2011 NCAA Tournament: Sweet 16 West Region Preview

The West region may be the most intriguing left in the NCAA Tournament.

We have three of the best basketball programs of the last 25 years. We have an upstart program from the Mountain West experiencing their most success in team history. Three coaches have won a national title. The best team in the region has a massive personnel question mark and is stuck in a region full of tough matchups.

To top it all off, there is a legitimate argument that Arizona, the No. 5 seed in the region, shouldn't be here. They survived against Memphis after Derrick Williams blocked a Wesley Witherspoon layup attempt that looked like a foul upon further review. They beat Texas due to a five second violation that didn't appear to be a five second violation.

Oh, and Arizona will be playing No. 1 seed Duke out in Anaheim, which could very well turn into a home game for the Wildcats.

Best Storylines:

• If Duke and UConn both win, it will set up a showdown between two programs that have played their fair share of NCAA Tournament classics. In 1990, it was Christian Laettner hitting a buzzer beater to send Duke to the Final Four. In 1999, it was UConn "shocking the world" by beating the Blue Devils in the NCAA title game. And in 2004, the Huskies overcame an eight point deficit in the final three minutes to beat Duke and move on to the national title game.
  


• Duke and UConn will be the favorites in their Sweet 16 games, but both Arizona and San Diego State will likely be playing "home games". With the West regional taking place in Anaheim, its safe to assume that the west coast schools will be able to send more fans to the games. Its also safe to assume that few neutral fans will rooting for Jim Calhoun and the Huskies, while even fewer will be cheering on the Blue Devils.
  


• Steve Fisher doesn't exactly have a sterling reputation as a basketball coach, but that will change if he gets San Diego State to the Final Four. The Aztecs claim to fame as a basketball program is that MLB hall of famer Tony Gwynn played point guard for them in college.
  


• Its impressive what Sean Miller has been able to do in such a short time in Tucson. He's got the Pac-10 champion Wildcats into the Sweet 16 despite having questionable point guard play and inconsistent support for Derrick Williams. How fan can he carry this team?
  

What they need to do to win:

• No. 1 Duke: I'm going to look beyond the obvious, which is effectively integrating Kyrie Irving into the rotation. I don't think that is going to be as big of an issue as people are making it out to be. I'm much more concerned with Duke's front court. Derrick Williams is going to be a matchup night mare for the Plumlees or Ryan Kelly or Kyle Singler or whoever it is that Coach K decides to put on him. If they do get past Arizona, Duke is going to have to deal with San Diego State's front line or UConn's Alex Oriakhi. As has been the case all season, Duke's front line will be the difference.
  


• No. 2 San Diego State: We all know about the Aztec's front line. Kawhi Leonard, Malcolm Thomas, and Billy White are all talented, athletic, and aggressive going to the glass. They create all kinds of match up problems. The key for SDSU, however, is the back court. DJ Gay is one of the most underrated point guards in the country, and his importance to this team cannot be understated. He doesn't turn the ball over, he can create shots for his teammates, and he facilitates the offense. When he's hitting from three, he makes the Aztecs very dangerous.


• No. 3 UConn: Everyone knows about Kemba Walker, but the key for UConn lies in the other guys. Is Alex Oriakhi going to disappear, or his he going to be the offensive rebounding, low block force he was in the Big East Tournament? Is Jeremy Lamb going to be the aggressive slasher and scorer he's proven capable of being, or will his passivity take over? Can Shabazz Napier facilitate the team and allow Kemba to spend some time playing off the ball?
  


• No. 5 Arizona: Much like UConn, the issue for Arizona is what they are going to get beyond Derrick Williams. Momo Jones and Jordin Mayes have been incredibly inconsistent this season, but both played vital roles in wins in the tournament already. Throw in guys like Kevin Parrom, Solomon Hill, and Jamelle Horne, and those are the guys that will determine whether the Wildcats advance.
  

Players to watch:

• Kyrie Irving, Duke: So. Is Kyrie Irving healthy? Will he be able to contribute? Will his contributions fit in with what Duke has done this season without him? Duke was the best team in the country early in the season with Irving. But in the three months that he has been out, Nolan Smith has become a favorite for national player of the year and Duke has remained a favorite to win the national title. For my money, I think that Nolan Smith is mature enough and selfless enough that he only cares about winning. If that means that he has to take a bit of a back seat to Irving, the so be it.
  


• Kawhi Leonard, San Diego State: Leonard is one of the most entertaining players in the country to watch, and its a shame that he isn’t known on a more national scale. When dreaming up a prototype small forward, you think of Leonard. He’s 6’6″, he’s got long arms, he’s quick and athletic and explosive. He attacks the glass as hard as anyone in the country, but he can also lead the break when need be. By the time he fully develops, he’s the kind of player that can average 15, 10, 5, 2, and 2.


• Jeremy Lamb, UConn: Lamb has grown into an excellent complementary scorer for the Huskies. He can hit an open three, he can drive to the rim, but he is at his best when he's scoring in the mid-range, be it by pull-up jumper or floater. He's a streaky player, twice going on streaks of at least seven straight games where he scored in double figures (including currently). Lamb's issue, more than anything, is aggressiveness and assertiveness. When he is attacking and looking to score, he's a dangerous weapon and a great compliment to Kemba Walker.
  


• Derrick Williams, Arizona: Like Leonard, Williams is probably a talent that you haven’t seen enough of this season. He’s a versatile, 6’8″ forward that can score from any where on the floor. He’s been good enough this season to warrant consideration as the No. 1 overall pick come June. And he’ll be a nightmare for the Plumlees to cover.

Thursday Games:

7:15 pm, Anaheim, CBS: No. 2 San Diego State vs. No. 3 UConn

Key Matchup: Kemba Walker

When BYU was at full strength, they dominated the Aztecs twice, winning by a combined 28 points. Jimmer Fredette had 43 points in the first matchup, then he went for 25 points and nine assists in the second game. Kemba is a different player than Jimmer, but their effect on a game is the same. Kemba can win a game on his own, but if there is too much focus on him, his supporting cast is capable of buoying the team. Stop Kemba without selling out your entire defense. Easier said than done.

