Sunday’s NCAA showdowns: ACC powerhouses look to avoid upsets on way to Sweet 16
The first week of NCAA Tournament concludes on Sunday with three No. 1 seeds, all from the ACC, in action. Duke, Virginia and North Carolina each look to take their favorite’s role into the Sweet 16.
Here’s a look at each of Sunday’s second-round games (all times Central):
South Region
At Columbus, Ohio:
No. 10 Iowa vs. No. 2 Tennessee
11:10 a.m., CBS
Of note: The Hawkeyes were the more impressive first-round winner, coming back from a double-digit deficit to beat Cincinnati, while the Vols edged Colgate. All-America Grant Williams had just nine points for Tennessee in the opener. He’ll have to come up bigger if the team that spent time ranked first nationally this season is to advance.
Line: Tennessee by 8
Prediction: Iowa 74-70
At Columbia, S.C.:
No. 9 Oklahoma vs. No. 1 Virginia
6:45 p.m., truTV
Of note: Virginia gave its fans a fright in falling behind Gardner-Webb by double digits before pulling away for a 15-point victory. The Sooners played one of their best games of the season in routing Mississippi.
Line: Virginia by 11
Prediction: Virginia 71-62
At San Jose, Calif:
No. 13 UC Irvine vs. No. 12 Oregon
8:40 p.m., TBS
Of note: The Ducks dominated Wisconsin and continued their late-season winning ways. In its nine-game winning streak, Oregon has averaged an 18-point victory margin and is holding opponents to 34 percent shooting from the floor. The Anteaters have the blood lines. JC Butler’s dad Caron played for Connecticut and in the NBA. Spence Rivers’ dad is Doc Rivers, the L.A. Clippers’ coach. Collin Welp’s father, the late Christian Welp, is still Washington’s career scoring leader, and Max Hazzard’s grandfather, the late Walt Hazzard, was the NCAA Tournament MVP for UCLA in 1964.
Midwest Region
At Columbus, Ohio:
No. 9 Washington vs. No. 1 North Carolina
1:40 p.m., CBS
Of note: The Tar Heels trailed Iona at halftime before running away with a 15-point victory. Washington was one of the most impressive first-round winners, rolling past Utah State in what many expected to be a close game. Noah Dickerson finished 20 points and 12 rebounds for the Huskies.
Line: North Carolina by 11½
Prediction: North Carolina 80-74
At Tulsa, Okla.:
No. 11 Ohio State vs. No. 3 Houston
7:40 p.m., TNT
Of note: Buckeyes big man Kaleb Wesson dominated Iowa State with 21 points and 10 rebounds in a low-possession game. Houston’s Corey Davis Jr. buried seven three-pointers for 26 points to go with seven rebounds and six assists in the Cougars’ victory over Georgia State.
Line: Houston by 5
Prediction: Houston 65-60
East Region
At Columbia, S.C.:
No. 9 Central Florida vs. No. 1 Duke
4:15 p.m., CBS
Of note: Not the smoothest of games for Duke, especially early against North Dakota State. But once the Blue Devils got rolling they looked like the tournament’s overall top seed. Knights 7-6 center Tacko Fall, with 10 points and 18 boards against VCU, said he won’t allow Duke’s Zion Williamson to “posterize” him. We’ll see.
Line: Duke by 13
Prediction: Duke 82-65
At San Jose, Calif.:
No. 12 Liberty vs. No. 4 Virginia Tech
6:10 p.m., TBS
Of note: The schools located about 90 miles apart from one another face off. They met each other in a fund-raising exhibition game in the preseason, with Tech winning 86-70. Liberty overcame a 10-point deficit to upset Mississippi State and is one of the nation’s top-shooting teams.
Line: Virginia Tech by 8½
Prediction: Virginia Tech 70-65
West Region
At Tulsa, Okla.:
No. 6 Buffalo vs. No. 3 Texas Tech
5:10 p.m., TNT
Of note: Buffalo handled Arizona State and now meets one of the nation’s top defense teams. The Bulls are into the second round for the second straight year and have won 13 in a row. They dominated the boards against the Sun Devils and now must find a way to contain Tech’s Jarrett Culver.
Line: Texas Tech by 3½
Prediction: Buffalo 68-64