Predicting The Entire Sweet 16 Down To The Championship Game

By Jerry Landry

Predicting The Entire Sweet 16 Down To The Championship Game

Wichita State Shockers Fred VanVleet Sweet Sixteen — Now that upsets have ravaged your bracket, look for the chalk to finally settle. The Sweet 16 is where many Cinderellas meet midnight. Here’s how the final 15 games will shake out.

15. Arizona vs. Xavier

Arizona Wildcats Sweet Sixteen NCAA Tournament

15. Arizona vs. Xavier

Arizona Wildcats Sweet Sixteen NCAA Tournament — The Arizona Wildcats are a No. 2 seed in a No. 1 seed’s body. The ‘Cats have weapons on the wing and in the backcourt that could challenge even Kentucky in terms of talent. How can the Xavier Musketeers answer? With Jalen Reynolds and Myles Davis. Will the Musketeers deliver? No. I’ll take Arizona to win 82-70.

14. Duke vs. Utah

Utah Runnin' Utes Sweet Sixteen March Madness

14. Duke vs. Utah

Utah Runnin' Utes Sweet Sixteen March Madness — The Utah Utes play defense in a way that’s been consistently overshadowed by talk of the Virginia Cavaliers. Now that the Hoos are sent home, Utah remains one of the best defensive teams left in the tournament. Expect the Utes to hold Duke below 65, but expect Jahlil Okafor to be too much and lead the Blue Devils to a 64-57 victory.

13. Wichita State vs. Notre Dame

Wichita State Shockers Ron Baker Sweet Sixteen

13. Wichita State vs. Notre Dame

Wichita State Shockers Ron Baker Sweet Sixteen — Cornfields and Catholics, golden wheat and Golden Domers. This wholesome battle of heartland schools will be an epic to watch. Ron Baker can shoot from just about anywhere, while Pat Connaughton can be just about anywhere on the floor. We may not see a better defensive play than what Connaughton did last round against Butler, and the Wichita State Shockers are too talented to let that happen anyway. Wichita State will win by nine, 71-62.

12. Michigan State vs. Oklahoma

Oklahoma Sooners Buddy Hield Sweet 16

12. Michigan State vs. Oklahoma

Oklahoma Sooners Buddy Hield Sweet 16 — Buddy Hield and Travis Trice, easily the two most-impressive guards in the tourney, will be going head-to-head in this Friday Sweet 16 game. So who prevails? The team with greater focus, and there is no team more zeroed-in than the Spartans. Look for MSU to stay scorching and speed past the Sooners 68-55.

11. Gonzaga vs. UCLA

UCLA Bruins Sweet Sixteen March Madness

11. Gonzaga vs. UCLA

UCLA Bruins Sweet Sixteen March Madness — UCLA wasn’t supposed to be here, and in many minds, Gonzaga was supposed to be a No. 1 seed. Will we see the Round of 64 Gonzaga, or the team that thrashed the Iowa Hawkeyes on Sunday? I’m expecting the latter, and I’m expecting Gonzaga to win down low and continue show that the Bulldogs belong. I'll take Gonzaga 80 over UCLA 67.

10. Wisconsin vs. North Carolina

Wisconsin Badgers Sweet Sixteen NCAA Tournament

10. Wisconsin vs. North Carolina

Wisconsin Badgers Sweet Sixteen NCAA Tournament — The spacing and shooting of the Wisconsin Badgers meet the speed and guard play of the North Carolina Tar Heels. While Wisconsin had a few issues with the Oregon Ducks, the Badgers have the ultimate X-factor in Frank Kaminsky. When all else fails, feed it to Frank. I don’t think it’ll get this dire, and I see Wisconsin capitalizing on Carolina’s lack of discipline to the tune of a 72-62 victory.

9. Kentucky vs. West Virginia

Bob Huggins West Virginia Mountaineers basketball Sweet 16

9. Kentucky vs. West Virginia

Bob Huggins West Virginia Mountaineers basketball Sweet 16 — The West Virginia Mountaineers will run all 13 guys at you, but Kentucky has 12 of the top-30 players in the country. The Kentucky Wildcats were a sleeping dragon that needed to be slain early. The Cincinnati Bearcats couldn’t bring down Big Blue, and now Kentucky has had the perfect primer game. I’d love to see Bob Huggins come up with a genius game plan, but all I see is Kentucky winning this one 79-55.

