Tonight’s capsules

By Mike Huguenin - The Orlando Sentinel     Mar 23, 2007

A look at tonight’s four Sweet 16 games:

East Region

No. 2 Georgetown vs. No. 6 Vanderbilt

Time: 6:27 p.m.

Records: Georgetown 28-6, Vandy 22-11.

How they got here: Georgetown d. No. 15 Belmont 80-55, d. No. 7 Boston College 62-55; Vandy d. No. 11 George Washington 77-44, d. No. 3 Washington State 78-74 (2OTs).

The buzz: These teams played in mid-November in Nashville, with Georgetown winning by 16. The Hoyas carved up Vandy’s defense, which is no surprise considering the talent difference between Georgetown’s big men and Vandy’s.

The Commodores’ hopes rest with their three-point shooters. Derrick Byars, Dan Cage and Shan Foster have to be hot, or Vandy has no chance. When Vandy is hitting its three-pointers, it also gets a lot of easy layups off back-door cuts because defenses have to shift their emphasis to the perimeter.

Hoyas F Jeff Green and C Roy Hibbert should have success in the paint, and if Vandy has to worry too much about that duo, G Jonathan Wallace – a good three-point shooter himself – is going to get open looks on the perimeter. In addition, the Hoyas’ physical defense and rebounding ability are going to cause problems for Vandy.

The pick: Georgetown.

No. 1 North Carolina vs. No. 5 USC

Time: 8:57 p.m.

Records: North Carolina 30-6, USC 25-11.

How they got here: North Carolina d. No. 16 Eastern Kentucky 86-65, d. No. 9 Michigan State 81-67; USC d. No. 12 Arkansas 77-60, d. No. 4 Texas 87-68.

The buzz: The Tar Heels are the deepest team in the tournament, players 1-10, and have tremendous athleticism. They want a fast pace (the Heels have scored less than 70 points just once and more than 85 a total of 18 times this season) and have a number of weapons, both inside and out. They sometimes are lax on defense, though, something that can’t be said about the Trojans.

USC has good athletes, but the Trojans do not want to get into a track meet with the Heels. Instead, they’ll look to control the tempo and try to have the game end up in the high 60s or low 70s. USC’s lack of a true point guard could be problematic, considering the quickness of Heels PG Ty Lawson. Look for USC to be patient on offense and as physical as possible on defense.

One guy to watch is USC freshman big man Taj Gibson, who is foul-prone; if he’s on the bench, the Trojans are going to get eaten up inside. USC also needs Lodrick Stewart to be “on” from three-point range.

The pick: North Carolina.

Midwest Region

No. 1 Florida vs. No. 5 Butler

Time: 6:10 p.m.

Records: Florida 31-5, Butler 29-6.

How they got here: Florida d. No. 16 Jackson State 112-69, d. No. 9 Purdue 74-67; Butler d. No. 12 Old Dominion 57-46, d. No. 4 Maryland 62-59.

The buzz: Butler is small, slow and unathletic; the Bulldogs don’t create a lot of turnovers or even hit a high percentage of their shots. So why should Florida be afraid? Because Butler doesn’t make mistakes (the only team in the nation that averages less than 10 turnovers per game), is deadly from the line and usually is able to control the tempo. For instance, Butler held Tennessee – which averages 80.8 points per game and scored 78 and 86 in games against Florida – to 44 points.

The Bulldogs are patient and don’t mind running the shot clock down. Plus, of their six losses, four came in their league against teams used to their style and another came against Southern Illinois, which employs the same style as Butler. At the same Time, Butler is small, slow and unathletic.

Florida’s perimeter defense is strong, so the Gators should crush the Bulldogs on the boards and get open looks from three-point range. Florida’s frontcourt should have a huge day, and as long as the Gators don’t get too impatient and commit a flurry of turnovers (we mean you, Taurean Green), they should win.

The pick: Florida.

No. 3 Oregon vs. No. 7 UNLV

Time: 8:40 p.m.

Records: Oregon 28-7, UNLV 30-6.

How they got here: Oregon d. No. 3 Miami of Ohio 58-56, d. No. 11 Winthrop 75-61; UNLV d. No. 10 Georgia Tech 67-63, d. No. 2 Wisconsin 74-68.

The buzz: UNLV is the lowest-seeded team still alive in the tournament – but the Runnin’ Rebels won 30 games, so this is no Cinderella story. UNLV is a well-coached, cohesive group with a nice collection of athletes. F Wendell White is a solid offensive player; he can score in the low post and also hit the 15-footer. Gs Wink Adams, Kevin Kruger and Michael Umeh are three-point threats, and reserve C Joel Anthony is one of the best shot-blockers in the nation. Coach Lon Kruger’s attention to detail on defense is why UNLV is here.

The Runnin’ Rebels can’t afford to let Oregon play at its pace; like many middle seeds, UNLV is going to want to bump-and-grind and be physical. Oregon has been a surprise this season. The Ducks love to run, and in Gs Aaron Brooks, Tajuan Porter and Bryce Taylor, they have three good perimeter players who are athletic and can shoot the “3.” Big man Maarty Leunen isn’t a banger, and the Ducks usually don’t get much from their bench. Their scrambling defense causes problems, though, and they’re good from the free-throw line.

