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Round 2 Matchups

 

1 Illinois vs. 9 Charlotte The first 1-seed may fall on Sunday.  Charlotte is a good team with experience and size.  The Illini are defensive-minded, but Charlotte can play with the boys from the Big Ten.  Upset probability:  55% Charlotte 69, Illinois 67  Illinois Fighting Illini Team Web Site Record: 24-7 Conference:  Big Ten Rank:  4 (AP)  / 6 (RPI) Strength of Schedule: 10 Our Odds:  11:1 Record vs. RPI Top 75: 14-7 We Say:   Make no mistake about it - Cory Bradford is the leader of this team, and that's a good thing for the Illini.  Winning the Big Ten regular season title was no fluke - this team is as good as any in the country.  Anything less than the Great 8 would be a huge disappointment for this defensive-minded squad that allowed over 80 points only twice this season. Record vs. Tourney Teams:  9-7 Hot Factor:  8 - Cory Bradford is a butch bad-ass with a great bod who can dominate anybody! Charlotte 49ers Team Web Site Record:  21-10  Conference:  Conference USA Rank:  NR  (AP)  /  48 (RPI) Strength of Schedule:   83 Our Odds:  70:1 Record vs. RPI Top 75:  6-3  We Say:  Charlotte is a legitimate contender for a Sweet 16 berth.  They seem to have it all:  experience against good teams, a solid freshman big man in Rodney White, two good guards in Demon Brown and Diego Guevara, and an outside shooter in Jobey Thomas, who hit almost 90 threes this season. Record vs. Tourney Teams:  2-2 Hot Factor: 8 - This is a group of very handsome young men.  No real drop-dead gorgeous guys, though Diego Guevara, James Zimmerman and Jobey Thomas lead the way in this category and on the court.

 

4 Kansas vs. 5 Syracuse  Kansas won its 18th straight first round game.  Now comes their most hated nemesis:  round 2.  Syracuse has everything it needs to knock off Kansas, and they will do just that. Upset probability:  55% Syracuse 81, Kansas 77 Kansas Jayhawks Team Web Site Record: 22-6 Conference:  Big XII Rank:  9 (AP)  / 12 (RPI) Strength of Schedule: 33 Our Odds:  30:1 Record vs. RPI Top 75: 8-5 We Say:   How do the Jayhawks get a good seed every year?  They've lost early just about every time since 1990 and have a lousy record against the top teams.  This Kansas team, as usual, has good big men up front.  But, what they lack for a change is depth.  Sweet 16 would be a successful tournament for this team.   Record vs. Tourney Teams:  6-5 Hot Factor:  3 - It's hard to get too excited about any of these guys - though, Jeff Carey looks like a clean-shaven Dennis Miller. Syracuse Orangemen Team Web Site Record: 24-8 Conference:  Big East Rank:   (AP)  / 18 (RPI) Strength of Schedule: 51 Our Odds:  30:1 Record vs. RPI Top 75: 12-7 We Say:  Can Preston Shumpert continue what he does against UConn?  Will his hand stay hot?  As long as it does, the Orangemen are golden.  Aside from their shooting threat, they have a seven footer who gives them a presence inside and a point guard in Allen Griffin who can move the ball. Record vs. Tourney Teams:  5-4 Hot Factor:  1 - If you see someone on this team to watch for, please let us know - 'cause we're at a loss.

 

3 Mississippi vs. 6 Notre Dame Notre Dame was a popular pick for the Sweet 16.  But, they're facing a superior Mississippi team that is simply playing better ball than them right now.  Upset probability:  39% Mississippi 79, Notre Dame 70 Mississippi (Ole Miss) Rebels Team Web Site Record: 24-7 Conference:  SEC Rank:   (AP)  / 7 (RPI) Strength of Schedule: 18 Our Odds:  40:1 Record vs. RPI Top 75: 14-6 We Say:  Ole Miss is talented with depth.  Forward Rahim Lockhart is the leader of the team.  The Rebs peaked about a month ago and their time may, simply, have run out.  Record vs. Tourney Teams:  8-4 Hot Factor:  4 - Syniker Taylor and John Pilger (using a bit of mousse) highlight and otherwise lackluster group. Notre Dame Fighting Irish Team Web Site Record: 19-9 Conference:  Big East Rank:   (AP)  / 25 (RPI) Strength of Schedule: 32 Our Odds:  150:1 Record vs. RPI Top 75: 10-8 We Say:  About a month ago, the Irish were one of the hottest things going, winning seven consecutive games against Top 75 teams.  Now, they're riding a three game losing streak into the tournament.  Troy Murphy is the key to this team, averaging about 20 points and 10 rebounds per game.   Record vs. Tourney Teams:  4-4 Hot Factor:  9 - If this team played as well as it looked, they'd be a 1 seed.  With Matt Carroll, David Graves, and big man Troy Murphy (who dressed up in drag for Halloween last year), the Irish certainly have some guys to fight for.

 

2 Arizona vs. 10 Butler Butler's run ends here, as one of the hottest teams in the tournament stands in the way of the Bulldog's appearance in the Sweet 16.  Arizona just has too much now.  These teams played earlier in the season, with the same result - an Arizona win. Upset probability:  18% Arizona 83, Butler 70 Arizona Wildcats Team Web Site Rank:   (AP)  /  (RPI) Conference:  Pac-10 Our Odds:  - Rank:    (AP)  /   (RPI) Record:   We Say:   This has been a season of disappointment for the Wildcats.  After being mentioned as a team with the potential to go undefeated this season, coach Lute Olson lost his wife to cancer and the team lost some games.  They've rebounded since and look like the Arkansas team of 1994 who started the season slowly but ran the tournament table. Record vs. Tourney Teams:  10-3 Hot Factor:  3 - Bill Walton's son, Luke, must have gotten his mother's looks, as the younger big man will be a real hottie with a little more muscle.  Not much else to look at here, though.   Butler Bulldogs Team Web Site Record:  21-7  Conference:  MCC Rank:  NR  (AP)  /  29 (RPI) Strength of Schedule:  73 Our Odds:  125:1 Record vs. RPI Top 75:  4-2 We Say:  Butler is one of the few smaller conference teams who have a real shot at the Sweet 16.  They beat Wisconsin by 14 earlier this season, and played at Arizona tough.  They're riding an eight game win streak into the tournament.  They have some big men on the squad (four at 6'10" or taller) but mostly play a smaller line-up.  A solid defense that hasn't allowed over 75 points since December 6. Record vs. Tourney Teams:  2-2  Hot Factor: NR - We simply can't find any good pictures of these guys.  We'll report back when we do.