gpikeThursdays regional semifinals: West and Southeast
March 22nd 2011 23:02
Six of the eight teams involved in Thursday's games were expected to be still playing if you go by seeding. Eighth-seeded Butler and fifth-seeded Arizona, are the only surprises, if you want to call them that. Both teams won this last weekend because they were the better team.
Connecticut versus San Diego State: The first game of the day is between the third-seed and the second in the West region. Winner advances to play the victor of Arizona versus Duke later on in the night, in the regional final. Not much was expected of Connecticut this season, but the team quietly put together a great season. Knocking off Michigan State and Kentucky in consectiutive nights proved something with Kemba Walker going crazy. Walker averages 24 points per game, though he liable to go over 30 on any given game. Connecticut has won seven straight ever since they began their great Big East tournament run.
San Diego State was pushed to the brink in the second round versus Temple, before winning in two overtimes. Now the team which won their first 19 games, and has only lost to BYU twice this year is up against the arguably the hottest team in the tournament. Kwahii Leonard leads the way for the Aztecs. D.J. Gay is the glue of the team as the point guard.
The important matchup here is between Gay and Walker. Walker needs to score for Connecticut to win, while Gay is more of a distributor. Both teams are very evenly matched as Gay is a great defender who can slow Walker. The interior games of Leonard and Alex Oriahkhi will be fun to watch. This game comes down to who will step up for Connecticut if Walker is kept below his scoring average. The Aztecs will slow the great guard down. San Diego State wins a very tight game.
BYU versus Florida: How about the timing of these first two games? Both mountain west teams still in the tournament are playing around the same time. BYU and Jimmer Freddette are in for a battle here. Florida has the talent on the guards to really slow Freddette who is averaging 32 points. BYU doesn't have the forwards to match up with Florida's down low without Brandon Davies. I was surprised how easily the Cougars defeated Gonzaga. They won't have the same type of easy time with the Gators here. BYU was draining shots left and right. Florida won't let this happen. Winner of this game plays the winner of Butler and Wisconsin later.
leaders lead by Chandler Parsons, Earving Walker, and Kenny Boynton. Walker will have his hands full with Freddette, but he has the skills to slow the Cougar great.
This game is a rematch from last year, when the Cougars defeated Florida. BYU won a classic in two overtimes over the Gators. This game won't go to overtime as Florida wins in regulation.
Duke versus Arizona: Top-seeded Duke is set to play fifth-seeded Arizona. The Pac-10 is still alive with Arizona playing after a tight win over Texas. UCLA and Washington both nearly won last week, before bowing out. Now the weight is on Arizona and Derrick Williams. Can Duke stop Williams? I don't think so. Can Arizona defeat Duke? Yes, they can anythings possible.
Duke with Kyrie Irving back at the point guard spot, held onto defeat Michigan. Arizona is better then Michigan, adding intrigue to this game. Nolan Smith, and Kyle Singler won't let the Blue Devils lose or their season end. Both are seniors headed off to the NBA. Singler has struggled against guys who are bigger, putting this game more on Smith's shoulders. Smith needs to score over 30 for Duke to win.
Williams is averaging 19 points and eight rebounds on the year. Texas controlled him for most of the game, though Williams once again came up huge in the end with a three-point play to win the game. Salomon Hill and Jordin Mayes came up with big games to aide the Wildcats.
Arizona will win the interior game, Duke wins the guard matchups. I am going with a minor upset, and Arizona with the win. Williams and his supporting cast halts Duke's run. The Blue Devils are too soft inside causing problems here as Milson Plumlee can't stop the Wildcats big men.
Butler versus Wisconsin: Hard to go against Butler after they defeated another Big East top-seed in Pittsburgh. I went against Wisconsin in the first round versus Belmont, a game which the Badgers won with ease. This game pits two very evenly matched teams. Both teams have great guards, and great big-men.
Butler's experienced leaders with Shelvin Mack and Matt Howard wouldn't let the Bulldogs lose versus Pitt. Mack scored a game high 30 points while Howard scored 16. These two guys were the Bulldogs only scorers in double-figures. Butler has won 11 straight games and are getting used to hanging around teams and then pouncing in the end.
Wisconsin does the same thing to opponents, hanging around and finding ways to win in the end. Jon Leur and Jordan Taylor defeated Kansas State, in the third round, another team who is their equal. The Badgers won with Jacob Pullen scoring 38 points for Kansas State. Taylor only shot 2-16 in the win as Leur had to come through with a big game. The forward scored 19 points and had seven boards.
