- Paris Olympics takeaways: What did Team USA’s crunch-time lineup say about NBA’s hierarchy?Posted 3 months ago
- Zach Edey posted an easy double-double in Summer League debut. Here’s why he’ll succeed in NBAPosted 5 months ago
- What will we most remember these champion Boston Celtics for?Posted 5 months ago
- After long, seven-year road filled with excruciating losses, Celtics’ coast to NBA title felt ‘surreal’Posted 5 months ago
- South Florida men’s basketball is on an unbelievable heater– but also still on the bubblePosted 9 months ago
- Kobe Bufkin is balling out for Atlanta Hawks’ G League team. When will he be called up to NBA?Posted 10 months ago
- Former Knicks guards Immanuel Quickley, RJ Barrett may yet prove Raptors won the OG Anunoby tradePosted 11 months ago
- Rebounding savant Oscar Tshiebwe finally gets NBA chance he’s deserved for yearsPosted 11 months ago
- Is Tyrese Maxey vs. Tyrese Haliburton the next great NBA guard rivalry?Posted 1 year ago
- The Detroit Pistons are going to be a problem in a few yearsPosted 1 year ago
NCAA Tournament Predictions: 8. Pittsburgh vs. 9. Wichita State
- Updated: March 18, 2013
Tray Woodall
Pittsburgh (24-8, 12-6 Big East)- The Panthers rebounded from a down 2012 by winning 24 games and finishing at No. 17 in the national rankings. Pittsburgh doesn’t have any huge wins (save for a home victory over then-No. 6 Syracuse), but they won the games they were supposed to.
They’re led by do-everything senior guard Tray Woodall, who averages 11.7 points and 5.8 assists per game. He’s a crunch-time shooter and excellent facilitator. But beyond him, the Panthers don’t have much that scares you. Juniors Lamar Patterson and Talib Zanna are the team’s next leading scorers, each average just under 10 points per game. If Woodall is off, Pitt is downright easy to knock off.
KEY STATS:
8th Assists Per Game (16.7)
15th Field Goal Percentage (.479)
146th Rebounds Per Game (35.2)
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Forward Cleanthony Early
9 Wichita State (26-8, 12-6 Missouri Valley)-Wichita State is a grind-it-out, in-your-shorts defensive team that likes to muddy the game up. Their offensive numbers look bad on paper. Wichita State ranks 117th in points per game (69.4), 115th in field goal percentage (.443) and 111th in assists (13.8). But hey, they play good defense!
Cleanthony Early is their best player. With a name like Cleanthony Early, he’s got to be good. And he is, averaging 13.6 points and 5.6 rebounds per game. The less excitingly-named Carl Hall also puts up 12.8 points and 7.2 boards per game for the Shockers.
KEY STATS:
117th Points Per Game (69.4)
27th Rebounds Per Game (38.4)
PREDICTION: Wichita State
Pingback: Predictions for the NCAA Tournament Bracket