Elite Eight Encounters (Day 2)

Pick the upsets, they do not happen.

Go with all the favorites, and some lose.

Gotta love it. That is what America’s greatest sports competition is about.

There are two games slated for this afternoon—the first much more appealing than the second.

After going 1-1 yesterday, with a favorite going down, I will split my choices today. And that is not at all based on yesterday’s results.

Originally, when the bracket came out, I not only liked Oklahoma’s chances against North Carolina, I liked them to beat the Tar Heels. I felt this would have been the most intriguing game of the tournament thus far, and I still think it will be true when they face off on Sunday.

No. 2 Mich St. vs. No. 1 Louisville

Seeding really affects outcomes.

It's unclear whether Arizona would have beaten Purdue, Illinois, or Florida State. Even if the Wildcats did move on, we can't be certain how far they'd have gone.

Say Arizona was a 10 instead of a 12 and in the same bracket. They could have beaten Michigan State, and somewhat easily. They would have trounced Kansas as they did in December by 17, but would have been blown out by Louisville in the Elite Eight instead of Sweet Sixteen.

Maybe they would have been even more confident and had more time to correct potential mistakes— of which they made a ton of on Friday. Maybe it would have been a game.

And this relates to every team, looking ahead to potential meetings.

Michigan State made a good comeback and kept battling, especially during the entire second half.  They never went away, and while people knew Kalin Lucas was the real deal, he showed it in a tense situation.

I like what Michigan State has done. I do not like how they have done it, but they keep on winning.

Like the last couple of rounds, I continue to look at their opponents and see no easy ways out. The Spartans are not overpowering, and while they have a fantastic young guard, that is all I see.

I see their opponents and I see legitimate reason why Michigan State will lose.

I thought USC had a good shot, and they should have won. Taj Gibson said they did not know what hit them, and that surprised me. USC was hot and playing great, coming into that game.

I also thought Kansas would dominate its game against Michigan State, but the Spartans fought and overcame defeat at the end.

I love the perseverance.

Now I see them playing the best team in the country. I do not like looking at past games as an equation, but Louisville creamed Arizona, who beat USC once and should have beaten them on the road.

Arizona also whooped Kansas during the regular season. But ignoring all of that, I am still not sure Michigan State can play with Louisville.

If Louisville plays as it did against Arizona, this game will be an even bigger blowout. The Cardnials can shoot well, and when they do, there is little doubt they will win.

Jerry Smith strutted his stuff for Louisville on Friday, and the veteran junior guard Edgar Sosa did the same. It looked as though Arizona did not know what to do. It seemed like all the Cardinals pitched in, negating the necessity for great games from the three stars.

With Michigan State, there is not enough evidence for me to think they should win. I look at who they are scheduled to play and see reasons why they should lose.

Lucas will always perform, but Goran Suton is not the strongest big man on the floor and Raymar Morgan is inconsistent. You never know what you are going to get from him.

Louisville is too deep and too good. Kalin Lucas is the only Michigan State player who could start for the Cardinals, but I expect the Spartans to be unafraid and play their hardest.

That, however, is different from playing one’s best.

Kudos to the Spartans if they get another big win against equal or superior competition. They will need their biggest 300-like performance yet.

No. 2 Oklahoma vs. No. 1 UNC

What a matchup. Hopefully at the end, I will be saying “What a game!”

In the most intriguing matchup of the entire tournament before next weekend’s Big East national semi-final, I expect tons of fireworks.

There are lots of questions heading in. Questions not pertaining to concerns and/or lack of ability so much as which warrior(s) will get the best of their opposition.

On one side there is the deepest team in the country and quite possibly the best team in the country.  On the other is the best player in the country who has been unstoppable.

Something has to give.

North Carolina has better guards.  Oklahoma has Blake Griffin.  There are not big drop-offs after, though, when comparing the teams.

Willie Warren and Austin Johnson are very good, and as seen before, Tony Crocker can get his.  Everyone knows what Blake Griffin will do, but there is Tyler Hansbrough on the other side.  With him are Deon Thompson and Ed Davis.  Blake has brother Taylor.

I love what both teams have.  Blake is the best at what he does.  I do not think he will ever be stopped in college.  And Taylor is quite the compliment.  I have never seen anyone quite like Tyler Hansbrough personality-wise and it has been a joy to watch him fight the past four years.  Ed Davis can rebound well, and there is of course even more potential there with Thompson and Danny Green.

Ty Lawson is playing his way to MOP and Wayne Ellington has yet to stop scoring thus far.  I think Ellington is the key and how he contributes will affect how his team finishes.  Great guards, great forwards, great match-up.

I am taking the Sooners because I have not witnessed anything like Blake Griffin.  There was Kevin Durant and Michael Beasley.  Then there was Blake Griffin, except he is still playing collegiately.  While I have never seen anyone like Psycho T personality-wise, I will go with results and numbers on this one.

Both teams are great.  While Carolina is more popular and more is expected of their entire roster, I like what Oklahoma brings as a whole and I feel it is enough to upset the national favorites.