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Seth Davis names most intriguing game of Sweet 16

Andrew Olson

By Andrew Olson

Published:

Seth Davis is most excited for the matchup between the SEC regular-season champion and Big Ten Tournament champion.

Davis discussed the Sweet 16, which begins Thursday, in his recent appearance on On3’s Andy & Ari. Asked to name the most intriguing matchup of the 8 games, Davis went with the Auburn-Michigan showdown in Atlanta.

“Auburn-Michigan kind of jumps out at me a little bit,” Davis told the show.

“Michigan is obviously playing really well, won the Big Ten Tournament. They found a level of physicality and toughness that they didn’t really have the first couple months of the season. They’ve developed that throughout the course of the season, that’s amazing credit to Dusty May and his staff and what he’s built there.”

Michigan entered Selection Sunday with a 25-9 record and was given the No. 5 seed in the South Region. The Wolverines held on for a close win of 68-65 over 12-seed UC San Diego in the opening round. U-M had to rally and take control of the 2nd half to notch a 91-79 win over 4-seed Texas A&M to reach the Sweet 16.

Davis called Auburn an interesting team heading into the Sweet 16, given their 3-3 record over the last 6 games.

“Auburn is interesting because they lose 3 out of 4 coming into the NCAA Tournament and yet they were still so far ahead of the field they were still the No. 1 overall team in the bracket,” Davis said. “I do feel like carrying that mantle of being the best team wore on them, and they did not defend with the level of intensity and execution that they had for much of the season during those last few weeks.

“Maybe the tournament gives them a chance to reset. They looked good in winning their first 2 games. It took them about a half to get started in the first-round game. Creighton fought them hard, but they just had too much firepower. Now, they’re running into a Michigan team that’s definitely loaded, got 2 big 7-footers who really know how to play and play well together. And then a guard core that’s been a little bit up and down, but obviously playing its best basketball right now.”

AU pulled away in the 2nd half in each of its opening weekend wins over 16-seed Alabama State (83-63) and 9-seed Creighton (82-70).

Auburn vs. Michigan is set for a 9:39 p.m. ET tipoff on Friday. Auburn is favored by 9.5 points at BetMGM Sportsbook.

Andrew Olson

A former Florida beat reporter, Andrew writes for the Saturday Tradition News Desk.