Final Four Prediction: Michigan State vs. Butler

I bet nobody could have predicted this Final Four match up. Tom Izzo's Spartans are in the Final Four while Butler has peaked at the right time after winning 20 straight games to end the regular season they have already beat the 1 seeded Syracuse Orange and 2 seeded Kansas State Wildcats. The Bulldogs are led by forward Gordon Hayward who is strong inside but can also shoot. Matt Howard and Ronald Nored are under the radar players who can hurt the Spartans. Michigan State's Kalin Lucas can score and dish out assists. Durrell Summers can shoot consistently also. The only problem for the Spartans is they need a consistent scorer in the post. My prediction: Spartans head to second National Championship in two years with 77-73 win over the Bulldogs.

Syracuse Handles Gonzaga Without A Problem

The No. 1 seed Syracuse easily handled No. 8 Gonzaga 87-65 earlier today. The Orange were hoping not to become another Kansas who lost last night. The Orange were led by Wes Johnson who scored 31 points and had 14 boards. Gonzaga ends the season 27-7 and will lose Matt Bouldin next season. Elias Harris is a bright spot. Syracuse will get No. 5 Butler in the Sweet 16.

More Key Second Round Predictions

No. 5 Michigan State vs. No. 4 Maryland
Michigan State struggled in the first round escaping past No. 12 New Mexico State by three well Maryland beat C-USA champs Houston by 12. Grevis Vasquez is probably the best player on the court as he can drive but has a fantastic shot. Michigan State needs Durrell Summers shooting and Kalin Lucas needs the same game as he did in the first round if the Spartans have a chance. My prediction: Maryland, 73-65.

No. 1 Syracuse vs. No. 8 Gonzaga
When a Big East power against a mid major power you know it's going to be good. Gonzaga must need a good game from either Matt Bouldin or Elias Harris to win and must solve the Orange's 2-3 zone. Syracuse isn't a fantastic offensive team but does fine led by Andy Rautins and Wes Johnson. My prediction: Syracuse moves on to Sweet 16 by shutting down Bulldogs' offense, 73-60.

No. 3 Pitt vs. No. 6 Xavier
In the first round, Xavier beat down Minnesota well Pitt took down Oakland. Pitt is a strong Big East squad led by Ashton Gibbs and Jermaine Dixon well Xavier needs Jordon Crawford to play like he did in the first round to win, in which he scored 28 points. My prediction: Pitt escapes 80-75.

Butler Beats Murray State, No. 2 Seed Falls

No. 5 Butler entered a second round matchup against No. 13 Murray State knowing the Racers had a lot of momentum after beating No. 4 Vanderbilt. Gordon Hayward scored 12 points and had 7 boards well the Racers' were led by Isiah Canaan who had 14 points. The Racers led at half 38-37 but late in the game with the score 54-52 Butler's big man Matt Howard missed a free throw giving the Racers a chance to win with a three. Gordon Hayward made a steal to end the game and the Bulldogs escaped 54-52.

The Villanova Wildcats struggled in the first round against the 15 seed Robert Morris and only won by three. Next, they got an underrated Saint Mary's team who won the WCC. The Gaels big man Omar Samhan dominated scoring 32 points and 7 boards in the upset of Villanova, 75-68.

Key Second Round Game Previews

No. 5 Butler vs. No. 13 Murray State
Obviously, the big question in this one is will Murray State's run continue? Butler has been on a roll lately and flew past UTEP in the first round. Gordon Hayward is talented a big man that can shoot effectively. Shelvin Mack scored 25 points against the Miners and hopes to follow it up. For the Racers, Isaac Miles had 17 points and 6 rebounds in the upset of Vanderbilt, 66-65. My prediction: Racers will not go any father as Hayward scores 20 in a 70-63 win for the Bulldogs.
No. 3 Baylor vs. No. 11 Old Dominion
Old Dominion scooted past the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame in the first round, 51-50 but the next step is even tougher a game against Baylor. Sam Houston State gave the Bears a run for their money until Ekpe Udoh roared for a double-double in a 68-59 win. Old Dominion will get their second skilled man in the post after shutting down Harangody in Udoh and will also have to watch out for sharpshooter LaceDarius Dunn. Old Dominion's key to win is Frank Hassell who notched 15 points and 9 rebounds in the win against Notre Dame. My prediction: Udoh and Dunn are too much, Baylor wins 73-65.
No. 1 Kentucky vs. No. 9 Wake Forest
Kentucky's freshman duo of John Wall and DeMarcus Cousins now must clash with the Demon Deacons' Al-Farouq Aminu and Ishmael Smith, after an easy first round game against East Tennessee State. Wall and Cousins aren't just the two biggest problems for Wake so is underrated Patrick Patterson who had 22 points in the route of the Buccaners. Eric Bledsoe is yet another option for the Wildcats who had 29 points in the win. The Deacons Aminu had 20 points though in the overtime win over Texas. My prediction: Kentucky and Wall roll to the Sweet 16 with a 84-68 win.
No. 7 BYU vs. No. 2 Kansas State
BYU was one of the biggest surprises so far this season and handled Florida in a close first round game. Jimmer Fredette led the Cougars with 37 against the Gators. He'll have to face the Wildcats guard combo of Denis Clemente and Jacob Pullen. Both teams lack a force inside so it will come down to whoever shots the ball better. My prediction: BYU and Kansas State go back an forth until Pullen goes on a run and the Wildcats win in a close one 79-75.

