NCAA Dance-Off: Washington State Cougars vs. North Carolina Tar Heels

The only team more dominant in the 2008 NCAA Tournament than the Washington State Cougars has been the North Carolina Tar Heels. The Tar Heels averaged 110.5 points in their two games, while the Cougars’ 66 points per game is just as impressive, considering their margin of victory (25.5 in their wins over Winthrop and Notre Dame).

That 40-odd point difference is the key focal point of the match-up between the East Region’s No. 4 seeded Cougars and No. 1 seeded Tar Heels this afternoon. Tip-off is scheduled for 4:27pm on CBS.

WSU's previous opponent, the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame, played an up-tempo style that was dismantled and suffocated by the Cougar defense. Can Wazzu do the same to UNC in the Sweet 16? Maybe. UNC is a stronger, faster, more athletic and experienced team than ND. We could go through comparisons of UNC’s guards Ty Lawson and sharp-shooting Wayne Ellington, along with their big-man Tyler “Psycho T” Hansbrough, or stress the importance of WSU staying out of foul trouble. But, plain and simple, the game will be decided by tempo. If the Cougars are able to control the style of play, limiting positions and keeping the score lower, this plays heavily in their favor. Compared to an up-and-down, high-scoring affair, which the Tar Heels would prefer.

The Tar Heels also have a virtual home court advantage, playing in their home state at the Charlotte Bobcats Arena. With the majority of fans decked out in Tar Heel baby blue, the Cougs should have fans from the later game between Tennessee and Louisville on their side, rooting for an upset of the top seed. UNC also has their rich basketball history; on the other hand, this is WSU’s first trip to the Sweet 16 (in the current tournament format).

You can track the game online at NCAA On Demand, or duck out of work a little early to the nearest sports bar, this game is sure to be a good one!

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