Once again, it's time for the NCAA basketball tournament. This year, Minnesota is in!! I am pretty happy about that. Anyway, I just want to look at at matchups of personal interest:
(7) Texas vs (10) Minnesota: These two teams have both been inconsistent down the stretch, but both have a couple of impressive wins (Texas beat Villanova and UCLA, while Minnesota beat Louisville in Arizona and swept Wisconsin). Texas can play uptempo really well and has a great coach in Rick Barnes. Minnesota is going to have a tough time with Texas, but if they can score consistently and not have their customary drought, they have a shot.
(6) Marquette vs (11) Utah State: Marquette was bound for the 2 or 3 line before losing Dominic James. Their quality of play has clearly suffered (4-6 in their last ten). Utah State is the champion of the WAC, and is 30-4. It doesn't matter what conference you are in, going 30-4 is impressive. But, Utah State didn't exactly play a tough schedule. Marquette can play uptempo, and is much more battle-tested. But, Utah State can play.
(5) Florida State vs (12) Wisconsin: Wisconsin was surprisingly a lot closer to being NIT-bound than a lot of the bracketologists thought. Most conventional wisdom thought Minnesota was in more trouble than UW, but when you go 19-12 and make an early exit in the conference tournament, perhaps you should be on the bubble. Florida State isn't necessarily a good matchup for them either. FSU is 6-4 in their last 10, with two of those losses being to Duke, and one of the wins was against North Carolina.
(3) Kansas vs (14) North Dakota State: NDSU is a great story. 5 years ago their former coach redshirted the entire freshman class knowing that they would be eligible for the tournament for the first time this year. They plugged away, and won the Summit League tournament this year. Now, Kansas should win this game going away, but there are two minor problems for the Jayhawks: NDSU is better than a 14 seed, and the Metrodome is going to be incredibly pro-NDSU. Kansas was not done any favors by being placed in this regional and this game.
I will make some picks a little later this week.
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- I'm pushing 40, I live in suburban Minneapolis, I'm an unrepentant Sconnie, and I work in the legal services field, whatever that means. I could tell you more about my job, but then I would have to kill you. Not really, but saying that makes it sound more intriguing than it really is.
2 comments:
I do not care what you have to say about it. I am still going to go with Binghampton over Play in winner.
I think you're right, good sir. I also agree with you about the Badgers - they are in more on reputation than performance. Having said that, I think they can beat FSU.
It really is too bad about MU, though -- if they had beat Villanova in the Big East tourney, they would have had that 3 slot. As it is, they probably are a 6 these days. Losing James is a killer.
Gophs should give Texas a tough time. Next year the Gophs are going to be really good. Mbwake is a beast and the other kids they have coming in are really talented. If they get with the program and listen to Tubby, they should be at least Sweet 16. And did you notice where Kentucky is?
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