Announcement

**StarDust Bum** · 03-24-2016, 01:14 AM

Top-seeded Kansas expects battle from No. 5 Maryland
March 23, 2016

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) Kansas played like the overall No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament with two decisive wins to reach the Sweet 16 for the first time in three years.

The Jayhawks extended their winning streak to 16 games, and look to continue that momentum as the competition is expected to get much tougher. Next up is No. 5 seed Maryland in Thursday night's South Region semifinal, and don't expect the Terps to throw anything at them they haven't seen.

''I'm not too worried about that situation because we're pretty battle-tested and have been through a lot,'' junior guard Wayne Selden Jr. said Wednesday. ''We've been in just about every position we could be in and been in tough positions where we've dug ourselves out of it. That's been our mode lately.''

Maryland often has played up - and on occasion - down to the level of its opponent, a pattern that suggests they'll be at their best against Kansas (32-4). The Terrapins (27-8) fought through a tough opening weekend, outlasting South Dakota State before rallying past Hawaii in the second round to reach their first Sweet 16 since 2003.

''I expect Kansas to play well and expect us to play well,'' Maryland coach Mark Turgeon said. ''Our guys will be fired up because they have a lot of respect for Kansas, and they're the best team in the tournament. That gets our attention.''

Both teams see similarities in each other.

Kansas features a strong backcourt in Selden (13.6 points per game), junior Frank Mason III (12.8) and sophomore Devonte' Graham (11.4). Maryland counters with sophomore Melo Trimble (14.8) and senior Rasheed Sulaimon (11.1).

The schools also feature impressive frontcourts with 6-foot-11 freshman Diamond Stone leading Maryland while senior Perry Ellis (16.9 points, 5.9 rebounds) anchoring things for Kansas.

The Jayhawks were impressive in their victories over Austin Peay and Connecticut, but Kansas coach Bill Self knows this will be a different challenge.

''We're catching a team that even though they're seeded fifth, our guys understand they can play to a (No.) 1 seed,'' he said. ''This is a really hard matchup because we really think a lot of their team.''

---

Some other things to watch in Thursday's Sweet 16 matchup:

PERIMETER SHOOTING: Maryland has shot fairly well through two games (48.3 percent) but is just 10 of 41 from 3-point range. The Terps were just 1 of 18 from long range against Hawaii and know that can't happen against the Jayhawks. Trimble isn't concerned. ''I just keep shooting them,'' said the guard, who had Maryland's lone 3 against Hawaii. ''When you're having fun, you don't worry about the misses.''

FAVORABLE IMPRESSION: Turgeon has answered a lot of questions this week about facing his alma mater, where he played four years and was a Kansas assistant under Larry Brown and Roy Williams. When he played, Self was a Jayhawks graduate assistant. He said Turgeon gave the game his all as a player. ''He wasn't very big,'' Self said, ''but he got all the talent he had out of that 5-10, 160-pound frame he possibly could.''

CHAIRMEN OF THE BOARDS: Kansas' victory over UConn included a 44-24 domination of the boards that they're eager to follow up against Maryland. ''We've just got to play physical,'' forward Jamari Traylor said. ''That's what got us here, and we've got to continue to do that.''

LONG TIME, NO SEE: The schools are meeting for the first time since the 2002 Final Four, when Maryland beat Kansas in the semifinal en route to the national title. Kansas leads the series 3-2 but Maryland has won the past two meetings.

**StarDust Bum** · 03-24-2016, 01:16 AM

Crean overcomes criticism to lead Hoosiers back to Sweet 16
March 23, 2016

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. (AP) Indiana Hoosiers coach Tom Crean has come a long way in 12 months.

Instead of being bombarded by questions about his job, Crean confidently speaks his mind. Instead of being badgered by critics, he's hearing from supporters. And rather than getting emotional, Crean remains all business as he prepares for Friday night's East Regional semifinal matchup against top-seeded North Carolina.

Yes, he's proved the naysayers wrong once again.

''That's not the drive,'' Crean said after Saturday's 73-67 victory over Kentucky. ''The drive is the togetherness that's being built with them (the players) and watching them come together over the period of time that they have.''

Right now, all is well in Hoosier land.

Indiana has won two regular-season Big Ten titles in four seasons and is about to play in its third regional semifinal in five years.

Even the headline headline-grabbing website launched last March, counting down the days until Crean's buyout price dropped, has added a new message congratulating Crean.

By almost all accounts, this season may have been Crean's best.

He took a team that suffered three embarrassing early losses, lost one of its top scorers and dealt with a series of late-season injuries, that struggled defensively for two months and has gotten them here - two wins away from Indiana's first Final Four trip since 2002.

''I'm very happy for him because he's such a smart coach in what he tells us and what he wants us to do,'' senior point guard Kevin ''Yogi'' Ferrell said. ''After that rough start, he kept pushing us, believing in us because he saw our potential. In my opinion, he should be (national) coach of the year.''

Getting to this point hasn't been easy.

It took Crean three years to dig out from the wreckage he inherited - a program tainted by an NCAA scandal, full of academic woes and disciplinary concerns, and one that had only eight scholarship players on the roster in 2008-09.

When things finally started changing, with Christian Watford's incredible buzzer-beating shot to upset No. 1 Kentucky in December 2011, the hopes of Hoosiers fans soared.

Three months after Watford's shot, the Hoosiers were back in the Sweet 16. Seven months later, they were ranked No. 1 in the preseason poll and stayed there for most of the 2012-13 season when they captured their first outright Big Ten title in two decades.

But a late-season slump and another tourney exit in the 2013 regional semis prompted fans to start asking whether Crean's hard practices wore down his team and ruined the Hoosiers' shot at a sixth national title. So when the Hoosiers failed to make the postseason in 2014 and started the 2014-15 season with three players suspended and another in the hospital with a serious head injury, the boo-birds returned.

After announcing the suspensions in November 2014, Crean spent 45 minutes on a usually friendly radio call-in show being peppered by fans about what was wrong inside the program.

More questions came after Crean booted three players off the team last offseason for additional transgressions, which prompted Indiana University President Michael McRobbie to tell coaches and athletic department officials the student misbehavior was ''embarrassing'' and had ''to stop.''

Crean rewarded those who stood by him - and converted the doubters - by delivering one of the most improbable seasons in school history.

Another regional semifinal loss Friday could generate a new round of debate about Crean's ability to win ''big games,'' the same tag once applied to Hall of Fame NFL coach Tony Dungy and two-time Super Bowl champion Peyton Manning.

Crean at least has a whole team ready to debunk that theory, too.

''There is a real drive for each other. There is a real care for each other and there is a real desire to get better,'' Crean said. ''When you've got that, I'll take our chances and let's go see what happens.''

**StarDust Bum** · 03-24-2016, 01:19 AM

Friendship will take a backseat in Villanova-Miami matchup
March 23, 2016

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) Friendship takes a backseat at the NCAA Tournament, especially with a berth in the Elite Eight on the line.

Just ask Villanova coach Jay Wright.

Wright has recruited and coached against Jim Larranaga for years. They grew close traveling together on Nike trips, sitting beside each other at AAU events or hitting balls on the golf course. They also have swapped ideas for basketball drills. They have spent so much time together that their wives became friends too.

Throw all of that out of the window on Thursday night - for a couple of hours at least.

Wright and No. 2 seed Villanova will square off against Larranaga's third-seeded Miami Hurricanes in the South Region semifinal at the KFC Yum! Center.

''When you get to the Sweet 16, final eight, Final Four that kind of goes away,'' Wright said Wednesday of not wanting to coach against friends or former assistants. ''I don't know why. Because you're so focused on what you do, you're so happy to be here. And usually, when you get to this point, it's guys you know.''

The coaches have shared enough over the years that when Larranaga studies Villanova (31-5) he sees of lot of Miami; the Wildcats use so many ball screens and multiple defenses that it's almost a mirror image of his Hurricanes.

''I've just enjoyed getting to know him and exchanging drills with him and talking basketball,'' Larranaga said.

This will be the fourth game between the coaches, with Wright winning twice while Larranaga has the edge in their only NCAA Tournament meeting in 2011 with he was with George Mason, according to STATS.

Now Larranaga has Miami (27-7) in the Sweet 16 for only the third time for a program that has never gone any further.

Yet.

''We definitely want to be the first group of guys to do that, and it will be a big accomplishment for us and the program,'' Miami guard Sheldon McClellan said.

---

Some things to watch Thursday night:

NO PRESSURE: Villanova is trying to reach its first Elite Eight since 2009 when the Wildcats last reached a Final Four. These Wildcats have already held the first No. 1 ranking in school history when they sat atop the Top 25 three straight weeks in February. They handle pressure by embracing Wright's approach that the worst thing that can happen to them is losing a game. ''The worst-case scenario in the NCAA is, lose in the first round,'' senior forward Daniel Ochefu said. ''We did that before. If we don't get to the Sweet 16, we did that before. Now it's just a different challenge.''

MINI-WRIGHT: Senior guard Ryan Arcidiacono has played a program-record 140 games for Villanova, and the point guard says he has the same mindset as his coach. It likely helps that both Arcidiacono and Wright both are from the same county in Pennsylvania (Bucks), though Arcidiacono played at a rival high school. ''If he could still play, I think he would pick me as the player to play him,'' Arcidiacono said.

LARRANGA'S 3-POINT DRILL: Wright said he uses Larranaga's philosophy on who's allowed to shoot 3-pointers while using numbers instead of colors. Larranaga allows players who hit 50 3s in 5 minutes to earn a green light to shoot, 40-50 3s for a yellow light. Shooting 40 or fewer 3s means don't even think of shooting. ''If they leave you open, there is a reason,'' Larranaga said. ''You can't make the shot.''

