The Bum's NCAA Basketball Picks Thru March Madness & Madness GOY !!

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NCAAB

Saturday, March 22

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NCAA East Regional betting news and notes: Harvard's defense overrated?
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The Round of 32 opens in the East Regional Saturday. We look at the biggest betting news and notes coming out of that side of the bracket.

No. 4 Michigan State Spartans vs. No. 12 Harvard Crimson (+7, 137)

In 10 career meetings, Michigan State head coach Tom Izzo is 7-3 versus Harvard’s Tommy Amaker (who coached the Michigan Wolverines from 2001-02 to 2006-07) winning by an average of 15.2 points.

Looking at the stats one would think the Crimson, the nation’s 15th-best defense this season, managed to find another notch against Cincinnati Thursday. But it may have been a case of the Bearcats just shooting terribly, going just 13 for 33 in the paint, getting just seven second-chance points on 15 offensive rebounds, and missing 13 dunks, layups, or tip ins.


No. 2 Villanova Wildcats (-3.5) vs. No. 7 Connecticut Huskies (+3.5, 132.5)

Senior guard Shabazz Napier was everything for the Huskies Thursday having a hand in 46 percent of Connecticut’s points after being involved in 36 percent of his team’s buckets in the team’s previous six games. However, Villanova prides itself on its on-ball pressure that seeks to contain quick, skilled ball handlers like Napier. In its opener Thursday, Villanova held UW-Milwaukee’s leading scorer to just six points on 1-for-15 shooting.

All week long, the Wildcats talked about getting off to fast starts. Yet, against UW-Milwaukee they started slowly, scoring just 18 points before going on a 9-0 run into the half at 27-23. It was the second slow start in a row for the Wildcats and a repeat performance could have dire consequences Saturday. Connecticut has the nation’s 33rd-best defense overall and the 23rd best second-half defense, holding teams to just 32.9 points in the game's second 20 minutes.

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NCAAB

Saturday, March 22

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NCAA South Regional betting news and notes: D will decide Pitt-Florida outcome
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Eight teams remain in the South Regional portion of the NCAA tournament. Here's a look at Saturday's third-round matchups:

No. 9 Pittsburgh Panthers vs. No. 1 Florida Gators (-5, 124)

Fans hoping for a high-scoring shootout will likely disappointed; the Gators and their stifling press-heavy defense allowed the third-fewest points in the country heading into the tournament (57.9 per game), while the Panthers ranked 20th in the nation (61.9) and limited Colorado to 48 points in their tournament-opening 77-48 rout of the Buffaloes.

With both teams boasting potent half-court defenses, added emphasis will be placed on their ability to hit from outside - and judging by their performances in their respective tournament openers, that could prove daunting. The Gators shot just 4-for-12 from 3-point range in an unimpressive win over Albany, while the Panthers were just 4-of-14 in their one-sided victory over Colorado.

No. 11 Dayton Flyers vs. No. 3 Syracuse Orange (-6.5, 128)

The Flyers are one of the few teams in the tournament not shy about rotating as many as 11 players in a given game; they did just that in their tournament-opening 60-59 upset of Ohio State, and it caught the attention of Syracuse assistant coach Mike Hopkins. "They played 11 guys, they've got a lot of depth, they kept rotating guys in and out," Hopkins told the Syracuse Post-Standard.

The Orange do have some familiarity with the Flyers: star guard Tyler Ennis played with Dayton guard Dyshawn Pierre for CIA Bounce of the AAU. Ennis' dad was the head coach. "I'm kind of familiar with his game," Ennis said of Pierre, who had three free throws down the stretch to help the Flyers eliminate the Buckeyes. "He's one of the most underrated players in the country. He always hits big shots."

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NCAAB

Saturday, March 22

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NCAA Midwest Regional betting news and notes: Michigan bullied on the glass
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The Midwest Regional opens the Round of 32 Saturday. Before you place your wagers, scan these quick-hitting betting news and notes for the Midwest matchups.

No. 2 Michigan Wolverines vs. No. 7 Texas Longhorns (+5, 139)

Michigan will be favored heading into its second-round matchup when the Wolverines go up against the Texas Longhorns. However, the Wolverines may be feeling the impact of the season-ending injury of Mitch McGary for the first time in months. The Wolverines are 303rd in the nation in rebounding while the Longhorns are one of the NCAA's best interior teams at 41.4 rebounds per game - good for fourth in the nation.

