Announcement

**InsiderEdge** · 03-21-2004, 08:22 PM

3-0 in the tourney today makes it 14-5 just like we said. Join us tomorrow for the NIT to get the same type of winners along with the most comprehensive analysis others only dream of.

No. 6 Wisconsin Badgers vs No. 3 Pittsburgh Panthers 4:45 pm EST

Pittsburgh +1 (3 Units)

The wrong team is favored in this matchup. Given the fact that this game is being played in Milwaukee and that Pittsburgh looked pathetic on offense against Central Florida, the public will be all over the Badgers here. The Panthers escaped against the Golden Knights as they played with no energy whatsoever. That could be attributed to a look ahead here. The Pittsburgh defense came up huge late in that game and still remains one of the best in the country. They held Central Florida to two field goals in the final 10 minutes. Central Florida shot 30 percent (8 for 27) and made only 2 of 9 shots from behind the arc. The Badgers had to rally from a 13-point second half deficit to defeat Richmond in their first round game. Wisconsin guard Devin Harris said after the game that he was unfamiliar with the Panthers. "I don't know too much about them," Harris said. "I know they're a good defensive team, and I know they got some good guys down low. We're just going to have to get some rest and get ready for them on Sunday." Advantage Pittsburgh. The Panthers have the edge offensively, shooting 47.8% to 45.0% for Wisconsin and also on the defensive end, allowing 38.4% compared to 42.3%. Pittsburgh has lost just 4 times this season and all of them were by 3 points or less. Wisconsin’s 6 losses were by an average of 10.2 ppg. Even though the Badgers will have the fan support here, it still isn’t a true home game. Pittsburgh is 7-1 ATS on the road against winning teams while Wisconsin is 4-6 ATS in the same situation. The Panthers are 3-0 ATS as dogs this season.

No. 1 Kentucky Wildcats vs No. 9 UAB Blazers 5:00 pm EST

UAB +10 (2 Units)

The Blazers escaped a first round defeat as they outscored the Huskies on Friday, showing how dangerous this team can be on offense. The win really gave them confidence heading into their game against Kentucky. "This win further proved we can play in this tournament," said UAB guard Tony Johnson. "It's a great confidence booster for us. Offensively we played great, our shooting was on and we kept our turnovers to a minimum." That test will have them prepared for the Wildcats who are coming off a hard fought win against 16th seem Florida A&M. Kentucky used a late second half run to pull away but an overmatched team exposed their defense. This against a UK defense that had held every opponent to less than 50-percent accuracy this season and an average of 28.5 points in the first half. They did clamp down in the second half but that was largely in part to the Rattlers simply tiring out. "Everybody was pointing fingers," UK forward Chuck Hayes said. "We were searching for answers, asking each other about each other's assignments." That’s not a good sign for a supposed title contender. They can’t expect the Blazers to tire out and this is a very deep team. The Blazers have 12 players who average at least eight minutes and nine who play more than 26 per game. The UAB bench accounts for more than 25 points per game. Keeping players fresh makes the press that much better late in the game. The press of UAB will again create easy opportunities. UAB prides itself on defense and tries to force opponents out of what they're comfortable doing offensively. "It's always defense with us," Blazers head coach Mike Anderson said. "We've got to stop them and we've got to score as well. There are going to be runs in the game and we want to have the most runs. It's going to be interesting against them." UAB is a solid 7-2 ATS as dogs this season while Kentucky has played their fair share of close games. They are 3-4 ATS as favorites between 10 and 20 points.

No. 6 Boston College Eagles vs No. 3 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets 2:15 pm EST

Under 134.5 Boston College/Georgia Tech (3 Units)

Both of the defenses are the one’s to thank for their respective victories on Friday. Georgia Tech won with defense, limiting the Panthers to two field goals over the game's final 8:40. Every shot was contested, every pass made problematic. Georgia Tech gets to keep playing because head coach Paul Hewitt believes in his guys and his guys believe in Hewitt's credo: Above all else, defend. "If we defend, we have a chance to control our fate," Hewitt said, reiterating. "And we think we can defend against anybody." They have held 3 of their last 5 opponents to exactly 60 points each. They have allowed a lot of points in some contests but it’s been their offense that has dictated the tempo of those games. Overall, they are allowing just 38.6% shooting from the floor. Their offense won’t be able to control this game however as the Boston College defense has been playing as good as anyone. The key to yesterday's triumph was the defensive job Boston College freshman swingman Sean Marshall and junior guard Jermaine Watson did against Utah senior shooting guard Nick Jacobson, who was held below his average (16.8) after he went scoreless in an 0-for-10 first half that included six misfires from the arc, all of which exacerbated Utah's woeful 38% shooting overall (19 for 50). All day, the Eagles had forced Utah to eat up much of the 35-second clock. "I think we're really more comfortable on defense," said Watson, noting the improvement of BC's perimeter defense, which has held its last five opponents to 38.2% shooting (102 for 267) and 15.3% from 3-point range (15 of 98). "We know what we're looking to do when we get out there. The Eagles coaches laid out a challenge, and now Boston College is regarded as a good perimeter defense team - a chief reason it won eight of its last nine games. Since Villanova shot 70% from behind the arc on January 15th, Boston College foes have shot a combined 28.5% on 3-pointers. The defense hasn’t allowed 70 points since February 11th, giving up just 54.8 ppg since.

Announcement

3 NCAA Winners Sunday - 5 Total - All Guaranteed

3 NCAA Winners Sunday - 5 Total - All Guaranteed

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