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NCAA Tournament 1st Round Betting Previews
Thursday's South Region First Round betting preview
Devonte’ Graham was named Big 12 Tournament Most Outstanding Player after scoring a career high-tying 27 points in the 81-71 championship game win over West Virginia.
No. 9 Connecticut Huskies vs. No. 8 Colorado Buffaloes (+3, 131.5)
Game to be played at Wells Fargo Arena, Des Moines, IA
Connecticut took the drama out of Selection Sunday with a dramatic run to the American Athletic Conference title over the weekend. The Huskies, seeded ninth in the South Region, will begin their quest for a fifth national title when they meet No. 8 Colorado in the first round on Thursday at Des Moines, Iowa.
UConn may not have even been in the NCAA field if it weren't for freshman guard Jalen Adams' miraculous 62-foot game-tying prayer at the third-overtime buzzer in its four-overtime win over Cincinnati on Friday. The Huskies steamrolled their way past Temple and Memphis after that to win its first AAC title and the automatic NCAA bid. Some felt that Colorado was a bubble team, but the Buffaloes earned their way into the 68-team field with a fifth-place finish in the Pac-12. Thursday's winner will most likely face the tournament's top-seeded Kansas in the second round if the Jayhawks get past Austin Peay.
TV: 1:30 p.m. ET, TNT
LINE HISTORY: The point spread opened with UConn as three-point favorites. The line fluxuated a bit early - even getting as high as 4 at one point - but it seems to have settled in at Cunnecticut -3. The total started at too high of a number in the mind of the betting public. This game had a starting number of 134.5 and was quickly bet all the way down to 131.5.
ABOUT CONNECTICUT (24-10, 16-13-1 ATS, 13-16-1 O/U): Running through conference tournaments on the way to the NCAA is nothing new for the Huskies, who embarked on magical rides to the national title in 2011 with the heroics and Kemba Walker and then again in 2014 paced by guard Shabazz Napier. This year's Huskies needed another strong finish to earn a bid and got it thanks to the resurgence of Daniel Hamilton, who has three straight double-doubles and scored a career-high 32 points in 55 minutes against Cincinnati in the ACC quarterfinals. Adams has also blossomed into a budding star, scoring a career-high 22 points against Cincinnati while getting extended playing time while Shonn Miller and Sterling Gibbs both scored team-high 13 points in Sunday's championship game.
ABOUT COLORADO (22-11, 19-11 ATS, 15-15 O/U): The Buffaloes nearly erased a 22-point deficit but fell short in their last outing, an 82-78 loss against Arizona in the Pac-12 quarterfinals. Colorado, however, got a much-needed win in its conference tournament opener, blowing out Washington State and are in the field for the fourth time in six years under coach Tad Boyle. The Buffaloes won 11 straight games early in the season before ending the campaign losers of six of their last 11, but are a formidable bunch ranked fourth in the nation in rebounding (42.4 per game) and own big victories over Arizona and Oregon, which earned the No. 1 seed in the West Region.
TRENDS:
* Huskies are 15-3 ATS in their last 18 NCAA Tournament games.
* Buffaloes are 5-0 ATS in their last 5 games overall.
* Over is 4-0 in Huskies last 4 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
* Under is 6-2 in Buffaloes last 8 games following a straight up loss.
No. 16 Austin Peay Governors vs. No. 1 Kansas Jayhawks (-26, 152)
Game to be played at Wells Fargo Arena, Des Moines, IA
Kansas is the NCAA Tournament’s No. 1 overall seed and will tip off tourney play Thursday against 16th-seeded Austin Peay in a South Region matchup in Des Moines, Iowa. Of course, a No. 16 seed never has beaten a No. 1, but there is definite later-in-the-bracket concern about the Jayhawks, who have been ousted by lower-seeded teams in five of the last six NCAA tourneys and have failed to advance past the second round in each of their last two appearances.
Coach Bill Self has seen the complete March range in his 13 seasons at the Kansas helm, also guiding the program to five Elite Eight appearances, including a national title in 2008. This will be the fifth time the Jayhawks have been a No. 1 seed under Self and the first time since 2013, when they lost to fourth-seeded Michigan in the Sweet 16. “We’ve had some (NCAA Tournaments) where we’ve under-performed ... but, really, there’s pressure on everyone in this tournament,” Self told the media after the South bracket had been revealed. “We’ve done a lot of good things this season, winning our 12th straight (regular-season) Big 12 championship and winning the Big 12 Tournament, but to have a truly successful season, we know you have to have success later in March.” Austin Peay, meanwhile, is making its first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2008 after winning the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament title on March 5 as an eighth seed.
TV: 4 p.m. ET, TNT
LINE HISTORY: The Kansas Jayhawks opened as 26-point favorites and the total opened at 152. Both numbers have stayed relatively steady and any wobble in either number was quickly returned to the opening figure.
ABOUT AUSTIN PEAY (18-17, 13-15-1 ATS, 19-9-1 O/U): The Governors enter the Big Dance on a six-game win streak, including four victories in four days at the Ohio Valley tourney in Nashville. The Clarksville, Tenn., program is led by 6-8 senior Chris Horton, who is averaging a team-best 18.9 points and 12 rebounds and was named the Ohio Valley Tournament MVP despite being limited by an ankle injury suffered late in the first half of the title game. Guards Josh Robinson (16.7 points) and Khalil Davis (11.2) also are averaging double figures while freshman guard Jared Savage is coming off a career-high 24-point outing in the Ohio Valley championship game, with all the scoring coming on an 8-of-10 showing from 3-point range.
ABOUT KANSAS (30-4, 21-11 ATS, 12-19-1 O/U): The Jayhawks enter the Big Dance as one of the nation’s hottest teams, riding a 14-game win streak which includes three Big 12 Tournament victories by an average of 12 points apiece. Guard Devonte’ Graham was named the tourney’s Most Outstanding Player after scoring a career high-tying 27 points in the 81-71 championship game win over West Virginia, and he was joined on the all-tournament team by senior forward Perry Ellis, who totaled 58 points in the three games and is averaging a team-best 16.7 points per contest. Guards Wayne Selden Jr. (13.3 points), Frank Mason III (13.1) and Graham (11.7) also are averaging double digits for Kansas while forward Landen Lucas (6.3 rebounds) and Ellis (5.9) are the team’s pace-setters on the glass.
TRENDS:
* Governors are 5-0 ATS in their last 5 neutral site games.
* Jayhawks are 5-0 ATS in their last 5 non-conference games.
* Over is 10-1 in Governors last 11 games following a ATS win.
* Under is 24-6 in Jayhawks last 30 NCAA Tournament games.
No. 14 Buffalo Bulls vs. No. 3 Miami Hurricanes (-14, 148.5)
Game to be played at Dunkin Donuts Center, Providence, RI
Jim Larranaga - who coached George Mason to the 2006 Final Four - looks to conjure up some old March magic as his Miami squad returns to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2013 when it takes on Buffalo in a South Region first-round game Thursday in Providence, R.I. The Hurricanes, the No. 3 seed in the West region, come in having won nine of their last 11, while the Bulls took the Mid-American Conference tournament championship for the second straight season.
Miami sports a balanced offense, with four players averaging in double figures - led by Sheldon McClellan (15.8 points), Angel Rodriguez (11.8) and Davon Reed (11.5), each of whom hit more than 40 3-pointers this year. The Hurricanes are also solid defensively, holding opponents to 66.6 points on 43 percent shooting from the field. Buffalo became the first team in 14 years to defend its MAC tournament title despite being the No. 3 seed, upsetting top-seeded Akron on Saturday. The Bulls also feature four double-figure scorers, with Lamonte Bearden and Blake Hamilton leading the way at 13.6 and 13.1 points, respectively.
TV: 6:50 p.m. ET, TNT
LINE HISTORY: Miami opened at -13.5 and were quickly bet up to -14. After sitting at -14 for about 24 hours the line settled back down to -13.5. The total opened and 149.5 and has gradually dropped to it's current status of 148.5.
ABOUT BUFFALO (20-14, 17-13-2 ATS, 18-13-1 O/U): After making a trip to the Big Dance last season, Buffalo should be a little more relaxed when it takes the floor against Miami. The Bulls weren't expected to come back to the NCAA Tournament, especially early in the season under first-year head coach Nate Oats, but the team seems to be coming together at just the right time and could give the Hurricanes a tough go. "Nobody was predicting this back in October, November," Oats told reporters. "So I can't say enough about the character of these guys. We got hot at the right time. It's the best basketball we played all year. And we picked the right time to do it, for sure."
ABOUT MIAMI (25-7, 18-12-1 ATS, 15-16 O/U): While everyone wants to go into the NCAA Tournament on a roll, more than half of the field will be coming off a loss, like the Hurricanes are after a loss to Virginia in the ACC tournament semifinals. In fact, Larranaga wasted no time reminding his team that last year's national champion, Duke, also lost in the ACC tournament semis, so there are bigger and better things to focus on. "Nobody's down on themselves because we have bigger things to worry about," forward Kamari Murphy told reporters. "Like Coach told us, Duke was in this exact situation last year and went on to win the title, so a tournament is a new season for us. We have to take one game at a time and hope to keep winning and compete for a national championship."
TRENDS:
* Bulls are 5-0 ATS in their last 5 neutral site games.
* Hurricanes are 12-3 ATS in their last 15 non-conference games.
* Over is 14-2 in Bulls last 16 Thursday games.
* Over is 8-1 in Hurricanes last 9 NCAA Tournament games.
No. 11 Wichita St. Shockers vs. No. 6 Arizona Wildcats (-1.5, 136.5)
Game to be played at Dunkin Donuts Center, Providence, RI
Not only did Arizona receive a lower seed than expected, it must travel almost 2,600 miles to face a well-seasoned backcourt duo in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. The sixth-seeded Wildcats take on 11th seed Wichita State, featuring senior guards Fred VanVleet and Ron Baker, on Thursday in the South Regional at Providence, R.I.
“We’ve had obstacles. We’ve had adversity strike us,” Arizona coach Sean Miller, whose team went 3-3 in its last six games, told reporters. “The resilience of this team really stands out.” The Wildcats took NCAA top seed Oregon to overtime before losing in the Pac-12 tournament semifinals and boasts three players that average at least 15 points. Arizona will be tested by the Shockers, who rolled away from Vanderbilt 70-50 in the First Four game at Dayton, Ohio on Tuesday as Baker and VanVleet totaled 28 points. “No doubt they’ll have momentum,” Miller told the Arizona Republic. “. … But I also know this: Rest at this time of year is real important. Sometimes, you can get beat up in your own conference tournament and it’s a quick turnaround.”
TV: 9:20 p.m. ET, TNT
LINE HISTORY: The spread and total were late arriving based on Wichita St. being involved in the First Four game on Tuesday night. Arizona opened as -1.5 favorites and the total sits at 136.5.
ABOUT WICHITA ST. (25-8, 19-12 ATS, 13-17-1 O/U): Baker scores 14.2 per game and VanVleet chips in with 12.1 while combining for 102 makes from 3-point range for the Shockers, who have won seven of their last eight contests. Half of their points came from bench players Tuesday as Anton Grady scored 11, Conner Frankamp eight and Markis McDuffie seven. “It just speaks volumes to our depth, VanVleet told reporters. “We worked so hard on the young guys. And for them to step up in those moments is huge for our team. This time of year, that’s what you need.”
