MATTA and BUCKEYES can't close the DEAL.....TAR HEELS roll early.....VCU can play and SHAKA is SMART....KU smacks SPIDERS

In more SWEET 16 action the cream was definately on display in Friday Nights GAMES with High Seeds playing in OHIO STATE, KANSAS, North CAROLINA, and KENTUCKY.

The Heavy Hitter was the nightcap in JERSEY pitting the #1 Overall Seed in the Tourney the OHIO STATE BUCKEYES vs the Young but oh so talented KENTUCKY WILDCATS and their Charasmatic Coach John CALIPARI.

The Game features Four Top Freshman with KENTUCKY having 3 of those freshman:

Jared SULLINGER Northland HS Columbus OH
Terrance JONES Portland OR Jefferson HS
Doron LAMB Oak Hill Academy VA by way of Manhattan RICE HS NYC
Brandon KNIGHT Pine Crest HS Ft Lauderdale FL

These guys were all McDonald's All-Americans and ironically played at the game held in Columbus Ohio last year and the BLUEDUDE had attended that game as well. These guys are top notch talent and I wouldn't surprise me if 2 maybe 3 of the young guys left for the NBA........Are they ready for that leap?....Probably not....but you know the demo.

The most intriguing match up last night was the burly , athletic SULLINGER vs the unheralded Big man of Kentucky Josh HARRELSON, who for the mot part has made a name for himself in this tourney and without his play...the WILDCATS would've lost in the early rounds.

SULLINGER pulled out 21 and 16 boards but HARRELSON damn there matched that with 17 and 10 boards and 3 blocks. They cancelled each other out and then it came down to Ohio STATE'S Diebler, Lighty, and BUFORD vs the 'CATS Lamb, Jones, and Knight....and it was an even tilt until KNIGHT hit the game-winner with just over 7 seconds to go.

Both teams played well and now the BLUEGRASS BOYS have the very big and talented Tar Heels of FRANKLIN STREET in CHAPEL HILL NC........this will be a good one.

Speaking of 'HEELS.......MARQUETTE was never in it until it was way too late and they were just swallowed up by the massive length an size of the 'HEELS Front Line....Look at these stats from UNC'S version of the BIG 3:

Tyler ZELLER 27 points, 12 boards, 4 assists 3 blocks
John HENSON 14 points 12 boards 5 blocks
Harrison BARNES 20 points 9 boards 2 blocks

This is the main reason the GOLDEN EAGLES had no real shot.......and UNC had a lot of Rim RUNS (Lay-ups in transition to the front of the rim). The Eagles were down at half by 25 points ....40-15....and never really got their stride until they put a 2-3 zone up but by then it was way too late the FAT LADY had the piano out , a cup of tea, and waiting for her cue by then.

SHAKA SMART is showing his name sake and he went toe to tow with one of the best in game managers in the business in Florida STATE'S Leonard HAMILTON as VCU countered everything the 'NOLES DID and one upped them most of the time.

It was the play of the VCU wings and back court led by Joey RODRIGUEZ steady play at the point and and the shooting guard tandem of Bradford BURGESS 26 points and off the bench Brandon ROZZEL 16 points that kept the RAMS in it long enough to go into OVERTIME and win the game.

The RAMS have another daunting task as they now play the JAYHAWKS of Lawrence KANSAS who disposed of the SPIDERS of RICHMOND rather quickly.....especially after the pre-game half-donnybrook in the TUNNEL between the 2 teams.

The JAYHAWKS are and probably the most talented team in the TOURNEY left...there is nothing BILL SELF'S Crew can't do........and it's almost left to be said the only way the JAYHAWKS get beat....if they beat themselves.

A COMBO of the MORRIS TWINS and all those GUARDS starting with MORNINGSTAR and TAYLOR....prove to be too much for most teams and the RAMS will have their plated full dealing with these guys.

SELF has yet to lose in the ALAMODOME where he won his first NATIONAL Championship back in 2008 getting by JOHN CALIPARI, Derrick ROSE, yes that D ROSE, and the Memphis TIGERS to win the BIG ONE.

This current team kinda has the same make-up....power along the front line and balanced as anyone in the back court and on most nights if they are knocking down open threes as well...they could beat half the NBA CENTRAL Division.