Key Stat: SDSU's defensive rebounding percentage

San Diego State is the second best defensive team in the country in terms of efficiency. The biggest reason for that? The fact that they hold opponents to the seventh lowest effective field goal percentage. UConn is in the 200's in effective field goal percentage, but they are 12th in the nation in offensive efficiency because they are terrific on the offensive glass. This game is going to be determined by how well the Aztecs limit the Huskie's second chance opportunities.

BIAH Prediction: UConn Huskies

With the style and pace these two teams play, its difficult to see this being more than a one or two possession game down the stretch. The Aztec's performance against Temple did spark a lot of confidence, while UConn has Kemba, the ultimate difference maker.


9:45 pm, Anaheim, CBS: No. 1 Duke vs. No. 5 Arizona

Key Matchup: Derrick Williams vs. Duke's front line

It cannot be said enough -- the biggest weak on this Duke roster is their front line. Derrick Williams is a matchup nightmare regardless of opponent. When he is going up against the likes of the Plumlees, that mismatch is only magnified. Duke doesn't have anyone along their front line that can match his strength around the basket or his quickness on the perimeter.

Key Stat: Arizona's three point percentage

The Wildcats are one of the best three point shooting teams in the country. They take, and make, a very large number of three pointers. But on the defensive end of the floor, the Blue Devils focus on taking away the three. Only four teams nationwide forced their opponents to shoot a lower number of three pointers than the Blue Devils did, and they held their opponents to just 31.6% from beyond the arc. Taking advantage of teams collapsing on Williams is one of the ways that Arizona wins games. If Duke takes that away, Arizona will be in trouble.

BIAH Prediction: Duke Blue Devils

When Derrick Williams is on the floor, Duke will have the better player at four of the five positions. That's tough to overcome.


So who advances?: Duke Blue Devils

In my bracket, I picked UConn. But with Kyrie Irving back in the lineup, Duke is just too talented. The Blue Devils were the best team in the country with Irving and Smith sharing the back court in December. What has changed?
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2011 NCAA Tournament: Sweet 16 Southeast Region Preview

With Pitt's loss to Butler in the Round of 32, the Southeast region is now wide open for a run by any of the four teams to the Final Four.

The scary part is that all four teams are capable of making that run. Florida has been as impressive as any team in the tournament over the past month of the season. BYU struggled to take down Wofford, but they rolled over Gonzaga while Jimmer Fredette has gotten into a serious groove. Wisconsin is one of the nation's most efficient offensive teams and is coming off of a win over Kansas State that saw Jacob Pullen score 38 points while Jordan Taylor went just 2-16 from the floor.

And Butler? They are the only team in this region with any real NCAA Tournament experience.

Best Storylines:

• This is the first time since the back-t0-back titles that Billy Donovan has gotten his Gator team past the first weekend of the tournament. In 2008 and 2009, Florida missed the tournament. Last year, the Gators lost to the very same BYU team they are playing on Thursday in the first round of the tournament in double overtime.
  


• Not many folks still had faith in BYU after Brandon Davies got kicked off the team, but Jimmer Fredette and company are proving those doubters wrong. Will the BYU star be able to throw his team on his back for two more wins? Last year, Fredette had 37 against Florida, and that was before scoring 30-35 points was the norm for Fredette.
  


• The Badgers have had a mixed bag of success under Bo Ryan. They've been in the tournament each of the 10 seasons that Ryan has been at the helm, but this is only the fourth time they've made it past the first weekend. He's never made a Final Four. With a bracket that has parted, it is wide open in the Southeast. This may be the year for Bo's boys.
  


• This is the easiest storyline of the tournament -- Butler, the reigning national runners-up -- struggled all season long, but has returned to the Sweet 16.
  

What they need to do to win:

• No. 2 Florida: The key for the Gators is going to be the play of Erving Walker and Kenny Boynton. You know what you are going to be out of Florida's front line -- some rebounds, some scoring in the post, some blocked shots. Chandler Parsons isn't quite as consistent, but you know what he brings to the table. If Boynton and Walker can provide leadership, if they show good shot selection, and if they can create opportunities at the end of clocks. the Gators will be tough to beat.


• No. 3 BYU: The easy answer is ride The Jimmer express. And while that is very much the case, the key for the Cougars is the same as it has been all season long -- give him support. They'll need to knock down the open threes Jimmer creates, they'll need to defend to make up for Jimmer's lack of defensive intensity, and most importantly, the Cougars are going to need to make rebounding a priority.
  


• No. 4 Wisconsin: The Badgers success in the Sweet 16 is going to come down to the play of Jordan Taylor. Simply put, Wisconsin cannot survive another 2-16 shooting night from their starting point guard.
  


• No. 8 Butler: The Bulldogs are not the same defensive team that they were last season. But they are probably a better team offensively. If Shelvin Mack is hitting shots and Matt Howard is avoiding foul trouble, you never know. The Bulldogs weren't supposed to make it as far as they have the past two seasons in the tournament. You wanna best against them?

Players to watch:

• Chandler Parsons, Florida: Parsons is the most versatile player on the Florida roster and the guy that can cause the most matchup problems. He is a 6'10" wing that can handle the ball, shoot threes, and create assists when he puts in on the floor. He's also a terrific rebounder. The issue? He doesn't always show up.


• Jimmer Fredette, BYU: I'm sorry if this pick is boring, but the fact of the matter is that Fredette is the single most exciting player in the country to watch.
  


• Keaton Nankivil and Jon Leuer, Wisconsin: The Badger's two big men are incredibly important for Wisconsin. While both players stand in the 6'10" range, they also both have terrific shooting percentages from the three point line. That ability to shoot allows Bo Ryan to spread to floor offensively and use those two in pick-and-pop action, which has been pretty effective for them this year.


• Ronald Nored, Butler: There are a lot of very good ball handlers in the region, and if anyone can handle that assignment, its Nored.
  