Texas outworked a tough Arizona State squad on the boards in their opener, with 10 of its 30 rebounds coming on the offensive end. No offensive rebound was more important than Cameron Ridley's putback at the buzzer that gave the Longhorns the 87-85 win. Ridley finished with 12 rebounds to go along with 17 points.

No. 4 Louisville Cardinals vs. No. 5 St. Louis Billikens (+9, 133)

Saint Louis head coach Jim Crews hopes his Billikens can return to form at the free-throw line Saturday after going 12 for 26 from from the stripe in Thursday's opener against North Carolina State. Typically, Saint Louis shoots an average 70 percent from the line, and if it wants to stay with the defending national champions, the Billikens will have to improve from the charity stripe.

"We missed a ton of free throws tonight, and we missed some other opportunities both defensively and offensively, but I thought during the process it was pretty good," Crews said of Saint Louis performance Thursday. "We were getting what we wanted to get, but we weren't cashing in on it. I can't salute these guys enough in terms of how they just stayed with it."

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NCAAB

Saturday, March 22

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NCAA West Regional betting news and notes: Homecourt for Badgers
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The West Regional kicks off the Round of 32 Saturday. Check out these quick-hitting betting news and notes before placing your wagers on the West side of the bracket.

No. 12 North Dakota State Bison vs. No. 4 San Diego State Aztecs (-3, 125.5)

North Dakota State has only been in Division I since 2004, but the Bison have slayed a few dragons, with the biggest coming in Thursday’s 80-75 overtime upset of Oklahoma in the NCAA Tournament’s West Regional. NDSU’s first huge win came at Wisconsin in January 2006. The Bison then won at Marquette in December 2006, and in nonconference play this year, they stunned host Notre Dame. San Diego State – a 3-point favorite, just like Oklahoma – will have its hands full in Saturday’s Round of 32.

San Diego State knows this scenario all too well. Just a year ago, in the Round of 64, the Aztecs beat Oklahoma – the same team North Dakota State stunned on Thursday night – and it appeared No. 15 seed Florida Gulf Coast did San Diego State a huge favor by shocking No. 2 seed Georgetown. Instead, FGCU became the first No. 15 seed to reach the Sweet 16 by bouncing the Aztecs 81-71 in the Round of 32. Another year, another Cinderella opponent for SDSU.

No. 7 Oregon Ducks vs. No. 2 Wisconsin Badgers (-5, 142)

Wisconsin’s defense could be a huge key today, based on a stat thrown out on Twitter by Jim Polzin, Badgers beat writer for the Wisconsin State Journal. In Wisconsin’s 75-35 blowout of No. 15 seed American Thursday, the Eagles averaged a meager 0.61 points per possession. Polzin noted that was a season low by a Badgers opponent. Wisconsin, meanwhile, averaged more than twice that at 1.29 points per possession, including 1.48 in the second half.

The Badgers will have a huge homecourt advantage playing in Milwaukee Saturday, a fact not lost at all on Oregon coach Dana Altman. Steve Mims, Oregon basketball beat writer for the Eugene Register-Guard, tweeted out Altman’s thoughts: “We basically have a road game. They’ll have 20,000 fans cheering, we will have 300.”

Oregon pounded Brigham Young 87-68 laying 4.5 points in Thursday’s Round of 64. But that’s not the only momentum the Ducks carry into today’s tilt with Wisconsin. As Steve Mims of the Oregon Register-Guard tweeted out, Thursday’s win marked the first time in school history that the Ducks have won a game in back-to-back NCAA Tournaments.

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NCAAB

Saturday, March 22

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Round 3 betting cheat sheet: East Region Day 3
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(12) Harvard Crimson vs. (4) Michigan State Spartans (-7, 137)

While the Spartans leaned heavily on Adreian Payne, the Crimson relied upon a balanced attack and their usual stout defense to get past Cincinnati. Wesley Saunders led the way with 12 points and four of his team's nine assists and Harvard improved to 15-0 when holding its opponent under 60 points. Head coaches Tommy Amaker of Harvard and Tom Izzo of Michigan State will be renewing acquaintances - Amaker was 3-7 against Izzo as coach of Michigan from 2001-07.

Payne had four free throws and one basket to his credit with just over eight minutes left in the first half before he began to author one of the great tournament showings in history. He produced a personal 12-0 run with three 3-pointers and a three-point play, finished the first half with 23 points and scored eight straight Spartans points down the stretch to help fend off a minor threat from the Blue Hens.

