Thursday Sweet Sixteen Preview

7:15 Thursday, Anaheim					61 possessions
Team		WIN%	PTS	eFG%	TO%	OR%	FTM:FGA
3	Connecticut	39.8%	63.3	43.0	16.9	39.2	22.9
2	San Diego St.	60.2%	66.4	46.6	15.4	38.5	17.3

The best offense for each of these teams might just be a missed shot. The outcome will be determined by which team is better able to keep the other off the offensive glass.

7:27 Thursday, New Orleans					66.5 possessions
Team		WIN%	PTS	eFG%	TO%	OR%	FTM:FGA
3	BYU	57.9%	74.0	50.9	14.3	27.7	23.1
2	Florida	42.1%	71.5	49.9	18.6	34.8	23.9

These two teams met a year ago in a 7-10 game in the very first game to tip off in the tournament. Jimmer Fredette scored 37 points in a double-overtime BYU victory. BYU, despite their lofty poll ranking, is not quite as good as they were a year ago, and Florida is a good deal better than they were then.

9:45 Thursday, Anaheim					67.8 possessions
Team		WIN%	PTS	eFG%	TO%	OR%	FTM:FGA
5	Arizona	29.5%	72.2	49.0	19.9	34.8	28.4
1	Duke	70.5%	79.1	53.5	16.0	32.1	29.8

Would Duke have gone undefeated if Kyrie Irving hadn't been injured? I'm not convinced they would. The Blue Devils would undoubtedly have been a better team with Irving. They would have scored about two and a half additional points per game and allowed about three quarters of a point less over the course of ACC play. That probably would have elevated them in the TAPE ratings to being the equals of Kansas and Ohio State rather than being just a tad behind them. But the chances are still good that, somewhere along the line, the Devils would have had a bad night or two.

9:57 Thursday, New Orleans					53.8 possessions
Team		WIN%	PTS	eFG%	TO%	OR%	FTM:FGA
8	Butler	23.2%	57.5	48.8	14.1	26.6	23.0
4	Wisconsin	76.8%	65.9	53.9	12.0	30.5	26.8

Prepare yourself to be amazed as a game in which the Bulldogs and Badgers are likely to score a combined 1.15 points per possession is described as a defensive struggle.