SHARP-SHOOTING: Villanova has been averaging 81.8 points per game since Feb. 24, and the Wildcats shot even better during the first two games in this tournament. They shot 58.6 percent in beating UNC Asheville and Iowa. Miami ranks 27th nationally, shooting 48 percent per game.

AT THE LINE: Miami has a great knack of drawing fouls, making more free throws this season (569) than the Hurricanes' opponents even attempted (565). They rank 22nd nationally, shooting 75 percent.

**StarDust Bum** · 03-24-2016, 01:21 AM

Hoiberg reunited with Iowa State before regional in Chicago
March 23, 2016

CHICAGO (AP) Chicago Bulls coach Fred Hoiberg was reunited with his former Iowa State players and coaching staff on Wednesday.

Less than a year after leaving the Cyclones to accept the Bulls' job, Hoiberg greeted the team as it prepared for its Sweet Sixteen matchup against No. 1 seed Virginia at the United Center on Friday night.

Hoiberg was 115-56 in five seasons as coach of the Cyclones and guided them to four NCAA Tournament appearances, including a Sweet Sixteen appearance in 2014.

The Cyclones met with Hoiberg on Wednesday at the Bulls' practice facility, where Hoiberg addressed the team hours before the Bulls' matchup against the New York Knicks.

Hoiberg will miss Iowa State's game on Friday while the Bulls are on a two-game road trip, but he expects to be at the game on Sunday if the Cyclones advance.

''It's really cool. I told them to take of business because we will be on the road. I'll be in a bar in Orlando watching somewhere. I already have a ticket for Sunday so I'm ready to watch them cut down those nets and go to the Final Four,'' Hoiberg said.

Hoiberg has a special connection with Iowa State since he grew up in Ames and starred for the Cyclones from 1991-95. He garnered the nickname ''The Mayor.''

''The biggest thing is not only as a former coach and the relationship with those guys and as alumni of the university is just how proud I am with those group of guys. I told them to step back and enjoy it. That's one thing I regret. I did not do that,'' Hoiberg said.

Iowa State players and coaching staff were expected to be in attendance to watch the Bulls play Wednesday.

''Obviously it is a group of guys that are really special. I have a big place in my heart for them. I'm certainly going to cheer them on hard this weekend,'' said Hoiberg.

**StarDust Bum** · 03-24-2016, 05:49 PM

Thursday's NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 betting previews

South Region

No. 3 Miami-Florida Hurricanes vs. No. 2 Villanova Wildcats (-4, 140.5)

Game to be played at KFC Yum! Center, Louisville, KY

Villanova was one of the more impressive teams over the first weekend of the NCAA Tournament, while Miami (Fla.) squeaked out a pair of victories en route to the Sweet 16. The South Region opponents square off Friday in Louisville with a berth in the Elite 8 on the line.

The second-seeded Wildcats and third-seeded Hurricanes are barely distinguishable on the seed line, but their play last weekend left a clear difference between the two programs. Villanova topped UNC Asheville by 30 points before putting up 54 first-half points in a comfortable 19-point triumph against Iowa. Meanwhile, Miami nipped Buffalo and Wichita State by a combined 11 points behind two big performances from senior guard Angel Rodriguez. The Wildcats also got a lift from their senior guard last weekend, as Ryan Arcidiacono eyes another strong effort after averaging 15 points on 10-of-15 shooting (including 6-of-9 from the arc) in the first two rounds.

TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, CBS

LINE HISTORY: Villanova opened as five-point favorites and was bet down to -4 by mid-week. The total debuted at 141.5 and dropped slightly to 140.5. Check out the complete line history here.

WHAT BOOKS SAY: "We had Miami sitting at +4.5 with just over 40 percent of the action to cover the spread on Monday. We have since gone to Villanova -4 with 57 percent of the action on Villanova to cover. We opened the total at 142.5 with over 90 percent of the early action on the over Monday. We have since moved the total down to 141 with some sharp action coming in on the Under."

ABOUT MIAMI (27-7, 19-13-1 ATS, 16-17 O/U): Rodriguez has the look of the classic college basketball senior point guard who simply won't let his team lose, having compiled 52 points, nine rebounds, nine assists and seven steals in the first two games "He has great confidence in himself, and when he's focused, he has the ability to play at a very, very high level," coach Jim Larranaga said of Rodriguez, who averages 12.6 points, trailing only backcourt mate Sheldon McClellan among the team leaders. "His biggest challenge is he needs competition. When the competition is at its highest, he's at his best." McClellan has averaged 19 points in this tournament, although fellow senior Tonye Jekiri (7.8 points, 8.7 rebounds) has been limited to a total of seven points and 10 boards in two games.

ABOUT VILLANOVA (31-5, 17-17-1 ATS, 18-16-1 O/U): The Wildcats followed their regular formula against Iowa, as their four top scorers all registered double-digit points - and combined for eight 3-pointers - while big man Daniel Ochefu took care of the rebounding (11) and the shot-blocking (three). "We definitely can go all the way as long as we stick to what we do," said Arcidiacono, who averages 12 points, putting him behind Josh Hart (15.4) and Kris Jenkins (13.3) on the squad. Hart, Jenkins, Arcidiacono and freshman Jalen Brunson have combined to take nearly 700 3-pointers this season and each shoots at least 35 percent from the 3-point line, not to mention at least 74 percent from the foul line, as well.

TRENDS:

* Miami is 4-1 ATS in its last five games versus a team with a winning percentage above .600.
* Villanova is 1-5 ATS in their last six versus Atlantic Coast conference opponents.
* Over is 9-2 in Miami's last 11 NCAA Tournament games.
* Over is 8-1 in Wildcats last nine games following a SU win.

No. 5 Maryland Terrapins vs. No. 1 Kansas Jayhawks (-6.5, 143.5)

Top-seeded Kansas roared through the opening week of the NCAA Tournament and attempts to post its 17th consecutive victory on Thursday when it faces fifth-seeded Maryland in the Sweet 16 at Louisville, Ky. The Jayhawks are looking to reach the Elite Eight for the first time since 2012, while the Terrapins are part of the Sweet 16 for the initial time since 2003.

The Jayhawks lost their second game in each of the past two NCAA Tournaments and this year's squad has had the Final Four as a goal since the start of the campaign. "These last couple years we've been bounced a little bit early, and it's definitely left a bad taste in our mouth as a team," senior forward Jamari Traylor said at Wednesday's press conference. "We're just more focused. Every possession matters. We're just more in tune, more of a tight-knit group." Maryland is thriving under coach Mark Turgeon - a former Kansas player and assistant coach - and senior guard Rasheed Sulaimon feels his team is primed to knock off the Jayhawks. "I think it's just going to come down to how each team executes their game plan," Sulaimon said at Wednesday's press conference. "It's going to be a heavyweight battle between two great teams, between two great coaches. I'm sure they have a great game plan for us and we have a great game plan for them."

TV: 9:40 p.m. ET, CBS

LINE HISTORY: The no. 1 seeded Jayhawks opened as seven-point favorites and the spread has dropped slightly down to -6.5. The total opened at 146 and has been bet down to 143.5. Check out the complete line history here.

WHAT BOOKS SAY: "We opened Kansas as a -7 point favorite and took over 85 percent of the early action on the Jayhawks to cover the -7 points. With the action starting to come in on Maryland we have moved to Kansas -6.5 with just over 60 percent of the action to cover the spread. Our 144 point total is getting dead even action with 50 percent on the over/under."

ABOUT MARYLAND (27-8, 16-17-1 ATS, 13-20-1 O/U): Guard Melo Trimble is averaging 21.5 points in NCAA tourney wins over South Dakota State and Hawaii but the sophomore who leads the squad in scoring (14.8) and assists (five per game) is a streaky outside shooter despite sharing the team lead of 57 3-pointers with senior forward Jake Layman (11.7). "I'm a confident player," Trimble said at the Maryland press conference. "If I miss one, I'll shoot the next one. It's supposed to be a short memory. When you're having fun, you don't worry about the misses. You keep shooting and do whatever it takes to help your team win." Joining Trimble and Layman as double-digit scorers are freshman center Diamond Stone (12.7), junior forward Robert Carter (12.4 points, team-best seven rebounds per game) and Suliamon (11.1).

ABOUT KANSAS (32-4, 23-11 ATS, 13-20-1 O/U): Junior guard Wayne Selden Jr. is putting the ugly performances of the past two NCAA tourneys behind him - he averaged 2.5 points on 4-of-21 shooting in four games - to average 18 points on 13-of-25 shooting in victories over Austin Peay and Connecticut. "Everybody's going to go through times where everything's not going well," Selden said at the Kansas press conference. "Nobody's perfect, but it's all about just getting through it. If you're winning at that time, it doesn't matter." Senior forward Perry Ellis leads the Jayhawks in scoring (16.9) and is followed by Selden (13.6), junior guard Frank Mason III (12.8 points, team-best 4.6 assists) and sophomore guard Devonte' Graham (11.4).

TRENDS:

* Maryland is 1-4 ATS in their last five NCAA Tournament games.
* Kansas is 8-1 ATS in their last nine neutral site games.
* Under is 7-1 in Maryland's last eight games following an ATS win.
* Under is 25-7 in Jayhawk's last 32 NCAA Tournament games.

West Region

No. 3 Texas A&M Aggies vs. No. 2 Oklahoma Sooners (-2.5, 146)

Game to be played at Honda Center, Anaheim, CA.

