Sweet 16 NCAA Tournament PiRate Criteria Ratings
| Team | W – L | Pts | FG% | Reb | TO | Stl | R+T | SOS | Road% | PiRate # |
| Arizona | 29-7 | 8.7 | 2.5 | 3.6 | -0.1 | 5.2 | 4.52 | 55 | 63 | 4 |
| Brigham Young | 32-4 | 14.1 | 4.0 | 3.0 | 3.5 | 8.0 | 9.72 | 58 | 86 | 18 |
| Butler | 25-9 | 7.8 | 1.5 | 2.9 | 1.7 | 6.0 | 5.35 | 54 | 65 | 4 |
| Connecticut | 28-9 | 7.7 | 3.5 | 4.8 | 0.3 | 6.5 | 5.27 | 60 | 75 | 11 |
| Duke | 32-4 | 17.1 | 7.1 | 3.1 | 2.7 | 7.3 | 7.83 | 58 | 79 | 17 |
| Florida | 28-7 | 9.1 | 4.2 | 6.0 | 0.3 | 5.9 | 6.42 | 60 | 78 | 15 |
| Florida State | 23-10 | 7.3 | 7.7 | 4.6 | -0.8 | 8.5 | 5.34 | 54 | 61 | 5 |
| Kansas | 34-2 | 17.1 | 11.8 | 7.9 | 0.8 | 7.8 | 9.40 | 59 | 95 | 23 |
| Kentucky | 27-8 | 12.2 | 6.9 | 4.0 | 1.5 | 5.3 | 5.91 | 60 | 60 | 16 |
| Marquette | 22-14 | 7.0 | 2.9 | 2.7 | 2.1 | 7.3 | 6.38 | 57 | 44 | 3 |
| North Carolina | 28-7 | 9.0 | 4.7 | 6.5 | 0.7 | 6.1 | 7.52 | 60 | 65 | 16 |
| Ohio State | 34-2 | 18.0 | 7.6 | 4.9 | 4.8 | 7.1 | 13.08 | 58 | 88 | 23 |
| Richmond | 28-7 | 9.2 | 6.0 | -1.9 | 2.1 | 6.0 | 1.12 | 52 | 81 | 3 |
| San Diego State | 34-2 | 13.2 | 7.1 | 6.9 | 1.6 | 6.2 | 9.28 | 58 | 95 | 19 |
| V C U | 25-11 | 3.9 | 2.0 | 2.1 | -0.6 | 8.3 | 0.90 | 54 | 65 | -1 |
| Wisconsin | 25-8 | 9.9 | 1.8 | 3.8 | 2.1 | 3.5 | 5.56 | 57 | 53 | 9 |
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/
PiRate Criteria Numbers Updated To Reflect 1st Three Round Results
Thursday, March 24, 2011
7:15 PM on CBS
West Regional @ Anaheim
#2 San Diego State 34-2 (19) vs. #3 Connecticut 28-9 (11)
Connecticut faces the first team in the tournament that has the defensive capacity to slow down Kemba Walker. If Walker has a below-average game, the Huskies’ shooting percentage will head too far south, because UConn does not shoot all that well.
The Aztecs can make life miserable on opposing shooters, so if they contain Walker, SDSU has the advantage at the other four positions on the floor. Kawhi Leonard and Malcolm Thomas remind us somewhat of former UCLA greats Sidney Wicks and Curtis Rowe.
The Aztecs’ eventual downfall may come when they are exploited by a defense that forces them to beat them from outside. Connecticut just may be able to pull that off, so this game cannot be considered a slam dunk for the #2 seed Aztecs.
Prediction: San Diego State 67 Connecticut 61
7:27 PM on TBS
Southeast Regional @ New Orleans
#2 Florida 28-7 (15) vs. #3 Brigham Young 32-4 (18)
This one should be interesting, as Florida tries to get revenge for a first round overtime loss to BYU last year.
We did not have much faith in the Cougars after Brandon Davies was dismissed for the season. BYU recovered in the second and third rounds, and the 22-point win over Gonzaga was quite impressive.
Still, we discount the Cougars by three points with the absence of Davies. This makes this game a tossup in our eyes.