ABOUT ARIZONA (25-8, 16-17 ATS, 22-11 O/U): Forward Ryan Anderson returns to New England where he played three seasons with Boston College and looks to rebound from a 2-for-13 shooting performance against Oregon. Anderson averages 15.5 points, 10.1 rebounds and shoots 54.7 percent from the field while senior guard Gabe York scores 15.2 per game - 21.8 over the past four contests. Freshman guard Allonzo Trier has made an impact by averaging 15 points, and 7-0 senior Kaleb Tarczewski (9.4 points, 9.3 boards) could be a key against Wichita State’s relatively small front line.
TRENDS:
* Shockers are 1-6 ATS in their last 7 neutral site games.
* Wildcats are 6-1 ATS in their last 7 non-conference games.
* Under is 6-1 in Shockers last 7 vs. Pacific-12.
* Over is 4-1 in Wildcats last 5 non-conference games.
Thursday's East Region First Round betting preview
USC returns to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2011 when the eighth-seeded Trojans face No. 9 seed Providence.
No. 16 Florida Gulf Coast Eagles vs. No. 1 North Carolina Tar Heels (-22, 148)
Game to be played at PNC Arena, Raleigh, NC
Top-seeded North Carolina could be playing its best basketball of the season at the right time as it prepares to face the first test in the NCAA Tournament. The ACC champion Tar Heels look to extend their winning streak to six games when they take on 16th seed FGCU in the first round of the East Regional Thursday in Raleigh, N.C.
North Carolina allowed only 52 points per game and 33.6 percent shooting in the final two contests of the ACC tournament and hopes to continue that kind of work in the defensive end to add to its explosive offense. “We kept getting better all season,” Tar Heels coach Roy Williams told reporters of the team’s defense. “We saw the fruits of the labor immediately (at the ACC tournament) and that sort of gave us a little more confidence, too.” North Carolina will have to play well in the defensive end against FGCU, which shot 59.6 percent in the 96-65 victory over Fairleigh Dickinson in the First Four on Tuesday. “We’re just going to stay confident and believe in ourselves and give it our best effort,” Eagles leading scorer Marc Eddy Norelia told reporters. “Anything can happen.”
TV: 7:20 p.m. ET, TBS
LINE HISTORY: The No. 1 seed North Carolina Tar Heels opened as massive 22-point favorites over the FGCU Eagles. The total opened at 148.
ABOUT FLORIDA GULF COAST (21-13, 4-3-1 ATS, 4-4 O/U): Norelia recorded 20 points on 10-of-11 shooting to go along with 10 rebounds in the First Four triumph for his fourth double-double in five games and had five of team's 27 assists - their most since becoming a Division I program for the 2011-12 season. Norelia tops three players in double figures scoring (17.3) and leads the team in rebounding (9.2) while shooting 54.9 percent from the field. Christian Terrell (12.7 points) is averaging 15 over the last four games and Zach Johnson (11.1) shoots 40.3 percent from behind the arc.
ABOUT NORTH CAROLINA (28-6, 16-17-1 ATS, 17-17 O/U): Joel Berry II raised his level of play in the ACC tournament, averaging 17 points, and joins the talented Marcus Paige in a backcourt that will be a key moving forward. Paige, a preseason All-American who has been inconsistent (12.1 points, 3.7 assists, 39.3 percent shooting), must find his top form if the Tar Heels are to win it all and Berry was 17-of-24 from the field in the ACC tournament. Brice Johnson is the top threat inside, averaging 16.6 points and 10.6 rebounds while shooting 61.4 percent from the field.
TRENDS:
* Eagles are 13-1 ATS in their last 14 neutral site games.
* Tar Heels are 1-5 ATS in their last 6 NCAA Tournament games.
* Under is 8-0-1 in Eagles last 9 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
* Over is 5-0 in Tar Heels last 5 non-conference games.
No. 9 Providence Friars vs. No. 8 Southern California Trojans (+1.5, 149.5)
Game to be played at PNC Arena, Raleigh, NC
USC returns to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2011 when the eighth-seeded Trojans face No. 9 seed Providence, which finished fourth in the Big East and features future NBA lottery pick Kris Dunn in the backcourt, in the first round of the East Regional on Thursday night in Raleigh, N.C. The Trojans can only hope they enjoy the kind of success that their third-year had coach Andy Enfield experienced in his last trip to the NCAA Tournament in 2013 when his Florida Gulf Coast "Dunk City" squad made an unexpected run to the Sweet 16.
Ironically, Florida Gulf Coast may be taking the court just before the USC-Providence contest if it wins its First Four play-in game and faces North Carolina, the top overall seed in the East and the likely opponent for the Providence-USC winner. The Trojans, who were considered a bubble team after finishing in a three-way tie for sixth in the ultra-competitive Pac-12 Conference and then losing to Utah, 80-72, in the quarterfinals of the Pac-12 Tournament, exhaled when they finally saw their name appear on Sunday's selection show. "We figured we'd get in, but it was awesome to actually see it happen," guard Julian Jacobs said. "We're just super-glad to be in position to compete for a championship. We can't wait to get to North Carolina."
TV: 9:50 p.m. ET, TBS
LINE HISTORY: Providence opened as one-point favorites over the USC Trojans. The point spread got as high as 3.5 at one point in the week but it settled down as the Friars -1.5. The total had an up-and-down week as well with an opening number of 149.5, a rise to 150.5, and a drop down to the original number of 149.5.
ABOUT PROVIDENCE (23-10, 18-14 ATS, 19-13 O/U): There might not be a better 1-2 punch in the nation than 6-9 sophomore forward Ben Bentil and Dunn, considered a potential top-five pick in this summer's NBA Draft. Bentil leads the team in scoring (21.2 points per game) and rebounding (7.8) while Dunn is second in scoring (16.0) and also is averaging 6.4 assists, 5.5 rebounds and 2.5 steals per game. Forward Rodney Bullock also is averaging in double figures (11.6) and had a team-best 18 points, including 4-of-5 3-pointers, in the Friars' 76-68 loss to No. 1 seeded Villanova in the semifinals of the Big East Tournament on Friday.
ABOUT USC (21-12, 18-14-1 ATS, 18-14-1 O/U): The Trojans won a total of five conference games and were just 23-41 in Enfield's first two seasons before turning things around dramatically this year. USC has five players averaging in double figures led by sophomore guard Jordan McLaughlin (13.4 points) who is also shooting 42.3 percent from 3-point range. Nikola Jovanovic, a 6-11 junior, mans the inside and is averaging 12.1 points and a team high 7.0 rebounds while Jacobs (11.8 points), Katin Reinhardt (11.5) and Bennie Boatwright (11.5) also are averaging double digits.
TRENDS:
* Friars are 13-3 ATS in their last 16 neutral site games.
* Trojans are 1-6 ATS in their last 7 games vs. a team with a winning straight up record.
* Under is 7-1 in Friars last 8 neutral site games.
* Over is 6-0-1 in Trojans last 7 games following a ATS loss.
No. 12 Chattanooga Mocs vs. No. 5 Indiana Hoosiers (-12, 145.5)
Game to be played at Wells Fargo Arena, Des Moines, IA
After a disappointing Big Ten tournament showing, Indiana gets a chance to redeem itself as a No. 5 seed in the NCAA Tournament, taking on No. 12 Chattanooga in a first-round game in the East region on Thursday. As the top seed in the Big Ten tournament, the Hoosiers lost their opening game on a buzzer-beater against Michigan, while the Mocs come in having won five straight, including rolling to their 11th Southern Conference tournament title.
Indiana is led by one of the top point guards in the country in senior Yogi Ferrell (17 points, 5.5 assists) and has a pair of solid scorers in Troy Williams (13.1 points) and Thomas Bryant (11.6). The Hoosiers average nearly 16 assists a game as a team, shooting 50.1 percent from the field, including 41.5 percent from 3-point range. Chattanooga notched a school-record 29 victories this season with 6-5 forward Tre McLean leading the way with 12.3 points and 6.4 rebounds. Justin Tuoyo, a 6-10 forward, adds 11.1 points, while senior Eric Robertson is a dangerous 3-point shooter, hitting 80 from beyond the arc on 40.4 percent shooting.
TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, CBS
LINE HISTORY: The point spread opened with the Indiana Hoosiers favored by 11 but was quickly bet up to -12. The total opened at 144.5 and rose slightly during the week to 145.5.
ABOUT CHATTANOOGA (29-5, 16-13-1 ATS, 14-13-2 O/U): It's easier to say after the fact, but Chattanooga coach Matt McCall looks back on a Feb. 20 15-point loss to UNC Greensboro as a good thing. McCall's squad hasn't lost since the setback, which he said showed that his team wasn't ready for such a big moment but learned from it. "Everything was at stake (in the Southern tournament title game)," McCall told reporters. "Just trying to get the guys to understand that we've got to do our job and can't get caught up in the moment, so when the moment happened, we handled it well."
ABOUT INDIANA (25-7, 17-15 ATS, 15-17 O/U): Despite the disappointment of falling to Michigan in its Big Ten tournament opener, Indiana coach Tom Crean has his team confident it can shake off the loss and play well in the NCAA Tournament. Right after the contest, players were already talking about things they can improve on -- turnovers, motion on offense -- and looking forward to hitting the court in the Big Dance. "We're still confident," freshman OG Anunoby told reporters. "We think we can learn from it. And look forward to the next game."
TRENDS:
* Mocs are 5-0 ATS in their last 5 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
* Hoosiers are 1-4-1 ATS in their last 6 NCAA Tournament games.
* Over is 4-0-2 in Mocs last 6 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
* Under is 4-1 in Hoosiers last 5 Thursday games.
No. 13 Stony Brook Seawolves vs. No. 4 Kentucky Wildcats (-14, 143)
Game to be played at Wells Fargo Arena, Des Moines, IA
After some regular-season struggles, Kentucky is once again a team that nobody wants to face in the NCAA Tournament. The SEC tournament champions begin their search for another Final Four trip Thursday in Des Moines, Iowa, as the No. 4 seed in the East Region against 13th-seeded Stony Brook.
The Wildcats have won five straight games, including a strong run through the SEC tournament which they capped with an overtime victory over Texas A&M on Sunday. “I'm really proud of this basketball team, how much they've improved,” coach John Calipari said to reporters in his postgame press conference. “Individually, guys are becoming the best version of themselves.” Calipari's assessment certainly includes standout point guard Tyler Ulis, who recorded 30 points against Texas A&M, and backcourt mate Jamal Murray, who is the team's leading scorer (20.1 points). Stony Brook is making its first NCAA Tournament appearance but boasts a legitimate star in 6-8 senior forward Jameel Warney, who averages 19.8 points and 10.7 rebounds and poured in a school-record 43 points with 10 boards in the America East title game against Vermont.
TV: 9:40 p.m. ET, CBS
LINE HISTORY: Kentucky opened at -13.5 and the line was bet up to -14. The total opened at 144 and the public felt that was too high and pounded the under early in the week, prompting a drop by the books to 143.
ABOUT STONY BROOK (26-6, 0-5-1 ATS, 4-2 O/U): The Seawolves played at Vanderbilt and Notre Dame in the non-conference portion of their schedule, losing by seven and 25, respectively, although the defeat to the Commodores came in overtime. Warney has scored in double figures every game this season and averaged 30.3 points and 15.3 rebounds over three America East tournament contests. Three other Stony Brook players average at least 10 points, including Carson Puriefoy (15.1), who has knocked down at least 40 percent of his 3-pointers in four of the last five games and has drained a team-high 81 3-pointers on the year.
ABOUT KENTUCKY (26-8, 18-16 ATS, 19-14-1 O/U): The Wildcats have reached the Final Four in each of their last four NCAA Tournament appearances (2011, 2012, 2014, 2015) and - as usual - enter the Big Dance with a deep roster of reigning McDonald's All-Americans mixed in with some veteran mainstays. One of the veterans in this case is Ulis, the diminutive sophomore who has totaled 55 points and two turnovers in his last two games and has not been held to single-digit points since early January. The freshman class for the Wildcats is highlighted by Murray, who has knocked down at least three 3-pointers in 12 of his last 13 games, and Isaiah Briscoe, who has endured an up-and-down season but registered 10 points, six assists and five rebounds in the conference title game.
