Spring Break
The Pro Side: The best of the weekend ahead, beyond Storrs
Kevin Duffy
Issue date: 3/20/09 Section: Sports
NBA
Miami Heat at Detroit Pistons Sunday 1:00 p.m. ABC
This match-up of two playoff-bound teams is one of the better ones of the weekend. Perhaps the most attractive aspect is the presence of MVP candidate Dwyane Wade. Wade, who sat out against the Celtics on Thursday, is averaging just under 30 points on the season and as of late has been on a tear. Detroit sits at one game under .500, which is good enough for seventh in the in the Eastern Conference. While they are playoff-bound, they have lost three in a row and are only three-and-a-half games in front of ninth-place Milwaukee. Richard Hamilton and company could use a win for some breathing room.
Boston Celtics at Memphis Grizzlies Saturday 8:00 p.m.
While normally a pretty lopsided match up, the Celtics have been brought down lately by injuries. Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen and Leon Powe have all missed significant game-time recently. As a result, the Celtics have been losing ground to the Cavs for first place in the East. This could be an easy win for Boston, or Rudy Gay could cause an upset.
NCAA Basketball
Cleveland State vs. Wake Forest Friday 9:40 p.m. CBS
On the second day of first-round games, this is where an upset could be possible. The Vikings enter the tournament having beaten heavily favored Butler in the Horizon League tournament championship. Earlier in the year, they beat Syracuse on a half-court buzzer-beater. They could catch Jeff Teague and the Demon Deacons napping and send them home early.
Siena vs. Ohio State
Friday 9:40 p.m. CBS
One of the most popular picks for a nine seed over an eight seed is Siena over Ohio State. Last season the Saints bounced Wake Forest in the first round, and they come back to the tournament this year as the MAAC Tournament champs. With a match up against a mediocre Buckeye team, Siena could advance to the second round for the second straight year.
Miami Heat at Detroit Pistons Sunday 1:00 p.m. ABC
This match-up of two playoff-bound teams is one of the better ones of the weekend. Perhaps the most attractive aspect is the presence of MVP candidate Dwyane Wade. Wade, who sat out against the Celtics on Thursday, is averaging just under 30 points on the season and as of late has been on a tear. Detroit sits at one game under .500, which is good enough for seventh in the in the Eastern Conference. While they are playoff-bound, they have lost three in a row and are only three-and-a-half games in front of ninth-place Milwaukee. Richard Hamilton and company could use a win for some breathing room.
Boston Celtics at Memphis Grizzlies Saturday 8:00 p.m.
While normally a pretty lopsided match up, the Celtics have been brought down lately by injuries. Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen and Leon Powe have all missed significant game-time recently. As a result, the Celtics have been losing ground to the Cavs for first place in the East. This could be an easy win for Boston, or Rudy Gay could cause an upset.
NCAA Basketball
Cleveland State vs. Wake Forest Friday 9:40 p.m. CBS
On the second day of first-round games, this is where an upset could be possible. The Vikings enter the tournament having beaten heavily favored Butler in the Horizon League tournament championship. Earlier in the year, they beat Syracuse on a half-court buzzer-beater. They could catch Jeff Teague and the Demon Deacons napping and send them home early.
Siena vs. Ohio State
Friday 9:40 p.m. CBS
One of the most popular picks for a nine seed over an eight seed is Siena over Ohio State. Last season the Saints bounced Wake Forest in the first round, and they come back to the tournament this year as the MAAC Tournament champs. With a match up against a mediocre Buckeye team, Siena could advance to the second round for the second straight year.
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