(Photo : (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)) INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA – MARCH 24: Zach Edey #15 of the Purdue Boilermakers celebrates a basket from the bench in opposition to the Utah State Aggies throughout the second half within the second spherical of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on March 24, 2024 in Indianapolis, Indiana.
The Midwest area has lived as much as the billing, with Purdue two wins nearer to redemption and an thrilling conflict of types between Tennessee and Creighton on the horizon within the Sweet 16.
After listening to all concerning the surprising first-round loss to Fairleigh Dickinson final yr, the Boilermakers look lifeless set on pulling off a Virginia-esque bounce again run to a National Championship. Their win over Utah State was main proof of that, as they completely dismantled a robust Aggie crew.
They face a Gonzaga crew that utilized a monstrous second half efficiency to blast Kansas out of the event. After a barely subpar common season, the Zags are beginning to appear to be the high-level crew we’re used to seeing, now of their ninth consecutive Sweet 16.
Creighton survived an enormous scare from a severely fatigued Oregon crew in double time beyond regulation within the second spherical, whereas Tennessee additionally went all the way down to the wire with Texas in its personal second spherical matchup.
With loads of anticipation for these wonderful matchups on Friday night time, listed below are our official predictions for which two of those groups will meet up within the Elite 8 on Sunday.
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(5) Gonzaga vs. (1) Purdue
Time: 7:39 PM EST, Friday
Channel: TBS
How They Got Here: Gonzaga defeated McNeese State, Kansas. Purdue defeated Grambling State, Utah State.
Odds: Purdue -5.5
Super star heart Zach Edey delivered a masterclass within the first two rounds for Purdue, and the Boilermakers backcourt mixture of Braden Smith and Fletcher Loyer has been on the high of its recreation.
If Purdue goes to proceed this run, that might want to proceed in opposition to a Gonzaga crew that may run and rating the ball at a really excessive stage. The Bulldogs play quick and have 4 gamers averaging over 12.5 factors per recreation, which incorporates distributor extraordinaire Ryan Nembhard, who averages 6.9 assists per recreation.
This has been billed because the weakest iteration of Gonzaga basketball shortly, but it surely definitely doesn’t appear to be that proper now. McNeese State was a really stylish upset choose, however the Zags made fast work of placing that notion to mattress.
The two groups met within the common season on the Maui Invitational with Purdue successful 73-63, and there are some things we will glean from that recreation, way back as it might have been.
Gonzaga really was totally in command of that recreation into the second half, earlier than the Boilermakers tightened up defensively and compelled the Bulldogs into a couple of prolonged scoring droughts. Both groups shot the ball miserably from three-point vary, so anticipate a higher-scoring recreation this time round.
Edey dominated the glass with 14 rebounds in that recreation, and whereas we expect this one will probably be shut, Zach Edey’s capacity to seize second-chance alternatives and spring his offense with defensive rebounds ought to show to be the distinction.
The Pick: 79-75, Purdue
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(3) Creighton vs. (2) Tennessee
Time: 10:09 PM EST, Friday
Channel: TBS
How They Got Here: Creighton defeated Akron, Oregon. Tennessee defeated Saint Peter’s, Texas.
Odds: Tennessee -2.5
There are all kinds of thrilling issues about this matchup on paper, beginning with a showdown between two of essentially the most prolific scorers in school basketball in Tennessee’s Dalton Knecht and Creighton’s Baylor Scheierman.
While Knecht carries his crew on his again offensively, Scheierman has important assist in the type of heart Ryan Kalkbrenner (17.4 factors per recreation) and Trey Alexander (17.7 ppg).
This is a results of Creighton’s three-point comfortable, fast-paced offense that permits their stars a number of possessions to get alternatives. Scheierman and Alexander shoot the ball properly from deep, and Kalkbrenner creates all kinds of mismatches down low whereas ending up loads of misses on the offensive glass.
They’re going to fulfill a very good match for that model on this recreation, as Tennessee options heart Jonas Aidoo to attempt to line up in opposition to Kalkbrenner, whereas the Volunteers have loads of robust defenders at guard and on the wing and can look to gradual the tempo of the Bluejays down to some extent they’re extra comfy with.
Normally on this kind of matchup, I’d choose the sooner and extra offensively gifted crew, and there is not any doubt that Creighton is that, however we have seen bodily groups give the Bluejays hassle lately, and there is no crew extra bodily than Rick Barnes’ Volunteers. We have seen this crew get into slugfests within the event, drag a crew all the way down to their model, and beat them. Last yr’s win over Duke instantly springs to thoughts. Vols, shut.
The Pick: 67-64, Tennessee
Read More: South Region Sweet 16 Picks: Houston Faces Duke, NC State Looks to Continue Run Against Marquette
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