By Wendell Barnhouse | wendell@big12sports.com
Big12Sports.com Correspondent
Texas A&M (23-9) vs. Utah State (27-7)
4 p.m. (approximate) Friday, South Regional, Spokane, Wash.
Texas A&M update
The Aggies from the Big 12 Conference hope to avoid the curse of the No. 5 seed; No. 12 seeds (like Utah State) have a history of pulling upsets. Texas A&M hopes that sophomore point guard Dash Harris (injured right wrist) is ready to play; he missed both games in the Big 12 Tournament. Texas A&M has won its first-round game each of the last four seasons.
Utah State update
These Aggies are a solid offensive team that has spent most of the season ranked in the top 10 in field goal percentage, free throw percentage and 3-point percentage. Utah State prefers a deliberate style and uses up to 50 different offensive sets/plays. Stew Morrill is coach who is respected by his peers but largely unknown around the country.
The coach says
“The thing I really like about my team is we've stayed focused on the task at hand,” Texas A&M coach Mark Turgeon on Aggies fans hoping their team reach the Sweet 16 in Houston. “(But) they're not dumb. They're looking at it all. But we can very easily lose Friday, and then it will be a ‘what-if' type deal. ... There's just something about this group. We believe in each other, we have great chemistry, and we just play hard.”
Trend spotting
Texas A&M lost New Mexico, West Virginia and Washington and defeated Clemson and Minnesota – all NCAA teams. ... Texas A&M has an RPI of 13. ... A&M’s only loss in its last five games came to top-seeded Kansas. ... Utah State had a 17-game winning streak end in the Western Athletic Conference tournament championship game. ... Utah State has been in the NCAA Championship seven times since 2000 but its last victory came in 2000.
Up next
The winner of this game will play in the second round Sunday against the winner of No. 4 seed Purdue and No. 13 Siena.
Oklahoma State (22-10) vs. Georgia Tech (22-12)
6:15 p.m. Friday, Midwest Regional, Milwaukee, Wisc.
Oklahoma State update
The Cowboys rely on their perimeter game, led by James Anderson and Obi Muonelo. A 6-5 senior, Muonelo plays power forward but he’s a perimeter player on offense. That causes match up problems for Oklahoma State opponents. To make an NCAA run, post players Marshall Moses and Matt Pilgrim need to play well.
Georgia Tech update
The Yellow Jackets have talent but lack consistency and experience. When trailing with five minutes remaining, they’re 1-9. Georgia Tech is one of the nation’s leaders in field goal percentage defense and is a solid rebounding team. The Jackets struggle at the free throw line (64.5 percent) and are one of the worst teams I the country taking care of the basketball (over 16 turnovers per game).
The coach says
“It’s something that we do shoot some 3s,” Oklahoma State coach Travis Ford on his team’s offensive philosophy. “You can say that about any team to an extent. Making shots is the key for a lot of teams, maybe a little more for us. When we have four shooters out there on the court, we’re pretty tough to guard.”
Trend spotting
Oklahoma State's Obi Muonelo, James Anderson and Keiton Page have combined to hit more 3-pointers (223) this season than any threesome that will participate in the NCAA Championship. ... The Cowboys get more than a third of its scoring on 3-pointers (eight per game). ... Georgia Tech is making its first NCAA appearance after a three-year absence. ... In the 2004 Final Four semifinals in San Antonio, the Yellow Jackets edged the Cowboys, 67-65.
Up next
The winner of this game will play in the second round Sunday against the winner of the No. 2 seed Ohio State vs. No. 15 UC Santa Barbara game.
No. 10 Missouri (22-10) vs. No. 7 Clemson (21-10)
1:45 p.m. (approximate) Friday, East Regional, Buffalo, N.Y.
Missouri update
Missouri lost three of its last four, including its opening round game in the Phillips 66 Big 12 Men’s Championship last week in Kansas City. Last season, the Tigers won the Big 12 Tournament and reached the Elite Eight before losing to Connecticut. Missouri is one of just three programs to return to the NCAA Tournament despite losing three 1,000-point scorers from last season. The other two are Syracuse,top seed in the East Regional and Marquette, the No. 6 seed in the East. The Tigers lost starting forward Justin Safford to an ACL injury late in the season.
Clemson update
The Tigers (this match up will be a nickname nightmare for writers and broadcasters) play a similar style to Missouri. Coach Oliver Purnell’s team likes to press and play an up-tempo, attacking style on update. Trevor Booker, a 6-7, 240-pound forward, averages 15.3 points and 8.3 rebounds per game. He was a first-team, All-Atlantic Coast Conference selection. Booker will be a focal point of Missouri’s defense but he also helps create havoc in the Clemson press.
The coach says
Missouri coach Mike Anderson on what the Tigers’ return to the NCAA Tournament means, “It makes a statement. I’m sure a lot of people that saw our team last year, saw what we were losing last year, didn’t expect to see us here. They did not. I know that. I heard it from a lot of guys.”
Trend spotting
Missouri leads the nation in steals (10.9 per game) and turnovers forced per game (19.7). ... Clemson is eighth nationally in steals, forcing 9.6 per game. ... Both teams lost in the opener of their respective conference tournaments.
Up next
The winner of this game plays Sunday against the winner of the game between No. 2 West Virginia and No. 15 Morgan State.
