First round
(8) UNC-Asheville (19-9) at (1) Ohio State (19-13)
Tuesday, March 18, 7 P.M. (Columbus, OH)
ESPN2/ESPN360.com
Preview:
Ohio State had a good season, but they were one of the first teams left out of the NCAA Tournament. They are a good team up front with Othello Hunter and Kosta Koufos. They also have senior guard Jamar Butler, who is a very good three point shooter. The Buckeyes closed the regular season with wins over two ranked teams. UNC-Asheville won an automatic bid by winning the regular season conference title in the Big South. They have the tallest player in the nation in Kenny George. he is a very good option inside, but he often can only play 20-25 minutes per game. If he plays well, Asheville has a chance. They have 5 players that average more than 10 points per game.
Players to watch:
Kosta Koufos (Ohio State)
Koufos is often overlooked in a freshmen class that is loaded with talent. Koufos is second on the team in scoring, and he leads the team in rebounding. He has the potential to score 20 in a game, but he has other guys around him that can also score. He will have a hard time scoring tonight if Kenny George is constantly in his way.
Kenny George (UNC-Asheville)
George is the tallest player in the nation at 7'6, and he has a chance to impress on the national stage for those who have not seen him. He leads the nation in field goal percentage, and he is in the top 10 nationally in blocked shots. Since there is no defensive three second rule in college basketball, he stands in the paint on every defensive possession. If the Bulldogs can get 25 good minutes out of him, they have a chance.
Prediction:
Ohio State 68, UNC-Asheville 59
(5) New Mexico (24-8) at (4) California (16-15)
Wednesday, March 19, 11 P.M. (Berkley, CA)
ESPN2/ESPN360.com
Preview:
California really disappointed people this year. They have loads of talent on offense, but they were not able to defend very well. The Bears looked like they had a chance at making the NCAA Tournament, but a 2-8 record down the stretch ultimately killed their chances. Cal is second in the nation in free throw percentage, so if they are winning late, the Bears will be able to put the game away from the line. New Mexico had a good season with 24 wins, but they did not make the field due to their weak schedule. They are the complete opposite of Cal right now as they have won 8 of their last 10. New Mexico can compete with teams, as shown with their 6 wins against the top 100, but they will have to win this one on the road.
Players to watch:
Ryan Anderson (California)
Ryan Anderson is a very good player, and he is probably one of the most underrated players in the nation because of the team he plays on. He led the Pac-10 in scoring with 21.3 points per game. He can also rebound the ball, averaging just over 10 per game. Anderson is also a good three point shooter- he made over 40% of his three point attempts this year. His defense is a problem though.
J.R. Giddens (New Mexico)
Giddens is a player that can play either guard or forward. He led the Lobos in both scoring and rebounding on the season. Giddens has also shown that he can pass the ball by averaging 3 assists per game. Free throw shooting is a major problem for him, and his poor shooting from the stripe could be a deciding factor in the game.
Prediction:
California 87, New Mexico 72
(6) Cleveland State (19-12) at (3) Dayton (21-10)
Wednesday, March 19, 6 P.M. (Dayton, OH)
ESPNU
Preview:
Dayton is one of those teams that felt that they should be in the NCAA Tournament. They were not selected, and as a result play in the NIT. They had a very good season, but they lost freshman Chris Wright, and were unable to return to the form they had at the beginning of the season. They beat Louisville and Pittsburgh earlier in the year, but that was with Wright in the lineup. Cleveland State started off the year well just like Dayton. Cleveland State started off 7-0 in Horizon League play. But then, teams caught on to head coach Brian Waters' defensive scheme, and the Vikings started losing. They did hand Butler one of their 3 losses on the year though.
Players to watch:
Brian Roberts (Dayton)
Brian Roberts has had to take control of this team once Chris Wright went down, and he has done a good job. He leads the Flyers with over 18 points per game. He is one of the best pure shooters in the nation both from the line and from beyond the arc. He shoots nearly 45% from 3, which ranks near the top in the nation. He can also pass the ball- he leads the team in assists. Dayton will have to rely heavily on him if they expect to make a run in the NIT.
J'Nathan Bullock (Cleveland State)
Bullock leads the Vikings in both scoring and rebounding. He is crucial part to their success this year, and he has to continue what he has been doing this year if Cleveland State wants to go far. He has had 5 double-doubles so far, and he lit up Wisconsin-Green bay for 39 points earlier in the year.
Prediction:
Dayton 74, Cleveland State 66
(7) Utah State (23-10) at (2) Illinois State (23-9)
Wednesday, March 19, 10 P.M. (Normal, IL)
ESPNU
Preview:
Picked to finish near the bottom by the media before the season, Illinois State surprised many people with their great season. They finished second in the Missouri Valley in both the regular season and the postseason tournament, but they were left out of the NCAA Tournament. Utah State was one of the best teams in a very disappointing WAC this year. They had 23 wins this year, but failed to make the NCAA Tournament because of the weakness of the conference this year.
Players to watch:
Anthony Slack (Illinois State)
Slack is the best inside scorer and best rebounder on the team. He is second on the team in scoring with just under 10 per game. His rebounding leads the team at 6.9 per game. Slack is third in the nation in field goal percentage as well. If he is able to stay out of foul trouble and be effective, Illinois State is in good position to win.
Jaycee Carroll (Utah State)
Jaycee Carroll is one of the best shooters in the nation. He is in the top 15 in the nation in both points per game and 3-pointers made. He is also 3rd in the nation in 3-point shooting percentage at just over 50%. If Carroll gets hot, look out because he is one of the best at what he does.
Prediction:
Illinois State 67, Utah State 63
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