Busting Brackets
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NCAA Tournament: Virginia, Tennessee, Purdue and Oregon remain in South Region

By John Szymendera

COLUMBUS, OHIO - MARCH 24: The Tennessee Volunteers huddle prior to their game against the Iowa Hawkeyes in the Second Round of the NCAA Basketball Tournament at Nationwide Arena on March 24, 2019 in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
COLUMBUS, OHIO - MARCH 24: The Tennessee Volunteers huddle prior to their game against the Iowa Hawkeyes in the Second Round of the NCAA Basketball Tournament at Nationwide Arena on March 24, 2019 in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) /
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PHOENIX, ARIZONA – DECEMBER 09: Grant Williams #2 of the Tennessee Volunteers during the first half of the game against the Gonzaga Bulldogs at Talking Stick Resort Arena on December 9, 2018 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
PHOENIX, ARIZONA – DECEMBER 09: Grant Williams #2 of the Tennessee Volunteers during the first half of the game against the Gonzaga Bulldogs at Talking Stick Resort Arena on December 9, 2018 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /

Key storylines and questions

Will Kyle Guy’s shooting form return?

Guy is in one of the biggest shooting slumps of his career. As a player relied upon almost primarily for his shooting abilities, the Cavaliers can not afford to wait much longer for Guy to return to form. While Guy is someone who has to be chased constantly by the other teams best perimeter defender, he needs to make his opponents pay on the scoreboard, not just with their energy and effort.

Kenny Wooten versus Mamadi Diakite

Wooten and Diakite are both playing the best ball of their careers, and they could not be more similar in play style. Both are long and athletic and block shots unlike anyone else in the tournament. They will be matched up against each other and it will be interesting to see if one can get the upper hand. It could be a block party in the paint on both sides of the court, and the guards of both teams with need to rethink their strategies when driving the ball. On the other hand, perhaps both teams will be prepared for the other’s shot blocking forwards after facing off against their own in practice all season long.

Can Purdue stifle Grant Williams down low?

Williams is the top offensive post presence in the region, and the SEC player of the year. Averaging 18.8 points and 7.5 rebounds, Williams does most of his damage in the paint. Purdue does not have the perfect answer for Williams and do not have a dominant scorer in the paint themselves, but the task of slowing down Williams will likely begin with 7’3” sophomore center Matt Haarms. He has shot blocking ability but only has a fifteen pound weight advantage over the 6’7” Williams. We will see if he can avoid being pushed around down low or whether someone else will step in for the Boilermakers.

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