2009 NCAA Sweet Sixteen Predictions: Top Seeds Lead the Way

2009 NCAA Sweet 16 Predictions. All one through three seeds have advanced in the 2009 NCAA Tournament. This year has not been one for Cinderella to appear very often. Although they have had some close calls, Pitt and Louisville are still around and look to be getting stronger. Gonzaga will be attempting to take down the North Carolina Tarheels to make the Elite Eight, while Xavier will be attempting the same task against Pitt. This is the first trip back to the Sweet 16 for Missouri since 2001 and is the lowest total for seeds remaining (49) since the current 64(+1) team format was adopted.

2009 NCAA Sweet 16 Schedule and Predictions

2009 NCAA Sweet 16 Schedule - Thursday Games

5 - Purdue (27-9) - Big 10
1 - Connecticut (29-4) - Big East

Prediction: UConn 84-78

Discussion: Purdue is hot, but UConn shows greater depth and prevails in this game. It will be a close game, but the Huskies will make the Elite Eight.

4 - Xavier (27-7) - Atlantic 10
1 - Pittsburgh (30-4) - Big East

Prediction: Xavier 72-71

Discussion: I know I picked Pitt to lose the last game, but I think Xavier is clicking and if they are hot will pull the win off at the end of the game!

3 - Missouri (30-6) - Big 12
2 - Memphis (33-3) - Conf USA

Prediction: Memphis 75 - 69

Discussion: Memphis hasn't lost since before Christmas and they are hitting 3's and Free Throws. Anyone say "Final Four"?

3 - Villanova (28-7) - Big East
2 - Duke (30-6) - ACC

Prediction: Duke 81-76

Discussion: The Blue Devils are on a roll. This game could very well come down to who is hitting free throws and who is not though.

2009 NCAA Sweet 16 Schedule -Friday Games

12 - Arizona (21-13) - PAC 10
1 - Louisville (30-5) - Big East

Prediction: Louisville 75-63

Discussion: The Cardinals show that we just saw some rust in their 2^nd round performance and step up to the plate to get to the Elite 8. Rick Pitino attempts to be the first coach to win a National Championship at Louisville and Kentucky.

3 - Syracuse (28-9) - Big East
2 - Oklahoma (29-5) - Big 12

Prediction: Oklahoma 81 - 74

Discussion: The Orangemen can't match the Sooners inside. They'll attempt to take advantage of their better back court, but it just isn't enough to win.

3 - Kansas (27-7) - Big 12
2 - Michigan State (28-6) - Big 10

Prediction: Kansas 68-64

Discussion: It'll be close, but the Jayhawks who weren't supposed to get this far at the start of the season show they are Elite Eight material against Michigan State.

4 - Gonzaga (28-5)
1 - North Carolina (30-4) - ACC

Prediction: North Carolina 84-70

Discussion: The Tar Heels are just too much for Gonzaga. Everyone loves to see David overcome Goliath, but it won't happen this year. Expect Ty Lawson to have a big game now that he's back up to full speed.

Refs:
http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/schedules?date=20090326
http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/schedules?date=20090327
http://www.collegehoopsvideo.com/Mens/NCAA/March_Madness/Final_Four/pittsburgh-downs-oklahoma-state-84-76
http://www.collegehoopsvideo.com/north-carolina-tar-heels-2/
http://www.collegehoopsvideo.com/Mens/NCAA/March_Madness/Final_Four/williams-big-night-helps-rally-louisville-by-siena
http://www.collegehoopsvideo.com/memphis-tigers-2/
http://www.collegehoopsvideo.com/oklahoma-sooners/
http://www.collegehoopsvideo.com/connecticut-huskies-basketball/
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/1586350/2009_ncaa_sweet_sixteen_schedule_all.html?cat=14