With teams like Memphis, Texas, Kentucky, Michigan State, and Pittsburgh the South Regional certainly has some big names in it. Memphis may be the slight favorite because of the #1 seed, but I can assure you that they aren't pleased about a possible matchup in the Elite 8 against Texas in Houston. Texas may be young, but they have one of the most talented starting fives in the nation. So, who will come out of the South then? Only time will tell, but just maybe my opening round breakdowns for the South Regional will help clear up any questions that you have.
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3/21 - 9:40 - Little Rock, AR | Please don't tell me that you're actually looking for some kind of insight about this game. Memphis is already looking ahead to the second round as you're reading this. Memphis fans just need to pray that no one gets injured. Prediction: MU 95, UTA 67 |
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3/21 - 7:25 - Little Rock, AR | Mississippi State Center Jarvis Varnado is a shot blocking machine for the Bulldogs. Fortunately for Oregon, 5'6 gun-slinging guard Tajaun Porter has never even seen the paint before because all this guy does is light it up from behind the three-point line. Oregon's outside game outplays State's inside game to move on. Prediction: OU 73, MSU 69 |
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3/20 - 12:30 PM - Denver, CO
| In an attempt by the committee to provide us with the most boring game in NCAA history they've placed both Michigan State and Temple on the court at the same time. Temple has always had a history of making noise in the Tournament, but Spartans' senior guard Drew Neitzel won't let Michigan State slip up in this one. Prediction: MSU 16, TU 9 |
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3/20 - 2:50 PM - Denver, CO
| Both the Panthers and the Golden Eagles are great at controlling the pace of their games. Ironically, both teams like to slow it down and make their opponent's work on defense. This will be a better game than most people think, but the Panthers will prevail. Prediction: PU 63, ORU 51 |
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3/20 - 2:30 PM - Anaheim, CA | Marquette is coming off of a tough loss against Pittsburgh in the Big East Tournament. The Warriors find themselves matched up with a Kentucky team that also is coming off of a disappointing loss in the SEC Tournament against Georgia. Both the Warriors and the Wildcats' strengths are at the guard positions, so the difference in this game will be the Cats inside play. Prediction: UK 68, MU 64 |
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3/20 - 4:40 PM - Anaheim, CA | Stanford doesn't blow many teams out because they play a slower style of basketball. However, the size of two 7'0+ Lopez twins will be far too much for Cornell to handle inside. I don't think there are too many schools that can boast that they are able to beat Cornell is athletics and academics, but Stanford could very well be one of them. Prediction: Stanford 71, Cornell 53 |
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3/21 - 12:30 - Little Rock, AR
| In one of the more exciting first round games the Miami Hurricanes will take on the St. Mary's Gaels. In this game, I look for both teams to get up and down the court as quickly as possible. The Gaels have a terrific freshman in Aussie guard Patrick Mills, but Miami also has great guard play and is clearly the more athletic team in this contest. Prediction: UM 79, SMC 77 |
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3/21 - 2:50 - Little Rock, AR
| The Austin Peay Governors have to feel good about the fact that right now the Vegas Oddsmakers have them only getting 15.5 points in this one. However, after seeing this squad play I just don't think they have enough to keep it under 20 unless the youth of Texas shows up early and the Longhorns get off to a slow start. Prediction: UT 83, AP 59 |