2010 Bracket Series: West Region- Sweet 16
The 2010 Bracket Series is back along with the Madness, as the Sweet 16 resumes with the games out west in Salt Lake City. The Syracuse Orange had no problem in their first two games, but they are going against a Butler team that has not lost in 2010 (22 straight wins). A newfound rivalry is resumed in the Beehive State as the Kansas State Wildcats go up against the Xavier Musketeers
(1) Syracuse Orange vs. (5) Butler Bulldogs- This will not be an easy task for the Orange, no Arinze Onuaku for this game, but Jim Boeheim stressed that he is focused on Butler and nothing else. The Bulldogs are the underdog, but they have also won 22 straight games. They have what it takes to beat Syracuse, and if they can get by that 2-3 Zone, and slow down the transition game, they have a chance to win. However, Syracuse is too talented, and are playing very well. Orange win.
(2) Kansas State Wildcats vs. (6) Xavier Musketeers- People are wondering why this is a rivalry. 1) Xavier blew K-State out by 26 in 2007, and K-State won this season by 15. 2.) Frank Martin’s familiarity with Xavier (being in Cincinnati). This is a game between two scrappy teams who want to go to the Elite Eight. Jacob Pullen & Jordan Crawford are two guards who will not let their teams go down without a fight. At the end of the day though, Xavier has been here before (only them and Michigan State have been this deep each of the past three years) and Kansas State has not been here. The tournament is when the Musketeers usually shine. Beware of the X, K-State. Musketeers in an upset.
On Friday, TSX will look at the Midwest & South Region’s Sweet 16 matchups. Enjoy the games everybody!
go Butler