Day One and A Look Ahead to Round Two

Best Game: Belmont vs Duke

Nobody expected the game to be as close and as exciting as it was and a lot of fans know Duke got away. Belmont played Duke wire to wire and the big question for Duke heading into their tilt with West Virginia tomorrow is can they find their defense? If they play the way Coach K wants and needs them too, then tomorrow should be a great game because if they play lackluster D once again, they could be in deep trouble.

Biggest Disappointment: Kent St. vs UNLV

Kent St. scored exactly ten points in the first half, TEN! They were blitzed from the get-go by a surprisingly good UNLV team. They came to play and despite some late buckets from the Golden Flashes, the game was a blowout. Kansas should not be looking past this team because they could get a run for their money.

Biggest Surprise: Kansas St. vs USC

Frank Martin out-coached Tim Floyd in what was a surprising double digit win for Beasley and co. He put Dominique Sutton on OJ Mayo and "Juice" looked all squeezed out by the time the game was over. Mayo got his 20 but his points were late and were non-factors. Beasley got his (23pts and 11reb) but it was Billy Walker's 22pts and KSU's team surge in the first half that led to the victory. A date with Wisconsin is up next, and that is a game that KSU could win.

GAMES TO WATCH SATURDAY:

(4) Pittsburgh vs (5) Michigan State 2 P.M.

You have to love this game because you have the fast paced offense of the Spartans against the slow down game of the Panthers. Pittsburgh is the hot team and the big question will be if MSU's role players like Raymar Morgan, Kalin Lucas, Chris Allen, etc can make up the slack if senior Drew Neitzel falters again. Pittsburgh is on fire and should march towards a show down in Houston with Memphis.

(4) Pittsburgh 74 vs (5) Michigan State 70


(3) Stanford vs (6) Marquette 3 P.M.

Size and quickness always make for a great matchup. Marquette's guards dueling with the seven-foot Lopez twins of Stanford. Both have experience and both can get after the ball. Stanford has the size but Marquette coach Tom Crean has been to a Final Four and has experience. Stanford may have to go small but if they force Marquette to go big, watch out.

(3) Stanford 70 vs (6) Marquette 62


(4) Washington State vs (5) Notre Dame 1 P.M.

Offense against defense yet again. Washington State, one of the best and most efficient defenses in the nation going up against the shooting of Kyle McAlarney and the down low scoring of Luke Harangody. If ND can hit their shots, WSU will have to play farther out and that would open up Harangody down low. ND can't play their opponents game because a slow down game is what the Cougars want. It will be difficult for WSU to play their way but fans in Denver should be getting a great game.

(4) Washington State 71 vs (5) Notre Dame 76


(3) Xavier vs (6) Purdue 4:40 P.M.

Not many people expected Purdue to be so good so fast because of their youth. Matt Painter's group is now entering uncharted territory and Xavier is up next. Purdue boasts a balanced scoring attack with several key freshman in E'Twan Moore, Robbie Hummel, JuJuan Johnson, and Scott Martin. Xavier will look to shut down the Boilermaker attack with their suffocating defense led by Stanley Burrell. His defensive play along with the leadership of Drew Lavender should push the Musketeers into the Sweet Sixteen.

(3) Xavier 64 vs (6) Purdue 57

THE NEXT FOUR:

(3) Wisconsin 67 vs (11) Kansas State 60

(1) Kansas 84 vs (8) UNLV 70

(1) UCLA 75 vs (9) Texas A&M 68

(2) Duke 82 vs (7) West Virginia 76