Minnesota (8) v Michigan State (1):
Well, now Jimmy is parroting his idol Digger and telling us how hard it is to beat a team three times in a season. I have much the same response as Hubert Davis – not if you’re better than them. I don’t expect this game to be of the 30-point blowout variety that this season’s match-up at Breslin produced but I think MSU will win. Minnesota will fight and play hard and has the twin towers down low in Iversen and Sampson III complimented by Nolen and Westbrook in their backcourt who will all contribute today. However, Michigan State just has too much for Minny – Lucas and Walton are the top guard combo in the conference, Raymar Morgan is getting back to form and Roe and Suton have shown they can defend and score on Minnesota’s frontcourt. The bench advantage also goes to the Spartans. Minnesota is likely playing for their NCAA Tourney life (although I think they should be okay with the win over NU yesterday) and MSU is playing for a 1 seed with both Pitt and Uconn going down last night (Yes, that was a game for the ages – amazing) – so both teams should be ready to go for a great BTT game.
On a side note, odds are that Ed Hightower will be officiating this contest so I thought I would share one interesting item with my interweb friends – Ed uses a whistle named “The Dolphin” it was given this name because every time Ed blows his whistle a dolphin dies in a tuna net – true story.
Pick: Michigan State
Ohio State (5) v. Wisconsin (4):
Certain parties told me yesterday that I want Ohio State to win because I am afraid of Wisconsin in the semi’s. Well this isn’t true – I want Ohio State to beat Wisconsin because I want Wisconsin to lose every game they play. That being said, this should be an interesting game – a classic Big Ten slugfest, Bucky Ryan will be well prepared and of course has taught his team how not to foul so as per usual Wisconsin will be ready to set basketball back 30 years (and not a moment too soon for all those cheese eaters after the Cuse – Uconn game last night). Wisconsin lives and dies with Landry and Krabbenhoft up front and Hughes in the backcourt. Lately, they been living but so too has Ohio State – just outlasting NU in the regular season finale behind great efforts from Mullens and Turner. There is no doubt OSU has the better players and athletes (Buford, Diebler and Lauderdale)– and Evan Turner deserves every prop he gets – but when these teams played in Madison it was Wisconsin that won a defensive dog fight (an aside, I for one have never bought the Bo does more with less nonsense, he’s had his share of 4 & 5 star recruits, just not this season). Both teams should make the dance but a lose makes one of them sweat on Sunday – so these guys should be ready to play. On paper, I give the edge to Ohio State but something tells me that Wisconsin will squeak this one out.
Pick: Wisconsin
Michigan (7) v. Illinois (2):
So, my powers of prediction were a little off yesterday and to be honest Michigan played a great game. Now, today the competition improves a great deal and it will be interesting to see if all the wolvies not named Harris or Sims can maintain yesterday’s level of play. Illinois is a defensive machine and will make Harris and Sims work for everything they get – the question becomes will one of the other wolvies step into the breech and produce. I tend to think Illinois will have answers for the other wolvies too. Chester Frazier is the kind of player you wish was on your team – all guts and effort. And Tisdale’s continued improvement has been a big part of the Illini’s success this season. But the difference maker in this game for the Fightin’s won’t be McCamey, Meacham, Frazer or Tisdale – it will be Jeff Jordan…okay not really the Illini difference maker is clearly Mike Davis – if Davis plays well the Illini win, I have a hunch he’s ready for a big game but so too are Manny and Dion. These teams split the regular season series – both good games, expect more of the same tonight.
Pick: Illinois
Penn State (6) v. Purdue (3):
Talor Battle has a foot/leg injury it didn’t matter too much against IU but the other BTT home-state school is just a little bit better than their counterparts. Well, more than just a little bit – vastly superior would be a better term. Purdue is an NCAA team – PSU could use one more marquee win to solidify their ticket to the dance (they should be in regardless but this time of year a team can’t take anything for granted). If Battle can go at full-strength it will be a good game – if he’s hobbled Kramer from Purdue will eat him for lunch on the defensive end. I think JuJuan Johnson will have a field day (e.g., see the game b/w these two in Mackey) – if Hummel or Moore also have nice nights I doubt PSU can overcome that – but these teams split the regular season series and PSU has proven they’re legit – the Battle injury and home-state locale tilt the scale (ever so slightly) in Purdue’s favor.
Pick: Purdue
