NCAA Basketball: Mock 2020 NCAA Tournament Sweet Sixteen predictions
6) Virginia Cavaliers vs 7) Houston Cougars
Collin Helwig
This matchup sees two teams appearing almost identical facing off. First and foremost, both squads pride themselves on their defensive efforts, as no team has limited their opponents offensively this season more than Virginia, allowing just 52.4 points per game, while Houston respectively owns the 12th highest mark, allowing just 62.1 points per game. Furthermore, these teams lack any real offensive firepower, with both teams lacking a scorer averaging above 14.0 PPG.
The rebounding factor draws perhaps the only split between these programs though, as Houston ranks amongst the NCAA’s top 15, while Virginia struggles as the 299th best team off the glass. With everything else canceling each other out, Houston’s astute rebounding will help them dethrone the defending champs in a close contest.
Houston 59, Virginia 57
Jake Matteson
If you enjoyed the excitement of Obi Topping doing what he does, then I have the thing for you…Virginia basketball!
This match-up is intriguing in the sense that it’s two teams who mirror one another. In January, Houston was red hot but struggled down the stretch whereas in January Virginia was struggling then closed out the season super strong. In fact, there was a point where Virginia might’ve been a bubble team and then going 8-0 to close the season with wins over Duke and Louisville quelled those who might’ve had them out of the field.
Houston has enjoyed Freshman Caleb Mills thus far this season. Along with former Jayhawk, Quentin Grimes and Nate Hinton, the Cougars backcourt is an impressive unit.
But for Houston, this match-up is not favorable. 249th in Effective FG% and 291st in 2pt%, Houston can play ugly, but you can’t afford to play ugly when you face UVA. This place right into Tony Bennett’s favor.
Behind the scoring of Mamadi Diakite, the do-it-all game of Kihei Clark, the rim protection of the big-bodied Jay Huff, and the rebounding production of Braxton Key, the Cavaliers find ways to balance and delegate their attack.
There’s no one better at winning a game on the defensive end in college basketball than the UVA Cavaliers.
Virginia 62, Houston 59
Jake Verboven
Houston is a hard team to gauge this season. They have a plethora of guards with the ability to put the ball in the basket but have been extremely inconsistent over the course of the season. For such an undersized team they also have the ability to rebound the ball really well (3rd in the country), but the size of the Virginia frontcourt will be a different type of challenge for the Cougars. Their playstyle also plays right into Virginia’s hands. A type of game tempo that would make the old Princeton coach, Peter Carril, smile (AdjT 260 compared to UVA 353).
Everyone knows about Tony Bennett and his pack-line defense that has caused problems for the most prolific scoring teams over the years. Like clockwork over these past few years, Tony Bennett has his team playing their best basketball in March as they are winners of 10 straight coming into this one. The Cavaliers struggle to score (351st in PPG), but their top two scorers have been in the big moment. Diakite and Clark were both key contributors on last year’s national championship team and will make the plays they need to in crunch time.