5 THINGS WE’LL LEARN
1N.C. State (8) vs. Louisville (4) in East Regional semifinals in Syracuse. Just another ACC game late in March. Rick Pitino is a classic tournament coach who won a national championship in 2013. We can only imagine the nightmare scenario in Lexington if he takes the Cardinals to a fourth Final Four and Kentucky doesn’t make it. Cards are much more cohesive since Pitino plugged in guard Quentin Snider for dismissed Chris Jones.
2Michigan State (7) vs. Oklahoma (3) at East Regional semis in Syracuse. Look for Michigan State guard Travis Trice, who had 28 points in Round of 32 victory over No. 2 seed Virginia, to continue to be the big shotmaker for resurgent Sparty, which is starting to come on after holding Virginia to just 30% shooting. Trice will have to shine in an uptempo game where the winner will need to score at least 80 points.
3Duke (1) vs. Utah (4) in South Regional semifinals in Houston. This could be an upset special. There’s a new Coach K in town and his name is Larry Krystkowiak, who has maxed out the talents of guard Delon Wright, and has the offensive and defensive balance to pull off the school’s biggest win since 1998 when the late Rick Majerus coached the Utes to an upset victory over Arizona in the West region finals.
4The Blue Devils are the best offensive team in the country when their three freshman − 6-11 Jahlil Okafor, forward Justice Winslow and point guard Tyus Jones − are playing at the top of their games. Duke will need at last 45 from them to advance.
5Gonzaga (2) vs UCLA (11) in South Regional semis in Houston. UCLA is lucky to be here, given that questionable first-round finish against SMU (Was that really goaltending?) The Bruins are now playing against a WCC team that beat them by 13 in December and have only gotten better with the emergence of 6-10 freshman Domantas Sabonis as an updated verson of Kelly Olynyk.