TRENDS:
* Seawolves are 0-5-2 ATS in their last 7 games overall.
* Wildcats are 1-5-1 ATS in their last 7 NCAA Tournament games.
* Under is 7-2 in Seawolves last 9 neutral site games.
* Over is 5-0 in Wildcats last 5 neutral site games.
Thursday's Midwest Region First Round betting preview
Virginia hopes their quest for a national title begins Thursday with a win against No. 16 seed Hampton.
No. 9 Butler Bulldogs vs. No. 8 Texas Tech Red Raiders (+4, 147)
Game to be played at PNC Arena, Raleigh, NC
Eighth-seeded Texas Tech, making its first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2007, will face tournament veteran and No. 9-seed Butler in Raleigh, N.C., on Thursday in the first round of the Midwest region. Both teams enter the dance after disappointing exits in their respective conference tournaments.
Texas Tech got on a roll in February - winning five in a row, including three consecutive against top 25 teams - before a 1-3 finish capped by a loss to last-place TCU in the Big 12 tournament. Red Raiders coach Tubby Smith - named the league's coach of the year - joins Oklahoma's Lon Kruger - as the only coaches to take five teams to the NCAA Tournament. The Bulldogs earned their eighth berth in the past 10 years and have won at least one game in seven of those appearances. Thursday's winner will face top-seeded Virginia or Hampton on Saturday.
TV: 12:40 p.m. ET, truTV
LINE HISTORY: Bookmakers think the selection committee got the seeding wrong on this one with the 9th seeded Bulldogs opening as 2.5-point favorites and bettors agree. The line has moved from Butler -2.5 to -4. The total has been bet down a point and a half, moving from 148.5 to 147. Check out the complete line history here.
ABOUT BUTLER (21-10, 16-14-1 ATS, 16-13-1 O/U): Sharp-shooting Kellen Dunham (42.8 percent from 3-point range) leads four players in double figures at 16.3 for the high-scoring Bulldogs (80.6 points). Forwards Kelan Martin (16.1 points, 6.8 rebounds), Roosevelt Jones (14, 6.6) and Andrew Chrabascz (10.1 points) give the Bulldogs plenty of scoring options all over the court. The Bulldogs - who went 2-7 against the Big East's four other NCAA Tournament teams - are looking for back-to-back opening round wins after beating Texas last year.
ABOUT TEXAS TECH (19-12, 15-13 ATS, 15-13 O/U): Toddrick Gotcher shoots 40 percent from behind the 3-point line and leads a balanced offensive attack - where seven players average at least eight points - with 11.1. Devaugntah Williams (10.6 points) and Aaron Ross (10.3) contribute off the bench and Zach Smith (10.1) leads the team with 7.4 rebounds per game. The Red Raiders, who led the Big 12 in free-throw shooting (74.6 percent), haven't won a tournament game since advancing to the 2005 Sweet 16.
TRENDS:
* Butler is 5-1 ATS in its last six games overall and 21-6-1 ATS in their last 28 NCAA Tournament games.
* Texas Tech is 3-13 ATS in its last 16 neutral site games.
* Over is 5-1 in Butler's last six games overall.
* Under is 4-1 in Texas Tech's last five NCAA Tournament games.
No. 13 Iona Gaels vs. No. 4 Iowa State Cyclones (-7.5, 167)
Game to be played at Pepsi Center, Denver, CO
After a year to lament last season’s early exit from the NCAA Tournament, Iowa State gets its chance for redemption when the fourth-seeded Cyclones face No. 13 seed Iona in the Midwest Region on Thursday in Denver. The Cyclones are in the tournament for a school-record fifth consecutive year and are a top-four seed for the third straight season, but they flamed out early in a 60-59 first-round loss to No. 14 seed UAB a year ago.
Iona is no stranger to painful losses in March – in 10 previous trips to the NCAA Tournament, the Gaels have only one win (in 1980) and seven losses by five points or fewer. The Gaels enter the tournament as one of the hottest teams in the nation, having won eight straight and 12 of their last 13. Iowa State enters the tournament after consecutive losses to No. 1 Kansas in the regular-season finale and No. 6 Oklahoma in the Big 12 tournament, but the Cyclones have an impressive resume that includes wins over those same two teams. The Gaels won the only previous meeting, 89-72 at Iowa State on Nov. 26, 2005.
TV: 2 p.m. ET, CBS
LINE HISTORY: Iowa State opened as eight point favorites and have been bet down to -7.5. The total here is the interesting number. With these two high flying teams the total opened at 167 - the highest of the First Round - and has actually been bet up to 167. Check out the complete line history here.
ABOUT IONA (22-10, 16-15 ATS, 15-16 O/U): The Gaels are in the NCAA Tournament for the third time in six seasons under coach Tim Cluess, whose teams play at a break-neck pace and love the 3-point shot. Star guard A.J. English (22.4 points, 6.2 assists) – the son of former NBA star Alex English – is one of three Gaels with at least 77 made 3-pointers and 171 attempts from beyond the arc. Volatile forward Jordan Washington (13.8 points, 6.2 rebounds) is a force inside when he can stay out of foul trouble, but he averages just 18.4 minutes.
ABOUT IOWA STATE (21-11, 15-13 ATS, 13-15-1 O/U): The Cyclones are one of the most balanced teams in the nation with seven players averaging double-digit scoring, but senior forward Georges Niang (19.8 points, 6.2 rebounds) is their star. Niang matched his career high with 31 points against Oklahoma on Thursday and has scored in double figures in 41 consecutive games and 112 in his career. If opponents focus too much effort on limiting Niang’s touches, though, there are plenty of other Cyclones who can make them pay, and point guard Monte Morris (13.9 points, 6.9 assists) is adept and doing it himself or finding the open teammate.
TRENDS:
* Iona is 7-1 ATS in its last eight games overall.
* Iowa State is 1-3-1 ATS in its last five non-conference games.
* Under is 4-0 in Iona's last four neutral site games.
* Under is 9-2 in Iowa State's last 11 neutral site games.
No. 16 Hampton Pirates vs. No. 1 Virginia Cavaliers (-23.5, 133)
Game to be played at PNC Arena, Raleigh, NC
Virginia has earned a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament for the second time in three seasons and opens play Thursday in Raleigh, N.C., with a first-round matchup against No. 16 Hampton in the Midwest Region. The Cavaliers cannot look too far ahead but are facing a potential matchup with No. 2 seed Michigan State - which has knocked off Virginia in each of the last two tournaments - in the regional final.
Before they can even entertain such a thought, the Cavaliers must recover from a 61-57 loss to North Carolina in the ACC tournament title game on Saturday. For the fifth straight season under coach Tony Bennett, Virginia has held opponents to under 60 points per game, but this version averaged over 70 on the other end for the first time in Bennett's seven season, led by ACC Player of the Year Malcolm Brogdon (18.7). Hampton is in the Big Dance for the sixth time after rolling through the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference. The Pirates had a memorable win as a 15-seed in the first round of the 2001 NCAA Tournament and picked up another victory in the event with a triumph over Manhattan in a "First Four" game last season.
TV: 3:10 p.m. ET, truTV
LINE HISTORY: Virginia opened as big 24-point favorites over Hampton and have been bet down slightly to -23.5. The total has also been bet down a half point, moving from 133.5 to 133. Check out the complete line history here.
ABOUT HAMPTON (21-10, 3-2 ATS, 5-0 O/U): The Pirates have a two-headed monster in senior guards Reggie Johnson - who ranked second on the MEAC in scoring (18.3) and tied for third in assists (4.1) - and Quinton Chievous, the league's fourth-leading scorer (17.0) and top rebounder (11.0). The latter averaged 18.5 points and 11.5 boards in two tournament games a year ago and enters this one having averaged 18.5 points and 10.8 rebounds over his last four games. Brian Darden, also a senior, is the one other player scoring in double figures (13.2) and ranks as the team's most consistent perimeter threat, knocking down 8-of-14 3-pointers in the final two games of the conference tourney.
ABOUT VIRGINIA (26-7, 17-14 ATS, 12-19 O/U): Brogdon averaged 21.7 points during the ACC tournament but was just 6-of-22 from the floor against the Tar Heels and likely has motivation to improve upon his past performances in NCAAs. He shot 10-of-30 in the team's Sweet 16 run two seasons ago and was 9-of-29 last year, including 3-of-12 in the second straight elimination loss to Michigan State. Anthony Gill, the team's second-leading scorer, has reached double figures in four of his previous five NCAA Tournament games.
TRENDS:
* Hampton is 5-0 ATS in its last five non-conference games.
* Virginia is 5-1 ATS in its last six games overall.
* Over is 6-0 in Hampton's last six games overall (when a total was listed).
* Under is 11-2 in Virginia's last 13 games overall.
No. 12 Arkansas-Little Rock Trojans vs. No. 5 Purdue Boilermakers (-9, 128.5)
Game to be played at Pepsi Center, Denver, CO
Fifth-seeded Purdue looks to build on its deep run in the Big Ten tournament when it takes on No. 12 seed Little Rock in the first round of the Midwest Region in Denver on Thursday. The Boilermakers notched impressive victories over Illinois and Michigan before falling to red-hot Michigan State 66-62 in the tournament final but will make their second straight NCAA Tournament appearance after missing out on March Madness in the previous two years.
Purdue has won the battle of the boards in all but two games this season and hopes to use its overwhelming height advantage to advance past the first round for the first time since 2012. Little Rock coach Chris Beard has engineered one of the most impressive turnarounds in the nation as the Trojans notched 16 more wins than they did in the previous season. Little Rock has won eight of its last nine games and captured the Sun Belt regular-season and tournament titles en route to setting a school record for most victories in a campaign with 29. The Trojans beat ULM 70-50 in the Sun Belt Tournament final to secure their fifth trip to the NCAA Tournament and their first since 2011.
TV: 4:30 p.m. ET, TBS
LINE HISTORY: Purdue opened as 8-point favorites and have been bet up a point to its current number of -9. The total has seen plenty of movement, going down 2.5-points from 131 to 128.5. Check out the complete line history here.
ABOUT LITTLE ROCK (29-4, 19-10 ATS, 10-19 O/U): Roger Woods went 8-of-10 from the field en route to a team-high 19 points against ULM and earned the tournament's Most Valuable Player award in the process. Marcus Johnson Jr. added 14 points while Jalen Jackson provided a spark off the bench by scoring 11 points. "I'm the luckiest man in the world to be coaching these guys," Beard told reporters. "We're not done yet and I think we can do some damage in the tournament."
ABOUT PURDUE (26-8, 18-11-1 ATS, 15-15 O/U): Vince Edwards led the Boilermakers with 19 points while A.J. Hammons added 11 points and nine rebounds against Michigan State to finish in double figures for the 15th consecutive game. Caleb Swanigan also scored 11 points but Purdue couldn't overcome a poor-shooting first half against the Spartans. "We came far from two years ago coming in last place in the Big Ten," senior defensive stopper Rapheal Davis told reporters. "To go out and get a five seed and play a good team like Little Rock will be good for us."
TRENDS:
* Arkansas-Little Rock is 7-1 ATS in its last eight non-conference games.
* Purdue is 6-0-1 ATS in its last seven games overall.
* Under is 4-0 in Arkansas-Little Rock's last four neutral site games.
* Over is 5-2 in Purdue's last seven games overall.
