NCAA Tournament...Big East Elite Eight Preview

Well, the dream is over. Oklahoma did its best to make sure the Big East wouldn’t own the Final Four. However, there is still the possibility of three out of the four…which is pretty damn impressive. Can the conference continue to dominate? Let’s take a look at the picks.

Last Round: 3-2

Overall: 16-3

(3) Missouri vs. (1) UConn: The Huskies didn’t show signs of being distracted by the recruiting scandal. Jim Calhoun seems to have done a good job in putting a barrier between the allegations and his kids. UConn also continues to roll. Purdue just couldn’t match the physicality. Now it’s a battle of two high-scoring teams. Both squads are averaging over 90 points a game. This will be the toughest test so far for UConn. Expect the Huskies to get more from the perimeter, especially if the school can break the press. This will be a close one, but the Huskies will be too tough.

Prediction: 86-80 UConn

(3) Villanova vs. (1) Pittsburgh: Another game, another escape job by Pitt. However, a win is a win…especially this late in the season. Meanwhile, Nova comes in after destroying Duke (and the free world can once again rest easy). The Wildcats continue to run teams into the ground with straight athleticism. No team is more athletic defensively than Nova…which could be an issue for Pitt. The Panthers need more consistent scoring, which could be difficult against the Cats. DeJaun Blair needs to be a major factor. This means staying out of foul trouble, which could be tough. There is no doubt that Nova will drive at him all night. Pitt can’t afford to get out of the box slowly. If they do, this game will be over by halftime.

Prediction: 75-68 Villanova

(2) Michigan State vs. (1) Louisville: The Cardinals certainly looked like the number one overall seed last night. The Ville dismantled Arizona like a 16-seed. This team is just too deep, too athletic, and too well coached to not be a final four team. The Spartans are a good story. Tom Izzo has an experienced team playing well, at the right time. But MSU just won’t match the Ville’s intensity.

Prediction: 71-58 Louisville

NCAA Tournament...Big East Sweet 16 Preview

A good tourney so far for the Big East. The conference has proven that it is the best in the nation by still having five teams in the tourney. It is the first time that a single conference sends five teams to the Sweet 16. Having five team left keeps the possibility open for a complete Big East Final Four. The picks...

Last Round: 6-0
Overall: 13-1

Thursday
(5) Purdue vs. (1) UConn: The Huskies have been the most dominant team in the tourney so far. It helps to be playing with a chip on the ole shoulder. The ailing Jim Calhoun seems to have sold the disrespect card to his boys…and now they are taking it out on anyone who is in the way. Purdue has played well, but won’t handle the physicality that UConn will throw. Expect the Huskies to push the ball inside and take control early.

Prediction: 76-63 UConn

(3) Villanova vs. (2) Duke: It should be one of the better games of the round. Both teams have great guards, sharp shooting, and pretty solid defense. Nova desperately needs to come out strong. Jay Wright can ill-afford to get into a coaching battle. If so, Coach K will bury him in two seconds. The Wildcats will try to insert a more physical game. Duke does have a history of backing down to stronger teams. Once again Dante Cunningham could be the difference. Duke can’t match his game. If it’s close give Duke the advantage. I just don’t see it being close enough.

Prediction: 70-63 Villanova

(4) Xavier vs. (1) Pitt: Coach Miller gets to take on the team that he used to lead on the court. Now they stand between him and back-to-back Elite Eights for his Musketeers. There is no question Pitt has struggled, but maybe the break is what the Panthers needed. Sam Young is also playing at top form, which doesn’t bode well for Xavier. What does bode well for Xavier is the fact that Pitt hasn’t been to the Elite Eight in quite some time. The Panthers always find ways to lose. I’m sticking to my bracket, and going with the Musketeers…tournament experience and better form being the difference.

Prediction: 63-61 Xavier

Friday
(3) Syracuse vs. (2) Oklahoma: Here’s a straight battle for you all. Syracuse will bring the tough zone and athletic transition game. The Orange has been pretty solid so far, though have struggled to finish games out. The Cuse won’t get away with it against a team as solid as Oklahoma. Blake Griffin seems to be back up to form...and the boys have been shooting well from the outside. This will be a close one. Expect Oklahoma to attack the zone with Griffin, then kicking it out for open looks. The Cuse will look to exploit all turnovers and missed shots with the transition game. These two teams will be spent when it’s all over. And when it is finally through, expect the never-say-die Orange to be moving on.

