Let's get right to it... Friday night action, Sweet 16 College Basketball... here's my analysis and picks on the games:
#5 Butler vs. #1 Florida - 7:10 PM
It was back in 2000 in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament that then Florida player Mike Miller, now with the NBA's Memphis Grizzlies, knocked down a game-winning jumper that propelled the Gators past an upset-minded Butler Bulldogs team. Flip it ahead seven years later and here the two teams meet in the Sweet 16. For Butler, a heavy underdog in this matchup, their only hope in this matchup is for their guards -- A.J. Graves and aggressive Towson transfer Mike Green -- to outplay the FL backcourt of Taurean Green and Lee Humphrey. The Bulldogs need to drive, dish and knock down the open outside jump shots. Although Butler leads the nation, allowing only 9.5 turnovers per game, they cannot afford to let the score get above 65... and keep this in mind -- the Gators are 14-0 over their past 14 postseason contests, averaging 75.5PPG and winning by 16.1 per gm. Pick: Florida by 5. In the end, the Gators' size and length with Joakim Noah, Corey Brewer and Al Horford (15 DD's) is going to overwhelm Butler and hold off a late charge.
#6 Vanderbilt vs. #2 Georgetown - 7:27 PM
Led by SEC Player of the Year Derrick Byars, a transfer from Virginia, the Vanderbilt Commodores fought through the first two rounds of the NCAA Tournament, beating the likes of George Washington by 33 and Washington State in double-overtime, to reach the Sweet 16 for the second time under current Head Coach Kevin Stallings. The last time Vandy was in the Sweet 16 they ran into a Connecticut team primed for a run at the Natl. Championship. They came up short and once again they face a tough opponent from the Big East as hot as any team in the country. A loss at Syracuse on February 26th withstanding, they've been quite dominating since mid-January. John Thompson III and his Hoyas have won 16 of their last 17, and when they faced Vandy in November, defeated the Commodores 86-70 on the road. It's a great contrast as Georgetown is very solid defensively, yielding only 56.8PPG, while Vandy has a potent offensive attack trhat averages 76.6PPG. Stallings' group loves to take and drill the three-point shot, whereas Georgetown wants to punch it inside with Roy Hibbert and Jeff Green. The Commodores have improved defensively and certainly are capable of spreading the floor and shooting lights out on Georgetown. Will they be able to compete with them on the boards, though? Pick: Too much Hibbert and Green; the size edge lies with Georgetown and we'll take the Hoyas by 6.
#7 UNLV vs. #3 Oregon - 9:40 PM
What some believe will be the best most competitive game of the night and best chance for an upset, Lon Kruger's seventh-seeded Runnin' Rebels take on a resurgent third-seeded Oregon etam back in the Sweet 16 after missing the NCAA Tournament in each of the three previous years. Though Oregon likes to push the tempo a bit more than Vegas, both squads utilize three and four guard lineups, often cretaing mismatches and exploiting them with solid shooting. We've learned through two rounds of this tournament, as they knocked off Georgia Tech and Wisconsin, that UNLV shouldn't have been a #7 seed. At worst, this team has the lookof a #5 seed. Wendell White (41Pts. in the tourney and 8-12FG in each game), Michael Umeh, Wink Adams and company have UNLV in its first Sweet 16 since the 1991 team made a run at to the Final Four. To keep their season alive and have a chance to get there, the key could be Kruger's son, Kevin. The Arizona St. transfer had 16 points on 4-of-9 shooting from beyond the arc, dished out 7 assists and didn't commit a single turnover. Can Oregon take him out of the game defensively like Ga. Tech did? If they do and their perimeter quartet of Aaron Brooks, Tajuan Porter, Malik Hairston and Bryce Taylor catch fire - look for them in Sunday's Elite Eight. Pick: Oregon takes it by 3 in the Sweet 16's lone OT match.
#5 USC vs. #1 North Carolina - 9:57 PM
A football power meets a basketball power when the USC Trojans square off versus a North Carolina program that is no stranger to Final Fours and National Championship runs. Under second-year Head Coach Tim Floyd, who coached in the pros with the Chicago Bulls, the Trojans are beginning to experience some success on the hardwood and that'll continue when top High School recruit O.J. Mayo arrives on campus. As for now, they lean on Nick Young and Gabe Pruitt to key their offense. It'll be a matchup of freshmen at point guard as the Tar Heels' Ty Lawson goes up against Daniel Hackett (20Pts. on 7-10FG vs. Texas). Speaking of freshmen, the x-factor for SC might be Taj Gibson, who has to be able to hold his own with Tyler Hansbrough and Branden Wright -- another NC freshman -- on the inside. North Carolina averages 86.1PPG, and unlike a Texas team the Trojans beat in the second round that revolved around Kevin Durant, Roy Williams' group is very deep and can go to several different guys for scoring. No matter what the status of Reyshawn Terry is, the Tar Heels have enough playmakers to get through. Plus throw in the fact this is an extremely long road trip for the lean, athletic trojans and it's a tall order for Floyd and co. Pick: UNC leads practically from start to finish, winning by 9.
