Sweet 16 to Elite 8, who’s going to get a slice of the cake? (Night 2)
#6 Tennessee Volunteers- How they got here: Beat #11 San Diego State Aztecs 62-59, #14 Ohio Bobcats 83-68
After surviving a difficult scare versus a good San Diego St team Tennessee decisively capped the Ohio Bobcats in the second round. Now effusive, joyfully crunk infectious player’s coach and two time National Coach of the Year Bruce Pearl’s Vols face Big champs Ohio St. Buckeyes.
After being saddled with a very tumultuous season, including the dismissal of First Team All SEC small forward Tyler Smith in January for getting busted for gun possession Pearl truly proved just how fantastic of a sideline general he is.
Despite losing their leader and chief scorer and orchestrator the Vols managed to finish third in the SEC, garner a #14 ranking and be the only team to beat Kansas and Kentucky. Tennessee relies on the potent inside-outside combo of Wayne Chism (team leading 7.1 boards, 1.4 blocks, 75 fts) and McDonald’s All-American Scotty Hopson (3.5 rebounds, 33 percent three’s) both average a team high 12.5 points a contest. Despite shooting only 29 percent from the great beyond Chism can draw opposing centers from the basket with his ability to drain triples. This creates driving alleys for the highwire yam artists Hopson, and orangutan armed cousin of Detroit Piston Tayshuan Prince, J.P Prince (9.3 pts, 3.7 rebounds, 2.9 ast, 51 fg percent).
In turn, Hopson’s efficient mid range game and capability to bust triples, as well as Cameron Tatum (7/5 pts, 48.6 fg, 38.7 percent three’s) alleviates pressure on Chism, enabling him to operate down low with single coverage. Backup center Brian Williams (5.7 pts, 5.7 boards) is a space eater who swallows boards like Gatorade.
Prince has been getting it in brilliantly in the tourney thus far. The 6’7 combo forward has upped his scoring average to 16.5 points on a sizzling 78 percent shooting. Prince’s central assignment will be the arduous task of minimizing Big 10 Player of the Year Evan Turner’s impact with his length, swift lateral movement and has kangaroo hops.
The Vols only shoot 31 percent on three’s but they’re draining 42 percent of their three’s in the tourney. Tennessee ferociously attack the rim, and their tigerish full court press creates turnovers for easy buckets which helps them overcome poor team and individual shooting efforts. Look for them to try to speed the tempo and make it a helter-skelter affair. Vols opponents are shooting 33.2 percent from the floor in the dance.
#2 Ohio St Buckeyes- How they got here: Beat #15 University of Cal Santa Barbara Gauchos 68-51, Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets 75-66
The Buckeyes breezed past the UC-Santa Barbara in the opening round and won a hard fought game over the athletic Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets. Now Thad Motta’s crew must prepare for a completely different team than they’ve faced so far.
For Ohio State the alpha and omega is Evan Turner (20 pts, 9.2 boards, 6 dishes, 1.8 steals, 52.3 % fg, 35.3% three’s). Just call the 6’7 point forward stuffed crust pizza because his game is appetizing and filling. The leading candidate for National Player of the Year (should have it on smash) is irrefutably the premier, comprehensive baller in the land. Turner is a do it all unselfish player. He possesses Lens Crafters dime-a-vision serving hot plates like Ponderosa as well as an NBA ready disgusting preponderance of moves. Turner can make step backs, pull-ups, spin moves to the rack or floaters, post up can bust triples. He also ferociously attacks the glass.
Small forward David Lighty (12.8 points, 4.6 rebounds, 1.6 steals, 49% fg, 38.4 % three’s) is a slasher who tenaciously hawks the rim and can bang on anyone. Lighty has refined his game significantly, now having triple range and a much more consistent jumper.
A huge hallmark of Ohio St’s offense is threeballs. The Buckeyes shoot 42 percent collectively from downtown. Their perimeter accuracy creates driving lanes for Turner and Lighty to get into the teeth of the defense in the paint. Jon Diebler (13.3 pts, 43 percent three’s, 87% ft) and William Buford (14.4 pts, 5.7 rebounds, 3.1 asst, 38 percent three’s) will be called on rip tickle the twine against Tennessee scrambling defense. They should get quality looks because the Vols swarming defense will capitulate some openings. Buford also has an outstanding mid range game.
Dallas Lauderdale (6.6 pts, 5.2 boards, 2.2 blocks 71 % fg, 41% ft) is an offensive liability and not a real threat with the exception of put backs. However, the 7 foot junior center plays his position of being a solid defender and rebounder. Lauderdale is a defensive deterrent and is packing 5.5 shots a game after two rounds. Ohio St is holding opponents to 37 percent shooting and 25.6 percent on three’s.
This should be a very entertaining game. Tennessee will want to force the tempo and make it a frenetic contest. Big 10 regular season and conference champs Ohio St. has no inhibitions about getting into a fast paced game, but they’d prefer a more moderate rhythm. Tennessee will have to be extremely cognizant of the Buckeyes net ripping three point shooters and keep their guards out the paint. Ultimately, Turner is just too good of a player and his indomitable will should guide the Buckeyes a chance to make reservations at the Final Four cause like Dj Khaled all Ohio St does with a healthy Turner is, “Win! Win! Win!
