2010 NCAA Tournament Sweet 16: West

Location: Salt Lake City, Utah
Date: 3/25
Time: Syracuse vs. Butler, 7:07; Kansas St. vs. Xavier 9:37
Announcers: Gus Johnson & Len Elmore

1 Syracuse vs. 5 Butler
Line: -6 1/2 Syracuse
Syracuse Advantages: More talent, experienced coach, depth, everything you would expect in a game like this.
Butler's Advantages: Arinze Onuaku isn't expected to play for Syracuse tomorrow. This gives Butler's big men Gordan Haywood and Matt Howard, the opportunity to take advantage of the Syracuse frontcout. Butler coach Brad Stevens has four days to implement an offense that can attack Syracuse's 2-3 zone.
Saving It For the Right Time: Syracuse players Wes Johnson and Andy Rautins have saved their best performances for the NCAA tournament. Many people thought Gonzaga had a chance to make a Final 4 run, that was until they ran into the Orange. Both Johnson and Rautins scored career highs against the Zags as Syracuse thrashed Gonzaga. Their both peaking at the right time for Syracuse to make a Final 4 run.
How did Butler Make It Hear Again?: Butler was outrebounded 38-20 against Murray State and the Racers made 9-of-14 three-pointers. Butler still won. Amazing and not a good stat against a great team like Syracuse.
Pick, Syracuse: Butler won't be outrebounded again and win. Also they don't have the players to stop both Rautins and Johnson. Then you have Rick Jackson and Scoop Jardine. No way Butler has the players to beat Cuse.



2 Kansas State vs. 6 Xavier
Line: -4 1/4 Kansas State
Kansas State Advantages: Defense! Did you see how this team shut down Jimmer Fredette of BYU after he dropped 37 on Florida just a day and half before that? Kansas State may have played the most impressive 2nd round game of any team in the tournament. Denis Clemente and Jacob Pullen lead the backcourt while Jamar Samuels and Curtis Kelly lead the frontcourt. K-State can also go 10-deep.
Xavier Advantages: There have been only two schools recently who have gone to three straight Sweet 16's. One is Michigan State the other is Xavier. Then there is Jordan Crawford who has scored 56 points in the tournament thus far. Oh yeah, he's the guy who once dunked on LeBron.
Crawford vs. Pullen and Clemente: These two teams have already played this year. Kansas State beat Xavier 71-56 and held Crawford to just 16 points. Clemente and Pullen though only scored 24 points between them in that game.
Pick, Kansas State: K-State is just better than Xavier in all facets of the game. Better frontcourt and backcourt. More depth off the bench. It will take one hell of an effort by Crawford for Xavier to have a chance in this game.