The dust is beginning to clear for the NCAA Tournament Committee, but in this process, not everybody is going to be happy. Three teams were knocked off on Friday, as #2 Duke, #5 Georgetown, and #6 Michigan all fell in their respective conference tournaments. Some bubble teams made big-time statements, as Maryland upset Duke, while others fell. For Kentucky, the Wildcats were looking to put up a strong performance against Vanderbilt. Coach Calipari ran out of answers for the Commodores, as UK fell, 64-48. Kentucky’s tournament hopes have definitely gone down, as the Wildcats will most likely be just out of the field at 21-11.
Championship Saturday is upon us, as the America East, Big 12, Big East, Big Sky, Big West, C-USA, Mid-American, Mid-Eastern, Mountain West, Pac-12, Southland, Southwestern Athletic, and Western Athletic Conferences hold their title games. 31 automatic bids are handed out between conference champions. Plenty of tickets will be punched on what should be a dramatic Saturday. I look at every Championship Game Preview and give you some more key moments from Friday.
In light of the final Big East Tournament (as we know the tournament now), I bring you a man who has 30+ years of coaching & broadcasting in the Big East, ESPN’s Bill Raftery. Here are all of his great calls.
Big Ten Tournament
Quarterfinals
Indiana Rolls Through Illinois as Cody Zeller scores 24 for the Hoosiers; Wisconsin Prevails Past Michigan, 68-50
Semifinals– #1-seed Indiana vs. #4-seed Wisconsin at 1:40 pm on Saturday
Looking at Indiana-Wisconsin: Indiana has not beaten Wisconsin in their last eleven tries, but the Hoosiers will try to change that at the United Center on Saturday. Wisconsin loves to break defenses down by staying efficient, but aggressive too. The match-up to watch is the battle in the post for extra opportunities. Sophomore Cody Zeller racks down eight per game, while Wisconsin’s senior Ryan Evans normally tacks up 7.5 rebounds a game. If Indiana wants to end their woes against the Badgers, they must want it when the ball rolls to the floor for the taking. I take the Hoosiers, but this will be a back-and-forth game. IU ends their skid against the Badgers tomorrow, in my opinion.
Quarterfinals
Michigan State Finds a Way Past Iowa, 59-56; Ohio State Hammers Nebraska, 71-50
Semifinals– #3-seed Michigan State vs. #2-seed Ohio State at 4 pm on Saturday
Looking at Ohio State-Michigan State: The Bucks and Spartans split the regular season series, but Ohio State won the most recent contest, 68-60 on February 24. OSU is led by Aaron Craft, who dished off his 500th assist in his career on Friday against Nebraska. The Spartans are a stout defensive team, and they run the floor very efficiently. They are led by guard Keith Appling, while Ohio State’s forward Deshaun Thomas looks to keep leading the Buckeyes. I take Ohio State in this game, because they have improved their lane defense and I see them slowing Michigan State down and establishing the paint with confidence.
ACC Tournament
Miami Outlasts Boston College 69-58; NC State Rolls Through Virginia With Too Much Pressure, 75-56.
Semifinals– Watch out for two upset specials!
#1-seed Miami vs. #5-seed NC State at 1 pm on Saturday.
Looking at Miami-NC State: It’s a re-match of the February 2nd encounter between Miami and NC State that went down to the wire, as the Hurricanes squeaked one out, 79-78. Tomorrow, the two square off in the Big East Semifinals. Miami is led by sophomore guard Shane Larkin, who averages 13.7 points per game. NC State likes to bang it down low to C.J. Leslie, as the junior forward averages 15 points per game.
NC State appears to have a hold on their offensive rhythm, while they brought strong defensive pressure to rout Virginia on Friday. I like the Wolfpack over the top-seeded Hurricanes.
#3-Seeded North Carolina Cruises by Florida State, 83-62; Maryland Sends ACC Tournament in a Frenzy as Terps Upset Duke, 83-74.
#3 seed North Carolina vs. #7-seed Maryland at 3 pm on Saturday.
Looking at North Carolina-Maryland: The Tar Heels have won both match-ups over the Terrapins this season, but Dez Wells has been on a tear. UNC has gone with a quicker and smaller line-up, but I see the Terps staying at a solid pace and containing the Wolfpack. I like Maryland over North Carolina.
Atlantic-10 Tournament
Saint Louis Wears Away Charlotte, 72-55; Butler Takes Down La Salle With Too Much Hustle, 69-58
Semifinals
#1-seed Saint Louis vs. #5-seed Butler at 1:30 pm on Saturday.
Looking at Saint Louis-Butler: The Billikens of Saint Louis seek their first conference championship appearance in 13 years, but they must prevail past Butler in the semifinals on Saturday for a fourth straight time. Butler fell short of Saint Louis on February 22, 65-61. I like the 26-7 Bulldogs tomorrow, as Brad Stevens is the type of coach that gets more and more out of an opponent every time he faces them. Butler must hang on to the ball and win the key 50/50 balls, or else hand this one to Saint Louis. I like Butler in this one, but it will be close in Brooklyn in the first A-10 semifinal.
Massachusetts Takes Down Temple 79-74, as Guard Chaz Williams Puts up 28 Points; VCU Bests Saint Joe’s, 82-79
#6-seed Massachusetts vs. #2-seed VCU at 4 pm on Saturday.
