March 16, 2007
It is time to look ahead to Saturday's second round NCAA tournament games.
BUTLER VS. MARYLAND
Todd Lickliter's team was picked sixth in the preseason Horizon League poll, yet here they are facing an athletic and talented Maryland team. Gary Williams squad dominated inside and on the glass against Davidson and this could happen again. Butler cannot isolate on Maryland defensively as the Terps have a number of different weapons. Greivis Vasquez is the orchestra leader and he doesn't play like a freshman. Butler lives off of its perimeter game with A. J. Graves and Mike Green, and the duo must play well to have a shot. Look at the way Williams and Maryland adjusted in the second half after Davidson was hitting trifectas in the first half. Another key will be tempo as Maryland wants to speed up the game while Butler would love it to be in the 50s or 60s. I think Maryland has too much talent and should prevail.
VCU VS. PITTSBURGH
Can VCU pull off a second straight upset and be this year's George Mason? Eric Maynor hit the winning shot against Duke and he could flat out play anywhere in America. Anthony Grant showed great poise on the sideline, but this could be a tougher test. Pittsburgh has several weapons and Jamie Dixon's club needs to get more shots from Aaron Gray. He can dominate inside in this match-up and he must get more than the six field goal attempts he had vs. Wright State. I think this could be a thrilling game and I give the edge to the Panthers.
LOUISVILLE VS. TEXAS A&M
Rick Pitino gets his players to respond in a positive was under the one-game scenario of the tournament. This match-up is a battle of youth (Louisville) against veterans (A&M). The Cardinals certainly played well against Stanford, taking charge early and never looking back. Acie Law simply finds a way to get his team to the winner's circle. A&M does such a super job defensively, forcing opponents into bad shots. I give the slightest of edges to Texas A&M, winning in Lexington against a hungry, young Louisville squad.
NORTH CAROLINA VS. MICHIGAN STATE
Roy Williams' squad is so deep and talented. Tyler Hansbrough looked a bit more comfortable wearing a new mask while posting a double-double against Eastern Kentucky. Reyshawn Terry was almost perfect from the field and you have to love the quickness of the backcourt tandem of Wayne Ellington and Ty Lawson. The Spartans did a super job defensively on Marquette, holding Tom Crean's team without a point for almost 10 minutes at the start of the contest. In the end, the Tar Heels will wear down Tom Izzo's club and North Carolina prevails.
VANDERBILT VS. WASHINGTON STATE
Derrick Low is one of the most underrated guards in America. He leads a consistent, steady Cougars team that committed just six turnovers in their opening win over Oral Roberts. Will the dream go on in Pullman? My answer is no as Vanderbilt can flat-out shoot the trifecta. Kevin Stallings' club has a lot of different players capable of making the long-range jumper. Derrick Byars got off to a slow start in the blowout over George Washington; expect better things from him in this contest.
GEORGETOWN VS. BOSTON COLLEGE
This used to be an intense match-up in the Big East, and some of these players are familiar with that. One key could be foul trouble; will Jared Dudley or Roy Hibbert land on the pine? Dudley will try to work inside against the Hoyas, attempting to draw fouls. Trust me my friends, he could give John Thompson III's team trouble. Al Skinner needs his big three -- Dudley, Sean Marshall and Tyrese Rice -- to post big numbers the way they did against Texas Tech. Hibbert has to remain aggressive. One X-factor could be John Oates of the Eagles, the big man who loves to step out and shoot the 3. Will he be able to draw Hibbert outside, giving room for Dudley to operate inside? Jessie Sapp had a career-high 20 against Belmont and if comes up big this time, the Hoyas will advance. I believe Georgetown will get through, but this will not be easy.
OHIO STATE VS. XAVIER
Yes, Thad Matta faces his former team and Justin Doellman had a big game (23 points) against BYU. Drew Lavender had a pair of key baskets late in that win. Xavier will have a hard time stopping Greg Oden inside, and the diaper dandy had a double-double against Central Connecticut State (19 points, 10 rebounds). The veteran duo of Jamar Butler and Ron Lewis actually outscored Central Connecticut in the first half, 19-17. I see the Buckeyes moving onto the Sweet 16.
INDIANA VS. UCLA
Talk about a battle of programs with tradition! Wow, the championship banners are flying high. Arron Afflalo and Darren Collison were super in the backcourt during a win over Weber State. Ben Howland preaches defense, defense, defense and that will be a key as the Bruins move on over Kelvin Sampson's club.
Dick Vitale coached the Pistons and the University of Detroit before broadcasting ESPN's first college basketball game in December 1979. Send him a question for possible use on ESPNEWS.
