Mapping the Cats Path

I was looking at the final sixteen and charting Arizona's course to the Championship. My dad was successful in charting the Cardinals course to the Superbowl and I thought maybe some analysis of the remaining 16 would be similarly serendipitous.

Assuming the Cats could beat the Cardinals, Arizona would face the winner of the MSU and Kansas contest. Neither of these teams really scare me. Phil's mantra during the trip to vegas was "bet against the Big Ten." I do think the Spartans are a class above the rest of the big ten and I expect them to beat a resilient Kansas team, but in the interest of charting the Cats path to victory lets say they win. I have been downgrading the Jayhawks all year and I would be thrilled to see them in the elite 8. We crushed them in Tucson this season, we lost in over time last season, Salim Stouedmire torched them in 2003 and we beat them on our way to the national championship in 1997 (they do own the overall record beating us 7 out of 10 since 1980).

Cats path through the Midwest= Kansas

In the West: UConn plays Purdue. Everyone is impressed by UConn's dominance over their first two opponents but I would like to point out that they have had the easiest road of any team except Arizona (Texas A&M is not that good, the Cats should have beat them by 10 if not for a bad call on Nic Wise (See the ASD archive)). Purdue has looked really tough. They beat a good Washingtion team in what was basically a road game. They have a wiry inside prescence that could bother Thabeet and they have atheletic wingmen that could keep it interested. I think there is a chance the boilermakers win but I give the edge to the Huskies.

UConn will play the winner of Mizzu and Memphis. I don't know what to think about this game. Take the over, both teams like to run so it should be in the 90s. I like Memphis to win especially if they shoot the ball well. That would make it a UConn v. Memphis Regional. I would take Memphis to pester the slower Huskies.

Cats opponent the final four = Memphis

Both teams run but Wise learns from his troubles against the bigger guards of Louisville and beats the younger Evans. Hill dominantes Dozier and the Cats advance.

In the East: Pitt and Xavier clash on Thursday afternoon. I have been very impressed with the Muskateers. I had them out in the first round against Portland State. I was wrong and the Muskateers keep rubbing it in by knocking off the top seed. They meet Villanova in the next round. The Wildcats get passed the Dukies on a cold shooting night for Coach K's run and gun Devils. 'Nova and the X-Men in the regional, take Nova just based on league strength Big East trumps A-10.

Nova meets the winner of the South.

In the South: To me the most intriguing matchups are in the South. UNC v. Gonzaga could be really good. Gonzaga has just as much talent on their roster as the Heels. I took the boys from Tobacco Road as my champ but I think the Zag's could get them. So lets tentatively pencil in the Bulldogs.

In the other matchup Syracuse plays the Sooners. I have not believed in OU all season. I have eaten my words as Griffin has dominated each team they have played. Though he has dunked, rebounded, blocked and flown over the competition I think he will be stopped by Boeheim's famous 2-3.

That makes it an Orange (that's not a mascot) Zag regional. Take the Orange (Big East bias again).

The final four from that side of the bracket will be a Big East rematch = Nova vs. Cuse.

The Orange lost twice to the Wildcats during the season. Take Nova and make it a Wildcat v. Wildcat final.

Just to re-cap the final four is- Arizona, Memphis, Villanova, Syracuse

This is the path for the Cats and it begins this Thursday...