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NCAA Tournament Predictions: East Region: 7. Illinois vs. 10. Colorado
- Updated: March 18, 2013
Guard Brandon Paul (Chicago Tribune)
7 Illinois (22-12, 8-10 Big Ten)- The Fighting Illini are led by 6-4 senior guard Brandon Paul, who averages 16.6 points per game. Paul is a terrific scorer and has the ability to completely take over games, as he did in the Illini’s first-round Big Ten Tournament game against Minnesota, when he scored 25 points and knocked down the game-winner. Besides Paul, senior guard D.J. Richardson is a consistent scoring option, putting up 12.6 points per game. Tyler Griffey is a do-everything big man who makes plenty of hustle plays and could be the key to an Illini run.
The Illini have had one of the strangest seasons in college basketball. They ascended into the Top 10 in the national rankings after a 12-0 start that included a win at Gonzaga. But then, they hit the skids losing 8 of 11 and falling to a dreadful 2-7 in conference. They rebounded with five straight wins, though, including a victory over Indiana. This is a good basketball team that played in the toughest conference in America.
KEY STATS:
317th Assists Per Game (10.2)
6th Strength of Schedule
166th Field Goal Percentage Defense (42.7)
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Guard Spencer Dinwiddie (AP Photo/Dean Hare)
10 Colorado Buffaloes (21-11, 10-8 Pac-12)-The move to the Pac-12 has worked out well for the Buffs, who will make their second consecutive tournament appearance as a memberof that conference after appearing just twice in 13 years in the Big 12. Colorado had an up-and-down season and probably doesn’t deserve to be as safely in the field as their 10-seed would suggest. Still, this is a very talented team. The Buffaloes are led by sophomore guard Spencer Dinwiddie, who averages 15.6 points and 3 assists per game. 6-7 forward Andre Roberson came on strong last season and was named RoundballDaily’s Pac-12 Player of the Year. He is a high-flyer with tremendous athletic ability. He also averages a double-double (10.9 points, 11.3 rebounds) and could give the Illinois front line a lot of trouble.
Colorado is an extremely young team, with only one senior on the roster. Still, the Buffs have the talent to make a run in the NCAAs. It’s hard to see them getting past Miami, though.
KEY STATS:
328th Assists Per Game (10.0)
60th Rebounds Per Game (37.2)
155th Field Goal Percentage (.436)
Stats courtesy www.espn.com and www.statsheet.com.
PREDICTION: Illinois
