Sullivan's Super Sweet 16 (Part II)

As promised, I am back with more picks for the second installment of Sullivan's Super Sweet Sixteen. I was 3 for 4 last night, my only miss coming on a pick in which defied my own logic, so I'm sticking to it without exception tonight. In case you missed yesterday's post, here's how my prediction system works:

1) I brainstorm which Celtics played at each college in the sweet 16
2) I look at the matchups
3) I evaluate which school produced better Celtics
4) I pick that team to win

About last night - Watching Tennessee blow that lead last night was painful. The Volunteers were clearly channeling Antoine Walker circa 2001; I've never seen a more extreme example of living and dying by the three. The Vols made 16 threes, and only 14 twos. Sheesh. UCLA and Pitt was a boring game. I really don't like Pitt and can't stand watching Fatty Fields dribble around for 25 seconds per posession, not to mention Aaron Grey is an oaf. Thank god they are gone. I was shocked that A&M choked repeatedly down the stretch and that Memphis looked like the more calm, cool, and collected team. Memphis even hit their free throws. Sadly for the A&M players this means they have to go back to College Station, which makes Baghdad look like friggin' Monte Carlo.

Tonight's games should actually be pretty good. Taking after his dad's coaching skills, look for Jeremiah Rivers to look confused and be ineffective against Vanderbilt. UNC and USC could prove to be a classic east coast powerhouse versus west coast up and comer game, and I don't think I've seen either Oregon or UNLV play all year so I have nothing to say about either of them. Butler and Florida are two bitter rivals - oh no wait I'm pretty sure no one on Florida has ever heard of Butler. Now on to the picks!

UNC - Rick Fox, Joe Forte, Eric Montross, Shammond Williams, Joe Wolf

vs.

USC - Bill Sharman, Brian "Veal" Scalabrine, Paul Westphal

Pick: Let's think about this. Rick Fox, the best player with ADHD ever to wear #44 for the Celtics in the mid-90's, pulled a Benedict Arnold by signing with the Lakers and donned a #17 jersey claiming he was wearing it "because the Celtics would never reach number 17." What a douche. Joe Forte led the Celtics in punching people in the face and trying to stab people in pickup games. Montross was slower and whiter than OJ Simpson's Bronco, and Joe Wolf looks like Joe Dirt. Southern Cal graced us with Hall of Famer Bill Sharman and of course, the man who supplies I*Heart*Celtics with 98% of its jokes, Brian Scalabrine. We love the Veal, and I love USC in this game. USC kick's Psycho-T's annoying ass, Trojans 76, Heels 70.

Vanderbilt - None. Although they did have some notable players turn pro. By notable players I mean Will Purdue.

vs.

Georgetown - Charles Smith (1986-1987). Don't know who this guy is, but he sounds like he had a lot of upside and quite the wingspan.

Pick: Jesuit discipline beats faux-military grit. I still want Derrick Byers on the Celtics next year, but I gotta pick G-Town in this one, 68-62.


UNLV - Arthur LaMarcus Banks, III,

vs.

Oregon - Jim Loscutoff, Luke Jackson (honorable mention)

Pick: I admit it. I loved Marcus Banks. Speed, defense, and intimidation is a rare combination in the NBA, and this kid had it. Unfortunately Danny Ainge didn't like him, neither did Doc, nor did many other people for inexplicable reasons. Thus I am going to have to honor Oregon in this one, mostly because of Jim Loscutoff's insistance that the Celtics retire his nickname instead of his number on the Celtics retired numbers banner. Bold. Ducks 81-79.

Butler - None. The last person to go to the NBA out of Butler was in 1972.

vs.

Florida - Orien "Vehicular Homicide" Greene, Andrew "The Traveling Soldier" Declercq, Duane "The Tie-Dyed Terror" Schintzius.

Pick: Sorry Butler, I'll be rooting for you but this one was over before it even started. The Celtics' Gator Alumni triple threat could overpower just about anyone. Although if I am subjected to Joe Kim Noah dancing or his obnoxious kitten purring every time he touches the ball, I might tear my eyes and ears out. And if those damned commentators start talking for the 500000th time about how 4 of the 5 Gator starters live together I will punch my TV and crush a Keystone light 24-ounce can on my head. Florida 79-72.