NCAA Basketball: Mock 2020 NCAA Tournament Sweet Sixteen predictions
1) Kansas Jayhawks vs 4) Louisville Cardinals
David Ackert
Kansas on paper, in most metrics and in almost every poll… is the number 1 team in the country. So it’s no shock that the Number 1 over-all seeded Jayhawks find themselves in the Sweet 16, once again. They’re set to take on a Louisville team that could’ve made an argument for a 2 or 3 seed. So Kansas may have drawn a short straw here, having to play such a tough team, essentially a round earlier. But no game from here on out is going to be easy by any standard.
Kansas has an amazing All-American duo, both Udoka Azubuike and Devon Dotson have been First Team caliber players all season long. They’ve been so good that they may have stolen votes from each other for POY type awards. Azubuike leads the country in effective FG% at 74.4% which is up there for an all-time high near last year’s star Taco Fall (74.8%). Dotson in his sophomore campaign played as one of the best all-around point guards, not only in the Big 12 but in the country. So much so that he’s continuing to make a case to leave for the coming NBA Draft. Pre-season I said if Azubuike was healthy, Baylor might win the Big 12 but Kansas would be my pick to win the whole thing. If Dotson stays around next year, the same case might be said yet again.
Now, in what is only Chris Mack’s 2nd season at Louisville he already finds himself with a Top 10 quality team in the Sweet 16 vs the number 1 overall seeded Kansas Jayhawks. A tough task for the 4th seed Cardinals. Good thing they have Jordan Nwora and one of the best three-point shooting teams in the country. The Cardinals rank 15th in the nation in 3P% at 37.6% and getting hot from behind the arch is certainly an advantage when it comes to these ‘win or go home’ games in the Big Dance.
In March, the ‘best team’ doesn’t always win. I think the ball rolls on the rim the right way for Louisville on this day and stops the Jayhawks’ national title run in its tracks. Louisville knocks off the title favorites in one of the most exciting games of the season.
Louisville 68, Kansas 66
Joey Loose
It’s hard to look at Kansas and find a point where this team truly slipped up. They’ve played basketball at an elite level all season long, while Louisville certainly stumbled a bit in the closing weeks of ACC play. The key to Louisville upending the Jayhawks sits on the shoulders of Jordan Nwora. The Louisville defense has been great for most of the season, but do they have the ability to go up and down the court, dealing with Azubuike, Dotson, and the rest of this Kansas talent?
The Cardinals are the better outside shooting team; if they get hot from 3, anything can happen. However, I see Kansas pulling out another exciting victory against a quality opponent, moving them to the Elite Eight.
Kansas 74, Louisville 70
Jacob Salcido
We get a clash of two proud programs in this Sweet Sixteen match-up. Kansas is absolutely rolling, while Louisville has figured enough out to get to this point, after struggling at times during ACC conference play. Expect to see a battle of star players in this one. Devon Dotson and Udoka Azubuike have been incredible for the Jayhawks this season, while junior forward Jordan Nwora has put up impressive stats for the Cardinals.
This game has to be won in the paint, and with Azubuike, that is no easy task for Louisville. The Cardinals have a solid first half as senior center Steve Enoch goes toe to toe with Udoka Azubuike. Alas, Devin Dotson proves to be the difference-maker and dominates Louisville’s defense in the second half. Bill Self and his crew continue their impressive run, earning a spot in the Elite Eight.