Thursday Games:

7:27 pm, San Antonio, TBS: No. 2 Florida vs. No. 3 BYU

Key Matchup: Chandler Parsons vs. Charles Abouo/Kyle Collinsworth

Parsons is arguably the most important piece for Florida offensively. Neither Erving Walker nor Kenny Boynton are known for their ability to create open looks for their teammates. Parsons, on the other hand, plays almost a point forward role of this team. He also was the second leading rebounder in SEC play and is a knock down perimeter shooter as well. Abouo and Collinsworth will have their work cut out for them slowing Parsons down.

Key Stat: 71.2 vs. 64.1

Those are the average number of possessions these two teams average. BYU is more comfortable playing at a faster tempo than Florida is. The Gators, believe it or not, are a team that like to run sets, looks to get the ball inside, and then allows their play makers to make a play if that breaks down. BYU can win if they can entice Walker and Boynton to push the ball at their tempo. While they have been better this season, the fact of the matter is that the back court duo of the Gator's are not the best decision makers.

BIAH Prediction: Florida Gators

Florida is just playing too well right now. I think that Walker is able to resist getting into an up and down game. I think that Parsons is going to be too tough of a matchup for BYU defensively. And I think that the Gator's front line is going to overpower BYU. As weird as it is to hear, Vernon Macklin has actually developed into a fairly reliable post presence.

Having said all that, I'm hoping that BYU wins. Because if they do, it means that The Jimmer went off. When he does, there is nothing more entertaining to watch.


9:57 pm, New Orleans, TBS:

Key Matchup: Ronald Nored vs. Jordan Taylor

We've alluded to this matchup a couple times in this preview already. Nored is one of the best on-the-ball perimeter defenders in the country. Taylor is the most efficient point guard in the country. But when going up against a very tough defender in Jacob Pullen in the last round, Taylor went just 2-16 from the floor and settled for a bevy of ill-advised shots. I don't think the Badgers can win against with that kind of a performance from Taylor.

Key Stat: Turnover percentage, free throw percentage

The Badgers don't score a lot due to the slow pace that they play, but don't think that means that Wisconsin is not a good offensive team. Actually, they aren't good, they are great. The Badgers are second in the country in offensive efficiency, largely due to the fact that they only turn the ball over 13.3% of the time (the lowest in the country by a full percentage point) and they make a ridiculous amount of their free throws (82.3%, against tops nationally). Butler, on the other hand, ranks outside the top 200 in forcing turnovers and sending their opponent to the free throw line.

BIAH Prediction: Wisconsin Badgers

Like I said, Butler is not the same team defensively that they were a year ago. The Badgers are the kind of team that slowly grinds you to death, executing to perfection on the offensive end of the floor. It will be a lot of fun, however, to see Jordan Taylor and Jon Leuer share the floor with Shelvin Mack and Matt Howard.


So who advances?: Florida Gators

I just think that the Gators are playing too well right now. They are getting balanced production from up and down their line up, they have a couple of physical presences in the paint, and they seemingly have solidified the point guard position. Over the last month, Kenny Boynton has finally found a consistent shooting stroke and has been much better as a creator, while Erving Walker is becoming a killer at the end of games. He's hit some big shots late in games for the Gators.
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2011 NCAA Tournament: Sweet 16 East Region Preview

The East region is the toughest region in the bracket. And it is not just because Ohio State is the best team in the country. Kentucky is dangerous as a No. 4 seed. They have two game changers in Brandon Knight and Terrence Jones. A third freshman, Doron Lamb, is capable of scoring 20 points on a given night and role players Deandre Liggins, Josh Harrellson, and Darius Miller are playing some of their best basketball of the season. And then there is North Carolina, a team that has come together at just the right time. Kendall Marshall may never make the NBA, but he is one of the most entertaining guards in the country to watch with his ability to pass the basketball.

Expect plenty of NBA scouts to be in attendance at Anaheim. As much as a quarter of the 2011 NBA Draft's first round will take the court this weekend.

Best Storylines:

• Ohio State is the best team in the country. They aren't the most talented -- and they probably aren't the most talented team in this region -- but they have players that understand and buy into their roles. They will have two tough matchups, regardless of opponent. Can they make it through?


• John Calipari is making a living on one-and-done players. And this team is no different, with two -- possibly three -- freshmen headed to this year's draft. Will he be able to break through?


• The Tar Heels have experienced a resurgence this season after underperforming for a season and a half. Can they complete that comeback with a trip to the Final Four?


• You have to love this Marquette team. A coach that came up on the JuCo circuit leading a group of over achieving, under recruited prospects and JuCo transfers. Marquette may be from the Big East, but this team is as cinderella as they come.
  

What they need to do to win:

• No. 1 Ohio State: The Buckeyes don't need to do anything other than play Buckeye basketball, because when they do, they are the best team in the country. What is Buckeye basketball? Offensively, it entails getting the ball into Jared Sullinger in the post and allowing him to make decisions, be it scoring on a post move or kicking the ball out of an open shooter. Defensively, they are tough and physical and they don't foul. When they are rebounding the ball and hitting their threes, this team is near impossible to beat.


• No. 2 North Carolina: Where the Tar Heels have an advantage is in the front court. Tyler Zeller and John Henson are not going to out physical anyone, but they can out run them. It would be interesting to see how many of Kendall Marshall's assists come as a result of those two beating their man down the floor. When UNC is scoring in transition and Harrison Barnes and company are hitting jump shots is when this team is at their best.


• No. 4 Kentucky: The Wildcats are going to need to get production out of their three freshmen. Terrence Jones and Doron Lamb. The two have combined for a grand total of 37 points in the two tournament games. Brandon Knight hit the game-winner against Princeton, but those were his only points of the game. The other key will be Josh Harrellson. Can he hold his own against teams with quality front courts?


• No. 11 Marquette: Get lucky? This team is going to be overmatched against every team they play from here on out. But this is a scrappy, blue-collar team that has been an underdog all season long. If the Golden Eagles are going to win, they need to take advantage of the mismatches that Jae Crowder and Jimmy Butler create.
  

