Crazy Friday Leads To Exciting Saturday

Could there have been a crazier day then yesterday? Not only were there upsets, there was tornados. The Big 10 was the home to upsets, as Illinois and Minnesota move on to face each other in the semis (to bubble teams discretion). The latest news I've heard is the Georgia/Kentucky game will be played at noon, and then the winner will face Mississippi State at 8:30pm EST. Trying to make the doubleheader as fair as possible.

We'll start off with the conferences who have semifinal games today (ACC, Big 10, Big 12, SEC), and then I'll have the conference championship games in the next post.

ACC

Virginia Tech (19-12, 9-7) vs. #1 North Carolina (30-2, 14-2): Was Virginia Tech's win over Miami yesterday enough to get them in the field? A loss today will put them right on the border. Beating the #1 team in the nation would probably lock up an at-large for the Hokies. North Carolina beat Va. Tech by 39 in their only meeting of the season, so the Hokies didn't gain too much confidence from that. I don't think they have an answer for Psycho T, North Carolina should pull away in the second half.

Prediction: North Carolina 86-69

Clemson (23-8, 10-6) vs. #7 Dook (27-4, 13-3): It will be fate that we get a third UNC-Dook matchup this season. DeMarcus Nelson should lead the way in this one, and I don't think Clemson will come close. Dook won't be looking ahead to UNC.

Prediction: Dook 87-68

Big 10

#19 Michigan State (25-7, 12-6) vs. #6 Wisconsin (27-4, 16-2): Wisconsin is one of the most underrated powers in college basketball, and they are two more wins away from locking up a 2 seed in the NCAA Tournament. Michigan State got past the Buckeyes and looked strong doing it, as Drew Neitzel had one of his strongest performances of the season. I didn't like the way Wisconsin's offense looked against Michigan. I think it will be Raymar Morgan and Kalin Lucas leading the way for the Spartans to pull off yet another Big 10 Tournament upset.

Prediction: Michigan State 65-47

Illinois (15-18, 5-13) vs. Minnesota (20-12, 8-10): If Minnesota wins this, should they get into the bubble discussion? They really only have 2 solid wins on the season, Ohio State and then the thriller over Indiana yesterday. Illinois shocked Purdue in OT to move onto the semis. Bubble teams are rooting for the Spartans and Badgers very hard, as neither of these teams look like at-large bid candidates. Dan Coleman and Lawrence Westbrook will lead Minnesota to the Big 10 title game.

Prediction: Minnesota 67-53

Big XII

Oklahoma (22-10, 9-7) vs. #8 Texas (27-5, 13-3): Both favorites moved on to the semis, where the Longhorns look to get that Texas-Kansas matchup again. DJ Augustin and AJ Abrams are about as good of a pair as any in the country. I think they'll be too much for the Sooners, who are more about the interior game with Blake Griffin and Longar Longar. Look for Texas to get back to the Big XII Final once again.

Prediction: Texas 74-54

Texas A&M (24-9, 8-8) vs. #5 Kansas (29-3, 13-3): Texas A&M held on to beat Kansas State last night, locking them up an at-large bid. Now, they get a chance to improve seeding some by beating the Jayhawks and ruining their #1 seed hopes. This is my game of the day, I think it will end up going into OT. Josh Carter and DeAndre Jordan are going to step it up for the Aggies and help them keep it close. In the end, Kansas has too many weapons, and we will get that Kansas-Texas matchup we all want to see.

Prediction: Kansas 79-69 (OT)

SEC

I'm sticking with my prediction of Georgia upsetting Kentucky, so I'll just plug them into the semis.

Arkansas (21-10, 9-7) vs. #4 Tennessee (29-3, 14-2): Arkansas may be able to feel safe after yesterday's win over Vandy. With all the losses from bubble teams, their profile looks good enough to make the field. This will be right up there with Kansas-Texas A&M for game of the day. Darian Townes has had a great tournament and I think he will contribute with a double-double. JaJuan and Tyler Smith will be the keys for the Vols as they advance in a close one.

Prediction: Tennessee 80-77 (OT)

Georgia (15-16, 4-12) vs. Mississippi State (22-9, 12-4): Georgia will advance past Kentucky to face a talented Mississippi State team who won in OT last night. However, this is the second game in the day for Georgia, a team that is shorthanded as it is. It would take an a ton of heart for them to advance in this one. It will probably be a low scoring affair, and I think that plays better for Mississippi State. Jamont Gordon will shine, and Jarvis Varnardo will make some key plays in the defensive paint.

Prediction: Mississippi State 59-49