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NCAA Tournament: Thursday Sweet Sixteen Preview
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March 26th, 2009
by Shawn Siegel
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So many games, so little time. CollegeHoops.net helps you out by cutting to the core of each Tournament game. Click on team names for stats, results, and more. "Matchup" links include helpful injury news, betting tips and information.
| Sweet Sixteen: Thursday |
CBS |
| Purdue vs Connecticut |
7:07 |
Favored: UCONN by 7
Over/Under: 134.5
More: Matchup
Star Watch: JaJuan Johnson has been key to Purdue's early wins (18 ppg on 60% shooting). He'll have his hands full against UCONN's front line.
Nutshell: UCONN destroyed two lesser opponents, while Purdue squeaked by in two hard-fought wins.
At Stake: The last time UCONN didn't at least make the Elite Eight for three straight seasons was all the way back in 1992. Impressive.
CHN Prediction: UCONN (75% certainty)
Looming next: Memphis/Missouri
Announcers: Dick Enberg/Jay Bilas
Watchability:
Two options here. A) UCONN Wins by 15+. B) Purdue wins a defensive slugfest that
bores half the viewing public.
| Xavier vs Pittsburgh |
7:27 |
Favored: Pittsburgh by 7
Over/Under: 139
More: Matchup
Star Watch: Levance Fields showed signs of life against OSU after struggling against ETSU. Xavier has no PG to counter him.
Nutshell: Xavier beat two NIT-quality teams to get here, but is finally welcomed to the Big Dance.
At Stake: For all the talk about the rise of Pitt basketball, the Panthers haven't been to the Elite Eight since 1974.
CHN Prediction: Pittsburgh (70% certainty)
Looming next: Duke/Villanova
Announcers: Verne Lundqusit/Bill Raftery
Watchability:
Pitt has yet to put away either of their opponents, which could cost them
against a pesky Xavier squad.
| Missouri vs Memphis |
9:37 |
Favored: Memphis by 5
Over/Under: 141.5
More: Matchup
Star Watch: Who is Kim English, and how has the Missouri freshman averaged 15 ppg in just 23 minutes of tourney action?
Nutshell: Memphis gives up 57 ppg. Missouri scores 81. Something's got to give.
At Stake: An Elite Eight trip would be an amazing accomplishment for a Mizzou squad that couldn't even make the NIT in Mike Anderson's first two seasons.
CHN Prediction: Memphis (51% certainty)
Looming next: UCONN
Announcers: Enberg/Bilas
Watchability:
Memphis has lost to the only Top 20 RPI teams they've faced this year. Will
their big winning streak prove to be a fluke?
| Villanova vs Duke |
10:07 |
Favored: Duke by 2
Over/Under: 148
More: Matchup
Star Watch: Villanova leader Scottie Reynolds has been in a major slump (7 ppg in 3 games) and needs to break out.
Nutshell: A win by Villanova here would prove definitively that the Big East is far and away the best league in 2009.
At Stake: Duke has only been to the Elite Eight once since the 2001 Championship. A loss here would just prove the doubters right.
CHN Prediction: Duke (60%)
Looming next: Pittsburgh
Announcers: Lundqusit/Raftery
Watchability:
(CBS saved what should be the most entertaining game for last. )
Comments
Reynolds
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Thu, 2009-03-26 16:53.
Scottie was hurt for the first 2 rounds of the ncaa torney and it wasn't known and hasn't been publicized. He is now healthy, and I expect him to take his game to another level, along with the help of a very hot surrounding cast expect reynolds and nova squeak by duke 80-76
Purdue/Uconn
Submitted by Boiler Up (not verified) on Fri, 2009-03-27 09:30.
Shawn, Option C) Once again you are wrong and Uconn wins the game by 12
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About Shawn Siegel
Columnist
Shawn Siegel - Head Editor
Contact
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Background
Shawn Siegel created CollegeHoops.net (formerly collegehoopsnet.com) back in the summer of 2002, and it has since grown into the web's largest independent college basketball site, visited by over 1,000,000 visitors per year. Shawn is responsible for the CHN Top 50,Bracketology projections (he is ranked the #1 Bracketologist over the last 4 years), as well the NBA Mock Draft.
Shawn's college basketball and NBA Draft commentary has been quoted in dozens of national newspapers, and he's been a featured guest on numerous radio programs.
After graduating from Washington University and Washington University Law School before, Shawn passed the New Jersey Bar exam but no longer practices Law. For more on his background, visit his
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Please email him at shawn@collegehoops.net with all media requests, advertising inquiries, and partnership opportunities.
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Favorite Links
Xavier
I think the team Xavier puts on the floor with Derek Brown and BJ Raymond is tough enough to beat Pitt. They defend very hard. Those games they had versus Dayton this year were like Ali/Frazier.
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