Michigan State Scoots By, Cornell Upsets Temple,

Earlier this Friday the No. 5 seed Michigan State took on No. 12 New Mexico State in the first round. Michigan State's Kalin Lucas had a fantastic game scoring 25 points and dishing four assists. New Mexico State roared back led by Troy Gillenwater who had 17 points. But it was the Spartans scooting by with a 60-57 win. Michigan State will now play the winner of Maryland/Houston well the Aggies are done finishing with a 22-12 record.

Cornell was the king of the Ivy League all season but managed just a number 12 seed and was taking on No. 5 Temple. Cornell's Ryan Wittman and Louis Dale combined for 41 points and Cornell made the upset, 78-65. Cornell will get Wisconsin who beat Wofford, 53-49 well Temple is done with a 29-6 record.

Murray State and Old Dominion Begin Madness

Earlier today the first round of the NCAA tournament got under way and already there have been a few upsets. No.4 Vanderbilt was just one of my sixteen teams moving to the Sweet 16 and took on Murray State in the first round. Vanderbilt's Jermaine Beal had 12 points and dished out 2 assists but is was the Racers Danero Thomas who hit the buzzer beater for a 66-65 win, just two of Thomas' 11 points. Murray State will now play Butler who beat UTEP 77-59.

Meanwhile, in the South region No. 6 Notre Dame played No. 11 Old Dominion in the first round. Notre Dame didn't start Luke Harangody who had just four points off the bech but it turns out they didn't need him as Ben Hansbrough put up 17 and 6 boards. But late in the game Old Dominion led 51-48. Notre Dame had a chance to tie it but Carleton Scott missed a three. Harangody put in the rebound but it wasn't enough as a team from the CAA took down the Irish of the Big East, 51-50.

Tournament Picks: South Region

First Round
1 Duke Winner: Duke
16 Arkansas-PB*

8 Cal Winner: Cal
9 Louisville

5 Texas A&M Winner: Texas A&M
12 Utah State

4 Purdue Winner: Siena
13 Siena

6 Notre Dame Winner: Old Dominion
11 Old Dominion

3 Baylor Winner: Baylor
14 Sam Houston State

7 Richmond Winner: Saint Mary's
10 Saint Mary's

2 Villanova Winner: Villanova
15 Robert Morris

Second Round
1 Duke Winner: Duke
8 Cal

5 Texas A&M Winner: Texas A&M
13 Siena

11 Old Dominion Winner: Baylor
3 Baylor

10 Saint Mary's Winner: Villanova
2 Villanova

Sweet 16
1 Kentucky Winner: Kentucky
5 Texas A&M

3 Baylor Winner: Villanova
2 Villanova

Elite Eight
1 Duke Winner: Villanova
2 Villanova
South Region Champ: Villanova
*= Arkansas-PB beat Winthrop 61-44 in Opening Round Game

Tournament Picks: East Region

First Round
1 Kentucky Winner: Kentucky
16 East Tenn. State

8 Texas Winner: Wake Forest
9 Wake Forest

5 Temple Winner: Temple
12 Cornell

4 Wisconsin Winner: Wisconsin
13 Wofford

6 Marquette Winner: Washington
11 Washington

3 New Mexico Winner: New Mexico
14 Montana

7 Clemson Winner: Clemson
10 Missouri

2 West Virginia Winner: West Virginia
15 Morgan State

Second Round
1 Kentucky Winner:Kentucky
9 Wake Forest

5 Temple Winner: Temple
4 Wisconsin

11 Washington Winner: New Mexico
3 New Mexico

7 Clemson Winner: West Virginia
2 West Virginia

Sweet 16
1 Kentucky Winner: Kentucky
5 Temple

3 New Mexico Winner: West Virginia
2 West Virginia

Elite Eight
1 Kentucky Winner: Kentucky
2 West Virginia
East Region Champ: Kentucky