Florida is playing inspired ball, but we still do not believe the Gators are on par with their prior two national champion teams. Offensively, the Gators spread the ball around, and all five starters typically score double figure points. Defensively, they are underneath, and they frequently find ways to pressure the ball out front. However, the top defender, Kenny Boynton, may not be 100% in this game. He has an important assignment.
That assignment happens to be guarding Jimmer Fredette. If Fredette tops 30 points without taking 30 shots to do so, the Cougars could easily give the Mountain West Conference a second team in the Elite Eight.
We are split on this game, and we did not come to a conclusion which way to go. So, we will stick with the higher-rated PiRate Criteria score and go with the Cougars.
Prediction: B Y U 82 Florida 78
9:45 PM on CBS
West Regional @ Anaheim
#1 Duke 32-4 (17) vs. #5 Arizona 29-7 (4)
With Kyrie Irving back in the fold, Duke has the best eight-deep roster in the nation. We believe the Blue Devils are the third best team in the Sweet 16 with Irving back. He scored 25 points in the two games in Charlotte in just 41 minutes, and he picked up some rebounds as well.
The Blue Devils’ only thing close to a liability is their defense at forward. Kyle Singler, Miles Plumlee, and Ryan Kelly have trouble against sneaky fast opponents.
Arizona’s forwards have that quickness. Derrick Williams is as important to the Wildcats as Kemba Walker and Jimmer Fredette are to their teams. Jesse Perry only averages seven points per game, but he can take it to the basket against a slower defender.
Arizona’s weakness is their defense against power offense. Duke’s slower forwards as well as center Mason Plumlee can take advantage of the Wildcats’ defensive deficiencies.
Coach K deserves to be compared with John Wooden. Wooden’s UCLA teams won four games in the NCAA Tournament to win the championship in a field of 22-25 teams. Krzyzewski’s have been forced to win six in a field of 64, 65, and 68. We believe he is worth an extra five to 10 points, and we will select Duke to make it to the Elite Eight.
Prediction: Duke 77 Arizona 68
9:57 PM on TBS
Southeast Regional @ New Orleans
#4 Wisconsin 25-8 (9) vs. #8 Butler 25-9 (4)
Pick against Butler at your own risk. If the Bulldogs can beat Pittsburgh, there is no reason to believe they cannot return to the Final Four.
We did not believe Wisconsin could make it to the Sweet 16 either. As many readers know, we have ties to U Dub, and this group of Badgers did not look strong enough to us to make it to the second week of the tournament.
The PiRate Criteria indicates that Wisconsin is the favorite, but with our internal numbers that we do not advertise, we rate this game as a 50-50 affair.
Butler has the experience in close games. They keep finding a way to win. However, Wisconsin is one of those tough teams that can neutralize what has been working for Coach Brad Stevens’ Bulldogs.
This game could very well come down to the final few possessions, and the winner may struggle to top 55 points. We do not see any more than 100 field goal attempts, and as few as eight players could score points in this game.
Matt Howard can force Wisconsin to bring a big man outside, and that will allow Andrew Smith to work with a little more clearance inside. If Shelvin Mack keeps his hot streak going, Butler can win this one.
If Howard is not on target, and the Badgers do not have to respect his outside shooting ability, Coach Bo Ryan’s team will pack it in, control the boards, and then work patiently to set up Jordan Taylor and Jon Leuer. The tandem could score 40 points with the rest of the team adding just 15, and it could be enough to win this game.
Prediction: Wisconsin 55 Butler 54
Friday, March 25, 2011
7:15 PM on CBS
East Regional @ Newark
#2 North Carolina 28-7 (16) vs. #11 Marquette 22-14 (3)
We do not believe the Tar Heels are Final Four candidates this season. No matter which team wins the game in the adjacent bracket, we see the Tar Heels losing in the Elite Eight. However, the margin should be slim.
This is the Sweet 16 game, and Coach Roy Williams’ team is more than talented enough to advance to Sunday. With the outside shooting of Kendall Marshall and Leslie McDonald combined with the take-it-to-the-hoop skills of Harrison Barnes and John Henson and the mandatory doubling down on big center Tyler Zeller, North Carolina will score a lot of points in this game.
Marquette’s only hope is for three players to be hot from the field, because Buzz Williams’ Golden Eagles will have to outscore North Carolina to win this game.
