Sweet 16 Storylines
By: Kicks
The Round of 32 just came to a close, and what a tournament it has been. From the start, it seemed to be a common opinion that the tourney would be filled with pure chalk and little upsets. Yet here we stand with Iowa upsetting the defending national champs in Florida, and a last 4 play-in team in Texas sneaking its way into the Sweet 16. Now by this time, we’re all in the same boat of our brackets being absolutely cooked, so I just wanted to take the time to highlight some storylines to follow heading into the Sweet 16.
Sean Miller’s Year 1 Success
Texas has been an absolute lunch pail team all tourney long. We know Sean Miller is no stranger to wins in March, yet going into the tournament, Texas flew under everyone’s radar losing 4 of their last 5 games of the season and barely securing their bubble spot. He joins some elite company in Rick Pitino, John Calipari, and Lon Kruger as coaches who have led 3 separate teams to a Sweet 16 birth. They have their work cut out for them against a Purdue team that has also caught its stride come tourney time, but don’t be shocked if the Longhorns advance to the elite 8.
Nebraska vs Iowa
Who will the clock strike midnight on? I personally think this game is a testament to how deep the Big Ten truly is. I hate that one of these teams has to end their destiny run, but all the signs point to Nebraska advancing. The last time these teams met, Iowa won 57-52 on a shaky shooting night for both teams. However, Nebraska going from 0 tournament wins to a potential Elite 8 appearance is just what the madness is about. I get that they’re a 4 seed, so it’s hard to dub them a true “Cinderella” but the fact that we are witnessing college basketball history just makes me want them to keep it going and defy the odds.
The Godfather vs Duke
Every basketball fan thinks Rick Pitino is an absolute dawg, and rightfully so. Resurrecting St. John’s and bringing life back to college hoops in New York is a great accomplishment in itself, but getting it done against the most hated team in America would probably break the internet. I think everyone in the country, other than Duke fans of course, will be praying that Rick Pitino gets another statement win in the tourney and primes the Johnnies up for a final 4 appearance. However, Duke has Cam Boozer, who will be a matchup nightmare for the stout St. John’s defense.
Darius Acuff Best Guard Coach Cal’s Ever Had?
I know this sounds like a crazy take at first, but hear me out for a second. I know Coach Cal’s guards list is elite: Derrick Rose, John Wall, De’Aaron Fox, Jamal Murray, SGA, Tyreke Evans, Brandon Knight, etc., but Acuff’s stats top them all. He averages 23.3 PPG, 6.5 AST, on 48% FG, those stats are insane and better than any guard Coach Cal has ever had. He has the chance to make his mark on why he should be a Top 5 pick in the NBA draft if he goes for 30+ (FYI, he does that all the time) and Arkansas upsets Arizona. And if we’re being quite frank, Arizona hasn’t made it to the Elite 8 since 2015, so I’m riding with Acuff proving why he is legendary and taking the Razorbacks to the Final 4.
Heavyweight Coaching Battle
Right after we got the treat of an old-school-style coach-off in Dan Hurley vs Mick Cronin, we get an even bigger matchup with Hurley vs Izzo. The accolades between these two speak for themselves. I love how animated both of these guys get on the sidelines, and I wish more coaches had their mentalities. No chance either of these guys has their voices after the game, and I’m gonna set the technical foul line at O/U 1.5, and I’m hammering the over. What’s even better about this matchup is that the winner gets to face off with Rick Pitino or Jon Scheyer. This region is just an absolute dogfight and I’m here for it all.
Nate Oats vs Dusty May
Now to the common viewer, this matchup isn’t quite on the intensity level as Hurley vs Izzo, but these two coaches have similar things at stake here. Nate Oats and Dusty May are both no strangers to the Sweet Sixteen, in fact, it’s their standard. These two are both on the path to be up there with the names I’ve already mentioned. However, they’ve both only been to one final 4 and this is a major bump in the road for both teams. I’m a Michigan fan, so I’m rocking with the Wolverines to win it all, but a Bama team that’s hot from 3 could flip the script on what I expect to be a solid game plan from Dusty May.