TRENDS:

* Crimson are 7-1 ATS in their last eight games overall.
* Spartans are 18-7-1 ATS in their last 26 games overall.
* Under is 5-0 in Crimson last five non-conference games.


(7) UConn Huskies vs. (2) Villanova Wildcats (-3.5, 132.5)

Senior point guard Shabazz Napier scored 19 of his 24 points after halftime in the win over Saint Joseph’s, which led for much of the game before the Huskies took control in overtime. Guard Ryan Boatright had 17 points, including four 3-pointers, and 7-foot freshman center Amida Brimah had nine points, six rebounds and one block in 30 minutes, including a key three-point play late in regulation.

Villanova is 8-of-42 from 3-point range over its last two games, but the Wildcats prevailed against Milwaukee by holding the Panthers to 28.6 percent shooting. The Wildcats won the Big East regular-season title and set a school record with 28 regular-season victories. They are one victory away from tying the school’s single-season record of 30.

TRENDS:

* Wildcats are 13-3 ATS in their last 16 non-conference games.
* Huskies are 5-1 ATS in their last six vs. Big East.
* Under is 13-3 in Huskies last 16 overall.

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NCAAB

Saturday, March 22

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Round 3 betting cheat sheet: South Region Day 3
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(9) Pittsburgh Panthers vs. (1) Florida Gators (-5, 124)

The Panthers have won six of eight and part of that turnaround can be attributed to their recent offensive efficiency and senior forward Talib Zanna, who is averaging 16 points and shooting 67.6 percent from the field over that stretch. Pittsburgh has shot at least 50 percent six times in that timeframe and scored 77 or more points in each of its last five victories.

Although Florida extended its school-record winning streak to 27 games, the Gators face an uphill battle to fulfill their national championship aspirations as none of the previous 20 No. 1 seeds that won their opening game by 12 points or fewer went on to win it all. Florida is seeking its fourth straight visit to the Sweet 16 while Pittsburgh eyes its first trip to the regional semifinals since 2009.

TRENDS:

* Panthers are 1-6 ATS in their last seveb non-conference games.
* Gators are 0-3-1 ATS in their last four non-conference games.
* Under is 10-1 in Gators last 11 vs. Atlantic Coast.


(11) Dayton Flyers vs. (3) Syracuse Orange (-6.5, 128)

The Flyers' last three losses have all come against Saint Joseph's - a stretch that goes back nearly two months and features wins against George Washington, Massachusetts, Saint Louis and, most recently, Ohio State. One of Dayton's keys to defeating the Buckeyes was the team's ability to rebound, as Ohio State managed only three offensive rebounds on 26 missed shots. Dayton played one ACC team this season, winning by 10 points at Georgia Tech in late November.

Despite entering the NCAA tournament with a 2-5 record in its last seven games, Syracuse resembled the team that opened the season 25-0 on Thursday. Jerami Grant contributed 16 points and C.J. Fair added 14 points and 11 rebounds for the Orange, who dominated the glass, 41-25, and will look to continue that trend against the guard-heavy Flyers. Fair has not posted back-to-back double-doubles since February 2013.

TRENDS:

* Flyers are 5-1 ATS in their last six games overall.
* Orange are 3-14 ATS in their last 17 vs. Atlantic 10.
* Over is 5-0 in Orange last five overall.

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NCAAB

Saturday, March 22

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Round 3 betting cheat sheet: Midwest Region Day 3
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(5) Saint Louis Billikens vs. (4)Louisville Cardinals (-9, 133)

The Billikens found themselves in a dire situation as they trailed by 14 with just over five minutes left in regulation before roaring back to force overtime and then registering an 83-80 win over North Carolina State. Rob Loe scored 22 points and grabbed a career-best 15 rebounds and was stunned in the postgame press conference over the seemingly unfathomable comeback. “Yeah, that’s probably the weirdest turn of events that I’ve ever been a part of,” Loe said. Saint Louis was 12-for-26 from the free throw line against North Carolina State.

