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NCAA Latest: Slate of Sweet 16 games includes low seeds
March 22, 2018

The Latest on the NCAA Tournament (all times Eastern):

12:45 a.m.

This Sweet 16 is picking up right where its zany lead-in left off. Two No. 9 seeds and an 11 are in the Elite Eight, and at least one of those underdogs will reach the Final Four.

Fitting for this NCAA Tournament that's cranked up the unpredictability of March Madness to never-before-seen levels.

Barry Brown's tiebreaking layup with 19 seconds remaining helped No. 9 seed Kansas State beat No. 5 seed Kentucky 61-58 in the South Region semifinal in Atlanta on Thursday night. No. 11 seed Loyola-Chicago toppled comeback artists Nevada with yet another player stepping up to snatch a win in the final moments.

And Terance Mann scored 18 points to help No. 9 seed Florida State upset fourth-seeded Gonzaga, 75-60, guaranteeing that the Final Four will have a completely different look from last year.

In the only game won by a favorite, third-seeded Michigan rolled past No. 7 seed Texas A&M 99-72.

NCAA officials say only two 9s had ever advanced to the regional finals before this tournament. And Kansas State goes in as a bracket favorite against Loyola in the topsy-turvy South, which again bounced its two highest remaining seeds.

In Las Vegas sports books, however, Kansas State and Loyola opened as a straight pick - no favorite, and neither being labeled the underdog anymore in a game for a Final Four berth.

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12:25 a.m.

Florida State's upset run in the NCAA Tournament has stretched all the way to the brink of the Final Four.

Terance Mann scored 18 points and the ninth-seeded Seminoles advanced to the Elite Eight for just the third time in school history with a 75-60 victory over fourth-seeded Gonzaga on Thursday night in the West Region semifinal.

C.J. Walker and Braian Angola added 9 points for the Seminoles (23-11), who knocked their third straight higher-seeded opponent in a stunning run out West for a team that went 9-9 in ACC play and lost its conference tournament opener.

Coolly maintaining a lead down the stretch at Staples Center, Florida State ended Gonzaga's 16-game winning streak and halted the pursuit of a second straight Final Four berth for last year's tournament finalists.

Coach Leonard Hamilton's best postseason run in his 16 years at Florida State is extended to Saturday, when the Seminoles will face third-seeded Michigan for a trip to the Final Four in San Antonio. The Wolverines advanced with a 99-72 rout of Texas A&M.

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12:15 a.m.

Kansas State's dream of its first Final Four since 1964 is alive.

Barry Brown's tiebreaking layup with 19 seconds remaining was the difference as Kansas State beat Kentucky 61-58 on Thursday night in the South Region semifinal.

Kansas State, a No. 9 seed, will play No. 11 seed Loyola-Chicago on Saturday in a regional final pairing no one could have predicted.

Kentucky's Shai Gilgeous-Alexander missed a potential tying 3-pointer at the final buzzer for Kentucky (26-11).

Kansas State (25-11) overcame the loss of top scorer Xavier Sneed, who had 22 points before fouling out with 1:14 remaining.

Sneed, who had nine points in the first half, was unstoppable in the second half. He scored 13 points in the first 11:30 of the second half before he was called for his fourth foul with 8:24 remaining.

When Sneed took a seat on the bench, Kansas State lost its momentum. It led 52-44 when Sneed collected his fourth foul and led only 56-55 when he returned with 2:13 remaining, with Kentucky fans chanting ''Go Big Blue'' to encourage the comeback.

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11:10 p.m.

Florida State is looking for a third straight NCAA Tournament upset after jumping to a 41-32 halftime lead on Gonzaga at Staples Center in Los Angeles.

C.J. Walker and P.J. Savoy combined to hit three late 3-pointers, and Brandon Allen hit a baseline floater at the buzzer to send the ninth-seeded Seminoles to the locker room on an 11-1 run.

One round after knocking off top-seeded Xavier in the West Region, Florida State is trying to reach the Elite Eight for only the third time in school history.

Florida State streaked to a 23-11 lead shortly before the midway point of the first half, but Gonzaga calmly replied with a 16-3 run to reclaim the lead. But when foul trouble sent Gonzaga forwards Johnathan Williams and Rui Hachimura to the bench in the final minutes, the Seminoles struck from outside.

Gonzaga struggled from the field during the first half, missing nine of its first 11 shots and its first seven 3-point attempts. Josh Perkins finally got the Zags' first triple with 6:29 left before halftime.

Gonzaga is attempting to move within one game of its second straight trip to the Final Four by winning its 17th straight game.

The winner gets Michigan on Saturday.

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10:50 p.m.

Kansas State raced out to a quick lead and goes into halftime leading Kentucky 33-29 in the NCAA South Region semifinal.

Ninth-seeded Kansas State stunned fifth-seeded Kentucky right from the opening tip Thursday night, building a 13-1 lead before most of the blue-clad crowd at Philips Arena in Atlanta knew what hit them.

Kentucky shot just 26 percent in the first half but managed to close the gap before the break. Coach John Calipari's squad is the highest-seeded team remaining in a bracket that became the first in tournament history to have the four top seeds eliminated on the first weekend.

Xavier Sneed leads Kansas State with 9 points. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is pacing Kentucky with 13 points.

The winner will move on to face No. 11 seed Loyola on Saturday for a spot in the Final Four. The Ramblers knocked off Nevada 69-68.

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9:40 p.m.

Michigan is back in the Elite Eight for the third time in six years.

The third-seeded Wolverines thoroughly dominated No. 7 seed Texas A&M in a 99-72 victory at the West Region on Thursday night, extending their winning streak to 12 games.

Michigan led the entire game and hit 14 3-pointers, including 10 in the first half. The Wolverines average nine in a game.

The rout was on by halftime with Michigan leading 52-28.

The Aggies never made a run against the hot-shooting Wolverines, who shot 62 percent from the field.

Muhammad-Ali Abdur-Rahkman led Michigan with 24 points.

Texas A&M was led by Tyler Davis with 24 points.

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9:15 p.m.

In its first NCAA Tournament appearance since 1985, Loyola is one win away from an improbable trip to the Final Four.

The 11th-seeded Ramblers kept up their amazing run with a 69-68 victory over seventh-seeded Nevada on Thursday night in the South Region in Atlanta.

With the shot clock running down and Loyola clinging to a 1-point lead, Marques Townes knocked down a 3-pointer with 6.3 seconds remaining. He finished with 18 points.

The Ramblers fell behind by 12 points in the early going, but got back in the game when Nevada's run-and-gun offense suddenly went cold. The Wolf Pack's final points of the first half came on Cody Martin's dunk with 7:57 remaining. Loyola closed the half on a 12-0 run and pushed out to a 12-point lead of its own early in the second half.

Nevada rallied and it came to the final seconds. Townes hit the big shot to clinch it.

Loyola improves to 31-5 and will face either No. 5 seed Kentucky or No. 9 seed Kansas State in the regional final Saturday at Philips Arena.

The Wolf Pack finishes the season at 29-8.

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8:40 p.m.

Loyola is being cheered on in the regional semifinals by four members of its 1963 national championship team.

Jerry Harkness, Les Hunter, John Egan and Rich Rochelle are sitting together in front-row seats at Philips Arena. They're all smiles with the 11th-seeded Ramblers holding a 9-point lead over Nevada with just under 12 minutes remaining.

Harkness says his alma mater is ''playing well, hope they win.''

While Loyola is making its first NCAA Tournament appearances since 1985, the school has a storied hoops history. Not only does it have a championship on its resume, it played in one of the most socially significant games in college basketball history during its run to the title.

At the height of the Civil Rights Movement, the team had four black starters when they beat an all-white Mississippi State squad in what became known as the ''Game of Change.''

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8:30 p.m.

The rout is on at the West Region in Los Angeles.

Michigan leads Texas A&M 52-28 at halftime in the first semifinal game Thursday night much to the delight of the big number of Wolverines fans at Staples Center.

The third-seeded Wolverines hit 10 3-pointers in the half; they came in averaging nine in a game.

Moe Wagner scored 14 points and Duncan Robinson added 10 for Michigan.

The Aggies were led by Tyler Davis with 8 points. They committed 10 turnovers, led by T.J. Starks with five.

