Sweet 16 Down South: Tar Heels roll/Sooners will struggle

This years sweet 16 could not be any sweeter. There are 5 Big East schools representing the NCAA in the final 16. And a couple of them don't plan on losing anytime soon. I'm going to focus down in the South section of everyone's brackets and break down what we will see tonight when the final 4 in the south go head to head.

#1 UNC vs. #4 Gonzaga

This match up I am not going to waste too much time on because if Zaga pulls this game out somehow, I think the world will go into shock. This is UNC's game and it is their game to lose. They have an Elite 8 birth right around the corner and with Ty Lawson healthy, I just cannot see the Tar Heels losing this game. Gonzaga is a good team but they choke deep into the tournament. Last night we saw Duke get pummeled by the #3 seeded Villinova by 23 points. I am not going to go out and say that the Tar Heels are going to win by that much but it will be a slaughter in favor of the Heels.

Final Score: 78-63 UNC

#2 Oklahoma vs. #3 Syracuse

Now this game on the other hand could get interesting. This will be the second game starting in the 7 o'clock hour with Louisville and Arizona starting first. I will tell everyone right now that I picked against my home town Orange in advancing past tonight's game with Oklahoma in my Final 4. But with the way things are looking right now, my bracket could be in trouble.

Starting out in the back court, Jonny Flynn is the quarterback for SU who creates plays with his fantastic ball movement and he also has the ability to make plays for himself. Oklahoma is going to have to put their best defender face guarding Flynn if they want to control the lanes and make him use his other options. But SU has more. Eric Devendorf is the hottest 3 point shooter in this tournament. He is shooting well over 40 percent from downtown. Andy Rautins will come off the bench and he is also a pure shooter and if both of these guys get hot, I don't care if Blake Griffen puts up 30, SU will out shoot the Sooners and that in itself could lead them to victory.

Game Changer: Front Court Defense
SU will try and win this game tonight from the perimeter but Oklahoma is going to pick on the big guys for Syracuse. Arinze and Rick are going to have to double team Blake Griffen every time he touches the ball. Oklahoma is not the strong shooting Orange. Their game is in the paint. Kristof is going to be called on as well to play defense down low.

Overall, I truly think that the Orange of Syracuse outmatch the Sooners in the back court and with some tightly played zone defense on Oklahoma's big men, we could see SU back in the Elite 8. I have said it since day one of the tournament, it is going to take another Big East school to knock out the top teams out of the Big East. Right now, SU is one of those elite teams.

Final Score: 67-58 Syracuse