After a pretty entertaining, but mostly chalky first week of the NCAA Tournament, we have some very intriguing matchups in this year's Sweet 16. Still waiting on that spectacular buzzer beater and defining March moment. Will it happen this round, or will we have to wait for the Elite 8 or beyond?

Thursday, March 23rd

Midwest Regional
Kansas City, MO

(7) Michigan (26-11) vs (3) Oregon (31-5)

Line: Michigan -1









Michigan, the apparent Team of Destiny, enters this game having won 7 in a row and 12 of their last 14. Meanwhile, Oregon has won 10 of their last 11 but lost shot blocker Chris Boucher to injury and barely survived #11 Rhode Island in the Round of 32.

This figures to be a game with alot of speed all over the court and alot of 3 point attempts. Offense lovers will really enjoy the Beilein vs Altman coaching matchup.


(1) Kansas (30-4) vs (4) Purdue (27-7)

Line: Kansas -5









Kansas has looked dominant the first two rounds and heads back to familiar grounds in Kansas City. What does Purdue offer in response? Tremendous size and rebounding in Isaac Haas and Caleb Swanigan. This game has the potential to determine the Wooden Award as the top 2 candidates, Swanigan and Frank Mason, square off.

Both teams are in the top 10 nationally in 3 point shooting (Kansas 40.6%, Purdue 40.4%), so this one should be a dandy.


West Regional
San Jose, CA

(1) Gonzaga (34-1) vs (4) West Virginia (28-8)

Line: Gonzaga -3









This promises to be a clash of styles, as Gonzaga's conventional attack meets Press Virginia. This game is quite simple: if Gonzaga takes care of the ball and stays near their season turnover average, they win. If they can't handle the press and turn it over 15+ times, they lose.


(11) Xavier (23-13) vs (2) Arizona (32-4)

Line: Arizona -7.5









The lowest remaining seed, Xavier finished the regular season losing every game after February 4th against every team not named "Depaul". They have responded by beating Butler in the Big East Tournament, getting past 6 seed Maryland, and demolishing 3 seed Florida State. Arizona, meanwhile, won the PAC 12 Tournament and has gone 26-2 since losing to Gonzaga back in December. Can Xavier continue their surprise run through the tournament?


Friday, March 24th

East Regional
New York, NY

(3) Baylor (27-7) vs (7) South Carolina (24-10)

Line: Baylor -3.5









Both teams finished the season on cold streaks, Baylor finishing 5-6 and South Carolina finishing 3-6. No matter, both have seemingly regained their earlier form this postseason. Especially South Carolina, who has found some unexpected offensive firepower and knocked everyone's favorite team to hate, the Duke Blue Devils. Shout out to Terry Teagle and Devan Downey!

(8) Wisconsin (27-9) vs (4) Florida (26-8)

Line: Florida -2









Both of these teams are coming off impressive performances. Wisconsin just took out the #1 overall seed, and Florida just thumped Tony Bennett's Virginia squad by 26 points. This figures to be a physical, grinding game that comes down to the final possessions.


South Regional
Memphis, TN

(1) North Carolina (29-7) vs (4) Butler (25-8)

Line: North Carolina -7.5









And now we come to the most anticipated region of them all. UNC needed alot of help from both Arkansas' offense and the refs in the final 2 minutes just to get to this point, while Butler cruised past Winthrop and Middle Tennessee. Conventional wisdom says the Tar Heels advance to the regional final, but Butler has already beaten Villanova (twice) and Arizona this year. Can they slay another giant?

(3) UCLA (31-4) vs (2) Kentucky (31-5)

Line: Pick'em









The Sweet 16 saves the best for Friday night, as UCLA's high flying offense, led by Lonzo Ball, meets Kentucky's fast break attack, led by Malik Monk and De'Aaron Fox. UCLA beat Kentucky 97-92 in Rupp back in December. Was that a fluke, or a testament to how unstoppable UCLA is on offense? We'll find out soon enough.

Let us Sweet 16!

dis gunna be good

When was the last time a 7 was a favorite over a 3?

Some books had UCONN as a 1 point favorite over Iowa State in 2014. They also had 8-seed Kentucky as a 2.5 point favorite over 2-seed Michigan in the E8 that same year.

Also, in 2015 (7) Wichita State was a 2 point favorite over (3) Notre Dame.

So Michigan is going to get pounded then, sounds good

uconn/iowa st shouldnt be included since that line was primarily a function of niang breaking his foot in the prior game

Well done op. Dis gun be good.

S16 games should start at 1:30 EST like the first weekend. Make whole days out of Thurs and Fri.

I'll be in San Jose this weekend. Should be epic.

Looking for action on Oregon, Purdue, Baylor and Florida if anyone wants some vig-free fun.

Not a good idea at all. first of all there would be one game going and second most people work and other than cheating, wouldn't be able to watch most games. For two days or a weekend it's fine. For another round it would be a bit much. Cbs pays way too much money to waste great games during non prime hours.

The Gap between NCAA and NBA cheerleaders is the same as the gap between NCAA and NBA players

Ready for Thursday! Who's buying my tickets for Thursday if we lose???

Let us BUTLAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

Let's not. They had their chance in 2010 and failed humanity. May they lose by 20+ to the future national champs

Is Kenpom's %Poss the same as Usage Rate?

Rousey vs. Nunes, December 2016

Wash(11) was a 2 pt fav over new mexico(3) in 2010. NM was 43 kenpom, wash won by 18

Did some digging around and found this on Kenpom's "Stats Explained" page:

Usage (% of possessions used)
This describes a player’s role in the offense, by explaining how many of his team’s possessions a player is personally responsible for ending while he is on the floor.

So %Poss is Usage Rate.

Michigan
PU
Zags
Zona
Baylor
Florida
Butlahhhh
Kentucky

LET'S GO DUCKS

Need the Ducks to make it to the championship game. Something I have realized over the past three games is Dillon Brooks is not very good. I have never seen a player who loves long 2's more. Not to mention the guy might be the slowest lateral defender I have ever seen.

LuL