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Gene's NCAA Sweet Sixteen PicksBy Gene Huh
East Regional(4) UCLA vs. (1) Duke Duke has the two best players in the country in Jason Williams and Shane Battier and three more future first round picks in Carlos Boozer, Mike Dunleavy and Chris Duhon. UCLA is not nearly as talented, but the Bruins also have NBA talent in Dan Gadzuric, Jason Kapono, Earl Watson and T.J. Cummings. The perception is that running with the Blue Devils is suicidal, but both Virginia and Maryland outran Duke earlier this season. Expect UCLA to press selectively to wear down Duke's guards and expose their lack of depth. The overplaying Duke defenders, especially Chris Duhon and Jason Williams, are highly susceptible to back-door cuts, so expect UCLA to throw alley oop lobs over the top to Earl Watson. Duke is soft on the interior, even with Boozer, and this will get exploited by the powerful Gadzuric. Duke is so dependent on the three point shot that they are just one bad shooting half away from elimination. They probably have just enough to squeak by in this one, but mark this one down as a potential upset. Pick: Duke by 3 (6) USC vs. (2) Kentucky The underachieving Trojans seem to have finally got their act together. However, they will be facing a very hot team in Kentucky. The forward combination of LA native Tayshaun Prince and Keith Bogans has been ripping teams to shreds, but they will face a formidable duo in powerful Sam Clancy and versatile David Bluthenthal. USC's Brian Scalabrine will pose matchup problems for the UK big men with his ability to step out on the perimeter. In the end, Kentucky's depth will wear the Trojans down and give them the victory. Pick: Kentucky by 5 Midwest Regional(4) Kansas vs. (1) Illinois Both Kansas and Illinois have been rolling so far in the tournament. KU has shot the ball well from the perimeter, opening up the interior for players like Drew Gooden and Nick Collison. Gooden is perhaps one of the most underrated interior players in the country and a player with a bright pro future. Collison is a crafty low post scorer. Illinois is perhaps the most physical team in the country and has a versatile frontcourt rotation that includes bruisers such as Marcus Griffin, Sergio McLain, Robert Archibald and Lucas Johnson to go with talented finesse forward Brian Cook. Illinois also holds a big edge in the backcourt due to Frank Williams. Neither Jeff Boschee nor Kirk Hinrich can match up with the powerful Williams, a devastating driver. The deeper and more physical team will win this battle, but Kansas has upset potential. Pick: Illinois by 2 (3) Ole Miss vs. (2) Arizona While Arizona has the best starting five in the country, Ole Miss shouldn't even be here. Through favorable matchups and seedings, the Rebels have somehow snuck in to the Sweet Sixteen. Their ride ends here as Ole Miss will get overwhelmed by the Wildcats superior talent and firepower. No guard is playing any better than Arizona's Gilbert Arenas and when Loren Woods is playing with intensity, the Cats are unbeatable. Pick: Arizona by 11 South Regional(12) Gonzaga vs. (1) Michigan State The severely under-seeded Zags are back in the Sweet Sixteen for the third year in a row. However, defending National Championship Michigan State Spartans are looking to make the Final Four for the third year in a row. Dan Dickau has been impressive so far in the tournament, displaying marksmanship and creativity reminiscent of a young Steve Nash. Calvary abused the frontcourts of Indiana State and Virginia using his superior hops and shooting touch. This will all come to an end against MSU, which plays the best team defense in the country. Big bodies such as Zach Randolph, Andre Hutson and Al Anagonye will neutralize Calvary and defensive stopper Charlie Bell will put the clamps down on Dickau. Pick: Michigan State by 10 (11) Temple vs. (7) Penn State Nobody expected this battle for the state of Pennsylvania to occur in the Sweet Sixteen. However, both teams got really hot against underachieving opposition. This game will be a battle between Temple's physical matchup zone and Penn State's long-range shooters. Unfortunately for the Nittany Lions, their top marksman Joe Crispin has been ice cold during the tournament. Temple guards Lynn Greer and Quincy Wadley are both experienced and tournament tested. Wadley in particular has been playing exceptionally well during this tournament. Plus, Temple's Kevin Lyde will have a huge advantage on the interior over Penn State's mediocre big men. Pick: Temple by 4 West Regional(7) Georgetown vs. (3) MarylandMaryland finally gets their shot at "big, bad" Georgetown after having been avoided by the soft-scheduling Hoyas for years. Georgetown's strength is in its deep rotation of big men led by Michael Sweetney and Ruben Boumtje-Boumtje. However, the Terps have an even deeper, more versatile frontcourt rotation in Lonnie Baxter, Terence Morris, Danny Miller, Chris Wilcox, Tahj Holden and Mike Mardesich. Plus, the Maryland backcourt of Steve Blake and Juan Dixon is just simply too much for Georgetown's Kevin Braswell and Demetrius Hunter. Blake is a pure point guard and Dixon is one of the fiercest competitors in the country, despite his junior high physique. Maryland coach Gary Williams will finally get that constipated look off his face as his Terps advance past the Sweet Sixteen for the first time. Pick: Maryland by 17 (5) Cincinnati vs. (1) Stanford There is absolutely no way for the Bearcats to upset the Cardinal in this game. Jason and Jarron Collins have the size and skill to destroy the below-average Cinci big men in the post. Cinci depends upon the talented backcourt of Steve Logan and Kenny Satterfield, but Stanford will counter with Michael McDonald and All-American Casey Jacobson. The Bearcats have a big edge in quickness, but Stanford used its superior perimeter shooting and post play to beat a similarly quick St. Joseph's team in the previous round. Pick: Stanford by 7 |
Features Marbury for Kidd 2001-2002 Eastern Conference Preview Future Stars 2001 NBA Draft Grades 2001 NBA Draft Scouting Report Zoned Out
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