Defending national champion Louisville came oh-so-close to being one-and-done in the NCAA tournament. The fourth-seeded Cardinals will look to put forth a better performance when they meet fifth-seeded Saint Louis in Saturday’s round of 32 in Orlando. Forward Luke Hancock, one of the stars of the Cardinals’ 2013 title run, scored eight of his 16 points in the final 1:53 to help Louisville overcome a late deficit against Manhattan and post a 71-64 victory in Midwest regional play. Louisville holds a 45-20 series lead but the teams haven’t played since 2005 when both schools were in Conference USA.

TRENDS:

* Billikens are 7-2-1 ATS in the last 10 meetings.
* Billikens are 1-8-1 ATS in their last 10 games overall.
* Cardinals are 9-3 ATS in their last 12 NCAA Tournament games.


(7) Texas Longhorns vs. (2) Michigan Wolverines (-5, 139)

Cameron Ridley led the Longhorns' balanced offense and big frontcourt with 17 points, 12 rebounds and Thursday's game-winner. Texas had six players in double figures, went 8-of-8 in transition and outscored Arizona State 42-30 in the paint on the way to the Longhorns' most points (87) in a NCAA tournament game since a 90-72 win against Oregon in 1995.

The Wolverines beat Wofford 57-40 in the second round, the fewest point ever allowed by Michigan at the tournament. Since the start of last season, Michigan is 24-1 when Nik Stauskas makes more than 50 percent of his field-goal attempts, including 12-0 this season. Coach John Beilein (699-411) can become the sixth active coach with 700 career wins with a win Saturday.

TRENDS:

* Longhorns are 0-5 ATS in their last five NCAA Tournament games.
* Wolverines are 6-1 ATS in their last seven vs. Big 12.
* Over is 5-1 in Longhorns last six non-conference games.

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NCAAB

Saturday, March 22

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Round 3 betting cheat sheet: West Region Day 3
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(12) North Dakota State Bison vs. (4) San Diego State Aztecs (-3, 125.5)

Fresh off the first NCAA tournament win in school history, North Dakota State is setting its sights on higher goals. The Summit League champion shot 52.9 percent from the floor against the Sooners and grabbed the 80-75 overtime win despite conference Player of the Year Taylor Braun managing only 11 points on 3-of-11 shooting and fouling out down the stretch. The Bison, who have won 10 straight games, led the nation in field-goal percentage at .509 and will need every bit of offense they can find against the Aztecs, who finished second in the nation in scoring defense.

The Aztecs held New Mexico State to 40 percent shooting from the field in their NCAA tournament opener but connected at only 39 percent themselves while sweating through the 73-69 triumph. San Diego State is strong on the interior defensively with Skylar Spencer, who collected four of the Aztecs’ nine blocked shots Thursday, and Josh Davis. The Aztecs are attempting to advance to the regional semifinals for the second time in four years.

TRENDS:

* Bison are 5-2 ATS in their last seven games overall.
* Aztecs are 5-2 ATS in their last seven neutral site games.
* Over is 9-2 in Bison last 11 non-conference games.


(7) Oregon Ducks vs. (2) Wisconsin Badgers (-5, 142)

Other than 19 points from Joseph Young, the starters for the Ducks weren’t too impressive against BYU. Mike Moser, Damyean Dotson, Johnathan Loyd and Waverly Austin combined for 19 points, forcing the bench to come through with 49. Oregon backup forward Elgin Cook took advantage of the opportunity to play in front of family and friends in the second-round game and the 6-6 sophomore from Milwaukee poured in a season-high 23 points and eight rebounds.

What makes the Badgers so difficult to match up with is their balanced scoring. Kaminsky and fellow starters Ben Brust, Sam Dekker, Traevon Jackson and Josh Gasser averaged between 9.2 and 13.6 points heading into the postseason and 6-7 freshman forward Nigel Hayes has emerged as a key contributor off the bench.

TRENDS:

* Ducks are 8-1-1 ATS in their last 10 neutral site games.
* Badgers are 4-0 ATS in their last four non-conference games.
* Over is 11-2 in Ducks last 13 non-conference games.

