The first two rounds of the Madness have ended. Most of America's brackets have been hosed, including mine. We've seen upsets, buzzer beaters and a bona-fide superstar breakout (thank you Stephen Curry). But this isn't where the tournament ends. Beginning tomorrow we head into the candy land of sweetness: The Sweet 16.
So for those of you who still have brackets that are alive (unless you are one of those dorks that fills out 100 different options; you don't count), those that play in a bracket pool that allows you to go round-by-round or those that just like to place a "friendly wager" on the games, here's five great match-ups/stories to pay attention to in the next two days.
1. Can They Check Him?
Stephen (pronounced Stef-ON) Curry has become an absolute star in this tournament. Only the diehard NCAA basketball fans and sportswriters were aware of Curry entering last weekend. The whole nation knows him now. Dell's boy went off in the first two rounds, totaling 70pts. But what is more impressive is that he did it when it mattered most. 30 of his 40 in Round One vs. Gonzaga (the flag bearer of mid-majors) came in the second half. In the Round Two match up against Big East power Georgetown (a much better defensive team), 25 or his 30 came in half two. I believe you call that clutch.
The question now is can Curry and the Wildcats continue that trend as they step up, yet again, in class defensively. Wisconsin is a #3 seed that has been flat-out terrific defensively all year long (the best in the country in defensive efficiency according to KenPom.com). That continued in the first two rounds of the tourney as they held Cal State Fullerton to 56pts. and the Michael Beasley led Kansas State Wildcats to 55pts. More importantly, the Badgers have already dealt with an opponent whose offense is centered around a superstar talent, the aforementioned Beasley.
How did that go? Ask Beasley who is still scratching his head trying to figure out how he only scored 5pts. in the second half. If the Badgers continue their play on the defensive end, Davidson's run comes to an end.
2. Old School vs. New School: Big Man Style
The Texas v. Stanford game on Friday night provides an interesting showdown in style of play between big men. All year long Texas has struggled with teams that have good size. It is not a stretch to say that the Cardinal have great size, cosidering they have the two 7-foot Lopez twins manning the middle. But the key to the game could very well be one of Texas' big men. And not the one you think: Connor Atchley
Atchley is the type of big man (6'10") that you are seeing more-and-more of these days in college hoops. He's more comfortable floating jumpers, including threes, than manning-up down low. And he's adept at those jumpers too, shooting 42% from behind-the-arc. The Lopez twins, Robin and Brook, are both classic low-post players. Brook may be the better offensively, but both make a living commanding the paint on offense and defense.
If Atchley makes early outside jumpers, that will force whichever Lopez is guarding him to come away from the basket on defense. That will leave only one Lopez twin under the board for defensive purposes. That will greatly increase the chances of there being open lanes for All-American guard D.J. Augustine to wreak havoc.
On the other hand, if the Texas big men can't hold their own in the paint defensively, the Lopez twins could put multiple players in foul trouble. If that happens, Texas is toast because they don't have the bench depth to overcome that.
Classic low-post big man vs. New age big man. Who ya got?
3. Pressing D
If you like multiple defensive sets, forcing turnovers, helter-skelter play and full-court defensive intensity, this is the game for you. The master of the full-court press defense, Louisville coach Rick Pitino, will go mano-y-mano with the new guru of full-court press defense, Tennessee coach Bruce Pearl.
Both teams have good size. Palacios and Padgett for the Cardinals and the never-ending Smiths (How many do they have? Two...three...twelve?) for the Vols. Both have good guard play and both play an up-tempo, run-and-gun style offense predicated on getting easy buckets in transition off their defense. That is merely the long explanation for they are very evenly matched.
It's going to come down to a defensive chess match between the suits on the sidelines.
4. Return of the Prodigal Son (Sort of)
Xaiver University, located in Cincinnati, Ohio, will have the chance to take on the West Virginia Mountaineers, coached by non-other than former University of Cincinnati coach, Bog Huggins. If you live in Cincinnati (I do), then you have no idea what this has become in the Queen City.
Wecome to the Crosstown Shootout Renewed! (Sort of)
But the key match up is not going to comed down to coaching, pasty history or bad blood. No matter how much fans in this city really, really want it to. It is going to come down to Xavier's defense, led by Stanley Burrell, versus WVU superstar, Joe Alexander. The Mountaineers struggle offensively when Alexander has trouble scoring. Xavier are where they are because of superior team defense. Next to Wisconsin, the Muskies are the best defensive team left in the field. West Virginia hasn't faced a team the plays defense with as much totality yet in this tournament. They drew Arizona and Duke in the first two rounds. Both are good teams, but neither one very special on the defensive end.
And yes, I know that WVU plays in the Big East so they must be battle-tested in that regard.
Bull.
It does not matter one iota what a team did in their conference at this point. The Madness, especially this deep into it, is a completely different animal altogether. Go ask fellow Big East team Georgetown about that. How did that Big East tested toughness work out for them again?
If Alexander doesn't score around 20, Huggy Bear will be on the country road back to West Virginia (thank you John Denver).
5. You Wanna Run?
The Memphis v. Michigan State game provides an interesting mix of styles. So far, there doesn't seem to be a team outside of UNC that can run the floor with the Tigers. Michigan State has been living on slowing the ball down, playing solid half-court offense (even when Drew Neitzel is struggling) and locking down on defense.
So we have a classic style-vs.-style game.
If Memphis can push and play their up-tempo style of play, Sparty will get blown off the court. I don't mean just beaten. I mean beaten down like a redheaded stepchild. However; if MSU slows the game down, limiting the number of possible possessions, and has good shot selection on their end, Memphis could be in for a long night. The Tigers don't shoot jumpers, especially threes, particularly well, and they shoot free-throws even worse. Those are the two weapons you most need to have at your disposal if you find yourself in a half-court-to-half-court style game.
Whoever wins the style battle, wins the war and advances.
In case you were wondering? I think Wisconsin checks Curry, Atchley forces a Lopez away from the bucket, the master continues to be the master, John Denver impersonators need to start warming up their vocal chords and the Tigers are off and running. Wisconsin, Louisville, Texas, Xavier and Memphis advance.
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