Now that my undefeated report of selecting No. 13 seeds or decrease within the NCAA Event publicly remains to be intact after Furman’s victory over Virginia on Thursday, I’m deciding to not relaxation on my laurels and let you know all about one other prediction I made earlier this week. For followers of Deadspin’s Comply with Disagree video sequence, it is a choice I’ve already proclaimed on digicam. Auburn will upset the Midwest area’s No. 1 seed in Houston on Saturday. It’s not fairly the lopsided upset as selecting the Paladins or Saint Peter’s over Kentucky final yr, however it’s little question not what’ll be favored.
The Cougars seemed horrible in opposition to one of many worst groups within the NCAA Event. Northern Kentucky received out of a weak low-major within the Horizon League. The Norse genuinely impressed me final evening and held powerful with one of many supposed greatest groups within the nation. Kelvin Sampson’s squad earned that No. 1 seed and was arguably essentially the most constant crew within the nation throughout the common season. And Houston both was wanting previous a crew it knew it may simply defeat, or the upstart Norse really uncovered what a Marcus Sasser-less crew seems to be like.
When you take the very best participant away from any nice crew, it gained’t be as mighty anymore. Purdue with out Zach Edey is a bubble crew and is perhaps taking part in within the NIT proper now. Alabama with out Brandon Miller, which needs to be a actuality proper now with the off-court drama surrounding the Crimson Tide, would’ve gotten a powerful seed in The Massive Dance, however probably extra towards the 4-5 line. Sasser is that needle-mover for the Cougars. The drop-off with out the 6-foot-2 senior guard and probably NBA lottery decide due to a groin damage suffered within the American Athletic Convention Event final week, is clear. He was pulled at halftime by Sampson and Houston was inconsistent with out him.
Auburn had a real toss-up matchup with Iowa on paper. The Tigers had been all the time higher than their seeding, whereas Iowa wasn’t. The Hawkeyes have by no means had a long term within the match below Fran McCaffery and this yr’s Kris Murray-led squad was no totally different. The SEC outmuscled the Massive Ten. There’s no method round that. And Auburn may have thrown just a few extra punches on the finish of the sport if wanted. Within the nightcap, it was apparent by the top of the sport how drained Northern Kentucky was. A crew higher conditioned to play with Houston, which will likely be each crew the Cougars see the remainder of the season, will have the ability to take higher benefit of a inclined, unmotivated squad. And if the dearth of drive isn’t actuality for UH, it didn’t present it in opposition to the Norse. It additionally has a terrific probability for redemption in opposition to Auburn. However nothing’s assured. And Bruce Pearl-coached groups often don’t miss when provided that kind of alternative.
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It’s not clear if Sasser will play at 7:10 p.m. on TBS with a visit to the Candy 16 on the road. It’s clear that if he performs, he gained’t be at full well being, which is already a downgrade from what we’ve anticipated from the Cougars for many of this season. Auburn is a crew that’s gone by means of a bunch of adversity this season and nonetheless discovered its method safely into March Insanity. It’s a distinct form of entice to outline the adversity for Houston. Saying the Cougars have been by means of none could be silly. Their paths of resistance have been examined in video games, with extra tangible rewards, like 11 extra wins than the Tigers this season, alongside the best way. That’ll imply little come Saturday evening in Birmingham, a brief 110-mile journey from Auburn. And it may not be a house sport for the AU, however it ought to really feel prefer it from the gang. Houston’s strolling into enemy territory and I don’t assume it’ll be robust sufficient to stroll out of the primetime matchup nonetheless with a season to play for.
