CBS College Sports Network analyst Pete Gillen, who coached Xavier to a Sweet 16 in 1990 and Providence to an Elite Eight in 1997, breaks down the NCAA Tournament exclusively for The Post today. As told to Steve Serby.
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WELL, even though Georgetown is gone, three of my Final Four teams are alive – which is unusual. I’ve had a bad decade – I got fired, no friends, no money, no clothes. But since I’m due, I’ll take a look at the Sweet 16:
EAST
LOUISVILLE over TENNESSEE: My favorite matchup of the tournament – a heavyweight fight, Floyd Patterson-Ingemar Johansson … like Rocky VI.
These teams play harder than anybody in the country, in my opinion. Louisville, I think, is the best defensive team in the country. A lot of teams hold people down to 58, 59 holding the ball, but these guys don’t. Tennessee can win if Chris Lofton gets on fire, but he’s been asleep.
I just love the passion they play with. They’re very, very emotional, especially Terrence Williams. He cries when he sees “Law and Order” reruns. Rick Pitino, he’s barking the whole time. I know he’s got his cologne on, the mousse on, he flosses a couple a times a day. He looks great. I’m hearing whispers he’s got a floss deal. Bruce Pearl has the orange suspenders, but Rick’s got the Armani suits, he’s got everything. The floss takes it to a new level.
NORTH CAROLINA over WASHINGTON STATE: Washington State’s going to put ’em to sleep – they want the game in the 50s; North Carolina wants it in the 80s. Ty Lawson can beat you with blinding speed. Tyler Hansbrough is too tough inside … and Charlotte is a huge home court advantage.
MIDWEST
KANSAS over VILLANOVA: Darrell Arthur is more of a great athlete than a polished player, but I think he’s just going to overwhelm Villanova. Scottie Reynolds is going to score, but he’s going to have to work to get it.
WISCONSIN over DAVIDSON: Bob McKillop finally is getting the recognition he deserves. He’s a master tactician. Stephen Curry has one of the quickest releases in college basketball. I think Michael Flowers slows him down a little bit – he’ll still get his 22 points, but he’ll take an awful lot of shots to get them. Fantasy Island comes to an end.
SOUTH
MEMPHIS over MICHIGAN STATE: Michigan State will try to slow it down, Memphis will try to speed it up. Antonio Anderson’s a 6-foot-6 athletic guy who I think is going to hold Drew Neitzel to 12 or 14.
STANFORD over TEXAS: D.J. Augustine is the best point guard in the country. He’s the closest thing to Isiah Thomas I’ve seen. A.J. Abrams is the X factor – he’s like a microwave oven; if he’s hot, Texas can hang. Earth to Houston: Texas is a little soft inside. Advantage, Lopez twins.
WEST
UCLA over WESTERN KENTUCKY: UCLA can hurt you inside with Kevin Love (a more powerful version of Kiki Vandeweghe) and outside with Drew Collison. And Phoenix isn’t that far from Westwood.
WEST VIRGINIA over XAVIER: I’m tempted to pick my old school – Xavier has six guys who can make the big play – but I think Joe Alexander is the best guy on the court.
ELITE EIGHT
LOUISVILLE over NORTH CAROLINA: Defense wins championships.
KANSAS over WISCONSIN: Can score at too many positions.
MEMPHIS over STANFORD: Pressure defense – and its big men can slow down the twins.
UCLA over WEST VIRGINIA: Collison will penetrate, and Love will dominate.
NCAA CHAMPION
MEMPHIS: That’s my story and I’m stickin’ to it.