The Elite 8 Previews: Hopkins vs. CMS

Hopkins vs. CMS is probably the match that people think will go exactly as planned, and I undoubtedly agree with them.  Hopkins is going to have a tough time getting points in this one, but hopefully they can up their game and make this a match.  It would be nice to see CMS get challenged a little in their quarterfinal because we know its tough to play three times in three days.  Hey, if you get some people tired… you never know what will happen at the end.  If CMS is to be beaten, this is going to take a full effort from all the teams.  Crazy to say that, but Hopkins is the start of it.  The other previews are already out there, so please visit those if you haven’t yet!  Oh yea, and vote ASouth.  That’s what you should also be doing.

#1 Doubles: Wood/Dorn (CMS) vs. Buxbaum/Walsh

AS: I certainly have a tough task here as I have to try and prove why Hopkins can win this match.  If they are to win this match, it’s going to start with doubles.  Buxbaum and Walsh have cooled off as of late, but they are a talented team that made the Fall ITA and have countless wins on the year.  Wood/Dorn are intimidating but they are absolutely not unbeatable.  Buxbaum/Walsh need to come out fired up and take the first few games of the match to throw a little wrench into the CMS aura.  Can they do it?  By taking over the net and neutralizing Dorn’s serve, they definitely can.  However, I see the veteran duo of CMS taking this one, 8-6.

West: If Hopkins is going to get a doubles point, this would be where they get it. Unfortunately for them, I really just don’t see that happening on this day. CMS has long since exorcised their NCAA first round demons, and they will come out pumped up in this one. 8-5.

#2 doubles: Kotrappa/Butts (CMS) vs. Brown/Lim (Hopkins)

AS: This in my mind is the best chance for Hopkins to take a doubles match.  Brown and Lim have been playing like a #1 doubles team all season and this is where the veterans need to step up.  A lot has been made of Kotrappa and Butts run to win the Ojai, but that was one tournament.  We’re talking a team that can be beaten on their home courts as seen by the Cruz team of Richter and Littlejohn.  I think Brown/Lim are a very scrappy doubles team that can beat you either from the baseline or the net.  In a surprise, I have Hopkins taking this one by the score of 9-7.

West: This should also be a great doubles match. Hopkins has been strong here all season, and neither Kotrappa nor Butts really have the goods to hit them off the court. The CMS 2’s are probably the most fundamentally-sound doubles team in the tournament, however, and when it gets tight, that will pay off for them. 8-6 CMS.

#3 doubles: Marino/Pereverzin (CMS) vs. Joachim/Garcia (Hopkins)

AS: Joachim/Garcia have been some of the most underrated teams this year.  They play #3 doubles, which means they really don’t get the spotlight, but I just love Joachim’s doubles game.  He comes with a big serve that he can place well and a very good net presence.  They’ve only lost one match at #3 all year (they have lost at #2, but that’s a different story).  Hopkins can win this if Joachim takes over the net and plays out of his mind.  If Garcia can stay consistent from the baseline, they could have a chance.  They should be scared of the big groundstrokes of Marino and Z, but this is not an unbeatable team.  I think CMS takes this one.  8-4, CMS.

West: Butts/Kotrappa won’t hit you off the court, but these guys will. That’s exactly what I see happening in this match. I don’t see the Jays getting into many of the Stags service games, even though they’re known for their solid returns. 8-2 CMS.

#1 singles: Wood (CMS) vs. Buxbaum (Hopkins)

AS: I’m going to go ahead and pick these as if they were going to completion, but I’m well aware they are not going to.  That being said, I think this is one of the matches that’s going to finish. Buxbaum has been a gift from God for the Jays this year, but Warren Wood is definitely looking to put a national title under his belt after missing last year.  He’s probably a top 5 player in the country right now and he’s got the experience advantage and the home court advantage.  I say Wood shows the young freshman how it’s done and wins this match by the score of 6-3, 6-3.

West: Buxbaum has done a phenomenal job coming in as a freshman to play #1 singles for one of the best teams in the country, but Wood is pretty easily one of the three best players in the country right now. Buxbaum certainly has a chance if he’s having an off day, but Wood will come through if his team needs him to. I’m gonna say this match doesn’t finish. Wood leads 6-3, 1-4 DNF

#2 singles: Dorn (CMS) vs. Hwang (Hop)

AS: I detailed in my “clutch” article how Hwang is a mysterious case when it comes to big matches, and this is the biggest of em all.  I just don’t think Hwang is one of the best #2s in the nation and that’s what you have to be to beat Joe Dorn.  Look for Dorn to overpower Hwang with his serve and go out-rally him just long enough to take this match by the score of 6-1, 6-4.

