Prediction Brothers 2009 Second Round NCAA Preview: Saturday

West

No. 1 Connecticut vs. No. 9 Texas A&M

UConn looked extremely impressive in winning by 56, but Texas A&M also fit the bill, taking control early and playing their style of basketball throughout against BYU. I think UConn will be too strong on the inside with Hasheem Thabeet, and this will be the difference.

Pick: CONNECTICUT

No. 4 Washington vs. No. 5 Purdue

Washington definitely looked better in its first round win. In the first half, Purdue established pressure on the defensive side but got a little shaky when Northern Iowa started distributing the ball by the baseline and on the outside. Washington will probably employ this strategy on Saturday with a lot of success.

Pick: WASHINGTON

No. 10 Maryland vs. No. 2 Memphis

If they played each other today, Maryland might have had the upper hand. Memphis overlooked CS Northridge, committing turnovers and making sloppy passes like a drunk Homer Simpson at Moe's. Maryland beat a listless Cal (they've been that way for weeks) and established some shooting from the outside, something that they'll have to do against Memphis to neutralize their stout defense. They won't.

Pick: MEMPHIS

South

No. 1 UNC vs. No. 8 LSU

LSU impressed me with their determination against a feisty Butler squad that didn't want to give up. Their game plan against UNC: hope that Tyler Hansbrough doesn't show up.

Pick: NORTH CAROLINA

No. 2 Oklahoma vs. No. 10 Michigan

Oklahoma looked very impressive in their first round win, but the second round will be different. They face a hungry Michigan team who is making the most of their opportunity. This is my upset special for the first weekend, and with a day today devoid of them, I feel confident in making this pick.

Pick: MICHIGAN

No. 4 Gonzaga vs. No. 12 Western Kentucky

This one is a crapshoot, because I could very well see Western Kentucky winning this one. Western Kentucky has five players that can put up points on any given night, and Gonzaga's going to need a big night from Josh Heytvelt again. I see someone else stepping up for Gonzaga, and they move on.

Pick: GONZAGA

East

No. 2 Duke vs. No. 7 Texas

Both teams played well in the first round, with Duke looking a bit more impressive. If A.J. Abrams can be as hot as he was today, there will be no stopping the Longhorns. In fact, there will be no stopping my upset picks.

Pick: TEXAS

No. 3 Villanova vs. No. 6 UCLA

No doubt, if Villanova played the way they did in the first 30 minutes against American, they will lose. They need to drive to the basket with Dwayne Anderson and Dante Cunningham. UCLA simply needs to shoot well and handle defensive pressure with smart, fundamental basketball like American did for an hour and a half. I see Villanova improving more than UCLA, and for that reason I have to go with Nova.

Pick: VILLANOVA