NCAA Power 16: March 6th
|
Power 16
|
Record
|
Comment
|
|
1. Connecticut
|
27-2
|
Almost
unbeatable when Stanley Robinson plays well. |
|
2. North Carolina
|
26-3
|
This
team would be even better if Roy didn’t insist on playing Bobby Frasor. |
|
3. Pittsburgh
|
27-3
|
Pitt
(18-0 at home) takes on UCONN (10-0 on the road). Something’s gotta give. |
|
4. Oklahoma
|
26-4
|
1-1 since Griffin’s return,
despite Blake’s 18 and 14.5 in those two games. |
|
5. Memphis
|
27-3
|
21 wins in a row (56 overall in C-USA) is impressive no matter who you
play. |
|
6. Duke
|
25-5
|
Have won five in a row leading up to a showdown with the Heels at Chapel
Hill. |
| 7. Louisville |
24-5
|
That blowout loss to ND is the only real blemish on an impressive Big East showing. |
| 8. Kansas |
24-6
|
A big letdown against TTU after slaughtering Missouri at home. |
|
9. Missouri
|
25-5
|
Beating Oklahoma makes up for the fact that no one showed up in Kansas. |
|
10. Michigan St.
|
24-5
|
Kailin Lucas has carried this offense in the midst of Morgan’s sub par play. |
|
11. Washington
|
23-7
|
Going 3-0 in a week (two victories over the AZ schools) bumps them up 4 spots. |
|
12. Wake Forest
|
23-5
|
James Johnson is the X factor. They look like a Final Four team when he plays well. |
|
13. Marquette
|
23-7
|
Without James, Jimmy Butler needs to step up as their third perimeter
scorer. |
| 14. LSU |
25-5
|
Strange that their first appearance in the Power 16 comes after a rare SEC loss. |
|
15. Clemson
|
23-7
|
Lack of depth will hurt them in the postseason.
|
| 16. Arizona St. |
21-7
|
Lost to both Washington schools in OT this past week. |
Honorable Mentions
Villanova (24-6) – A shameful loss to a weak Georgetown team drops them
out of the Power 16.
Purdue (22-8) – Losses to Michigan and Northwestern? That’s a bad
week in the Big 12.
Gonzaga (24-5) – Their schedule makes Memphis’s competition look
like the Big East.
UCLA (22-7) – A good win over Cal not enough to get more than an honorable
mention.
Syracuse (22-8) – Have won three in a row (only good one against Cincinnati).
This Week’s Match-ups to Watch:
Saturday, March 7th:
#1 Connecticut @ #3 Pittsburgh – Runner-up for GAME OF THE WEEK
#6 Louisville @ West Virginia – A win here, and WVU is a lock for the
tournament.
#25 Syracuse @ #15 Marquette – The third Big East game listed here, but
let’s face it: no conference in America plays better basketball.
Sunday, March 8th:
#7 Duke @ #2 North Carolina – GAME OF THE WEEK
#19 Purdue @ #8 Michigan St. – Purdue’s played poorly of late;
Can they rebound against the Spartans?
#18 Clemson @ #10 Wake – Another solid ACC matchup.
