NCAA 2nd Round Preview---Sunday

South

No.3 Syracuse vs. No.6 Arizona State

Syracuse didn't face a challenge at all in the first round. Arizona State got out fast, and cruised to a victory over an upstart Temple team. Arizona State must have a good start on Sunday to impose their pressure on defense, and hope that Syracuse doesn't shoot as well as they have these last two weeks.

Pick: SYRACUSE


East

No.4 Xavier vs. No.12 Wisconsin

Xavier is vastly superior on offense and defense, and it will show in this one.

Pick: XAVIER


No.1 Pittsburgh vs. No.8 Oklahoma St

Pittsburgh must play better on Sunday to beat the Cowboys. The good thing for the Panthers is that the Cowboys didn't play much better themselves on Friday. Oklahoma State will try to get DeJuan Blair in foul trouble and work on Pitt's sometimes shaky half-court defensive set. The question is, will it work?

Pick: PITTSBURGH


Midwest

No.3 Kansas vs. No.11 Dayton

For Dayton to win they must simply do what they did against West Virginia. They have to shoot lights out and force turnovers on defense. Problem is, Kansas is too good.

Pick: KANSAS

No.12 Arizona vs. No.13 Cleveland State

Which Arizona will we see tomorrow? Will we see the listless Arizona in the Pac-10 Tournament? Or will we see the potential-fulfilling, "eff-you", finger waving, Lute Olson legacy keeping Wildcats?

I have a feeling it will be the latter.

Pick: ARIZONA

 
No.2 Michigan State vs. No.10 USC

Upset special of the day! Pick: USC


No.1 Louisville vs. No.9 Siena

Siena has the most speed of a college basketball team I've seen all year. It showed against an Ohio State team that was used to playing half-court offense in the Big 10. Louisville can play any style, and Siena will be neutralized. I like Siena and their experience, but Louisville is too good.

Pick: LOUISVILLE


West

No.3 Missouri vs. No.6 Marquette

Mizzou's been hot since losing to Texas A&M in the last game of the season. They looked very solid in a drubbing of Cornell. Marquette pulled off a nice win Friday against Utah State, but Missouri simply runs too deep.

Marquette will be able to match pace, but they won't have as many players that can put up points against a team that scores 81 a game.

Pick: MISSOURI