Texas A&M completed the greatest comeback in college basketball history to reach the Sweet Sixteen of the NCAA Tournament, and Thursday the third-seeded Aggies will try to maintain their momentum against No. 2 Oklahoma in the West Region game at Honda Center in Anaheim. Texas A&M rallied from 12 points down in the final 35 seconds before defeating Northern Iowa in overtime last weekend, earning a Sweet Sixteen matchup against its former Big 12 rival.

The Sooners are making their second straight trip to the Sweet Sixteen after losing to Michigan State in this round last season. Four players who started that game have started the last 102 for Oklahoma; Isaiah Cousins, Buddy Hield, Ryan Spangler and Jordan Woodard, each of whom has also scored at least 1,000 points in their respective careers. Hield, the two-time Big 12 Player of the Year, comes in averaging 25.4 points--second in the nation and tops among power 5 schools--and the 6-foot-4 senior guard has produced 63 points in the first two games of this tournament. Danuel House doesn't want his college career to end Thursday either, so expect the 6-7 forward for Texas A&M to continue playing at a high level, something he's done while averaging 24.7 points over the last three games.

TV: 7:37 p.m. ET, TBS

LINE HISTORY: The point spread opened at -1.5 in favor of the higher seeded Sooners and the public hit that number hard early in the week which forced the books to bump the line up to -2.5. The total opened at 145 and was bet up slightly to 146. Check out the complete line history here.

WHAT BOOKS SAY: "We opened Oklahoma as a -2 point favorite with over 90 percent of the early action on the Sooners to cover. We are now sitting at Oklahoma -3 with over 85 percent of the action on Oklahoma to cover. Our total of 146.5 is getting 85 perent of the action on the OVER."

ABOUT TEXAS A&M (28-8, 16-13-2 ATS, 14-17 O/U): The Aggies can't expect point guard Alex Caruso to score another 20-something points and more than triple his scoring average, as he did in the win against Northern Iowa, but demanding strong performances from their starting front court of Jalen Jones and Tyler Davis shouldn't be a stretch. Both match up well against Spangler and fellow Oklahoma big man Khadeem Lattin, who haven't been tested in a while. Jones, a 6-7 forward who's second on the team in scoring (15.4) and leads in rebounding (7.1), should take advantage of his quickness off the floor and the 6-10, 265-pound Davis will have a size advantage and regularly scores in double figures as well.

ABOUT OKLAHOMA (27-7, 12-20 ATS, 15-17 O/U): The Sooners will undoubtedly counter with their 3-point shooting proficiency, as they enter this game at 42.5 percent from beyond the arc this season, which is second best in the nation, and shot 41.3 in the two games last weekend in Oklahoma City. Hield was fourth in the nation in 3-point attempts (274) during the regular season and 20th in 3-point percentage (46.4), but opponents have been making it harder for him to beat them from deep the last several weeks. Hield made at least half of his 3-point attempts in 16 of the first 20 games, but only shot 50 percent or better once in the last 14 contests.

TRENDS:

* Texas A&M is 0-8 ATS in its last eight games after scoring more than 90 points in its last game.
* Oklahoma is 1-7 ATS in their last eight NCAA Tournament games.
* Over is 5-0 in Texas A&M's last five games versus a team with a winning percentage above .600.
* Under is 11-3 in the last 14 meetings.

No. 4 Duke Blue Devils vs. No. 1 Oregon Ducks (-3, 156.5)

Game to be played at Honda Center, Anaheim, CA

Oregon has matched a school record for wins in a season, but anything short of a trip to the Final Four will rate as a disappointment for the top-seeded Ducks, who face No. 4 seed Duke in the NCAA Tournament West Region semifinal Thursday in Anaheim, Calif. The Blue Devils are trying to become the first team to win back-to-back national titles since Florida in 2006 and 2007.

The Ducks’ title hopes have new life, as they trailed by seven with five minutes remaining before rallying to beat No. 8 seed St. Joseph’s 69-64 on Sunday, avoiding becoming the first No. 1 seed to bow out of this year’s tournament. The Blue Devils know the feeling of flirting with disaster – they allowed No. 13 seed UNC Wilmington to hang around for most of their first-round matchup and squandered most of a 23-point

**StarDust Bum** · 03-25-2016, 03:22 AM

Sweet 16 - Friday Early Tips
March 24, 2016

Midwest Region – Chicago, IL – United Center

#1 Virginia (-5, 141) vs. #4 Iowa State – 7:10 PM ET, CBS

There is a drastic contrast in styles here, so expect a tug of war for control of the tempo. Iowa State was forced to replace Fred Hoiberg with Steve Prohm when he left for the Bulls, but have still averaged 82.1 points per game, ranking tops in the Big 12 in scoring. For the fourth straight season, the Cyclones are currently among the top 15 teams in the country in that department. The Cavaliers play the slowest pace in D-I and rank second in the nation in points allowed, the fifth straight year they’ve been in the top-five in that department under Tony Bennett. For Virginia to play its ideal game, it must stay out of foul trouble and limit Georges Niang’s impact.

Niang, a talented senior forward was named a Second-Team All-American by the USBWA and has been the centerpiece for the Cyclones in recent years, often serving as point forward, bullying his way into the paint with his ability to put the ball on the floor at 6-8, while possessing a nice touch from the perimeter as well. Virginia has dealt with talented, versatile players throughout the ACC, so seeing how the team attacks Niang defensively will be this game’s top attraction. Iowa State has plenty of others who can hurt you, starting with junior point guard Monte Morris, whose 6.9 assists to 1.6 turnovers again ranks among the best ratios in the country, which means wings Matt Thomas, Abdel Nader and sixth man Deonte Burton often get open looks. Thomas is a 43 percent shooter. Burton has a 46 percent clip off the bench.

Virginia’s leader is First Team All-American Malcolm Brogdon, a physically strong shooting guard who can defend just about anyone and will likely see some time on Niang. He averages a team-best 18.6 points, ranks second in assists and shoots 89 percent from the 3-point line and 40 percent from 3-point range. Backcourt mate London Perrantes, a stifling defender and heady floor general, shoots nearly 48 percent from beyond the arc. Anthony Gill is the primary post threat and will have to do his part against Niang. He's averaged 13.6 points and 6.2 rebounds, but the play alongside him and behind him from Mike Tobey, Isaiah Wilkins and Evan Nolte has been spotty. They do have a size edge on Cyclones enforcer Jameel McKay.

Expect the 3-ball to play a huge role here, since Virginia’s presence is almost certain to ensure fewer possessions than the Cyclones are typically used to unless they’re able to get out early and dictate, forcing catch-up mode. The Cavaliers have only played three games that have gone ‘over’ the posted total since Jan. 30, a span of 15 contests. Virginia is 11-2 SU in games that have surpassed the posted total, but are just 6-7 ATS. Conversely, Iowa State is 7-1 in games where 141 points or fewer have been scored, covering the number in six of those. UVA rolled over Hampton 81-45 and held off Butler 77-69 to advance to this spot, going 1-1 ATS. Iowa State has covered in both of its wins, beating Iona 94-81 and Little Rock 78-61 to reach the Sweet 16.

East Region – Philadelphia, PA – Wells Fargo Center

#6 Notre Dame (-1, 131.5) vs. #7 Wisconsin – 7:25 PM ET, TBS

Two Midwest-based teams that entered these NCAAs as wild cards will battle for a spot in the Elite Eight, looking to make it back-to-back memorable seasons. While most remember Bo Ryan-led Wisconsin defeating Kentucky and making it to last April’s Championship game, it’s not as easy to recall that the Fighting Irish nearly took down the undefeated ‘Cats in the Elite Eight. Although they graduated current Knicks guard Jerian Grant and Trail Blazers wing Pat Connaughton, the team that won the ACC Tournament a year ago returned a lot of talent. In that sense, they were better off than the Badgers, who lost first-round picks Frank Kaminsky (Hornets) and Sam Dekker (Rockets) in addition to other key role players. That both teams find themselves in this situation after seasons where they’ve suffered double-digit seasons ties them together in terms of resiliency and an ability to rise up when it matters most.

Notre Dame held off Michigan in the first round and survived 76-75 against Stephen F. Austin on a tip-in by little-used reserve freshman forward Rex Pflueger, coming back from a five-point deficit inside the game’s final 1:35. Wisconsin got a buzzer-beater from guard Bronson Koenig, who eliminated second-seeded Xavier 66-63 with perhaps the shot of the tournament, a buzzer-beater out of the corner he knew was good the moment he left his hands. The Badgers survived Pittsburgh 47-43 in the first round and are 2-0 in these NCAAs as an underdog, which means they likely don’t mind being in that role here.

Veterans Nigel Hayes, Koenig, Zak Showalter and Vitto Brown, all supporting players during last year's run to the Final Four, have combined with freshman Ethan Happ to keep the Badgers in this mix despite being the most inexperienced Badgers team Ryan brought into a season since taking over in '01. After ups and downs, he stepped down midseason to give assistant Greg Gard an opportunity to keep the job, which he has nicely managed to accomplish. Meanwhile, this is the first time the Fighting Irish have reached the Sweet 16 in consecutive seasons, so head coach Mike Brey has no doubt he has a special group. Point guard Demetrius Jackson is the top current pro prospect in this matchup, but he's got plenty of talent around him, starting with senior forward Zach Auguste, one of a handful of guys in the country averaging a double-double (14.3 ppg, 10.9 rpg). Juniors V.J. Beachem and Steve Vasturia are joined by sophomre Bonzie Colson as others averaging double-figures in scoring for Notre Dame.