[StarDust Bum]

March Madness Record:

14- 16.....................*****

9- 10.....................DOUBLE PLAY

8 - 4 - 1 ....................TRIPLE PLAY

Saturday, March 22

Game Score Status Pick Amount

Louisiana Tech - 11:00 AM ET Louisiana Tech +1 500 TRIPLE PLAY
Georgia - Under 140.5 500

Pittsburgh - 12:15 PM ET Florida -5.5 500 *****
Florida - Over 124 500

IUPU - Ft. Wayne - 1:00 PM ET IUPU - Ft. Wayne -2 500 DOUBLE PLAY
VMI -

[StarDust Bum]

2nd Set of Games:


Wright St. - 2:00 PM ET Wright St. +3 500 *****
Ohio -

Saint Louis - 2:45 PM ET Saint Louis +9 500 TRIPLE PLAY
Louisville - Over 132 500

Texas - 5:15 PM ET Michigan -4.5 500 DOUBLE PLAY
Michigan - Under 140 500

North Dakota State - 6:10 PM ET North Dakota State +3 500 *****
San Diego St. - Under 126.5 500

[StarDust Bum]

Saturday's Late Tips

March 22, 2014


**Dayton vs. Syracuse**

-- As of early this afternoon, most books had Syracuse (28-5 straight up, 15-12-2 against the spread) listed as a 7.5-point favorite with a total of 130 or 130.5. Gamblers can back the Flyers to win outright for a +330 return (risk $100 to win $330).

-- Dayton (24-10 SU, 18-12 ATS) advanced to the Round of 32 by ousting in-state rival Ohio St. by a 60-59 score. Vee Sanford banked home a runner in the lane with 3.8 seconds remaining for the game-winning points. In an attempt to answer with a game-winning shot, Aaron Craft lost control of the ball and the Buckeyes went down in gut-wrenching fashion. Dyshawn Pierre paced the Flyers with 12 points and eight rebounds.

-- Dayton has won 11 of its last 13 games and hasn't lost to a team not named St. Joseph's since Jan. 25. The Flyers are on a 9-4 ATS run.

-- Jim Boeheim's team has been struggling for more than a month. The 'Cuse has lost five of its last eight games and is mired in a 2-6-1 ATS slump. But it really could be worse. The Orange pulled out miracle wins at Pitt on a deep buzzer beater by Tyler Ennis that was well defended, and they needed a steal and subsequent bucket to nip N.C. St. 56-55 at the Carrier Dome. If not for those last-second comebacks, Syracuse would be 3-7 in its last 10 games. Plus, it was fortunate to pull out a win by two at Maryland.

-- Syracuse advanced to the third round with a 77-53 win over Western Michigan as a 13-point favorite. Trevor Cooney knocked down four 3-pointers and finished with a team-best 18 points. Jerami Grant added 16 points and five rebounds, while Ennis had 16 points, six assists and a pair of steals. C.J. Fair chipped in with 14 points and 11 boards.

-- The 'over' is on a 4-2 run for Dayton to improve to 16-13 overall.

-- The 'over' has hit in five straight Syracuse games, but the 'under' is still 15-11-2 overall for the Orange.

-- Tip-off is scheduled for 7:10 p.m. Eastern on TBS.

**Harvard vs. Michigan State**


-- As of early this morning, most books had Michigan St. (27-8 SU, 20-11-3 ATS) installed as a seven-point favorite with a total of 137. The Crimson were available on the money line for a +300 payout (risk $100 to win $300).

-- Harvard (27-4 SU, 17-8 ATS) advanced to the Round of 32 for a second straight season with a 61-57 win over fifth-seeded Cincinnati as a three-point underdog. The Crimson cashed money-line tickets for a +125 return. Wesley Saunders tallied 12 points, four assists, three rebounds and one steal.

-- Tommy Amaker's squad owns a 7-1 spread record in its last eight games. The Crimson has been an underdog three times, going 1-2 both SU and ATS. It lost 61-56 at UConn as a 4.5-point 'dog when Siyani Chambers was stripped as he was going up for a potential game-tying 3-point attempt with 4-5 seconds remaining. Chambers was then forced to foul and the Huskies made both free throws to cover the spread. In a 70-62 loss at Colorado before CU's star player Spencer (not Peter!) Dinwiddie tore his ACL, Harvard was a six-point underdog. The Crimson led outright for the first 35 minutes before CU went on a 9-0 run with three consecutive 3-pointers. From there, Harvard had to foul in an effort to rally and the Buffaloes made their free throws and pulled away for an improbable cover.

-- Michigan St. is healthy now and that's clear from its recent results. Tom Izzo's team breezed through the Big Ten Tournament and then eliminated Delaware in its opener on Thursday. The Spartans sent the Blue Hens packing with a 93-78 win as 15-point favorites. Adreian Payne had a game for the ages, scoring a career-high 41 points on 10-of-15 shooting from the field and 17-of-17 shooting from the free-throw line. Payne also pulled down eight rebounds and Travis Trice chipped in with 19 points.

