Around the Web: Golden Eagles in NCAA Tournament
Here is what is being said around the Web about third-seeded Marquette and the West Region.
- CBSSports.com's experts each filled out a bracket (note: As I write this, only four of the eight had filled one out). Here's how far they have Marquette going: Gary Parrish - making Final Four, losing to Kentucky; losing to Missouri in Sweet 16; Gregg Doyel - losing to Murray State; Jeff Borzello - making Final Four, losing to Kentucky.
- ESPN.com's Eammon Brennan gives the upside for Marquette as an Elite Eight team. He writes: "Marquette needed to sneak into the tournament last season, but it didn't waste its time once there: Buzz Williams guided his scrappy team into the Sweet 16, and this year, Golden Eagles fans will rightfully have their sights set on something more. But this team, good as it has been, doesn't have the look of a national title contender. Don't let that dampen the feel-good vibes."
- Collegehoops.net ranks the top 68 players in this year's NCAA Tournament. Jae Crowder comes in at No. 21 and Darius Johnson-Odom at No. 30.
- Sporting News' Mike DeCourcy breaks down the West Region and picks Missouri to emerge. DeCourcy does say the best potential player matchup in the region is Darius Johnson-Odom vs. Murray State's Isaiah Canaan. Says DeCourcy: "They’re powerful, dynamic guards with excellent shooting touches. And here’s the cool thing: Neither team has extraordinary size, so this game really might be won by the littler guys making plays. Canaan, a first-team Sporting News All-American, has gone for 30 four times this season. DJO produced only one single-figure scoring game."
- Speaking of Sporting News, no one on its staff has Marquette in the Final Four.
- Yahoo.com's Mike Huguenin takes a look at the West Region and there's not much mention of the Golden Eagles other than saying Marquette-Murray State could be one of the better matchups. "Marquette’s physical nature would wreak havoc on Murray’s small frontcourt, but Murray has more speed than the Golden Eagles."
- In their look at the top 10 most likely early upsets, ESPN.com's Peter Keating and Jordan Brenner list Iona over Marquette (root for BYU, Golden Eagles fans?). The duo give the Gaels an 18.1% of winning.
- SI.com's Luke Winn lists Marquette-Missouri as the best potential Sweet 16 matchup in the tournament. Says Winn: "This should be an epic running game in which the Golden Eagles’ size issues won’t be a problem against the similarly challenged Tigers. Buzz Williams’ team outperformed its seed last season, and I suspect they’ll do it again in 2012." (However, Winn picks Michigan State to emerge out of the West.)
- Sporting News' Ryan cute onean calls Missouri one of his winners, in part because he doesn't think Marquette presents a style that can hurt the Tigers.
- MySanAntonio.com's Stephen Fontenot lists Jae Crowder as one of the top players in the West Region, but says Missouri will advance to the Final Four.
- J.P. Pelzman of NorthJersey.com thinks Marquette has the toughest road in the West and doesn't see the Golden Eagles in the Sweet 16.
- Hoopsworld previews Marquette's matchup. "We expect Iona to show that they do belong in the field by beating BYU. Their game against Marquette should be a high-scoring affair, but it’s nearly impossible to beat the Golden Eagles at their own game."
- The Charlotte Observer's Tom Sorensen picks Marquette to advance to the Sweet 16, losing to Missouri.
http://www.jsonline.com/blogs/sports/142279775.html