Players to watch:

• David Lighty, Ohio State: Jared Sullinger is the Buckeye's star, but Lighty is the do-everything guy for the Buckeyes. He can defend four different positions. He can be a facilitator when the time calls. As he proved against George Mason, Lighty can be a scorer and a sharpshooter when he has to.
  


• Harrison Barnes, North Carolina: We all know how good the Tar Heels can be in transition. When they are forced into a half court battle, however, it is a different story. The Heels don't have a lot of players that can consistently create their own shot, which make Barnes so important. For the last two months, he has been playing like the all-american everyone expected him to be this season.
  


• Terrence Jones, Kentucky: Jones is the most talented player on the Kentucky's roster. He's also the most difficult to matchup with. At 6'9", Jones can score in the post and on the perimeter. He has three point range and the handle to put the ball on the floor and get to the rim. How many fours and fives in the East can matchup with that kind of versatility.


• Darius Johnson-Odom, Marquette: DJO is a big-time shooter and an explosive athlete that can score in bunches. As good as guys like Jimmy Butler and Jae Crowder are, DJO is Marquette's best offensive weapon.
  

Friday Games:

7:15 pm, Newark, CBS: No. 1 Ohio State vs. No. 4 Kentucky

Key Matchup: Terrence Jones and Jared Sullinger

Both Jones and Sullinger create massive matchup problems for their opponent. As mentioned earlier, Jones is a power forward with size and versatility that Ohio State can't exactly matchup with. David Lighty is probably Ohio State's best defender, but will he be big enough to defend Jones in the post? Dallas Lauderdale and Sullinger are not quick enough to stay with Jones on the perimeter. Will Thad Matta risk putting DeShaun Thomas on him?

Along those same lines, Sullinger causes a matchup problem for Kentucky. Josh Harrellson is the only player with the size and the toughness to matchup with him, but anyone in their right mind would believe that Sullinger will eat Harrellson for lunch. Kentucky's senior center has been terrific in the tournament, playing a role for UK similar to that played by Brian Zoubek for Duke last season.

Key Stat: Kentucky's three point shooting

Ohio State's strength on the defensive end of the floor is their ability to play aggressive defensively and force turnovers without fouling their opponent and putting them on the free throw line. The Buckeyes are 26th in the country in turnover percentage while allowing their opponents the fewest number of free throws per possession of any team in the nation. But where Ohio State struggles is when it comes to forcing their opponents into contested shots. They are 124th nationally in effective field goal percentage defense and 150th in three point percentage defense. Kentucky isn't a great shooting team and they don't shoot all that many threes, but they are 11th in the country in three point percentage. If they are going down for Wildcats, that could be the equalizer.

BIAH Prediction: Ohio State

I picked Kentucky in my bracket, but I am regretting that choice after seeing what Ohio State did to George Mason. The Buckeyes, right now, are playing as well as any team in the country. I'm just not convinced that Kentucky is going to be tough enough defensively, especially when dealing with Jared Sullinger, to beat the Buckeyes.


9:45 pm, Newark, CBS: No. 2 North Carolina vs. No. 11 Marquette

Key Matchup: Jimmy Butler vs. John Henson

Jimmy Butler is a tough matchup for every team. He's filled the role of Lazar Hayward as the versatile power forward that can defend and rebound in the paint, creating a mismatch on the offensive end with his ability to score and create from the perimeter. Henson will have trouble staying in front of Butler defensively, but with Henson's length and athleticism, it will be interesting to see if Butler can keep Henson off the offensive glass.

Key Stat: North Carolina's offensive rebounding

The Tar Heels aren't a great offensive rebounding team, but Marquette is thoroughly average on the defensive glass. UNC has every advantage you could want up front. They are bigger, they are longer, and they are more athletic. John Henson is a very good offensive rebounder while Tyler Zeller is above average. Keeping those two from getting easy putbacks will be a key focus for the Golden Eagles.

BIAH Prediction: North Carolina Tar Heels

As much as a I hate to see him go, Buzz Williams' team simply does not have the talent level to compete with UNC.


So who advances?: I'm going to say that North Carolina does. I can't see Marquette beating them in the Sweet 16, and should Carolina advance, they matchup well with either Kentucky or Ohio State. The Tar Heels have already beaten Kentucky -- back in December -- and they did it when they still had Larry Drew running the show. With Ohio State, for every bucket that the Buckeyes get inside thanks to the strength advantage that Sullinger has, UNC will get one when their bigs are able to beat him down the floor.
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Mascot Madness: Sweet Sixteen

One of the great things about March Madness is that there are so many small-name teams that you have never heard of playing on the big stage. What makes this so great is that with 314 possible contestants, we are bound to have a handful of interesting nickname/mascot combinations in the tournament year in and year out.

After all, isn't that what you look forward to the most? Spending Thursday afternoon watching The same old plain-Jane blue-and-white Kentucky Wildcats battle The silver-green-and-red Highlanders of East Western Poly Tech State?

It is common knowledge that we here at BIAH are the leaders in unnecessary college basketball information. Since we have this 64-team bracket in-front of us, we decided to try and determine the best mascot in March Madness.

Each day we will reveal a new portion of our bracket, leading up to the Championship game on April 5th, when we determine the best mascot in the 2010 NCAA Tournament.

In case you are checking in for the first time, or if you just want to relive some of the memories, here is exactly how we got here:

Round 1: Midwest
Round 1: West
Round 1: East
Round 1: South
Round 2: Midwest and West
Round 2: East and South


Midwest Bracket

#4 Maryland Terrapins vs. #9 UNLV Runnin' Rebels

This match-up plays out according to the old adage "slow and steady wins the race".

I have no idea why these rebels are running? How can you possibly rebel against something if you are running away?

They are carrying double six-shooter revolvers. Those things weigh a ton. It can't be that easy to run while carrying two firearms. Then there is the ten-gallon-hat, the bandoleer, the holster, chaps, boots, bolo tie... Trying to run with all that crap on would make for a fruitless effort.

Turtles on the other hand are cool, calm and collected. Well, they move slow enough to appear as though they have everything under control. What actually goes on underneath that Kevlar shell is a mystery to all us non-biologists.

