. He can score inside and out, one of the reasons he's tough to guard when on. If he hadn't had played well against Wisconsin, they'd be at home right now.

2. Don't settle for outside shots. They will have the size advantage once again and must continue to pound it inside. Give touches to post guys, and definitely use the dribble drive. This gets them to the line and allows for a lot of offensive rebounding.

3. Don't assume you can win at the end again. Part of winning at the end of games is skill and execution, but it takes some luck too. Against Wisconsin, they nearly turned the ball over twice on that last possession, and Harrison caught a lot of rim on his shot. The odds are that eventually the team and Harrison will fail in those moments. Connecticut is also very good in close games. So Kentucky needs to get ahead and continue to push it.

   

What I Think will Happen:

I've picked against Kentucky for four straight games now, and they've gotten it done right at the end to win. I won't pick against them again. I think UCONN is very capable of winning this game, but Kentucky has so much talent and size in comparison. And even though I respect Kevin Ollie as a coach, Coach Cal has been here before and gotten it done. There was a reason that so many people loved the Wildcats in the preseason. It has shown here in the tourney, and it will continue tonight. So I think Kentucky wins 66 - 58.

By: The Sports Guys

Final Four Preview

The Final Four is here and college basketball is sadly almost over. It should be a great final weekend, just as the rest of the tournament has been. Neither Greg nor Andrew can score any more points. We both thought Florida would be here, but we missed every other team, and we both picked Michigan State to take out Florida. Because of that, our Tourney Challenge is complete and the final results are below:

Greg - 61 Points

Andrew – 57 Points

It came down to one game actually: Arizona vs. Wisconsin. Greg chose right, I missed it. Had the result been flipped, I would have prevailed. It was close the whole way!

But as for the preview, comments are below. I analyzed each team and posted at the bottom what I want and think will happen. Enjoy!

South Regional Champion: Florida Gators

Andrew: Florida expected to be here, and we all thought they would be too. At this stage, they are big favorites to win it all. The funny thing is, they actually lost to their Final Four opponent (UCONN) last time they played (early December). It was on the road and with an incomplete team, but it was the last time they walked off a court losers. Here are my keys for them this time around:

1. Contain Napier. Simply put, if they do this, they win with ease. If not, anything is possible.

2. Control the glass. Florida should be able to dominate the glass against Connecticut. But I thought Michigan State would too, and that didn't happen.

3. Get Prather going. Casey Prather has been great the entire year, but hasn't played that way in the tournament. They need him though this weekend if they want to win it all.

East Regional Champions: Connecticut Huskies

Andrew: As a 7 seed, Connecticut isn't the worst seed remaining, but they are the most surprising team in the Final Four no less. I have been impressed with them in each and every game so far in the tournament. They seem to keep playing better and better, which bodes well. They have a tough task ahead of them though, even though they beat Florida during the season. Here are the keys:

1. Use their speed to overcome size. UCONN doesn't have many beasts inside, and the guards are small. But they have great quickness which can set them apart. They used it against MSU effectively. Florida is even bigger though.

2. Get contributions from role players. Shabazz will have to get his, but contributions but Boatright, Daniels, Calhoun, Kromah, etc. will be needed to pull off another upset (or two).

3. Keep it close. UCONN has been terrific in clutch moments this season, mainly due to Shabazz Napier. If they can get in that position again, we may see another big shot.

West Regional Champions: Wisconsin Badgers

Andrew: Wisconsin has been straight up impressive in the tourney. They blew out opponents early, including a Baylor squad that had blitzed Creighton. Then, they beat Arizona in an absolute thriller. The offense and defense have been solid, and I really think they are the only team left capable of beating Florida. What are the keys?

1. Continue to feed Kaminsky. This dude is a matchup nightmare and is playing at a career level. Keep giving him the rock.

2. Free up Ben Brust for some open looks. When Brust is knocking down 3's, this team is tough to beat. But he can't create looks for himself, so I'd set some plays to get this guy some looks.

3. Gang rebound. Kentucky has some beasts down low and Wisconsin often plays with only 1 true big. That means rebounding and even defense down low needs to be a team effort.