Prediction: 85-80 Syracuse

(12) Arizona vs. (1) Louisville: The Cardinals were a tad lucky to escape the second round. Now Louisville takes on an Arizona team that is much better than the 12-seed it has. Each squad has numerous NBA prospects and fine role-players. The difference may simply be that the Cardinals have more. Louisville doesn’t normally blow teams out. Instead, the Cards slowly dismantle the opponent with great defense and colossal depth. The Wildcats are on a nice run, but the finish line will not be reached. Too much depth for Louisville.

Prediction: 71-58 Louisville

Boring...Are You Kidding Me?

This tournament has been boring…seriously? People actually think the NCAA Tournament has been boring? Have you all gone mad? Did you see Pitt battle a 16-seed for 38 minutes? Did you watch Memphis and Villanova struggle to make it to the second round? How about the Ohio State-Sienna double-overtime game? Followed by Sienna nearly taking Louisville down? Did you witness Gonzaga, Oklahoma State and Missouri all scoring with just seconds to go for victories? Do you get the point yet?

How on Earth can a tournament with drama in nearly every game be boring? There was considerable drama 33 of the 48 games so far, but since all the one and two seeds are left this tourney must be boring. A school named Cleveland State knocked out the former number one team in the land…but since there are no “Cinderella’s” in the Sweet 16 this tourney must be boring. Yeah…right.

I was utterly disgusted Monday morning when I got online and noticed all of the articles bashing the Tourney. I never realized so many so-called “experts” don’t watch a lick of basketball. If they did, they certainly wouldn’t call this a dull tournament. There has been more drama in the first four days than there will be in the entire NBA playoffs. The first two rounds gave us more memorable moments than the College Bowl season. And let’s not forget there is six more days of lunacy to go.

I understand that people want to see the underdog prevail. It’s fun to cheer for the random Kent State rolling to the Elite Eight. But we also love to see the best basketball teams take on the best possible competition. I’m sorry but the Kent State’s, Davidson’s and George Mason’s of the world are not those teams. They may make a solid run, but they are not pound-for-pound the best squads.

Underdogs also give us great storylines as well. So what! Look at these potential storylines that could blow you away. First, there’s the possibility of having four Big East Teams in the Final Four. We could have a Duke/UNC rematch. Rivals Louisville and Memphis could play an epic. Could Gonzaga finally reach a Final Four? A Syracuse/UConn final? Hey the last time those teams played, they rolled six OT’s! I could go on for another ten pages.

I don’t want to hear that the Tourney is boring. There are plenty of great teams left…there have been plenty of great memories…there has been and will continue to be great drama…and without question, there will be some great storylines.

If you have been watching the games, you would see why too.

NCAA Tournament...Big East Games Second Round Preview

It was a solid opening round for the Big East, losing just one team (West Virginia) out of the seven. However, there was plenty of drama, including Pitt nearly losing to a 16-seed. And more drama should be on the way with some great second round tilts. Picks, picks, and more picks…

First Round: 6-1

Overall: 6-1

Saturday

(6) UCLA vs. (3) Villanova: Each team was in a dogfight in the first round…now which still has the legs to get the upper hand? It will be a battle of guards, and outside shooting early, as both squads look to set the tempo. Look for Dante Cunningham to take control of this game in the second half, as Nova pulls away with better ball movement, and more assertiveness. Don’t forget…it’s also a “home game” or Nova.

Prediction: 70-64 Villanova

(9) Texas A+M vs. (1) UConn: The Huskies seemed to be okay even with Jim Calhoun watching the game from the hospital. UConn treated a 16^th seed like it should. Meanwhile, the Aggies controlled BYU for 40 straight minutes, making the win look easy. Now for the tough task….trying to slow the Huskies down. A+M doesn’t have the size and strength to cut UConn down low…and just aren’t a strong enough team for the outside. Expect UConn to pull breeze in the second half.