8. Louisville vs. NC State

NC State Wolfpack NCAA Tournament Sweet 16

8. Louisville vs. NC State

NC State Wolfpack NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 — This could be the grittiest game of the tournament. It’ll be ugly, Montrezl Harrell will be banging around for all 40, and Anthony “Cat” Barber will be knifing the lane drawing fouls. If you like football scores in your basketball games, then this is the matchup for you. I'll take Rick Pitino as the trump card and take Louisville 62-54.

7. Duke vs. Gonzaga

Duke Basketball Jahlil Okafor Sweet 16

7. Duke vs. Gonzaga

Duke Basketball Jahlil Okafor Sweet 16 — Do you go with the uptempo and diverse Gonzaga attack, or with the sheer pedigree of Duke which centers around center Jahlil Okafor? In tight pairings, you have to default to the difference-makers, and in this case I’m siding with Okafor and Duke. Blue Devils will win over the Bulldogs 78-71.

6. Wisconsin vs. Arizona

Bo Ryan Wisconsin Badgers basketball Sweet 16

6. Wisconsin vs. Arizona

Bo Ryan Wisconsin Badgers basketball Sweet 16 — Well, if it isn’t a rematch from 2014? If this plays out like Michigan State-Virginia part two, then it’s another Badgers victory. But you have to remember, there will be a lot more pressure on the No. 1 seed, and I see the Wildcats exacting revenge in this instance. Arizona will move on in a 69-67 barnburner.

5. Michigan State vs. Louisville

Tom Izzo Michigan State Basketball Travis Trice

5. Michigan State vs. Louisville

Tom Izzo Michigan State Basketball Travis Trice — This will be an Elite Eight rematch from 2009. Michigan State is on the upset reunion tour in 2015, having already bested the Virginia Cavaliers. This will be another sweat-and-sacrifice win for Sparty, as Michigan State beats Louisville down the floor and to the Final Four. I'll take MSU 66 over Louisville 62.

4. Kentucky vs. Wichita State

Kentucky Wildcats Big Blue Willie Cauley-Stein

4. Kentucky vs. Wichita State

Kentucky Wildcats Big Blue Willie Cauley-Stein — Yet another 2014 tourney rematch. Wichita State is a bit weaker, and Kentucky is noticeably stronger. Ron Baker and Fred VanVleet will each need to supply 40 minutes of superhuman basketball and hope Kentucky succumbs to expectations. I still believe the Wildcats will get stronger with every game though, and if Kentucky is alive in the Elite Eight, the ‘Cats will ground the Shockers to get to the Final Four. I'll take Kentucky 70 over WSU 57.

3. Kentucky vs. Arizona

Arizona Wildcats Sean Miller head coach Sweet 16

3. Kentucky vs. Arizona

Arizona Wildcats Sean Miller head coach Sweet 16 — Arguably what could be the toughest test for Kentucky, this Wildcat on Wildcat special will live up to the billing. Arizona will fall behind, then claw back, but then ultimately fall short as the towering tandem of Karl-Anthony Towns and Willie Cauley-Stein will be too much to overcome. It’ll be Kentucky by 11 in a 72-61 victory.

2. Duke vs. Michigan State

Coach K Duke Blue Devils Sweet Sixteen

2. Duke vs. Michigan State

Coach K Duke Blue Devils Sweet Sixteen — All four teams to this point will be some of the most storied of basketball programs. Like Kentucky vs. Arizona, Michigan State has plenty of history with the Duke Blue Devils. Over Tom Izzo’s entire career, the March mastermind has been outdone by Mike Krzyzewski. Once again Coach K will force checkmate, and Duke will prepare for Kentucky in the national championship. I'll take Duke 69 over Michigan State 61.

1. Kentucky vs. Duke

Kentucky Wildcats John Calipari championship

1. Kentucky vs. Duke

Kentucky Wildcats John Calipari championship — I think the best teams in the tournament are as follows: Kentucky at No. 1, and then Arizona a distant No. 2. Duke is likely the No. 3 team, but is miles behind Kentucky. The only shot the Blue Devils will have is Kentucky being fatigued from taking down the “other” Wildcats of Arizona. But once Kentucky gets to the final, I see the pressure finally being lifted, and the Big Blue beast unleashed. Kentucky will take it home 75 over Duke 60.

Comment below with your bold predictions for the Sweet Sixteen!

Share On Facebook

Share