Midwest Regional Champions: Kentucky Wildcats

Andrew: At the start of the year, their presence here was expected. But not at the start of the tournament. They've made a terrific run and their freshmen have grown up before our very eyes. While that may mean they all go pro now, that also means they can go out winner. Here are the keys for them against Wisconsin:

1. Move the ball. When they are playing together and getting open looks for Aaron Harrison and James Young (and others), their offense is tough to stop. 1 on 1 ball makes them so much easier to guard.

2. Get Randle established early. If Kaminsky guards Randle, then I'd pound it inside for either scores or fouls on the valuable big man. If Kaminsky doesn't guard him, then Randle has a massive advantage over whoever does. So I'd pound inside for buckets then too.

3. Make someone other than Kaminsky beat you. If you've watched the tourney, you know why.

What I Want to Happen

Andrew: I am a Big Ten guy so I clearly want Wisconsin to win. That and I hate Kentucky. Florida and UCONN have both had success lately, but I'd love to see Shabazz continue his run into the Championship game. Bo Ryan and Kevin Ollie are the two coaches here without a title.

What I Think will Happen:

Andrew: Starting with the easier call, I think Florida will prevail. As for the tougher game, I think Wisconsin will pull off the "upset". In fact, I don't see how they aren't favored. They've been the best team in the tournament in terms of results. And they just beat a team similar to Kentucky. Kaminsky is also a matchup nightmare and has been the tourney MVP to date. They will struggle if Kentucky attacks the paint, but the Wildcats may settle. We'll see...

By: The Sports Guys

NCAA Tournament Rewind

Before we dive into the Final Four later this week, let's start by recapping another amazing weekend of college hoops. The Sweet 16 and Elite 8 was incredible. Today, I'll simply give you my reaction:

- Wisconsin stepped up! Last year the Badgers bowed out in their first NCAA Tourney game getting upset by Ole Miss. It was embarrassing for the team, the Big Ten, and the millions that picked them to advance (I had them in Elite 8). This year, they played their best basketball to date and took out everyone in their path en route to the Final Four. Most thought Baylor would be a tricky game... it was a blowout from the start. Arizona could have been a tough matchup for them, but they overcame the size thanks to Frank Kaminsky. I should add here that Frank is the tourney MVP at this point. That regional final against Arizona was one of the best games of the tourney. And although there was a little controversy at the end, I believe the better team did win.

- Florida is the clear favorite now. With MSU going down, Florida is way better than the remaining teams. Only Wisconsin has a chance, but they'd have to shoot lights out. I know UCONN beat them early in the year, but that was at UCONN, on a last second shot, when Florida wasn't at full strength yet. Won't happen again. Florida has also owned Kentucky in both matchups this season. So yeah, it looks as if they will be cutting down the nets.

- Arizona will be back next year. Although they'll likely lose Gordon to the NBA, they could retain everyone else, including Brandon Ashley who has been injured the last couple months. They'll also add a terrific recruiting class, highlighted by Stanley Johnson who is a flat-out stud. Even if Nick Johnson turns pro too, they'll still be one of the best teams in the country. If Johnson returns (and Hollis-Jefferson too), they could start #1 in the preseason.

- Dayton should be proud, as should Stanford. Dayton in particular will look back without regret. This was an amazing performance that could be used to build momentum within the program. And even though Stanford didn't play well against the Flyers, the tourney was still a massive success for Coach Dawkins.

- UCLA put up a great fight, but defense cost them. If you've watched Alford's team all season, that statement explains a lot. Early departures for the NBA will hurt them next season, but there will still be a lot of talent. They'll continue to push Arizona out west.

- Friday could have been the best day of the tourney yet. Connecticut vs. Iowa State was a high scoring and highly entertaining game. The same was true with Tennessee and Michigan, as the Vols nearly overcame a big deficit. Kentucky was able to come back and beat Louisville in a big time rivalry game. And MSU's win over Virginia had the feel of a Final Four contest. 14 points was the combined margin of victory in those four games combined. It was a special night.

