Going inside every Sweet 16 matchup
Randy Hill / FOXSports.com
In any other month, a Round-of-16 reference might suggest another hunting incident involving Bob Knight. But in March, it's used as evidence that the NCAA men's basketball tournament has swaggered into the second weekend.
The anticipated madness, while muted by the planting of all double-digit seeds, has the potential to truly kick in this week. The reason for this upgrade in excitement is an abundance of interesting March Matchups.
Thanks to bracket work by the tournament selection committee, we're preparing to witness the greatest style collisions seen this side of Oscar's red carpet.
South regional, Thursday
Ohio State (32-3) vs. Tennessee (24-10)
The Matchup: Ohio State's methodical offense — designed to provide inside touches for 7-foot-freshman Greg Oden — against the up-tempo philosophy of Vols coach Bruce Pearl. Tennessee, which put up 121 points Long Beach State in Round 1, must adjust to this controlled pace, because OSU freshman point guard Mike Conley won't allow the Buckeyes to be dragged into another team's rhythm.
Expect: Buckeyes defensive stopper Ron Lewis to spend considerable time using his length to check Tennessee hotshot Chris Lofton.
Game Within the Game: This is a showdown of rising coaches in Thad Matta and Bruce Pearl, who both spent time working in the Horizon League. The on-court disparity can be defined by the coaches — Pearl has painted his chest for a women's game, while Matta seems like the type who'd wear a T-shirt at the beach.
Texas A&M (27-6) vs. Memphis (32-3)
The Matchup: The Aggies, with the nation's leading field-goal percentage defense, against the Tigers' deadly drive-and-kick offense. Memphis runs a three-out, two-in set that encourages the wings to attack the hoop and either put the ball on the glass or stride-stop before kicking the ball out for a three.
On the other end, the Aggies and All-America point guard Acie Law run a Princeton-influenced continuity offense, which may work like a charm against the entry-denial tendencies of the Tigers' overplaying style.
Expect: Quite an inside rumble between Memphis strongman Joey Dorsey and Aggies post man Joseph Jones.
Game Within the Game: The sideline battle will be something special. Aggies coach Billy Gillispie used to coach at UTEP, where former John Calipari assistant Tony Barbee now works. This chess match will thrive because the players have completely bought into their respective systems.
West regional, Thursday
Kansas (32-4) vs. Southern Illinois (29-6)
The Matchup: The high-flying Jayhawks will go against a Salukis defense that ranked fourth in the nation for fewest points allowed. Kansas triggers its double-point-guard attack with outlet passes from an intimidating rotation of post players.
SIU enhances the impact of its high-pressure defense by running clock on offense. The Saluki with the toughest challenge is 6-7 post Randal Falker, who must deal with Julian Wright, Darrell Arthur and Sasha Kaun.
Expect: KU combo guard Mario Chalmers to work for everything he can get against Salukis stopper Tony Young.
Game Within the Game: Can Kansas coach Bill Self shake the tournament-underachievement tag while working against the nation's youngest coach in Chris Lowery?
UCLA (28-5) vs. Pitt (29-7)
The Matchup: Pitt's stingy defense and grind-it-out offense meets its maker in the stingy defense and grind-it-out offense of UCLA.
Bruins coach Ben Howland built the Panthers into the powerhouse now presided over by former assistant Jamie Dixon. This prevailing conservative style will be demonstrated by both teams, although the defending national runner-up Bruins will suit up more playmakers at both ends.
If Arron Afflalo and Josh Shipp bag a reasonable percentage of their excessive threes, the Bruins could cruise.
Expect: The Pitt guards to have trouble dealing with the quickness of UCLA point guard Darren Collison. Then again, who doesn't?
Game Within the Game: Pitt 7-foot center Aaron Gray must overpower a smallish UCLA low-post rotation that features quick and tough Lorenzo Mata.
East regional, Friday
North Carolina (30-6) vs. USC (25-11)
The Matchup: The Tar Heels' whirlwind approach and tempo-goosing depth vs. the skilled and flexible Trojans.
Carolina has the athletes to run any team off the floor, while USC has two or three players capable of playing in the NBA. Foremost among the Trojans is swingman Nick Young, who receives less publicity in L.A. than UCLA's Afflalo, but is a better pro prospect. Young shoots it well from long range, finishes after slick drives and plays with more bounce.
USC must maintain a reasonable pace and deal with the Tar Heels' inside might.
Expect: Carolina's perimeter players to have a tough time handling Young, Gabe Pruitt and Lodrick Stewart off the dribble. Also expect USC post Taj Gibson to get into foul trouble dealing with Tyler Hansbrough and Brandan Wright.
Game Within the Game: UNC's Roy Williams remains close to Tar Heel legend Michael Jordan, who passed on the opportunity to play for USC coach Tim Floyd when Floyd was hired by the Chicago Bulls. M.J. referred to Tim as "Pink Floyd."
Georgetown (28-6) vs. Vanderbilt (22-11)
The Matchup: This is the battle of the Princeton offenses. While John Thompson III of the Hoyas and Commodores coach Kevin Stallings have tweaked their approaches in this general scheme, both teams like to operate under spread conditions.
GU has inside muscle with 7-2 Roy Hibbert and an inside-out star in Jeff Green.
Vandy's wing combo of Derrick Byars and Shan Foster can line up against anyone.
Expect: Vandy to mix in some zone with Foster tagging Georgetown gunner Jonathan Wallace. Let's hope the Commodores front Hibbert in this situation, preventing the Hoya big from flashing to the gaps and wrecking the zone from inside-out like he did in the second half vs. Boston College.
Game Within the Game: If we see Green vs. Byars in semi-isolation sets within the Princeton framework, don't leave your couch.
Midwest regional, Friday
Florida (31-5) vs. Butler (29-6)
The Matchup: Butler's patient, ball-control offense (the Bulldogs committed the fewest turnovers in the nation) against end-to-end harassment from the defending champs.
With size-related concerns in the man-to-man, the Bulldogs figure to zone the Gators and hope for the best against up-and-down Florida shooter Lee Humphrey.
Expect: Butler to shorten the game by whittling down the shot clock and kicking the ball out for a 3-point looks from the likes of A.J. Graves.
Game Within the Game: Although Gator Corey Brewer is 6-9, don't be surprised if his length and quickness are used in a one-on-one defensive situation with the 6-1 Graves.
Oregon (28-7) vs. UNLV (30-6)
The Matchup: This is a battle of the backcourts with the lightning-quick Ducks taking on a crafty Rebel force led by Kevin Kruger. The dilemma for UNLV is picking a poison: Kruger and his pals can't stay in front of Oregon's Aaron Brooks and Tajuan Porter, but the Ducks may have too many lights-out shooters for a zone approach.
The Rebels haven't been great on the boards, but that may not be exploited by the Ducks.
Expect: UNLV's Wendell White to do some inside work against a relatively meager Oregon inside defensive presence.
Game Within the Game: Oregon's Bryce Taylor scored 32 points without missing a shot in the Pac-10 tournament final against USC. Michael Umeh may draw that assignment, which requires staying with Taylor rather than helping out when Brooks and Porter penetrate.