Marquette cannot go head-to-head inside and win this game. They will have to hit 50% from the field to keep this game close. From among Jimmy Butler, Darius Johnson-Odom, Jae Crowder, and Dwight Buycks three of these players will need to score 15-25 points each. We see the Golden Eagles coming up short in this one.
Prediction: North Carolina 82 Marquette 79
7:27 PM on TBS
Southwest Regional @ San Antonio
#1 Kansas 34-2 (23) vs. #12 Richmond 29-7 (3)
Richmond apparently was seeded a few spots to low. The Spiders have shown that the Atlantic 10 Conference is just below the top six or seven conferences in the nation and well above the average mid-major league.
Chris Mooney’s team can shoot the ball and prevent the opponent from shooting the ball. With an inside-outside punch in big forward Justin Harper and sharpshooting guard Kevin Anderson, Richmond can score points consistently, albeit at a slower pace.
Two things will do the Spiders in Friday night. They are vulnerable against power teams and teams that can get on the boards for offensive rebounds. Xavier and Old Dominion showed the blueprint for beating Richmond.
Kansas can take that blueprint and build a super foundation. The Jayhawks are the best passing team in the tournament, and Coach Bill Self’s big men know how to move and get open to receive those passes. Marcus and Markieff Morris can hit the boards at both ends, and Brady Morningstar and Tyshawn Taylor know how to get the ball to them. KU will advance to play for a spot in the Final Four on Sunday.
Prediction: Kansas 73 Richmond 62
9:45 PM on CBS
East Regional @ Newark
#1 Ohio State 34-2 (23) vs. #4 Kentucky 27-8 (16)
This is the first contest in the tournament where both teams are rated worthy of making the Elite Eight.
Ohio State has actually moved a couple of percentage points ahead of Kansas for the top overall Criteria score. The Buckeyes are strong where Kentucky is strong, but Coach Thad Matta’s team also has strength were Kentucky has been vulnerable. Tough perimeter defense forced George Mason to wilt in the Round of 32, and in William Buford, Jon Diebler, and David Lighty, Ohio State can cut off the perimeter game of most teams.
With the great Jared Sullinger roaming the low post and baseline areas, Kentucky has to dedicate a big man to roam with him. That will be the Wildcats’ downfall Friday night. If Terrence Jones is forced to guard Sullinger, expect Josh Harrellson to have a hard time defending the paint against Ohio State’s quicker forwards and slashing guards. If Harrellson goes out to guard Sullinger, he will have a hard time guarding the nation’s top big man. Coach John Calipari will have to pick his poison.
Kentucky will need a great night from Brandon Knight and Doron Lamb. If the two players and Darius Miller do not combine for 50 points, Kentucky will be heading back to Lexington, and the sports fans in the Commonwealth can turn their attention to Uncle Mo and the first Saturday in May.
Prediction: Ohio State 76 Kentucky 69
9:57 PM on TBS
#10 Florida State 23-10 (5) vs. #12 Virginia Commonwealth 25-11 (-1)
This game guarantees that one double-digit seed will make it to the Elite Eight, and Kansas fans must be quite happy about it.
We have two teams that have found a new gear in their engine at the most opportune time. VCU was not even supposed to be in this tournament after failing to win the Colonial Athletic Association Tournament. Instead, the Rams just became the first team to win three NCAA Tournament games in less than a week since Texas Western in 1966. Texas Western went on to upset Kentucky and win the National Championship. VCU is not Texas Western. That TWU (Now UTEP) team was rated in the top five in the nation.
Florida State has not been to the Final Four since Hugh Durham took the Seminoles to the 1972 National Title game. This team is not in that FSU team’s league.
So, what do we have here? Florida State is a team that in most years would have been fortunate to win one game. VCU is a team that in most years would probably be playing this week for a trip to Madison Square Garden and the NIT semi-finals.
VCU has a negative PiRate Criteria score, but it is moving close to zero. Still, we cannot recall a negative criteria score making it to the Elite Eight.
Note: Both FSU Coach Leonard Hamilton and VCU Coach Shaka Smart are being mentioned as possible candidates for the vacant Tennessee job.
Prediction: Florida State 65 Virginia Commonwealth 60
Coming Saturday Morning: We will preview the Southeast and West Regional Final games.
The Pi-Rate Ratings 