Auburn to upset No. 1 Houston

Now that my undefeated document of choosing No. 13 seeds or decrease within the NCAA Event publicly remains to be intact after Furman’s victory over Virginia on Thursday, I’m deciding to not relaxation on my laurels and inform you all about one other prediction I made earlier this week. For followers of Deadspin’s Conform to Disagree video sequence, this can be a choice I’ve already proclaimed on digital camera. Auburn will upset the Midwest area’s No. 1 seed in Houston on Saturday. It’s not fairly the lopsided upset as choosing the Paladins or Saint Peter’s over Kentucky final 12 months, nevertheless it’s little question not what’ll be favored.

The Cougars seemed horrible in opposition to one of many worst groups within the NCAA Event. Northern Kentucky acquired out of a weak low-major within the Horizon League. The Norse genuinely impressed me final evening and held robust with one of many supposed finest groups within the nation. Kelvin Sampson’s squad earned that No. 1 seed and was arguably probably the most constant group within the nation throughout the common season. And Houston both was trying previous a group it knew it may simply defeat, or the upstart Norse really uncovered what a Marcus Sasser-less group appears to be like like.

If you happen to take one of the best participant away from any nice group, it received’t be as mighty anymore. Purdue with out Zach Edey is a bubble group and is perhaps taking part in within the NIT proper now. Alabama with out Brandon Miller, which must be a actuality proper now with the off-court drama surrounding the Crimson Tide, would’ve gotten a powerful seed in The Large Dance, however doubtless extra towards the 4-5 line. Sasser is that needle-mover for the Cougars. The drop-off with out the 6-foot-2 senior guard and doubtless NBA lottery decide due to a groin harm suffered within the American Athletic Convention Event final week, is clear. He was pulled at halftime by Sampson and Houston was inconsistent with out him.

Auburn had a real toss-up matchup with Iowa on paper. The Tigers had been at all times higher than their seeding, whereas Iowa wasn’t. The Hawkeyes have by no means had a long term within the match beneath Fran McCaffery and this 12 months’s Kris Murray-led squad was no totally different. The SEC outmuscled the Large Ten. There’s no method round that. And Auburn may have thrown just a few extra punches on the finish of the sport if wanted. Within the nightcap, it was apparent by the top of the sport how drained Northern Kentucky was. A group higher conditioned to play with Houston, which can be each group the Cougars see the remainder of the season, will be capable to take higher benefit of a inclined, unmotivated squad. And if the shortage of drive isn’t actuality for UH, it didn’t present it in opposition to the Norse. It additionally has an amazing probability for redemption in opposition to Auburn. However nothing’s assured. And Bruce Pearl-coached groups often don’t miss when on condition that form of alternative.

It’s not clear if Sasser will play at 7:10 p.m. on TBS with a visit to the Candy 16 on the road. It’s clear that if he performs, he received’t be at full well being, which is already a downgrade from what we’ve anticipated from the Cougars for many of this season. Auburn is a group that’s gone by way of a bunch of adversity this season and nonetheless discovered its method safely into March Insanity. It’s a distinct type of entice to outline the adversity for Houston. Saying the Cougars have been by way of none could be silly. Their paths of resistance have been examined in video games, with extra tangible rewards, like 11 extra wins than the Tigers this season, alongside the best way. That’ll imply little come Saturday evening in Birmingham, a brief 110-mile journey from Auburn. And it may not be a house sport for the AU, nevertheless it ought to really feel prefer it from the group. Houston’s strolling into enemy territory and I don’t assume it’ll be sturdy sufficient to stroll out of the primetime matchup nonetheless with a season to play for.