The NCAA Tournament “matriculates” into the Elite 8 today and Sunday. The No.4 seeded Crimson Tide put on a phenomenal showing Thursday Night at Crypto.com Arena in L.A. defeating the No.1 seed North Carolina Tar Heels in the West Regional, 89-87. Grant Nelson finished with a double-double with 24 points and 12 boards in a terrific performance on both ends of the floor. Nelson shut down North Carolina center Armando Bacot on defense in the second half. Rylan Griffen, who was draining trifectas, going 5 for 8 on the night, finished with 19 points along with his teammate, Aaron Estrada. Mark Sears, who’s been stellar throughout the tournament, added 18. The next step in reaching the Final Four is squaring off with the Clemson Tigers. Prediction below.
The No.2 seeded Tennessee Vols also made the SEC look good with an 82-75 victory over No.4 seeded Creighton in the Midwest Regional in Detroit.
Here’s a look at today and Sunday’s action along with predictions for which teams White’s World
Sports Confidential likes to advance to State Farm Arena in Phoenix next Saturday for the Final Four.
Sweet 16 results
SU: 5-3
ATS: 6-2
Today
East Region
No. 3 Illinois (29-8) vs. No.1 UConn (34-3)
TD Garden, Boston
5:09 PM CT
TBS/truTV
Kevin Harlan, Dan Bonner, Stan Van Gundy, Andy Katz
Huskies by 8 1/2
UConn looks unstoppable right now, but you never know. The Illini is a very good team with dynamic offense and pretty good D. But gotta go with UConn. They’re a machine right now. Not saying they’ve got the national championship in the bag because they don’t. I just like’em today.
Huskies 80, Illinois 70
West Region
No.6 Clemson (24-11) vs. No.4 Alabama (24-11)
Crypto.com Arena, Los Angeles
7:49 PM CT
TBS/truTV
Brian Anderson, Jim Jackson, Allie LaForce
Bama by 3 1/2
Latrell Wrightsell Jr. and Nick Pringle are game time decisions for the Tide today, but I would think Pringle would play, and I know the Tide’s hoping they’re excellent shooting guard will join him. The Crimson Tide has found lightning in a bottle in the NCAA Tournament and their victory over the Tar Heels Thursday Night was a stellar performance by the entire team. Grant Nelson took over in the second half and Rylan Griffen was on the money from three. The Tide lost to Clemson in Tuscaloosa back in late November at the ACC/SEC Challenge, 85-77, but they’re a different team this NCAA postseason. They’re hot, and that can take you a very long way in March.
Alabama 75, Clemson 71
Sunday
Midwest Region
No. 2 Tennessee (27-8) vs. No.1 Purdue (32-4)
Little Caesar’s Arena, the Motor City
1:20 PM CT
CBS
Andrew Catalon, Steve Lappas, Evan Washburn
Purdue by 3 1/2
Tennessee is a highly talented and athletic team led by their great forward Dalton Knecht, who poured in 26 versus Creighton last night in an 82-75 Vols’victory. Point guard Zakai Zeigler is just as valuable to his team. He finished with 18 and 6 assists last night. But I’m going to take Purdue to take the next step and advance to Phoenix led by their seven foot, 260 pound big man Zach Edey, who averaged 24.6 points and 12 rebounds this year and will very likely be the Wooden Award winner for the best player in college basketball this season. That would be back to back for Edey. He finished with 27 and 14 last night in their 80-68 victory over Gonzaga.
Boilermakers 73, Vols 69
South Region
No.11 NC State (25-14) vs. No.4 Duke (27-8)
American Airlines Center, Big D
4:06 PM CT
CBS
Ian, Bill, Grant, Trace
Duke by 6 1/2
I picked the Wolfpack to go to the championship game versus Connecticut in my bracket, and while that’s not set in stone as far as Connecticut and NC State go, I like the Pack here led by their all everything big man, DJ Burns Jr., who only finished with 4 points and 4 rebounds last night, but added 7 assists. The 6’9”, 275 pound senior has been a dominant player in March and is one of the best passing big men I’ve seen in a while in the college game He’s a strong scorer and rebounder as well They have other key assets as well. This would be their ninth victory in a row if they can outlast the Blue Devils. They split the season with Duke losing to the Blue Devils on Monday, March 4th @ Raleigh, 79-64, but then defeating Duke i in the second round of the ACC Tournament in D.C. 74-69, as part of their winning 5 in a row to capture the ACC Tournament Championship. Give me Burns Jr. and the Wolfpack. They just seem special to me like the Crimson Tide.