Tournament Picks: West Region

First Round
1 Syracuse Winner: Syracuse
16 Vermont

8 Gonzaga Winner: Gonzaga
9 Florida State

5 Butler Winner: Butler
12 UTEP

4 Vanderbilt Winner: Vanderbilt
13 Murray State

6 Xavier Winner: Minnesota
11 Minnesota

3 Pitt Winner: Pitt
14 Oakland

7 BYU Winner: BYU
10 Florida

2 Kansas State Winner: Kansas State
15 North Texas

Second Round
1 Syracuse Winner: Syracuse
8 Gonzaga

5 Butler Winner: Vanderbilt
4 Vanderbilt

11 Minnesota Winner: Pitt
3 Pitt

7 BYU Winner: Kansas State
2 Kansas State

Sweet 16
1 Syracuse Winner: Syracuse
4 Vanderbilt

3 Pitt Winner: Pitt
2 Kansas State

Elite Eight
1 Syracuse Winner: Syracuse
3 Pitt
West Region Champ: Syracuse

Tournament Picks: Midwest Region

First Round
1 Kansas Winner: Kansas
16 Lehigh

8 UNLV Winner:UNI
9 Northern Iowa

5 Michigan State Winner: Michigan State
12 New Mexico State

4 Maryland Winner: Maryland
13 Houston

6 Tennessee Winner: San Diego State
11 San Diego State

3 Georgetown Winner: Georgetown
14 Ohio

7 Oklahoma State Winner: Oklahoma State
10 Georgia Tech

2 Ohio State Winner:Ohio State
15 UC Santa Barbara

Second Round
1 Kansas Winner: Kansas
9 Northern Iowa

5 Michigan State Winner: Maryland
4 Maryland

11 San Diego State Winner: Georgetown
3 Georgetown

7 Oklahoma State Winner: Ohio State
2 Ohio State

Sweet 16
1 Kansas Winner: Kansas
4 Maryland

3 Georgetown Winner:Ohio State
2 Ohio State

Elite Eight
1 Kansas Winner: Kansas
2 Ohio State
Midwest Champ: Kansas Jayhawks

2 Upsets In the Big East

Earlier today No. 10 Villanova took on unranked Marquette in the quarterfinals of the Big East tournament. Marquette's Lazar Hayward played great in front of a large crowd in Madison Square Garden, scoring 20 points and rebounding the ball seven times. Villanova's starting five struggled as they needed Corey Stokes off the bench to score 22 but it still wasn't enough as the Golden Eagles took down 'Nova 80-76.

Also in the Big East tournament quarterfinals No. 3 Syracuse took on No. 22 Georgetown. Georgetown was led by guard Chris Wright who had 27 points and six assists and beat out the Orange's Wes Johnson's 24 points. Georgetwon was cold and is helped out by this win alot well the 'Cuse might fall out of a number one seed spot with the loss.

UConn Women Continue Domination

71 wins in a row is unreal for any team no matter which sport. Imagine Kansas, Syracuse, Kentucky or Purdue to win 71 games in stiff conference competition. That's exactly what the UConn women have done led by Maya Moore and Tina Charles. Not only has UConn beat teams like No. 2 Stanford and No. 7 Notre Dame they have won by large margins. Tonight against West Virginia UConn tries to go for number 72.

Conference Chamionship Picks

Here are my conference picks:
Big East: Syracuse vs. West Virginia
Big Ten: Purdue vs. Ohio State
Big 12: Kansas vs. Baylor
ACC: Duke vs. Maryland
Mountain West: New Mexico vs. BYU
WAC: Utah State vs. New Mexico State

Bubble Watch: South Florida Bowls Over UConn, Notre Dame Inches Past, Louisville Takes Down No. 1

Yesterday was all about the Big East. In the final game in Freedom Hall, Louisville hoped they could steal their second win against Syracuse. Louisville was with out Jerry Smith for most of the game but bench player Kyle Kuric stepped up scoring 22 points and one steal. Syracuse's guard Scoop Jardine had 20, also off the bench, but it wasn't enough as Louisville stunned No. 1 Syracuse. Louisville (20-11) looks like they've punched a ticket to the NCAA tournament.

UConn entered the game against South Florida as one of the hottest bubble teams. UConn got off to an okay lead but South Florida's Dominique Jones had 20 points and the Bulls rolled to a 75-68 win. UConn got another solid performance from Kemba Walker who had 18 points. UConn really hurt their tournament resume with the loss.

Notre Dame faced Marquette in another bubble matchup. The Fighting Irish get Luke Harangody which is always good. Marquette had a three point lead late in the game until Carlton Scott (who had 14 points and 13 rebounds)nailed a three in a 63-60 win in OT for the Irish. Another big bubble win.