- What might have been for Iowa State. If Niang hadn't gotten injured, the Final Four could look different. What he brings to Iowa State is very important. They obviously were held by back the injury, and may have been able to continue their postseason run with him healthy. I guess we'll never know.

- Louisville's run ends. Remember that Louisville had been to 2-straight Final Four's, including their National Championship run last season. Many liked them to do it again. But it wasn't so. I remember thinking early in their game against Kentucky that it was going to be blowout city for the Cardinals. I changed to the other game and didn't flip back until the second half. The run is over, and as Pitino put it, that's the end of an era.

- Kentucky's freshmen have arrived. It took all year, but Kentucky is playing like most expected they would at the start of the year. Randle and Johnson are dominating inside. The Harrison twins are playing like men. The contributions from the role players is exactly what is needed. Their talent is simply willing them on. Can they keep it going?

- Shabazz Napier should be hyped a whole lot more. This guy has been producing all season long, yet is often overlooked due to the freshmen craze and a fellow senior named McDermott. But Napier fills it up in every way possible, is the game's best leader, and is the most clutch player in college basketball. When watching the Final Four, I hope people realize that they are watching a special player.

- The state of Michigan should be in mourning. MSU looked to be on the verge of blowing out UCONN in the second half. They went up 9 and were controlling everything. Then, they allowed UCONN to go on a big run that the Huskies would ride to the finish line. Michigan also looked to be in the driver's seat against Kentucky. After going back and forth most of the game, Michigan took a 4 point lead late after a mini-run. Momentum was on their side and they seemed to be in control. But just like the Spartans, they allowed Kentucky to make a run and ride it to the finish line. I thought both squads from Michigan would still be dancing. But neither are.

- Aaron Harrison (along with Cleanthony Early) has helped his draft stock tremendously. Every game they've played in the tourney he's been there. He's finished inside, knocked down jumpers consistently, and he's been their most clutch player. Just like Early did last weekend, Harrison jumped from a second round pick to a first rounder, potentially in the Top 20.

- Lastly, the Final Four won't equal the rest of the tourney. It's been one of the best tourneys I can remember in terms of viewing pleasure. But I think the Final Four may disappoint. I think Wisconsin and Kentucky could be awesome, but I have a feeling that will be it. I hope I'm wrong, but that's my feeling now.

Enjoy the Final Four, and hope your bracket is better than mine.

By: The Sports Guys

Re-Do Picks

The tourney resumes tonight with four great matchups in the Sweet 16. Another four will take place tomorrow, and then two games on Saturday and Sunday will determine the Final Four. Last week, we released our official picks. Some are looking good, others are not. Today though we'll give you our updated picks for the Sweet 16 and Elite 8, just for fun.

Sweet 16 Games

Andrew: 

S - Stanford over Dayton
S - Florida over UCLA
W - Wisconsin over Baylor
W - Arizona over San Diego State
M - Tennessee over Michigan
M - Louisville over Kentucky
E - Connecticut over Iowa State
E - Michigan State over Virginia

Greg:

S - Dayton over Stanford
S - Florida over UCLA
W - Wisconsin over Baylor
W - Arizona over San Diego State
M - Michigan over Tennessee
M - Louisville over Kentucky
E - Connecticut over Iowa State
E - Michigan State over Virginia

Elite 8 Games

Andrew:

S - Florida over Stanford
W - Arizona over Wisconsin
M - Louisville over Michigan
E - Michigan State over Connecticut

This is the same Final 4 I picked last week. I'm sticking with it.

Greg: 

S - Florida over Dayton
W - Wisconsin over Arizona
M - Michigan over Louisville
E - Michigan State over Connecticut

I didn't realize I picked three Big Ten teams to reach the Final Four until I was done picking.

Who will pick better? That's why they play the games...

By: The Sports Guys

NCAA Region Breakdown 2

Monday, I shared my reaction from the first weekend of the tournament. I loved some things, was disappointed in others, but overall it set the stage for some great upcoming battles. The matchups we have now lead me to think we could have many more epic battles awaiting us.

