1-UConn vs Missouri: Really, this is a matchup of one team who was won of the season long favorites to win the championship against a team that probably nobody knows anything about. Mizzou feels like a Cinderella since they are the only non blue-blood remaining (well, aside from Oklahoma).
This is a game that will feature that frentic Missouri trap against a team with size and speed. It will be interesting to see if Missouri can attack the basket against Hasheem Thabeet like they did against Memphis. Pick: UConn
2-North Carolina vs Oklahoma: The hype will be about Blake Griffin vs Tyler Hansbrough. The real story will be the guard play. Can Oklahoma's guards hold down Ty Lawson and Wayne Ellington? If they can't, then it won't matter if Griffin beats Hansbrough in their battle.
Carolina will throw four guys at Griffin: Hansbrough, Deon Thompson, Ed Davis and Tyler Zeller. I expect Griffin to put up big numbers like he's been doing all tournament, but I'm not sure if the rest of the Sooners can deal with the rest of the Heels. Pick: North Carolina.
3-Louisville vs Michigan State: The star matchup here will be on the sidelines. The suits. Rick Pitino against Tom Izzo. Both are outstanding tournament coaches. Both have won one championship and both have taken their teams to multiple Final Fours.
The key will be if Louisville can speed up Michigan State. The Spartans are a tough half-court team that can take the Ville out of their game. Pick: Louisville
4-Pittsburgh vs Villanova: Nothing against this game, but it is the lone rematch of the bunch. Two Big East schools duking it out. Hard to believe that both these teams struggled in their first round games against ETSU and American, respectively. This will be a defensive affair, which both teams love, and could come down to the final shot. If so, I like Pitt. Pick: Pittsburgh
ACTUAL RANKINGS AFTER THEY PLAYED
1-Villanova/Pittsburgh
2-UConn/Missouri
3-Michigan State/Louisville
4-North Carolina/Oklahoma
This is a game that will feature that frentic Missouri trap against a team with size and speed. It will be interesting to see if Missouri can attack the basket against Hasheem Thabeet like they did against Memphis. Pick: UConn
2-North Carolina vs Oklahoma: The hype will be about Blake Griffin vs Tyler Hansbrough. The real story will be the guard play. Can Oklahoma's guards hold down Ty Lawson and Wayne Ellington? If they can't, then it won't matter if Griffin beats Hansbrough in their battle.
Carolina will throw four guys at Griffin: Hansbrough, Deon Thompson, Ed Davis and Tyler Zeller. I expect Griffin to put up big numbers like he's been doing all tournament, but I'm not sure if the rest of the Sooners can deal with the rest of the Heels. Pick: North Carolina.
3-Louisville vs Michigan State: The star matchup here will be on the sidelines. The suits. Rick Pitino against Tom Izzo. Both are outstanding tournament coaches. Both have won one championship and both have taken their teams to multiple Final Fours.
The key will be if Louisville can speed up Michigan State. The Spartans are a tough half-court team that can take the Ville out of their game. Pick: Louisville
4-Pittsburgh vs Villanova: Nothing against this game, but it is the lone rematch of the bunch. Two Big East schools duking it out. Hard to believe that both these teams struggled in their first round games against ETSU and American, respectively. This will be a defensive affair, which both teams love, and could come down to the final shot. If so, I like Pitt. Pick: Pittsburgh
ACTUAL RANKINGS AFTER THEY PLAYED
1-Villanova/Pittsburgh
2-UConn/Missouri
3-Michigan State/Louisville
4-North Carolina/Oklahoma
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