-- The 'over' is 18-16 overall for Sparty, going 6-3 in its last nine games.

-- The 'under' is 15-10 overall for Harvard, 9-3 in its games with a total of 134 or more.

-- This game in Spokane will tip 30 minutes after San Diego St. and North Dakota St. decide who advances. The winners will face each other in the Sweet 16.

**Connecticut vs. Villanova**

-- Familiarity won't be an issue tonight when these old-school Big East rivals collide in Buffalo. The winner will advance to the Sweet 16 in New York City at Madison Square Garden to face the survivor of North Carolina vs. Iowa St.

-- As of early this afternoon, most betting shops had Villanova (29-4 SU, 22-9 ATS) favored by 3.5 points with a total of 133.5. The Huskies are +155 on the money line (risk $100 to win $155).

-- UConn (27-8 SU, 18-15 ATS) advanced to the Round of 32 by capturing an 89-81 win over St. Joseph's in overtime. Gamblers taking the Huskies cashed a fortunate winner thanks to the extra session, as they were laying 5.5 points. Shabazz Napier led the way with 24 points, eight rebounds, six assists and three steals.

-- Jay Wright's team advanced by virtue of Thursday's 73-53 win over No. 15 seed UW-Milwaukee. The Wildcats hooked up their backers as 16.5-point 'chalk.' Darrun Hilliard led five double-figure scorers with 16 points.

-- UConn has been an underdog seven times, compiling a 3-4 spread record with two outright victories.

-- Villanova owns an 8-5 spread record in 13 games as a single-digit favorite.

-- Napier is the catalyst for UConn. He leads the team in scoring (17.6 points per game), rebounding (6.0 RPG), assists (5.0 APG) and steals (1.7 SPG) and buried a buzzer beater to beat the Tournament No. 1 overall seed Florida back in early December.

-- The 'under' is on an incredible 13-2 run in UConn games, cashing in nine straight until the 'over' emerged in Thursday's win over St. Joe's.

-- The 'under' is on a 5-1-1 run in Villanova's last seven games. However, the 'over' still maintains a profitable 18-12-1 record overall.

-- TBS will have the telecast 30 minutes after the conclusion of Dayton vs. Syracuse.

**Oregon vs. Wisconsin**

-- As of early this afternoon, most books had second-seeded Wisconsin (27-7 SU, 18-16 ATS) favored by 5.5 with a total of 145.5. This total has been on the move all day as it was in the 142-143 range last night. Bettors can support the Ducks on the money line for a +220 return (risk $100 to win $220).

-- Bo Ryan's squad destroyed American by a 75-35 count as a 13.5-point favorite Thursday afternoon in Milwaukee. Traevon Jackson was the catalyst with 18 points, four rebounds, three assists and two steals. Ben Brust added 17 points by draining 4-of-7 shots from 3-point range.

-- Oregon (24-9 SU, 18-11-3 ATS) has won nine of its last 10 games, including Thursday's 87-68 blowout win over BYU as a 4.5-point favorite. Elgin Cook provided the Ducks with a huge spark off the bench, producing 23 points and eight rebounds in only 23 minutes of playing time. Joseph Young added 19 points for the winners.

-- Dana Altman's team is 9-2-1 ATS in its last 12 games.

-- Oregon has thrived in the underdog role this year, posting a 6-2 spread record with four outright wins.

-- Wisconsin is 7-11 ATS in 18 games as a single-digit favorite. The Badgers have failed to cover in 10 of its last 13 such spots.

-- Wisconsin has a senior-laded team that's looking to make amends for quick exit from the 2013 NCAA Tournament. The Badgers were sent packing in their opening round by Ole Miss last season. Not because of Marshall Henderson, however, but due to interior defense and rebounding of Murphy Holloway and Reginald Buckner.

-- Although the seniors drive this squad, it has been the development of sophomore center Frank Kaminsky that's been the backbone of the 2014 Badgers. Kaminsky can pull opposing 'bigs' away from the basket with his outstanding 3-point shooting skills, but he can also get it done on the low post with an array of back-to-the basket moves in his repertoire. Kaminsky averages 13.4 points and 6.3 rebounds per game while making 3's at a 37.5 percent clip. He also had 54 blocked shots. Three of Wisconsin's five starters shoot 3's at a better percentage than Kaminsky, including Josh Gasser, who is making 44.9 of his attempts from deep.