Today, I will go through and break down each region as it stands now. I will answer the same questions I answered last Tuesday, but focus on the current field. Some of the answers may have changed, others haven’t. Below are my thoughts on the favorites, the upset potentials, the best matchups, and four players from each region to watch.

South

Region Favorite

Andrew: As I said last weekend, Florida is the favorite. I think they are more of a favorite now too as there are two double-digit seeds remaining.

Region Darkhorse

Andrew: I’ll go with Stanford. Randle and Powell are a formidable combo and it seems as if they are tough to prepare for.

Best “Sweet 16” Matchup

Andrew: Florida and UCLA is very intriguing because UCLA is all about offense, Florida is predicated on defense.

Best Potential “Elite 8” Matchup

Andrew: Florida vs. Stanford would be the best game. Honestly though, Florida won’t be challenged this weekend.

Best Individual Matchups This Weekend (Actual/Potential)

Andrew: Kyle Anderson (UCLA) vs. Scottie Wilbiken (Florida). They won’t guard each other, but each are great playmakers for their teams. They are two of the most important players in the country as well.

Upset Potential? (For Sweet 16 and/or Elite 8 games)

Andrew: If an upset happens, it will be UCLA over Florida. The Bruins could get hot and put up enough points to pull it off.

Four Players to Watch in This Region

Andrew: I mentioned Anderson and Wilbiken already, but I’ll add Dwight Powell (Stanford) who is a matchup nightmare as well. From Dayton watch out for Dyshawn Pierre, the leading scorer.

West

Region Favorite

Andrew: Arizona has looked incredible so far and has backed up their stake as the region favorite. They seem to be clicking on both offense and defense. Wisconsin has been good too.

Region Darkhorse

Andrew: Baylor has played great basketball in the tournament, and really has been playing well for the last month. The way they blew out Creighton proves to me that they could go to the Final Four.

Best “Sweet 16” Matchup

Andrew: Baylor vs. Wisconsin is the better of the two. Both teams have shot the ball well in the tourney, and both are capable of solid defense.

Best Potential “Elite 8” Matchup

Andrew: I want to see Baylor vs. Arizona, because both teams have great big men. It’s rare in a “guard’s game” but the bigs would rule the day here.

Best Individual Matchups This Weekend (Actual/Potential)

Andrew: Xavier Thames vs. Nick Johnson in the Sweet 16 will be tasty. Both guards are All-American caliber, yet both have flown under the radar all season.

Upset Potential? (For Sweet 16 and/or Elite 8 games)

Andrew: Baylor has the potential to upset anyone in the region. Look out!

Four Players to Watch in This Region

Andrew: Nick Johnson (Arizona), Xavier Thames (San Diego State), Kenny Chery (Baylor), and Trevon Jackson (Wisconsin). These guards are critical to their team’s success. Whoever performs best will end up winning.

Midwest

Region Favorite

Andrew: I said Wichita State last week, but now it’s Louisville or Kentucky. Louisville was my Final Four pick, but if Kentucky plays as well as they did Sunday, then they will go to the Final Four.

Region Darkhorse

Andrew: Tennessee has made it this far with ease. Outside of Iowa in the First Four, they have blown teams away. They have terrific players in the frontcourt, and are playing their best basketball of the season.

Best “Sweet 16” Matchup

Andrew: The matchup of the week is Louisville vs. Kentucky. Top two teams in the preseason, playing their best ball of the year, in-state rivals, and the last two national champs.

Best Potential “Elite 8” Matchup

Andrew: Louisville vs. Michigan. This was the championship game last year, and it could be just as close of a game now.

Best Individual Matchups This Weekend (Actual/Potential)

Andrew: Russ Smith vs. Nik Stauskas. These two scorers could go back and forth if they play. I’m licking my chops already.

Upset Potential? (For Sweet 16 and/or Elite 8 games)

Andrew: Kentucky can take out Louisville, as they already have this season. They will need to play their best however, just like they did against the Shockers.

