These teams just met in their conference tournament. State isn’t here at all if it loses that game to Duke, but the Blue Devils didn’t show up in that game. Will this be different?
Welcome to my Quick Picks column, where I hand out winners, winners, and more winners every day. I fire off picks on everything from college hoops to the NHL.
While the Volunteers were only able to hurt Purdue with Dalton Knecht and Jordan Gainey the first time, the Boilers got contributions from the entire lineup. If both teams play a cleaner game than what happened in November, Purdue would have the edge.
The last time N.C. State reached this level, the Wolfpack found themselves on the wrong end of a heartbreaker. This time, the Wolfpack face the anaconda that is the Texas defense.
South Carolina is still here, and the Gamecocks are still around to try to get back to the Final Four. And they’ll get to try to do it against Oregon State, which survived its own battle against a school from Indiana. The Beavers managed to survive 26 turnovers against Notre Dame, escaping with a win.
Same time, next year, as Iowa and Colorado meet in the Sweet 16. This time, however, the nation’s eyes are focused on this game because of Caitlin Clark, and the Buffaloes are wearing the black hats.
Both teams are in the Elite Eight for just the second time in school history, as Clemson last got here in 1980 and Alabama made it in 2004. Both fell at this hurdle, which means the winner will make their first Final Four trip ever.
Welcome to my Quick Picks column, where I hand out winners, winners, and more winners every day. I fire off picks on everything from college hoops to the NHL.
Same time, next year, as Iowa and Colorado meet in the Sweet 16. This time, however, the nation’s eyes are focused on this game because of Caitlin Clark, and the Buffaloes are wearing the black hats.