West: If Hop is gonna get a singles point, this would be the spot for it. Dorn, great #2 singles player though he is, has been CMS’ relatively weakest position this season, and Hwang is on a tear. I think Hwang gets close here but ultimately doesn’t get to finish. Hwang leads 6-4, 3-3 DNF

#3 singles: Marino (CMS) vs. Brown (Hopkins)

AS: Brown can win this match if he somehow finds the range that he had last year, where he was a #1 player.  This year has been mired by injuries, weak play, and just a general lack of confidence for the junior.  All it takes is one match to get back on track, and he’ll have to really get back on track if he’s going to beat Nik Marino.  Both these players have been through their share of NCAA matches and I don’t think this one is going to be that close.  I’m taking Marino, 6-3, 6-1.

West: Brown hasn’t been nearly as good this year as he was last year, and Marino might be one of the strongest #3 singles players of all time. This should be a really great match, but Marino will have just a little too much firepower for Brown when things get tight, which they should. Once again, I don’t think this match is gonna finish. Marino leads 7-5, 2-1 DNF

#4 singles: Butts (CMS) vs. Dubin (Hopkins)

AS: Damnit, I’ve been a big fan of Dubin all year but this is going to be really tough for the freshman.  He can catch fire with his big groundstrokes and big serve, but Skylar Butts is one of the meanest players out there.  Remember this one is also going to be played in CMS’s backyard, where they’ll have the fans, the familiarity, and the Jamba Juice that’s on the side of the road near the complex.  Gotta love it.  I’m a little off track here but Butts is just too strong of an all around player to not win this match.  Butts by the score of 6-4, 6-2.

West: This is where the potency of the Stag lineup will really start to take its toll on the Jays. In case you’ve forgotten, Butts, at #4 singles, got to the finals of fall nationals, the semis of the Ojai, and qualified for nationals. Get out of here Dubin. Butts 6-3, 6-1.

#5 singles: Morkovine (CMS) vs. Lim (Hopkins)

AS: My man Erik Lim needs to find his game this year if the Jays are going to pull off this upset.  On paper, Lim should be able to take this one.  The dude has been through so many matches and beaten so many good players, but something is just off this year with the junior.  Mork has been legit at the bottom of the lineup for CMS.  Lim needs to find that NCAA firepower that we’ve gotten used to from him and really give the Jays a boost in terms of momentum with his notably loud playing style.  I wish this was the Lim of 2012, but I may be hoping for too much of a miracle.  I’m taking Mork, 7-6, 6-0.

West: In theory, this is yet another incidence of one of Hopkins’ strengths going up against what might be one of CMS’ relative weaknesses. I’m not really sure how true that is, however, as Morkovine has been killing it since his rough start to the season, and Lim is clearly having a tough time this year, losing almost every big match he’s played. I’m gonna say the Stag freshman has a big day to clinch the match for CMS. 6-3, 6-3.

#6 singles: Pereverzin (CMS) vs. Weissler (Hopkins)

AS: I was hard on Big Z in my clutch article and that’s not because he’s not a good player.  He just has some things to prove in singles play at NCAAs.  He can start it off by taking care of Weissler, who brings his grinding top-spin style to the slow CMS courts.  This could get hairy for Big Z if he’s inconsistent tomorrow, and I like Mr. Weissler on these courts.  He’s been a dark horse this year and I think this would be a nice stage for him to get a big win.  Let’s go with Weissler, 7-5, 7-5.

West: Big Z has had a great season for CMS, but he has had a few spots of inconsistency. Weissler, on the other hand, has been an absolute rock low in the lineup, so this one has three sets written all over it. Unfortunately for tennis fans everywhere, I don’t think it’s gonna get that far. Tied. 6-2 1-6 DNF (Zhenya wins 2nd set)

Now, I’m well aware that this match will most likely not see every match be to completion (doubt it will go 5-4) so the numbers here are a bit irrelevant.  However, I just don’t see many scenarios in which Hopkins can turn the tables on CMS.  The only way it happens is if Hopkins can take the doubles sweep, which is going to be a tough task on CMS’s home courts.  Even with a 2-1 lead, Hopkins has a tough road ahead of them so we’ll see how everything plays out.  This is our last Elite 8 Preview of the day, so we hope you enjoyed the writing and you’re ready for some great tennis tomorrow!  I wish we could do some type of podcast to commentate the matches, but I don’t want anyone to know who I am and shit like that.  Had to add a swear word in there. Sorry.  ASouth and West, signing off.