NCAAB
Write up
Sunday, March 18
NCAA Second Round
Sunday
Tennessee, Virginia both jogged in first round vs inferior foes. Underdogs now 11-4 vs spread in last 15 second round games involving 4-5 seeds. Cavaliers still just 4-4 in last eight games; but they're 7-2 vs spread as underdog this season. Vols are 5-1 in last six; they're 7-4 as favorite outside of SEC. Both teams are fast-paced (Vols 19, UVa 80); interesting to see if Vols continue hot shooting-- they made 14-27 from arc Friday. Virginia is 7-10 if they score less than 80, 12-0 if they score 80+ points.
Florida has indeed turned it on in March, winning all five of its games, by 13,17,21,21,43 points; they beat only Big 11 foe they faced this season (Ohio State, 86-60) in December. Purdue is 8-2 vs spread in its last ten games; they're 5-6-1 vs spread as a dog this season. Spunky Boilers are 12-3 outside Big 11; in their last five games, they've allowed average of just 55.6 ppg. They held Arizona to 41.2% from floor while forcing 17 turnovers in 72-63 win Friday. Florida outscored Jackson State 71-34 in 2nd half.
Wisconsin was down 40-22 vs Corpus Christi Friday, before it rallied for win; they're 9-2 in last 11 games, but scored 55 or less points in four of last seven games, as they struggle without its 3rd-leading scorer, Butch, who has resumed practice, but not sure if he'll play here. UNLV is more athletic than Badgers; they are 7-1 vs spread during 8-game win streak, and are 7-2 against spread as dog this season. Rebels survived 31.7% shooting in win vs Georgia Tech. Both teams play slower-paced games.
Southern Illinois beat Virginia Tech 69-64 down in Orlando last November (-1), in fifth-place game of Old Spice Classic;
Over last three years, 2-seeds are just 4-8 vs spread in second round games. Georgetown is on roll, winning 16 of last 17 and last five in row. Neither team forces turnovers or likes fast pace; BC is just 3-5 in last eight games after beating Texas Tech in its first round game. These teams are former Big East rivals; BC is 0-1 vs Big East this year, losing 73-64 to Providence. Hoyas are 0-1 vs ACC, losing 61-52 at Duke- that was before current roll. BC is 30th in country in % of points scored on foul shots; we'll see if that hurts them here, as refs call less fouls in NCAAs.
VCU won seven games in row, 20 of last 22 games; the former Rutgers coach Wenzel called Rams best pressing team he has seen this season. VCU hit 9-16 treys in come-from-behind win vs Duke, now they need to beat better team, Pitt, who crushed Wright State Thursday, making 10-21 treys when Raiders tried to sag down and double Gray in post. VCU has better figures on forcing turnovers and protecting ball; that has been a good indicator for second round upsets last three years. Problem is, #11 seeds are 4-15 vs spread in second round last twenty yrs.
UCLA crushed Weber State in first round, making 10-19 treys but only 6-9 from foul line; underdg is 6-4 vs spread in second round 2-7 matchups over last four years. Both these teams lost first round conference tourney game. Indiana held Gonzaga to 33.9% from floor Thursday. Sampson was 3-2 in second round games at Oklahoma; he covered last three tries as tourney dog (all in '99). Bruins are 2-5 vs spread in last seven tries as a fave. Hoosiers are 3-3-1 vs spread as an underdog this season.
Izzo won his last six second round games, winning last four by double digit margins, but he is without Ibok (elbow) here. State beat Marquette so easily primarily because McNeal didn't play for Eagles. Carolina shot 64% from floor vs outmanned EKU in first round; Carolina is 2-4 in last six tries in this round. MSU is 0-2 vs ACC this season, scoring 59 ppg in losses to Boston College, Maryland. UNC beat Big 11's Ohio State back in fall. UNC beat Spartans 87-71 in '05 national semifinals (-5).
Write up
Sunday, March 18
NCAA Second Round
Sunday
Tennessee, Virginia both jogged in first round vs inferior foes. Underdogs now 11-4 vs spread in last 15 second round games involving 4-5 seeds. Cavaliers still just 4-4 in last eight games; but they're 7-2 vs spread as underdog this season. Vols are 5-1 in last six; they're 7-4 as favorite outside of SEC. Both teams are fast-paced (Vols 19, UVa 80); interesting to see if Vols continue hot shooting-- they made 14-27 from arc Friday. Virginia is 7-10 if they score less than 80, 12-0 if they score 80+ points.
Florida has indeed turned it on in March, winning all five of its games, by 13,17,21,21,43 points; they beat only Big 11 foe they faced this season (Ohio State, 86-60) in December. Purdue is 8-2 vs spread in its last ten games; they're 5-6-1 vs spread as a dog this season. Spunky Boilers are 12-3 outside Big 11; in their last five games, they've allowed average of just 55.6 ppg. They held Arizona to 41.2% from floor while forcing 17 turnovers in 72-63 win Friday. Florida outscored Jackson State 71-34 in 2nd half.
Wisconsin was down 40-22 vs Corpus Christi Friday, before it rallied for win; they're 9-2 in last 11 games, but scored 55 or less points in four of last seven games, as they struggle without its 3rd-leading scorer, Butch, who has resumed practice, but not sure if he'll play here. UNLV is more athletic than Badgers; they are 7-1 vs spread during 8-game win streak, and are 7-2 against spread as dog this season. Rebels survived 31.7% shooting in win vs Georgia Tech. Both teams play slower-paced games.
Southern Illinois beat Virginia Tech 69-64 down in Orlando last November (-1), in fifth-place game of Old Spice Classic;
Over last three years, 2-seeds are just 4-8 vs spread in second round games. Georgetown is on roll, winning 16 of last 17 and last five in row. Neither team forces turnovers or likes fast pace; BC is just 3-5 in last eight games after beating Texas Tech in its first round game. These teams are former Big East rivals; BC is 0-1 vs Big East this year, losing 73-64 to Providence. Hoyas are 0-1 vs ACC, losing 61-52 at Duke- that was before current roll. BC is 30th in country in % of points scored on foul shots; we'll see if that hurts them here, as refs call less fouls in NCAAs.
VCU won seven games in row, 20 of last 22 games; the former Rutgers coach Wenzel called Rams best pressing team he has seen this season. VCU hit 9-16 treys in come-from-behind win vs Duke, now they need to beat better team, Pitt, who crushed Wright State Thursday, making 10-21 treys when Raiders tried to sag down and double Gray in post. VCU has better figures on forcing turnovers and protecting ball; that has been a good indicator for second round upsets last three years. Problem is, #11 seeds are 4-15 vs spread in second round last twenty yrs.
UCLA crushed Weber State in first round, making 10-19 treys but only 6-9 from foul line; underdg is 6-4 vs spread in second round 2-7 matchups over last four years. Both these teams lost first round conference tourney game. Indiana held Gonzaga to 33.9% from floor Thursday. Sampson was 3-2 in second round games at Oklahoma; he covered last three tries as tourney dog (all in '99). Bruins are 2-5 vs spread in last seven tries as a fave. Hoosiers are 3-3-1 vs spread as an underdog this season.
Izzo won his last six second round games, winning last four by double digit margins, but he is without Ibok (elbow) here. State beat Marquette so easily primarily because McNeal didn't play for Eagles. Carolina shot 64% from floor vs outmanned EKU in first round; Carolina is 2-4 in last six tries in this round. MSU is 0-2 vs ACC this season, scoring 59 ppg in losses to Boston College, Maryland. UNC beat Big 11's Ohio State back in fall. UNC beat Spartans 87-71 in '05 national semifinals (-5).
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