Looking at UMASS-VCU: VCU commanded the Minutemen on February 14, when the Rams routed UMASS, 86-68. I like Shaka Smart’s team to get the best of 21-10 Massachusetts.
Big 12 Tournament
Semifinals
Kansas Explodes Offensively to Overwhelm Iowa State, 88-73; Kansas State’s Physicality Overcomes Oklahoma State, 68-57.
Championship Game– #1 seed Kansas vs. #2-seed Kansas State at 6 pm on Saturday
Looking at KU-KSU: It’s two of the most consistent teams in the country facing off on Saturday evening. Both at 14-4 in the conference, Kansas (28-5) and Kansas State (27-6) will meet again, but this time it’s for the Big 12 Men’s Title. Kansas has won both meetings this year, as the Jayhawks have also won nine of ten games. Ben McLemore and Jeff Withey are a double threat with an inside-out approach, and the key is how the Wildcats plan to guard the Jayhawks. Kansas State has won seven of eight games. I see Kansas completing a sweep of the Wildcats, as Kansas will take the Big 12 Tournament and could have a case for a top seed, but we shall see.
SEC Tournament
Quarterfinals
Florida Chomps Through LSU, 80-58; Alabama Holds Off Tennessee, 58-48
Semifinal– #1-seed Florida vs. #4-seed Alabama at 1 pm on Saturday
Looking at Florida-Alabama: Alabama gave Florida a scare in the regular season on March 2nd, but the Gators would fight off the Tide, 64-52. Alabama has strengthened their case for a tournament bid with a 58-48 win over Tennessee on Friday. The Tide would surely be in with a win over the top seed in the SEC Tournament. Trevor Releford averages 15.6 points per game for ‘Bama, while Kenny Boynton leads the way for the Gators with 12.5 points per game. I take the top-seeded Gators.
Quarterfinals
Vanderbilt Knocks Off Kentucky, as Wildcats’ Tourney Hopes Suffer; Ole Miss Edges Missouri, 64-62
Semifinal– #10-Seed Vanderbilt vs. #3-Seed Ole Miss at 3 pm on Saturday
Looking at Vandy-Ole Miss: The 24-8 Rebels look to pose their quickened pace and solid defense to the Commodores of Vanderbilt, who are on an emotional high after they upset Kentucky on Friday, 64-48. I see Ole Miss edging Vanderbilt, but don’t sleep on the Commodores, who are pumped up right now.
Pac-12 Semifinals
UCLA Clips Arixona in a Back-and-Forth Thriller, 66-64; Oregon’s Athleticism and Speed Too Much for Utah, 64-45
Championship Game: #1-seed UCLA vs. #3-seed Oregon at 11 pm Saturday.
Looking at UCLA-Oregon: It’s a re-match of the January 19 encounter between UCLA and Oregon, in which UCLA won 76-67, in the PAC-12 Championship Game. The Burins are led by freshman sensation Shabazz Muhammad, who has averaged 18.2 points per game. On the other side, Oregon’s mainstay is senior forward E.J. Singler, who averages 11.7 points per game. I see both teams making their runs, but in the end, I pick Muhammad and UCLA, who are more lethal and explosive than the Bruins.
MAC Update–
Finals Set for Tomorrow as Packed Crowd Expected at The Q
Semifinal Recaps: Akron Fights Off Kent State, 62-59; Ohio U Takes Control Early and Writes Off Western Michigan, 74-63.
Akron and Ohio Will Meet Again for the Big Ten Championship
Both teams have their moments of head-scratchers, but the OU Bobcats have experience with veterans. They are led by D.J. Cooper, who averages 14.2 points per game. The Bobcats share the ball very well, as they are first in the country with the most assists per game (17.9 is the record). After Alex Abreu was suspended by the Zips, the big men knew that Akron need to step up at a high level. The Zips’ 7-footer, Zeke Marshall, hit on 18 point, ten rebounds, and seven blocks to lead Akron over the Golden Flashes. It should be rocking at The Q, and remember to wear your green.
I will be on hand at The Q with updates.
Prediction: Ohio U endures past the Zips, as the Bobcats’ look to Cooper for the hyped-up situations.
Rapid Fire Conference Title Games (Not Listed Already)
America East- #2 Vermont vs. #4 Albany
Big Sky- #1 Montana vs. #2 Webster State
Big West- #2 Pacific vs. #4 UC Irvine
Conference USA- #1 Memphis vs. #2 Southern Mississippi
Mid-Eastern-#5 Morgan State vs. #7 North Carolina A&T
Mountain West- #1 New Mexico vs. #3 UNLV
Southland-#1 Stephen F. Austin vs. #2 Northwestern State
Southwestern Athletic- #1-seed Southern University vs. #4-seed Prairie A&M Panthers
Western Athletic- #3 New Mexico State vs. Texas-Arlington
BUBBLE WATCH
Kentucky’s bubble may have burst with the 64-48 loss to Vanderbilt, which cannot happen for UK. Ole Miss earned a big statement weekend over Tennessee. I think that the Vols are up for debate, as their case is really tight. With an RPI of 38, the Atlantic 10’s 21-9 record of La Salle is solid, and they have beaten Villanova, Butler, and VCU. LA Salle has a case, and I think they could still get the final slot of the Big Dance.
Joe Lunardi’s Bracketology at http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/bracketology
Follow me on twitter @JohnFanta13 and e-mail me at [email protected].
Enjoy your Saturday everybody! Hoops, hoops, and more hoops for me…