Texas A&M was just 12-of-32 from the floor in the half, while the Wolverines shot 57 percent.

Michigan's largest lead was 29 points.

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8:10 p.m.

Loyola-Chicago stormed back after trailing by 18 points midway through the first half to lead Nevada 28-24 at halftime of Thursday night's NCAA South Region semifinal.

After leading a combined 4 minutes, 24 seconds of its first two NCAA Tournament wins, the Wolf Pack didn't trail in the opening 18 minutes of the first half. Nevada appeared to be in control when it led 20-8, but it trailed at halftime for the sixth straight game.

Loyola closed the half with a 20-4 run. The Wolf Pack didn't score in the final 7:55 before the break.

Following a 4-4 tie, Nevada took the lead with an 8-0 run that included a layup and two free throws by Jordan Caroline.

Loyola pushed the ball in the paint on almost every possession. The Ramblers' first 10 points came on layups.

- Charles Odum reporting from Atlanta

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6:50 p.m.

All four games in the NCAA Tournament to be played Thursday night involve at least one team seeded seventh or lower.

The night opens with No. 7 seed Nevada playing No. 11 seed Loyola Chicago in the South Region. In the West, No. 7 seed Texas A&M, fresh off a blowout of 2017 national champion North Carolina, faces No. 3 seed Michigan.

Later, No. 5 seed Kentucky faces No. 9 seed Kansas State in the South and No. 4 seed Gonzaga faces No. 9 seed Florida State in the West. Florida State advanced by topping No. 1 seed Xavier.

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6 p.m.

It's back to the madness of March and the Sweet 16, starring Loyola-Chicago, Kansas State, Syracuse and whatever other underdog you might want to throw in there - maybe Florida State or Texas A&M.

There's plenty of drama in the South Region, where the top four seeds are done and watching the NCAA Tournament on TV. Play resumes Thursday night with tournament darling Loyola-Chicago (30-5), an 11th seed, facing No. 7 seed Nevada (29-7), and Kansas State (24-11) playing No. 5 seed Kentucky (26-10) in Atlanta,

The other two matchups are in the West, where No. 7 Texas A&M (22-12) meets No. 3 Michigan (30-7), and No. 9 Florida State (22-11) takes on No. 4 Gonzaga (32-4) in Los Angeles.

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Purdue's Haas hopes to return in NCAAs
March 22, 2018

BOSTON (AP) Purdue coach Matt Painter has all but ruled out Isaac Haas for the Sweet 16 after the star center fractured his right elbow in the Boilermaker's first-round NCAA Tournament win.

But the Boilermakers' 7-foot-2 senior is holding out hope that a new protective brace will give him a chance to play - even if just a few minutes - in second-seeded Purdue's East Region matchup with third-seeded Texas Tech on Friday night.

''If I did play, it would just be really short minutes, I'm sure,'' Haas said. ''But I'll play as many as I'm asked of.''

Painter said it's still a long shot at this point.

''He didn't practice the last two days, so I don't see him playing,'' he said.

One of Painter's markers for considering whether Haas would be able to play was if he could rebound using both hands and shoot with his right one.

Haas said Thursday he hadn't really tried to shoot and was focusing on letting the elbow rest. The 290-pound big man was injured during the second half of last week's win over Cal State Fullerton when he hit the floor hard going for a rebound. The Boilermakers said after the game that he needed surgery, meaning his season was likely over.

He was fitted the following day with a bulky brace. But the NCAA didn't allow it, citing safety concerns for other players.

Graduate students from Purdue's engineering department got wind of that and worked all night Monday to construct a suitable replacement.

Haas received it Tuesday and said he's ''95 percent sure'' the NCAA will approve this version because it doesn't have the rigid metal components in the banned brace. The NCAA will make a decision on Friday.

''I know the brace should be cleared, but it really just depends on Coach Painter,'' Haas said.

Using it in practice required some adjustments on Thursday.

Haas initially tried to slip on the new brace over a sleeve he wears on the injured elbow. But he wound up having to remove the sleeve and place the brace over athletic tape.

During practice, he was able to participate in a fast break drill and execute a right-handed layup. But he had very limited flexibility in the elbow, which he kept at a 90-degree angle. He could rebound with both hands but only throw passes with his left hand.

He never attempted a jump shot with his right hand during the 15-minute portion open to the media.

Haas has received lots of support on social media wishing him a fast recovery. He's also getting support from possible opponents.

''He's trying to play as much as he can. I saw him struggling to shoot a free throw,'' Villanova guard Phil Booth said. ''That's just part of the game. ... He wants to be out there so bad. I see him on the bench cheering his teammates on.''

While optimism still exists in Purdue's locker room, the Boilermakers have to prepare like Haas won't be back.

Forward Vincent Edwards said the longer turnaround since playing their first game without Haas has helped them prepare for a possible second.

''Any time you lose such an important piece of your offense like Isaac, it takes time to adjust,'' Edwards said. ''We had a quick turnaround playing Butler like we did, but getting in the gym, having a few more days of practice ... it definitely helped that timing.''

Haas knows that getting in Friday night's game might mean playing through more pain than he did when he initially suffered the injury.

He has spoken with Painter to try to ease any concerns his coach might have about him hurting his elbow more.

''He's a guy that goes off desire to win and desire in the game,'' Haas said. ''I told him multiple times even if it's one minute, it's worth it to me.''

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Chalkiest region gives no confidence to No. 1 seed Villanova
March 22, 2018

BOSTON (AP) �� Sporting the No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament's chalkiest region doesn't give Villanova coach Jay Wright any special confidence heading into Friday night's game against West Virginia.

The Wildcats were together in a Pittsburgh hotel room last weekend when they watched top overall seed Virginia's unprecedented first-round loss to No. 16 seed University of Maryland-Baltimore County.

When it was over, there was no need for Wright to harp on the lesson.

"It was so impactful that you didn't have to say it," he said Thursday as Villanova hoped to avoid joining the slew of deposed favorites when it plays the fifth-seeded Mountaineers for the East Region's spot in the national quarterfinals.

"I had talked about it so many times, saying: 'This is going to happen. You've got to respect these guys,'" said Wright, who since 2010 has lost in the round of 32 twice as a No. 1 seed and twice as a No. 2 seed. "It wasn't a matter of fear like, 'Don't let it happen to us.' It's just: You just have to respect these teams."

Along with Kansas in the Midwest, Villanova is one of two No. 1 seeds remaining in this year's bracket. Joining the Wildcats and Mountaineers in Boston are second-seeded Purdue and third-seeded Texas Tech.

Each of the other three regions has at least one team seeded ninth or higher; none of the top four in the South is still playing.

"I don't think we need a wake-up call at all," said Purdue's Vincent Edwards. "We're not overlooking any opponent that we have, and we're not going to overlook the game. It can show you from the start of this tournament it doesn't even matter."

Villanova (32-4) and West Virginia (26-10) will meet in the early game in Boston, where both teams were frequent visitors in the original Big East. Purdue (30-6) and Texas Tech (26-9) will play in the nightcap.

Here is a look at the regional semifinal games:

VILLANOVA VS. WEST VIRGINIA

With all those low seeds in the tournament, West Virginia doesn't seem like much of an underdog. But the Mountaineers are hitting that angle hard, saying they don't get the respect they deserve as a senior class that has reached the Sweet 16 three times in four years.

"I felt like ever since our freshman year, we've always been underrated," guard Jevon Carter said "We've always been the underdogs coming into any game we've played. So we've always had an extra chip on our shoulder."

Coach Bob Huggins, who is seventh on the NCAA's all-time victory list, said the lack of hype goes back to when his players were recruited. Rather than guys with the potential to go to the NBA after one year, he has to pick the ones who might otherwise attend a mid-major school.

"I told my athletic director that really he had two choices: Either fire me for recruiting the guys I recruited, or give me a raise for being able to win with them," Huggins said. "We got a bunch of guys that really were looking for an opportunity to play at the highest level."

Villanova isn't buying it.

"If you're at this point, you're just as good as the team in front of you," Villanova guard Phil Booth said. "West Virginia is playing as good as anybody else or any other team."

