Slowly Setting the Sweet 16

Published: 18^th Mar 12 12:19 pm

by Chris Hengst
College Football and MLB Blogger

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Crystal LoGiudice-US PRESSWIRE

By the end of Sunday evening, sixteen teams will remain in an NCAA Tournament that seems to switch each day between higher-ranked schools winning easily and monumental underdogs closing out upsets.

Saturday saw two Sweet 16 matchups set, one a tantalizing rematch.

Kentucky and Indiana face off for the second time this season on Friday after dispatching their Round of 32 foes. The Wildcats turned in a scintillating second-half that showed viewers why so many had John Calipari’s squad as the overwhelming favorites entering March. Marquis Teague scored 24 points en route to an 87-71 victory over eight-seed Iowa State. Jack-of-all-trades big man Royce White had 23-9-4 for the Cyclones but with the opposing starting five slated for NBA minutes and maybe paycuts in the near future, he wasn’t enough.

The Hoosiers worked late to erase a Virginia Commonwealth lead, prevailing 63-61 and depriving Shaka Smart of a second consecutive trip to the Final Four. Smart will be in play for plenty of job openings this spring, namely Illinois. As Tom Crean and Indiana prepare for a grudge match with Kentucky (the Hoosiers gave the Wildcats their only regular season loss in December), the easy story is that Bloomington is back on the college basketball map. That’s a lazy column and shouldn’t even be typed unless Indiana manages to again dethrone the buzz saw John Calipari has created. Then you’ll see it in every sports section in America.

In the East region, Syracuse didn’t struggle with Kansas State like many surmised, besting the Wildcats 75-59 behind a dominant second half. It didn’t hurt that the Orange shot 51% from the field and 66% on their three’s. Frank Martin yelled, Jim Boeheim rolled his eyes and the Big East placed another team in the Sweet 16. Par for the March Madness course, really.

Joining Syracuse in Boston for their Thursday tilt are the Wisconsin Badgers who hounded Vanderbilt into submission. Four-seed Wisconsin notched a 60-57 over the fifth-seeded Commodores giving Bo Ryan consecutive Sweet 16 berths. With Syracuse waiting and not playing nearly as dour as many predicted with the loss of Fab Melo, this isn’t a dream matchup for the Badgers. But they wouldn’t face a weaker one seed in any other region so capitalizing on the opportunity to reach New Orleans requires a near-perfect performance. That is, if Syracuse doesn’t have any more surprises before Thursday. Judging by their season, that’s not guaranteed.

Louisville and Marquette both punched their Sweet 16 tickets as well Saturday and await opponents. In a perfect world though, those two could play and decide the contest based on post-game head coach press conferences. Rick Pitino and Buzz Williams are two of the savvier and wittier men in their profession. But alas, Pitino is staring down at Michigan State (because Tom Izzo is so short you see) and Marquette probably gets a matchup with Florida unless Norfolk State has an extra slipper in the travel bag.

Baylor and Ohio State also advanced. Brady Heslip can shoot the neon out of the Bears uniforms and the Buckeyes’ Aaron Craft might have passed a basketball through a tire swing as a child three million times. That’s the sort of analysis you’ve signed up for.

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