By: Mike Rifkin
South:
11 Michigan vs 2 Villanova : Michigan’s Hunter Dickinson through two games in the tournament has 48 points and 16 rebounds. As a team the Wolverines are +14 rebounding the basketball. Michigan has shot 28.6 percent and 37.5 percent from three in the two games respectively. The Wolverines have also turned the ball over 15 times in both games. Through two games Villanova has forced 22 turnovers, so ball security for Michigan is a major key in this game. In their two games thus far the Wildcats have had double digit offensive rebounds, giving them second chance points. In both their games combined Villanova has given up 10 threes. Jermaine Samuels has 32 points and 17 rebounds in both games for the Wildcats.
Prediction: Villanova ends Michigan’s season and advances.
1 Arizona vs 5 Houston : The Wildcats survived a scare from TCU in the second round but survived in overtime. Christian Koloko has had double doubles in both games in the tournament. The Wildcats have turned the ball over 35 times in two games. Houston has forced 29 turnovers in their two games including 17 vs Illinois.
Prediction: Houston made life difficult for Kofi Cockburn in the second round and I think they do the same to Koloko and advance.
Midwest
4 Providence vs 1 Kansas : Providence has won the first two games of the tournament with their defense. They held South Dakota St, the second highest scoring team in the Nation, to shoot 38.6 percent from the field and 30.4 percent from three. They held Richmond 39.6 percent from the field and 1-22 from three (4.5 percent). Providence is +20 rebounding the basketball through two games. Noah Horchler has 29 points and 23 rebounds in two games. I don’t think Kansas has played their best basketball yet in this tournament. Creighton gave them all they could handle. Kansas needs Ochai Agbaji who has shot 5-14 in both games in the tournament and made one three in each game to step up. Against Creighton Remy Martin stepped up in a big way, but now it’s time for the Kansas superstar to step up. To me the difference in this game might come down to which center plays better between Nate Watson of Providence and David McCormack of Kansas. Both have not played great this tournament but either one can be the difference in this game.
Prediction : Agbaji has a big game and the Jayhawks survive.
11 Iowa St. vs 10 Miami : I don’t think many had this one in their bracket. The Cyclones beat LSU and Wisconsin to get here. Iowa State won both games by five points. The Cyclones defense has forced 36 turnovers through two games. Iowa St has shot the ball 35.7 percent and 34.5 percent from the field in two games. Miami has beaten USC and Auburn to get here. Miami has seven turnovers in two games, while forcing 31 turnovers. Guards Isaiah Wong and Charlie Moore have led the way for the Hurricanes. Head coach Jim Larranaga has done this before he led George Mason to the Final Four in 2005-06 and hopes to do the same with the Hurricanes.
Prediction: The Hurricanes defense and great guard play from Moore and Wong lead them to victory.
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