Sweet 16 Viewer’s Guide: Quick Previews for Thursday, Friday Games

Note: This post is from the 2009 Tournament. Follow the link to view the 2010 Sweet 16 TV Schedule, Announcer Assignments, and Spreads.

For whatever reason, the last games of each day were spectacular on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Unfortunately, the two teams I was cheering hard for last night (Marquette and Siena) both ended up losing after briefly grasping control of their games. The Marquette loss essentially killed any chances I have of coming back in the MSF Bracket Challenge, as I had them in the Elite 8, but it certainly will not diminish my excitement for the Sweet 16.

No, there are no truly compelling Cinderella stories (unless you consider Arizona a Cinderalla); but, there are 16 really good basketball teams squaring off in compelling matchups across the board.

Let’s get right to breaking down the Sweet 16 matchups in each region:

Sweet 16 TV Schedule, Sites, Announcers, Spreads

West Regional Semifinals Quick Preview

• StubHub: West Region Sweet 16 Tickets
• West Regional Breakdown

#1 UConn v #5 Purdue Sweet 16 Preview

• Date: Thursday, March 26
• TV Time: 7:07 PM on CBS
• Site: University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, AZ
• Announcers: Dick Enberg and Jay Bilas
• Point Spread: UConn -6 1/2
• Over-Under: 134
• My prediction: UConn
• Purdue-UConn Preview and Analysis

#2 Memphis v #3 Missouri Sweet 16 Preview

• Date: Thursday, March 26
• TV Time: 9:37 PM on CBS
• Site: University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, AZ
• Announcers: Dick Enberg and Jay Bilas
• Point Spread: Memphis -4 1/2
• Over-Under: 140
• My prediction: Missouri
• Memphis-Missouri Preview and Analysis

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East Regional Semifinals Quick Preview

• StubHub: East Region Sweet 16 Tickets
• East Regional Breakdown

#1 Pittsburgh v #4 Xavier Sweet 16 Preview

• Date: Thursday, March 26
• TV Time: 7:27 PM on CBS
• Site: TD Banknorth Garden in Boston, MA
• Announcers: Verne Lundquist and Bill Raftery
• Point Spread: Pittsburgh -7
• Over-Under: 139
• My prediction: Pittsburgh
• Pitt-Xavier Preview and Analysis

#2 Duke v #3 Villanova Sweet 16 Preview

• Date: Thursday, March 26
• TV Time: 9:57 PM on CBS
• Site: TD Banknorth Garden in Boston, MA
• Announcers: Verne Lundquist and Bill Raftery
• Point Spread: Duke -2 1/2
• Over-Under: 148
• My prediction: Villanova
• Duke-Villanova Preview and Analysis

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Midwest Regional Semifinals Quick Preview

• StubHub: Midwest Region Sweet 16 Tickets
• Midwest Regional Breakdown

#1 Louisville v #12 Arizona Sweet 16 Preview

• Date: Friday, March 27
• TV Time: 7:07 PM on CBS
• Site: Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, IN
• Announcers: Gus Johnson and Len Elmore
• Point Spread: Louisville -9 1/2
• Over-Under: 139
• My prediction: Louisville
• Louisville-Arizona Preview and Analysis

#2 Michigan State v #3 Kansas Sweet 16 Preview

• Date: Friday, March 27
• TV Time: 9:37 PM on CBS
• Site: Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, IN
• Announcers: Gus Johnson and Len Elmore
• Point Spread: Michigan State -2 1/2
• Over-Under: 138 1/2
• My prediction: Michigan State
• Michigan State-Kansas Preview and Analysis

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South Regional Semifinals Quick Preview

• StubHub: South Region Sweet 16 Tickets
• South Regional Breakdown

#2 Oklahoma v #3 Syracuse Sweet 16 Preview

• Date: Friday, March 27
• TV Time: 7:27 PM on CBS
• Site: FedEx Forum in Memphis, TN
• Announcers: Jim Nantz and Clark Kellogg
• Point Spread: Oklahoma -1
• Over-Under: 153 1/2
• My prediction: it was Oklahoma…I’ve changed it to Syracuse
• Syracuse-Oklahoma Preview and Prediction

#1 North Carolina v #4 Gonzaga Sweet 16 Preview

• Date: Friday, March 27
• TV Time: 9:57 PM on CBS
• Site: FedEx Forum in Memphis, TN
• Announcers: Jim Nantz and Clark Kellogg
• Point Spread: North Carolina -8 1/2
• Over-Under: 162 1/2
• My prediction: North Carolina
• North Carolina-Gonzaga Preview and Analysis

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We’ll checking back in as the week goes along with more detailed predictions and breakdowns. The first weekend of the NCAA Tournament is always filled with more of a flurry of action and the drama of the little guy fighting to move on. Once things get whittled down the Sweet 16 we are typically left with what we have this year: solid, top-level teams matched up in games that could go either way and should be close.

The greatness of the NCAA Tournament never ceases.

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