The Mountaineers rely on a stifling full-court defense that has earned them the nickname "Press Virginia." Villanova's ability to pull up for 3-pointers in transition is seen as the key to breaking the West Virginia pressure.

"I don't think we're going to change our defense. We're going to press," Mountaineers forward Esa Ahmad said. "We're going to try to take them out of what they do well and just try to take everything away from them."

PURDUE VS. TEXAS TECH

Texas Tech's Chris Beard made it a point to watch the video of the last time he faced Purdue, when he was coaching Arkansas-Little Rock and it upset the Boilermakers in the opening round of the 2016 tournament.

Purdue's Matt Painter doesn't need a reminder, thank you.

"Sometimes you don't like to live those bad dreams," he said, adding that he left that up to his assistants. "It was definitely one of those moments that you'll never forget as a coach. He'll never forget it on a positive side, and I'll never forget it on a negative side."

Purdue is expected to be without Isaac Haas, who broke his elbow in the second half of the first-round game against Cal State-Fullerton. The 7-foot-2, 290-pound center has been trying to get back onto the court, but Painter said it's unlikely he will play.

"It's very difficult in those situations, but you also have to be a truth-teller. That's your job as a coach," he said. "You've got to be diplomatic about it because it's really hard. You play 130 games to get to your senior year for this moment, but as a coach, you've got to do what's best for your team."

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Midwest has a strong ACC flavor
March 22, 2018

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) The ACC is looming large in downtown Omaha earlier than usual this year.

The Atlantic Coast Conference regularly sends a couple baseball teams to the College World Series each June. But the field for the NCAA Midwest Region semifinals at CenturyLink Center, across the street from where the CWS is played, is an anomaly.

Duke, Clemson and Syracuse making it past the first weekend of the tournament means three teams from the same conference will be playing at the same regional site for only the second time since the tournament expanded to 64 teams in 1985. The other occasion was in 1986, when the Southeastern Conference had three teams in Atlanta.

''We obviously always have our blue-blood powerhouses,'' Clemson coach Brad Brownell said, ''but if you can get into the tournament, as competitive as our league is, you're going to have a chance to advance. It's just the type of teams we play, the quality of coaching, the quality of play. The different styles of play that are in our league make it unique, or more unique than some of the other leagues where I think a lot of the teams play almost the same. All of those things help the teams in our league do well in this tournament.''

No. 2 seed Duke (28-7) advanced after blowing out Iona and Rhode Island. No. 11 seed Syracuse (23-13), the Blue Devils' opponent Friday night, survived against Arizona State in the First Four before upsetting sixth-seeded TCU and third-seeded Michigan State.

No. 5 seed Clemson (25-9), which plays top-seeded Kansas (29-7) of the Big 12 in the early game Friday, won over New Mexico State before hammering fourth-seeded Auburn by 31 points.

Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim said he never likes to play an opponent in the NCAA Tournament that he had already faced in the regular season - which was the case in 2016 when the Orange beat Virginia to get to the Final Four.

Syracuse will be playing Duke for the second time in a month. The Blue Devils won the first game 60-44 in Durham, North Carolina.

Boeheim said he talked to members of the NCAA selection committee on Thursday about the quirkiness of the regional. He added that with his team being the last to receive an at-large bid, he didn't voice any complaints.

''Trust me, when I got in I didn't care where we were going or who we were playing or what day it was,'' Boeheim said. ''We were happy to be in the tournament this year.''

Duke is one of the top scoring teams in the nation at 85 points a game. Senior Grayson Allen, who played on Duke's 2015 national championship team, leads a lineup that starts four freshmen, including projected high-first round NBA draft picks in big men Marvin Bagley III and Wendell Carter.

Even with one of the most talented teams in the nation, it takes good fortune to survive and make it to the Sweet 16, coach Mike Krzyzewski said.

''Some of it is luck and you're healthy, you've got a matchup that was more conducive to you than the other guy,'' he said. ''And sometimes, just like for us, we're playing well. So we're playing our best basketball.''

Though not as big an underdog as Syracuse, Clemson has been a surprise after finishing 12th in the ACC a year ago. Brownell said he saw potential in his team after early road wins over Florida and Ohio State.

''I told our staff I felt we were good enough to be in the Sweet 16 and maybe more,'' Brownell said.

He didn't necessarily feel that way after Donte Grantham, the team's second-leading scorer and rebounder, was lost to a major knee injury in January.

''Maybe that's why this is even sweeter,'' Brownell said. ''Our guys have had to overcome significant adversity.''

An upset of Kansas would set up an all-ACC regional final against Duke or Syracuse. Brownell said he hadn't imagined that possibility because his focus has been on Kansas. He did note that his team's last regular-season game was at Syracuse, a 55-52 loss, and that it had only been five weeks since a home game against Duke, a 66-57 loss.

''So the preparation in terms of a quick turnaround won't be as challenging as if it was somebody completely different like it was last week with Auburn,'' Brownell said.

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Texas Tech looks for 1st Elite 8 berth
March 22, 2018

BOSTON (AP) No. 3 seed Texas Tech (26-9) vs. No. 2 seed Purdue (30-6)

Third round, East Region; Boston; Friday at 9:57 p.m. EDT.

BOTTOM LINE: The Boilermakers are back in the Sweet 16 for the second straight season, and they're looking for their first Elite Eight berth since 2000. The Red Raiders are in the Sweet 16 for the first time since 2005 and are hoping to make it to the Elite Eight for the first time in program history.

EVANS SHOW: Texas Tech senior guard Keenan Evans has continued to be the Red Raiders' go-to scoring threat. He comes in averaging 17.8 points per game and has posted 23 and 22 points in their first two tournament wins.

STILL NO HAAS: Matt Haarms, a 7-foot-3 redshirt freshman, is expected to start again at center for the Boilermakers even though senior Isaac Haas got fitted with a new brace to protect his fractured right elbow. He hasn't been cleared to play but is holding out hope the new brace will allow him to compete at some point. Haas has been out since suffering the injury in the first round against Cal State Fullerton. But his teammates have figured things out without him, coming off a 76-73 win over Butler.

STATS WATCH: Purdue is ranked second nationally in 3-point percentage (42 percent). That is its highest 3-point percentage since 1988. The Boilermakers' offense is ranked second in KenPom's offensive efficiency ratings, behind Villanova. Two of Texas Tech's top scoring threats are freshmen Jarrett Culver and Zhaire Smith, who have combined for 798 points this season. That makes them the highest scoring freshman duo in program history.

QUOTABLE: ''Definitely took a nap. That was on the list for sure.'' - Purdue forward Vincent Edwards, on what he did with his downtime after the team arrived early ahead of East Coast snowstorm.

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Villanova can expect test against WVU
March 22, 2018

BOSTON (AP) No. 5 seed West Virginia (26-10) vs. No. 1 seed Villanova (32-4)

Third round, East Region; Boston; Friday at 7:27 p.m. EDT.

BOTTOM LINE: Villanova is one of two top seeds left in the tournament following losses by Big East Conference rival Xavier and Virginia. The Wildcats were a No. 1 seed in last year's tournament when they lost to eighth-seeded Wisconsin in the second round. West Virginia has been one of the best-looking teams in the field so far, with wins of 17 and 23 points in the first two rounds. The Mountaineers are trying to get to the Elite Eight for the first time since their Final Four run in 2010.

FAMILIAR POSITION: The Mountaineers have reached the Sweet 16 in eight of their last 12 NCAA appearances, including last season. Coach Bob Huggins is 4-4 in this round for his career, but just 1-3 at West Virginia. His lone victory was a 69-56 win over Washington in 2010.

FRIENDLY CONFINES: Villanova had good luck the last time it played in the East regional in Boston. The Wildcats were a No. 3 seed in 2009 when they beat second-seeded Duke in the Sweet 16 and top-seeded Pittsburgh in the regional final to earn a Final Four berth under Jay Wright.

OFFENSE VS. DEFENSE: West Virginia shot over 50 percent in both of its tournament wins. It is 68-5 under Huggins when shooting 50 percent or better. Villanova held its first two opponents - Radford and Alabama - to 40 of 107 shooting from the field (37.4 percent) and 59.5 points per game.