No. 14 Fresno State Bulldogs vs. No. 3 Utah Utes (-8.5, 138.5)
Game to be played at Pepsi Center, Denver, Colorado
Third-seeded Utah made a splash in its return to the NCAA Tournament in 2015 and hopes to take a step - or four - further when it meets No. 14 seed Fresno State on Thursday in the first round of the Midwest Region in Denver. The Utes, appearing in their first NCAAs since 2009, lost to eventual national champion Duke in the Sweet 16 last season and return plenty of experience and firepower including Pac-12 Conference Player of the Year Jakob Poeltl.
Utah was crushed by Oregon - the No. 1 seed in the West Region - 88-57 in Saturday's Pac-12 tournament final, but coach Larry Krystkowiak wasn't too concerned after the Utes had their nine-game winning streak snapped. "I know our guys would trade for some success starting (Thursday),'' he told reporters. "If it means getting our butts waxed in the championship game, then we'll take our medicine and hopefully be focused for some practice on Monday." The Bulldogs earned their ninth straight victory and first NCAA bid since 2001 with a 68-63 win over San Diego State on Saturday in the Mountain West Conference tournament championship game behind senior guard and MWC Player of the Year Marvelle Harris, the school's all-time leading scorer. "It was incredible. Greatest feeling I've had in my whole basketball career," Harris told reporters after the title game. "It's a big win for the program, community, fans, everyone. ..."
TV: 7:27 p.m. ET, truTV
LINE HISTORY: Utah opened as 8-point favorites and have been bet up to -8.5. Meanwhile, the total has moved a whopping four points since opening, going down from 142.5 to 138.5. Check out the complete line history here.
ABOUT FRESNO STATE (25-9, 18-11 ATS, 17-12 O/U): Harris (20.6 points, 4.7 rebounds, team-high 4.4 assists) has 2,007 career points after averaging 17.7 in three MWC tournament games and scoring 34 against Utah State on March 5 to break the previous school record of 1,951 set by Melvin Ely in 2002. Harris, who was also named MWC tournament MVP, has 701 points this season - breaking the previous single-season school standard set by Carl Ray Harris in 1994. The Bulldogs boast six other players averaging at least 7.6 points including Torren Jones (10.5 points, team-high 7.9 rebounds) and fellow junior forward Karachi Edo (9.9, 6.4).
ABOUT UTAH (26-8, 16-15-1 ATS, 18-13-1 O/U): Poeltl, a 7-0 sophomore forward from Vienna, Austria, averages 17.6 points, nine rebounds and 1.6 blocks. The Utes have five players scoring at least 9.6 points with senior forward Jordan Loveridge (11.8) leading the group, which also includes sophomore forward Kyle Kuzma (10.8 points, 5.9 rebounds). Senior point guard Brandon Taylor (9.6 points, team-high 3.8 assists) runs the show while junior guard Lorenzo Bonam (9.9 points) also contributes.
TRENDS:
* Fresno State is 6-0 ATS in its last six games overall.
* Utah is 4-0-2 ATS in its last six games versus Mountain West opponents.
* Over is 5-1 in Fresno State's last six games overall.
* Over is 6-0 in Utah's last six neutral site games.
No. 11 Gonzaga Bulldogs vs. No. 6 Seton Hall Pirates (Pick, 145.5)
Game to be played at Pepsi Center, Denver, CO
Seton Hall's shocking run to the Big East tournament title earned it an equally surprising No. 6 seed and a date with No. 11 Gonzaga in the first round of the NCAA Tournament in Denver on Thursday. The Pirates, making their first appearance in the field in 10 years, will be looking to recapture some of their former glory, like when they reached the 1989 championship game, as they kick off play in the Midwest Region.
Gonzaga needed an extended run and perhaps even the West Coast Conference tournament title to secure its 18th straight appearance in the field. The Bulldogs, who reached the Elite Eight last year, losing to eventual national champion Duke, did just that by disposing of Saint Mary's in the final, leaving the top-seeded Gaels on the Big Dance sidelines. Gonzaga is one of only two teams to win its opening-round tournament game each of the last seven seasons -- Kansas is the other. Led by sophomore sensation Isaiah Whitehead, who scored 26 points in the Big East title game against Villanova, Seton Hall is making its 10th appearance in the tournament.
TV: 9:57 p.m. ET, truTV
LINE HISTORY: Another situation where the books feel the selection commitee got the seeding wrong opening the No. 11 seed Bulldogs as slight 2-point faves over the Pirates. Money has come in on Seton Hall since however and the line has moved to a Pick'em. The total has been bet up 2-points from 143.5 to 145.5. Check out the complete line history here.
ABOUT SETON HALL (25-8, 23-9 ATS, 14-18 O/U): Whitehead, who is expected to bolt for the NBA after the season, recorded a three-point play in the closing seconds to lead the Pirates to a 69-67 win over the Wildcats in the Big East title game. Another sophomore, Khadeen Carrington, scored a game-high 23 points as Seton Hall nipped Xavier 87-83 in the semifinal. The Pirates are certainly young but guided by coach Kevin Willard and, in his sixth year with the team, they have won 12 of their last 14 games in what was regarded as one of the toughest conferences in the nation.
ABOUT GONZAGA (26-7, 15-15-1 ATS, 16-15 O/U): Gonzaga's NCAA Tournament streak seemed to be in serious jeopardy after an early-season back injury cost them the services of star center Przemek Karnowski. But emerging power forward Domantas Sabonis, who some feel is a future NBA lottery choice, and sharp-shooting Kyle Wiltjer, who transferred from national champion Kentucky after the 2012-13 season and led the team in scoring at 20.7 points a game, helped keep the Bulldogs in the bubble picture. Led by coach Mark Few, Gonzaga has shunned the label of mid-major power and is 22-18 all-time in NCAA games with six trips to the Sweet 16 and two trips to the Elite Eight, although the team was just 1-3 against ranked opponents this season.
TRENDS:
* Gonzaga is 5-0 ATS in its last five games overall.
* Seton Hall is 4-0 ATS in its last four neutral site games.
* Over is 5-0 in Gonzaga's last five neutral site games.
* Over is 2-1 in Seton Hall's last six games overall.
Thursday's West Region First Round betting preview
Duke has been inconsistent this season, but will attempt to defend their national title, starting with a First Round matchup with UNC-Wilmington.
No. 13 UNC-Wilmington Seahawks vs. No. 4 Duke Blue Devils (-10.5, 157)
Games to be played at Dunkin' Donuts Center, Providence, RI
A Tar Heel State showdown is on tap Thursday in Providence, R.I., where fourth-seeded Duke will take on No. 13 seed UNC Wilmington in the first round of the NCAA Tournament's West Region. While the Blue Devils are in the NCAA Tournament for the 21st consecutive season, the Seahawks are making their first appearance in a decade.
The Blue Devils are the defending national champions, but they’ve struggled at times after losing big man Amile Jefferson to a broken foot just nine games into the season and won just one game in the ACC tournament before losing to Notre Dame in overtime in the quarterfinals. The Seahawks have been in tournament mode for more than a week after having to scrape through three close games in the Colonial Athletic Association tournament. They won their first two games in the tournament by a total of five points and needed overtime to dispatch Hofstra in the championship game. The in-state foes have met only once before, with Duke winning 67-57 in overtime on Feb. 8, 1982.
TV: 12:15 p.m. ET, CBS
LINE HISTORY: Duke opened as 9.5-point faves and all the early money has been on the Blue Devils, who have been bet up a whole point to sit at -10.5. The total has been bet up a half point from 156.5 to 157. Check out the complete line history here.
ABOUT UNC WILMINGTON (25-7, 15-13 ATS, 16-12 O/U): The Seahawks were a fixture in the NCAA Tournament in the early 2000s but have only one win – a 93-89 overtime triumph over No. 4 seed USC in 2002. Wilmington employs a guard-oriented lineup with four starters listed at 6-5 or shorter and likes to push the pace. Junior guard Chris Flemmings (16.1 points, 5.9 rebounds) is the team’s top scorer and rebounder, but backcourt mates Denzel Ingram (12.5 points) and Craig Ponder (11.1 points) also can hurt defenses.
ABOUT DUKE (23-10, 13-17-2 ATS, 14-18 O/U): The Blue Devils took a huge hit when they lost Jefferson, a post presence and veteran leader, and their youth has shown at the defensive end. There is plenty of offensive firepower with sophomore guard Grayson Allen (21.6 points) leading the way, but two of the team’s top three – Brandon Ingram (16.8 points, 6.8 rebounds) and Luke Kennard (11.9 points) – are freshmen who are unproven on the big stage. Allen, Ingram and junior guard Matt Jones (10.8 points) all love to shoot from the outside and are the first trio in program history to each make at least 70 3-pointers in a season.
TRENDS:
* NC-Wilmington is 1-4 ATS in their last five games overall.
* Duke is 0-5 ATS in their last five games overall, but 6-0 ATS in its last six NCAA Tournament games.
* Over is 7-1 in UNC-Wilmington's last eight neutral site games.
* Under is 8-2 in Duke's last 10 games overall.
No. 12 Yale Bulldogs vs. No. 5 Baylor Bears (-5, 136.5)
Baylor was among the best teams in the nation's best conference this season and hopes the high level of competition puts it in a position to succeed in the NCAA Tournament beginning with Thursday's West Region first-round game against Yale in Providence, R.I. The fifth-seeded Bears are coming off a 70-66 loss to No. 1 Kansas on Friday in the Big 12 tournament semifinals and have lost three of their last four games - all against ranked teams.
Baylor should also be extra motivated after a stunning 57-56 loss to No. 14 seed Georgia State in the first round of the 2015 NCAA Tournament. "Last year, we didn't like how it ended," Bears coach Scott Drew told reporters. "We had had a lot of success in the tournament, and that was the first time we really got stung. I know the returning players and coaches are motivated to make sure we do better." The No. 12 seed Bulldogs are playing in their first NCAA Tournament since John F. Kennedy was president after winning their first Ivy League title since 1962. Yale, which went 13-1 in the Ivy League, is riding a five-game winning streak and has won seven of eight since captain Jack Montague was expelled from school after an alleged sexual assault incident.
LINE HISTORY: The No. 5 seed Bears opened as 5.5-point favorites, but money has come in on the Bulldogs, with Baylor now sitting at -5. As for the total, bettors like the over with the number moving up a point and a half from 135 to 136.5. Check out the complete line history here.
ABOUT YALE (22-6, 11-6-2 ATS, 11-8 O/U): The Bulldogs are expected to control the game with a slow tempo and frustrate the athletic Bears. Yale is led in scoring by senior forward Justin Sears and sophomore guard Makai Mason, who each average 15.8 points despite Sears scoring only nine total points in the last two games. Sears grabs a team-best 7.5 rebounds while senior forward Brandon Sherrod (12.5 points, 7.1 rebounds) is also a major contributor.
ABOUT BAYLOR (22-12, 12-14-1 ATS, 15-12 O/U): The Bears have five players who score roughly two-thirds of their points, led by senior forward Taurean Prince (15.5 points, 6.1 rebounds). Baylor will need senior forward Rico Gathers (11.4 points, 9.1 rebounds) to contribute offensively and control the boards against a solid rebounding team which is 20th nationally at 40.4 per game. Sophomore guard Al Freeman (11.5 points) and sophomore forward Johnathan Motley (11.0 points) are also offensive factors while senior point guard Lester Medford (9.1 points, 11th nationally with 6.5 assists) runs the show.
TRENDS:
* Yale is 6-0 ATS in its last six neutral site games.
* Baylor is 4-1 ATS in its last five games overall.
* Under is 4-0 in Yale's last four games following an ATS win.
* Under is 4-0 in Baylor's last four games overall.