Although the Irish have a reputation as a higher-scoring team and the Badgers are often chastised for their plodding style, the teams were only separated by one possession on average this season, ranking among the last 20 teams in the country in pace. The 'under' has prevailed in 10 of Wisconsin's last 11 games, but also in seven of Notre Dame's last 10.

**StarDust Bum** · 03-25-2016, 03:25 AM

Sweet 16 - Friday Late Tips
March 24, 2016

Midwest Region – Chicago – United Center
#11 Gonzaga (-4, 135) vs. #10 Syracuse – 9:40 PM EST – CBS

The two lowest seeds remaining in the NCAA tournament hook up in the Windy City as both of these stellar programs look to advance to the Elite Eight. Gonzaga (28-7 SU, 17-15-1 ATS) finished as the regular season co-champions in the West Coast Conference along with St. Mary’s, but Mark Few’s team wrapped up its 18th consecutive NCAA tournament berth by winning the WCC tournament.

The Bulldogs cruised to a pair of victories in the first two rounds of the Big Dance against Seton Hall and Utah. In the opening round win over the Big East tournament champions, Gonzaga cruised to a 68-52 triumph as two-point favorites. Forward Domantas Sabonis (son of Blazers’ legend Arvydas) led the Bulldogs with a 20-point, 16-rebound performance, while Gonzaga limited Seton Hall to 32% shooting from the floor to win their tournament opener for the eighth straight season.

Gonzaga proved that the Seton Hall blowout was no fluke as the Bulldogs crushed Utah in the second round, 82-59 as 1 ½-point favorites. The ‘Zags jumped out to a 15-point halftime lead and never looked back as Gonzaga shot a scorching 56% from the floor. Gonzaga extended its winning streak to seven, while covering each time during this hot streak.

Syracuse (21-13 SU, 18-15 ATS) overcame a late season three-game losing streak, which included a one-and-done exit in the ACC tournament against Pittsburgh. The Orange pulled away in the second half of a 70-51 rout of Dayton in the opening round, outscoring the Flyers in the second half, 40-23, in spite of shooting 40% from the floor. Jim Boeheim’s squad outrebounded Dayton, 45-27, including a game-high 18 boards pulled down by Tyler Roberson.

In the round of 32, Syracuse avoided second-seed Michigan State after the Spartans were upset by Middle Tennessee State. The Orange took advantage of facing the 15th-seed Blue Raiders by ripping the Conference USA tournament champions, 75-50 to easily cash as six-point favorites. Syracuse used another big second half to advance to the Sweet 16, outscoring MTSU, 44-23, while shooting 55% from the floor.

VegasInsider.com handicapper Joe Nelson believes that this game will be decided defending the triple, “One thing Gonzaga does have in the backcourt is size and the effective field goal rate vs. the Bulldogs is among the best in the nation, with very strong numbers against the 3-point shooting for opposing teams. Given that Syracuse is reliant on the 3-point shot more than any other remaining team in the tournament other than Oklahoma that may prove to be a key factor as over 37 percent of the scoring from the Orange comes from beyond the arc. The biggest issue in facing Syracuse is mastering the 2-3 zone defense and the length that the Orange possesses.”

Since winning the national championship in 2003, Syracuse owns a 2-3 record in its last five Sweet 16 appearances. In 2013, the Orange crushed Indiana in the regional semifinals, 61-50 as five-point underdogs. Gonzaga is playing in its third Sweet 16 since 2009, as the Bulldogs rolled past UCLA last March in this round, 74-62 as 8 ½-point favorites.

East Region – Philadelphia – Wells Fargo Centerr
#5 Indiana vs. #1 North Carolina (-5 ½, 158 ½) – 9:55 PM EST – TBS

Two legendary programs that played for the 1981 National Championship at the Spectrum in Philadelphia meet in the Sweet 16 round 35 years later in the City of Brotherly Love. One season after getting knocked out in the regional semifinals, North Carolina (30-6 SU, 17-18-1 ATS) looks to reach its seventh Elite 8 under Roy Williams. Meanwhile, Indiana (27-7 SU, 19-15 ATS) hasn’t qualified for the Elite 8 since reaching the National Championship game in 2002.

The Tar Heels cruised to an ACC regular season title at 14-4, while grabbing the ACC tournament championship, including victories over Sweet 16 participants Notre Dame and Virginia. UNC picked up a pair of double-digit wins in each of its first two NCAA tournament victories over Florida Gulf Coast and Providence to extend their winning streak to seven since late February. In the round of 32 victory over Providence, the Tar Heels outscored the Friars in the second half by 15 points to capture an 85-66 win as 11-point favorites.

The Hoosiers won the regular season championship in the loaded Big 10, but dropped their opening game of the conference tournament in the final seconds to Michigan. Indiana regrouped in the NCAA tournament by crushing public underdog Chattanooga in the first round, 99-74 to cash as 11-point favorites. Yogi Ferrell led IU with 20 points and 10 assists, while the Hoosiers torched the Moccasins by shooting 65% from the floor. Tom Crean’s club broke away late from Kentucky in the second round, 73-67 as 3 ½-point underdogs to improve to 5-1 SU/ATS in the last six games and advance to the Sweet 16.

Nelson breaks down some of the key factors for this matchup, “Indiana finished the season with some of the best shooting numbers in the nation and this is a team with many options including four regulars that shoot over 41 percent from 3-point range. Turnovers have been the big weakness for Indiana as incredibly the conference champions had the worst turnover rate in the Big Ten. Creating turnovers is not a strong suit of the North Carolina defense and in that regard, this matchup should be reasonable for the Hoosiers despite the great talent and top seeding of the Tar Heels.”

The long distance game will be important for each team, according to Nelson. “North Carolina was actually the worst 3-point shooting team in the ACC, but this is a team that continues to take a fair amount of 3-point shots, attempting 35 in the first two rounds and making just 31 percent, exactly the team’s season average. Against Kentucky, Thomas Bryant was Indiana’s key player scoring 19 and converting all six 2-point field goal attempts while also getting to the line several times. Bryant will have a much tougher matchup in this game and the success of the Hoosiers is more likely to hinge on the outside shooters with North Carolina’s 3-point defense also being an area of weakness,” Nelson says.

North Carolina sits at 4/1 odds to grab the National Championship at Sportsbook.ag, while listed at 5/7 odds (Bet $1.40 to win $1.00) to advance to the Final Four. Indiana is the second-favorite to come out the East region at 3/1 odds, while sitting at 20/1 to win the program’s first title since 1987.

**StarDust Bum** · 03-25-2016, 03:29 AM

Friday's Sweet 16 Action
March 24, 2016

IOWA ST CYCLONES (23-11) vs. VIRGINIA CAVALIERS (28-7)

United Center - Chicago, IL
Tip-off: Friday, 7:10 p.m. ET
Sportsbook.ag Line: Virginia -5.5, Total: 141

No. 1 seed Virginia returns to the Sweet Sixteen for the second time in three seasons as it looks to outlast No. 4 seed Iowa State and move on to the Elite Eight.

Virginia (18-15 ATS) will be aiming to get past the Sweet Sixteen for the first time since 1995 when they play Iowa State (17-13-1 ATS) on Friday night in Chicago. Coach Tony Bennett’s Cavaliers have lost the previous two seasons to Michigan State, and were a No. 1 seed in 2014 as well when bowing out in the Sweet Sixteen.

Iowa State is also returning to the Sweet Sixteen for the second time in three seasons. They bowed out to eventual 2014 National Champion Connecticut before getting upset by No. 14 seed UAB in their first game in last season’s tournament. Coach Steve Prohm is in his first season at the helm of the Cyclones and was 1-1 in the NCAA Tournament as coach of Murray State before winning Iowa State’s first two games last week.

The Cyclones advanced by beating No. 13 Iona in the first round (94-81, ISU -6.5) and No. 12 Arkansas-Little Rock last Saturday (78-61, ISU -6). Prior to that, Iowa State had closed out their regular season in mediocre fashion (5-6 SU, 5-6 ATS). That said, the Cyclones have covered their last four contests.

Iowa State has fared well in neutral sites (5-2 SU, 5-2 ATS) but has struggled as an underdog at 1-6 SU (4-3 ATS). Coach Prohm will have plenty of time to prepare for Virginia’s vaunted pack-line defense, and the Cyclones are 12-5 SU (9-6-1) on 3+ days rest this season.

Since dropping three games in mid-January to non-NCAA Tournament teams, Virginia has closed the season 15-3 (11-7 ATS). The Cavaliers dropped the ACC title game to North Carolina (61-57, UVA +2.5) but rebounded to crush Hampton in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament (81-45, UVA -23), and then dismissed Butler (77-69, UVA -8.5). The Cavaliers will also be well rested to face Iowa State’s potent offense in this contrast of styles, as Virginia is 12-4 (8-7 ATS) on 3+ days rest. Virginia has been excellent on neutral site courts this season (8-1 SU, 6-3 ATS) and is 25-14 (16-13 ATS) as a favorite.

In total trends, the UNDER is 12-3 in Virginia’s last 15 games and 10-3 in Iowa State’s last 13 games in neutral sites. This will be the third highest total (141) of the season for Virginia, and the Cavaliers are 2-0 SU (0-2 ATS) with the OVER at 1-1 with a total of 140+.

