SYT Star System
***** – quit your job and divorce your wife if that’s what it takes to watch this game live
**** – best watched live, but if you must, tivo and watch it tonight as soon as you get home
*** – set your tivo but make sure you watch it later
** – set your tivo but we’ll forgive you if it stays in the queue until 2012
* – don’t waste bandwidth (yours or the tivo’s) of any kind on this game
Ohio St @ West Virginia – 2pm on CBS (****)
It is very odd to have a non-conference game at this time of year, but Ohio State has probably been looking forward to this matchup more than any other conference foe. Last year the Mountaineers stunned the Buckeyes with a 28-point victory in Columbus. This year should be slightly more contested, as both teams are ranked in the top 25. Although Ohio State is ranked #25 in the coaches poll and West Virginia is ranked #12, Ken Pomeroy has West Virginia at #7 and Ohio State at #11. If recent history holds true, West Virginia should lose this game, as they have followed up every win since December 29 with a loss in their next game. In their last contest, the Mountaineers defeated Marshall, so the Buckeyes, winners of three straight, appear to be heading into the game with an advantage. However, OSU is just 2-4 on the road this year, and the Coliseum is never an easy place to play. The top four scorers for the Buckeyes play at least some form of guard, while WVU’s top three contributors are forwards. Despite their different lineups, these teams average near identical numbers on offense and defense, so this game could come down to who shoots their free throws down the stretch, as both are terrible from the line this year.
Marquette @ Syracuse – 2pm on ESPNU (***)
Has Marquette played themselves out of the NCAA tournament? It would appear that way, as much like the Mountaineers they have not put back to back wins together since December. MU coach Buzz Williams called their shocking defeat to DePaul the worst loss in the program’s history, but a road win against Syracuse could make up for that. Syracuse’s offense is extremely balanced and high scoring, especially in the Carrier Dome. The Golden Eagles (0-4 on the road this year) are going to need all the help they can get from big man Lazar Hayward and guard Jimmy Butler. The Orangemen are tops in the country at 53.2% from the field, but if Marquette can match them from deep (#1 in the nation at 43.1%), the Golden Eagles have a chance no matter who the opponent is. On Saturday, however, the streaking Orange appear to have the answer.
Texas @ UConn – 4pm on CBS (***)
Had it not been for UConn’s recent struggles, this would be a five-star game. Nevertheless, this matchup features two ranked teams and the #1 ranked team (for now) in the country in Texas. Connecticut’s 12-1 home record in the game is irrelevant, as they played nobody earlier in the year except for Pitt, which was a game they lost. George Blaney will be coaching the Huskies in this game following Jim Calhoun’s medical leave of absence. In his first game, Blaney guided UConn to a win over St. John’s but his apprenticeship under Calhoun will be put to the test when his team plays a dynamic Texas squad. Not only does Damion James average 17.3 points per game, he also grabs 11 boards per contest. This UT group, which averages almost 86 points per game, will be tough to stop, but UConn did hold Pitt and Georgetown to 67 and 72 points earlier in the year. The difference in the game? Connecticut, who ranks 61st in rebounding, will take on a UT team that averages 44.9 rebounds per game (#1 in the country). Texas has the potential to blow away this reeling UConn squad, even on the road.
Virginia @ Wake Forest – 4pm on Raycom (****)
Virginia, the ACC leader nobody saw coming, is on quite a roll. After a game against UNC-Wilmington was postponed, they have won nine in a row, including three straight to start out ACC play. Considering their relatively weak schedule ahead, and the fact that they play Duke just once this year (at home), their conference title chances appear more plausible every day. Wake Forest comes into the game as no slouch either, with wins over Gonzaga, Maryland and UNC. Everybody knows about Al-Farouq Aminu, the NBA prospect who averages 17.3 points and 11.5 boards per game for the Demon Deacons. Not many people know about Sylven Landesberg, the UVA guard with NBA size who averages more points per game than Aminu. He is also projected to be a first round pick, and like Aminu, he is just a sophomore. Virginia plays solid defense, but will have to win on the road, which has been a problem for the Cavs this year. Wake should win the home game and bring Virginia a little more back down to earth.
Oklahoma State @ Kansas State – 4pm (**)
Fresh off their victory against an undefeated Texas team, Kansas State looks to continue their surprising run against Oklahoma State. OSU’s 14-4 record is inflated due to a weak non-conference schedule, but they maintain a solid winning percentage nonetheless. Led by James Anderson, who averages 21.8 points per game, the Cowboys will try to run the floor with the Wildcats. KSU gets to the line quite a bit, as they are ranked #2 in the country in free throws made, despite a poor percentage from the line. Jacob Pullen and his beard may be too much for the Cowboys to handle, especially in Manhattan. The schedule doesn’t get any easier form here, as they must play Kansas in a week, so the Wildcats would like nothing more than to keep their momentum alive heading into the KU matchup. They better not let that game distract them, or they are going to fall victim to an upset against Oklahoma State or Baylor.
Rhode Island @ Xavier – 6pm (***)
Both of these teams are awaiting their shot at Temple for a shot at the Atlantic 10 title. Xavier and URI have one loss in conference, both of which came at the hands of the Owls. But before they can take on the big dog in the A10, they will have to escape Saturday with a win. Both teams are also playing for their tournament lives. With the loss to Temple on Wednesday, the Musketeers appear to be on the outside looking in, but Rhode Island has appeared on many people’s brackets as an at-large. The 15-2 Rams, led by three seniors in Keith Cothran, Delroy James, and Lamonte Ulmer, have won 11 out of their last 12 games. Despite a less ambitious schedule than Xavier, their performance has been commendable. Xavier is probably not a team any A10 team should want to play right now, as they are ready to take out some frustration over all the close losses this year. One of the best ways to compare these two teams is to looks at how they did against Temple. Both lost close, but Xavier shot nearly 46 percent in the game and 37.5 percent from beyond the arc. URI shot 36.9 percent from the field and shot just 23.5 percent on three-point attempts. Xavier should win this game, but not by much.