Friday's NCAA Tournament Games

Friday's NCAA Tournament Games


Indianapolis, Ind. - Midwest Region
7:07 pm
Arizona #12
Louisville #1

Memphis, Tenn - South Region
7:27 pm
Syracuse #3
Oklahoma #2

Indianapolis, Ind. - Midwest Region
9:37 pm
Kansas #3
Michigan State #2

Memphis, Tenn - South Region
9:57 pm
Gonzaga #4
North Carolina #1

Arizona vs. Louisville
When: 7:07 p.m. ET Friday
Where: Indianapolis (Midwest Regional)
Comment: There are already stories popping up about whether it's possible Arizona could be playing against its next head coach, i.e., Rick Pitino, and you can expect Pitino to be asked about it at some point, if he hasn't already. On the surface, such a move sounds crazy. But when you consider that Pitino is about to complete his eighth season at Louisville, and that he has never started a ninth season anywhere, and that he's going to lose Terrence Williams and Earl Clark, and that he doesn't enjoy coaching in the brutal Big East, and that he likes new challenges, and that the weather is nice in Tucson, well, maybe it's not as crazy as it sounds. In other words, if Arizona can pay the type of money it would take to land a Hall of Famer, this is the type of Hall of Famer who might consider rebuilding its program. My take: Pitino is going NO WHERE! He will be at Louisville for at least two more years. I don't think Arizona is his type of school to jump ship again. I think they can win it all this year or next. He will be a Cardinal. However, I could see him going across town before out west this year......Kentucky?????
Final score: Louisville 73, Arizona 65 I say: Louisville 79 Zona 60

Syracuse vs. Oklahoma
When: 7:27 p.m. ET Friday
Where: Memphis (South Regional)
Comment: I like this Oklahoma team, love Blake Griffin. But does it concern anybody that the best team the Sooners have beaten all season is Purdue, and that it took a 46-5 advantage at the free throw line to do it? That concerns me a little, long as I'm being honest. Meantime, Syracuse has beaten Memphis, Connecticut and Kansas, otherwise known as three other Sweet 16 teams. So what I'm telling you is that the Sooners haven't beaten anybody as good as the Orange (unless you think Purdue is as good as the Orange), and that the Orange have beaten at least three teams as good as the Sooners. What does that mean? Perhaps nothing. But I can't get it out of my head, and that's why I have Jonny Flynn pulling this out, in overtime, naturally. My take: The Oarange win behind terrific TEAM PLAY and a Zone defense that will take Blake Griffin away. Don't get me wrong, Blake is a beast, but now he will need some help and experience...... Oklahoma doesn't have that just yet.
Final score: Syracuse 82, Oklahoma 81 (OT) I'll take:Oklahoma 60 Syracuse 67

Kansas vs. Michigan State
When: 9:37 p.m. ET Friday
Where: Indianapolis (Midwest Regional)
Comment: Michigan State coach Tom Izzo was announced as the winner of the United States Basketball Writers Association's "Good Guy Award" this week. I'm not exactly sure what that means, but I won't argue against it because, yes, Izzo is absolutely one of the good guys. He is among the most accommodating and genuinely pleasant men in this business, someone who always seems appreciative that you'd even consider calling him or pulling him aside. I don't know a single writer who doesn't rave about every encounter with Izzo, and though that has nothing to do with this game, I just thought it was worth mentioning. My take: Izzo! IZZO! Enough Said!
Final score: Michigan State 69, Kansas 65 I'll take: State 71 Kansas 60

Gonzaga vs. North Carolina
When: 9:57 p.m. ET Friday
Where: Memphis (South Regional)
Comment: My brother is nothing like me, which is probably good for him. We don't have the same political views or opinions on anything, really, and though I spend every day of my life either writing or talking about college basketball in some form, he couldn't care less, evidence being the following real-life conversation we had Monday morning. My take: Carolina all the way. I think: this is where Carolina begins to roll. Lawson will gut out the next four games and help them cut down the nets.k

My brother (who is in sales): Hey, I've got a customer who says his nephew is playing at FedExForum this weekend. Plays for North Carolina, I think. Tyler or something. Do you know him?
Me: Tyler Hansbrough?
My brother: Yeah. Is he good? My customer is building him up like he's pretty good or something.
Me: Yeah, he's pretty good. He's like a four-time All-American. Seriously, you've never heard of him?
My brother: Is he a white dude?
Final score: North Carolina (and its white dude) 82, Gonzaga 79.
I'll take: Carolina 89 Gonzaga 69