#1 Syracuse vs. #16 Vermont
Was it really five years ago that then-#13-seed Vermont beat #4-seed Syracuse? It was supposed to be coach Tom Brennan's goodbye, but now we see the guy on ESPN all the time. The Catamounts are back in the tournament, with their upset hopes relying on 6-5 forward Marqus Blakely. Most #16-seeds don't have a player as talented as Blakely on their roster. Check out this dunk:
Pick: Syracuse
#8 Gonzaga vs. #9 Florida St.
After suffering a blowout defeat in the WCC title game, the Zags fall to the dreaded #8/#9 game. This is the best defense Gonzaga has faced since playing Duke in December, a 35-point loss. But once FSU forces a miss and gets the ball, will they turn it right back over? The Seminoles have the worst turnover rate (24.7%) of any team in the tournament.
Pick: Gonzaga
#5 Butler vs. #12 UTEP
Question #1: Is Gordon Hayward healthy? The NBA prospect wing hasn't been himself since mid-January, hitting just 11-54 from three-point range and missing a game in late February with back spasms. You know UTEP will try to bang the slight Hayward. Mind you, Hayward's struggles haven't kept the Bulldogs from winning, they haven't lost since before Christmas. Keep an eye on UTEP's Randy Culpepper, one of the sickest dunkers in college hoops. Check it:
Pick: UTEP
#4 Vanderbilt vs. #13 Murray St.
The Commodores' top post player, Aussie center A.J. Ogilvy, is coming off of the worst game of his career--a 0-4 night against Mississippi State. Happily for him, Jarvis Varnado is confined to the NIT. Murray St. doesn't have anyone with the height or bulk to contend with Ogilvy, who should be able to pair with fellow post man Jeffery Taylor to either dominate the game, or draw enough attention to get open shots for his 'mates. (That's Aussie-talk!) The Racers feature a disturbingly balanced attack--five players average between 10.3 and 10.6 points per game.
Pick: Vanderbilt
#6 Xavier vs. #11 Minnesota
Oooh! It's a "something's gotta give" special! Minnesota's one of the best teams in the nation at shooting three pointers (making 40.4%, eighth nationally), Xavier's one of the best in the nation at defending treys (allowing 29.4%, eleventh nationally). Not a lot of room to see the basket with 6-4 Jordan Crawford and 6-5 Dante Jackson patrolling the perimeter. The Gophers may not be able to rely on Blake Hoffarber's long-range bombing to keep them close.
Pick: Xavier
#3 Pitt vs. #14 Oakland
Oakland certainly won't be awed by the Panthers -- they've played Wisconsin, Kansas, Memphis, Michigan St. and Syracuse this year. 'Course, they lost all five of those games, by an average of 28 points. Oakland likes to run, which is usually death against more talented power conference schools. They'll need a big game from NBA big man prospect Keith Benson, who won Summit P.O.Y. and averaged a double-double. I suspect he'll force things against Pitt, so look for Panther big man Gary McGhee to record at least five blocks.
Pick: Pitt
#7 BYU vs. #10 Florida
The very first non-play-in game of the tourney, tipping at 12:20 EST Thursday, and it should be a fun one. BYU, led by STF God Shammgod Trophy winner Jimmer Fredette is trying to win its first tourney game since 1993. They've been ousted in the first round in their past seven tourney appearances, including each of the past three seasons. Florida's height could bother BYU, but I think the offensively-stellar Cougars will make up for lost time with a deep run in the tourney.
Pick: BYU
#2 Kansas St. vs. #15 North Texas
Here's the one thing that may make this game interesting: North Texas is a very patient defensive team. They rarely get steals (less than five per game). Kansas State, meanwhile, is a rather impatient offensive team. I can imagine the Mean Green staying solid on defense, the Wildcats throwing up ill-advised shots. Question then will be: Can North Texas keep K-State off the boards? That will be up to NTU's George Odufuwa, an Arizona St. transfer who sported a terrific 26.9% defensive rebound rate. Huh.
Pick (UPSET SPECIAL!): North Texas.