Thursday's South Region First Round betting preview
Devonte’ Graham was named Big 12 Tournament Most Outstanding Player after scoring a career high-tying 27 points in the 81-71 championship game win over West Virginia.
No. 9 Connecticut Huskies vs. No. 8 Colorado Buffaloes (+3, 131.5)
Game to be played at Wells Fargo Arena, Des Moines, IA
Connecticut took the drama out of Selection Sunday with a dramatic run to the American Athletic Conference title over the weekend. The Huskies, seeded ninth in the South Region, will begin their quest for a fifth national title when they meet No. 8 Colorado in the first round on Thursday at Des Moines, Iowa.
UConn may not have even been in the NCAA field if it weren't for freshman guard Jalen Adams' miraculous 62-foot game-tying prayer at the third-overtime buzzer in its four-overtime win over Cincinnati on Friday. The Huskies steamrolled their way past Temple and Memphis after that to win its first AAC title and the automatic NCAA bid. Some felt that Colorado was a bubble team, but the Buffaloes earned their way into the 68-team field with a fifth-place finish in the Pac-12. Thursday's winner will most likely face the tournament's top-seeded Kansas in the second round if the Jayhawks get past Austin Peay.
TV: 1:30 p.m. ET, TNT
LINE HISTORY: The point spread opened with UConn as three-point favorites. The line fluxuated a bit early - even getting as high as 4 at one point - but it seems to have settled in at Cunnecticut -3. The total started at too high of a number in the mind of the betting public. This game had a starting number of 134.5 and was quickly bet all the way down to 131.5.
ABOUT CONNECTICUT (24-10, 16-13-1 ATS, 13-16-1 O/U): Running through conference tournaments on the way to the NCAA is nothing new for the Huskies, who embarked on magical rides to the national title in 2011 with the heroics and Kemba Walker and then again in 2014 paced by guard Shabazz Napier. This year's Huskies needed another strong finish to earn a bid and got it thanks to the resurgence of Daniel Hamilton, who has three straight double-doubles and scored a career-high 32 points in 55 minutes against Cincinnati in the ACC quarterfinals. Adams has also blossomed into a budding star, scoring a career-high 22 points against Cincinnati while getting extended playing time while Shonn Miller and Sterling Gibbs both scored team-high 13 points in Sunday's championship game.
ABOUT COLORADO (22-11, 19-11 ATS, 15-15 O/U): The Buffaloes nearly erased a 22-point deficit but fell short in their last outing, an 82-78 loss against Arizona in the Pac-12 quarterfinals. Colorado, however, got a much-needed win in its conference tournament opener, blowing out Washington State and are in the field for the fourth time in six years under coach Tad Boyle. The Buffaloes won 11 straight games early in the season before ending the campaign losers of six of their last 11, but are a formidable bunch ranked fourth in the nation in rebounding (42.4 per game) and own big victories over Arizona and Oregon, which earned the No. 1 seed in the West Region.
TRENDS:
* Huskies are 15-3 ATS in their last 18 NCAA Tournament games.
* Buffaloes are 5-0 ATS in their last 5 games overall.
* Over is 4-0 in Huskies last 4 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
* Under is 6-2 in Buffaloes last 8 games following a straight up loss.
No. 16 Austin Peay Governors vs. No. 1 Kansas Jayhawks (-26, 152)
Game to be played at Wells Fargo Arena, Des Moines, IA
Kansas is the NCAA Tournament’s No. 1 overall seed and will tip off tourney play Thursday against 16th-seeded Austin Peay in a South Region matchup in Des Moines, Iowa. Of course, a No. 16 seed never has beaten a No. 1, but there is definite later-in-the-bracket concern about the Jayhawks, who have been ousted by lower-seeded teams in five of the last six NCAA tourneys and have failed to advance past the second round in each of their last two appearances.
Coach Bill Self has seen the complete March range in his 13 seasons at the Kansas helm, also guiding the program to five Elite Eight appearances, including a national title in 2008. This will be the fifth time the Jayhawks have been a No. 1 seed under Self and the first time since 2013, when they lost to fourth-seeded Michigan in the Sweet 16. “We’ve had some (NCAA Tournaments) where we’ve under-performed ... but, really, there’s pressure on everyone in this tournament,” Self told the media after the South bracket had been revealed. “We’ve done a lot of good things this season, winning our 12th straight (regular-season) Big 12 championship and winning the Big 12 Tournament, but to have a truly successful season, we know you have to have success later in March.” Austin Peay, meanwhile, is making its first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2008 after winning the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament title on March 5 as an eighth seed.
TV: 4 p.m. ET, TNT
LINE HISTORY: The Kansas Jayhawks opened as 26-point favorites and the total opened at 152. Both numbers have stayed relatively steady and any wobble in either number was quickly returned to the opening figure.
ABOUT AUSTIN PEAY (18-17, 13-15-1 ATS, 19-9-1 O/U): The Governors enter the Big Dance on a six-game win streak, including four victories in four days at the Ohio Valley tourney in Nashville. The Clarksville, Tenn., program is led by 6-8 senior Chris Horton, who is averaging a team-best 18.9 points and 12 rebounds and was named the Ohio Valley Tournament MVP despite being limited by an ankle injury suffered late in the first half of the title game. Guards Josh Robinson (16.7 points) and Khalil Davis (11.2) also are averaging double figures while freshman guard Jared Savage is coming off a career-high 24-point outing in the Ohio Valley championship game, with all the scoring coming on an 8-of-10 showing from 3-point range.
ABOUT KANSAS (30-4, 21-11 ATS, 12-19-1 O/U): The Jayhawks enter the Big Dance as one of the nation’s hottest teams, riding a 14-game win streak which includes three Big 12 Tournament victories by an average of 12 points apiece. Guard Devonte’ Graham was named the tourney’s Most Outstanding Player after scoring a career high-tying 27 points in the 81-71 championship game win over West Virginia, and he was joined on the all-tournament team by senior forward Perry Ellis, who totaled 58 points in the three games and is averaging a team-best 16.7 points per contest. Guards Wayne Selden Jr. (13.3 points), Frank Mason III (13.1) and Graham (11.7) also are averaging double digits for Kansas while forward Landen Lucas (6.3 rebounds) and Ellis (5.9) are the team’s pace-setters on the glass.
TRENDS:
* Governors are 5-0 ATS in their last 5 neutral site games.
* Jayhawks are 5-0 ATS in their last 5 non-conference games.
* Over is 10-1 in Governors last 11 games following a ATS win.
* Under is 24-6 in Jayhawks last 30 NCAA Tournament games.
No. 14 Buffalo Bulls vs. No. 3 Miami Hurricanes (-14, 148.5)
Game to be played at Dunkin Donuts Center, Providence, RI
Jim Larranaga - who coached George Mason to the 2006 Final Four - looks to conjure up some old March magic as his Miami squad returns to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2013 when it takes on Buffalo in a South Region first-round game Thursday in Providence, R.I. The Hurricanes, the No. 3 seed in the West region, come in having won nine of their last 11, while the Bulls took the Mid-American Conference tournament championship for the second straight season.
Miami sports a balanced offense, with four players averaging in double figures - led by Sheldon McClellan (15.8 points), Angel Rodriguez (11.8) and Davon Reed (11.5), each of whom hit more than 40 3-pointers this year. The Hurricanes are also solid defensively, holding opponents to 66.6 points on 43 percent shooting from the field. Buffalo became the first team in 14 years to defend its MAC tournament title despite being the No. 3 seed, upsetting top-seeded Akron on Saturday. The Bulls also feature four double-figure scorers, with Lamonte Bearden and Blake Hamilton leading the way at 13.6 and 13.1 points, respectively.
TV: 6:50 p.m. ET, TNT
LINE HISTORY: Miami opened at -13.5 and were quickly bet up to -14. After sitting at -14 for about 24 hours the line settled back down to -13.5. The total opened and 149.5 and has gradually dropped to it's current status of 148.5.
ABOUT BUFFALO (20-14, 17-13-2 ATS, 18-13-1 O/U): After making a trip to the Big Dance last season, Buffalo should be a little more relaxed when it takes the floor against Miami. The Bulls weren't expected to come back to the NCAA Tournament, especially early in the season under first-year head coach Nate Oats, but the team seems to be coming together at just the right time and could give the Hurricanes a tough go. "Nobody was predicting this back in October, November," Oats told reporters. "So I can't say enough about the character of these guys. We got hot at the right time. It's the best basketball we played all year. And we picked the right time to do it, for sure."
ABOUT MIAMI (25-7, 18-12-1 ATS, 15-16 O/U): While everyone wants to go into the NCAA Tournament on a roll, more than half of the field will be coming off a loss, like the Hurricanes are after a loss to Virginia in the ACC tournament semifinals. In fact, Larranaga wasted no time reminding his team that last year's national champion, Duke, also lost in the ACC tournament semis, so there are bigger and better things to focus on. "Nobody's down on themselves because we have bigger things to worry about," forward Kamari Murphy told reporters. "Like Coach told us, Duke was in this exact situation last year and went on to win the title, so a tournament is a new season for us. We have to take one game at a time and hope to keep winning and compete for a national championship."
TRENDS:
* Bulls are 5-0 ATS in their last 5 neutral site games.
* Hurricanes are 12-3 ATS in their last 15 non-conference games.
* Over is 14-2 in Bulls last 16 Thursday games.
* Over is 8-1 in Hurricanes last 9 NCAA Tournament games.
No. 11 Wichita St. Shockers vs. No. 6 Arizona Wildcats (-1.5, 136.5)
Game to be played at Dunkin Donuts Center, Providence, RI
Not only did Arizona receive a lower seed than expected, it must travel almost 2,600 miles to face a well-seasoned backcourt duo in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. The sixth-seeded Wildcats take on 11th seed Wichita State, featuring senior guards Fred VanVleet and Ron Baker, on Thursday in the South Regional at Providence, R.I.
“We’ve had obstacles. We’ve had adversity strike us,” Arizona coach Sean Miller, whose team went 3-3 in its last six games, told reporters. “The resilience of this team really stands out.” The Wildcats took NCAA top seed Oregon to overtime before losing in the Pac-12 tournament semifinals and boasts three players that average at least 15 points. Arizona will be tested by the Shockers, who rolled away from Vanderbilt 70-50 in the First Four game at Dayton, Ohio on Tuesday as Baker and VanVleet totaled 28 points. “No doubt they’ll have momentum,” Miller told the Arizona Republic. “. … But I also know this: Rest at this time of year is real important. Sometimes, you can get beat up in your own conference tournament and it’s a quick turnaround.”
TV: 9:20 p.m. ET, TNT
LINE HISTORY: The spread and total were late arriving based on Wichita St. being involved in the First Four game on Tuesday night. Arizona opened as -1.5 favorites and the total sits at 136.5.
ABOUT WICHITA ST. (25-8, 19-12 ATS, 13-17-1 O/U): Baker scores 14.2 per game and VanVleet chips in with 12.1 while combining for 102 makes from 3-point range for the Shockers, who have won seven of their last eight contests. Half of their points came from bench players Tuesday as Anton Grady scored 11, Conner Frankamp eight and Markis McDuffie seven. “It just speaks volumes to our depth, VanVleet told reporters. “We worked so hard on the young guys. And for them to step up in those moments is huge for our team. This time of year, that’s what you need.”
ABOUT ARIZONA (25-8, 16-17 ATS, 22-11 O/U): Forward Ryan Anderson returns to New England where he played three seasons with Boston College and looks to rebound from a 2-for-13 shooting performance against Oregon. Anderson averages 15.5 points, 10.1 rebounds and shoots 54.7 percent from the field while senior guard Gabe York scores 15.2 per game - 21.8 over the past four contests. Freshman guard Allonzo Trier has made an impact by averaging 15 points, and 7-0 senior Kaleb Tarczewski (9.4 points, 9.3 boards) could be a key against Wichita State’s relatively small front line.