Butler last year beat Kansas State in the round of 16. Mack will have another huge game for the Bulldogs. Though Wisconsin was able to avert Pullen's huge game in their win. Butler needs Howard and Andrew Smith to play better then they did against Pittsburgh. Howard played great but he will need to improve even more. I wouldn't want to bet against Howard. Butler continues with another win here.
Connecticut versus San Diego State: The first game of the day is between the third-seed and the second in the West region. Winner advances to play the victor of Arizona versus Duke later on in the night, in the regional final. Not much was expected of Connecticut this season, but the team quietly put together a great season. Knocking off Michigan State and Kentucky in consectiutive nights proved something with Kemba Walker going crazy. Walker averages 24 points per game, though he liable to go over 30 on any given game. Connecticut has won seven straight ever since they began their great Big East tournament run.
San Diego State was pushed to the brink in the second round versus Temple, before winning in two overtimes. Now the team which won their first 19 games, and has only lost to BYU twice this year is up against the arguably the hottest team in the tournament. Kwahii Leonard leads the way for the Aztecs. D.J. Gay is the glue of the team as the point guard.
The important matchup here is between Gay and Walker. Walker needs to score for Connecticut to win, while Gay is more of a distributor. Both teams are very evenly matched as Gay is a great defender who can slow Walker. The interior games of Leonard and Alex Oriahkhi will be fun to watch. This game comes down to who will step up for Connecticut if Walker is kept below his scoring average. The Aztecs will slow the great guard down. San Diego State wins a very tight game.
BYU versus Florida: How about the timing of these first two games? Both mountain west teams still in the tournament are playing around the same time. BYU and Jimmer Freddette are in for a battle here. Florida has the talent on the guards to really slow Freddette who is averaging 32 points. BYU doesn't have the forwards to match up with Florida's down low without Brandon Davies. I was surprised how easily the Cougars defeated Gonzaga. They won't have the same type of easy time with the Gators here. BYU was draining shots left and right. Florida won't let this happen. Winner of this game plays the winner of Butler and Wisconsin later.
D.J. Gay and San Diego State look to continue their run versus UCONN
This game is a rematch from last year, when the Cougars defeated Florida. BYU won a classic in two overtimes over the Gators. This game won't go to overtime as Florida wins in regulation.
Duke versus Arizona: Top-seeded Duke is set to play fifth-seeded Arizona. The Pac-10 is still alive with Arizona playing after a tight win over Texas. UCLA and Washington both nearly won last week, before bowing out. Now the weight is on Arizona and Derrick Williams. Can Duke stop Williams? I don't think so. Can Arizona defeat Duke? Yes, they can anythings possible.
Duke with Kyrie Irving back at the point guard spot, held onto defeat Michigan. Arizona is better then Michigan, adding intrigue to this game. Nolan Smith, and Kyle Singler won't let the Blue Devils lose or their season end. Both are seniors headed off to the NBA. Singler has struggled against guys who are bigger, putting this game more on Smith's shoulders. Smith needs to score over 30 for Duke to win.
Williams is averaging 19 points and eight rebounds on the year. Texas controlled him for most of the game, though Williams once again came up huge in the end with a three-point play to win the game. Salomon Hill and Jordin Mayes came up with big games to aide the Wildcats.
Arizona will win the interior game, Duke wins the guard matchups. I am going with a minor upset, and Arizona with the win. Williams and his supporting cast halts Duke's run. The Blue Devils are too soft inside causing problems here as Milson Plumlee can't stop the Wildcats big men.
Butler versus Wisconsin: Hard to go against Butler after they defeated another Big East top-seed in Pittsburgh. I went against Wisconsin in the first round versus Belmont, a game which the Badgers won with ease. This game pits two very evenly matched teams. Both teams have great guards, and great big-men.
Butler's experienced leaders with Shelvin Mack and Matt Howard wouldn't let the Bulldogs lose versus Pitt. Mack scored a game high 30 points while Howard scored 16. These two guys were the Bulldogs only scorers in double-figures. Butler has won 11 straight games and are getting used to hanging around teams and then pouncing in the end.
Wisconsin does the same thing to opponents, hanging around and finding ways to win in the end. Jon Leur and Jordan Taylor defeated Kansas State, in the third round, another team who is their equal. The Badgers won with Jacob Pullen scoring 38 points for Kansas State. Taylor only shot 2-16 in the win as Leur had to come through with a big game. The forward scored 19 points and had seven boards.
Butler last year beat Kansas State in the round of 16. Mack will have another huge game for the Bulldogs. Though Wisconsin was able to avert Pullen's huge game in their win. Butler needs Howard and Andrew Smith to play better then they did against Pittsburgh. Howard played great but he will need to improve even more. I wouldn't want to bet against Howard. Butler continues with another win here.
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