-- The 'over' has cashed in four of Wisconsin's last five games to improve to 18-15 overall.

-- The 'over' is 16-15 overall for Oregon, but the 'under' is on a lucrative 13-4 run in its last 17 outings.

-- The winner advances to the West Region semifinals to take on the survivor of Baylor-Creighton in Anaheim.

-- Remember, this game is in Milwaukee and will therefore have a decided pro-Badger crowd. Tip-off is expected to be around 7:40 p.m. Eastern on CBS.

[StarDust Bum]

NCAAB
Short Sheet

Saturday, March 22

Connecticut at Villanova, 9:40 ET
Connecticut: 3-11 ATS in road games after a non-conference game
Villanova: 20-7 ATS as a favorite

Pittsburgh at Florida, 12:15 ET
Pittsburgh: 7-1 ATS after having won 3 of their last 4 games
Florida: 19-9 UNDER in all games

St Louis at Louisiville, 2:45 ET
St Louis: 10-19 ATS in all games
Louisiville: 20-7 ATS in all neutral court games

Oregon at Wisconsin, 7:45 ET
Oregon: 6-15 ATS after having won 8 or more of their last 10 games
Wisconsin: 119-87 ATS after a non-conference game

Texas at Michigan, 5:15 ET
Texas: 27-10 OVER in a neutral court game where the total is 140 to 149.5
Michigan: 21-10 OVER in road games after 1 or more consecutive wins

Harvard at Michigan State, 8:40 ET
Harvard: 8-2 ATS on Saturday games
Michigan State: 31-50 ATS after covering 5 or 6 of their last 7 against the spread

North Dakota State at San Diego State, 6:10 ET
North Dakota St: 2-8 ATS after scoring 80 points or more
San Diego St: 12-5 ATS in road games after 1 or more consecutive wins

Louisiana Tech at Georgia, 11:00 AM ET
Louisiana Tech: 21-7 UNDER in a road game where the total is 140 to 149.5
Georgia: 21-8 UNDER in all games

IPFW at VMI, 1:00 ET
IPFW: 18-9 ATS in road games
VMI: 4-17 ATS after covering 2 of their last 3 against the spread

Wright State at Ohio, 2:00 ET
Wright St: 77-51 ATS after having won 3 of their last 4 games
Ohio: 0-7 ATS in home games after a game where they covered the spread

Yale at Holy Cross, 7:00 ET
Yale: 30-16 ATS in road games after having lost 4 or 5 of their last 6 games
Holy Cross: n/a

Eastern Michigan at Columbia, 7:00 ET
E Michigan: 15-5 ATS when the line is +3 to -3
Columbia: 10-21 ATS after a game where they covered the spread

San Diego at Sam Houston St, 7:00 ET
San Diego: 1-7 ATS off a home win
Sam Houston St: n/a

Texas A&M Corpus at Pacific, 9:00 ET
Texas A&M: n/a
Pacific: 10-3 ATS on Saturday games

[StarDust Bum]

lAST SET OF GAMES FOR THE EVENING:


Yale - 7:00 PM ET Yale +4 500 DOUBLE PLAY
Holy Cross -

Eastern Michigan - 7:00 PM ET Columbia -3.5 500 *****
Columbia -

San Diego - 7:00 PM ET Sam Houston St. -3 500 TRIPLE PLAY
Sam Houston St. -

Dayton - 7:10 PM ET Dayton +8 500 DOUBLE PLAY
Syracuse - Under 131 500

Oregon - 7:45 PM ET Wisconsin -5.5 500 *****
Wisconsin - Under 145.5 500

Harvard - 8:40 PM ET Harvard +8 500 TRIPLE PLAY
Michigan St - Over 136.5 500

Texas A&M CC - 9:00 PM ET Texas A&M CC +8.5 500 TRIPLE PLAY
Pacific -

Connecticut - 9:40 PM ET Connecticut +4 500
Villanova - Under 133.5 500 *****

[StarDust Bum]

Creighton seniors driven by past losses

March 22, 2014


SAN ANTONIO (AP) - For Doug McDermott and his Creighton teammates, the last two years at the NCAA tournament left them bitter after third-round losses robbed them of a chance to go farther than any Bluejays team before them.

They also were a major motivating factor in keeping this team together for another try.