QUOTABLE: ''I steal everything I can. I watch tape, and if somebody's doing something pretty good, we're doing it the next day. I've never had an original thought in my life.'' - West Virginia coach Bob Huggins on he's how changed since he coached at Cincinnati. He also coached previously as Kansas State and Akron.

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ACC rivals Duke, Syracuse to match zones
March 22, 2018

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) No. 2 seed Duke (28-7) vs. No. 11 seed Syracuse (23-13)

Midwest Region semifinal; Omaha, Nebraska; Friday, 10:30 p.m. EDT.

BOTTOM LINE: Duke has been at its best in rolling to first- and second-round wins over Iona and Rhode Island. Now the 85-points-per-game Blue Devils go against an ACC rival that has held three straight opponents to 60 or less after coming out of the First Four in Dayton.

ZONE VS. ZONE: It's a rare meeting of two teams that play zone defenses. The 2-3 long has been Syracuse's staple under Jim Boeheim. The Blue Devils went to the 2-3 in mid-February after their lineup of four freshmen and one senior struggled defensively.

LAST TIME: Duke won the regular-season meeting 60-44 at home on Feb. 24. Hopefully this one is easier to watch. The teams combined to miss their first 24 3-pointers, and Duke didn't reach 30 points until 13 + minutes remained. Duke has won six of 11 all-time meetings.

SHORT BENCH: The zone defense and slow-paced offense allow Syracuse's starters to play almost the entire game, barring foul trouble. The Orange have three of the nation's top six players in minutes logged. Tyus Battle ranks first with an average of 38 minutes, 58 seconds per game; Frank Howard is second at 38:25 and Oshae Brissett is sixth at 38:05.

DID YOU KNOW: The game matches the Nos. 1 and 2 active wins leaders in Division I. Duke's Mike Krzyzewski has 1,099 wins and Syracuse's Boeheim has 926.

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KU faces Clemson, Duke gets 'Cuse in S16
March 22, 2018

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) Everything seems to be in place yet again for Kansas. For the second straight year, the Wildcats need just two wins - in a gym its rabid fans can reach in less than half a day's drive - to reach the Final Four.

It didn't work for the Jayhawks a year ago, though, and winning this year's Midwest Region could be an even bigger challenge.

Top-seeded Kansas (29-7) faces fifth-seeded Clemson (25-9) on Friday night in a Sweet 16 matchup just 200 miles up the interstate from Allen Fieldhouse. A year ago, the top-seeded Jayhawks lost to Oregon in nearby Kansas City in the Elite Eight. In 2016, Jayhawks were eliminated in the regional finals by eventual national champion Villanova in Louisville.

''One of the benefits of being seeded high is (that) you get an opportunity to possibly play close to home. And I don't think it will have much to do with the outcome of this weekend, though,'' Kansas coach Bill Self said. ''I really believe that sometimes playing close to home can actually be a little bit more of a distraction or bring a little bit of pressure.''

The Jayhawks will face a red-hot Clemson team picked to finish 13th out of 14 teams in the ACC - a team that routed Auburn 84-53 last weekend in the third-biggest blowout by a lower-seeded team since 1979. The Tigers are playing in their first regional semifinal in 21 years, and as such have almost nothing to lose.

Kansas, a basketball school if there ever was one, has won 14 consecutive Big 12 titles - but it hasn't reached the Final Four since 2012. Still, Self has been getting the most out of a team without as many sure-fire future pros as he usually has at his disposal.

''I've seen Bill (Self's) teams from afar, because I'm a basketball junkie and I study everything,'' Clemson coach Brad Brownell said. ''But to watch him do what he's doing with this group, (it's an) unbelievable coaching job to take a different kind of team and to still win the conference.''

The nightcap will feature good friends Mike Krzyzewski and Jim Boeheim squaring off when second-seeded Duke faces ACC rival Syracuse, the No. 11 seed that has once again advanced deep into the tournament behind its lockdown defense.

The Blue Devils beat a good Rhode Island team 87-62 to reach its 26th regional. And although four of the top five scorers are freshmen, led by likely lottery pick Marvin Bagley III (21.2 points, 11.3 boards a game), they also have perhaps the most experienced player in the tournament in senior Grayson Allen.

Syracuse was the last team added to the tournament and has yet to look pretty this March, but that's what the Orange does. The 55-53 victory over Michigan State showed that they might be re-discovering the magic that lifted them to the Final Four in 2016 as a No. 10 seed.

Duke easily handled Syracuse 60-44 in their only meeting back on Feb. 24.

''We're expecting to see a completely different team than the last time,'' Bagley said. ''Syracuse is going to be a completely different team. Last game we both had pretty bad games as a team, as a whole.''

KANSAS vs. CLEMSON

The Tigers have reached the Sweet 16 behind a strong defense - and they hit their free throws. Clemson ranked third among ACC teams in allowing just 65.5 points a game and second from the line at 75.5 percent. The Tigers also spread the ball around, with four starters averaging at least 10 points a game led by junior guard Marcquise Reed (15.9 ppg.).

The Jayhawks are a guard-oriented bunch led by senior guard Devonte Graham, the Big 12 player of the year, and fellow senior wing Svi Mykhailiuk. Kansas has also gotten a major boost from sophomore Malik Newman, who averaged 24 points while leading the Jayhawks to their league tournament title. Newman leads KU with 19 points a game so far in the NCAA Tournament.

The Jayhawks lost some head scratchers this season, getting swept by Oklahoma State in the regular season and dropping back-to-back games to Arizona State and Washington.

''I think we have moments where we don't play very tough. But I also think we have some moments where our experience and our toughness definitely shows,'' Self said.

DUKE vs. SYRACUSE

The key to beating the Orange is to find ways to get enough open looks against their vaunted 2-3 zone. Syracuse is among the best defensive teams left playing - and arguably the worst offensive one. The Orange can't afford to get behind early against Duke, which is one of the most efficient and explosive scoring teams in America.

''The key really for us against Duke is we have to play better than we've played down there and than we've played in this tournament,'' Boeheim said. ''I think we're perfectly capable of playing better even though the record doesn't look like that.''

The Blue Devils can kill teams from the perimeter, where they shoot 38.3 percent on 3s, or dump it in to Bagley for an easy bucket. Despite its familiarity with Duke, Syracuse is the biggest underdog of the Sweet 16 for a reason.

''We're healthy, excited and playing very good basketball right now,'' Krzyzewski said.

[StarDust Bum]

Kansas to face upstart Clemson
March 22, 2018

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) No. 1 seed Kansas (29-7) vs. No. 5 seed Clemson (25-9)

Midwest Region semifinal; Omaha, Nebraska; Friday, 7 p.m. EDT

BOTTOM LINE: The Jayhawks are the top seed and will have what should amount to a home game on a neutral floor. But Clemson raised eyebrows with a 31-point thrashing of Auburn to reach the Sweet Sixteen, and the Tigers have the kind of deep and experienced backcourt that can lead a tourney run in March.

AZUIBUKE'S STATUS: The Jayhawks' four-guard lineup works in part because of the presence of big man Udoka Azubuike, who leads the nation by shooting 77.5 percent from the floor. Azubuike missed the Big 12 Tournament because of a minor knee injury, but he played 22 minutes in an 83-79 win over Seton Hall last weekend. Coach Bill Self said Azubuike will likely start against the Tigers.

''I'm feeling good, feeling pretty good. I'm better than I was last week. I'm ready,'' Azubuike said.

A BASKETBALL SCHOOL?: Clemson has made three consecutive College Football Playoff appearances and won it all following the 2016 season. But the Sweet Sixteen is a rarity for the Tigers, who haven't been here in 21 years. Coach Brad Brownell, who entered 2017-18 on the hot seat after six years between NCAA appearances, feels like this run could be the start of something big.

It ''took us some time to get the money that we wanted and to get the support that we needed to change our facility and make the kind of adjustments that you have to have,'' said Brownell, whose school poured $63.5 million into a renovation of Littlejohn Coliseum that finished in 2016. ''To follow that up with a really good season shortly thereafter...will help us to build our brand.''

DID YOU KNOW: The Tigers and Jayhawks have never played each other, and Clemson has only played once in Omaha. The Tigers lost to Creighton 87-67 in 1962. ...Kansas has been in the NCAA Tournament 47 times and reached the Final Four 14 times.