Prediction: 78-65 UConn

Sunday

(6) Arizona State vs. (3) Syracuse: The Sundevils are in for a rude awakening. Syracuse is one of the hottest teams in America and didn’t break a sweat in the first round. ASU has to find a way to slow the Orange down or the Devils will be run out of the gym. Motion vs. a 2-3 zone is always fun to watch, and it could help ASU control the tempo. However, too many missed shots will turn the Orange loose.

Prediction: 81-75 Syracuse

(8) Oklahoma State vs. (1) Pittsburgh: Will nearly losing to a 16-seed be the best or worst thing to happen to Pitt? Will they come out with fire and raw emotion…and absolutely blast the Cowboys away? Or will they be flat and complacent…and have to dig deep to get out of the second round? Take the former on this one. Pitt will had its scare, and now it’s back to playing top-notch.

Prediction: 74-66 Pitt

(6) Marquette vs. (3) Missouri: The Eagles should be happy just to be in the second round, after nearly giving it away to Utah Sate. And now a battle with Mizzou sands in the way of a Sweet-16 birth. The Tigers handled Cornell well and should do the same with a Dominic James-less Marquette squad. The point guard will be missed, a the Eagles won’t be able to answer a Missouri run.

Prediction: 75-65 Missouri

(9) Sienna vs. (1) Louisville: Sienna will have some tired legs after a double-overtime thriller against Ohio State. That doesn’t bode well when the next opponent is solid and extremely deep. The Cardinals full-court press, inside-outside game, and adequate bench will be too much for the young Saints.

Prediction: 78-59 Louisville

NCAA Tournament...Big East Games First Round Preview

NCAA tourney time for seven of the Big East’s finest. And what a tournament it may turn out to be for the conference. The first round is looking very promising for the magnificent seven, as the Big East looks to own the dance. So…let’s get right to it. The first round picks…

MIDWEST

(1) Louisville vs. (16) Morehead State: I refuse to breakdown 1-16 games. Not until a 16 seed wins one.

Prediction: 81-58 Louisville

(6) West Virginia vs. (11) Dayton: This will be a closer game than people may expect. Both teams play good defense, and both have some playmakers. The Mountaineers have had their struggles against the zone, but Dayton normally rolls in man defense. This could be the difference, with West Virginia getting too many easy looks.

Prediction: 73-65 West Virginia

WEST

(1) UConn vs. (16) Chattanooga: See above

Prediction: 85-60

(6) Marquette vs. (11) Utah State: The Golden Eagles will not have a long run in this year’s tourney. The injury to Dominic James will spell an early-exit…but not this early. Marquette will use their athleticism and Big East toughness to punish the Aggies.

Prediction: 78-64 Marquette

EAST

(1) Pittsburgh vs. (16) ETSU: See above

Prediction: 89-55 Pitt

(3) Villanova vs. (14) American: The ‘Cats have an outstanding bracket. They match-up well against many of the teams, and beat the one-seed (Pitt) earlier this season. It starts with a game against American. Nova’s guard play should bury American early, and coast from there.

Prediction: 78-58 Villanova

SOUTH

(4) Syracuse vs. (13) Stephen F. Austin: My man Stephen is in trouble. The Orange is one of the hottest teams in America right now, and continues to improve. The zone will confuse my man Stephen, forcing many turnovers, which will then setup the transition. Expect Syracuse to get up early and cruise to victory.

Prediction: 83-66 Syracuse

Gus is back baby!

March Madness aint @#$% without Gus Johnson

Gary Rima Northern Iowa Panthers Basketball Play by Play Voice

Don't miss Gary Rima, he is a fantastic guy and a great play by play voice! We hooked up with Gary when the Black Bears played UNI in the FCS Playoffs. Gary is also the voice of Panther Football. Northern Iowa is making it 5th trip to the NCAA's and while they have mostly been ousted in the 1st Round, they have not been boring games!

Gary Rima UNI Panthers Basketball Play by Play Voice talking NCAA Tournament

Matt Spiegel Interviewed while parked in front of the Scientology Center in Hollywood

Join us for Matt Spiegel of Matt Spiegel.com, from what just might be the greatest interview location ever, parked across the street from the Scientology Center in Hollywood! We talk A-Rod, WBC, Daniel Lanois (click it if you don't know who he is...and if you are a fan of music and don't know who he is...shame on you) and breaking the Matt Jones story LIVE! A must listen!!


Matt Spiegel 030909