NCAA Power 16: March 6th
Power 16 | Record | Comment |
1. Connecticut | 27-2 | Almost unbeatable when Stanley Robinson plays well. |
2. North Carolina | 26-3 | This team would be even better if Roy didn’t insist on playing Bobby Frasor. |
3. Pittsburgh | 27-3 | Pitt (18-0 at home) takes on UCONN (10-0 on the road). Something’s gotta give. |
4. Oklahoma | 26-4 | 1-1 since Griffin’s return, despite Blake’s 18 and 14.5 in those two games. |
5. Memphis | 27-3 | 21 wins in a row (56 overall in C-USA) is impressive no matter who you play. |
6. Duke | 25-5 | Have won five in a row leading up to a showdown with the Heels at Chapel Hill. |
| 7. Louisville | 24-5 | That blowout loss to ND is the only real blemish on an impressive Big East showing. |
| 8. Kansas | 24-6 | A big letdown against TTU after slaughtering Missouri at home. |
9. Missouri | 25-5 | Beating Oklahoma makes up for the fact that no one showed up in Kansas. |
10. Michigan St. | 24-5 | Kailin Lucas has carried this offense in the midst of Morgan’s sub par play. |
11. Washington | 23-7 | Going 3-0 in a week (two victories over the AZ schools) bumps them up 4 spots. |
12. Wake Forest | 23-5 | James Johnson is the X factor. They look like a Final Four team when he plays well. |
13. Marquette | 23-7 | Without James, Jimmy Butler needs to step up as their third perimeter scorer. |
| 14. LSU | 25-5 | Strange that their first appearance in the Power 16 comes after a rare SEC loss. |
15. Clemson | 23-7 | Lack of depth will hurt them in the postseason. |
| 16. Arizona St. | 21-7 | Lost to both Washington schools in OT this past week. |
Honorable Mentions
Villanova (24-6) – A shameful loss to a weak Georgetown team drops them
out of the Power 16.
Purdue (22-8) – Losses to Michigan and Northwestern? That’s a bad
week in the Big 12.
Gonzaga (24-5) – Their schedule makes Memphis’s competition look
like the Big East.
UCLA (22-7) – A good win over Cal not enough to get more than an honorable
mention.
Syracuse (22-8) – Have won three in a row (only good one against Cincinnati).
This Week’s Match-ups to Watch:
Saturday, March 7th:
#1 Connecticut @ #3 Pittsburgh – Runner-up for GAME OF THE WEEK
#6 Louisville @ West Virginia – A win here, and WVU is a lock for the
tournament.
#25 Syracuse @ #15 Marquette – The third Big East game listed here, but
let’s face it: no conference in America plays better basketball.
Sunday, March 8th:
#7 Duke @ #2 North Carolina – GAME OF THE WEEK
#19 Purdue @ #8 Michigan St. – Purdue’s played poorly of late;
Can they rebound against the Spartans?
#18 Clemson @ #10 Wake – Another solid ACC matchup.
