5* - Texas Longhorns (-3)
Without their below average outside shooting game, I give LSU almost no shot at winning this game. Both teams have tremendous front courts but the rebound battle between ?Big Baby? and Aldridge/Buckman ought to be fun to watch but this game will be won or lost on perimeter shooting and there is no question that Texas has a tremendous edge there.
Except for the game against the Aggies in which Texas absolutely collapsed, every other loss this season has come at the hands of a team that beat them with stellar three point shooting. LSU simply does not have the shooters to score from the outside and Texas will not make the same mistake that Duke did by trying to win this game in the paint.
LSU?s Garrett temple did a phenomenal job guarding JJ Redick on Thursday night but the Longhorns have choices in Tucker, Gibson and Paulino as outside shooters and if one or more of them get hot, this one will be over early. No disrespect to the Tigers who I actually picked to beat Duke but in watching that game, it was evident that if Duke had not tried to penetrate so often, they would have had a much better chance.
Longhorns win this one by seven and advance to the Final Four.
Hook 'em Horns!
Without their below average outside shooting game, I give LSU almost no shot at winning this game. Both teams have tremendous front courts but the rebound battle between ?Big Baby? and Aldridge/Buckman ought to be fun to watch but this game will be won or lost on perimeter shooting and there is no question that Texas has a tremendous edge there.
Except for the game against the Aggies in which Texas absolutely collapsed, every other loss this season has come at the hands of a team that beat them with stellar three point shooting. LSU simply does not have the shooters to score from the outside and Texas will not make the same mistake that Duke did by trying to win this game in the paint.
LSU?s Garrett temple did a phenomenal job guarding JJ Redick on Thursday night but the Longhorns have choices in Tucker, Gibson and Paulino as outside shooters and if one or more of them get hot, this one will be over early. No disrespect to the Tigers who I actually picked to beat Duke but in watching that game, it was evident that if Duke had not tried to penetrate so often, they would have had a much better chance.
Longhorns win this one by seven and advance to the Final Four.
Hook 'em Horns!