The pick: Oregon.

Tonight’s capsules

By Mike Huguenin - The Orlando Sentinel     Mar 22, 2007

South Region

No. 2 Memphis vs. No. 3 Texas A&M

Time: 6:27 p.m.

Records: Memphis 32-3, Texas A&M 27-6.

How they got here: Memphis d. No. 15 North Texas 73-58, d. No. 7 Nevada 78-62; Texas A&M d. No. 14 Penn 68-52, d. No. 6 Louisville 72-69.

The buzz: Memphis comes in having won 24 in a row, but the Tigers haven’t played anyone with the defensive intensity of the Aggies. Tigers G Chris Douglas-Roberts, the team’s leading scorer, suffered an ankle sprain against Nevada; if he plays, he won’t be 100 percent. Memphis wants an up-tempo, free-flowing game, but A&M will look to slow it down and make it a grind-it-out affair. A&M also will be as physical as possible, especially with Memphis’ perimeter guys. A&M has four players who average in double figures, but the only one who truly scares opposing teams is senior G Acie Law IV. Even if Law gets his points, A&M needs Gs Josh Carter and Dominique Kirk to be at least adequate from three-point range. Memphis has better depth than the Aggies, who don’t want to go more than seven-deep. Memphis plays good defense, as well, but there remains one question about the Tigers: How will they play in a close game against a tough opponent? Memphis is abysmal from the line (61.9 percent as a team – even after a 26-of-34 performance against Nevada).

The pick: Texas A&M.

No. 1 Ohio State vs. No. 5 Tennessee

Time: 8:57 p.m.

Records: Ohio State 32-3, Tennessee 24-10.

How they got here: Ohio State d. No. 16 Central Connecticut 78-57, d. No. 9 Xavier 78-71 (OT); Tennessee d. No. 12 Long Beach State 121-86, d. No. 4 Virginia 77-74.

The buzz: These teams met Jan. 13 in Columbus, with Ohio State prevailing, 68-66. The Vols would prefer the game be in the high 70s/low 80s, and they’ll attempt to force the tempo with their pressing defense. Still, to pull the upset, Vols G Chris Lofton has to hit his outside shots. The Vols also need another scorer (JaJuan Smith? Ramar Smith?) to provide offense. A potential trouble spot for Tennessee is its poor free-throw shooting (65.7 percent). Tennessee’s young big men are going to have problems with Buckeyes C Greg Oden. But if the Vols worry too much about Oden, perimeter players Jamar Butler, Daequan Cook and Ron Lewis will bomb away.

The pick: Ohio State.

West Region

No. 1 Kansas vs. No. 4 Southern Illinois

Time: 6:10 p.m.

Records: Kansas 32-4, Southern Illinois 29-6.

How they got here: Kansas d. No. 16 Niagara 107-67, d. No. 8 Kentucky 88-76; SIU d. No. 13 Holy Cross 61-51, d. No. 5 Virginia Tech 63-48.

The buzz: Kansas, which is supremely athletic, wants to put its athleticism to good use and run all night. SIU, a blue-collar team, wants to slow the tempo and turn the game into a defensive-minded affair. Can either impose its will on the other? SIU’s only shot at the upset is to turn this into an ugly, low-scoring game – as in the low to mid-50s. Kansas has lost four times; in three of the losses, the Jayhawks scored 66 or less, and in the other, they scored 71. SIU allowed more than 70 points once – and it lost that game. Kansas is loaded on the perimeter, and star F Julian Wright has freakish athletic skills for a man his size (6 feet 8, 225 pounds). SIU likely will be without starting F Matt Shaw (ankle), a potentially devastating injury for a team that starts three guards and whose best reserve big man (Tony Boyle) plays about 12 minutes per game. If Shaw can’t go, Gs Jamaal Tatum, Tony Young and Bryan Mullins will be even more under the gun to produce offensively. The Salukis beat Virginia Tech without Shaw, but the Jayhawks aren’t the Hokies.

The pick: Kansas.

No. 2 UCLA vs. No. 3 Pitt

Time: 8:40 p.m.

Records: UCLA 28-5, Pitt 29-7.

How they got here: UCLA d. No. 15 Weber State 70-42, d. No. 7 Indiana 54-49; Pitt d. No. 14 Wright State 79-58, d. No. 11 Virginia Commonwealth 84-79 (OT).

The buzz: UCLA coach Ben Howland and Pitt coach Jamie Dixon are close friends – Howland’s daughter, Meredith, attends school at Pitt and often eats dinner with the Dixons – and neither will be surprised by what the other wants to do tonight. The Bruins are more athletic, but they’re quite comfortable with a slower pace. To win, Pitt must rely on its physical defense and C Aaron Gray. Pitt’s perimeter players are solid, nothing more, and the Panthers are going to have trouble keeping up with jet-quick Bruins PG Darren Collison. Slowing Collison and trying to keep G Aaron Afflalo under wraps will be a priority for Pitt. UCLA will throw a variety of defensive looks at Gray, who has developed into an OK passer out of the low post.

The pick: UCLA.

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