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2009 Bracket Vote (Sweet 16 & Forward)
Who is going to make the cut?
Louisville
Arizona
Early in the season, Arizona defeated an undisciplined Kansas squad, producing a dangerous upset. Now, a threat to high-seeded Louisville, expect a possible upset again.
Kansas
Michigan State
Kansas will win.
Connecticut
Purdue
Connecticut is strong. UConn will score all over Purdue. They will move on to conquer either Missouri or Memphis with less ease, but their streak will have to end sometime. No team can win forever.
Missouri
Memphis
Missouri can play basketball this year, but that doesn't mean that they can play against the team that lost the Championship last year. If Memphis loses this match, it is a matter of fortune for Missouri, but that fortune is bound to end with the next game. Mizzou simply isn't equipped for a match with UConn or Purdue, but a win here would prove that even schools in the Big 12 that aren't dominant basketball schools can beat the country's second best teams. The best of last year are seeded above.
Pittsburgh
Xavier
Pittsburgh looked a mess when facing Oklahoma State's aggressive squad. Xavier may be the last straw for a team that hasn't looked nearly as strong as one would expect of a top-seeded team. Without the grace of early rankings Pitt would probably already be gone.
Villanova
Duke
This match should be very even. Neither team has a definitive upper hand coming into the match. Both teams could beat Pitt in the coming round, but of this game and the previous game, neither winner could beat winner of the South bracket.
North Carolina
Gonzaga
North Carolina faces a traditionally strong squad in Gonzaga, but expect the over-hyped Tar Heels to win again and lose in the next round. They're good, but they're not as good as their seed would suggest. Look forward to a fall in the Elite Eight, even if Gonzaga can make it through this one.
Syracuse
Oklahoma
Kansas lost to Syracuse at an early tournament in the regular season. Kansas later took out its frustration on higher ranked Oklahoma. Oklahoma earned its place by battling among the other 5 Big 12 schools to enter the NCAA tourney in a powerful position. Syracuse is no slouch either, showing relative consistency through the season. Expect a tough match. Either team has what it takes to bring down the team in the next round.
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