NCAA Tournament 2023: Ranking all 16 Second Round matchups
By Joey Loose
12. 2 Marquette vs. 7 Michigan State
It feels like Michigan State goes on a deep Tournament run every few years, but we can only focus on what this year’s squad has accomplished. Tom Izzo doesn’t have his most talented roster, depending on players like Joey Hauser and Tyson Walker instead of some of the bigtime stars he’s head in recent years. Still, the Spartans were very good in a 72-62 win against USC and will hope to continue a recent trend of efficient offensive play.
Unfortunately for them, they’re running into an offensive buzz saw, as Marquette won both the regular season and tournament titles in the Big East. They took care of Vermont with a 78-61 victory and have an All-American in point guard Tyler Kolek, a transfer from George Mason. The Golden Eagles have a more talented starting rotation and are one of the nation’s hottest teams, winning 10 straight games and 15 of their last 16. Kam Jones had 19 points against Vermont; whose turn is it to star against these Spartans?
11. 3 Xavier vs. 11 Pittsburgh
What may have seemed like a joke in the preseason has actually come to pass: Pittsburgh is not only in the NCAA Tournament but have already won a pair of games, besting Mississippi State in the First Four and getting a shocking 59-41 upset over Iowa State in the first round on Friday. The Panthers did their most recent work with impressive defense, while they’ll need Jamarius Burton and the rest of this offense to step up after a few sloppy and ugly-looking victories.
Xavier has been far less sloppy and has been an offensive juggernaut at times this season, though they struggled mightily, trailing by double-digits late before pulling out a 72-67 win against Kennesaw State. Will that late run by the Musketeers give them the confidence they need in this one? What we do know is that Souley Boum has had a phenomenal season and this Musketeers team is flooded with talent even with Zach Freemantle out for the season.