[StarDust Bum]

Friday's Sweet 16 Action
March 22, 2018

Betting Friday’s Sweet Sixteen Matchups

It’s very easy to get caught up in the maelstrom of the 2018 March Madness storm, especially after a rip roaring opening four days that turned everyone’s bracket in to a bucket of shattered crab shells.

Just remember that by the time we get to the Sweet Sixteen, the premier teams sort things out and get their affairs in order.

There’s a much different tempo to Sweet Sixteen and Elite Eight rounds, so keep that mind when you’re betting at BetOnline.ag this weekend.

Let’s roll through the picks!

#1 Kansas Jayhawks -5 over #5 Clemson Tigers (CBS, 7:05 p.m. ET)

This is going to be an “Oh yeah” kind of night. Sometimes the fury of upsets in the earlier rounds leads us to believe that this is going to be a trend. But the truth is that after the excitement and novelty of that crazy, first weekend passes, teams settle in. The upsets happen much less frequently.

Clemson is in deep trouble here. What they tapped in to against New Mexico State and Auburn was some shooting touch that they’ve never really duplicated. The Tigers shot 51.6 percent over the weekend, which is nearly six ticks higher than their usual average of 45.7 percent.

Kansas did show a few flaws in their perimeter defence against Seton Hall, but it’s hard to bet against Bill Self not trying to shore up that gap in his game plan. Kansas wins here with a comfortable cover. If Udoka Azubuike is healthy, this is a landslide.

#5 West Virginia Mountaineers +5 over #1 Villanova Wildcats (TBS, 7:25 p.m. ET)

Big fat warning here: this is my bet. I am a huge fan of the West Virginia Mountaineers right now, and it’s hard not to be considering their 4-1 SU and ATS run in tournament play over the past few weeks. I think that the recruiting effort at West Virginia has been terrific, and what I love about this matchup is that they have the horses to pace with Villanova. Jevon Carter is out here slaying cats, and is coming off a weekend where he scored 28-5-4 against Marshall and 21-8-6 against Murray State.

Obviously, Villanova is a whole different ball game. Aside from burying Radford and thwarting Alabama’s run, Villanova has long postured rightfully as the best team in the country. When they get going, nobody can touch them. The 70-81 loss that West Virginia suffered against Kansas is a big leaner here, meaning that you should definitely bet Villanova if you have your head screwed on properly.

The thing is, I like to get wiley sometimes. I do think that Friday’s Sweet Sixteen slate goes chalk, but as a gambler you have to pick your shots. So bet Villanova. Please. I’m just going with West Virginia on a gut feeling. Join me if you feel like it. I’m willing to pay to find out just how good this team is.

#2 Duke Blue Devils -11.5 over #11 Syracuse Orange (CBS, 9:35 p.m. ET)

When Duke plays like they did against Iona and Rhode Island, they are the best of both worlds. A team that is ferocious on defence and unstoppable offensively is a wonderful thing to have. Everyone has been waiting for the bow to break with Duke, because everyone hates them. It’s only gotten stronger. Syracuse earned a berth to the Sweet Sixteen on hustle points, and they won’t be able to rely on that as they face better teams deeper in the tournament. I don’t like teams that have trouble playing defence and can’t shoot threes. Syracuse put up 12.5 percent from beyond the arc, which wouldn’t be criminal if they didn’t also shoot 35 percent from the field overall. The spread is what it is for a reason. They don’t have the talent to spark a lucky run despite a nice win over Michigan State.

#2 Purdue Boilermakers -1.5 over #3 Texas Tech Red Raiders (TBS, 9:55 p.m. ET)

Maybe not so surprisingly, this is the most agonizing game to bet on, so I’m sort of glad it’s last on the Friday Sweet Sixteen schedule. Purdue is probably going to be without Isaac Haas, who is praying for his fractured elbow to experience a miracle. He’s the engine for the Boilermakers and without him, Purdue had definitive trouble dispatching Butler.

This is a golden ticket for Texas Tech, who showed a glaring weakness for points in the paint so the sort of obvious choice is to take the dog in this fight. But that underpins how deep and gritty Purdue is overall. Keenan Evans of Texas Tech is a big problem, and might now be the best player on the floor if Haas is out of contention. But having the best player doesn’t necessarily mean much in the tournament of tournaments.

This game would be a complete mismatch if Haas is able to play (which I don’t think he will), but Purdue has the depth to shore up for his absence. Plus they’ve had a full week to prepare. Texas Tech will be focusing on their interior defence after a rough going against Florida which exposed them in the paint. The problem is that Purdue will be switching gears. Betting against Purdue here is the common sense thing to do. They’ve lost their best and most important player. I just have faith that the team around him was pretty damn good too.

[StarDust Bum]

B]Friday's Best Bets
March 22, 2018[/B]

Friday Sweet 16 Best Bets

For all the upsets we've seen in this NCAA tournament already, the Sweet 16 board on Friday looks rather “normal.” We don't have seeds 1 through 4 across the board, but only one team playing on Friday is seeded higher than #5 - #11 Syracuse – and even they aren't at a huge disadvantage as they've actually faced their opponent (Duke) already this year. It didn't go well for the Orange but that's not really the point. Give them nearly a full week to scout an opponent they already know really well and this magical run by Syracuse may not be over yet.

All four of these games should be highly competitive, and with the oddsmakers sharpening up their numbers as this tournament goes on as they typically do, where can you find some winners on Friday? Let's get right to the two plays I've already invested in.

Best Bet #1: West Virginia +5

The Big East conference was spoken about as being overrated by one of my colleagues last week here, and if it wasn't for a meaningless 3-pointer at the buzzer, Kansas would have cashed that ticket against Seton Hall. I am of the same mindset that the Big East is nowhere near what it's cracked up to be, and after having six teams in the NCAA field – including two #1 seeds – all that's left by the time the Sweet 16 shows up is Villanova. Compare that to the two teams left from the SEC , two from the Big 10, four from the Big 12, and four from the ACC, you'll see that the Big East really hasn't lived up to its billing. Most of those numbers (except for the SEC) from those other conferences equate to nearly half of their entrants getting to this stage, so really is the Big East that strong.

Which leads me to this game between West Virginia and Villanova as I believe this is where we see the final Big East team bid adieu. Villanova has looked impressive with a pair of 20+ point victories through the first round, but that's probably what you are supposed to do as a #1 seed playing a #16 and then a team like Alabama who many questioned should even be in the field. Now you are up against a Mountaineers squad that has just as much depth as you, just as much tournament experience as you, and a system that frustrates anyone and everyone in a one-and-done format when West Virginia is on their game.

The Mountaineers press defense will give Villanova fits and while the Wildcats are lauded for their versatility within their roster in being able to switch everything and have everyone carry the ball up the floor, that should change in a hurry when they are getting pressed the entire length of the court for 40 minutes against guys who are arguably just as talented. West Virginia has no problems about playing games in the 80's as we've seen all year – the Mountaineers average 80.2 points per game this year – and like Villanova, they enter the Sweet 16 with two wins by basically 20+ (17 and 23) and scored 80+ in each victory. So where's the real advantage Villanova has?

Some will say Guard play with guys like Jalen Brunson, Mikal Bridges and Donte Di Vincenzo all wearing Villanova colors, but West Virginia is no slouch in that department either with Jevon Carter leading the way. I just don't see how the Wildcats deserve to be laying this big of a number here outside of a seeding bias and that can steer a lot of bettors down a dangerous path. And while it can be argued that both teams are facing a huge step up in class of competition here, we can go back to the fact that the Big 12 still has three other teams alive at this stage and those are the types of talent West Virginia went against every night for the better part of two months. It will be that experience that puts the Mountaineers over the top here as they probably win this game outright, but I'm taking the points for more units to be safe.

Best Bet #2: Syracuse/Duke Over 133.5

I referenced the fact that this Syracuse/Duke game brings a lot of familiarity to both sides and when all is said and done that should lead us to seeing plenty of points in this game. These two met earlier this year in a 60-44 Duke win that would have stayed easily under this total, but seeing the Syracuse zone in live action for the second time in less than a month is a huge advantage that many bettors are discounting here.