Iowa State can fill it up on offense (82.1 PPG, 13th NCAA), which should make this game a treat to watch with contrasting styles. The Cyclones lead the country in field goals made per game (31.2), as they don’t rely on the charity stripe or an inflated pace of play (73.6 possessions per game, 73rd NCAA) to bolster their scoring totals. If Iowa State loses their efficiency, though, Virginia’s slowest-in-the-nation pace (60.2 possessions per game) will make things awfully uncomfortable for the Cyclones. Iowa State hasn’t played anyone (outside of two games against Oklahoma State) where the final total was under 130, as Friday’s pregame total of 141 is the lowest of the season for Iowa State.

The Cyclones had little success against the Big 12’s best defensive team, West Virginia (0-2 SU, 0-2 ATS), but the Mountaineers play a much different style of defense than Virginia does. Iowa State excelled against the best half-court defensive team they played this season, going to Cincinnati and beating the Bearcats 81-79 in December.

The Cyclones are led by senior F Georges Niang (20.2 PPG, 6.2 RPG, 3.3 APG), who’s had a marvelous tournament thus far (28 PPG, 53.7% FG, 50% 3PT). A third straight 28-point outing will be a lot to ask of Niang against Virginia’s defense, but playing through the crafty forward is a great way to take pressure off of G Monte Morris (13.9 PPG, 6.9 APG). If any point guard in the country is poised enough to extend possessions against the Cavaliers, it’s Morris - the nation’s leader in assist-to-turnover ratio two straight seasons.

G Matt Thomas (10.9 PPG, 43% 3PT) is one of five double-figure scorers for the Cyclones, but he’s upped his all-around play in the tournament (15 PPG, 5 RPG, 3.5 APG) while staying steady as Iowa State’s main three-point threat (46.7 3PT, 3.5 3PM). Thomas and F Abdel Nader (13.2 PPG) will be key secondary sources of perimeter production that Iowa State will need if Virginia is able to compromise Niang’s otherworldly production thus far.

If the game is close down the stretch, F Jameel McKay (11.3 PPG, 9 RPG, 1.8 BPG) could become a liability. Iowa State’s biggest defensive asset, McKay went 0-6 FT against Arkansas-Little Rock and shot at only a 53.5% mark on the season from the stripe.

Virginia was somewhat shaky on defense in their win over Butler last Sunday, allowing the Bulldogs to shoot 46.3% FG and 46.7% 3PT. It was the Cavaliers offense (55.8% FG; 73% in the 2nd half) that led them into the Sweet Sixteen. Coach Bennett went with four guards around standout F Anthony Gill (13.6 PPG, 6.2 RPG) in the second half to match Butler’s size, and the results speak for themselves. This could be a similar lineup Bennett rolls out whenever Iowa State’s McKay isn’t on the floor.

Gill has been phenomenal in Virginia’s two NCAA Tournament games, putting up 19 points in each (68.2% FG), and McKay will be the only Cyclone defender who has the chops to slow him down.

Virginia’s MVP this season, though, has been ACC player of the year Malcolm Brogdon (18.6 PPG, 47% FG, 40% 3PT). The 6-foot-5 senior guard is strong enough to guard four positions on the floor, take it to the hoop on offense and finish in traffic. Brogdon put up a well-rounded 22 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists while going 8-14 in the win over Butler.

While much is rightfully talked about Virginia’s defense (59.5 PPG), they do a great job keeping opponents off the glass (28.2 RPG, 1st NCAA) and – as mentioned earlier – play at the slowest pace in all of Division 1. Delving deeper, though, the Cavaliers can be vulnerable to a team patient enough to work for good shots, and that describes Iowa State as well as any team in the country. Virgina’s defensive shooting numbers aren’t as elite as their totals (166th NCAA in 3PT % defense, 78th NCAA in FG% defense) and they don’t force a ton of turnovers (11.2 TO, 247th NCAA).

Conversely, Virginia’s offense is much better than the totals would lead you to believe (1.16 points per possession, 15th NCAA) and Iowa State’s defense is easily vulnerable in many areas (74.7 PPG allowed, 244th NCAA). Virginia could very well jump on Iowa State’s leaky defense early on and make it very tough for the Cyclones to make a comeback.

WISCONSIN BADGERS (22-12) vs. NOTRE DAME FIGHTING IRISH (23-11)

Wells Fargo Center - Philadelphia, PA
Tip-off: Friday, 7:25 p.m. ET
Sportsbook.ag Line: Notre Dame -1, Total: 131.5

#7 Wisconsin will be going for a third straight Elite 8 appearance when the team faces #6 Notre Dame on Friday.

The Badgers are coming off of a buzzer-beating 66-63 victory over #2 Xavier on Sunday and they have now won-and-covered in each of their two tournament games. Wisconsin has been thriving on the defensive end of the floor, holding each of its past two opponents to under 43% shooting from the field. If the Badgers can put forth a similar effort defensively on Friday then they’ll like their chances of advancing to the Elite Eight on Sunday.

The Fighting Irish, however, are a very good offensive team and will be welcoming the challenge of remaining efficient against a tough Badgers team. Notre Dame defeated #14 Stephen F. Austin 76-75 on a tip-in at the buzzer on Sunday and has now shot 58% or better from the field in each of the past two contests.

The Fighting Irish have only faced the Badgers once since 1997 and Notre Dame won-and-covered in that game. One trend that is working in Wisconsin’s favor is the fact that the team is 14-3 ATS when playing away from home after forcing an opponent to commit eight or less turnovers over the past three seasons. Notre Dame also happens to be 0-6 ATS away from home after two or more consecutive wins this season.

Wisconsin was down as many as nine points late in the second half, but the team was able to rally back against Xavier. The Badgers’ defense has been the big story this tournament, but they would not be playing in this game if it weren’t for G Bronson Koenig (13.3 PPG). With the Badgers down three in the final minute of regulation, Koenig hit a deep three to tie the game at 63-63. On the next trip down for Xavier, G Zak Showalter (7.4 PPG, 3.8 RPG, 1.0 SPG) drew a charge that ultimately gave the Badgers the ball back with two seconds left. Head Coach Greg Gard designed a brilliant play from there and it ended with Koenig hitting a game winning, step-back three from the corner.

Wisconsin must now shift its attention to Notre Dame, though. The team will need both Koenig and Showalter to come up big in this one. Koenig is going to need to continue to bury shots for this team. The Fighting Irish are a very good team offensively and the Badgers can’t afford to continue to shoot the ball the way they have been.

Showalter, meanwhile, will likely need to guard Demetrius Jackson in this game and it’s crucial that the Wisconsin guard finds a way to contain him.

F Nigel Hayes (15.9 PPG, 5.8 RPG, 3.0 APG, 1.1 SPG) desperately needs to get it going for the Badgers in this one. Hayes is by far the most talented player on this Wisconsin team, but he is just 5-for-27 from the field in the tournament. Hayes is a guy that is capable of going off for 25 or more on any given night and the Badgers need him to find his stroke against the Fighting Irish.

One guy that can always be relied on is F Ethan Happ (12.4 PPG, 7.8 RPG, 1.8 SPG), though. Happ is averaging 16.5 PPG and 8.0 RPG in the tournament and he is a handful to guard around the basket. If he can find a way to get Zach Auguste in foul trouble then the Badgers should be able to advance.

The Fighting Irish were extremely close to being upset by Stephen F. Austin, but they were able to escape with a tip-in shot with just under two seconds remaining in the game. Notre Dame will need to be a lot better against a feisty Wisconsin team on Friday.

One guy that should be able to dominate this game is C Zach Auguste (14.3 PPG, 10.9 RPG, 1.1 BPG). Auguste has been a monster for Notre Dame in this tournament, averaging 13.0 PPG, 13.5 RPG and 2.0 BPG in 29.0 MPG. He has a very unique blend of size and athleticism and should give the Badgers a lot of trouble around the basket. He will need to avoid foul trouble or Notre Dame will have a lot of issues on both ends of the floor.

G Demetrius Jackson (15.5 PPG, 4.7 APG, 1.2 SPG) will also need to have a big game for the Fighting Irish on Friday. Jackson is a lot quicker than most of the Badgers’ guards, so he should be able to get to the rim pretty easily in this game. It’d be a major plus for the team if he can knock down some shots from the outside as well. He was 2-for-3 from three against the Lumberjacks on Sunday, but he was just 4-for-18 from the outside in the four games before that.

G Steve Vasturia (11.6 PPG) is a guy that needs to be a lot better for Notre Dame moving forward. He’s just 6-for-22 from the field in this tournament and the Fighting Irish are counting on him to regain his stroke on Friday. The team is much more beatable when he is not playing well offensively.

F V.J. Beachem (11.6 PPG, 4.0 RPG) might just be the x-factor for Notre Dame in this one, though. Beachem is 15-for-30 from the outside over the past five games and Notre Dame is extremely tough to beat when he gets it going from deep.

GONZAGA BULLDOGS (28-7) vs. SYRACUSE ORANGE (21-13)

United Center - Chicago, IL
Tip-off: Friday, 9:40 p.m. ET
Sportsbook.ag Line: Gonzaga -4, Total: 135

#11 Gonzaga and #10 Syracuse clash on Friday night and whoever wins will be the only double-digit seeded team to reach the Elite Eight.

The Bulldogs are on fire heading into this meeting with the Orange, as they have now won seven straight games and they have covered in six of those contests. Gonzaga defeated #6 Seton Hall 68-52 as a two-point favorite in the first round of the tournament and followed it up with an 82-59 victory as a one-point favorite over #3 Utah in the second round. The Bulldogs have been outstanding on both sides of the ball, as they have now shot 55% or better from the field in two of the past three contests and they have held their opponents to under 43% shooting in two straight.

