We’re down to the Sweet 16 in the NCAA Tournament, and what a first weekend it was. We had monumental upsets, half-court buzzer-beaters, crazy collapses, Cinderella stories and redemption runs (who had Syracuse vs. Gonzaga in the Midwest?)
We’re previewing all of the regional semifinal games:1. Virginia
First round: Def. 16 Howard, 81-45Second round: Def. 9 Butler, 77-69
The Cavaliers have the look of a legit national title contender. You can’t say that about all No. 1 seeds–especially this season. But UVA has proven it is a real threat in the first two rounds, taking care of business against Hampton and then shutting down Butler’s normally-prolific offense in Round 2.
Yes, Virginia wins games with its vaunted pack-line defense, but this team is talented enough on offense to outscore opponents as well. Senior guard Malcolm Brogdon (18.6 ppg) might be the most underrated great player in college basketball–nobody really mentions him in the National Player of the Year discussion, but he belongs there. The ACC Player of the Year put up 22 against Butler and always brings it on the defensive end.
UVA has a couple of other offensive threats as well–6-8 senior forward Anthony Gill notched 19 points in both first-weekend games, and junior guard London Perrantes can get hot from three-point range.
4. Iowa State
First round: Def. 13 Iona, 94-81Second round: Def. 12 Arkansas-Little Rock, 78-61
Cyclones fans have to be thrilled that this team is back in the Sweet 16, after last year’s first-round debacle against UAB (when many were picking ISU to reach the Final Four) and the loss of program-changing head coach Fred Hoiberg, who’s now with the Chicago Bulls.
New head coach Steve Prohm has kept it rolling, though, and this group still has the potential to do something Iowa State has never done–reach the Final Four. The Cyclones have only been as far as the Elite Eight once, when Marcus Fizer and Jamaal Tinsley nearly toppled eventual champ Michigan State back in 2000. Iowa State also fell to eventual-champ Connecticut as a 3-seed in the Sweet 16 in 2014, which some fans still view as a disappointment.
So, there’s a lot of pressure on this group, especially since this is the final go-round for senior forward Georges Niang (20.2 ppg, 6.2 rpg, 3.3 apg), who may be the best player in program history. The Cyclones have a lot of scoring depth as well, as six players average in double figures and junior guard Monte Morris puts up 13.9 points and 7 assists per game.
PREDICTION: Virginia 66, Iowa State 58. Both of these teams are motivated to erase bad memories of March Madness past. This is going to be a fascinating contrast of styles, as Iowa State can speed the game up and score with anybody in the country. In the end though, we just think Virginia’s defense is too tough, the Cavs are too deep, and their offense is just talented enough to get it done. Wahoo-wah. UVA moves on to the Elite Eight.