Four Players to Watch in This Region

Andrew: Julius Randle (Kentucky) has to play to his potential to move on. Luke Hancock (Louisville) is the X-Factor for the Cardinals, just like last year. Jordan McRae (Tennessee) really makes this team dynamic. And Caris LeVert (Michigan) has become a matchup nightmare.

East

Region Favorite

Andrew: I said Michigan State last week, but I’ll go with Virginia now. They’ve answered the questions concerning them as a #1, and I was so impressed with their easy win over Memphis. MSU has played well, but looked shaky against Harvard.

Region Darkhorse

Andrew: Connecticut. I’d say Iowa State if Niang weren’t injured. But UCONN can ride Napier all the way.

Best “Sweet 16” Matchup

Andrew: Michigan State vs. Virginia should be a great game. They both rely on upperclassmen, and both teams have great coaches.

Best Potential “Elite 8” Matchup

Andrew: Iowa State vs. Michigan State would be a great game. Both teams can really score and have some major athletes.

Best Individual Matchups This Weekend (Actual/Potential)

Andrew: Gary Harris vs. Joe Harris. Which player is better? They both do everything well, so this would be fun.

Upset Potential? (For Sweet 16 and/or Elite 8 games)

Andrew: I think Michigan State can beat Virginia (since I picked MSU to win it all they better). If that doesn’t count, then I also think UCONN can beat ISU.

Four Players to Watch in This Region

Andrew: I mentioned both Harris’s… one from MSU, and the other from Virginia. DeAndre Kane (Iowa State) is a big-time scorer. Shabazz Napier (Connecticut) could be the best point guard in the country.

That’s it! Feel free to make comments if you agree or disagree. Tell me what your thoughts are on these topics. Later…

By: The Sports Guys

NCAA Weekend Reaction

The first four days of March Madness are behind us… And it was truly madness!!! A 1-seed is gone (Wichita State), two 2-seeds lost also (Kansas and Villanova), and Duke (3-seed) went down in the first round. There are three double-digit seeds in the Sweet 16, two of which play each other next (Dayton and Stanford). OT’s and buzzer beaters were the norm, and nobody lasted two days with a perfect bracket (in the world).

Through two rounds, Andrew and Greg are tied at 41 points. Due to similar picks in many spots, they were about even in every region. Going forward, Andrew must take advantage of Greg’s choice of Wichita State to the final game. Another big difference is Arizona vs. Wisconsin. Andrew is taking Arizona, and Greg is taking Wisconsin. That looms large in a race this tight.

Today though, I wanted to give you my first weekend reaction. This includes my favorite games and moments, player analysis, and my three biggest surprises and disappointments. Enjoy!

Reactions

Andrew – These first four days were amazing. I loved the close games, the upsets, the drama at the end of games, and the unpredictability that is March Madness. I was texting with friends at some point and made the statement that nothing in sports rivals this tourney. It’s simply the best without question.

Favorite Games and Moments

Andrew – The best game in terms of quality was Wichita State vs. Kentucky. Both teams played at a high level and it was close throughout. It had the feel of a championship game honestly, and it’s disappointing they both couldn’t have moved on. Kentucky played their best game of the season by far.

Dayton and Ohio State was fun for a number of reasons. First off, it was the opening game of the entire tourney. Secondly, it featured the small school in Ohio against the big state school. The energy was intense. It also went back and forth all throughout the second half, and twice within the final 30 seconds. Dayton then followed it up with an incredible performance against Syracuse, another favorite game of mine.

SFA defeated VCU was incredible. The moment of the game was the four-point play at the end of regulation that sent it to OT. Just unreal as I thought the game was essentially over.

Mercer over Duke was another upset game that was fun to watch. Partway through the second half you could see the belief was there. It was also the biggest upset of the tourney in terms of seed.

North Dakota State taking out Oklahoma was awesome. The best moment was in OT, when a bench player, who hadn’t played the whole game, came in and scored four points in a row to win the game and cause the upset. Such a good story.

I couldn’t believe NC State choked against St. Louis. Texas had the game winner against Arizona State. Harvard pulled off another upset. ISU vs. UNC was as epic a game as you’ll see all tourney. Stanford over Kansas and UCONN over Villanova were also great games. There were so many great games and moments!

