NCAA Tournament 2017: Predicting the Sweet 16

Mar 19, 2017; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Kentucky Wildcats guard Malik Monk (5) reacts after a three-point basket against the Wichita State Shockers during the second half in the second round of the 2017 NCAA Tournament at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Thomas Joseph-USA TODAY Sports /

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Mar 19, 2017; Tulsa, OK, USA; Baylor Bears forward Johnathan Motley (5) reacts during the second half against the USC Trojans in the second round of the 2017 NCAA Tournament at BOK Center. Mandatory Credit: Brett Rojo-USA TODAY Sports /

East Region — Baylor (3) vs. South Carolina (7)

Who saw this matchup coming? Baylor isn’t much of a surprise in the Sweet 16 although the Bears have been notorious for losing early in the NCAA Tournament in recent years. They survived a gritty New Mexico State team in the first round and then followed that up with a back-and-forth battle with USC, outlasting the Trojans.

On the other hand, South Carolina surprised some people with a first-round win over Marquette even though the Gamecocks were the higher seed. The SEC representative then took down No. 2 Duke in one of the bigger upsets of the weekend with an unbelievable second-half performance. Frank Martin has led the Gamecocks to their first Sweet 16 in school history.

Will that momentum from the improbable win over Duke work in the Gamecocks’ favor versus Baylor? It’s very possible, but the Gamecocks just don’t have anyone who could truly stop Johnathan Motley. Baylor’s big man will have a field day in the post, but senior guard Sindarius Thornwell will keep the game close.

Needing big buckets down the stretch, the Bears will just feed Motley down low and let him do the rest. Don’t be surprised if South Carolina’s bigs get in foul trouble early and are forced to play catch-up late.

Final: Baylor 77, South Carolina 69

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