Thursday, March 19th, should be a national holiday. From Thursday at noon through Sunday night, the world gets the greatest weekend in all of sports: non-stop college basketball.
This is the best time of year to work from home. I have three games circled for the opening noon window, starting with #9 TCU vs. #8 Ohio State. I’ve watched the Buckeyes closely; they nearly beat a healthy Tar Heel squad earlier this year. While I haven’t seen as much of TCU, their recent scores haven’t always gone in their favor.
Ohio State is defined by its guard play, specifically Bruce Thornton. He is strong with the ball, rarely turns it over, and is elite at getting to the free-throw line. If he dictates the tempo in the half-court, Ohio State is nearly impossible to beat. Conversely, TCU is known for its frontcourt and its defensive pressure. Jayden Pierre doesn’t need to score 20, but he must handle the ball under duress. TCU’s defense (22nd nationally in efficiency) thrives on forcing turnovers. If Pierre and Brock Harding can speed Thornton up, they can pull the Buckeyes out of their comfort zone. Personally, I don’t think TCU has the defensive discipline to stop OSU. The Buckeyes should win and move on to a likely date with Duke on Saturday.
We also have to watch #7 Kentucky vs. #10 Santa Clara. When you hear ‘Kentucky,’ you think of household names and deep March runs. However, the Wildcats have struggled since the turn of the decade: missing the tournament in 2021, falling to #15 Saint Peter’s in 2022, and losing to Kansas State in 2023. Last year was perhaps the most painful exit of all—and John Calipari’s final game—as Kentucky lost to an Oakland team led by a historically hot Jack Gohlke. Under Mark Pope, they made the Sweet 16 last season, but they have their work cut out for them this year.
Santa Clara was a ‘Giant Killer’ back in the mid-90s with Steve Nash, but hasn’t seen much March success since. I think the Broncos can win this game due to Kentucky’s lack of momentum and Santa Clara’s high-octane offense, which averages over 80 points per game. One thing is for sure: whether it’s a player with a unique name, an awesome hairstyle, or a legendary shot, someone is about to become a household name.
