(Photo : (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)) NEW YORK, NEW YORK – MARCH 24: Alex Karaban #11, Donovan Clingan #32, and Hassan Diarra #10 of the Connecticut Huskies react through the second half towards the Northwestern Wildcats within the second spherical of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Barclays Center on March 24, 2024 in New York City.
The rounds of 64 and 32 have come and gone, and we’re left with a Sweet 16 discipline within the males’s NCAA Tournament that options only one double-digit seed and a complete lot of firepower by way of present high quality and traditionally elite applications.
All eight primary and two seeds stay, and 11-seed NC State is left because the lone hope for a real Cinderella story because the march towards Phoenix for the Final Four continues.
As we anxiously await these incredible matchups, listed here are our official predictions for tonight’s 4 Sweet 16 video games.
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(6) Clemson vs. (2) Arizona
Time: 7:09 PM EST, Thursday
Channel: CBS
How They Got Here: Clemson defeated New Mexico, Baylor. Arizona defeated Long Beach State, Dayton.
Odds: Arizona -7.5
Arizona has taken care of enterprise to date, dealing with Long Beach State and profitable simply towards a Dayton squad that’s possible roughly of the identical caliber as this Clemson squad.
The Tigers are peaking on the proper time, although, and for that purpose Brad Brownell and his crew might be a troublesome out for the Wildcats. Clemson is led by star massive man P.J. Hall, whose versatility and contact across the rim make him an enormous consider any sport. Syracuse switch Joe Girard provides sturdy capturing contact, and Chase Hunter is an athletic guard who can rating in quite a few methods.
The massive downside for Clemson on this one lies in the truth that Arizona, at the least on paper, has solutions for each one in every of Clemson’s strengths.
The Wildcats will depend on Oumar Ballo to restrict Hall’s impression, and they need to have good religion in him doing so, as he simply did a good job towards Dayton’s DaRon Holmes, who could be very arguably a greater and extra dynamic offensive presence than Hall.
Love is a dynamic scorer and a prepared defender of the opposite staff’s guards, and the Wildcats basically do a really strong job on the defensive finish each down low and towards the three-ball.
If Clemson is to win, it is going to be as a result of Brownell did a incredible job of making alternatives for his guys with artistic units and appears. That formulation labored very nicely towards Baylor, however Arizona presents a complete additional degree of a problem defensively.
The Pick: 75-66, Arizona
(5) San Diego State vs. (1) Connecticut
Time: 7:39 PM EST, Thursday
Channel: TBS
How They Got Here: SDSU defeated UAB, Yale. Connecticut defeated Stetson, Northwestern.
Odds: Connecticut -11.5
This is a rematch of final yr’s National Championship sport, the place UConn made fast work of the Aztecs on their option to the championship and a 76-59 win.
Is there a lot purpose to count on a special outcome this yr? While the Huskies misplaced loads from final yr’s staff, transfers Cam Spencer and Tristen Newton have confirmed to make this offense much more dynamic within the backcourt than they had been final yr, and Donovan Clingan has emerged as a very elite middle and sure the nation’s most underrated participant.
The Huskies are a full-on juggernaut, and it is really tough to see them dropping a sport to anybody on this match, even with each different one and two seed nonetheless alive.
On the San Diego State aspect of issues, the Aztecs have been pushed to the following degree by the progress of tremendous star Jaedon LeDee, who averages 21.5 factors and eight.4 rebounds per sport. The Aztecs have counted on him being the very best participant on the ground in all of their video games this season, and he has delivered upon that belief.
While LeDee really is incredible, he’ll most likely be the third finest participant on this sport barring one thing unexpected. The Aztecs don’t have any different gamers who common double figures, and if they are going to pull the upset, they’re going to want an above-average sport from LeDee and two of Reese Waters, Lamont Butler, and Micah Parrish to step up nearer to LeDee’s scoring degree.
The Pick: 81-68, UConn
Read More: Midwest Region Sweet 16 Picks: Purdue, Gonzaga and Tennessee, Creighton Square off in Huge Showdowns
(4) Alabama vs. (1) North Carolina
Time: 9:39 PM EST, Thursday
Channel: CBS
How They Got Here: Alabama defeated Charleston, Grand Canyon. North Carolina defeated Wagner, Michigan State.
Odds: North Carolina -4.5
Alabama is completely a critical risk to knock off the Tar Heels on Thursday evening. Carolina appeared like a defensive powerhouse in December and January, however that side of their sport has regressed a bit bit since.
That makes them weak towards the Crimson Tide, who beneath coach Nate Oats run an offense that’s each lightning quick and wildly environment friendly, enjoying on the Eighth-fastest tempo within the nation per KenPom whereas nearly completely capturing three-pointers and twos on the basket.
Fortunately for the Heels, they’ve middle Armando Bacot down low to have an effect on the standard of these close-in seems to be, and his defensive presence will probably be one of many massive keys to this sport.
The Heels will welcome the quick tempo, although, as it is going to solely serve to provide their offense extra cracks at Alabama’s rather more weak protection. This might be an enormous sport for UNC’s ability gamers, as ACC Player of the Year R.J. Davis ought to get loads of beauty whereas sharpshooter Cormac Ryan may usually discover himself huge open in transition.
It will probably be fascinating to see how the Heels decide to defend star Alabama guard Mark Sears on this one, as this iteration of Carolina lacks the kind of lockdown on-ball defender that Leaky Black supplied in years previous.
Regardless, we’re trusting Hubert Davis on this one to search out methods to provide you with sufficient stops to permit Carolina’s personal offensive expertise to outpace the Crimson Tide’s.
The Pick: 88-81, North Carolina
(3) Illinois vs. (2) Iowa State
Time: 10:09 PM EST, Thursday
Channel: TBS
How They Got Here: Illinois defeated Morehead State, Duquesne. Iowa State defeated South Dakota State, Washington State.
Odds: Iowa State -1.5
This sport guarantees to be an thrilling conflict of types, as Illinois merely cannot cease scoring. The Illini had no bother towards a incredible Duquesne defensive unit, blowing previous the Dukes to arrange this matchup with Iowa State.
The Cyclones, for his or her half, are one of many easiest defensive models within the nation, and their bodily fashion makes scoring the ball a nightmare for his or her opponents.
According to KenPom, that is the finest offense within the nation towards the very best protection within the nation. Good luck predicting which staff will win out when Illinois has the ball. It really may go both means.
When Iowa State has the ball, although, they may have a slight benefit as a top-50 offense towards the 92nd-ranked Illini protection. If Keshon Gilbert and Tamin Lipsey get scorching from the ground, the Cyclones may win this one going away.
Illinois has not been examined by an opposing offense but this match, however we noticed Iowa State overcome a very sturdy Washington State protection within the final spherical.
Because of that, I feel you need to give a really slight edge to the Cyclones heading into this one, however that is going to be must-see tv whatever the winner.
The Pick: 74-73, Iowa State
Read More: South Region Sweet 16 Picks: Houston Faces Duke, NC State Looks to Continue Run Against Marquette
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