WATERCOOLER CHAT: SWEET SIXTEEN UNDERWAY-OHIO STATE SLIDES BY, WICHITA STATE GETS PEP TALK FROM TEBOW, MARQUETTE & SYRACUSE FACE EACH OTHER IN ELITE 8

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First up, it was #2 Ohio State vs. #6 Arizona.  Both of these teams were red hot coming into this game, and it was very difficult to predict a winner.  Arizona got out to the quick start, but Ohio State came surging back to assert their dominance.  In the end, Arizona got it to a tie game, but LaQuinton Ross hit a 3-point with just 2 seconds left to seal the game for the Buckeyes.   Ohio State 73, Arizona 70.

Ohio State would take on the winner of the two Cinderellas:  #9 Wichita State and #13 LaSalle.  This was a pivotal moment for both teams, as neither could have dreamed of making it all the way to the Elite 8.  And LaSalle even had to win their play-in game to get this far.  Unfortunately for LaSalle, Wichita State came out hungry (likely thanks to their impromptu pep talk from Tim Tebow last week).  And they never looked back.  It will be Wichita State vs. Ohio State in the Elite 8 matchup — winner goes to the Final 4.  Wichita 72, LaSalle 58.

And across the country, first it was #2 Miami vs. #3 Marquette.  Marquette has looked very lucky their first two games in the tournament, while Miami has looked stiff as well.  So which one of these teams would come out and dominate in this one?  That answer was easily Marquette, as they basically squashed Miami from the get-go, while Miami essentially laid down and died.  Marquette easily rolled into the Elite 8.  Marquette 71, Miami 61.

They would take on the winner of #1 Indiana vs. #4 Syracuse.  Indiana looked a little stiff last round, while Syracuse seems to have found a new spark of energy.  They are clicking at the right time, and that streak didn’t end against Indiana. Syracuse came out and smashed the Hoosiers from the first whistle.  They would never have to look back and easily cruised into the Elite 8.  So it will be an intriguing Big East match-up between Marquette and Syracuse for a trip to the Final 4.   Syracuse 61, Indiana 50.

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