Each game day during the NCAA tournament, the Post’s Marc Raimondi, Anthony Sulla-Heffinger and Justin Terranova will be providing you with their input for that day’s games.
For Friday’s Sweet 16 matchups, Sulla-Heffinger is going to ride Trey Burke and the Wolverines into the Elite 8 as well as calling for an end to the Cinderella story that is Florida Gulf Coast.
MIDWEST REGION – INDIANAPOLIS
(12) Oregon vs. (1) Louisville: 7:15 p.m., CBS
Yes, Oregon was seeded much lower than it deserved and has pulled off two straight upset wins to get to the Sweet 16, but Louisville is going to once again prove to be too much to handle. The Cardinals have run through every single team that has been put in front of them since the 5OT loss to Notre Dame on Feb. 9. Rick Pitino’s team has won its past 12 contests by double-figures, including its first two tournament games by an average of 28.5 points. This game will not be as much of a blowout, but expect Louisville to coast to another win.
Prediction: Louisville 74-63
(3) Michigan State vs. (2) Duke: 9:45 p.m., CBS
The marquee coaching matchup of this tournament puts one of the best tournament coaches in history in Tom Izzo against one of the best of all-time, Mike Krzyzewski. If you are able to watch just one game tonight, this very well could be the one. There could not be two more different teams playing in the Sweet 16 than Duke and Michigan State. The Blue Devils predicate their game on a powerful offensive attack, averaging 78.3 points per game, while the Spartans average about ten points fewer. What Michigan State does well is rebound, pulling down about four more boards per game than Duke. This game will be won in the frontcourt, with Mason Plumlee and Ryan Kelly going toe-to-toe with Derrick Nix and Adreian Payne.
Prediction: Duke 73-69
SOUTH REGION – ARLINGTON
(4) Michigan vs. (1) Kansas: 7:37 p.m., TBS
After seeing what the Wolverines did to VCU and how they handled “Havoc” I am going to find it hard to go against Michigan in this matchup. Kansas has not exactly made things look easy against Western Kentucky and North Carolina early in the tournament and neither of those teams has a player like Trey Burke, who is proving once again why he is probably going to be the National Player of the Year. I think Michigan redeems the Big Ten and sends the third No.1 seed home this year.
Prediction: Michigan 76-70
(15) Florida Gulf Coast vs. (3) Florida: 9:57 p.m., TBS
How ironic would it be if this game ends at midnight? Dunk City has taken the nation by storm and is the only 15 seed in history to make the Sweet 16, but Florida Gulf Coast’s streak ends tonight. The Eagles have used two massive runs to shock both Georgetown and San Diego State, but they have not faced a defense like the Gators’ this season. With the NCAA’s third-best defensive scoring average, Florida will limit FGCU to under 60 points for the first time since Nov. 21. This Cinderella story is over.
Prediction: Florida 69-55