A look at Friday’s games

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FRIDAY’S REGIONAL SEMIFINALS

SOUTH/At Atlanta

No. 3 Baylor vs. No. 10 Xavier (7:15 p.m. ET/CBS)

Frank Says: Each of these teams had stretches in which it would have been dicey to project Sweet 16 appearances for either. The Musketeers appear to be playing at “pre-brawl (with Cincinnati) form. And the Bears are now look the part of a team two wins away from a Final Four appearance – in large part because of Southern Idaho transfer point guard Pierre Jackson. To earn a spot in Sunday’s regional final, however, Baylor is going to need a big effort out of Perry Jones III (four of 14 from field/nine points/14 rebounds in two NCAA games) against Xavier’s Kenny Frease (35 points/15 rebounds in same stretch). Give the slight edge to the Musketeers. Pre-tournament projection: Duke over Colorado.

No. 1 Kentucky vs. No.  4 Indiana (9:45 p.m. ET/CBS)

Frank Says: Remember that Dec. 10 game in Bloomington in which the Hoosiers handed the Wildcats their first loss via a buzzer-beating 3-pointer by Christian Watford? Who doesn’t? It might be the defining game of the season (so far). Indiana has improved since that point – if not, the Hoosiers wouldn’t have rallied to beat VCU last weekend. But Kentucky is firing on all cylinders now – no one is close to the Wildcats. And it might not be too close tonight. Pre-tournament projection: Kentucky over Wichita State.

 

MIDWEST/At St. Louis

No. 1 North Carolina vs. No. 13 Ohio (7:45 p.m. ET/TBS)

Frank Says: The lack of point guard Kendall Marshall (and his hobbled right wrist) isn’t likely to have a major impact on the outcome of this game, especially if the Tar Heels are dialed in defensively. Sunday, of course, would present a whole lot more issues (minus Marshall) whether the competition if Kansas or North Carolina State. Pre-tournament projection: North Carolina over Michigan.

No. 2 Kansas vs. No. 11 North Carolina State (10:15 p.m. ET/TBS)

Frank Says: Thomas Robinson and Jeff Withey weren’t productive (relative to their regular-season performances) on Sunday and if that is the case again, Mark Gottfried’s team can earn a spot in Sunday’s final. But that isn’t likely to happen. Look for strong efforts by both players in getting the Jayhawks to the regional final against the Tar Heels. Pre-tournament projection: Kansas over North Carolina State.