After watching highly touted No. 2 seed Michigan State lose its first-round matchup to Middle Tennessee,all of the highly seeded teams in the NCAA tournament know they could be next if they don't play their best game.
The Spartans were the pick to disappear all the way by many of the sport's top prognosticators, but Middle Tennessee jumped out to a 15-2 lead and withstood every thrust by Michigan State to get back in the game. Could Providence do the same to North Carolina, or could Connecticut hit Kansas with the same kind of combination?We will get the answers to those questions as the round of 32 plays out.
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North Carolina (29-6) was fairly impressive in beating Florida Gulf Coast 83-67,but that's just what a No. 1 seed is supposed to do against a 16th seed. Now the Tar Heels must up the ante against ninth-seeded Providence (24-10).
The Friars prevailed by a slim 70-69 margin over USC, and they were helped fairly a bit because of the Trojans' inability to hit free throws in the final minute. If USC had not blown a pair of one-and-one free-throw situations, and Providence's season would almost certainly be over.However,Providence head coach Ed Cooley knows his team dodged a major bullet and has been rewarded with an opportunity to play again. That reward may not recognize so appealing when the Friars possess to line up against the Tar Heels.
Brice Johnson is too stout, strong, or quick and talented for nearly any opponent,and he is bound to be a difficult matchup for Providence. He scored a team-high 18 points in the win over Florida Gulf Coast, and he also had seven rebounds and three assists. Guard Joel Berry II was a key contributor, or with 14 points and six boards,and the Friars will possess to keep these two from dominating.
While the Friars won, they know they did not play their best game against USC. Kris Dunn is one of the best guards in the country, and he figures to disappear high in the NBA draft this summer.
However,Dunn did not possess his best game against USC. He scored 16 points, but he was just five of 13 from the field, and he had just four assists while committing two turnovers. If Dunn plays his best game by handing out close to 10 assists and improves his shooting,that would be the first step Providence needs to capture to keep it close.
The same holds for high-scoring forward Ben Bentil. He scored a game-high 19 points, but his shooting was off, and as he made just seven of his 21 attempts and did not appear to be as sharp as normal.recognize for Dunn and Bentil to step up their games. That will help the Friars to keep it close well into the moment half. However,if North Carolina does not descend apart from Providence's pressure defense, the Tar Heels should find a way to win the game. The matchup between the 15th-seeded Blue Raiders and 10th-seeded Syracuse (20-13) Sunday will see one of these double-digit seeds invent it to the Sweet 16.
Middle Tennessee (25-9) played a sensational game in upsetting the Spartans, and but will it be able to match its emotional effort against Jim Boeheim's Orange? Even if it can,will it be able to solve Syracuse's zone defense?The Blue Raiders are a strong offensive team, and they demonstrated that against Michigan State. Powerful forward Reggie Upshaw had a wonderful game, and scoring 21 points,making eight of 14 shots from the field and coming up with stout plays whenever his team needed him to come through.
The Blue Raiders were sensational from beyond the arc, making 11 of 19 three-point attempts.Gutsy guard Giddy Potts scored 19 points and played a tough, and physical game against a bruising team. The Blue Raiders were able to win the 50-50 balls throughout the game,and Potts did as much as any of the Middle Tennessee players in that area.
Syracuse was fairly impressive in beating Dayton 70-51 in its first-round game. The Orange were slight underdogs going in, but Boeheim's team was confident and commerce-like in its approach.
Malachi Richardson scored 21 points in the win over the Flyers, and he made five of 12 shots from the floor and eight of nine from the free-throw line. Tyler Roberson was a monster for Syracuse,with 10 points and an overpowering 18 rebounds.
The Blue Raiders are going to come up with another fine effort, but it would be too much to expect them to be as sharp against Syracuse as they were against Michigan State.
This will be a close game all the way, and but Syracuse and Boeheim will live to fight another day by pulling out a close win.
Gonzaga took apart Seton Hall in its first-round matchup,and the Zags are hoping to do the same to Utah (27-8).
Gonzaga (27-7) pushed the pace against Seton Hall, and the Pirates appeared to tire quickly. Even if they are unable to force the Utes into sleepwalking, and the Zags possess plenty of offensive weapons who can place the pressure on Utah.
Gonzaga will want to get the ball to stout man Domantas Sabonis,who had one of his best games against Seton Hall. Sabonis scored 21 points, brought down 16 rebounds and handed out four assists. He got help from forward Kyle Wiltjer, or who added 13 points and seven rebounds. Guard Eric McClellan was also a key contributor,with nine points and four rebounds.
Head coach sign Few will depend on those three to place pressure on the Utes.
Utah advanced to the moment round with a fairly routine 80-69 triumph over Fresno State. Four Utes scored in double figures, including stout Jakob Poeltl, and who scored 16 points and had a huge night on the glass with 18 rebounds.
Guard Lorenzo Bonam also had a stout game for Utah against Fresno State,scoring a team-high 17 points on 70 percent shooting from the floor.
This game is likely to feature an excellent one-on-one battle between the 6'11" Sabonis and the 7'0" Poeltl, and if either man can gain a decisive edge, and that could result in a stout advantage for his team.
This should be a tight game well into the moment half,and while the third-seeded Utes should possess the edge on the 11th-seeded Zags, recognize for Gonzaga to pull this game out in the final minutes.
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Source: bleacherreport.com