Yes, Syracuse's zone has stifled everyone they've faced so far in this tournament and propelled them to their three victories, but that won't be the case here. Duke's coach Mike Krzyzewski has spent a lot of time coaching WITH Syracuse's Jim Boeheim during stints with USA Basketball at the Olympic level etc and has no doubt learned the ins and outs of that zone and how to attack it. Transferring that knowledge and executing it to his young players is a different story, but the fact that those same Duke players now have a specific point of reference to lean on after seeing it once this season should make Duke's offensive execution come in at an excellent rate here.

From Syracuse's perspective, they've got to know that for as much as they know their defense can carry them, in order to get by Duke in the Sweet 16, they've got to shoot a hell of a lot better than the 29.2% they put up against the Blue Devils in the first meeting. The Orange hit a grand total of 14 shots that day and their best scores like Tyus Battle (4-for-12), Frank Howard (2-for-11) and Oshae Brissett (1-for-10) had just awful days. Those are the only three guys Syracuse has that averaged more than 5.6 points per game this year with each of them at 14.6 or higher and it's those three that will need to put in 20+, probably by all three, to have a shot at winning this game. Remember this is a Duke defense that really isn't all that good as they give up nearly 70 points per game this year and the Orange made them look like an All-World defensive bunch in that first meeting. That won't happen the second time around and Syracuse's improved offensive execution here will force Duke to do the same against the Orange's defensive unit.

Sadly for Orange fans, I don't believe Duke will have any trouble dissecting the zone this time around and while the time off the past few days may have cooled off Dukes 88 points/game average in this tournament a bit, the Blue Devils could threaten that number here. If you look at the ACC regular season games Syracuse had this year against teams they saw twice, you'll see that fast paced teams like Pittsburgh and Boston College were able to improve their point totals by 10 and 22 points respectively, while Wake Forest scored 70 or more on them both times, and Virginia (68 points at home, 59 vs Syracuse on the road) is an entirely different case study for the most part.

Duke has plenty of film of the Tar Heels scoring 78 points against the Orange in both regular season and conference tournament play and given how comparable those two teams along Tobacco Road are, don't be surprised to see the Blue Devils reach 75+ here with Syracuse coming in around that 65 number. That's more than enough room for error to cash this ticket.

[StarDust Bum]

Friday’s NCAA games

Under Bill Self, Kansas is 7-2 in Sweet 16 games; Jayhawks won 10 of last 11 games- they’re 12-2 outside Big X (#72 NC schedule).Kansas makes 40.3% of its 3’s (#9); 37% of their points come from behind the arc. Jayhawks beat Syracuse by 16 in only ACC game this season. Clemson is #61 experience team that won five of its last seven games; they were up 41 on Auburn at one point Sunday. Clemson’s last Sweet 16 was in 1997. Opponents shoot only 43.8% inside arc vs Tigers; their 3-point defense is average. Last three years, #1-seeds are 9-0-1 vs spread in this round.

Villanova shot 31-78 on arc (39.7%) in two wins last week, lower than its season %age (40.2%). Wildcats are 15-0 outside Big East (#61 NC schedule). West Virginia is 2-6 in last eight games where it shot less than 35% from arc; Villanova’s opponents shoot 32.6% on arc (#39). Mountaineers won seven of last nine games; they’re #196 experience team that is 13-2 outside Big X (#298 NC schedule). Mountaineers force turnovers 23.4% of time (#2), but Villanova is #11 in country at protecting ball. Last three years, #1-seeds are 9-0-1 vs spread in this round.

Syracuse is 14-4 in its last 18 NCAA tourney games; they won three games LW, holding teams to 22-86 (25.6%) on arc. Duke beat Syracuse 60-44 Feb 24, in brickfest where teams combined to shoot 8-43 on arc. Duke is 4-3 vs Orange since they became ACC rivals; Syracuse beat team two of last three years. Blue Devils won 9 of last 11 games; they start four freshmen (#350 experience team). Blue Devils shoot 38.3% on arc for season, but were 2-18 vs Orange last month. Duke is 3-5 in its last eight Sweet 16 games, and they were favored in all five of the losses. These teams play same 2-3 defense, so not lot of secrets here.

Purdue big man Haas (elbow) is out here; Boilers made 11-24 on arc to nip Butler by 3 in their first game without him. Purdue won seven of last eight games; they’re 13-2 outside Big 14 (#144 NC schedule)- they’re #52 experience team. Texas Tech forces turnovers 21.8% of time (#17); Red Raiders are 14-1 outside Big X, hammering Northwestern 85-49 in only Big 14 game. Purdue lost its last three Sweet 16 games, with last win in 2000. Last 10 years, favorites are 7-6 vs spread in games with #2-3 seeds meeting in Sweet 16. Last three years overall in Sweet 16, favorites were 18-6 vs spread.

[StarDust Bum]

Armadillo: Friday's six-pack

Six unusual seeding matchups in previous regional finals

— 2000: 8-seed North Carolina (+2.5) 59, 7-seed Tulsa 55

— 2002: 5-seed Indiana (-3.5) 81, Kent State 69

— 2000: 8-seed Wisconsin (+1) 64, 6-seed Purdue 60

— 1990: 4-seed Arkansas (-4) 88, 10-seed Texas 85

— 1997: 4-seed Arizona (-3) 96, 10-seed Providence 92 OT

— 2010: 5-seed Michigan St (+2), 70, 6-seed Tennessee 69

**********

Armadillo: Friday's List of 13: Clearing out a cluttered mind…….

13) Kansas State 61, Kentucky 58— Kansas State is capitalizing on the first-ever #1-16 upset in the NCAA’s; they get to a regional final in large part because they got to play a 16-seed UMBC in their 2nd round game, instead of #1-seed Virginia.

In this 3-point game, Kentucky’s PJ Washington was 8-20 on the foul line. He also grabbed 15 rebounds and had three steals, but 8-20 on the line in a 61-58 game is no bueno.

12) Loyola 69, Nevada 68— Ramblers made their first 13 shots in the second half, mostly on reverse layups. Nevada led 20-8 early but didn’t score for the last 8:00 of the first half- their lack of depth, foul trouble and refusal to play zone defense doomed them here.

Loyola’s three NCAA tournament wins have come by a combined four points; it is funny that Wichita State, Creighton bolted the MVC for bigger leagues, but Loyola (which took Creighton’s place in the Valley) is in the Elite 8 after winning its first MVC title.

11) Florida State 75, Gonzaga 60— Seminoles tied Louisville for 8th place in the ACC; Cardinals didn’t get in the tournament. FSU played 12 guys in first half of this game— 10 guys played 10+ minutes, which in this day and age of thin rosters, is really unusual.

10) Michigan 99, Texas A&M 72— Complete no-show by the Aggies, who trailed 52-28 at the half. Wolverines made 14-24 on the arc.

A&M’s Robert Williams declared for the NBA about 90 seconds after this game ended; he scored in double figures twice in his last seven games. Good luck in the G-League.

9) Johnny Manziel was at the A&M-Michigan game, after he threw at U of San Diego’s pro day during the afternoon. Johnny Football might play for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in the CFL this summer, unless some NFL team gets goofy and offers him a tryout.

8) Reminder to fans drooling over Sam Darnold; no USC QB has ever started in a Super Bowl. Not that he can’t be the first, but I’m just sayin’…….

7) Bidding for the NFL’s Carolina Panthers is up to $2.5B; thats billion, with a B.

6) Minnesota Twins’ #1-4 hitters Thursday were all switch-hitters, which is very unusual.

5) College basketball coaching carousel:
— UConn hired Danny Hurley away from Rhode Island
— Evansville hired Celtics assistant coach Walter McCarty
— Missouri State hires Dana Ford away from Tennessee State

4) There was another coaching move which annoys me a little; Colorado State hired Niko Medved away from Drake. Medved went 62-71 in four years at Furman, going 42-28 his last two years there, then bolted to Drake at this time last year.

Senior-dominated Drake (#7 experience team in country) was only 17-17 this year, 10-8 in the MVC, but with four senior starters graduating, Medved bolt$ for greener pa$ture$ after only one season in Des Moines. Not the classiest thing to do.

