All Times EDT
Number in (Parentheses) indicates PiRate Criteria Rating
For a detailed explanation of the PiRate Criteria Rating, click on the following link:
https://piratings.wordpress.com/2011/03/13/bracketnomics-505-2011-edition/
12:15 PM on CBS
Kentucky (14) vs. West Virginia (6)
The Wildcats seek revenge today for their regional final exit of last year. This Kentucky team has what last year’s team lacked—consistent outside shooting to complement their more than decent dribble-drive. While not as talented, Coach John Calipari’s squad is more complete this year. The Blue Misters are jelling at the right time, and we believe they will advance to the Sweet 16.
West Virginia is not as dominating inside as they were last year, and they might be a little to slow and methodical to compete against the quicker Wildcats. Coach Bob Huggins will have a great gameplan ready, and we believe the Mountaineers will keep it close.
We see this as a game of spurts. Kentucky will enjoy one spurt in both halves, and WVU will attempt to creep back in the game both times.
Prediction: Kentucky 74 West Virginia 67
2:40 PM on CBS
Florida (15) vs. U C L A (-3)
The PiRate Criteria rates this game a giant mismatch, and we see no reason why not to agree. This would be a great game if all the former Bruins now playing in the NBA would have used their four years of eligibility. However, this is more like the old Brubabes when schools fielded Freshmen and later Junior Varsity teams. This UCLA team is better than Florida’s second team. The Gators’ best players are still around, while UCLA’s best senior is the star of the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Florida has a large quickness advantage, and they will win the hustle points. This one should be out of hand by halftime or five minutes into the second half.
Prediction: Florida 75 U C L A 62
5:15 PM on CBS
Morehead State (3) vs. Richmond (2)
This game will be one of the more interesting contests in the Round of 32. Morehead State is an aggressive take-it-to-the-hoop and score or pass back for a three team. The Racers have the closest thing to Elvin Hayes on their roster. Kenneth Faried is much better than Dennis Rodman, but he is much thinner than Wes Unseld, and he has a better offensive game than both of those historically fantastic rebounders. Faried can take it to the hoop, and he can pull up and fire from the foul line area, much like the great Hayes used to do with Houston and in the NBA.
Richmond will try to make this a game of the smart beating the strong, because the Spiders do not have much of an answer for Faried inside. However, they enjoy a huge advantage on the perimeter.
This game will come down to this easy pointer: whichever team performs better at their strength and defends the other’s strength will win. We think this one could end on a buzzer beater or go to overtime, but we will go with the chalk and take the higher PiRate score.
By the way, the last time an Ohio Valley Conference team advanced to the Sweet 16, it was Western Kentucky. The Hilltoppers left the OVC more than two decades ago.
Prediction: Morehead State 64 Richmond 62
6:10 PM on TNT
San Diego State (19) vs. Temple (5)
If our criteria rating is going to be accurate this season, then we need to see the Aztecs play much better today than they did in a lackluster opening round win over Northern Colorado. If San Diego State is firing on all cylinders, Temple has little or no chance in this game.
This Owl team is not quick enough or strong enough to battle this Aztec team if SDSU is playing just an average game. If the Aztecs come out flat, Coach Fran Dunphy’s Owls could keep it close for 40 minutes and even be in striking distance.
Steve Fisher has been to the Final Four three times, and he knows how to prepare a team in tournament play. He has enough talent to get there again, and we believe SDSU will play much better today against a much better opponent than Northern Colorado. Remember this: Temple ran Duke of the Palestra floor less a month ago. They have enough talent to win this game, but we do not see it happening.
Prediction: San Diego State 72 Temple 62
7:10 PM on TBS
Pittsburgh (18) vs. Butler (7)
We know better than to count out a team coached by Brad Stevens. However, Butler’s bubble is going to burst today.
Pittsburgh is just too talented to lose this game, even if Coach Jamie Dixon sometimes loses control of that talent. The Panthers know what Butler can do, and they will be fired up for this game just as much as if they were playing Ohio State, Duke, or Kansas.
Butler is playing its best ball at the right time, but they are plainly outmanned against a superior team. We expect the Bulldogs to keep it close and still have a chance with 10 minutes to go, but the Panthers will wear them down and pull away to what looks like an easier win than it was.
Prediction: Pittsburgh 71 Butler 59
7:45 PM on CBS
B Y U (18) vs. Gonzaga (13)
When you penalize BYU for the loss of Brandon Davies, their criteria score drops by about five points. This ironically makes this game a complete tossup.
Jimmer Fredette may be able to score 40-50 points in this game, but Gonzaga could place five players in double figures. We tend to like the odds of five scorers outscoring one.
Coach Mark Few deserves high accolades for turning this Bulldog team around in midseason. The Zags appeared to be NIT-bound, before they turned it up a notch and began playing the best basketball seen in Spokane since the days of Adam Morrison.
We believe Gonzaga is Sweet 16-bound, and we would not be surprised if they give Florida a great game in a potential matchup.
Prediction: Gonzaga 84 B Y U 75
8:40 PM on TNT
Kansas State (9) vs. Wisconsin (7)
This one is the other great game of the day. How about Jacob Pullen versus Jordan Taylor, and Jon Leuer versus Curtis Kelly? If you like great player matchups, then this is the game of the day for you.
Kansas State is a tad stronger on the perimeter and a tad quicker, while Wisconsin is a tad stronger inside. We expect the tempo to be controlled by the Badgers, so the score will be one of the lowest of the day, if not the lowest.
We have no real favorite in this game, so we will stick with the PiRate Criteria scores. Two points is not much; it equates to about a 55% chance of the favorite winning.
Prediction: Kansas State 59 Wisconsin 55
9:40 PM on TBS
Connecticut (9) vs. Cincinnati (9)
Here we have our first game between teams from the same conference and teams that have already played against each other. In their lone regular season contest in Cincinnati, the Huskies won on the road by eight points.
Both teams play tenacious defense and rely on just a couple of players to lead on offense. They know each other well, so it should be a high-spirited, tightly-fought game with a lot of excellent defensive possessions sprinkled with the occasional great offensive play.
Cincinnati will concentrate their efforts on stopping Kemba Walker, while the Huskies will try to keep the ball away from Yancy Gates and Dion Dixon.
This is the other game that could come down to a buzzer-beater, but we have a sneaky suspicion that Connecticut is about to explode and play like Husky teams of the past.
Prediction: Connecticut 69 Cincinnati 59
The Pi-Rate Ratings 