TRENDS:
* Shockers are 1-6 ATS in their last 7 neutral site games.
* Wildcats are 6-1 ATS in their last 7 non-conference games.
* Under is 6-1 in Shockers last 7 vs. Pacific-12.
* Over is 4-1 in Wildcats last 5 non-conference games.
Thursday's East Region First Round betting preview
USC returns to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2011 when the eighth-seeded Trojans face No. 9 seed Providence.
No. 16 Florida Gulf Coast Eagles vs. No. 1 North Carolina Tar Heels (-22, 148)
Game to be played at PNC Arena, Raleigh, NC
Top-seeded North Carolina could be playing its best basketball of the season at the right time as it prepares to face the first test in the NCAA Tournament. The ACC champion Tar Heels look to extend their winning streak to six games when they take on 16th seed FGCU in the first round of the East Regional Thursday in Raleigh, N.C.
North Carolina allowed only 52 points per game and 33.6 percent shooting in the final two contests of the ACC tournament and hopes to continue that kind of work in the defensive end to add to its explosive offense. “We kept getting better all season,” Tar Heels coach Roy Williams told reporters of the team’s defense. “We saw the fruits of the labor immediately (at the ACC tournament) and that sort of gave us a little more confidence, too.” North Carolina will have to play well in the defensive end against FGCU, which shot 59.6 percent in the 96-65 victory over Fairleigh Dickinson in the First Four on Tuesday. “We’re just going to stay confident and believe in ourselves and give it our best effort,” Eagles leading scorer Marc Eddy Norelia told reporters. “Anything can happen.”
TV: 7:20 p.m. ET, TBS
LINE HISTORY: The No. 1 seed North Carolina Tar Heels opened as massive 22-point favorites over the FGCU Eagles. The total opened at 148.
ABOUT FLORIDA GULF COAST (21-13, 4-3-1 ATS, 4-4 O/U): Norelia recorded 20 points on 10-of-11 shooting to go along with 10 rebounds in the First Four triumph for his fourth double-double in five games and had five of team's 27 assists - their most since becoming a Division I program for the 2011-12 season. Norelia tops three players in double figures scoring (17.3) and leads the team in rebounding (9.2) while shooting 54.9 percent from the field. Christian Terrell (12.7 points) is averaging 15 over the last four games and Zach Johnson (11.1) shoots 40.3 percent from behind the arc.
ABOUT NORTH CAROLINA (28-6, 16-17-1 ATS, 17-17 O/U): Joel Berry II raised his level of play in the ACC tournament, averaging 17 points, and joins the talented Marcus Paige in a backcourt that will be a key moving forward. Paige, a preseason All-American who has been inconsistent (12.1 points, 3.7 assists, 39.3 percent shooting), must find his top form if the Tar Heels are to win it all and Berry was 17-of-24 from the field in the ACC tournament. Brice Johnson is the top threat inside, averaging 16.6 points and 10.6 rebounds while shooting 61.4 percent from the field.
TRENDS:
* Eagles are 13-1 ATS in their last 14 neutral site games.
* Tar Heels are 1-5 ATS in their last 6 NCAA Tournament games.
* Under is 8-0-1 in Eagles last 9 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
* Over is 5-0 in Tar Heels last 5 non-conference games.
No. 9 Providence Friars vs. No. 8 Southern California Trojans (+1.5, 149.5)
Game to be played at PNC Arena, Raleigh, NC
USC returns to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2011 when the eighth-seeded Trojans face No. 9 seed Providence, which finished fourth in the Big East and features future NBA lottery pick Kris Dunn in the backcourt, in the first round of the East Regional on Thursday night in Raleigh, N.C. The Trojans can only hope they enjoy the kind of success that their third-year had coach Andy Enfield experienced in his last trip to the NCAA Tournament in 2013 when his Florida Gulf Coast "Dunk City" squad made an unexpected run to the Sweet 16.
Ironically, Florida Gulf Coast may be taking the court just before the USC-Providence contest if it wins its First Four play-in game and faces North Carolina, the top overall seed in the East and the likely opponent for the Providence-USC winner. The Trojans, who were considered a bubble team after finishing in a three-way tie for sixth in the ultra-competitive Pac-12 Conference and then losing to Utah, 80-72, in the quarterfinals of the Pac-12 Tournament, exhaled when they finally saw their name appear on Sunday's selection show. "We figured we'd get in, but it was awesome to actually see it happen," guard Julian Jacobs said. "We're just super-glad to be in position to compete for a championship. We can't wait to get to North Carolina."
TV: 9:50 p.m. ET, TBS
LINE HISTORY: Providence opened as one-point favorites over the USC Trojans. The point spread got as high as 3.5 at one point in the week but it settled down as the Friars -1.5. The total had an up-and-down week as well with an opening number of 149.5, a rise to 150.5, and a drop down to the original number of 149.5.
ABOUT PROVIDENCE (23-10, 18-14 ATS, 19-13 O/U): There might not be a better 1-2 punch in the nation than 6-9 sophomore forward Ben Bentil and Dunn, considered a potential top-five pick in this summer's NBA Draft. Bentil leads the team in scoring (21.2 points per game) and rebounding (7.8) while Dunn is second in scoring (16.0) and also is averaging 6.4 assists, 5.5 rebounds and 2.5 steals per game. Forward Rodney Bullock also is averaging in double figures (11.6) and had a team-best 18 points, including 4-of-5 3-pointers, in the Friars' 76-68 loss to No. 1 seeded Villanova in the semifinals of the Big East Tournament on Friday.
ABOUT USC (21-12, 18-14-1 ATS, 18-14-1 O/U): The Trojans won a total of five conference games and were just 23-41 in Enfield's first two seasons before turning things around dramatically this year. USC has five players averaging in double figures led by sophomore guard Jordan McLaughlin (13.4 points) who is also shooting 42.3 percent from 3-point range. Nikola Jovanovic, a 6-11 junior, mans the inside and is averaging 12.1 points and a team high 7.0 rebounds while Jacobs (11.8 points), Katin Reinhardt (11.5) and Bennie Boatwright (11.5) also are averaging double digits.
TRENDS:
* Friars are 13-3 ATS in their last 16 neutral site games.
* Trojans are 1-6 ATS in their last 7 games vs. a team with a winning straight up record.
* Under is 7-1 in Friars last 8 neutral site games.
* Over is 6-0-1 in Trojans last 7 games following a ATS loss.
No. 12 Chattanooga Mocs vs. No. 5 Indiana Hoosiers (-12, 145.5)
Game to be played at Wells Fargo Arena, Des Moines, IA
After a disappointing Big Ten tournament showing, Indiana gets a chance to redeem itself as a No. 5 seed in the NCAA Tournament, taking on No. 12 Chattanooga in a first-round game in the East region on Thursday. As the top seed in the Big Ten tournament, the Hoosiers lost their opening game on a buzzer-beater against Michigan, while the Mocs come in having won five straight, including rolling to their 11th Southern Conference tournament title.
Indiana is led by one of the top point guards in the country in senior Yogi Ferrell (17 points, 5.5 assists) and has a pair of solid scorers in Troy Williams (13.1 points) and Thomas Bryant (11.6). The Hoosiers average nearly 16 assists a game as a team, shooting 50.1 percent from the field, including 41.5 percent from 3-point range. Chattanooga notched a school-record 29 victories this season with 6-5 forward Tre McLean leading the way with 12.3 points and 6.4 rebounds. Justin Tuoyo, a 6-10 forward, adds 11.1 points, while senior Eric Robertson is a dangerous 3-point shooter, hitting 80 from beyond the arc on 40.4 percent shooting.
TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, CBS
LINE HISTORY: The point spread opened with the Indiana Hoosiers favored by 11 but was quickly bet up to -12. The total opened at 144.5 and rose slightly during the week to 145.5.
ABOUT CHATTANOOGA (29-5, 16-13-1 ATS, 14-13-2 O/U): It's easier to say after the fact, but Chattanooga coach Matt McCall looks back on a Feb. 20 15-point loss to UNC Greensboro as a good thing. McCall's squad hasn't lost since the setback, which he said showed that his team wasn't ready for such a big moment but learned from it. "Everything was at stake (in the Southern tournament title game)," McCall told reporters. "Just trying to get the guys to understand that we've got to do our job and can't get caught up in the moment, so when the moment happened, we handled it well."
ABOUT INDIANA (25-7, 17-15 ATS, 15-17 O/U): Despite the disappointment of falling to Michigan in its Big Ten tournament opener, Indiana coach Tom Crean has his team confident it can shake off the loss and play well in the NCAA Tournament. Right after the contest, players were already talking about things they can improve on -- turnovers, motion on offense -- and looking forward to hitting the court in the Big Dance. "We're still confident," freshman OG Anunoby told reporters. "We think we can learn from it. And look forward to the next game."
TRENDS:
* Mocs are 5-0 ATS in their last 5 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
* Hoosiers are 1-4-1 ATS in their last 6 NCAA Tournament games.
* Over is 4-0-2 in Mocs last 6 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
* Under is 4-1 in Hoosiers last 5 Thursday games.
No. 13 Stony Brook Seawolves vs. No. 4 Kentucky Wildcats (-14, 143)
Game to be played at Wells Fargo Arena, Des Moines, IA
After some regular-season struggles, Kentucky is once again a team that nobody wants to face in the NCAA Tournament. The SEC tournament champions begin their search for another Final Four trip Thursday in Des Moines, Iowa, as the No. 4 seed in the East Region against 13th-seeded Stony Brook.
The Wildcats have won five straight games, including a strong run through the SEC tournament which they capped with an overtime victory over Texas A&M on Sunday. “I'm really proud of this basketball team, how much they've improved,” coach John Calipari said to reporters in his postgame press conference. “Individually, guys are becoming the best version of themselves.” Calipari's assessment certainly includes standout point guard Tyler Ulis, who recorded 30 points against Texas A&M, and backcourt mate Jamal Murray, who is the team's leading scorer (20.1 points). Stony Brook is making its first NCAA Tournament appearance but boasts a legitimate star in 6-8 senior forward Jameel Warney, who averages 19.8 points and 10.7 rebounds and poured in a school-record 43 points with 10 boards in the America East title game against Vermont.
TV: 9:40 p.m. ET, CBS
LINE HISTORY: Kentucky opened at -13.5 and the line was bet up to -14. The total opened at 144 and the public felt that was too high and pounded the under early in the week, prompting a drop by the books to 143.
ABOUT STONY BROOK (26-6, 0-5-1 ATS, 4-2 O/U): The Seawolves played at Vanderbilt and Notre Dame in the non-conference portion of their schedule, losing by seven and 25, respectively, although the defeat to the Commodores came in overtime. Warney has scored in double figures every game this season and averaged 30.3 points and 15.3 rebounds over three America East tournament contests. Three other Stony Brook players average at least 10 points, including Carson Puriefoy (15.1), who has knocked down at least 40 percent of his 3-pointers in four of the last five games and has drained a team-high 81 3-pointers on the year.
ABOUT KENTUCKY (26-8, 18-16 ATS, 19-14-1 O/U): The Wildcats have reached the Final Four in each of their last four NCAA Tournament appearances (2011, 2012, 2014, 2015) and - as usual - enter the Big Dance with a deep roster of reigning McDonald's All-Americans mixed in with some veteran mainstays. One of the veterans in this case is Ulis, the diminutive sophomore who has totaled 55 points and two turnovers in his last two games and has not been held to single-digit points since early January. The freshman class for the Wildcats is highlighted by Murray, who has knocked down at least three 3-pointers in 12 of his last 13 games, and Isaiah Briscoe, who has endured an up-and-down season but registered 10 points, six assists and five rebounds in the conference title game.