3) Sounds like there is some drama in San Antonio, with Spurs players trying to convince star Kawhi Leonard to actually play ball, so the Spurs can make the playoffs. Leonard injured his quad last year, came back and played nine games this season, but has been out since December 12, despite his being cleared by the Spurs doctors.

Leonard will make $60M combined between this year and the next two years; would be nice if he actually tried to earn it.

2) Kansas City Royals’ over/under win total this year is 67.5; that sound you heard was the Royals’ “window of opportunity” to win another championship slamming shut.

1— You don’t have to be Columbo to deduce that the Giants trading Jason Pierre-Paul to the Buccaneers means there is a strong probability Big Blue will draft NC State linebacker Bradley Chubb with the #2 pick in the draft next month.

[StarDust Bum]

NCAAB
Dunkel

Friday, March 23


Syracuse @ Duke

Game 875-876
March 23, 2018 @ 9:35 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Syracuse
67.166
Duke
75.674
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Duke
by 8 1/2
138
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Duke
by 11 1/2
133
Dunkel Pick:
Syracuse
(+11 1/2); Over

Clemson @ Kansas

Game 877-878
March 23, 2018 @ 7:05 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Clemson
68.495
Kansas
75.509
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Kansas
by 7
147
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Kansas
by 4
141 1/2
Dunkel Pick:
Kansas
(-4); Over

West Virginia @ Villanova

Game 871-872
March 23, 2018 @ 7:25 pm

Dunkel Rating:
West Virginia
74.209
Villanova
77.186
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Villanova
by 3
147
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Villanova
by 5 1/2
153 1/2
Dunkel Pick:
West Virginia
(+5 1/2); Under

Texas Tech @ Purdue

Game 873-874
March 23, 2018 @ 9:55 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Texas Tech
70.452
Purdue
74.511
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Purdue
by 4
134
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Purdue
by 1 1/2
138 1/2
Dunkel Pick:
Purdue
(-1 1/2); Under




NCAAB
Long Sheet

Friday, March 23

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W VIRGINIA (26 - 10) vs. VILLANOVA (32 - 4) - 3/23/2018, 7:35 PM
Top Trends for this game.
VILLANOVA is 24-12 ATS (+10.8 Units) in all games this season.
VILLANOVA is 24-12 ATS (+10.8 Units) in all lined games this season.
VILLANOVA is 24-12 ATS (+10.8 Units) as a favorite this season.
VILLANOVA is 9-2 ATS (+6.8 Units) in all neutral court games this season.
VILLANOVA is 12-3 ATS (+8.7 Units) after a non-conference game this season.
VILLANOVA is 9-2 ATS (+6.8 Units) when playing on a neutral court this season.
VILLANOVA is 12-3 ATS (+8.7 Units) in non-conference games this season.
VILLANOVA is 112-79 ATS (+25.1 Units) after allowing 60 points or less since 1997.
VILLANOVA is 22-9 ATS (+12.1 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record this season.
VILLANOVA is 13-6 ATS (+6.4 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record after 15 or more games this season.
VILLANOVA is 14-6 ATS (+7.4 Units) versus good offensive teams - scoring 77+ points/game this season.
W VIRGINIA is 22-8 ATS (+13.2 Units) in a NCAA tournament games since 1997.

Head-to-Head Series History
There were no past matchups in this series during this time period.

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TEXAS TECH (26 - 9) vs. PURDUE (30 - 6) - 3/23/2018, 9:55 PM
Top Trends for this game.
TEXAS TECH is 135-181 ATS (-64.1 Units) as an underdog since 1997.
TEXAS TECH is 30-49 ATS (-23.9 Units) in all neutral court games since 1997.
TEXAS TECH is 1-12 ATS (-12.2 Units) in a neutral court game where the total is 135 to 139.5 since 1997.
TEXAS TECH is 1-8 ATS (-7.8 Units) in road games in March games over the last 3 seasons.
TEXAS TECH is 30-49 ATS (-23.9 Units) when playing on a neutral court since 1997.
TEXAS TECH is 108-140 ATS (-46.0 Units) in road games when playing against a team with a winning record since 1997.
PURDUE is 19-8 ATS (+10.2 Units) after a non-conference game over the last 2 seasons.
PURDUE is 19-8 ATS (+10.2 Units) in non-conference games over the last 2 seasons.

Head-to-Head Series History
There were no past matchups in this series during this time period.

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SYRACUSE (23 - 13) vs. DUKE (28 - 7) - 3/23/2018, 9:35 PM
Top Trends for this game.
SYRACUSE is 6-15 ATS (-10.5 Units) in road games against conference opponents over the last 2 seasons.
DUKE is 22-11 ATS (+9.9 Units) in all games this season.
DUKE is 22-11 ATS (+9.9 Units) in all lined games this season.
DUKE is 21-10 ATS (+10.0 Units) as a favorite this season.
DUKE is 9-2 ATS (+6.8 Units) in March games over the last 2 seasons.
DUKE is 216-159 ATS (+41.1 Units) after scoring 80 points or more since 1997.
SYRACUSE is 80-56 ATS (+18.4 Units) in all neutral court games since 1997.
SYRACUSE is 80-56 ATS (+18.4 Units) when playing on a neutral court since 1997.

Head-to-Head Series History
SYRACUSE is 2-1 against the spread versus DUKE over the last 3 seasons
SYRACUSE is 2-1 straight up against DUKE over the last 3 seasons
2 of 3 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons

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CLEMSON (25 - 9) vs. KANSAS (29 - 7) - 3/23/2018, 7:05 PM
Top Trends for this game.
KANSAS is 28-15 ATS (+11.5 Units) in non-conference games over the last 3 seasons.
KANSAS is 25-10 ATS (+14.0 Units) in road games after scoring 80 points or more over the last 3 seasons.
KANSAS is 35-21 ATS (+11.9 Units) in road games when playing against a team with a winning record over the last 3 seasons.
CLEMSON is 19-11 ATS (+6.9 Units) in all games this season.
CLEMSON is 19-11 ATS (+6.9 Units) in all lined games this season.
CLEMSON is 9-2 ATS (+6.8 Units) after a non-conference game this season.
CLEMSON is 9-2 ATS (+6.8 Units) in non-conference games this season.
CLEMSON is 7-1 ATS (+5.9 Units) after scoring 80 points or more this season.

Head-to-Head Series History
There were no past matchups in this series during this time period.

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NCAAB
Armadillo's Write-Up

Friday, March 23

Under Bill Self, Kansas is 7-2 in Sweet 16 games; Jayhawks won 10 of last 11 games- they’re 12-2 outside Big X (#72 NC schedule).Kansas makes 40.3% of its 3’s (#9); 37% of their points come from behind the arc. Jayhawks beat Syracuse by 16 in only ACC game this season. Clemson is #61 experience team that won five of its last seven games; they were up 41 on Auburn at one point Sunday. Clemson’s last Sweet 16 was in 1997. Opponents shoot only 43.8% inside arc vs Tigers; their 3-point defense is average. Last three years, #1-seeds are 9-0-1 vs spread in this round.

Villanova shot 31-78 on arc (39.7%) in two wins last week, lower than its season %age (40.2%). Wildcats are 15-0 outside Big East (#61 NC schedule). West Virginia is 2-6 in last eight games where it shot less than 35% from arc; Villanova’s opponents shoot 32.6% on arc (#39). Mountaineers won seven of last nine games; they’re #196 experience team that is 13-2 outside Big X (#298 NC schedule). Mountaineers force turnovers 23.4% of time (#2), but Villanova is #11 in country at protecting ball. Last three years, #1-seeds are 9-0-1 vs spread in this round.

Syracuse is 14-4 in its last 18 NCAA tourney games; they won three games LW, holding teams to 22-86 (25.6%) on arc. Duke beat Syracuse 60-44 Feb 24, in brickfest where teams combined to shoot 8-43 on arc. Duke is 4-3 vs Orange since they became ACC rivals; Syracuse beat team two of last three years. Blue Devils won 9 of last 11 games; they start four freshmen (#350 experience team). Blue Devils shoot 38.3% on arc for season, but were 2-18 vs Orange last month. Duke is 3-5 in its last eight Sweet 16 games, and they were favored in all five of the losses. These teams play same 2-3 defense, so not lot of secrets here.

