NCAA Tournament 2012: Sweet 16 Predictions: Midwest Region

(1) North Carolina (31-5) vs. (13) Ohio (28-7) – 7:47PM ET, St. Louis, MO, TBS

We all know the big questions/problems for the Tar Heels. Will Kendall Marshall play with a broken right wrist? If he does play, will he be effective?

I have never heard of a basketball player playing so soon after breaking his/her wrist, so I will remain skeptical of Marshall’s return for this tournament.

With or without Marshall in the line-up, most suspect that North Carolina has enough to handle poor little Ohio from the MAC. However, I doubt, and I’m sure coach Roy Williams doubts that it will be that simple.

Yes, North Carolina is loaded at every position other than point guard. But, who will play the point guard spot for them. When you look at the roster without Marshall and without the previously injured Dexter Strickland, there doesn’t seem to be another player even mildly capable of handling the position.

All of the studs on the Carolina squad are used to being fed the ball in the proper positions for them to score. That will obviously be a bit harder to accomplish from here on out.

Another problem for UNC is that Ohio is a guard-driven outfit led by D.J. Cooper (15pts, 6asts, 4rbs) and Walter Offutt (12ppg). The Bobcats have won 10 of their last 11 games and beat two pretty good teams – Michigan & South Florida – to get here. However, Ohio’s frontline will have to step up and play above their heads, both literally and figuratively, in order to pull off the upset.

Even without a point guard, North Carolina’s frontline should be a bit too much for Ohio, but just a bit.

Prediction: North Carolina 73, Ohio 69.