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**Udog** · 03-24-2021, 09:23 AM

So with imagination, ingenuity and audacity, explore, discover, change the world. And have fun while you're at it. Always take time out to love and to live. You're going to be busy, but never forget family and friends.

**Udog** · 03-24-2021, 09:23 AM

Armadillo: Wednesday's six-pack

NBA teams who’ve gone over the total the most:
29-13— New Orleans
28-15— Brooklyn
26-16— Denver
26-17— Sacramento
25-16— Milwaukee
25-16— Indiana

Americans who have died from COVID-19: 542,379
PLEASE wear a mask (over your nose/mouth) when you go out.

**********

Armadillo: Wednesday's Den: Mid-week musings……..

13) The movie Little Big League was on FS1 last night; the owner of the Minnesota Twins passes away, leaves the team to his 12-year old grandson, who then names himself manager of the Twins. Pretty good movie.

The kid’s mom is played by Ashley Crow; the movie was made in 1994.

In real life, Ashley Crow’s son is Pete Crow-Armstrong, who was drafted in the first round last year by the New York Mets. Crow-Armstrong played at Harvard-Westlake HS in Los Angeles, which once had Lucas Giolito, Jack Flaherty, Max Fried on the team at the same time.

Crow-Armstrong turns 19 tomorrow; in 11 at-bats this spring, he’s 1-11 with four runs scored. This year will be his first full season as a pro.

12) Mets’ 2B Jeff MacNeil was hit by pitches three times in a game last week, by three different pitchers; that doesn’t happen much.

11) Last Mets’ note; former New Jersey governor Chris Christie was recently named to the Mets’ board of directors; hopefully they didn’t put him in charge of parking.

10) Atlantic 14 tried something different this year; they played the first three rounds of their conference tournament March 3-6 in Richmond, then held the final March 14 in Dayton, assuming the two finalists would get on a bus after the game and make the short drive to Indiana, where they would hunker down safely for the NCAA’s. On paper, it made sense.

In reality, VCU couldn’t play in the NCAA Tournament because they had positive COVID tests in their program. Would it have been different had they just played the final in Richmond? We’ll never know.

9) Oregon State Beavers have covered 15 of their last 18 games as an underdog, with 11 wins outright. Beavers play Loyola Saturday, in the Sweet 16.

8) There is an NBA rule that no referee can work the same team’s games more than nine teams in a season; that rule has been waived this season, because of COVID protocols. Referees aren’t traveling as much.

7) Back in the 70’s, Astros’ pitching coach Brent Strom was a major league pitcher; he got hurt, was the second big leaguer to have what is now known as Tommy John surgery. Had he been the first, it would be known as Brent Strom surgery.

6) Al Leiter pitched in the major leagues for 19 years, won 162 games; his son Jack is a pitcher at Vanderbilt now, a highly-touted prospect who is expected to be a first round draft pick this year.

Saturday, Jack Leiter threw a no-hitter, struck out 16 South Carolina hitters, throwing 124 pitches; college managers aren’t as crazy about pitch counts as professional managers.

My question is this: How many major league pitchers will throw 124+ pitches in a game this year? Won’t be many, my guess is three or four.

5) First round of the 16-team NIT saw underdogs go 6-2 ATS; second round is Thursday.

4) One thing handicappers missed out on this season was taking a look at an Ivy League team in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. Over last ten tournaments, Ivy League squads are 8-2 ATS in their first round games.

When the Ivy League teams come back next season after a year off, it’ll be interesting to see how much different these teams are. Last time we saw them, Ivy League was the #16 conference in the country, right in the middle nationally.

3) One of best parts of watching spring training games on MLB Network is the interviews with managers during the game. You can pick up some info here; also good when teams combine broadcasting crews for games. Marlins-Cardinals, Mariners-Rockies have done this.

But when you think of managers being interviewed during a game, can you imagine going back a few years and having Earl Weaver, Dick Williams or Billy Martin being interviewed during a game, even an exhibition game? Thing would have to be on a 7-second delay, for sure.

2) Happy 90th birthday to William Shatner; the actor who became famous as Captain Kirk on Star Trek– he still does commercials that air on Milwaukee Brewer games.

1) Went to the grocery store today, picked up a few things, no big deal, but also walked around the store and located exits, just in case what happened in Boulder ever happens here. Doesn’t hurt to be prepared, but its a sad commentary on our current situation.

**Udog** · 03-24-2021, 09:28 AM

NCAAB
Dunkel

Wednesday, March 24

**Udog** · 03-24-2021, 10:44 AM

609COASTAL CAROLINA -610 PEPPERDINE
PEPPERDINE is 8-1 ATS (6.9 Units) in road games after covering 4 or 5 of their last 6 against the spread in the current season.

