NCAA big 16 promises to be sweet indeed

by Brian O'Connell guest writer

The NCAA tournament has been a joy to watch this season. The Sweet 16 is set and fans will be treated to some more of the best basketball seen anywhere. However, some surprises have popped up. Iowa State, who almost made it to the Final Four last year lost in the opening round. Florida, will not have the chance to go for that national championship after being dismantled· by Temple. Some of the great teams have been sent home and some remain.

The Midwest and Southern Teams

Let's stm in the Midwest where Illinois will take on Kansas. This is a good Illinois team with a great coach in Bill Self, but can they hold off Kansas who just tore Syracuse apart by 29 points? Kansas wins. Ole Miss and Arizona should shape up to a good game. However, Arizona has more experience and is a quicker team. Arizona with the win. Going to the South bracket, the defending national champions, the Michigan State SpMtans, will look to defeat upset-minded Gonzaga. With all of the experience on their side, the SpMtans win, but look for a great effort from Gonzaga. In the other game, a couple of teMOS from the same state, Penn State and Temple will play for the second time this season. This could be the best game of the Sweet 16. Keep in mind that Penn State has already defeated Temple. But also remember Temple was without Quincy Wadley when that happened. This game could be a toss up. If the Crispin brothers are hot, the Owls will be in for a tough game.

The Eastern and Western Teams

Over in the East bracket, Duke and UCLA will go head to head. UCLA is a very good team, but look for those Blue Devils to advance to the Final Eight. USC and Kentucky are in the other game. Look for a Kentucky win. Remember, these games are at the First Union Center and if Duke and Kentucky advance to play one another, look out. Does anyone remember what happened the last time when Duke and Kentucky played in Philadelphia? Could we see the same magic again? In the West bracket, Stanford takes on Cincinnati. Stanford is slow, but their inside game might dictate who wins this game. Look for the

Cardinal to advance to the Final Eight. The other game features Maryland versus Georgetown. Look for a great effort by Georgetown, but a Terp win. Maryland has better talent and better experience.

The Local Teams

Locally, Temple is on a roll. They have advanced to the Sweet 16, and who can believe it? This is a team that lost one of the best point guards in the nation and their leading scorer along with some other key players. That team was nationally ranked and did not make it past the second round. And this year's team advances to the Sweet 16? Can somebody please explain the logic to that? The fact is when it comes time for March Madness, anything can happen and that is what makes it so special and worth watching. Can these Owls make it to the Final Four? Highly doubtful, but you never know.

The St. Joseph's Hawks fantastic season has come to an end. They were not one to disappoint as they bowed to Stanford last Saturday 90-83. This was the best game of the tofilOament. This was also by the way the best game the Hawks had all year. Ask any Hawk fan and they will tell you. After trail- ing by 14 in the game, the Hawks spread their wings and mounted a 21-6 run fueled behind the nation's best back court in Marvin O'Connor and Sports illustrated freshman of the year Jameer Nelson. The Hawks never quit as a pass from the top of the key from Bill Phillips to Alex Sazanov who gave the Hawks their first lead of the game. However, they were unable to maintain the lead as Stanford took advantage of its bigger front court and came away with the win.

To put the Hawks' season in perspective, it was simply spectacular. The national attention returned to Hawk Hill as the Hawks flew back into the national rankings and were one of the most talked about teams in college basketball. Picked to finish sixth in the Atlantic 10 Conference, the Hawks proved the critics wrong by owning the conference with a 14-2 record and winning the regular season championship. It was also the first year the Hawks received an at-large bid to the NCAA tofilllament in the history of their men's basketball program. Jameer Nelson emerged as the nation's best freshman. Marvin O'Connor matured so much as a player and as a person and became one of the best and most explosive players in college basketball. And

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the rest of the team just came to play every game together and won together. But most importantly, the Hawks won the hearts of the fans of Philadelphia and fans all across the country. However, the moment of the year came when O'Connor fouled out of the Stanford game after torching the Cardinal with a career high 37points. Keep in mind this game was played 3,000 miles away. The sold out crowd of 19,000 or so at San Diego State's arena rose as one to congratulate the Hawks and O'Connor on their great season. The ovation lasted a minute or so and the game continued. That is just a perfect example of how special this team is. So, the season is over and the Hawk fans will have to wait for next season. And did I mention this entire team with the exception of three players returns next year?

So the road to the Final Four continues, and some of the great teams like the Hawks will be watching from their televisions at home. Some more great games are on the menu. Who will win the title? Can Temple advance deeper into the tofilllament? How far will the number one seeds go? All of these questions will be answered in the weeks to come. The road to the Final Four continues. Enjoy.