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NCAA Tournament 2019: Top takeaways from 2nd half of Round of 32 games

By Brian Rauf

COLUMBIA, SOUTH CAROLINA - MARCH 24: Zion Williamson #1 of the Duke Blue Devils celebrates with his teammates after defeating the UCF Knights in the second round game of the 2019 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Colonial Life Arena on March 24, 2019 in Columbia, South Carolina. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
COLUMBIA, SOUTH CAROLINA - MARCH 24: Zion Williamson #1 of the Duke Blue Devils celebrates with his teammates after defeating the UCF Knights in the second round game of the 2019 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Colonial Life Arena on March 24, 2019 in Columbia, South Carolina. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /
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TULSA, OKLAHOMA – MARCH 24: Corey Davis Jr. #5 of the Houston Cougars and teammates walk back to the bench during the first half of the second round game of the 2019 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament against the Ohio State Buckeyes at BOK Center on March 24, 2019 in Tulsa, Oklahoma. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
TULSA, OKLAHOMA – MARCH 24: Corey Davis Jr. #5 of the Houston Cougars and teammates walk back to the bench during the first half of the second round game of the 2019 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament against the Ohio State Buckeyes at BOK Center on March 24, 2019 in Tulsa, Oklahoma. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /

7) Houston‘s guards can carry them

You often hear about how teams with experienced guard play are best suited to make long runs in the NCAA Tournament. That’s largely true, and Houston has a backcourt that is one of the most experienced and talented of any that will be playing in the Sweet 16.

Corey Davis Jr. has been Houston’s go-to scorer all season long and showed up again on Sunday, scoring a game-high 21 points in their win over Ohio State. Then there’s Armoni Brooks, another upperclassman who is the only other Cougars player averaging double-figure points. Point guard Galen Robinson Jr. leads Houston in assists and steals and, for good measure, they have third-leading scorer Dejon Jarreau coming off the bench.

The play of those four has helped turn Houston from just being one of the best teams in the American to being one of the best teams in the country, period.

Ohio State had no answer for them as the outplayed the Buckeyes’ backcourt on both ends of the floor. That’s the thing about Houston’s guards, too – all of them are high quality defenders.

They now head into the Sweet 16 against Kentucky with a potential advantage in this area. Look for them to try to exploit Kentucky’s youth and inexperience in this area.

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