Men’s NCAA March Madness – SATURDAY Sweet Sixteen Breakdown

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As is to be expected whenever an NCAA tournament is upon us, the emotional roller coaster that is college basketball has taken the front seat in the car that drives the sports world and its news.

There have been some stellar performances from some of the world’s best young hoops talent, from players like Cade Cunningham, the projected number one pick in the upcoming NBA draft, as well as ‘Cinderella’ stories like Oregon State, Syracuse, and most of all, 15-seed Oral Roberts.

It is no secret, the best stories are written at this tournament, and memories are built for these kids and their programs that help fuel the fire that is competing at the heights of NCAA division one basketball.

Each team has its own script, whether it is the 101-year old Sister Jean, a diehard fan of the Loyola-Chicago that traveled into the NCAA bubble to take in the magical run the Ramblers have made.

The Syracuse Orange, powered by a father/son duo in head coach Jim Boeheim and his star son, Buddy, find themselves in a very winnable ‘Sweet Sixteen’ matchup with Houston University to trying to make the ‘Elite 8’ for the first time since 2016. The Orange have made their living off hitting very difficult shots, but even more so by the strength of their patented zone defense that has riddled their opponents.

Last but certainly not least, the Oral Roberts Golden Eagles, led by the top point scorer in the NCAA, Max Abmas are heading into the second weekend looking to become the first 15 seed to ever make it to the Elite 8.

What we witnessed over the first four days to open the 2021 tournament could not be replicated and I’m sure will be impossible to live up to in the coming games, but with some of these matchups on Saturday and Sunday, we look to be in good shape for some more nail-biting entertainment.

Breaking down the Sweet Sixteen (Saturday Games) –

Midwest: #8 Loyola-Chicago vs. #12 Oregon State:

What a matchup we have been given to kick off a weekend of intense hoops. The Loyola Ramblers come off a massive, controlled upset of many bracket-makers (including mine) national champion in the University of Illinois.

The Ramblers were ranked criminally low in this region, and many believe that not only were they a top team in this region, but actually an elite team in the nation overall. They’re taking on a team running on the highest momentum imaginable, the Oregon State Beavers.

The Beavers enter this game after taking down the top college player, Cade Cunningham, and Oklahoma State. The Beavers are just one of the four PAC-12 conference teams still alive, showing further that this year’s selection committee had a very rough time building this bracket.

When it comes down to it in this matchup, I believe the team that was criminally slept on all year in Loyola will be too much for a just now streaking Beavers team. The Beavers have had enough momentum to help them win their conference tournament, but I believe they have not seen a defence quite like this Ramblers unit.

Loyola 74 – 62 Oregon State

South: #1 Baylor vs. #5 Villanova:

The 2021 NCAA tourney is special because we are finally seeing the teams which were believed to be on the doorstep of becoming a high-level college program get out of their shell and into the bright lights.

Without the likes of Duke and Kentucky in this year’s field, the usual teams that were used to being labeled as “fraudulent” due to their inconsistency and inability come tournament time have found ways to capitalize on this unusual season.

The Baylor Bears were always the bridesmaid but never the bride in the NCAA tournament. having very impressive regular seasons and conference titles, just to get bounced on the opening weekend of March Madness.

In 2021, this Baylor team appears to have its sights set on a massive national title matchup with the Gonzaga Bulldogs. Being able to score from anywhere on the floor and constantly put up quality shots, scoring at a very high clip.

Villanova has been here, done that. This would be considered an upset candidate to me, but unfortunately, the Villanova Wildcats are not going to be at full-strength. Losing their star guard Collin Gillespie to a torn MCL earlier in the year will rear its ugly head in this game, and Baylor will move on to the Elite 8.

Baylor 77 – 65 Villanova

South: #15 Oral Roberts vs. #3 Arkansas:

Another super-test for a team that’s here on guts and sheer-belief. The FIFTEENTH ranked Oral Roberts Golden Eagles take on the steady Arkansas Razorbacks in what should be a very up-tempo game.

Both teams are top 50 in the country in the pace of play, with Oral Roberts boasting a tandem of high-scoring guards that can shoot the lights out.

As much as I would go crazy to see the story, and hopefully get proven wrong in this matchup, I think this game spells the end of the road for the Cinderella Golden Eagles.

Arkansas has something that neither the Buckeyes of Ohio State or Florida Gators had against Oral Roberts, and that is rebounding. The Golden Eagles were able to shoot open shots off offensive rebounds non-stop in their first two matchups or get to the line after drawing fouls inside.

Arkansas is a different animal, hence why they are the third-ranked team in the south region. Their ability to eat teams alive inside the paint as well as play at the pace they set will be too much for Oral Roberts, who have to spend a week just lathering in the hype they have built over a short 48 hours last weekend.

This one might get ugly, but I hope I’m wrong.

Arkansas 81 – Oral Roberts 63

Midwest: #11 Syracuse vs. #2 Houston:

The Syracuse Orange have to be my favorite team remaining in the tournament, and I believe they have the ability to pull this off…

On a weekend where favorites will probably rule their matchups, this is the one I am expecting to go the way of the underdogs.

The Orange have made a living off hitting their shots, as they have all year long. The name Buddy Boeheim is quickly becoming larger than life because this player appears to have all the characteristics of Kemba Walker or Gordan Hayward in the way he leads.

It all starts on defense, where this killer zone that Syracuse runs forces their opponents to settle for mid-range jumpers that aren’t really what teams or players practice all-to-often n today’s climate.

When teams begin to miss these shots, they resort to long-range, low percentage threes in an attempt to play up to the types of shots that Syracuse can consistently hit.

Where Houston may find some cracks is the ability to crash the boards. Being one of the best rebounding teams both offensively and defensively, this is where I expect the game to remain close, Assuming that Syracuse is able to knock down their tough looks, and Houston gets lost in the zone, I’m going Orange for the first upset of the Sweet Sixteen.

Syracuse 75 – Houston 71

Evan Power, Evolution 107.9

 

 

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