UNLV gets out to a quick lead but the Terps slowly close the gap. Second half is dominated by Maryland. Rebs shoot nothing but blanks.

Winner - #4 Maryland Terrapins


#11 San Diego State Aztecs vs. #15 UC-Santa Barbara Gauchos

I am a fan of tournament expansion solely for mascot-related reasons. But here we have a prime example of the beauty of March Madness: Hispanic cowboys versus Hispanic Indians.

I couldn't have set this up any better if I had tried (and I didn't). UCSB against SDSU. Southern California clashes with even-more-Southern California. Big West meets Mountain West.

In a 1v1, a cowboy would usually win, but this is a team sport and a swarm of Aztecs would massacre a group of cowboys. Unless you never passed ninth grade social studies, you know how dominant the Aztecs were. They were like the UCLA of Mexico before the coach Cal's of the world (Spanish Armada) came in and took over.

Sorry Gauchos. I do like the Big West - tt's given us dunk-titan Gerard Anderson and PA announcer/WEC ring announcer Joe Martinez.

But Aztecs are savages. Despite how stupid I think the MWC is, Marshall Faulk's alma mater is paving a path of destruction, and the next stop is the Elite Eight.

Winner - #11 San Diego State Aztecs



West Bracket

#4 Vanderbilt Commodores vs. #16 Vermont Catamounts

Don't get me wrong, I like Vermont. Despite being the only New England state without a coastline, they give us maple syrup, Ben & Jerry's, Phish, and most importantly "SORRENTINE FROM THE PARKING LOT".

The BIAH gods warn us not to go against a Gus Johnson call, but I just feel like The Pennybags family always has a way to get the upper-hand. It could be monopolizing the hemp and dairy industries. Even going on a private expedition of the Vermont frontier, hunting down the entire catamount population is not out of the question. They've got money and power, which is a lethal combination.

Plus, I knew a bunch of hot girls who went to Vandy. The only Vermonsters I know are hippies. I don't like hippies. They like crappy music, force their opinions on me, and think old carpets are acceptable replacements for actual items of clothing.

Winner - #4 Vanderbilt Commodores


#14 Oakland Golden Grizzlies vs. #15 North Texas Mean Green

The bad boys from Oakland (Rochester, MI) take on the the meanest of the lesser-Texas schools. No it's not "Mean Gene" (Okerlund), nor "the Big Green" (you know, that Disney soccer movie about a team eerily similar to the 'Mighty Ducks', except Steve Guttenberg instead of Emilio Estevez).

The inspiration for North Texas' nickname came from legendary Pittsburgh Steeler and former North Texas alum "Mean" Joe Greene. I might be too young to remember Mr. Greene, but, like, was he really THAT GOOD?

I mean, to get a team named after you, professional or collegiate, you have to be nearing icon status. Shortstop workhorse Cal Ripken Jr. inspired the Aberdeen Ironbirds (MLB-A). The Calgary Hitmen (WHL) are named for legendary wrestler Brett "The Hitman" Hart. Maybe the people in North Texas think "Mean" Joe Greene was a god, but I only remember him from that coca-cola commercial. Plus, Troy Polamalu's version was much better.

Joe Greene might have been a mean dude, but the Summit League champs are straight outta Oakland (OK, they really aren't at all, but just go with it). I saw Jim Brown get his butt kicked by some thugs in an old made-for-TV movie once. Jim Brown was a lot better than Joe Greene at football AND he probably could take a better woopin'.

The O.G.G. - The Original Golden Grizzlies -- give North Texas a back-alley beatdown. Even a gatorade cooler full of Coke Zero can't save the Mean Green.

Winner - #14 Oakland Golden Grizzlies


East Bracket

#5 Temple Owls vs. #16 East Tennessee State Buccaneers

This is a difficult match-up to forecast.

Owls and Buccaneers are completely foreign to each other. If for some reason a pirate ship were attacked by a parliament of owls (yup, that's what it's called), I'd think the Bucs would have trouble fending off the merciless nighthawks.

On the other hand, pirates do have a good relationship with parrots, so it's not like this will be the first time ETSU will have to deal with aggressive avians. Proper gameplanning and execution pays off as the Bucs pick the hooters right out of the night sky.

Winner - #16 East Tennessee State Buccaneers


#2 West Virginia Mountaineers vs. #3 New Mexico Lobos

The musket-carrying mountain men have their toughest competition in front of them in this #2 vs. #3 match-up. They have already dispatched of bears and huskies, so you would think lobos would be a walk in the park.

But New Mexico is far out of the range of "mountaineer country". The Mountaineers are less-familiar with the dry, arid southwestern desert surroundings. Quickly, it becomes the lobo that is tracking the mountaineer.

Things get ugly for WVU when Truck Bryant gets his foot caught in a bear trap and Joe Mazzulla gets shot with an errant rifle bullet. The team already lost Cam Thoroughman and Deniz Kilicli to dysentery somewhere between Sinking Springs and the Rio Grande. Darington Hobson (Best.Name.Ever) and his pack feast on what is left of the mountaineers.

Winner - #3 New Mexico Lobos


South Bracket

#4 Purdue Boilermakers vs. #16 Arkansas-Pine Bluff Golden Lions

It's quite possible that the National Champion emerges from the south bracket. All four teams boast top-notch mascot/nickname combinations. APB's tough non-con schedule coupled with Purdue's depleted squad have made for quite a post-season dandy. I'm not sure what is more important about a mascot: creativity/originality or ferocity/badass-ness?

Purdue has more originality, but APB has way more ferocity. But to be honest, I'm getting pretty tired of hearing about all the golden creatures in this tournament. At first it was cool, but now it just seems like a cop-out.

How come silver doesn't get any love? I'm still anxiously awaiting the day Tennessee-Chattanooga changes from the "Mocassins" to the "Silver Snakes".

I mean, I would take APB more seriously, but a lion, like, real African lion, residing in Pine Bluff, Arkansas? That's just not believable at all. I like what they are thinking, but come on fellas, this is Arkansas we are talking about. I would have been fine working with a more realistic "Arkansas-Pine Bluff Thundering Muskrats".