TRENDS:
* Seawolves are 0-5-2 ATS in their last 7 games overall.
* Wildcats are 1-5-1 ATS in their last 7 NCAA Tournament games.
* Under is 7-2 in Seawolves last 9 neutral site games.
* Over is 5-0 in Wildcats last 5 neutral site games.
Thursday's Midwest Region First Round betting preview
Virginia hopes their quest for a national title begins Thursday with a win against No. 16 seed Hampton.
No. 9 Butler Bulldogs vs. No. 8 Texas Tech Red Raiders (+4, 147)
Game to be played at PNC Arena, Raleigh, NC
Eighth-seeded Texas Tech, making its first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2007, will face tournament veteran and No. 9-seed Butler in Raleigh, N.C., on Thursday in the first round of the Midwest region. Both teams enter the dance after disappointing exits in their respective conference tournaments.
Texas Tech got on a roll in February - winning five in a row, including three consecutive against top 25 teams - before a 1-3 finish capped by a loss to last-place TCU in the Big 12 tournament. Red Raiders coach Tubby Smith - named the league's coach of the year - joins Oklahoma's Lon Kruger - as the only coaches to take five teams to the NCAA Tournament. The Bulldogs earned their eighth berth in the past 10 years and have won at least one game in seven of those appearances. Thursday's winner will face top-seeded Virginia or Hampton on Saturday.
TV: 12:40 p.m. ET, truTV
LINE HISTORY: Bookmakers think the selection committee got the seeding wrong on this one with the 9th seeded Bulldogs opening as 2.5-point favorites and bettors agree. The line has moved from Butler -2.5 to -4. The total has been bet down a point and a half, moving from 148.5 to 147. Check out the complete line history here.
ABOUT BUTLER (21-10, 16-14-1 ATS, 16-13-1 O/U): Sharp-shooting Kellen Dunham (42.8 percent from 3-point range) leads four players in double figures at 16.3 for the high-scoring Bulldogs (80.6 points). Forwards Kelan Martin (16.1 points, 6.8 rebounds), Roosevelt Jones (14, 6.6) and Andrew Chrabascz (10.1 points) give the Bulldogs plenty of scoring options all over the court. The Bulldogs - who went 2-7 against the Big East's four other NCAA Tournament teams - are looking for back-to-back opening round wins after beating Texas last year.
ABOUT TEXAS TECH (19-12, 15-13 ATS, 15-13 O/U): Toddrick Gotcher shoots 40 percent from behind the 3-point line and leads a balanced offensive attack - where seven players average at least eight points - with 11.1. Devaugntah Williams (10.6 points) and Aaron Ross (10.3) contribute off the bench and Zach Smith (10.1) leads the team with 7.4 rebounds per game. The Red Raiders, who led the Big 12 in free-throw shooting (74.6 percent), haven't won a tournament game since advancing to the 2005 Sweet 16.
TRENDS:
* Butler is 5-1 ATS in its last six games overall and 21-6-1 ATS in their last 28 NCAA Tournament games.
* Texas Tech is 3-13 ATS in its last 16 neutral site games.
* Over is 5-1 in Butler's last six games overall.
* Under is 4-1 in Texas Tech's last five NCAA Tournament games.
No. 13 Iona Gaels vs. No. 4 Iowa State Cyclones (-7.5, 167)
Game to be played at Pepsi Center, Denver, CO
After a year to lament last season’s early exit from the NCAA Tournament, Iowa State gets its chance for redemption when the fourth-seeded Cyclones face No. 13 seed Iona in the Midwest Region on Thursday in Denver. The Cyclones are in the tournament for a school-record fifth consecutive year and are a top-four seed for the third straight season, but they flamed out early in a 60-59 first-round loss to No. 14 seed UAB a year ago.
Iona is no stranger to painful losses in March – in 10 previous trips to the NCAA Tournament, the Gaels have only one win (in 1980) and seven losses by five points or fewer. The Gaels enter the tournament as one of the hottest teams in the nation, having won eight straight and 12 of their last 13. Iowa State enters the tournament after consecutive losses to No. 1 Kansas in the regular-season finale and No. 6 Oklahoma in the Big 12 tournament, but the Cyclones have an impressive resume that includes wins over those same two teams. The Gaels won the only previous meeting, 89-72 at Iowa State on Nov. 26, 2005.
TV: 2 p.m. ET, CBS
LINE HISTORY: Iowa State opened as eight point favorites and have been bet down to -7.5. The total here is the interesting number. With these two high flying teams the total opened at 167 - the highest of the First Round - and has actually been bet up to 167. Check out the complete line history here.
ABOUT IONA (22-10, 16-15 ATS, 15-16 O/U): The Gaels are in the NCAA Tournament for the third time in six seasons under coach Tim Cluess, whose teams play at a break-neck pace and love the 3-point shot. Star guard A.J. English (22.4 points, 6.2 assists) – the son of former NBA star Alex English – is one of three Gaels with at least 77 made 3-pointers and 171 attempts from beyond the arc. Volatile forward Jordan Washington (13.8 points, 6.2 rebounds) is a force inside when he can stay out of foul trouble, but he averages just 18.4 minutes.
ABOUT IOWA STATE (21-11, 15-13 ATS, 13-15-1 O/U): The Cyclones are one of the most balanced teams in the nation with seven players averaging double-digit scoring, but senior forward Georges Niang (19.8 points, 6.2 rebounds) is their star. Niang matched his career high with 31 points against Oklahoma on Thursday and has scored in double figures in 41 consecutive games and 112 in his career. If opponents focus too much effort on limiting Niang’s touches, though, there are plenty of other Cyclones who can make them pay, and point guard Monte Morris (13.9 points, 6.9 assists) is adept and doing it himself or finding the open teammate.
TRENDS:
* Iona is 7-1 ATS in its last eight games overall.
* Iowa State is 1-3-1 ATS in its last five non-conference games.
* Under is 4-0 in Iona's last four neutral site games.
* Under is 9-2 in Iowa State's last 11 neutral site games.
No. 16 Hampton Pirates vs. No. 1 Virginia Cavaliers (-23.5, 133)
Game to be played at PNC Arena, Raleigh, NC
Virginia has earned a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament for the second time in three seasons and opens play Thursday in Raleigh, N.C., with a first-round matchup against No. 16 Hampton in the Midwest Region. The Cavaliers cannot look too far ahead but are facing a potential matchup with No. 2 seed Michigan State - which has knocked off Virginia in each of the last two tournaments - in the regional final.
Before they can even entertain such a thought, the Cavaliers must recover from a 61-57 loss to North Carolina in the ACC tournament title game on Saturday. For the fifth straight season under coach Tony Bennett, Virginia has held opponents to under 60 points per game, but this version averaged over 70 on the other end for the first time in Bennett's seven season, led by ACC Player of the Year Malcolm Brogdon (18.7). Hampton is in the Big Dance for the sixth time after rolling through the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference. The Pirates had a memorable win as a 15-seed in the first round of the 2001 NCAA Tournament and picked up another victory in the event with a triumph over Manhattan in a "First Four" game last season.
TV: 3:10 p.m. ET, truTV
LINE HISTORY: Virginia opened as big 24-point favorites over Hampton and have been bet down slightly to -23.5. The total has also been bet down a half point, moving from 133.5 to 133. Check out the complete line history here.
ABOUT HAMPTON (21-10, 3-2 ATS, 5-0 O/U): The Pirates have a two-headed monster in senior guards Reggie Johnson - who ranked second on the MEAC in scoring (18.3) and tied for third in assists (4.1) - and Quinton Chievous, the league's fourth-leading scorer (17.0) and top rebounder (11.0). The latter averaged 18.5 points and 11.5 boards in two tournament games a year ago and enters this one having averaged 18.5 points and 10.8 rebounds over his last four games. Brian Darden, also a senior, is the one other player scoring in double figures (13.2) and ranks as the team's most consistent perimeter threat, knocking down 8-of-14 3-pointers in the final two games of the conference tourney.
ABOUT VIRGINIA (26-7, 17-14 ATS, 12-19 O/U): Brogdon averaged 21.7 points during the ACC tournament but was just 6-of-22 from the floor against the Tar Heels and likely has motivation to improve upon his past performances in NCAAs. He shot 10-of-30 in the team's Sweet 16 run two seasons ago and was 9-of-29 last year, including 3-of-12 in the second straight elimination loss to Michigan State. Anthony Gill, the team's second-leading scorer, has reached double figures in four of his previous five NCAA Tournament games.
TRENDS:
* Hampton is 5-0 ATS in its last five non-conference games.
* Virginia is 5-1 ATS in its last six games overall.
* Over is 6-0 in Hampton's last six games overall (when a total was listed).
* Under is 11-2 in Virginia's last 13 games overall.
No. 12 Arkansas-Little Rock Trojans vs. No. 5 Purdue Boilermakers (-9, 128.5)
Game to be played at Pepsi Center, Denver, CO
Fifth-seeded Purdue looks to build on its deep run in the Big Ten tournament when it takes on No. 12 seed Little Rock in the first round of the Midwest Region in Denver on Thursday. The Boilermakers notched impressive victories over Illinois and Michigan before falling to red-hot Michigan State 66-62 in the tournament final but will make their second straight NCAA Tournament appearance after missing out on March Madness in the previous two years.
Purdue has won the battle of the boards in all but two games this season and hopes to use its overwhelming height advantage to advance past the first round for the first time since 2012. Little Rock coach Chris Beard has engineered one of the most impressive turnarounds in the nation as the Trojans notched 16 more wins than they did in the previous season. Little Rock has won eight of its last nine games and captured the Sun Belt regular-season and tournament titles en route to setting a school record for most victories in a campaign with 29. The Trojans beat ULM 70-50 in the Sun Belt Tournament final to secure their fifth trip to the NCAA Tournament and their first since 2011.
TV: 4:30 p.m. ET, TBS
LINE HISTORY: Purdue opened as 8-point favorites and have been bet up a point to its current number of -9. The total has seen plenty of movement, going down 2.5-points from 131 to 128.5. Check out the complete line history here.
ABOUT LITTLE ROCK (29-4, 19-10 ATS, 10-19 O/U): Roger Woods went 8-of-10 from the field en route to a team-high 19 points against ULM and earned the tournament's Most Valuable Player award in the process. Marcus Johnson Jr. added 14 points while Jalen Jackson provided a spark off the bench by scoring 11 points. "I'm the luckiest man in the world to be coaching these guys," Beard told reporters. "We're not done yet and I think we can do some damage in the tournament."
ABOUT PURDUE (26-8, 18-11-1 ATS, 15-15 O/U): Vince Edwards led the Boilermakers with 19 points while A.J. Hammons added 11 points and nine rebounds against Michigan State to finish in double figures for the 15th consecutive game. Caleb Swanigan also scored 11 points but Purdue couldn't overcome a poor-shooting first half against the Spartans. "We came far from two years ago coming in last place in the Big Ten," senior defensive stopper Rapheal Davis told reporters. "To go out and get a five seed and play a good team like Little Rock will be good for us."
TRENDS:
* Arkansas-Little Rock is 7-1 ATS in its last eight non-conference games.
* Purdue is 6-0-1 ATS in its last seven games overall.
* Under is 4-0 in Arkansas-Little Rock's last four neutral site games.
* Over is 5-2 in Purdue's last seven games overall.
