The Alley-Oop

The Madness has begun in college basketball. This is the last weekend of the regular season and we are just nine short days away from the field of 65 being announced. Bubble teams are furiously fighting for their lives, while others try to wrap up seeding. Many bubble teams have great chances this weekend to add huge resume wins. There are some great games this weekend, Connecticut looks to avenge their earlier loss at home to Pittsburgh, and the greatest rivalry in college basketball resumes as Duke travels to North Carolina.

Saturday

#1 Connecticut (27-2, 15-2) at #4 Pittsburgh (27-3, 14-3)

A few weeks ago Pitt traveled to UCONN and Pitt forward DeJuan Blair absolutely dominated UCONN C Hasheem Thabeet. That is what the game will come down to this time as well. Whoever wins the battle between Blair and Thabeet will be on the winning team. Pittsburgh may also be without G Levance Fields who hit a huge 3 point bucket late in the first meeting. I think Thabeet will be ready to make up for the last meeting between these teams and lead UCONN to victory.

Prediction: Connecticut 77, Pittsburgh 74

Tulane (13-15, 7-8) at #3 Memphis (27-3, 15-0)

On the back of their easy Conference USA schedule it appears Memphis will get a number one seed once again. We will really find out just how good Memphis is in a few weeks.

Prediction: Memphis 85, Tulane 58

Oklahoma State (20-9, 9-6) at #5 Oklahoma (26-4, 12-3)

The Cowboys are on fire, winners of 6 in a row and have gone from NCAA Tournament afterthought to perhaps being a win away from lock status. Not only would a win guarantee them a berth in the NCAA Tournament it would come at the expense of their hated rivals, the Sooners. The Sooners have struggled as of late, dropping 3 of 4. The Cowboys must limit Sooner forward Blake Griffin, while the Sooners will have to contend with Cowboys guard James Anderson. Home court will make the difference.

Prediction: Oklahoma 84, Oklahoma State 76

#6 Louisville (24-5, 15-2) at West Virginia (21-9, 10-7)

A Louisville win and a Connecticut loss would give the Cardinals an outright Big East championship. West Virginia is in pretty good shape to make the NCAA Tournament but a win here would make them a lock. The Cardinals win with balance, led by G-F Earl Clark, and forwards Terrence Williams and Samardo Samuels. The Mountaineers main man is F Da'Sean Butler. This will be a tough place for the Cardinals to win, and they have fallen flat on the road before (see embarrassing loss at Notre Dame) but the stakes are too high for them not to show up in this one.

Prediction: Louisville 75, West Virginia 73

Texas (20-9, 9-6) at #9 Kansas (24-6, 13-2)

Kansas has already clinched the Big 12 regular season championship and are coming off an embarrassing loss at Texas Tech. Luckily for them they will be at home against Texas, who is absolutely dreadful on the road. Kansas finishes the year unbeaten at home.

Prediction: Kansas 79, Texas 65

#11 LSU (25-5, 13-2) at Auburn (20-10, 9-6)

Auburn might be able to stamp themselves an NCAA ticket with a win at home against the other Tigers of LSU. LSU had been on a roll before being shocked at home by Vanderbilt earlier this week. Homecourt, plus more motivation, equals upset win for Auburn.

Prediction: Auburn 76, LSU 70

#12 Missouri (25-5, 12-3) at Texas A & M (22-8, 8-7)

Texas A & M sits squarely on the bubble going into this one. The Aggies have won five in a row and much like Oklahoma State have gone from being out of the tournament discussion to right in the forefront. The Tigers put up over 80 points a game but Texas A & M is capable of playing outstanding defense. The Aggies will have to limit Tigers F DeMarre Carroll's opportunities.

Prediction: Texas A & M 76, Missouri 75

Washington State (16-13, 8-9) at #13 Washington (23-7, 13-4)

I have doubted Washington before but they are proving to be perhaps the best team out West. The Cougars are getting hot a little too late, winners of three in a row, but have dug themselves too much of a hole to make the tournament. Guards Isaiah Thomas and Justin Dentmon, along with forward Jon Brockman will be too much for the Cougars.

Prediction: Washington 68, Washington State 65

#25 Syracuse (22-8, 10-7) at #15 Marquette (23-7, 12-5)

Marquette is in a bit of a freefall, losers of three in a row. This should be a fun matchup to watch, the Orange's guards, Jonny Flynn and Eric Devendorf versus the Golden Eagles guards, Jerel McNeal and Wesley Matthews. Even though the Orange have a three game winning streak going into this one, I like the Golden Eagles.

Prediction: Marquette 87, Syracuse 77

Oregon (8-21, 2-15) at #17 UCLA (23-7, 12-5)

Easy tuneup game for the Bruins as they head into the Pac-10 Tournament.

Prediction: UCLA 85, Oregon 62

#18 Xavier (25-5, 12-3) at Richmond (16-14, 8-7)

Xavier has a quick turnaround after last night's emotional win against Dayton. I think they will start slow but finish fast against the Spiders.

Prediction: Xavier 77, Richmond 64

Sunday

#7 Duke (25-5, 11-4) at #2 North Carolina (26-3, 12-3)

As if this rivalry needed any extra dimension added to it, the ACC regular season championship is on the line. If Duke wins they will share the ACC crown with Carolina, if Carolina wins, they will have recovered from an 0-2 conference start to win the ACC outright. This game will come down to which team is hotter offensively. If the Tar Heels are on their offensive game, and Ty Lawson, Danny Green, and Wayne Ellington are hitting shots the Blue Devils have no chance. The Blue Devils will need great games out of Kyle Singler and Gerald Henderson. The insertion of G Elliot Williams into the starting lineup has carried Duke to five wins in a row. He will be a new matchup for the Heels. Not going to make a difference, like you really expected me to pick Duke to win this one?

Prediction: North Carolina 93, Duke 88

#20 Purdue (22-8, 11-6) at #8 Michigan State (24-5, 14-3)

Nothing much on the line in this one as the Spartans have already ran away with the Big Ten regular season title. Big Ten basketball is boring.

Prediction: Michigan State 65, Purdue 58

#19 Clemson (23-6, 9-6) at #10 Wake Forest (23-5, 10-5)

Wake has won five of six and already defeated Clemson on the road earlier this season. Jeff Teague for the win for the Deacons.

Prediction: Wake Forest 79, Clemson 77

Virginia Tech (17-12, 7-8) at #24 Florida State (22-8, 9-6)

The Hokies NCAA Tournament hopes are hanging by a thread. Trying to resuscitate them at Florida State is not a good idea. Seminoles guard Toney Douglas is the real deal. The Seminoles could be a sleeper in the NCAA Tournament.

Prediction: Florida State 73, Virginia Tech 68

Record: 78-23