Five Players who Delivered

Andrew – Adreian Payne, Michigan State: Scored 41 points in their first game against Delaware (12 points in a win over Harvard). That’s his career high, obviously. Glad to see him healthy again.

Shabazz Napier, Connecticut – In their first game, his line was 26 points, 8 rebounds, 6 assists, and 3 steals. Then in the upset over Villanova: 25, 5, 3, and 2. He’s just a great leader and stuffs the stat sheet on a regular basis.

Cleanthony Early, Wichita State – Honestly the best player I saw this weekend was Early, so it’s sad he’s not playing anymore. Against Cal Poly he poured in 23 and grabbed 7 boards. Against Kentucky, he put up 31 and pulled down 7 rebounds. His play at the end of that game too was so clutch. It’s a shame they lost.

DeAndre Kane, Iowa State – Was “quiet” in their first win by scoring 14, and having 7 rebounds and 5 assists. In their win over UNC, he scored 24, grabbed 10 rebounds, dished out 7 assists, and scored the game winner with 1.6 seconds left. Big time!

Xavier Thames, San Diego State – Was one of my players to watch in his region, and he delivered with 23 points in their first win and 30 in their second. He’s actually been doing this all year, so y’all need to pay attention!

Five Players who Didn’t

Andrew – Andrew Wiggins, Kansas – Got all the love before the season, but it ended well short of expectations. In their loss to 10-seeded Stanford, he went 1-6 for 4 points with 4 turnovers. He wasn’t nearly aggressive enough, particularly with fellow freshman Embiid out.

Jabari Parker, Duke – This is another freshman that laid an egg in the NCAA Tourney. In their loss to Mercer, Parker went 4-14, had 4 turnovers and 0 assists. Again, not the best way to end the season, and most likely NCAA career.

Kendall Williams, New Mexico – His inclusion to this list was easy. New Mexico had high hopes in this tourney and wanted to avenge an early exit last season. Williams is their best pure scorer and was averaging 16 for the year. In their close loss to Stanford he scored 3 points. If he could have gotten anything going they would have won, and they could have potentially beaten Kansas to get to the Sweet 16. Instead, they went home early for the second year in a row.

Lebryan Nash, Oklahoma State – Oklahoma State was not only supposed to beat Gonzaga, but they were expected to seriously challenge Arizona in the third round. But they bowed out early in large part due to Nash. He scored a lowly 6 points, a full eight points below his season average.

LaQuinton Ross, Ohio State – Only scored 10 points in their loss to in-state foe Dayton, but it was more the way he played that was disappointing. For being the most talented guy on the court, he was invisible for large stretches. Now he’s thinking about going pro early… mistake!

3 Biggest Surprises

Andrew – Mercer actually beating Duke was shocking to me. I watched Mercer play the week before and thought they were dangerous, but not enough to actually win. Duke got outplayed, it was that simple. This was the one upset I didn’t see coming.

Colorado not showing up to play was surprising. They’ve risen to the challenge all year, even after losing their best player Dinwiddie to injury. But against Pitt, a team I didn’t think was that great, they got dismantled from the start.

Baylor and Tennessee annihilating teams. I’m not surprised by either team’s presence in the Sweet 16, just the way they got there. UMASS and Creighton in particular were teams that I didn’t think would get blitzed. They did!

3 Biggest Disappointments

Andrew – NC State choking against St. Louis by missing free throw after free throw. Even their best player TJ Warren was bricking shots from the line. They should have won by 20, but instead lost in OT.

The fact that Wichita State is going home is disappointing. They are too good to be done, and actually played too good to be done. They are better than ten teams or so still remaining.

The ACC (and A-10). There was a “feud” between coaches as to which conference should get more of their bubble teams in. Both wanted respect. But neither conference played well. Both only have 1 team remaining. But the ACC in particular suffered bad losses… Duke and Syracuse in particular. North Carolina also choked at the end of their game to Iowa State, who was missing one of their best players. Embarrassing and disappointing.

That’s all until tomorrow… Thanks!

By: The Sports Guys