Syracuse has played very solid basketball in the tournament as well. The Orange defeated #7 Dayton 70-51 as one-point favorites in the first round and then knocked off #15 Middle Tennessee State 75-50 as six-point favorites in the second round. The team’s defense has been outstanding so far, holding each of its first two opponents to less than 33% shooting from the field.

Syracuse and Gonzaga have met just once since 1997 and the Orange won-and-covered in that game. One thing the Bulldogs will feel good about heading into this game is that the Orange are just 5-14 ATS after having won two of their past three games this season. Syracuse is, however, an impressive 8-1 ATS after allowing 55 points or less in two straight games over the past three seasons.

Gonzaga has been on a tear throughout the tournament and C Domantas Sabonis (17.5 PPG, 11.7 RPG) is a huge reason for that. In two tournament games, Sabonis is averaging 20.0 PPG, 13.0 RPG and 1.5 BPG for the Bulldogs. He was absolutely dominant against Jakob Poeltl and Utah in the second round, going 8-for-12 from the floor and even knocking down his only attempt from three. Syracuse’s zone may make it a big tough for Sabonis to get the touches he normally does, but one thing he’ll be able to do against them is rebound. If he crashes the boards hard and avoids foul trouble then he should get plenty of second chance opportunities on Friday.

F Kyle Wiltjer (20.4 PPG, 6.4 RPG), meanwhile, will need to get hot in this one. The zone should play right into his strengths, as all he’ll need to do is find a few spots to pull up from. Wiltjer was 7-for-10 from the field and 3-for-4 from the outside against Utah, so he should be feeling confident heading into this game. It is, however, important that he really digs in on the defensive end in this one.

As is seemingly always the case for Gonzaga, the x-factors in this game will likely be Gs Josh Perkins (10.2 PPG, 4.0 APG, 1.2 SPG) and Eric McClellan (10.9 PPG). The two of them should get plenty of open looks against this Syracuse defense and will just need to make good decisions with the basketball on Friday. If they can move the ball quickly then they should find spaces in the Orange zone and both guys have been hitting shots lately. The two of them combined for 32 points against Utah and a similar performance on Friday would likely mean that Gonzaga is advancing to the Elite Eight.

Syracuse is on fire coming into this game, but the team has not yet faced anybody that is nearly as good as Gonzaga. The Bulldogs are an extremely big team and that means that guys like C DaJuan Coleman (5.1 PPG, 4.6 RPG) and F Tyler Roberson (9.0 PPG, 8.4 RPG) will need to be ready to play in this one. Coleman is a big body that will likely be tasked with keeping Sabonis off of the glass in this one. That is not going to be easy, but if he is badly beaten in that regard then Syracuse will not be advancing in this one.

Roberson should be able to help Coleman on the boards. He’s averaging 13.5 RPG through two tournament games and will need to carry that over into Friday’s matchup.

Offensively, the Orange are going to need big performances from Gs Trevor Cooney (12.8 PPG), Michael Gbinije (17.8 PPG, 4.4 APG, 4.1 RPG, 2.0 SPG) and Malachi Richardson (13.1 PPG, 4.3 RPG, 1.2 SPG).

Cooney is this team’s veteran leader and also happens to be the most dangerous outside shooter Syracuse has. He has shot it well throughout the tournament, going 6-for-12 from the outside in the opening rounds. If he can continue to be efficient from the outside then it’ll really help his team moving forward.

Gbinije is the most talented player on this roster. He had 23 points on 10-for-14 shooting against Middle Tennessee State and will need to come ready to score in this game as well. The Bulldogs are weakest in their backcourt, so Gbinije should find some success here on Friday.

Syracuse does need Malachi Richardson to be more consistent. After scoring 21 points on 5-for-12 shooting in the first round, Richardson had just four points on 1-for-7 shooting against the Blue Raiders. He is a very versatile scorer, but if he has an off night on Friday then it’ll be tough for the Orange to advance.

INDIANA HOOSIERS (27-7) vs. NORTH CAROLINA TAR HEELS (30-6)

United Center - Chicago, IL
Tip-off: Friday, 9:55 p.m. ET
Sportsbook.ag Line: North Carolina -5.5, Total: 158.5

Bluebloods #1 North Carolina and #5 Indiana meet in the Sweet Sixteen in Philadelphia on Friday night.

The Tar Heels have been comfortable thus far in the NCAA Tournament, with an 85-66 win over #9 Providence on Saturday as 11.5-point favorites. UNC shot an impressive 52.5% from the field, and grabbed 42 rebounds compared to Providence’s 24.

Indiana, meanwhile, defeated #4 Kentucky on Saturday by a score of 73-67 as 3.5-point underdogs. The Hoosiers shot 48.1% from the field and held a dangerous Kentucky squad to just 42.1% shooting.

Since 1997, Indiana is 4-0 ATS and 3-1 SU against North Carolina. Working in UNC’s favor is that Indiana is just 11-22 ATS after games in which they covered the spread in the past two seasons. Indiana is, however, 20-10 ATS when playing just their second game in eight days over the past two seasons.

North Carolina has been dominant in March Madness, and will need to keep up the good play against a tough opponent in Indiana. F Brice Johnson (16.8 PPG, 10.5 RPG, 61.9% FG) is UNC’s key player, and he has lived up to the hype through his team’s first two games in the tournament, averaging 19.5 PPG, 8.5 RPG, and 5.0 BPG. How young Indiana big man Thomas Bryant can handle Johnson down low will go a long way in determining the outcome of this matchup.

F Justin Jackson (12.1 PPG, 3.9 RPG) has also had a solid tournament, and could be an x-factor for Roy Williams’ squad. Jackson is a very good defender on the perimeter and he’s also capable of hitting outside shots when called upon.

F Isaiah Hicks (9.4 PPG, 4.8 RPG, 61.5% FG), ACC Sixth Man of the Year, has also enjoyed a great start to the tournament, averaging 12.5 PPG and 5.5 RPG on 9-for-12 shooting.

Senior G Marcus Paige (12.0 PPG, 3.7 APG, 1.2 SPG) has struggled from the field this season, shooting just 38.9%, but if he regains his form from two seasons ago, the Tar Heels will have to like their chances to advance to the Elite Eight.

Big Ten champions Indiana are a force on the offensive end of the court, averaging 82.3 PPG (11th in NCAA) on 50.1% shooting from the field (3rd in NCAA). G Yogi Ferrell (17.1 PPG, 5.6 APG, 41.9% 3FG) is Indiana’s best player, and his double-double of 20 points and 10 assists paced the Hoosiers in their first round matchup against Chattanooga. With 18 points, four assists, and five rebounds against Kentucky, he proved that he can put up big numbers against top competition, and he will not shy away from the UNC defense.

F Troy Williams (13.0 PPG, 5.9 RPG) is a versatile option for Tom Crean’s squad, and C Thomas Bryant (11.9 PPG, 5.7 RPG, 68.9% FG) is a force in the post. Indiana’s best players will need to show up, and if they are to get a win the likes of F Max Bielfeldt (8.0 PPG, 4.6 RPG, 44.1% 3FG) and G Nick Zeisloft (6.7 PPG, 42.5% 3FG) will need to shoot well from three-point range.

**StarDust Bum** · 03-25-2016, 03:34 AM

2016 NCAA Tournament Results

Wager Favorites-Underdogs

Straight Up 43-13

Against the Spread 31-24-1

Total

Over-Under 28-28

Sweet Sixteen

THURSDAY, MARCH 24
Matchup Score ATS Result
Kansas (-5.5) vs. Maryland 79-63 Favorite-Under (143)
Miami-Florida vs. Villanova (-4) 92-69 Favorite-Over (139.5)
Oregon (-3.5) vs. Duke 82-68 Favorite-Under (156)
Texas A&M vs. Oklahoma (-2.5) 77-63 Favorite-Under (145)

FRIDAY, MARCH 25
Matchup Score ATS Result
North Carolina vs. Indiana - -
Notre Dame vs. Wisconsin - -
Virginia vs. Iowa State - -
Gonzaga vs. Syracuse - -

Elite Eight

SATURDAY, MARCH 26
Matchup Score ATS Result
Kansas vs. Villanova - -
Oregon vs. Oklahoma - -

**StarDust Bum** · 03-25-2016, 03:42 AM

CBB MONEYLINE

CBB > (869) INDIANA@ (870) N CAROLINA | 2016-03-25 21:55:00 - 2016-03-25 21:55:00
Play ON N CAROLINA using money line in All games on Friday nights
The record is 30 Wins and 6 Losses for the since 1992 (+24.2 units)

CBB > (873) IOWA ST@ (874) VIRGINIA | 2016-03-25 19:10:00 - 2016-03-25 19:10:00
Play ON IOWA ST using money line in All games in all tournament games
The record is 16 Wins and 3 Losses for the last three seasons (+12.65 units)

CBB > (869) INDIANA@ (870) N CAROLINA | 2016-03-25 21:55:00 - 2016-03-25 21:55:00
Play ON N CAROLINA using money line in Road games in March games
The record is 11 Wins and 2 Losses for the last two seasons (+9.05 units)

-----------------------

CBB FIRST HALF

CBB > (871) WISCONSIN@ (872) NOTRE DAME | 2016-03-25 19:25:00 - 2016-03-25 19:25:00
Play AGAINST NOTRE DAME ?>in the first halfin All games when playing against a team with a winning record after 15 or more games
The record is 1 Wins and 12 Losses for the this season (-12.2 units)

