A look at the four matchups, with each school’s likely starters and analysis from Globe sports editor Joe Sullivan.
Regional: East. Time: 7:15 p.m. Seed, record/last 10: 2. Miami (29-6/7-3); 3. Marquette (25-8/8-2).
No. | Marquette | Ht. | PPG | RPG |
---|---|---|---|---|
54 | Davante Gardner | 6-8 | 11.3 | 4.8 |
42 | Chris Otule | 6-11 | 5.0 | 3.5 |
5 | Junior Cadougan | 6-1 | 8.6 | 2.9 |
22 | Trent Lockett | 6-5 | 7.2 | 4.9 |
13 | Vander Blue | 6-4 | 14.8 | 3.2 |
Miami | ||||
45 | Julian Gamble | 6-10 | 6.5 | 4.9 |
35 | Kenny Kadji | 6-11 | 13.0 | 6.9 |
4 | Trey McKinney Jones | 6-5 | 9.2 | 3.4 |
1 | Durand Scott | 6-5 | 13.2 | 3.9 |
0 | Shane Larkin | 5-11 | 14.5 | 3.8 |
Analysis: Miami will be without center Reggie Johnson (minor knee surgery), and that could open the lane for Marquette’s 290-pound big man, “Twinkle Toes” Gardner, who’s a load in the paint and makes his free throws. Johnson could have matched up with him. Now the Hurricanes will have to figure something else out. The guard matchup, Miami’s Larkin and Marquette’s Blue, could decide the game. Both of these teams have won their share of close ones. Johnson’s absence will be felt.
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Regional: East. Time: 9:45 p.m. Seed, record/last 10: 1. Indiana (29-6/7-3); 4. Syracuse (28-9/6-4).
No. | Indiana | Ht. | PPG | RPG |
---|---|---|---|---|
2 | Christian Watford | 6-9 | 12.3 | 6.3 |
40 | Cody Zeller | 7-0 | 16.7 | 8.0 |
1 | Jordan Hulls | 6-0 | 9.9 | 2.3 |
4 | Victor Oladipo | 6-5 | 13.6 | 6.4 |
11 | Yogi Ferrell | 6-0 | 7.8 | 2.8 |
Syracuse | ||||
43 | James Southerland | 6-8 | 13.7 | 5.3 |
5 | C.J. Fair | 6-8 | 14.5 | 6.9 |
20 | Brandon Triche | 6-4 | 13.8 | 3.4 |
1 | M. Carter-Williams | 6-6 | 11.8 | 4.8 |
25 | Rakeem Christmas | 6-9 | 5.3 | 4.7 |
Analysis: The Hoosiers were taken to the limit by Temple; Syracuse advanced through two games easily. The Orange are supremely talented, especially Fair but they’ve been inconsistent at times. Indiana’s weakness is depth. but what the Hoosiers have is great balance and smart play. Syracuse’s 2-3 zone has been known to baffle opponents, but Indiana has both the smarts and skill to combat it. The Hoosiers will also want to push the pace.
Regional: West. Time: 7:47 p.m. Seed, record/last 10: 6. Arizona (27-7/7-3); 2. Ohio St. (28-7/10-0).
No. | Arizona | Ht. | PPG | RPG |
---|---|---|---|---|
44 | Solomon Hill | 6-7 | 13.3 | 5.4 |
35 | Kaleb Tarczewski | 7-0 | 6.6 | 6.2 |
2 | Mark Lyons | 6-1 | 15.4 | 2.0 |
3 | Kevin Parrom | 6-6 | 8.3 | 4.9 |
13 | Nick Johnson | 6-3 | 11.6 | 3.5 |
Ohio St. | ||||
1 | Deshaun Thomas | 6-7 | 19.7 | 6.1 |
12 | Sam Thompson | 6-7 | 7.8 | 3.4 |
23 | Amir Williams | 6-11 | 3.6 | 3.9 |
4 | Aaron Craft | 6-2 | 10.0 | 3.4 |
32 | Lenzelle Smith, Jr. | 6-4 | 9.4 | 4.8 |
Analysis: Arizona has been stupendous in routing Belmont and Harvard in its first two games. Ohio State took care of Iona fairly easily, but then needed a controversial call to escape from Iowa State. The big matchup in this game is Arizona’s high-scoring Lyons vs. Ohio State’s Craft, perhaps the best individual defender in the tournament. If Craft can knock Lyons off his game, the Buckeyes will be well on their way to victory.
Regional: West. Time: 10:17 p.m. Seed, record/last 10: 9. Wichita St. (28-8/7-3); 13. La Salle (24-9/7-3).
No. | Wichita St. | Ht. | PPG | RPG |
---|---|---|---|---|
22 | Carl Hall | 6-8 | 12.6 | 6.9 |
21 | Ehimen Orukpe | 7-0 | 2.8 | 4.4 |
2 | Malcom Armstead | 6-0 | 10.6 | 3.7 |
31 | Ron Baker | 6-3 | 8.3 | 2.8 |
32 | Tekele Cotton | 6-2 | 6.3 | 3.9 |
La Salle | ||||
25 | Jarrell Wright | 6-8 | 10.7 | 6.8 |
55 | Ramon Galloway | 6-3 | 17.4 | 4.5 |
3 | Tyreek Duren | 6-0 | 14.4 | 2.9 |
10 | Sam Mills | 6-2 | 8.0 | 2.6 |
1 | D.J. Peterson | 6-5 | 4.0 | 2.5 |
Analysis: Which underdog do you like? Wichita State was unworldly in upsetting No. 1 seed Gonzaga, but it took seven straight 3-pointers in the second half to do it. The Wheat Shockers are a physical team that likes to keep things contained in the halfcourt on both ends. La Salle will play four guards, penetrating with the dribble and finding open shooters is how to succeed. It will come down to who dictates the pace. If La Salle’s guards can get rolling, Wichita State might not be able to keep up. If Wichita State turns this into a physical confrontation, the Shockers will win.
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