With that goal in mind, McDermott skipped a chance to enter the NBA draft, rallying a senior-laden group to another big season. Third-seeded Creighton (27-7) plays No. 6 seed Baylor (25-11) on Sunday in the West Regional for a chance to advance to the round of 16 for the first time in school history.

''We've knocked on the door and come so close the last few years to try to get into that Sweet 16 and see what happens after that,'' Creighton coach Greg McDermott said. ''I couldn't think of a better way for their career to end than to go (farther) and have a chance to go to the Final Four.''

Creighton's four senior starters give the Bluejays a blend of maturity and confidence to support a scorer like Doug McDermott, who leads the nation at 27 points per game.

Greg McDermott noted that the seniors could stay together because early career injuries led to redshirt seasons for Grant Gibbs and Ethan Wragge. Then his son Doug made the surprise decision not to turn pro.

''All of a sudden, you have these pieces in place again for a fourth year together,'' Greg McDermott said. ''There is a confidence about them. ... They believe in each other.''

The group that earned their chops in the Missouri Valley Conference stepped up to the Big East and played for the conference title in their first season.

''This is our last go around,'' Doug McDermott said. ''We've been through so much together to get to this point.''

Baylor is a big and athletic team that all but collapsed in January, only to pick itself back up and turn things around with a frantic finish. Last season's NIT champions started the season ranked No. 25 and rose as high as No. 7 behind a 13-1 start.

But the Bears nearly fell apart in the Big 12 with a 2-8 start in league play and were written off as one of the most disappointing teams in the country. They responded by winning 10 of their next 11 and made it to the Big 12 title game.

Baylor players called that life in the Big 12, arguably the best league in the country this season. Now the Bears are a team brimming with postseason confidence.

''No matter what we've been through this year, we feel like we're a good team and we're as good as any team in the country and can play with anybody,'' Bears forward Royce O'Neale said.

Five things to know about Baylor vs. Creighton:

NO STOPPING MCDERMOTT: Doug McDermott has scored at least 30 points in four of the past five games. He had 30 on Friday against Louisiana-Lafayette. Baylor coach Scott Drew seemed to ready to concede him another 30 on Sunday, but hopes to keep it there.

''If we can just contest as many shots and make it as tough as we can so he can't get into a rhythm,'' Drew said. ''There is a difference between 30 points and 45 points.''

BAYLOR ZONE: With their size and athleticism, Baylor plays a zone defense that can be impenetrable with 7-foot-1 center Isaiah Austin and 6-10 forward Cory Jefferson. Add 6-7, 270 pound bruiser Rico Gathers and the Bears can intimidate anyone trying to get to the basket.

Creighton hardly seemed worried. They'll just shoot over it. ''We have one of the best shooting teams in the country,'' Doug McDermott said. ''We actually like it when we get zone.''

That wasn't the case when Creighton lost the Big East title game to Providence when the Bluejays were 8 of 30 from 3-point range against the Friars' zone.

BRADY BARRAGE: Baylor's Brady Heslip is the Bears' top 3-point shooter at 47 percent on the season. He struggled in Baylor's second-round win over Nebraska missing all six of his attempts, but was 10 of 10 from the free throw line.

Heslip shrugged off the misfires and dared defenders to back off him Sunday.

''If they leave me open, I'm not going 0 for 6 again,'' Heslip said.

BLIND SPOT: Baylor's Austin is one of the top big men in the Big 12 and a top prospect for the NBA draft if he leaves school early. He's also partially blind. Austin wears a prosthetic right eye, the result of a detached retina injury in junior high. Doctors tried four surgeries to correct the problem.

[StarDust Bum]

Shockers ready for Kentucky showdown

March 22, 2014


ST. LOUIS (AP) - Kentucky offered the promise of perfection. Wichita State is in pursuit of it.

The teams will meet Sunday for a spot in the Midwest Regional semifinals.

The eighth-seeded Wildcats are the team stocked with so much NBA talent that some of their brazen fans printed up T-shirts that read, ''40-0.'' Before the season, mind you. And it's also the team that went exactly five days before losing its first game.

Meanwhile, the top-seeded Shockers are a bunch of small-town kids and overlooked prospects desperately trying not to wake up from a dream season. They're the team that can actually attain 40-0, only if they can finish off what they nearly accomplished last season.

Kentucky is the next obstacle standing Wichita State's way.