Additionally, that rail-splitting sledgehammer held by Purdue Pete is more than enough to render an animal, golden or not, unconscious.

Winner - #4 Purdue Boilermakers


#7 Richmond Spiders vs. #11 Old Dominion Monarchs

Two great nickname/mascot combos meet in our final Sweet Sixteen tilt. It's the eight-legged arachnids against the single-minded arch-duke-kings. Spiderman versus King Louis XIV.

This match up turns out to be an instant classic. ODU's weakness is their lack of control due to having only one government official. However, they make up for their selfishness by playing all five positions on the floor. They can be kings, queens, dukes, emperors, or even sultans.

The spiders have great-court vision (they have eight eyes, duh) and footwork (eight legs, double-duh), which is evident by their speedy backcourt of David Gonzalvez and Kevin Anderson.

Although Monarchs have absolute power, they are known for their backstabbing, in-fighting and general mistreatment of everything they control. Late in the game, Gerald Lee doesn't think Marsharee Neely should handle the ball, so he poisons him. Kent Bazemen beheads Keyon Cooper during the under-four timeout, and head coach Blaine Taylor names his four daughters - Amber, Ashley, Alexandria, and Alana -- as heirs to the Old Dominion head coaching position.

Winner - #7 Richmond Spiders


Next Round: Elite Eight

Midwest Bracket
#4 Maryland Terrapins vs. #11 San Diego State Aztecs

West Bracket
#4 Vanderbilt Commodores vs. #14 Oakland Golden Grizzles

East Bracket
#3 New Mexico Lobos vs. #16 East Tennessee State Buccaneers

South Bracket
#4 Purdue Boilermakers vs. #7 Richmond Spiders
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Sweet 16 Preview

UPDATE: The Friday Sweet 16 previews are now up. We were 4-4 in our picks yesterday, by the way (h/t myself).

The NCAA Tournament's first weekend was, in a word, uneventful. While teams like Memphis and Pitt and Louisville all received early round scares, the first two rounds of the greatest spectacle in sports left us with a chalky Sweet 16. Each of the top three seeds won two games for the first time since the tournament expanded to 64/65 teams. Two regions had their top four seed make the Sweet 16, also a first. The other two teams to make the second weekend - fifth seed Purdue, who was a preseason favorite in the Big Ten, and twelfth seed Arizona, who is making their 25th straight tournament appearance.

To some, the first weekend was a bust. But what the this year's version of the dance lacks in cinderellas, upsets, and buzzer beaters, it makes up for with dynamite Sweet 16 match-ups.

So without further ado, here is your Sweet 16 preview:

Best Match-up, Storyline: We could go with Eric Devendorf and inundation of hate/anti-hate he has gotten in the last few days, but I feel like we've written about that before. We could go with UConn and the distractions they are going to face heading into their date with Purdue tomorrow, but the tournament is supposed to be college hoops bliss, not a reminder of how unethical and corrupt the landscape of college athletics has become. We could even go with the fact that there are seven coaches remaining who have a national title on their resume (two of whom, Tim Izzo and Bill Self, are squaring off) or that Taylor King transferred from Duke to Villanova during the off-season, but that bores us.

So we will go with this: Sean Miller vs. Pitt. Miller ran the point for Pitt from 1987-92 before graduating and joining the coaching ranks. But Miller is also one of the hottest coaching commodities this side of Anthony Grant. Do we dare mention that Miller is considered by many to be the heir to the throw at Pitt whenever Jamie Dixon decides to move on? Apparently, we do. Boom.

Best Match-up, Stylistically: This one is easy. Villanova versus Duke. Both teams are loaded with perimeter talent, both teams love to spread the floor, and both play a tough, pressuring style of defense. We originally had Nova winning this game, but at the last minute went with Duke because, among other things, we were swayed by an article talking about offensive efficiency and tournament success. It was 2 am, and for the record, I regret the decision after seeing Texas come within two borderline foul calls of having a shot at the end of regulation to beat Duke and seeing Villanova pummel three-time Final Four participant UCLA.

Best Match-up, Mano-a-Mano: There are some intriguing match-ups all over the Sweet 16 landscape (C-Bud#34 vs. T-Will, DeMarre Carroll/Leo Lyons vs. Shawn Taggart/Robert Dozier, anyone on UNC vs. anyone on Gonzaga), but the best is going to be Sherron Collins going up against Kalin Lucas. Lucas (the Big Ten player of the year) and Collins (the Big XII player of the year had Blake Griffin gone pro) are both scoring point guards that can also distribute. Lucas is lightening quick with the ball in his hands, especially in transition, and can get around even some of the best defenders. Collins is a broader, stronger player with the ball that can over power smaller guards. It should be fun watching these two go at each other all game. And yes, I know mano-a-mano means hand-to-hand, not man-to-man.

Best Match-up, Just Because: I don't know why, but I cannot wait for the Memphis-Missouri match-up. Maybe it is all the athletes in the game. Maybe it is because perennial powerhouse Memphis is playing newcomer Missouri. Maybe it is the contrasting, but tough nonetheless, defensive styles (Missouri playing their 40 minutes of hell defense while Memphis plays the best half court defense in the country). I don't know, I'm just pissed that this game is on at the same time as Duke-Nova.

He is your Sweet 16 schedule of games and announcers (follow the links for a preview of the games):

- Thursday, 7:07 PM, West Region: #5 Purdue vs. #1 UConn - Dick Enberg, Jay Bilas
- Thursday, 7:27 PM, East Region: #4 Xavier vs. #1 Pitt - Verne Lundquist, Bill Raftery
- Thursday, 9:37 PM, West Region: #3 Missouri vs. #2 Memphis - Enberg, Bilas
- Thursday, 9:57 PM, East Region: #3 Villanova vs. #2 Duke - Lundquist, Raftery

- Friday, 7:07 PM, Midwest Region: #12 Arizona vs. #1 Louisville - Gus Johnson, Len Elmore
- Friday, 7:27 PM, South Region: #3 Syracuse vs. #2 Oklahoma - Jim Nantz, Clark Kellogg
- Friday, 9:37 PM, Midwest Region: #3 Kansas, #2 Michigan State - Johnson, Elmore
- Friday, 9:57 PM, South Region: #4 Gonzaga vs. #1 UNC - Nantz, Kellogg Continue reading...

