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Play-in Game
Monmouth is only 18-14 this year, but they beat Salukis by 12 in Alaska and held Princeton to 21 points in 20-point win; Hawks hold their enemy to 39.9% from floor, but allowed 441 offensive boards, an awful lot. Monmouth also lost to South Carolina by 6 pts, and they had guys out for that game. Yes, they really won a game 41-21 this season.
With Sagarin rating of 272 (Hawks' is 188) , Hampton is one of worst teams to ever play in NCAAs; they won two games out of their league, the very weak MEAC, where Pirates finished sixth- they had to win four conference tournament games to get here, so they have momentum. Hampton is fast-paced, aggressive but they can't shoot (31.9% on 3's), 60.5% from foul line.
This isn't a great game, but I think Monmouth is right side.
NIT games
In my mind, there is nothing more mystifying in handicapping than the first round of the NIT. No one wants to play in the NIT; not players, not coaches, they all want to be in the Field of 65, but if they win their first game, they'll get into it, glad to still be playing. But for this round, proceed with extreme caution........ crowds are small, so home court is minimized, but travel isn't at all first class, so that hurts the road teams. Here is some info on the games that are being played, for what it is worth.......
Butler won 10 of last 13 games but lost in conference finals at Milwaukee; they split vs pair of MAC teams this year, losing in OT at Kent in Bracketbusters. Miami laid egg in quarterfinal vs Ohio U after they entered tourney on 9-1 run; they beat Wright State 54-46, in only game vs Horizon team this season.
Georgia Southern was top seed in Southern Conference tourney this is probably pretty big deal for them; they had won eight of nine before losing in Southern quarters- they play at 6th fastest pace in country. Charlotte beat Southern Conference champ, the Davidson Wildcats, in double OT; they played lot of close ones down stretch, and lost most of them.
Virginia lost five of last seven games; they lost 81-51 at Arizona of Pac-10, when Cavs led by one at half Nov 27, their only game vs Pac-10 team (+12). Stanford lost five of last seven games after a hot streak around the Super Bowl; they lost to Virginia Tech at Vegas in December, 59-52. Cavs beat Va Tech three times.
Northern Arizona lost Big Sky title game on this floor, so they're bitterly disappointed, as is Delaware State, losing to #6 seed in their conference finals. State plays at 4th-slowest pace in nation, while Northern plays at 40th-fastest. Visiting Hornets don't play lot of teams that shoot well, but Lumberjacks can shoot it well.
UTEP wasn't same once they lost leading scorer Tofi with knee injury last month (3-3 last six games); Miners went 5-2 vs spread in C-USA home games. Lipscomb tied for first with Belmont in well-balanced Atlantic Sun (15-5 in league); they are coached by son of Wimp Sanderson, the former Alabama coach.
Rutgers has lame-duck coach; they went 5-3 in last eight games, but got killed by Villanova in Big East quarters; they were 4-3 as road dog in Big East games. Penn State played well at end of the year (4-3 last seven); they led Ohio St at halftime in the Big 11 tourney. Penn St on upswing, Rutgers is coach-hunting, though current assistant Hill expected to get Knights' job.
Temple coach Chaney resigned yesterday, will not coach here, so Lord knows what that means to Owls, who played without Chaney in last year's NIT. Akron was 6-3 in last nine games; this Temple zone is tough to prep for, but Zips shoot 37% from arc, so they could be OK there.
Manhattan has real good group of sophomores who got upset by St Peter's in MAAC semifinals; they lost their best player to grades during season, so that hurt. FDU lost at home in finals of their conference tournament, worst-case scenario. FDU plays at 44th-fastest pace, Manhattan 86th, so this will be high scoring
Monmouth is only 18-14 this year, but they beat Salukis by 12 in Alaska and held Princeton to 21 points in 20-point win; Hawks hold their enemy to 39.9% from floor, but allowed 441 offensive boards, an awful lot. Monmouth also lost to South Carolina by 6 pts, and they had guys out for that game. Yes, they really won a game 41-21 this season.
With Sagarin rating of 272 (Hawks' is 188) , Hampton is one of worst teams to ever play in NCAAs; they won two games out of their league, the very weak MEAC, where Pirates finished sixth- they had to win four conference tournament games to get here, so they have momentum. Hampton is fast-paced, aggressive but they can't shoot (31.9% on 3's), 60.5% from foul line.
This isn't a great game, but I think Monmouth is right side.
NIT games
In my mind, there is nothing more mystifying in handicapping than the first round of the NIT. No one wants to play in the NIT; not players, not coaches, they all want to be in the Field of 65, but if they win their first game, they'll get into it, glad to still be playing. But for this round, proceed with extreme caution........ crowds are small, so home court is minimized, but travel isn't at all first class, so that hurts the road teams. Here is some info on the games that are being played, for what it is worth.......
Butler won 10 of last 13 games but lost in conference finals at Milwaukee; they split vs pair of MAC teams this year, losing in OT at Kent in Bracketbusters. Miami laid egg in quarterfinal vs Ohio U after they entered tourney on 9-1 run; they beat Wright State 54-46, in only game vs Horizon team this season.
Georgia Southern was top seed in Southern Conference tourney this is probably pretty big deal for them; they had won eight of nine before losing in Southern quarters- they play at 6th fastest pace in country. Charlotte beat Southern Conference champ, the Davidson Wildcats, in double OT; they played lot of close ones down stretch, and lost most of them.
Virginia lost five of last seven games; they lost 81-51 at Arizona of Pac-10, when Cavs led by one at half Nov 27, their only game vs Pac-10 team (+12). Stanford lost five of last seven games after a hot streak around the Super Bowl; they lost to Virginia Tech at Vegas in December, 59-52. Cavs beat Va Tech three times.
Northern Arizona lost Big Sky title game on this floor, so they're bitterly disappointed, as is Delaware State, losing to #6 seed in their conference finals. State plays at 4th-slowest pace in nation, while Northern plays at 40th-fastest. Visiting Hornets don't play lot of teams that shoot well, but Lumberjacks can shoot it well.
UTEP wasn't same once they lost leading scorer Tofi with knee injury last month (3-3 last six games); Miners went 5-2 vs spread in C-USA home games. Lipscomb tied for first with Belmont in well-balanced Atlantic Sun (15-5 in league); they are coached by son of Wimp Sanderson, the former Alabama coach.
Rutgers has lame-duck coach; they went 5-3 in last eight games, but got killed by Villanova in Big East quarters; they were 4-3 as road dog in Big East games. Penn State played well at end of the year (4-3 last seven); they led Ohio St at halftime in the Big 11 tourney. Penn St on upswing, Rutgers is coach-hunting, though current assistant Hill expected to get Knights' job.
Temple coach Chaney resigned yesterday, will not coach here, so Lord knows what that means to Owls, who played without Chaney in last year's NIT. Akron was 6-3 in last nine games; this Temple zone is tough to prep for, but Zips shoot 37% from arc, so they could be OK there.
Manhattan has real good group of sophomores who got upset by St Peter's in MAAC semifinals; they lost their best player to grades during season, so that hurt. FDU lost at home in finals of their conference tournament, worst-case scenario. FDU plays at 44th-fastest pace, Manhattan 86th, so this will be high scoring
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