Seton Hall
4 NCAA Tournament games to watch
Date: March 19, 2021By: Justin Nicosia
Kirby Lee/USA TODAY Sports
The first round of the NCAA Tournament is Friday, and with it comes 32 games in just two days. There’s no way you can watch the entirety of them all, but you don’t want to miss the best games. Here are five must-watch games in the first round of this year’s tournament.
Note: Adjusted efficiency ratings are from KenPom.com, which ranks efficiency based off points-per-100 possessions and adjusts it for opponent.
4. (10) Rutgers vs. (7) Clemson. Friday, 9:20 p.m. on TBS
Rutgers Athletics
This game might not be a pretty one for fans of high-scoring basketball. These two teams have less than stellar offenses to put it kindly, but they more than make up for it with their defensive prowess. Neither of these teams may break 60, but if they can, whichever team breaks 60 first will be the winner.
Both Clemson and Rutgers rank in the top 20 of adjusted defensive efficiency, at 20 and 18, respectively and force teams to put up tough shots late in the shot clock. Clemson is led by senior forward Aamir Simms, who scores 13.3 points-per-game off of 54.3% shooting and 40.7% from three. Rutgers is led by Ron Harper Jr., Geo Baker, and Jacob Young, who all average 10 or more points-per-game, but lack a true lockdown shooter.
While this game might not feature the high scoring affair Arkansas-Colgate will, the fact that it is such a low scoring game makes it an even tighter affair with every possession mattering that much more. Although watching clutch threes is fun, I get more enjoyment from watching nasty blocks and great contests, which both teams excel at.
3. (13) Ohio vs. (4) Virginia. Saturday, 7:15 p.m. on TruTV
Robert Franklin/AP
Get your “What channel is TruTV?” Google searches ready, TruTV is the home for one of the best games on Saturday. Ohio sneakily has one of the best offenses in the country, scoring the 14th most points-per-game (80.4), and Virginia has the 12th most efficient offense in the country. This should be an offensive battle despite the fact that Virginia’s slow pace may keep the score on the lower side of things. Virginia has four players shooting over 40% from three-point range but has yet to arrive in Indianapolis for the March Madness tournament.
Last Thursday, the Cavaliers had a positive COVID test and consequentially won’t arrive in Indianapolis until Friday. They have also had to cancel team practices all week, which could cause them to play sloppily out the gate. Ohio is led by Jason Preston who averages 16 points, 7 rebounds and 7 assists, and is one of three Bobcats to shoot over 40% from behind the arc. Ohio has shown they can play well against the best of them; in November they played current 1-seed Illinois down to the wire, only losing by two points. This game looks to be a beautiful offensive game and has big upset potential depending on how Virginia responds to their week-long quarantine.
2. (11) Syracuse vs. (6) San Diego State. Friday, 9:40 p.m. on CBS
Scott Schild/Syracuse Athletics
Any team that faces Syracuse in the NCAA Tournament will tell you they’re not an easy matchup; the 2-3 zone equipped by Jim Boeheim’s Orange leaves any team that hasn’t played them before scratching their heads on how to pick it apart. Although their offense isn’t as lethal as it was with Malachi Flynn leading the way last year, returning seniors Matt Mitchell and Jordan Schakel lead an efficient offense.
San Diego State is one of the best defensive teams in the country, ranking 11th in adjusted offensive efficiency, but they face a Syracuse team which is one of the most efficient offenses (22nd in adjusted efficiency). The Orange are led by coach Jim Boeheim’s son, Buddy, who has been lights-out from three recently. In his last 11, games he has shot 46.1% behind the arc, putting him in elite company.
Although Syracuse’s defense isn’t great (90th in adjusted efficiency), 16 of their 25 games this season have been against conference opponents; teams who have played against their 2-3 zone for years and have experience defeating it. Of their eight non-conference games this year, Syracuse only lost one. Their last five March Madness appearances have seen two Final Four appearances (including one as a 10-seed), an additional Elite Eight, and five upsets (including two wins over 1-seeds), all in part due to their zone.
Buddy Boeheim has the potential to get hot at any given moment and wreak havoc on the Aztec’s defense, but Matt Mitchell and Jordan Schakel can do the same thing to Syracuse if they can figure out the zone defense that has caused so many teams problems in the past.
1. (12) Winthrop vs. (5) Villanova. Friday, 9:57 p.m. on TNT
Villanova Athletics
We are truly blessed by the late nighttime slot on Friday night, as Winthrop and Villanova face off in another must-watch game shortly after the aforementioned Syracuse-San Diego State matchup tips off. What would typically be a less enticing game turns into a likely barnburner with a Villanova squad suffering from many injuries. They recently lost starting point guard Collin Gillespie to a season ending knee injury and shooting guard Justin Moore is nursing a sprained ankle. Although he’ll suit up on Friday, he is not going to be 100% and will see reduced productivity as a result.
Villanova head coach Jay Wright says guard Justin Moore is good to go for their game vs Winthrop. Doesn't think he's 100% but he will play. @CBSPhilly
— Pat Gallen (@PatGallenCBS3) March 17, 2021
Winthrop enters with only one loss, in the second game of a back-to-back against UNC Asheville. Four players average double digits for the Eagles who play at one of the fastest places in the entire NCAA. They have a very deep team as 11 players regularly get in the rotation. However, they haven’t been very battle-tested as they only have four games against quadrants 1-3 (two in each the second and third quadrant).
The question in this game will be how the depth of Winthrop will be able to capitalize on a short-handed Villanova squad, and how they’ll adjust to playing competition far and away better than the rest of their competition this year, and the game could go either way.
Justin Nicosia can be reached at justin.nicosia@student.shu.edu.
Posted in: Men's Basketball, Sports
