Friday’s NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 previews, game times, TV information
SOUTH REGION
At Houston
No. 11 UCLA vs. No. 2 Gonzaga. 6:15 p.m. (CBS)
The Bruins needed a goal-tending call on a three-pointer to beat SMU and then beat No. 14 seed UAB to reach their second straight Sweet 16. Bryce Alford had two huge games in Louisville. He scored 23 points against Gonzaga in a 87-74 loss at Pauley Pavilion on Dec. 13. Tony Parker was huge versus the Blazers with 28 points. Gonzaga is rolling offensively behind Kyle Wiltjer and UCLA won’t be interested in trying to slow down the Bulldogs.
▪ Pick: Gonzaga 94-88
No. 5 Utah vs. No. 1 Duke, about 8:45 p.m. (CBS)
Coach K vs. Coach K. Krzyzewski vs. Krystkowiak. The Utes’ Delon Wright is a 6-6 point guard who gives any opponent matchup problems, but Duke’s Justise Winslow has been terrific since moving to power forward. Jahlil Okafor is one of the nation’s best big men, and his attention allows Winslow and Quinn Cook to shoot 40 percent on threes. Utah 7-footer Jakob Poeltl will try to slow Okafor, and Utah has a solid post defense.
▪ Pick: Duke 67-65
EAST REGION
At Syracuse, N.Y.
No. 8 North Carolina State vs. No. 4 Louisville, 6:37 p.m. (TBS)
The Wolfpack won at Louisville earlier this season, and they have one of the best backcourts remaining in the field, led by Anthony “Cat” Barber. Louisville coach Rick Pitino has lost once in a dozen Sweet 16 games, and it happened last year against Kentucky. Terry Rozier is carrying the Cardinals in the tournament. He had 25 of Louisville’s 66 points in the victory over Northern Iowa.
▪ Pick: North Carolina State 71-68
No. 7 Michigan State vs. No. 3 Oklahoma, about 9:07 (TBS)
Suddenly, Michigan State is playing terrific defense, and just in time. They’ve held Georgia and Virginia to a combined 28 percent from the field. Oklahoma has reached its first Sweet 16 since 2009 with an effective fast-break offense and coach Lon Kruger’s defense is much improved over last season. Oklahoma guard Buddy Hield is looking to regain his shooting touch. He’s six for his last 30 from three-point range. Coach Tom Izzo is in the Sweet 16 for the seventh time in eight years.
▪ Pick: Oklahoma 68-67
To reach Blair Kerkhoff, call 816-234-4730 or send email to bkerkhoff@kcstar.com. Follow him on Twitter: @BlairKerkhoff.
This story was originally published March 26, 2015 at 4:20 PM with the headline "Friday’s NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 previews, game times, TV information."