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Thursday NCAA
Since 2001, #1 seeds are 12-1 SU in this round, and 10-3 vs spread (only loss was Indiana's 74-73 win vs Duke as 12.5-pt dog in '02). Last time a #1 seed was dog in this round was the Kenny Anderson game at the Superdome in '90, when Georgia Tech beat Michigan State in OT on disputed buzzer-beater, 81-80, as 3-pt favorite. All of which bodes well for Washington squad that is underrated, and should benefit from altitude, as they have tremendous depth and like to run all day.
Louisville is on 11-game win streak, winning 19 of last 20 games, and made everything they threw up in easy win over Georgia Tech. Both sides played tournament in November for extra games- this is by far, best game of this round, am surprised it isn't the late game. Top seed Washington won five in row, nine of last ten.
Wisconsin-Milwaukee coach Pearl once put Illinois on probation when another regime was coaching the Illini; his Panthers won 12 in row and 20 of 21, but lost by 29 vs Wisconsin, only Big 11 team they played. While we quote that #1's are 10-3 vs spread in this round the last five tournaments, #1 seeds as double digit faves in this round are just 2-7-1 vs spread in last ten tries, stat that goes back over a decade. I posted a selection on this game on bottom of this page.
West Virginia was 10-0 at one point this year, then had to have wins in Big East tourney just to get in Field of 65, now they're in Sweet 16, with odd 1-3-1 defense and gritty kids- both they and Texas Tech rallied from double digit deficits in second half Saturday, but West Virginia's last three wins are by 2,2 and in double OT. #6 seeds that get to this point, and face lower-seeded team have lost four of last five games, which favors the #7 seeded Mountaineers. Tough game to call.
Arizona won four of last five times they got to this point with last three wins by 8,10,17 pts. Favorites covered six of eight in this round last year, after being 7-9 the previous two years. Arizona allowed just 58 ppg last weekend, as they used zone to stifle UAB. Oklahoma State is veteran team that starts four seniors, many of whom are older than usual. #2 seeds covered five of last seven games in this round, but did better vs seeds lower than a #3, breaking even vs the #3 seeds.
Thursday NIT game
Georgetown is on road for first time in NIT; they were 4-2 as big East road dog. South Carolina has yet to go on road, but NIT bigwigs probably glad to get team to New York that used to play on Frnak McGuire Court. Hoyas played boston U, Fullerton to this point, while Carolina has played stronger teams in UNLV, Miami. Georgetown beat Clemson by 15; Gamecocks lost to their archrivals by a point in OT.
Friday NCAA
NCAA Tips:
Illinois, -10.5-- Wisconsin-Milwaukee presses, but no college team passes like Illinois. Illini, playing pretty much at home in Chicago, will pressure Panther guards who will not be 23-45 from arc, like they were in last week's games. Coach Weber went to UWM; Panther coach Pearl once help put Illini on probation. Tonight is an Orange night. 20 webers on the Illini, -10.5.
Kentucky, -4-- Utah has the excellent big man, but UK has three 7-footers to throw at him, one of whom is 7-3; New Mexico gace Utes trouble because they threw tall people at him in bunches. This spread is just too low. 20 tubbysmiths on the Wildcats, -4.
Since 2001, #1 seeds are 12-1 SU in this round, and 10-3 vs spread (only loss was Indiana's 74-73 win vs Duke as 12.5-pt dog in '02). Last time a #1 seed was dog in this round was the Kenny Anderson game at the Superdome in '90, when Georgia Tech beat Michigan State in OT on disputed buzzer-beater, 81-80, as 3-pt favorite. All of which bodes well for Washington squad that is underrated, and should benefit from altitude, as they have tremendous depth and like to run all day.
Louisville is on 11-game win streak, winning 19 of last 20 games, and made everything they threw up in easy win over Georgia Tech. Both sides played tournament in November for extra games- this is by far, best game of this round, am surprised it isn't the late game. Top seed Washington won five in row, nine of last ten.
Wisconsin-Milwaukee coach Pearl once put Illinois on probation when another regime was coaching the Illini; his Panthers won 12 in row and 20 of 21, but lost by 29 vs Wisconsin, only Big 11 team they played. While we quote that #1's are 10-3 vs spread in this round the last five tournaments, #1 seeds as double digit faves in this round are just 2-7-1 vs spread in last ten tries, stat that goes back over a decade. I posted a selection on this game on bottom of this page.
West Virginia was 10-0 at one point this year, then had to have wins in Big East tourney just to get in Field of 65, now they're in Sweet 16, with odd 1-3-1 defense and gritty kids- both they and Texas Tech rallied from double digit deficits in second half Saturday, but West Virginia's last three wins are by 2,2 and in double OT. #6 seeds that get to this point, and face lower-seeded team have lost four of last five games, which favors the #7 seeded Mountaineers. Tough game to call.
Arizona won four of last five times they got to this point with last three wins by 8,10,17 pts. Favorites covered six of eight in this round last year, after being 7-9 the previous two years. Arizona allowed just 58 ppg last weekend, as they used zone to stifle UAB. Oklahoma State is veteran team that starts four seniors, many of whom are older than usual. #2 seeds covered five of last seven games in this round, but did better vs seeds lower than a #3, breaking even vs the #3 seeds.
Thursday NIT game
Georgetown is on road for first time in NIT; they were 4-2 as big East road dog. South Carolina has yet to go on road, but NIT bigwigs probably glad to get team to New York that used to play on Frnak McGuire Court. Hoyas played boston U, Fullerton to this point, while Carolina has played stronger teams in UNLV, Miami. Georgetown beat Clemson by 15; Gamecocks lost to their archrivals by a point in OT.
Friday NCAA
NCAA Tips:
Illinois, -10.5-- Wisconsin-Milwaukee presses, but no college team passes like Illinois. Illini, playing pretty much at home in Chicago, will pressure Panther guards who will not be 23-45 from arc, like they were in last week's games. Coach Weber went to UWM; Panther coach Pearl once help put Illini on probation. Tonight is an Orange night. 20 webers on the Illini, -10.5.
Kentucky, -4-- Utah has the excellent big man, but UK has three 7-footers to throw at him, one of whom is 7-3; New Mexico gace Utes trouble because they threw tall people at him in bunches. This spread is just too low. 20 tubbysmiths on the Wildcats, -4.
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