Purdue big man Haas (elbow) is out here; Boilers made 11-24 on arc to nip Butler by 3 in their first game without him. Purdue won seven of last eight games; they’re 13-2 outside Big 14 (#144 NC schedule)- they’re #52 experience team. Texas Tech forces turnovers 21.8% of time (#17); Red Raiders are 14-1 outside Big X, hammering Northwestern 85-49 in only Big 14 game. Purdue lost its last three Sweet 16 games, with last win in 2000. Last 10 years, favorites are 7-6 vs spread in games with #2-3 seeds meeting in Sweet 16. Last three years overall in Sweet 16, favorites were 18-6 vs spread.




NCAAB

Friday, March 23

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Trend Report
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CLEMSON @ KANSAS
Clemson is 5-1 ATS in its last 6 games
Clemson is 5-2 SU in its last 7 games
Kansas is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games
Kansas is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games

WEST VIRGINIA @ VILLANOVA
The total has gone OVER in 7 of West Virginia's last 8 games
West Virginia is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games
Villanova is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games
Villanova is 5-1 ATS in its last 6 games

SYRACUSE @ DUKE
Syracuse is 5-1 ATS in its last 6 games
Syracuse is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games
Duke is 9-2 ATS in its last 11 games
Duke is 9-2 SU in its last 11 games

TEXAS TECH @ PURDUE
Texas Tech is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games
The total has gone OVER in 6 of Texas Tech's last 8 games
Purdue is 7-1 SU in its last 8 games
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Purdue's last 5 games

[StarDust Bum]

Friday's NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 betting preview: Midwest Region

Games to be played at CenturyLink Center Omaha in Omaha, Nebraska.

(5) Clemson Tigers vs (1) Kansas Jayhawks (-5, 142.5)

Clemson was picked to finish 13th out of 15 teams in the preseason ACC poll and lost their second-leading scorer Donte Grantham to a season-ending knee injury in January, but the 5th-seeded Tigers find themselves two wins from the Final Four. Clemson, making its first Sweet 16 appearance since 1997, takes on top-seeded Kansas on Friday night in the Midwest Region semifinal at Omaha, Neb.

“I think we’re excited that we went to the Sweet 16, and we don’t do that here at Clemson very often, but why not more?” Tigers coach Brad Brownell told The State. “And that’s what we’re thinking about. … I want to do what we can to get ready and try to beat one of the best teams in the country, one of the best programs in the country.” Clemson rolled to an 84-53 victory over Auburn in the second round while allowing 25.8 percent shooting from the field and will have to raise its game defensively against the Jayhawks, who boast five players averaging at least 12 points. Big 12 champion Kansas rallied from an early 10-point deficit to beat Pennsylvania in the first round and outlasted Seton Hall 83-79 in the second to reach the Sweet 16 for the ninth time in the last 12 years. “They are so well-coached and sound,” Jayhawks coach Bill Self told reporters of Clemson. “Playing in the ACC they’ve played against some unbelievable teams all year long. This will be a difficult game, a game that will require us to play a lot better than we did this past weekend.”

TV: 7:07 p.m. ET, CBS

LINE HISTORY: Kansas opened the betting week as 4-point favorites and heading into game day they have been bet up to -5. The total hit betting boards at 143 and has dropped slightly to 142.5.

BETTING STATS:



ABOUT CLEMSON: Senior guard Gabe DeVoe became the first Tiger to score at least 20 in consecutive NCAA Tournament games since Elden Campbell in 1989 by recording 22 in both contests on 18-of-28 shooting. Junior guard Marcquise Reed leads the team in scoring (15.9) and is second in assists (3.4) while DeVoe (14.2 points) has drained a team-best 83 from 3-point range. Junior point guard Shelton Mitchell (12.3 points, team-high 3.7 assists) scored 23 in the first round against New Mexico State and junior forward Elijah Thomas (10.9 points, 8.1 rebounds) had a double-double versus Auburn.

ABOUT KANSAS: Sophomore center Udoka Azubuike, who missed the Big 12 Tournament with a knee injury, is expected to be back in the starting lineup Friday after recording 10 points and seven rebounds in 22 minutes against Seton Hall. Senior guard Devonte’ Graham, the Big 12 Player of the Year, leads the team in scoring (17.4) and assists (7.5) but must rebound from a 1-for-7 shooting effort in the second round. Sophomore guard Malik Newman, who averaged 24 points in the Big 12 Tournament, scored 28 on 8-of-14 shooting (4-of-8 from 3-point range) against Seton Hall to raise his season mark to 13.4.

MATCHUP CHART:



TRENDS:

* Tigers are 7-0 ATS in their last 7 non-conference games.
* Jayhawks are 8-1-1 ATS in their last 10 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
* Under is 5-1 in Tigers' last 6 non-conference games.
* Over is 6-2-1 in Jayhawks' last 9 overall.

CONSENSUS: Consensus data is showing 63 percent of bettors taking the favorites from Kansas, while 64 percent of totals wagers are on the Over.




(11) Syracuse Orange vs (2) Duke Blue Devils (-11.5, 133.5)

Jim Boeheim's 2-3 zone has flustered opponents during this NCAA Tournament just like it seems to whenever Syracuse makes the Big Dance, but it has been Mike Krzyzewski's use of the same defense that has made Duke equally stingy. The two winningest coaches in Division I college basketball history will attempt to outwit one another yet again Friday in Omaha, Neb., as the No. 2 seed Duke meets the 11th-seeded Orange in a Sweet 16 matchup.

Krzyzewski (1,099-337) made the move to the zone as his team's primary defense 11 games ago, and the Blue Devils, who surrendered 72.8 points per game over their first 24 games, have allowed an average of 61.7 points since. Duke's defensive renaissance may been best illustrated five games after the switch as the Blue Devils held Syracuse to 31.5 percent shooting and forced 17 turnovers in a 60-44 victory on Feb. 24. While Duke has won its first two NCAA Tournament games by an average of 23.5 points, the Orange has claimed their three victories - by a total of 11 points - by riding a defense that has kept each of its opponents at least 25 points below their season scoring average. Syracuse, where Boeheim has posted a 925–367 record (minus 101 vacated victories), pulled off the biggest upset of its run Sunday, forcing Michigan State to miss its final 13 shots en route to a 55-53 win.

TV: 9:37 p.m. ET, CBS

LINE HISTORY: Duke opened as big 11.5-point favorites and that number has been steady heading into game day. The total hit betting boards at 133.5 and has also yet to move.

BETTING STATS:



ABOUT SYRACUSE: Tyus Battle (1,403), Frank Howard (1,383) and Oshae Brissett (1,371) rank first, second and fourth, respectively in Division I in total minutes and are responsible for 73.2 percent of the team's offensive production this season. Battle (team-high 19.3 points) is the highest-scoring sophomore in Orange history with 693 points and has played all 40 minutes in 14 of the last 17 games, but he is shooting only 27.4 percent from the field over his last four outings. Brissett (14.9 points, 8.9 rebounds) needs 11 more points to move into fourth place on the school's freshman scoring list and has accounted for 31.6 percent of the team's points over the last four contests.

ABOUT DUKE: ACC Player of the Year Marvin Bagley III (21.2 points, 11.3 rebounds) has tallied 22 points in each of the first two rounds, and he is shooting 67.4 percent from the floor since he returned against the Orange following a four-game absence. Fellow freshman forward Wendell Carter Jr. (13.6, 9.2) produced the last of his 15 double-doubles this season with 16 points and 10 boards last month versus Syracuse and was the only other player beside Bagley (19) to score more than 10 points in the contest. Following a month-long stretch in which he failed to reach double figures six times in 10 outings, senior guard Grayson Allen (15.6 points) is averaging 18.5 points over his last 11 games.

MATCHUP CHART:



TRENDS:

* Orange are 7-1 ATS in their last 8 NCAA Tournament games.
* Blue Devils are 9-2 ATS in their last 11 games overall.
* Under is 6-0 in Orange's last 6 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
* Under is 7-1 in Blue Devils' last 8 vs. Atlantic Coast.

CONSENSUS: Consensus data is showing 67 percent of bettors taking the underdogs from Syracuse, while 51 percent of totals wagers are on the Over.