The great Mark Sears and the Crimson Tide have put on shooting spectacle in this NCAA Tournament. So have the N.C. State Wolfpack and DJ Burns Jr. Can those two decided underdogs slay their respective Goliath opponents in Connecticut and Purdue? It’ll take great effort on defense and rebounding from both teams and a lot of shot-making, particularly from behind the arc for the Crimson Tide. Latrell Wrightsell Jr. is expected to play for the Tide, so that should help their cause. But can anybody defeat this dominant Huskies team led by their 7’2”, 280 sophomore pound center Donovan Clingan? It’s tough.
Here are a couple of brief previews of the games along with predictions for Saturday’s Final Four contests at State Farm Stadium in Phoenix.
Sweet 16/Elite 8 record
SU: 9-3
ATS: 10-2
Game 1
No.11 N.C. State (26-14, South Region) vs. No.1 Purdue (33-4, Midwest Region)
State Farm Stadium, 63,400
5:09 PM CT
TBS
Ian Eagle (Bird), Raft, Grant, Tracy, Gene Steratore (Rules analyst)
Boilers by 8 1/2
Burns Jr. has been phenomenal for the Wolfpack at 6’9”, 285. But he’ll face his stiffest test yet in 7’4”, 300 pound Purdue center Zach Edey. Edey has a very good shot at winning his second Wooden Award in a row as the best player in college basketball, and appears unstoppable. But the Pack has more than Burns underneath. Six foot 10, 215 pound power forward Mohamed Diarra and 6’10”, 240 power forward Ben Middlebrooks also supply a lot of muscle underneath. I like the Wolfpack’s guards a little better than Purdue’s. Give me the upset here.
N.C. State 78, Purdue 76
Game 2
No.4 Alabama (25-11, West) vs. No.1 UConn (35-3, East)
State Farm Stadium
7:49 PM CT
TBS
Same crew as above
Huskies by 11 1/2
Can the Crimson Tide keep it close and maybe have a shot to shock the Huskies and the college basketball world at the end? It’ll be hard. It’s like Ole Miss playing Alabama in football. They’ll have to play the perfect game. The Tide certainly has the shooters to stay in it with Sears, Rylan Griffen, the emerging freshman Jarin Stevenson, Aaron Estrada, particularly from mid range with him and his occasional threes, Grant Nelson and Wrightsell Jr., if he’s healthy. But can the Tide shoot well enough from 3 and get Clingan in foul trouble. Nick Pringle and Nelson will really have to be as physical as possible with Clingan on defense and hit the boards. Pringle will be crucial on defense and rebounding.I like the Crimson Tide to keep it close, but for the Huskies to prevail in the end. The Tide has a shot at pulling it off, and, regardless, what a season it’s been for Nate Oats and his team.