NCAA Sweet 16 -- Xavier vs Arizona 10:17 p.m. on TBS

[admin]

Xavier is a 10.5 point underdog.

[R Jay]

Xavier is a 10.5 point underdog.

Not surprising.
X is going to need it all from their bigs (Stainbrook, Farr, and Reynolds) to hold down Zeus and Ashley. Dee Davis and Remy Abell will need to disrupt York and McConnell, too. A big game from Bluiett wouldn't hurt.

[stever20]

Like I said before- the rebounding is the one big thing to watch. Can Xavier get any offensive rebounds against the best team in the country preventing them?

I think a big key is the start of the game. I don't think Xavier can fall behind by 8-10 points early.

[stever20]

to expand on the rebounding, this is what ESPN's BPI was saying about it:
(Four) Factor to watch: Rebounding: Xavier rebounded 33 percent of its missed shots in each of its first two NCAA tournament games, resulting in 25 second-chance points and contributing to its off-the-charts 63.9 effective field goal percentage. Arizona is the best defensive rebounding team in the nation, grabbing 78 percent of its opponents’ missed shots.

also they were saying:
This matchup might come down to ... which point guard can make plays. T.J. McConnell and Dee Davis have the highest and third-highest assist rates among players remaining in the NCAA tournament, according to KenPom.com. Each player has been responsible for more than a third of his team’s points in the tournament.

[pki1998]

The line seems about right. I think XU keeps this a one or two possession game until about 8 minutes left in the game, and then Arizona begins to pull away.

[Bearcat_Bounce]

Sean Miller is such a whiny POS. Go X? I think?

[Bill Marsh]

Sean Miller is such a whiny POS. Go X? I think?

Huh?

[billyjack]

I like seeing Macura playing up top on defense, being a pest.
He drove PC nuts in the game at the Dunk.
X is looking good.
13-12 Arizona at the under-12.

[RedStormHoops]

Xavier playing a good game just no 3s so far. Gotta get myles some looks

[billyjack]

Not seeing much of an inside game from Arizona.
They've hit a few corner 3's, and another 3 from up top.
That's really been the difference.
Hopefully they start missing their jumpers.
Arizona up 28-24 at the under-4 to.