It was a struggle for SEC teams on Saturday, as only Kentucky was able to earn the right to play in the Sweet 16.
Two other conference teams will try to join the Wildcats, with Auburn and Texas A&M trying to regain some momentum for the league.
As always, my predictions are based on team analysis and who I think will win. Score projections are for my own amusement.
Let’s get to the picks.
Season Predictions Record (straight up): 253-76
No. 2 North Carolina vs. No. 7 Texas A&M – 5:15 PM EST, CBS
This is all about which Texas A&M team shows up, because the Aggies certainly have the size to compete with the Tar Heels.
Texas A&M went nearly seven minutes without scoring in the opening part of the game against Providence, and those are the type of stretches that it can’t afford against a team like North Carolina.
Tyler Davis and company are good enough defensively to make this a grind for the Tar Heels, who still sit in the top five in the country in offensive efficiency. But with the type of size that the Aggies sport in the paint, they can force North Carolina into taking plenty of tough shots.
There’s a part of me that thinks we’ll see the pre-conference Texas A&M squad in this one, and there’s another part of me that thinks we’ll see the inconsistent Aggies.
North Carolina is the safe pick here, but Texas A&M might make this thing close the entire way if it plays to its potential.
Prediction: North Carolina 72, Texas A&M 68
No. 4 Auburn vs. No. 5 Clemson – 7:10 PM EST, TBS
Auburn’s win over Charleston wasn’t overly impressive, but in March, it’s all about surviving and advancing.
What I liked most about the Tigers’ ability to do just that was that they were able to win without shooting the ball well. Auburn went 5 of 24 from 3-point range and 15 of 32 from the charity stripe, but was able to force 21 turnovers and turn that into 21 points.
Obviously, Bruce Pearl’s team is going to need to shoot the ball much better against Clemson. The other Tigers were a popular pick to get upset by New Mexico State, but Clemson came out and took care of business in somewhat convincing fashion.
The most concerning thing for Auburn is that it feels the edge from the regular season just isn’t there right now. Things have felt different since Anfernee McLemore’s injury, and this may be the type of game where that could really catch up with Pearl’s squad.
However, this feels like a favorable draw for Auburn, and I think the 3-point shooting will improve enough to score the win.
Prediction: Auburn 70, Clemson 68
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