Gonzaga vs. UNC Sweet 16 Preview

Why UNC Can Win: Gonzaga's defense. The Zags have rated fairly highly in terms of defensive efficiency, but a lot of that has come from dominating lesser competition in the WCC. The Zags are far from a great team defensively, and Pargo is far from a great defender. That could be a problem as they go up against an UNC team that is loaded at every position and has a point guard with a habit of taking over games. I also worry about who Austin Daye is going to guard. Deon Thompson? Ed Davis? Tyler Hansbrough (god forbid)? All three of these guys would have a huge mismatch against Daye in the post and on the glass.

Why Gonzaga Can Win: Talent. If UNC is the most talented team in the country 1-5, the Zags might be second. They have four legit NBA prospects on their team, and when they put it all together, they are as good offensively as anyone in the country. The issue with them all season is that they have not figured out how to play with and off of each other. If they can put it all together for this one, they have a shot at toppling the mighty Tar Heels.

Key To The Game: You guessed it - slowing down the Heels break. The Zags like the get out and run at times, but if they try and get in a track meet with the Heels, Gonzaga is going to be in trouble. That's not to say it isn't ok to run. They are just going to have to be selective of when they do. UNC feasts off of quick shots, especially quick threes and long misses, so Gonzaga is going to have to avoid the temptation of every fast break and pick and choose their spots.

BIAH Pick: UNC. We just don't see the Zags being disciplined enough to slow down their game or dedicated enough to play the defense needed to beat this team.
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Kansas vs. Michigan State Sweet 16 Preview

Why Kansas Can Win: Cole Aldrich. These teams are almost identical, except for the fact that Kansas has Aldrich in the paint. Yes, MSU has some good big men (Suton, Roe, Green), but none of them are as much of a "presence" as Aldrich is. The Spartans are not a great three point shooting team, and instead rely on a group of slashers/penetrators that can go get offensive rebounds. Aldrich is a difference maker, in that he not only can block shots, but he also cleans up the defensive glass.

Why Michigan State Can Win: Because they already have. Back on January 10th, these two teams squared off in the Breslin Center, and the Spartans just about ran the Jayhawks off the court, jumping out to a 37-18 halftime lead. Yes, this is a different Jayhawk team as the freshmen have gained more experience, but this is also a different Spartan team in that they appear to finally be healthy. The biggest issue for the Spartans is going to be whether or not Raymar Morgan decides to show up. Morgan is supposedly back to 100% after dealing with a case of mono, but he has scored double figures just once in his last five games.

Key To The Game: Sherron Collins vs. Kalin Lucas. In the first match-up, Lucas got the best of Collins. While Collins outscored him 25-22, he also committed 8 turnovers. It is no secret that right now, as Collins goes, so go the Jayhawks (think about the 26 he had against Oklahoma and the 3-19 he put up against Texas Tech in the blowout loss). As I mentioned in the Sweet 16 preview post, this is probably the best 1-on-1 match-up in the round of 16. If Lucas can once again outplay Collins, the Spartans may be headed to another Elite 8. Random stat of the day - Michigan State is 13-2 during the second weekend in Tom Izzo's 12 years at the helm.

BIAH Pick: As much as we love Aldrich and Collins right now, I can't bet against Izzo in a situation where he is going up against a team full of freshmen and sophomores in the dance.
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Syracuse vs. Oklahoma Sweet 16 Preview

Why Oklahoma Can Win: Umm, have you followed college basketball this season? I'm going to say it is because they have the best player in the country suiting up for them in Blake Griffin. The guy averaged 22 and 14 on the season, and has stepped that up to 31 and 15 in the tournament this far. Bottom line, he is a beast. Next question.

Why Syracuse Can Win: They play zone. Playing this zone means that it is will be fairly easy for the Orange to swarm, collapse, surround, molest, and do anything else that they can to force Griffin to go up against two and three and even four defenders at a time. It is only more beneficial to the Orange that Willie Warren, Austin Johnson, and Tony Crocker have been inconsistent from beyond the arc this year. If Syracuse can slow down Griffin and/or the Oklahoma wings are not hitting their perimeter shots, the Orange will have an excellent opportunity to become the 4th/5th Big East team in the Elite 8.

Key To The Game: Eric Devendorf. You know who Oklahoma's 1-2 punch is. The Orange? Not so much. Syracuse is going to need someone outside of Flynn to rise to the occasion, make some shots, and create plays for some teammates. Devo is the guy. He is fast earning a reputation as a clutch shooter and a big game player, and the Orange are going to need the Devo from the ASU game to show up, not the Devo from the SFA game.

Sidenote: I cannot wait to watch Warren and Flynn square off. These two are both NBA players, and it should be exciting to watch them go at it. Believe it or not, this is the third best PG match-up on Friday.

BIAH Pick: We're going mild upset. Syracuse win.
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Louisville vs. Arizona Sweet 16 Preview

Why Arizona Can Win: Their big three. As we have been saying with Pitt, when you are building a team, what you want is a point guard, a wing scorer, and a dominant big man. Arizona has all three is Nic Wise, Jordan Hill, and Chase Budinger. Budinger and Hill may very well end up in the lottery three months from now (and Wise has a shot at getting drafted somewhere down the road), which clearly means that the Wildcats have talent. As we have mentioned a number of times, talent - specifically NBA caliber talent - is the biggest factor when it comes to winning at this level. Arizona has two, maybe three, NBA talents on their roster.

Why Louisville Can Win: Depth. Arizona's big three all log between 36 and 38 minutes per game. Granted, with TV timeouts, the minutes that they play do get broken up, that is still a lot of court time over the course of a season. On the other hand, Louisville goes 10 deep and runs a system designed solely around wearing out their opponents. Yes, Jordan Hill is going to be the best big man on the floor. But when he plays 40 minutes and Samardo Samuels and Terrence Jennings split that time, who is going to be fresher and more willing and able to bang bodies down the stretch?