**Udog** · 03-24-2021, 12:23 PM

Thursday

611MISSISSIPPI ST -612 RICHMOND
MISSISSIPPI ST is 9-1 ATS (7.9 Units) in road games after 2 straight games where they were called for 15 or less fouls over the last 2 seasons.

613NC STATE -614 COLORADO ST
NC STATE is 7-0 ATS (7 Units) in road games versus poor pressure defensive teams - forcing <=14 turnovers/game in the current season.

615BOISE ST -616 MEMPHIS
MEMPHIS are 8-0 ATS (8 Units) in road games after a game where they covered the spread in the current season.

617LOUISIANA TECH -618 W KENTUCKY
W KENTUCKY is 4-17 ATS (-14.7 Units) versus poor pressure defensive teams - forcing <=14 turnovers/game over the last 2 seasons.

NCAAB
Dunkel

Thursday, March 25

NCAAB
Armadillo's Write-Up

Thursday, March 25

NIT tournament- Thursday

Mississippi State vs Richmond (@ Denton, TX))
Mississippi State (16-14)
— ranked #75 by KenPom
— Tempo: #297
— Experience: #312
— Continuity: #253
— Bulldogs are 5-4 in their last nine games.
— Miss State is grabbing 36.1% of their missed shots (#8)
— Bulldogs have #41 eFG% defense in country.
— Miss State starts three sophs and a freshman; they’re using these games to help build for next season.

Richmond (14-8)
— ranked #63 by KenPom
— Tempo: #159
— Experience: #16
— Continuity: #8
— Richmond lost three of its last four games.
— Spiders are 3-6 in games decided by 6 or fewer points.
— Richmond is shooting 53.9% inside the arc (#39)
— Spiders are not a deep team (#338 in bench minutes)
— 5-9 senior G Gilyard played whole 40:00 vs Saint Louis in first round.
— Richmond is 2-0 vs SEC teams this year (Kentucky, Vanderbilt)

NC State vs Colorado State (@ Frisco, TX)
NC State (14-10)
— ranked #66 by KenPom
— Tempo: #195
— Experience: #225
— Continuity: #127
— NC State won six of their last seven games.
— Wolfpack force turnovers 21.9% of time (#47)
— NC State is 6-9 vs teams ranked in top 100.
— Wolfpack shot 67.6% inside arc in their win over Davidson.

Colorado State (19-6)
— ranked #68 by KenPom
— Tempo: #134
— Experience: #308
— Continuity: #36
— Rams won seven of their last nine games.
— Colorado State is shooting 55.2% inside arc (#21).
— 43.5% of shots they take are 3’s (#40)
— Rams didn’t play any seniors in their win over Buffalo.

Memphis vs Boise State (@ Denton, TX)
Memphis (17-8)
— ranked #39 by KenPom
— Tempo: #47
— Experience: #323
— Continuity: #78
— Memphis won 11 of its last 14 games.
— Tigers have #5 eFG% defense in country.
— Memphis is turning ball over 22.1% of time (#318)
— Dayton shot 62.1% inside arc vs Memphis last game.

Boise State (19-8)
— ranked #59 by KenPom
— Tempo: #127
— Experience: #71
— Continuity: #245
— Boise lost four of its last five games.
— Broncos led last game 30-9, blew lead, won 85-84.
— Broncos are shooting 52.5% inside arc (#70)
— Boise State is 5-7 vs teams ranked in top 100.
— Broncos start four juniors and a senior.

Louisiana Tech vs Western Kentucky (@ Frisco, TX)
Louisiana Tech (22-7)
— ranked #78 by KenPom
— Tempo: #113
— Experience: #61
— Continuity: #116
— Bulldogs won six of last seven D-I games.
— Louisiana Tech has three senior starters.
— Bulldogs have the #13 eFG% defense- they’re #28 on defensive boards.
— Tech was held to 55-48 points in last two losses.

Western Kentucky (21-7)
— ranked #90 by KenPom
— Tempo: #210
— Experience: #56
— Continuity: #81
— WKU won 12 of last 15 games, lost finals of C-USA tourney in OT.
— Hilltoppers have a 6-11 center who is probably an NBA player.
— WKU turns ball over 20.7% of time (#268).
— Hilltoppers get 21.9% of their points on foul line (#30).

— These conference rivals split pair at WKU January 8-9th.

Announcement

Wednesday's NCAAB Trends and Indexes - 3/24

Wednesday's NCAAB Trends and Indexes - 3/24

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