Six key questions about the Sweet 16 …

Welcome to Bracketville

No more waiting.  It’s Game On for the 16 teams remaining in the 2011 NCAA Tournament.  Sweet.

While the West, East, and Southeast are rather chalky – minus Marquette and Butler - the Southwest is dominated by double-digit seeds.  Add up the seeding numbers in each region and it looks like this … West (11), Southeast (17), East (18), Southwest (34).  Which brings us to the six key questions about this year’s Sweet 16 …

1) Can VCU keep its momentum?  After an amazing run of 3 games in 5 days – including a First Four win over USC – the Rams will have had a four-day layoff when they tip-off against Florida State on Friday.  VCU has taken 70 three-pointers in three NCAA games (average of 23 per game) and made 29 (9.6 per game).  That’s a 41.4 shooting clip from beyond the arc.  In their win over Purdue, VCU shot a sizzling 56.9 percent from the floor. Next up is Florida State, one of the nation’s best defensive teams.  Stir it up and something has to give.  Will the break refresh the Rams or will it cool them off?

2) Can Butler reach another Final Four?  The Bulldogs are the only team in the Southeast bracket to reach back-to-back Sweet 16′s.  That alone is amazing when you consider the points, leadership, and talent Butler is missing from its 2010 squad that made it to the national championship game in Indianapolis.  Whether it’s good fortune, execution, talent, coaching – or a combination – the Bulldogs have certainly enjoyed the March spotlight.  By beating Pittsburgh, Butler has already taken out the Region’s top team.  Plus, matchups are favorable.  Wisconsin plays a similar style, and neither BYU or Florida run over opponents with sheer talent and size.