This NCAA Tournament has had some great games and some major Cinderellas, but now it is down to the top eight teams. There will be two games today and two tomorrow. The game that I am most looking forward to seeing is the Florida/Michigan game on Sunday. Michigan had a historic comeback last night when Trey Burke went off in the 2nd half against Kansas. The clock struck midnight for FGCU when they faced the Gators. Florida Gulf Coast came out hot and went up double digits early, but Florida fought its way back. Here are my predictions and thoughts on the Saturday games. I will be back tomorrow to give the whole breakdown of the Sunday games.
#4 Syracuse vs #3 Marquette
Saturday 4:30 pm
These two Big East teams have had different roads to get to where they are now. Marquette barely survived in the first two rounds of the tourney, where as Syracuse had a 47-point win in the first round and escaped California with a 6-point win. Cuse had a tougher test next, when they faced Indiana. The Orange came on strong and won by 12. Marquette had to face Miami in the Sweet 16. That was no problem as Marquette dominated the whole game. This game guarantees that a Big East team will be in the Final Four for the 5th straight year. Vander Blue and Junior Cadougan lead the Golden Eagles offense. Syracuse is killer from deep once they get going. The key to the game will be James Southerland and Brandon Triche. If they can hit some deep shots early, Cuse will feed off the momentum. This will be a good game, but I think Marquette will take it.
#9 Wichita State vs #2 Ohio State
Saturday 7:05 pm
Both of these two teams have been on fire as of lately. Ohio State has won their last eleven games and has had a balanced scoring attack. Wichita State has been connecting as of late from 3-point range. These two teams have had some scares in this NCAA Tourney. Ohio State handled Iona, but then they had a scare against Iowa State where Aaron Craft hit a three with basically no time on the clock. History almost repeated itself in the next round except there was a new killer and a new victim. LaQuinton Ross hit a deep three to beat Arizona 73-70. Wichita State beat Pittsburgh and then upset Gonzaga in the next round. Then on Thursday night the Shockers disposed of #13 seed La Salle. This game will be close throughout because of the Shockers ability to shoot from deep. However, I do think that Ohio State will come out on top.