South Region- #3 Baylor Bears vs #10 St. Mary’s Gaels Friday 7:27 PM
#3 Baylor Bears- How they got here: Beat #14 Sam Houston State Bearkats 68-59, #Old Dominion Monarchs 76-68
The Baylor Bears have come a tremendously long way from the horrible tragic murder of a player by a teammate and controversy that cast a morose shadow on the team 6 years ago. They have become a nationally recognized basketball program and have reached the first Sweet 16 in squad history. In order for the Bears to make more venture to more unchartered territory they must get past the blazing hot St. Mary’s Gaels.
For Baylor it begins and ends with their dynamic backcourt of Tweety Carter and LaceDarius Dunn. Carter (15.1 points, 6 assists, 38.5% three’s, 79% ft) may look like the younger brother of Mississippi rapper Lil Boosie, but the senior guard definitely has a game that will make you wipe him down. Carter is an outstanding conductor who drops dimes for easy yams and layups for Ekpe Udoh, Qunicy Acy and Jake Lomers. Carter has blazing speed but also plays with good composure and is meticulous with the rock. He primarily likes to set up his teammates, but Carter can hit jumpers, get to the cup and take over when necessary.
LaceDarius Dunn (19.4 pts, 4.9 rebounds, 42 % triples, 86.2% throws) is just a certified gangsta baller. Dunn has an NBA ready plethora of moves in his offensive inventory. He can consistently bust step back jumpers and pull-ups from intermediate or three point range, floaters, post up and get to the rack and provide the crown royale dunk on opponents heads. Dunn is like a college version of Atlanta Hawks Joe Johnson because of the fluidity and effortlessness of his ability to rack up points.
The Bears have the interior size to combat and cause problems for St. Mary’s center Omar Sahman. Udoh (13.9 pts, 9.7 boards, 3.8 blocks, 49.9 % fg) is an potential NBA lottery pick. He can score in the post or perimeter and is an intimidating, athletic shot blocker who punches shots like Hawaiian and consistently gets doubles doubles. Acy (9.2 pts, 5.1 boards,) has a limited offensive game mostly restricted to layups, put backs and dunks but exemplifies efficiency shooting an absurd 70 percent from the floor. Reserve Lomers (6.7 pts, 3.7 rebounds, 1.1 blocks, 71% fg) is a legit center, standing a strapping 7’0, 280 pounds. He’s mainly challenges shots and gets garbage points.
Defensively Baylor relies on a rangy 2-3 zone. In the first two rounds the Bears have held opponents to 38.6 percent shooting and 28 percent from triple country. The Gaels are very dependent on three point shooting. It will be crucial Baylor uses it’s interior size to collapse on Sahman, who’s a good passer out of double teams, but also recover and not concede open looks to St. Mary’s perimeter assortment of trifecta bombers.
#10 St. Mary’s Gaels- How they got here: Beat #7 Richmond Spiders 80-71, #2 Villanova Wildcats
The St. Mary’s Gaels are the quintessential Cinderella. Few thought they would get past the sweltering Richmond Spiders and virtually no one within their right mind who hadn’t been imbibing moonshine predicted St. Mary’s would pull off the titanic popping of slogging, but still heavily favored Villanova. St. Mary’s has been infuriated about being the last team left out of last year’s tourney field and has been motivated procuring “get back! Revenge!” like Soul/Funk legend James Brown. Thus they’ve made everyone catch the vapors.
St. Mary’s is led by interior citadel Omar Samhan. The flamboyant, boisterous center has exuded unshakable braswado (swagger and bravado) the entire year. Samhan (21.5 pts, 10.9 boards, 2.9 blocks, 56% fg) has posted obscene math thus far in the dance, devouring foes like chicken nuggets. For the tourney Samhan has is averaging 30 points 9.5 bounds on 80 percent shooting. Samhan doesn’t have the appearance of a hooper at all. He has the vertical of your 75 year old grandmother but the 6’11, 260 pivot surprisingly nimble and has a nice medley of post moves, ranging from baby hooks, drop steps, spin moves to reverse layups and a turnaround jumper from either side of the lane. For the Gaels to pull of another upset it will be vital for Samhan to have a big game.
St. Mary’s has an assortment of triple bombers. Point guard Mickey McConnell (14.2 pts, 5.2 dishes, 51.3% fg, 51.7 % three’s, 84.1% ft) not only is the Gaels chief orange subsidizer, but he’s also their most prolific three point shooter. He has unlimited range and a hair trigger. McConnell has increased his scoring output to 19 a game and is connecting on 50 percent of his trey attempts (8-16). Matthew Dellavedova (12.5 pts, 4.4 dimes, 40.7% three’s, 85% ft) and Clint Steindl (7.6 pts, 38 % three’s, 80.1% ft) are also deadly from treyland.
It will be critical St. Mary’s competes and doesn’t get pounded on the boards. They can ill afford surrendering second chance points to Baylor on the offensive glass. Power forward Ben Allen (10.1 pts, 7.6 boards, 2.2 asst, 48.7% fg, 81.3 % ft) will have to assist Samhan on the glass as well as provide some points on the block.
Both Baylor and The Gaels like getting up and down the floor average. Baylor averages 77 points a game and St. Mary’s puts up 79 points a night. The WCC champion Gaels are equally adept playing at a feverish pace or a slow down game. The keys in this game is can Baylor contain Samhan without their bigs getting in foul trouble, can St. Mary’s not allow Baylor a huge disparity on the glass and can the Gaels triple arsonists set the nets on fire. Dunn will get his, but if Carter will probably run circles around St. Mary’s guards. Ultimately Baylor’s length and athleticism will probably be just a little too much, as well we the partial crunkness of their fans playing in their own backyard of Houston.
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