Key To The Game: This is pretty obvious - can Arizona handle Louisville's pressure and who will then control the pace of this game. Arizona cannot turn the ball over against the Cardinals (a la Siena, who had just nine and nearly knocked off the Cards) but also must attack the Cards pressure while not playing out of control. It sounds difficult (and it is - Louisville is the #1 overall seed), but Arizona needs to avoid playing a helter skelter type game. If they do, Louisville will run away with this one. The Cards are simply deeper and tougher.

BIAH Pick: You think we would really go against the Cards here?
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Missouri vs. Memphis Sweet 16 Preview

Why Missouri Can Win: Their press and the Memphis point guard. Tyreke Evans has been phenomenal this season as Coach Cal has slid him into the point guard's role, something Evans had never done before. It was his play in the half court that allowed the Memphis offense to be good enough to left their defense win games. Setting up plays and driving and dishing in the half court is one thing. Trying to break what is probably the best full court press in the country as an inexperienced point guard and a freshman to boot is a much different story. Missouri forces 19 turnovers a game, and if they can fluster Evans, Mizzou has a very real shot at winning the battle of the Tiger.

Why Memphis Can Win: Defense. They are, according to KenPom, the best defensive team in the country, allowing just 0.81 points per defensive possession (which is an outstanding number by the way). Their offense has been slow to come around this year, what with their point guard issues and their inability to knock down threes before this tournament began. But even last season, it was defense that the Tigers hung their hat on. They are just as good, if not better this season.

Key To The Game: Offensive rebounding. Despite all the athletes, when it comes down to it Mizzou is a finesse team. Their two best player, Leo Lyons and DeMarre Carroll, are both face-up, perimeter oriented forwards that excel in their motion offense (FYI - that motion offense has allowed them to average 18.2 apg as a team, tops in college hoops). Guys like Robert Dozier, Pierre Henderson-Niles, and Shawn Taggart are much stronger in the paint, especially on the glass. For Mizzou to win, they need to win the rebounding battle.

BIAH Pick: Missouri. I think Mizzou comes out playing well, and that their press really gets to Evans.
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Villanova vs. Duke Sweet 16 Preview

Why Villanova Can Win: Balance and versatility. The Wildcats don't have a star. Scottie Reynolds and Corey Fisher are both McDonald's All-American's, but Fisher comes off the bench and Reynolds has developed into much more of a point guard that a flashy scoring guard (most thought he would be the latter after a stellar freshman campaign. Dwayne Anderson, Reggie Redding, Shane Clarke, and Corey Stokes are all outstanding defenders that can guard multiple positions (with the exception of Stokes, the other three can defend 1-5, especially on a team like Duke). But they also can do different things on the offensive end. Dante Cunningham has turned into a force in the paint. The thing that makes this Villanova team so dangerous is that they have about six or seven guys that can go for 20 on any given night, and it doesn't matter to them who it is.

Why Duke Can Win: Gerald Henderson. No one on Nova can come near matching Henderson's athleticism (maybe Shane Clark, but Clark cannot guard Henderson on the perimeter). Putting a guy like Redding or Stokes on Henderson might be able to slow him down for a while, simply because he would get out-physicaled, but G has proven he is too good of a slasher to be slowed down like that. Henderson has not reached double figures just once in the last 28 games. I also like the match-up Jon Scheyer will be getting. He will more than likely be guarded by Scottie Reynolds for much of the game, and Reynolds is exactly the kind of defender that Scheyer can beat - not all that big, not all that quick.

Key To The Game: Duke's perimeter defense and boxing out. The Devils have had problems this year handling penetration (do I need to remind you what Ty Lawson did in the two games they played UNC). They are also going to have problems keeping a Villanova team that goes to the boards very hard from the perimeter. That is going to be the difference right there. Case in point - American was up by 14 early in the second half on Nova because they forced them into jump shots and kept the Wildcats at one shot a possession. They lost by 13 because Villanova started getting to the paint and to the glass.

BIAH Pick: Villanova. Can a team with no true point guard beat a team with two Mickey D's all-american point guards?
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Purdue vs. UConn Sweet 16 Preview

Why Purdue Can Win: Defense. The Boilermakers are one of the best defensive teams in the country. I don't say that because of stats, and I don't say that because hype, I say that from watching them play. There may not be a more fundamentally sound defensive team in the country than Purdue. There also may not be a coach better at putting together a game-plan defensively than Matt Painter. Every one on this team, especially the guys on the perimeter, can play lockdown defense. The best of the bunch is Chris Kramer, who was the Big Ten's defensive player of the year in '08 (and may have repeated this year had he not been injured). Among other impressive performances, he held Steph Curry to 5-26 shooting and 13 points in December. The only guy on UConn that can penetrate and create a shot is AJ Price. If Kramer can keep him in check, the Huskies may struggle to put points on the board.

Why UConn Can Win: Size and athleticism. Purdue is not all that big and not all that athletic, especially along their front line. The opposite is true for the Huskies. Stanley Robinson, Jeff Adrien, Hasheem Thabeet - these guys are big, they're strong, and they're aggressive going to the glass. Purdue gave up 14 offensive rebounds in both of their games with Michigan State, and the Huskies are bigger and more athletic than MSU. Purdue struggled down the stretch against an athletic Washington team, so JaJuan Johnson, Robbie Hummell, and Keaton Grant are going to need to play very big if they want to have a shot at springing the upset.

Key To The Game: You mean besides avoiding the distractions of yesterday's Yahoo! report? This game is going to be close. Yes, UConn has been blowing out opponent's so far in this tourney, but Purdue is just too good defensively to get run off the court like that. Anyone that watched the Cuse-UConn 6 OT thriller can attest to the fact that the Huskies struggle to get big baskets, especially against good defensive teams (the Orange didn't lead until the sixth OT, but UConn could not put them away). If this game is close down the stretch, UConn is going to have to find some way to score, especially if Kramer is hounding Price.

BIAH Pick: UConn. Their size is just going to be too much.
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