CBB > (875) GONZAGA@ (876) SYRACUSE | 2016-03-25 21:40:00 - 2016-03-25 21:40:00
Play ON SYRACUSE ?>in the first halfin Road games versus good offensive teams - scoring 77+ points/game
The record is 14 Wins and 1 Losses for the last three seasons (+12.9 units)

CBB > (871) WISCONSIN@ (872) NOTRE DAME | 2016-03-25 19:25:00 - 2016-03-25 19:25:00
Play AGAINST NOTRE DAME ?>in the first halfin All games when playing against a team with a winning record
The record is 5 Wins and 17 Losses for the this season (-13.7 units)

CBB > (869) INDIANA@ (870) N CAROLINA | 2016-03-25 21:55:00 - 2016-03-25 21:55:00
Play ON INDIANA ?>in the first halfin All games when playing against a team with a winning record after 15 or more games
The record is 20 Wins and 7 Losses for the last two seasons (+12.3 units)

-------------------

CBB TOTALS

CBB > (869) INDIANA@ (870) N CAROLINA | 2016-03-25 21:55:00 - 2016-03-25 21:55:00
Play OVER INDIANA on the totalin All games in non-conference games
The record is 21 Overs and 6 Unders for the last two seasons (+14.4 units)

CBB > (873) IOWA ST@ (874) VIRGINIA | 2016-03-25 19:10:00 - 2016-03-25 19:10:00
Play OVER IOWA ST on the totalin Road games after a non-conference game
The record is 10 Overs and 1 Unders for the last two seasons (+8.9 units)

CBB > (873) IOWA ST@ (874) VIRGINIA | 2016-03-25 19:10:00 - 2016-03-25 19:10:00
Play UNDER VIRGINIA on the totalin All games versus good offensive teams - scoring 77+ points/game
The record is 3 Overs and 12 Unders for the this season (+8.7 units)

CBB > (875) GONZAGA@ (876) SYRACUSE | 2016-03-25 21:40:00 - 2016-03-25 21:40:00
Play OVER GONZAGA on the totalin All games in a neutral court game where the total is 135 to 139.5
The record is 17 Overs and 4 Unders for the since 1992 (+12.6 units)

**StarDust Bum** · 03-25-2016, 03:47 AM

2016 NIT, CBI, CIT Results

College Basketball Invitational (CBI)

FINALS (BEST-OF-THREE)

Date Matchup Score ATS Result

Mar. 28 Morehead State vs. Nevada - -

Mar. 30 Morehead State vs. Nevada - -

April 1 Morehead State vs. Nevada (if necessary)

-------------------

CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament (CIT)

SEMIFINALS & FINALS

Date Matchup Score ATS Result

Mar. 27 New Jersey Tech vs. Columbia - -

Mar. 27 UC Irvine vs. Coastal Carolina - -

Mar. 29 TBD vs. TBD - -

-----------------------

Vegas 8 Postseason Tournament

QUARTERFINALS

Date Matchup Score ATS Result

Mar. 28 Tennessee Tech vs. Old Dominion - -

Mar. 28 Northern Illinois vs. UC Santa Barbara - -

Mar. 28 Oakland vs. Towson - -

Mar. 28 Louisiana Tech vs. East Tennessee State - -

SEMIFINALS & FINALS

Date Matchup Score ATS Result
Mar. 29 TBD vs. TBD - -
Mar. 29 TBD vs. TBD - -
Mar. 30 TBD vs. TBD - -

**StarDust Bum** · 03-25-2016, 03:50 AM

TIPPING OFF: Looking at the second set of Sweet 16 games
March 25, 2016

The first set of Sweet 16 games were all double-digit wins. An average victory of 16.7 points.

The Atlantic Coast Conference had a record six teams in the Sweet 16 and people were speculating about its chance to match or break the Big East's three teams in the 1985 Final Four.

The ACC lost Miami and Duke on Thursday and is looking to top-seeds Virginia (vs. Iowa State) and North Carolina (vs. Indiana) as well as sixth-seeded Notre Dame (vs. Wisconsin) and 10th-seeded Syracuse (vs. Gonzaga).

---

ELITE TEAMS: Indiana center Thomas Bryant was asked about being a freshman and having to face Kentucky and North Carolina - two of college basketball's premier programs - in consecutive games in the NCAA Tournament: ''It feels great to face these teams. When you play for a great team like Indiana and you're in the NCAA, you expect to face nothing but the best teams. And it feels great to do that.''

---

STATE SECRET: Notre Dame coach Mike Brey gave away one of the keys to his game plan against Wisconsin.

''I'm going to reveal a big secret: Play (V.J. Beacham) a lot. Play him a lot. Play him 30-some minutes. Don't mess with him,'' Brey said.

Beacham is one of Notre Dame's top offensive players, but hasn't seen real starter's minutes.

---

SO LOOSE: Gonzaga players were laughing and having some fun at the podium during their news conference. Eric McClellan said that's why the Zags are that good.

''It's two sides of the spectrum. One side, we're extremely competitive and we're together, but on the other side, we're really goofy and loose. Like (Kyle Dranginis) KD said, we weren't even supposed to be here,'' McClellan said.

''For us, this is our last go-around, so we want to enjoy it as much as we can. For a lot of collegiate athletes, they don't get to experience moments like these. We just want to relish the opportunity and take it all in and continue to have fun with it.''

---

OPPOSITES ATTRACT: When Virginia and Iowa State meet Friday, it's going to be the deliberate, defensive style of Virginia against a team that loves to score and can't wait to get the ball moving in transition.

''I think you're not going to reinvent yourself at this stage, and I told our guys, it's going to have to be our best against their best,'' Virginia coach Tony Bennett said.

''They're terrific offensively. They're so efficient, how they can score, how they can stretch you with their balance, with (Georges) Niang, everybody talks about that. But we're going to have to be really good at what we do, and try not to yield and of course make them earn everything and be as efficient as we can offensively.''

**StarDust Bum** · 03-25-2016, 03:54 AM

INSIDE THE MADNESS: Kobe visits, Curry influences

A look around the sights and sounds of the NCAA Tournament from reporters at the games and surrounding events:

KOBE AT DUKE-OREGON

Kobe Bryant has taken time out of his final weeks with the Los Angeles Lakers to watch Duke in the NCAA Tournament.

Bryant and his wife, Vanessa, attended the Blue Devils' West Region semifinal game against Oregon on Thursday night, sitting in a section of Duke supporters. Bryant exchanged warm greetings with Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski's wife, Mickie, and their family before shaking hands with much of the section.

Bryant has played for Krzyzewski several times with the U.S. national team. He also has said he would have strongly considered going to Duke if he hadn't decided to enter the 1996 draft out of high school.

Of course, Bryant also has said over the years that he would have strongly considered archrival North Carolina, but he still has a strong affinity for Duke's history and tradition.

Bryant's 20-year career with the Lakers will end April 13. He is the third-leading scorer in NBA history and a five-time champion.

Bryant might be Orange County's second most-famous resident behind Mickey Mouse. He lives on the coast with his wife and two daughters, often taking a helicopter over Southern California's traffic on game days in downtown Los Angeles.

---

KENTUCKY PLAYERS TO NBA? ND COACH SAYS GO FOR IT

John Calipari says every Kentucky player eligible to declare will submit their names for this year's NBA draft.

Notre Dame coach Mike Brey says that's fine with him.

''Putting his whole team in? Well, he's not getting any pub here lately, because he's not playing,'' said Brey, as he prepares the Irish for Friday's game against Wisconsin. ''So he's doing anything to stay out there. They guy's a master. He's a master.''

Under new NCAA rules, players declaring for the draft can return to school if they don't sign with an agent. They have up to 10 days after the pre-draft combine to withdraw from consideration and can try out with an NBA team.

''It's great for the young people. I don't want to hear about, it's tough on coaches,'' Brey said. ''One of my assistants started whining about it. I almost fired him last night. I said: `Shut up. I think it will save some bad decisions that we've had that a kid can go, get the information and still have time to ****** it.''`

Indiana coach Tom Crean, whose Hoosiers sent Kentucky packing last week, said the new rules could benefit players, if their best interests are considered.

''There's still very little real, honest, truthful, unfiltered, non-agenda-driven feedback,'' he said. ''And the whole key is to get that feedback, because so many mistakes are made because people get into the other part of it. And there's so many opinions and voices and everybody's got an idea on it but there's very, very few decision makers. I do love the new rules. And hopefully they're here to stay. And we'll see how it goes.''

---

LIKE TO BE LIKE STEPH

A 3-point barrage between Miami and Villanova in the first half of their Sweet 16 game Thursday night is just the latest reminder of how much influence NBA MVP Stephen Curry has had on today's college players.

Especially when Villanova's Kris Jenkins hit a long 3-pointer near the end of the first half.

The junior forward hit the shot just a couple paces away from midcourt, his left foot planted on the half-court logo. It was Villanova's sixth 3-pointer of the half.

Villanova forward Daniel Ochefu said he knew Jenkins could shoot from far away but had never seen him attempt such a long shot in a game.

''I know I was running back on defense, and I looked at Darryl (Reynolds). We both got eye contact like `Wow!' That was Steph range,'' Ochefu said.

It's just the latest example this NCAA Tournament of players showing or expressing admiration for Curry, the Golden State Warriors guard who's become known for absurd accuracy from long range. Fans and coaches can see it, too.

Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski was asked Wednesday whether he tries to remind players not to necessarily play like Curry, in an era where they all love him.

''I've coached Steph twice, and if they can play like that, that would be cool, man. It would be a lot better,'' Krzyzewski said. ''I think Steph is a great example of preparation and consistent preparation and love of the game.''