No. 14 Fresno State Bulldogs vs. No. 3 Utah Utes (-8.5, 138.5)
Game to be played at Pepsi Center, Denver, Colorado
Third-seeded Utah made a splash in its return to the NCAA Tournament in 2015 and hopes to take a step - or four - further when it meets No. 14 seed Fresno State on Thursday in the first round of the Midwest Region in Denver. The Utes, appearing in their first NCAAs since 2009, lost to eventual national champion Duke in the Sweet 16 last season and return plenty of experience and firepower including Pac-12 Conference Player of the Year Jakob Poeltl.
Utah was crushed by Oregon - the No. 1 seed in the West Region - 88-57 in Saturday's Pac-12 tournament final, but coach Larry Krystkowiak wasn't too concerned after the Utes had their nine-game winning streak snapped. "I know our guys would trade for some success starting (Thursday),'' he told reporters. "If it means getting our butts waxed in the championship game, then we'll take our medicine and hopefully be focused for some practice on Monday." The Bulldogs earned their ninth straight victory and first NCAA bid since 2001 with a 68-63 win over San Diego State on Saturday in the Mountain West Conference tournament championship game behind senior guard and MWC Player of the Year Marvelle Harris, the school's all-time leading scorer. "It was incredible. Greatest feeling I've had in my whole basketball career," Harris told reporters after the title game. "It's a big win for the program, community, fans, everyone. ..."
TV: 7:27 p.m. ET, truTV
LINE HISTORY: Utah opened as 8-point favorites and have been bet up to -8.5. Meanwhile, the total has moved a whopping four points since opening, going down from 142.5 to 138.5. Check out the complete line history here.
ABOUT FRESNO STATE (25-9, 18-11 ATS, 17-12 O/U): Harris (20.6 points, 4.7 rebounds, team-high 4.4 assists) has 2,007 career points after averaging 17.7 in three MWC tournament games and scoring 34 against Utah State on March 5 to break the previous school record of 1,951 set by Melvin Ely in 2002. Harris, who was also named MWC tournament MVP, has 701 points this season - breaking the previous single-season school standard set by Carl Ray Harris in 1994. The Bulldogs boast six other players averaging at least 7.6 points including Torren Jones (10.5 points, team-high 7.9 rebounds) and fellow junior forward Karachi Edo (9.9, 6.4).
ABOUT UTAH (26-8, 16-15-1 ATS, 18-13-1 O/U): Poeltl, a 7-0 sophomore forward from Vienna, Austria, averages 17.6 points, nine rebounds and 1.6 blocks. The Utes have five players scoring at least 9.6 points with senior forward Jordan Loveridge (11.8) leading the group, which also includes sophomore forward Kyle Kuzma (10.8 points, 5.9 rebounds). Senior point guard Brandon Taylor (9.6 points, team-high 3.8 assists) runs the show while junior guard Lorenzo Bonam (9.9 points) also contributes.
TRENDS:
* Fresno State is 6-0 ATS in its last six games overall.
* Utah is 4-0-2 ATS in its last six games versus Mountain West opponents.
* Over is 5-1 in Fresno State's last six games overall.
* Over is 6-0 in Utah's last six neutral site games.
No. 11 Gonzaga Bulldogs vs. No. 6 Seton Hall Pirates (Pick, 145.5)
Game to be played at Pepsi Center, Denver, CO
Seton Hall's shocking run to the Big East tournament title earned it an equally surprising No. 6 seed and a date with No. 11 Gonzaga in the first round of the NCAA Tournament in Denver on Thursday. The Pirates, making their first appearance in the field in 10 years, will be looking to recapture some of their former glory, like when they reached the 1989 championship game, as they kick off play in the Midwest Region.
Gonzaga needed an extended run and perhaps even the West Coast Conference tournament title to secure its 18th straight appearance in the field. The Bulldogs, who reached the Elite Eight last year, losing to eventual national champion Duke, did just that by disposing of Saint Mary's in the final, leaving the top-seeded Gaels on the Big Dance sidelines. Gonzaga is one of only two teams to win its opening-round tournament game each of the last seven seasons -- Kansas is the other. Led by sophomore sensation Isaiah Whitehead, who scored 26 points in the Big East title game against Villanova, Seton Hall is making its 10th appearance in the tournament.
TV: 9:57 p.m. ET, truTV
LINE HISTORY: Another situation where the books feel the selection commitee got the seeding wrong opening the No. 11 seed Bulldogs as slight 2-point faves over the Pirates. Money has come in on Seton Hall since however and the line has moved to a Pick'em. The total has been bet up 2-points from 143.5 to 145.5. Check out the complete line history here.
ABOUT SETON HALL (25-8, 23-9 ATS, 14-18 O/U): Whitehead, who is expected to bolt for the NBA after the season, recorded a three-point play in the closing seconds to lead the Pirates to a 69-67 win over the Wildcats in the Big East title game. Another sophomore, Khadeen Carrington, scored a game-high 23 points as Seton Hall nipped Xavier 87-83 in the semifinal. The Pirates are certainly young but guided by coach Kevin Willard and, in his sixth year with the team, they have won 12 of their last 14 games in what was regarded as one of the toughest conferences in the nation.
ABOUT GONZAGA (26-7, 15-15-1 ATS, 16-15 O/U): Gonzaga's NCAA Tournament streak seemed to be in serious jeopardy after an early-season back injury cost them the services of star center Przemek Karnowski. But emerging power forward Domantas Sabonis, who some feel is a future NBA lottery choice, and sharp-shooting Kyle Wiltjer, who transferred from national champion Kentucky after the 2012-13 season and led the team in scoring at 20.7 points a game, helped keep the Bulldogs in the bubble picture. Led by coach Mark Few, Gonzaga has shunned the label of mid-major power and is 22-18 all-time in NCAA games with six trips to the Sweet 16 and two trips to the Elite Eight, although the team was just 1-3 against ranked opponents this season.
TRENDS:
* Gonzaga is 5-0 ATS in its last five games overall.
* Seton Hall is 4-0 ATS in its last four neutral site games.
* Over is 5-0 in Gonzaga's last five neutral site games.
* Over is 2-1 in Seton Hall's last six games overall.
Thursday's West Region First Round betting preview
Duke has been inconsistent this season, but will attempt to defend their national title, starting with a First Round matchup with UNC-Wilmington.
No. 13 UNC-Wilmington Seahawks vs. No. 4 Duke Blue Devils (-10.5, 157)
Games to be played at Dunkin' Donuts Center, Providence, RI
A Tar Heel State showdown is on tap Thursday in Providence, R.I., where fourth-seeded Duke will take on No. 13 seed UNC Wilmington in the first round of the NCAA Tournament's West Region. While the Blue Devils are in the NCAA Tournament for the 21st consecutive season, the Seahawks are making their first appearance in a decade.
The Blue Devils are the defending national champions, but they’ve struggled at times after losing big man Amile Jefferson to a broken foot just nine games into the season and won just one game in the ACC tournament before losing to Notre Dame in overtime in the quarterfinals. The Seahawks have been in tournament mode for more than a week after having to scrape through three close games in the Colonial Athletic Association tournament. They won their first two games in the tournament by a total of five points and needed overtime to dispatch Hofstra in the championship game. The in-state foes have met only once before, with Duke winning 67-57 in overtime on Feb. 8, 1982.
TV: 12:15 p.m. ET, CBS
LINE HISTORY: Duke opened as 9.5-point faves and all the early money has been on the Blue Devils, who have been bet up a whole point to sit at -10.5. The total has been bet up a half point from 156.5 to 157. Check out the complete line history here.
ABOUT UNC WILMINGTON (25-7, 15-13 ATS, 16-12 O/U): The Seahawks were a fixture in the NCAA Tournament in the early 2000s but have only one win – a 93-89 overtime triumph over No. 4 seed USC in 2002. Wilmington employs a guard-oriented lineup with four starters listed at 6-5 or shorter and likes to push the pace. Junior guard Chris Flemmings (16.1 points, 5.9 rebounds) is the team’s top scorer and rebounder, but backcourt mates Denzel Ingram (12.5 points) and Craig Ponder (11.1 points) also can hurt defenses.
ABOUT DUKE (23-10, 13-17-2 ATS, 14-18 O/U): The Blue Devils took a huge hit when they lost Jefferson, a post presence and veteran leader, and their youth has shown at the defensive end. There is plenty of offensive firepower with sophomore guard Grayson Allen (21.6 points) leading the way, but two of the team’s top three – Brandon Ingram (16.8 points, 6.8 rebounds) and Luke Kennard (11.9 points) – are freshmen who are unproven on the big stage. Allen, Ingram and junior guard Matt Jones (10.8 points) all love to shoot from the outside and are the first trio in program history to each make at least 70 3-pointers in a season.
TRENDS:
* NC-Wilmington is 1-4 ATS in their last five games overall.
* Duke is 0-5 ATS in their last five games overall, but 6-0 ATS in its last six NCAA Tournament games.
* Over is 7-1 in UNC-Wilmington's last eight neutral site games.
* Under is 8-2 in Duke's last 10 games overall.
No. 12 Yale Bulldogs vs. No. 5 Baylor Bears (-5, 136.5)
Baylor was among the best teams in the nation's best conference this season and hopes the high level of competition puts it in a position to succeed in the NCAA Tournament beginning with Thursday's West Region first-round game against Yale in Providence, R.I. The fifth-seeded Bears are coming off a 70-66 loss to No. 1 Kansas on Friday in the Big 12 tournament semifinals and have lost three of their last four games - all against ranked teams.
Baylor should also be extra motivated after a stunning 57-56 loss to No. 14 seed Georgia State in the first round of the 2015 NCAA Tournament. "Last year, we didn't like how it ended," Bears coach Scott Drew told reporters. "We had had a lot of success in the tournament, and that was the first time we really got stung. I know the returning players and coaches are motivated to make sure we do better." The No. 12 seed Bulldogs are playing in their first NCAA Tournament since John F. Kennedy was president after winning their first Ivy League title since 1962. Yale, which went 13-1 in the Ivy League, is riding a five-game winning streak and has won seven of eight since captain Jack Montague was expelled from school after an alleged sexual assault incident.
LINE HISTORY: The No. 5 seed Bears opened as 5.5-point favorites, but money has come in on the Bulldogs, with Baylor now sitting at -5. As for the total, bettors like the over with the number moving up a point and a half from 135 to 136.5. Check out the complete line history here.
ABOUT YALE (22-6, 11-6-2 ATS, 11-8 O/U): The Bulldogs are expected to control the game with a slow tempo and frustrate the athletic Bears. Yale is led in scoring by senior forward Justin Sears and sophomore guard Makai Mason, who each average 15.8 points despite Sears scoring only nine total points in the last two games. Sears grabs a team-best 7.5 rebounds while senior forward Brandon Sherrod (12.5 points, 7.1 rebounds) is also a major contributor.
ABOUT BAYLOR (22-12, 12-14-1 ATS, 15-12 O/U): The Bears have five players who score roughly two-thirds of their points, led by senior forward Taurean Prince (15.5 points, 6.1 rebounds). Baylor will need senior forward Rico Gathers (11.4 points, 9.1 rebounds) to contribute offensively and control the boards against a solid rebounding team which is 20th nationally at 40.4 per game. Sophomore guard Al Freeman (11.5 points) and sophomore forward Johnathan Motley (11.0 points) are also offensive factors while senior point guard Lester Medford (9.1 points, 11th nationally with 6.5 assists) runs the show.
TRENDS:
* Yale is 6-0 ATS in its last six neutral site games.
* Baylor is 4-1 ATS in its last five games overall.
* Under is 4-0 in Yale's last four games following an ATS win.
* Under is 4-0 in Baylor's last four games overall.
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