Game: #2-Wisconsin vs #6-Baylor
Line- Winconsin -3.5
Pick-Baylor+3.5
Explanation:
Wisconsin is a good team. Play great, gritty defense and offensive are one of the most efficient teams in the nation (Ranked #4). Guard Ben Brust can knock down outside shots and attack the rim. Forward Frank Kaminsky is a stand-out 7 footer who can do damage to just about any player in the nation on the inside.
Baylor has a balanced offensive attack; with 4 of 5 starters averaging double digits. Sharp shooting Canadian Brady Heslip can make shots from the parking lot and centre Isaiah Austin has the size and athleticism to matchup with Kaminsky. The difference in the game will be how the Bears defend the 3 ball; which against Creighton was outstanding. Making a sharp shooting, high octane offensive team like Creighton to seem lethargic. They did so by the extravagant zone defense which can change from a traditional 2-3, to a 1-3-1 or a 1-1-3 on the same possession. I predict a close game, but give me 3.5+ points and the Baylor Bears to get to the Elite Eight.
Game: #10-Stanford vs #11-Dayton
Line-Standford-3
Pick-Standford-3
Explanation:
Maybe only Aristotle could have predicted this would be the matchup for the Sweet Sixteen, but here we are. Dayton shocked the Buckeyes in a nail bitter, and followed it up with another thrilling victory over Syracuse. Dayton is lead by their ability to make it go down from the outside, shooting the money ball at a clip of 37.6%. With Canadian Deyshawn Pierre knocking them down at a rate of 40%.
All that said, this Stanford team pulled an upset of their own. Beating the #2 Kansas Jayhawks and giving young star Andrew Wiggins with an early exist in a weak performance. They did so with their strong interior defense, forcing Kansas to take contested outside shots; which they struggled to make. Against Dayton the size of Stanford will cause serious issues, and if forward Dwight Powell can stay out of foul trouble (a mighty big if) Stanford should be able to attack Dayton successfully. Chasson Randle could be the difference in this game. The Stanford point guard that’s really a scoring guard will be the best player on the floor. More than anyone in this game, Randle is a guy that is capable of taking over offensively. I expect both Powell and Randle to have big games, and because of it I’m on Stanford -3.
Game: #1-Arizona vs #4-SDSU
Line-Arizona-7
Pick-SDSU+7
Explanation:
Arizona and SDSU have already played once this year; with Arizona winning 69-60 in a tough game. So we can expect much more of the same, but a lot has changed since than. Aaron Gordon is a beast, and will cause serious issues for the Aztecs on both sides of the ball, but especially on the boards. The Wildcats rank 18th in rebounds per game, while the Aztecs ranked way back at 41st. Arizona is a fast paced, hard nosed defensive team who will turn you over and capitalize. Case and point there Round of 32 matchup with the Gonzaga Bulldogs in which they turned Gonzaga over 21 times for 31 points.
However there is a difference between the Zags and the Aztecs. The Aztecs don’t turn the ball over, and they turn you over. In a game in which points will be at a premium turnovers very well will be the difference, the Aztec hold a huge advantage. SDSU are ranked 11th in turnover differential, while the Wildcats rank 41st. However the biggest difference since the last time these two teams met is the play of Dwayne Pollee II. Who since the MWC tournament started has averaged 14.2 points coming off the bench for the Aztecs. In the last meeting he was non-existent, only playing 6 minutes. With the changes the Aztecs have over went since the last time they played I’ll take them and the points over the Wildcats in an overtime thriller.
Line- Winconsin -3.5
Pick-Baylor+3.5
Explanation:
Wisconsin is a good team. Play great, gritty defense and offensive are one of the most efficient teams in the nation (Ranked #4). Guard Ben Brust can knock down outside shots and attack the rim. Forward Frank Kaminsky is a stand-out 7 footer who can do damage to just about any player in the nation on the inside.
Baylor has a balanced offensive attack; with 4 of 5 starters averaging double digits. Sharp shooting Canadian Brady Heslip can make shots from the parking lot and centre Isaiah Austin has the size and athleticism to matchup with Kaminsky. The difference in the game will be how the Bears defend the 3 ball; which against Creighton was outstanding. Making a sharp shooting, high octane offensive team like Creighton to seem lethargic. They did so by the extravagant zone defense which can change from a traditional 2-3, to a 1-3-1 or a 1-1-3 on the same possession. I predict a close game, but give me 3.5+ points and the Baylor Bears to get to the Elite Eight.
Game: #10-Stanford vs #11-Dayton
Line-Standford-3
Pick-Standford-3
Explanation:
Maybe only Aristotle could have predicted this would be the matchup for the Sweet Sixteen, but here we are. Dayton shocked the Buckeyes in a nail bitter, and followed it up with another thrilling victory over Syracuse. Dayton is lead by their ability to make it go down from the outside, shooting the money ball at a clip of 37.6%. With Canadian Deyshawn Pierre knocking them down at a rate of 40%.
All that said, this Stanford team pulled an upset of their own. Beating the #2 Kansas Jayhawks and giving young star Andrew Wiggins with an early exist in a weak performance. They did so with their strong interior defense, forcing Kansas to take contested outside shots; which they struggled to make. Against Dayton the size of Stanford will cause serious issues, and if forward Dwight Powell can stay out of foul trouble (a mighty big if) Stanford should be able to attack Dayton successfully. Chasson Randle could be the difference in this game. The Stanford point guard that’s really a scoring guard will be the best player on the floor. More than anyone in this game, Randle is a guy that is capable of taking over offensively. I expect both Powell and Randle to have big games, and because of it I’m on Stanford -3.
Game: #1-Arizona vs #4-SDSU
Line-Arizona-7
Pick-SDSU+7
Explanation:
Arizona and SDSU have already played once this year; with Arizona winning 69-60 in a tough game. So we can expect much more of the same, but a lot has changed since than. Aaron Gordon is a beast, and will cause serious issues for the Aztecs on both sides of the ball, but especially on the boards. The Wildcats rank 18th in rebounds per game, while the Aztecs ranked way back at 41st. Arizona is a fast paced, hard nosed defensive team who will turn you over and capitalize. Case and point there Round of 32 matchup with the Gonzaga Bulldogs in which they turned Gonzaga over 21 times for 31 points.
However there is a difference between the Zags and the Aztecs. The Aztecs don’t turn the ball over, and they turn you over. In a game in which points will be at a premium turnovers very well will be the difference, the Aztec hold a huge advantage. SDSU are ranked 11th in turnover differential, while the Wildcats rank 41st. However the biggest difference since the last time these two teams met is the play of Dwayne Pollee II. Who since the MWC tournament started has averaged 14.2 points coming off the bench for the Aztecs. In the last meeting he was non-existent, only playing 6 minutes. With the changes the Aztecs have over went since the last time they played I’ll take them and the points over the Wildcats in an overtime thriller.