In the round of 32, after Wisconsin sharpshooter Bronson Koenig hit a tying 3-pointer from well beyond the arc against Xavier, the Badgers drew up another play for him and he buried the game-winner.

After clinching the Sweet 16 berth, Koenig said: ''I just tried to channel my inner Steph Curry.''

In the first round of the NCAA Tournament, Northern Iowa's Paul Jesperson banked in a halfcourt shot at the buzzer to give the 11 seed a win over No. 6 seed Texas.

Last month and just a few feet away in the same Oklahoma City arena, Curry hit a long 3-pointer in overtime to beat the Thunder.

---

WISCONSIN IN BO'S HOMETOWN

Bo Ryan came from the land of cheeseteaks long before he found a home among the cheeseheads in Wisconsin.

Before former Saint Joseph's guard Jameer Nelson, now in the NBA with Denver, set nearly every record at Chester High School, Ryan was the best point guard to play at the school just outside of Philadelphia. Ryan went on to star at Wilkes University and did his graduate work at Villanova.

His father, Butch, was a longtime youth coach in the Chester area and passed along a tireless work ethic that Bo used to work his way from the lower coaching ranks all the way to Wisconsin in 2001.

Ryan retired in December and missed out on a happy homecoming with Wisconsin's Sweet 16 game against Notre Dame on Friday at the Wells Fargo Center.

''They've heard all the Chester stories. I promised I wouldn't recite any of them this weekend for them,'' coach Greg Gard said. ''The last time I was here was, coincidentally, for Butch Ryan's funeral, that we flew out, myself and the seniors at that time, I think it was the 2013-14 season. Our seniors came out for Butch's funeral. We got a chance to get a little tour of Lincoln Financial Field. We couldn't get in here, it was closed.''

The building is open for the Badgers on Friday. They would love to take a weekend tour before hitting Houston for the Final Four.

**StarDust Bum** · 03-25-2016, 03:57 AM

Preview: Hoosiers (27-7) at Tar Heels (30-6)
Date: March 25, 2016 9:57 PM EDT

PHILADELPHIA (AP) The 30-second shot clock operator can sit with feet up and enjoy watching North Carolina play Indiana in the East Regional semifinals Friday night. These teams score and take their shots.

'They don't put anybody out on the court that can't defend at a high level or score at a high level,' Indiana coach Tom Crean said Thursday. 'I think one of the things that separates this Carolina team so much is the way they pass the ball. It all starts with your transition because they get out and run.'

Top-seeded North Carolina (30-6) averages more than 82 points and 64 shots a game.

'They're effective at both ends of the court,' Tar Heels coach Roy Williams said of Indiana. 'So we're worried about their offense. But defensively we know they do a good job of walling the guy inside. They trap when they want to. They jam when they want to.'

Indiana (27-7), seeded fifth, averages more than 82 points a game, averaging of 58 shots.

There's not going to be a whole lot of time for play-calling or directing teammates. Everyone on both teams gets out and runs, and the ball doesn't spend much time bouncing.

The big difference is 3-point shooting. The Hoosiers make an average of nine a game, almost double North Carolina's five.

'We've got to get out and try to cut their percentage down. They're going to shoot a lot of 3s,' Williams said. 'Yogi (Ferrell) gives them so much threat with his penetration and pinching that they're going to get some 3s.'

Crean said turnovers could be the difference. The Hoosiers have averaged 12.5 in the tournament, one below their season average.

'They do as good a job as anybody in the country at turning your turnover into a dunk or a layup,' he said.

BEATING No. 1: The Hoosiers have a winning record in the NCAA Tournament against No. 1 seeds (5-3).

PHILLY FUN: This is the third time Indiana and North Carolina have met in the NCAA Tournament. The Hoosiers are 2-0, having won the 1981 national championship game and in the 1984 East Regional. This is the third time Indiana has played NCAA Tournament games in Philadelphia. The won the 1976 and 1981 national championships in the Spectrum, which was in the same complex as the Wells Fargo Center is now, but was demolished in 2010.

'I think it's tremendous,' Crean said of being in Philadelphia. 'And when you look at the national championships that have been won here, they've heard about that this week. I wish we could take them and tour the Spectrum. We should go take a picture outside in the lot there. We had a great day today. We went and practiced at the Palestra. And they understand how big that is to me. That's a bucket-list deal for me for us to be able to get in there. And that was fantastic.'

DIFFERING DUNK: 'The highlight of my day was just watching Nick Zeisloft get a dunk out there,' Crean said of the end of his team's practice at the Wells Fargo Center. 'He could barely touch the rim when he got to Indiana as a grad transfer from Illinois State. Now he's dunking the ball like it's nothing.'

When told of Crean's comments the 6-foot-4 Zeisloft was quick to answer.

'He's not telling the truth with that. I've been able to dunk for quite some time, not as much as people might think I can,' he said. 'It wasn't a (teammate) Thomas (Bryant) dunk. So it was just a little dunk. I mean, I don't know what he was laughing about with all that.'

OLDEN DAYS: Williams doesn't spend a lot of time dealing with history and his team.

'You know 10 years ago my guys thought Michael Jordan invented the game. Now they don't even know who Michael Jordan is, if it weren't for the Hanes commercials,' Williams said. 'I'm going to call and leave him a message, tell him I said that today. Kids are in today's times. If I were to talk to them about `81 and `84, I have a coach that wasn't even born then. I don't know that my guys understand that. And maybe I'm wrong, but I'm not talking about that to them.

'If I tell them I had black hair in 1981, they'd think it's when the rocks cooled. So I don't deal with that very much. I could be wrong, but that's the way I'm dealing with it.'

**StarDust Bum** · 03-25-2016, 03:59 AM

Preview: Cyclones (23-11) at Cavaliers (28-7)
Date: March 25, 2016 7:10 PM EDT

CHICAGO (AP) Malcolm Brogdon could imagine the feeling if top-seeded Virginia advanced to the Midwest Regional final.

He just had trouble talking about it. And if Iowa State has its way, that will not be an issue.

The grind-it-out Cavaliers (28-7) will meet the fast-paced Cyclones (23-11) on Friday night in a regional semifinal that matches teams with contrasting styles.

'You know, it would be very exciting for the team, for the coaching staff, for our university, for Charlottesville,' said Brogdon, the ACC Player of the Year. 'But I'm not sure that's something that can be put into words until we get it done. We've got to go out and we've got to be focused from the first 20 minutes of tomorrow night's game. We've got to go out and get it done.'

Whoever comes out on top will meet 10th-seeded Syracuse or 11th-seeded Gonzaga on Sunday for a spot in the Final Four.

Virginia has experienced a return to prominence in seven seasons under coach Tony Bennett with four NCAA appearances and two trips to the Sweet Sixteen in the past three years. The Cavaliers have not reached the regional finals since 1995. The last time they made the Final Four in 1984, their coach was as teenager. And there was plenty of head scratching after they got the No. 1 seed this year.

Now, can they live up to it?

While one big obstacle fell when second-seeded Michigan State got knocked out by Middle Tennessee State in one of the most shocking first-round upsets ever, the path is hardly a clear one. No other region has one double-digit seed remaining let alone two. But getting past fourth-seeded Iowa State is no given for Virginia.

Here are some things to look for when Virginia and Iowa State meet.

---

ROLLING CYCLONES: Sure, the Cyclones had their share of struggles in their first season under coach Steve Prohm. A preseason Top 10 team, they finished just sixth in the Big 12, but Prohm has Iowa State playing its best ball at just the right time.

The Cyclones won their first two NCAA games by an average of 15 points. With a win Friday, Prohm would take them farther than his predecessor Fred Hoiberg ever did - to the Elite Eight. The only time they advanced that far was in 2000, but they have a chance to get there in the arena where 'The Mayor' now coaches.

'Virginia is a team we've really got to be focused on,' Iowa State forward Georges Niang said. 'We can't be focused on Sunday because last year we tried to focus on another team, and we lost in the first round. I mean, it would be really cool, but we're really focused and locked in on what Virginia's tendencies are.'

STRENGTH AGAINST STRENGTH: It would be hard to find a bigger clash of styles, with defensive-oriented Virginia looking to slow the pace and the more freewheeling Cyclones looking to push the tempo.

Iowa State averages 82.1 points and ranks third nationally in field-goal percentage. Six players average double figures, with Niang scoring 20.2 points per game. Virginia, meanwhile, is second in Division I in opponents' scoring average.

TEAM D: Bennett prefers a team approach on defense. And the Cavaliers are facing quite a challenge.

Start with Niang, coming off 28-point games in the first two rounds against Iona and Arkansas-Little Rock. The 6-foot-8 forward is the only player in the nation with 2,000 points, 700 rebounds and 400 assists.

Iowa State also has one of the steadiest guards in Monte Morris, second in the nation in assist-turnover ratio after finishing first the previous two seasons.

One thing that could work in Virginia's favor is its team approach to defense. The Cavaliers have the ACC Defensive Player of the Year in Brogdon. But they also have solid defenders in forwards Anthony Gill and Isaiah Wilkins and reserves Mariel Shayok and Evan Nolte. The group approach could leave them less vulnerable to foul trouble trying to contain Iowa State.

SUCCESSFUL SENIORS: Virginia's senior class of Brogdon, Anthony Gill, Mike Tobey, Evan Nolte and Caid Kirven ranks second in school history with 111 wins. With a win Friday, they would match the record set by Class of 1983 led by Ralph Sampson.

Announcement

The Bum's March NCAABB Conference Playoffs Thru The Madness Picks-Trends-News-Stats !!

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment