Breaking down final second round games

Here’s The Post’s guidebook to some of Monday’s ideal NCAA Event games:

(7) Oregon vs. (two) Iowa

12:15 p.m., CBS

Right after receiving an unprecedented free of charge go into the Spherical of 32, how will Oregon fare against an Iowa workforce with a recreation presently less than its belt? As usually with Iowa, slowing Luka Garza will be crucial, but fantastic luck if the player of the year contender is capturing from the outside as successfully as he did in the Hawkeyes’ 1st-round win above Grand Canyon (four-for-five on 3-tips).

(eight) Oklahoma vs. (one) Gonzaga

two:40 p.m., CBS

“Finally, Gonzaga against a electric power-convention application who can expose them.” Not so speedy. The Zags were being presently analyzed by Kansas, Auburn, West Virginia, Iowa and Virginia in their non-convention slate — and they passed with flying hues. Oklahoma managed to top Missouri devoid of next-major scorer De’Vion Harmon (COVID), but a shorthanded Sooners squad most likely isn’t much danger to Gonzaga.

March Madness 2021 Gonzaga vs. Oklahoma
Gonzaga’s Jalen Suggs Oklahoma’s Austin Reaves
Getty Illustrations or photos (two)

(thirteen) Ohio vs. (five) Creighton

six:10 p.m., TNT

Ohio’s Jason Preston has gone from NBA blogger to March Insanity tale, and a excursion to the Sweet 16 could be future. The Bobcats’ victory above a Virginia workforce dealing with COVID troubles was 1 of the most common upset picks, and for fantastic motive. Creighton, meanwhile, seemed vulnerable against UC Santa Barbara, and if not for a skipped layup in the ultimate seconds would be house by now. Right after pushing for a triple-double in the 1st round against stingy Virginia, Preston will have a shot in an up-and-down recreation.

No. eight LSU vs. No. one Michigan

7:10 p.m., CBS

Could a different one-eight upset be in the generating? LSU enters this recreation with 5 wins in its very last six contests, and the lone decline was a 1-position setback to next-seeded Alabama in the SEC Event title recreation. Freshman Cameron Thomas led an spectacular rout of No. eight St. Bonaventure with 27 points, getting above the recreation for massive stretches. This is wherever Michigan star Isaiah Livers’ absence could seriously be felt, specially if star freshman large male Hunter Dickinson, the team’s major scorer and rebounder, does not individual the paint.

No. five Colorado vs. No. four Florida Condition

7:forty five p.m., TBS

These are two teams likely in opposite instructions. Colorado has misplaced just once due to the fact Feb. 20 and is coming off a 96-seventy three dismantling of No. 12 Georgetown in which it strike an absurd 16 of twenty five 3-position tries. Florida Condition is just 3-3 in its very last six games, and struggled against No. thirteen UNC Greensboro in a 10-position, opening-round win that was closer than the ultimate outcome indicated. Colorado will have the ideal player on the ground in McKinley Wright IV, a senior position guard as powerful scoring as making for his teammates.

(10) Maryland vs. (two) Alabama

eight:forty five p.m., TNT

Right after averting an upset from Rick Pitino’s Iona squad, Alabama now faces a clash of styles against defensive-oriented Maryland, refreshing off restricting UConn to 32.3 percent capturing in the 1st round. The Crimson Tide like to get up and down the courtroom, although the Terps want to grind factors to a halt and rely on a relentless defense led by Big 10 Defensive Player of the Year Darryl Morsell, who harassed UConn’s James Bouknight into a six-for-16 night.

(six) USC vs. (3) Kansas

9:40 p.m., CBS

The ultimate Sweet 16 ticket will get punched in this showdown in between 1 of the most storied school basketball programs (Kansas) and a school much more recognized for its soccer prowess (USC). Really don’t forget the Trojans, nevertheless, as the Pac-12 experienced gotten off to a sensational five- commence by means of Saturday, not which includes Oregon’s non-contest advancement. The return of ahead Jalen Wilson from COVID protocols would be a boon to Kansas’ probabilities of slowing USC’s long run lottery select Evan Mobley, who set up seventeen and eleven against Drake.