How the West Will Be Won

The West has unfolded pretty much according to plan. Other than #5 Purdue beating #4 Washington (Purdue was the Vegas favorite) every better seed advanced to Glendale. Will the upper-seed dominance continue or will this tourney start getting shaken up Thursday night?

GAMES: #1 UConn v #5 Purdue (7:07 ET) & #2 Memphis v #3 Missouri (aprx. 9:37 ET)

#1 Connecticut:

Why the Huskies Will Win: Because they are the biggest, best, and most talented team in the region. They have experienced point guard play in senior AJ Price. They have the nation's most intimidating defensive force in 7'3'' Haskeem Thabeet, scoring and defense and toughness in senior Jeff Adrien and off-the chart athleticism in Stanley Robinson. Add in the excellent job Kemba Walker has done filling in the void at 2-guard, an able bench and 2-time national champion Jim Calhoun steering the ship and you have a pretty imposing task in eliminating the Huskies.

Why they Won't: Pitt has shown the blue-print for beating the Huskies; beat them up and grind them down. If that doesn't work hip-toss Thabeet like PJ Brown did Charlie Ward in the '97 Playoffs (great idea DeJuan Blair). It seems like the kind of recipe a Big Ten-tough team like Purdue could cook up. If they don't Memphis has no problem playing a physical, helter-skelter style that could give the Huskies problems.

#2 Memphis:

Why the Tigers Will Win: Speed kills. This team can run and rebound all day long. They don't shoot it well from the perimeter, but if they can turn the other team over and get out on the break they are deadly. They lost a lot of points off last year's squad, but do still return a core of tourney-tested vets, along with super-frosh Tyreke Evans. Jump shots have a funny way of going AWOL over a 6-game tourney; defense does not.

Why They Won't: Media folk like to point out that the Tigers haven't lost in several months, ever since making the switch to Tyreke Evans at the point. The Maniac likes to point out that other than Gonzaga those wins were all against bums. Conference USA is terrible. Really, it sucks. UAB and Tulsa were fringe bubble teams who bowed out early in the NIT. The rest of that conference is even worse. What is going to happen when they get up against a Top 10 caliber opponent under the bright lights of March? Mizzou might not be the answer, but I'd take UConn over this squad 8 times out of 10.

#3 Missouri:

Why The Tigers Will Win: This Tiger team tied for the Big 12 regualr season crown; a conference that has proven it's mettle this tourney over the more heralded ACC and Big Ten. Three Big 12 squads still remain in the draw; Oklahoma State and Texas showed themselves well, and even Baylor is headed to MSG in the NIT. The point is, the Tigers have played and beaten a ton more quality foes than have the other Tigers in Tennessee. Missouri prefers the scrambling up tempo game that Memphis thrives off of, and has the athletes to run with them. Should the game slow down, Missouri is a superior half court team with a legit inside-out presence in DeMarre Carroll.

Why They Won't: It has been a season that far exceeded expectations in Missouri, but the Tigers are playing up a league this weekend with Memphis and possilby UConn. They are a good frenetic team, but don't really have the answers for the size and depth of Connecticut. The more I look at the two teams, they do match up well against Memphis though...

#5 Purdue:

Why the Boilermakers Will Win: Toughness. Over the past 5 years, the teams that have given UConn tourney fits are not teams that were more talented than them, it was teams that were willing to outfight them. JuJuan Johnson has the springs and athleticism to outmanuever Thabeet and possibly bait him into early foul trouble. Purdue's backcourt is not spectacular, but is deep and solid with Kramer, Moore and Keaton Grant. The real X-factor is Robbie Hummel. They have been really tough since he returned from back problems, and his outside shooting from the 4-spot can loosen up the Huskie defense. Plus, Purdue likes to mix it up, Pitt gave the Huskies fits playing the same way. If Purdue can punch first, they have a shot.

Why They Won't: Connecticut is a better team. Their size and pressure can mean real trouble for a Purdue team that is at times offensivly challenged. If they do not shoot the ball very well from the perimeter, it is difficult to see them pulling off the upset over the Huskies. Should they advance, they face another difficult challenge as both Missouri and Memphis play a faster, more athletic game than the Boilers are comfortable with.


Maniac's Picks: I originally had Purdue besting Memphis for a suprise Final Four birth in my pre-tourney bracket, but admit lacking much confidence in that prognosis. I thought UConn was a bit prone to sleepwalking in big games, and I do like to "Ricky Bobby" my pool entries. I think UConn wins 8 of 10 times, but I will stick with Purdue mustering up every ounce of toughness, shooting well, out-phsicalling (see Pitt x2) the Huskies.

Give me Memphis over Mizzou in a fantastically fun game to watch (score approaching high 80's and up) and Purdue putting the clamps on the Tigers Saturday afternoon and advancing to Detroit.

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