Will the Missouri Tigers Upset the Cincinnati Bearcats?
Cincinnati started the season as one of the hottest teams in all of college basketball, but closed out their season with an embarrassing, 81-59 loss to Notre Dame in the Big East Tournament.
The Bearcats will be making their 25th NCAA Tournament appearance, but the first as a member of the Big East Conference. They have had some rough years as of late, and don't want to settle on just being in the tournament.
Cincinnati coach Mick Cronin told the Cincinnati Enquirer:
"?It?s been a long grind. ?I feel like I?ve climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro. I take a lot of pride in it. When you do something a lot of people say you?re not going to be able to do - not just that Mick Cronin couldn?t do it - a lot of people said nobody?s going to be able to do it. That place is buried for 10 years. I take a lot of pride in that, no doubt about it."
Despite being left in the dust the past couple of years, Cronin's team has put together a nice body of work this season and if they do get hot, they could go on a nice run in this year's tournament.
The Bearcats have quality wins over St. Johns, Louisville and Georgetown twice.
On the other end, Missouri is a team that many figured to be seeded higher than an 11, but much like Cincinnati, they finished their season with a bit of a thud.
Missouri coach Mike Anderson told the Columbia Tribune:
?I guess it is what it is,? referring to the No. 11 seed. ?We thought we played a very good schedule. We did well in the non-conference schedule, not as well as we would have liked to have done in conference play, but the Big 12 was a tough conference, especially on the road.?
Junior guard Marcus Denmon leads an offense that puts up 82 points-per-game, but the Tigers struggle on the glass, ranking 151st in the nation in rebounds-per-game.
This should be a close one. But Cinci's Yancy Gates will be the best player in this game, and he should be the difference maker.
Make it: Cincinnati 78, Missouri 73
Want more NCCA Tourney Talk? Check out the March Madness Hub on Bleacher Report.
Here's your very own: NCAA Tournament Printable Bracket.
Kelly Ripa Yvonne Strzechowski Rhona Mitra Kelly Rowland Danica Patrick
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