Can Louisville give Carolina a game? Can the Bruins be beat? All that and more…

SCOTT JACOBS

The Tar Heels are moving on to the Elite Eight after manhandling a “just happy to be here for the first time since 1941″ Washington State Cougars team. You could make the argument that the two teams didn’t even belong on the same court, but then what would that say about the Fighting Irish, who were beat up in the same fashion last weekend by these very Cougars. And the Irish destroyed George Mason so maybe the Patriots didn’t deserve to be in the tourney either.

I think you see what I’m getting at. Instead of looking at the college basketball food chain taking place in the East bracket, I think it’s more wise to declare the Heels as a phenomenal unstoppable power right now, one that is as close to dominant as any team in this tourney.
After slaughtering Mount Saint Mary’s and Arkansas, and now beating Wazzu handedly, the Heels get the Louisville Cardinals, who dispatched once #1, now gone Tennessee in a pretty one sided game. The Vols had struggled of late, and the Cards had surged, albeit against the likes of Oklahoma and Boise State (not exactly close to the Tar Heels), and it was the difference, as the Vols failed to get to the Elite Eight again. This one had to leave a bitter taste though, as they came out flat, put together a few runs, but never truly threatened. And so their incredible season is over. And the lone participant left from that awesome #1 -#2 game in Tennessee- Memphis, could be out by tonight, if they don’t hit some foul shots.

Wow, what a turnaround in just a matter of weeks…

I think we’re starting to see North Carolina showcase why they, not Memphis, not UCLA got the top overall seed. They have taken care of business and with authority. WSU couldn’t even score 50 against the Heels, yet another impressive accolade to go along with two 100 point games in the first two rounds.

Now the Heels wait for their Saturday night show down with The Ville. I’m not sure the Cards can play toe to toe with Carolina, but I really think they’ll give them a heck of a game. When I saw Carolina play Florida State back on Super Bowl Sunday I saw a team that imposed their will. And that was in a game that went to overtime. Overtime? The Cougars never even threatened to make it a game.

…Meanwhile in the West region

As for the other big game, Xavier ended West Virginia’s season with a picture perfect 10 point swing in overtime. Down 6 with just a couple minutes left to go in the extra frame the Muskateers looked dead in the water. But with Joe Alexander on the bench having fouled out, and a head of steam, will not lose attitude, the X-Men prevailed in another close game. Now I’m not sure if the Muskateers can beat UCLA, but I do think they can give them a heck of a game. And this is the second time this decade Xavier has been Elite Eight bound. Has a number three seed ever gotten less love?

One quick note on the Bruins who took out a game Western Kentucky team: they better be careful. Clearly they were superior to the Hilltoppers, but some similar lapses like they had against WKU against a very good Xavier team could leave them upset and out of the tournament. Now I’m not saying that’s what will happen, but the Bruins have shown some flashes of weakness, and if Xavier can out muscle Love and co. they just might go to the Final Four.

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