Must See Sports, Third Weekend of March 2011 – Special NCAA Tournament Edition

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Top o the mornin’ to ya! What better a way to start St. Patty’s Day than with all of the college basketball you can watch? March Madness is here! Each day of the tournament, we will focus on the NCAA Tournament, and only the NCAA Tournament. Here are some games worth watching in the round of 64.


Thursday, March 17

NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament – Second Round

West Region
(6) Cincinnati Bearcats vs (11) Missouri Tigers

Cincinnati is a team that has lost more games against tougher opponents than it has won. However, it has beaten quality teams, such as a 20+ point drubbing of Georgetown (albeit a Chris Wright-less Georgetown) in the regular season finale. The Bearcats are a team that can advance far and pull off some upsets if they catch lightning in a bottle. That will depend on the preparation and performance of Cincy forward Yancy Gates (12 PPG, 7 RPG) and guard Dion Dixon (12 PPG).

Mizzou is a club that can score a TON of points, led by guard Marcus Denmon (17 PPG, 46% 3PT), and that makes them dangerous in any single elimination tournament. They struggled in their conference, going 8-8 in the Big XII. But once a team is in The Dance, everyone is 0-0 and this is a game worth watching.

Advantage: Cincinnati


East Region
(4) Kentucky Wildcats vs (13) Princeton Tigers

This SHOULD be a one sided game, on paper. But I have watched Kentucky look flat, several times, against inferior competition, such as Ole Miss and Arkansas, this season and Princeton is riding a confident high streak, with its dramatic, last second win over Harvard to qualify for the NCAA Tournament. Kentucky’s Terrance Jones and Brandon Knight will decide how far this team goes. Princeton has had good moments against quality opponents, beating Rutgers and making then 21st ranked Central Florida sweat. I expect Kentucky to win, but Princeton is capable of sucker punching the Wildcats if the Cats aren’t prepared.

Advantage: Kentucky


Southwest Region
(5) Vanderbilt Commodores vs (12) Richmond Spiders

The “12-5” upsets seem to be an annual tradition in the big dance, and Vandy is ripe for the picking. Vanderbilt is simply not consistent and they have trouble putting away opponents. Richmond is a quality mid-major, winners of the Atlantic 10 Tournament, with single-digit losses and wins over #8 Purdue and #25 Temple during the regular season. This could be a problem for the SEC school.

Advantage: Richmond




Southeast Region
(7) UCLA Bruins vs (10) Michigan State Spartans

Can anyone explain to me how UCLA is a seventh seed? Does anyone believe the quality of their Pac-10 schedule is tougher than the Big-10 schedule with which Michigan State had to contend? Would you REALLY bet against Tom Izzo’s Spartans in this matchup? Could you string together more rhetorical questions in a single paragraph?

Advantage: Michigan State

Are you REALLY going to pick UCLA over any team coached by THIS guy? 2

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1) Image from yourplaceinvermont.com
2) Image from themajors.net