2009 NCAA Tournament Viewer’s Guide: Second Round – Sunday Games
As I write this, one team has already punched their ticket to the Sweet 16: Villanova, who looked awesome in dismantling UCLA 89-69. I am feeling quite good about my pick of ‘Nova going to the Elite 8. However, my pick of Memphis losing in Round 2 is not looking so hot right now as the Tigers lead Maryland by 20 in the first half.
What is looking really hot right about now is the Sunday games of the second round of the 2009 NCAA Tournament. After a pretty ho-hum Thursday and early batch of Friday games, the drama exploded on Friday
night. Wisconsin and Arizona both became the latest #12 seeds to advance to round 2. Siena beat Ohio State in a thrilling two overtime classic. And the Cinderella story of the first round was written when #13 seed Cleveland State clobbered #4 seed Wake Forest.
Cleveland State may not have a rich tournament tradition in terms of volume, but they certainly create quite a stir every time they make it. Can they advance to the Sweet 16, as they did during their last tournament journey? They will have to beat #12 seed Arizona to do so — meaning we are guaranteed to have a double-digit Cinderella seed in the Sweet 16.
Now onto your daily viewer’s guide for the Sunday games of the second round of the 2009 NCAA Tournament:
NCAA Tournament Second Round – Sunday Games: TV Schedule, Announcers, Spreads
South #3 Syracuse v South #6 Arizona State
- TV Time: 12:10 PM
- Location: Miami, FL
- Announcers: Ian Eagle and Jim Spanarkel
- Point Spread: Syracuse -1 1/2
- Over-Under: 139
- My pick: Syracuse
East #4 Xavier v East #12 Wisconsin
- TV Time: 2:20 PM
- Location: Boise, ID
- Announcers: Craig Bolerjack and Bob Wenzel
- Point Spread: Xavier -3 1/2
- Over-Under: 121 1/2
- My pick: Wisconsin
Midwest #3 Kansas v Midwest #11 Dayton
- TV Time: 2:30 PM
- Location: Minneapolis, MN
- Announcers: Gus Johnson and Len Elmore
- Point Spread: Kansas -7 1/2
- Over-Under: 133
- My pick: Kansas
Midwest #13 Cleveland State v Midwest #12 Arizona
- TV Time: 2:40 PM
- Location: Miami, FL
- Announcers: Ian Eagle and Jim Spanarkel
- Point Spread: Arizona -3 1/2
- Over-Under: 134 1/2
- My pick: Cleveland State
East #1 Pittsburgh v East #8 Oklahoma State
- TV Time: 2:50 PM
- Location: Dayton, OH
- Announcers: Verne Lundquist and Bill Raftery
- Point Spread: Pittsburgh -8 1/2
- Over-Under: 150
- My pick: Pittsburgh
West #3 Missouri v West #6 Marquette
- TV Time: 4:50 PM
- Location: Boise, ID
- Announcers: Craig Bolerjack and Bob Wenzel
- Point Spread: Mizzouri -3 1/2
- Over-Under: 147 1/2
- My pick: Marquette
Midwest #2 Michigan State v Midwest #10 USC
- TV Time: 5:00 PM
- Location: Minneapolis, MN
- Announcers: Gus Johnson and Len Elmore
- Point Spread: Michigan State -4 1/2
- Over-Under: 129 1/2
- My pick: Michigan State
Midwest #1 Louisville v Midwest #9 Siena
- TV Time: 5:20 PM
- Location: Dayton, OH
- Announcers: Verne Lundquist and Bill Raftery
- Point Spread: Louisville -11 1/2
- Over-Under: 141
- My pick: Louisville
I like the top dogs like Pittsburgh, Louisville, and Michigan State to keep rolling, but I think a few darkhorse candidates gain some steam tomorrow.
I think Cleveland State’s physical style, plus the confidence they gained from throttling Wake Forest, will power them to a victory over Arizona.
I am sticking with my original pick of Wisconsin over Xavier. It won’t be pretty — it never is — but the Badgers’ D will lead them to victory.
And Marquette, despite the absence of Dominic James, will find a way to beat a very good Missouri team. Marquette still has the talent and experience in the backcourt to solve the Missouri press, and I’m sticking with the Golden Eagles as one of my Sweet 16 teams.
Enjoy the games tonight and tomorrow everyone.
Tags: 2009 NCAA Tournament, Cleveland State, College Basketball, march madness, Michigan State Spartans, Wisconsin Badgers
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