DAY 2
By Mark Halpern
So yesterday was an exhilarating round one, and today could be even more explosive. Powerhouse Gonzaga gave us all a little scare initially but ended up doing what they do in the end and win by 21 GO ZAGS! Games start at 1:45 pm Est, and we have some good ones.
#3 Texas Tech vs. #14 Montana State. Texas Tech is coming off a great season and is in a prime spot to move one. Bryson Williams and Kevin Ober will have to try and control the pace. Williams is averaging 13.7 pts a game, and his leadership will be needed. As for Montana State, they are coming off a good season, and Xavier Bishop, who is leading the team in multiple categories, will be the floor general for Montana. I see Texas Teach running away with this one 82-70.
#6 Alabama and #11 Notre Dame. Hats off to the Irish to go through double overtime to make it to the dance. Notre Dame will have their work cut out for them. Let’s hope the Irish have recovered from St. Patrick’s Day. Blake Wesley will have another good game, and Paul Atkinson will need to contribute under the boards. The Crimson Tide are led by star guard Jaden Shackelford with 16.7 points a game and Keon Ellis, who is very capable of averaging a double-double in the game. I see Alabama winning by 10 points here 75-65.
#2 Duke vs. #15 CSU Fullerton. This tourney is the last for the great Coach Mike Krzyzewski. He has had an outstanding career, and wouldn’t it be fitting to win it all again and go with a win. Duke Stars Paolo Banchero and Wendell Morre Jr, who led duke in most categories, will do everything to get the Great Coach to the final four again. CSU Fullerton has had an excellent season, and it’s hard to face one of the tournament’s scariest teams. E.J. Anosike and Damari Milstead are going to have to be near flawless to move on. The Blue Devils win big here 82-69.
#7 Michigan State vs. #10 Davidson. Michigan State will look to move on here. Gabe Brown at 11.4 pts a game and Marcus Bingham 6.1 boards a game is going to have to keep pushing the ball and set the pace because Davidson has a real chance to beat Michigan here. They are a hungry team, and Star guard Foster Loyer who leads the team in points and assists, will be the general out there and help on the boards from Luka Brajkovich, a monster on the boards and can put a double-double every game. This is my pick of the day, Davidson to win 67-65
Look Tomorrow for a recap of the first round and previews of round Two. Good luck to the teams today and let us see some history created.
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