Thursday’s Sweet 16 picks

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THURSDAY’S REGIONAL SEMIFINALS

WEST/At Phoenix

No. 1 Michigan State vs. No. 4 Louisville (7:47 p.m. ET, TBS)

Frank Says: Look for something along the lines of the Spartans-Saint Louis (although not quite that methodical). Regardless of what happens in this game (or beyond), this has to be one of Rick Pitino’s finest-ever coaching job. But Tom Izzo – who has also turned in his usual, take-him-for-granted performance – has Draymond Green in a Spartans’ uniform. And that will be the difference. And that’s something that has been said in a lot of MSU games this season. Pre-tourney projection: MSU over Louisville.

No. 3 Marquette vs. No. 7 Florida (10:17 p.m. ET, TBS)

Frank Says: I don’t want to make things too simple but . . . if the Gators’ jump shots are falling (and they will launch a lot of them), Florida has a reasonable chance of knocking off one of the four Big East reps. If not, the Golden Eagles could grind up the Gators with the same aplomb applied to BYU and Murray State. Marquette makes it a Big Ten-Big East finale Saturday. Pre-tourney projection: Marquette over Virginia.

 EAST/At Boston

No. 1 Syracuse vs. No. 4 Wisconsin (7:15 p.m. ET, CBS)

Frank Says: Picking the Badgers over the Orange seems to have become the trendy choice. Granted, Wisconsin was very impressive while knocking off Montana (which was the trendy choice to topple the Badgers in the Round of 64) and Vanderbilt. But I think a bit too much has been made of the loss of Fab Melo (including by me!), relative to the performance of Syracuse. Look for Jim Boeheim’s crew to hold up very well in this one. Pre-tourney projection: Vanderbilt over Syracuse.

No. 2 Ohio State vs. No. 6 Cincinnati (9:45 p.m. ET, CBS)

Frank Says: This should be the most competitive game of the evening – and I’m not buying the “it’s just another Sweet 16 game” approach players and coaches seemed to take in the few days run-up to this one. Jared Sullinger vs. Yancy Gates? Oh, my! But the difference in this outcome will be OSU sophomore playmaker Aaron Craft – just as it was in the Buckeyes’ narrow Round of 32 decision over Gonzaga. Pre-tourney projection: Ohio State over Florida State.