TODAY'S GAMES PREVIEWS

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TODAY'S GAMES PREVIEWS

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Virginia (14-15) vs. Boston College (15-15)






DATE & TIME: Thursday, March 11th, 12:00 p.m. (et)

FACTS & STATS: Site: Greensboro Coliseum (23,500) -- Greensboro, North Carolina. Television: Raycom. Home Record: Virginia 11-6, Boston College 11-6. Away Record: Virginia 2-8, Boston College 3-7. Neutral Record: Virginia 1-1, Boston College 1-2. Conference Record: Virginia 5-11, Boston College 6-10. Series Record: Virginia leads, 6-4.

GAME NOTES: The 57th-annual ACC Tournament gets underway this afternoon in Greensboro, as the eighth-seeded Boston College Eagles and the ninth-seeded Virginia Cavaliers square off on the floor at the Greensboro Coliseum.

Tony Bennett's first year in Charlottesville wasn't exactly a huge success, as the Cavaliers failed to remain competitive throughout. finishing one game under .500 overall and a mere 5-11 in league play. To make matters worse, the team enters the postseason with an ugly nine-game losing streak in tow and hasn't won a game since a February 3rd decision against NC State (59-47). Virginia has had very little success in this event, with a 30-55 overall mark. The team's lone ACC Tournament title came way back in 1976.

Al Skinner's Eagles didn't fare much better this season, finishing the year at .500 with a 15-15 mark and completing its ACC slate at a mere 6-10. Still, BC has shown glimpses of solid play in-conference win wins over the likes of Clemson and Virginia Tech. However, those victories were tempered by loses at home to opponents like Maine and Harvard. Boston College is one of five schools currently in the conference to have never won this event. The team is 5-4 all-time in ACC Tournament play, including a championship game appearance in 2006.

These two teams met just once during the regular season with Boston College claiming a 68-55 victory just over a week ago in Chestnut Hill. The winner of the this contest will advance to take on top-seeded Duke in quarterfinal action on Friday.

The Cavaliers played solid defense for the most part this season, ranking third in the conference in scoring defense at a mere .63.9 ppg. However, that was not enough to offset ranking last in the conference in scoring (66.0 ppg) and 11th in field-goal percentage (.429). The likelihood of a strong run in this event would be a miracle, especially with the recent suspension of sophomore guard Sylven Landesberg, who finished fifth in the conference in scoring at 17.3 ppg and earned All-ACC Second-Team honors. Landesberg will miss the remainder of the season for academic reasons. The team has won just one ACC Tournament title and that came all the way back in 1976 and ending that drought isn't likely. In Landesberg's absence, the team will have to rely even more on players like Mike Scott (11.9 ppg, 6.8 rpg) and Sammy Zeglinski (8.8 ppg, 56 three-pointers).

Boston College is also fighting an uphill battle coming into the postseason, as the team has been extremely inconsistent this year. The team did finish with three wins in its last five games, including a 68-55 decision over the Cavaliers a week ago, so getting into the next round is certainly a possibility. The Eagles are not devoid of talent, as All-ACC Third-Team member Joe Trapani (14.6 ppg) leads the way. Trapani also leads the team in rebounding (6.4 rpg) and ranks second with 28 steals. Reggie Jackson (12.7 ppg), Corey Raji (11.6 ppg) and Rakim Sanders (10.8 ppg) give the team other options at the offensive end.

The Cavaliers had their problems this season with Landesberg in the lineup. Without him, expect their stay in the postseason to end this afternoon.

Predicted Outcome: Boston College 66, Virginia 55

 

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Western Michigan (17-14) vs. Central Michigan (15-14)

Western Michigan (17-14) vs. Central Michigan (15-14)

Western Michigan (17-14) vs. Central Michigan (15-14)






DATE & TIME: Thursday, March 11th, 12:00 p.m. (et)

FACTS & STATS: Site: Quicken Loans Arena (20,562) -- Cleveland, Ohio. Television: FSN-Ohio. Home Record: WMU 12-3, CMU 10-3. Away Record: WMU 3-10, CMU 5-11. Neutral Record: WMU 2-1, CMU 0-0. Conference Record: WMU 8-8, CMU 9-7. Series Record: Western Michigan leads, 78-45.

GAME NOTES: Quarterfinal action of the Mid-American Conference Tournament will tip-off this afternoon when the second-seeded Central Michigan Chippewas take on the seventh-seeded Western Michigan Broncos at Quicken Loans Arena.

The Broncos opened tournament action with a thrilling, 75-73 victory over Bowling Green in the first round. It was the fourth win in the last six games for Western Michigan, which won this tournament just once, back in 2004.

As for the Chippewas, they earned the West Division title in their regular- season finale victory over Eastern Michigan. It was the third win in the last four games for Central Michigan, which has claimed this event twice, with the last one coming in 2003.

The Broncos currently own a 78-45 edge over Central Michigan in the all-time series. This season the two teams split a pair of games, with each team winning on their home floor.

The Broncos put forth a strong effort in their first-round win over Bowling Green, as they shot a respectable 46.3 percent from the floor, and also connected on 16-of-18 attempts from the foul line. Kool led the way in the win with 20 points, six rebounds and five assists, while Flenard Whitfield and Martelle McLemore posted 19 and 12 points, respectively. Kool, who was selected to the All-MAC First Team, led the Broncos this season with 20.9 ppg, and also dished out 83 assists. McLemore and Whitfield have also been helpful on the season, as the two players are netting 11.7 and 10.2 ppg, respectively.

The Chippewas might have won the West, but the team has struggled at the offensive end of the floor and heads into this tournament averaging just 64.7 ppg, behind a pedestrian 41.1 percent shooting effort. Jordan Bitzer and Robbie Harman have been the only two consistent scoring threats on the year for Central Michigan, and both players earned spots on the All-MAC Second Team. Bitzer is currently posting 14.9 ppg on the season and is pulling down 5.0 rpg, while Harman is contributing 14.8 ppg, to go along with a team-high 3.1 apg. Fortunately the team has been solid defensively, and is holding opponents to just 64.0 ppg on the season.

Neither squad has been overwhelming offensively, so do not expect a high- scoring affair. CMU does possess a solid duo in Harman and Bitzer, but look for Kool to throw the Broncos on his shoulders and carry them into the next round.

Predicted Outcome: Western Michigan 70, Central Michigan 64

 

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(22) Georgetown (21-9) vs. (3) Syracuse (28-3)

(22) Georgetown (21-9) vs. (3) Syracuse (28-3)

(22) Georgetown (21-9) vs. (3) Syracuse (28-3)



Thursday, March 11th, 12:00 p.m. (et)


FACTS & STATS: Madison Square Garden (19,763) -- New York, New York. Television: ESPN. Home Record: Georgetown 12-4, Syracuse 17-2. Away Record: Georgetown 6-5, Syracuse 8-1. Neutral Record: Georgetown 3-0, Syracuse 3-0. Conference Record: Georgetown 10-8, Syracuse 15-3. Series Record: Syracuse leads, 46-37.

GAME NOTES: The third-ranked and top-seeded Syracuse Orange make their much anticipated debut in the Big East Tournament today, as they lock up with the 22nd-ranked and eighth-seeded Georgetown Hoyas in the quarterfinals at Madison Square Garden. The survivor of this battle will move on to meet either Marquette or Villanova in the semifinals on Friday.

Syracuse is coming off a simply remarkable campaign, establishing a new school-record for regular-season victories (28) and conference wins (15). On its way to the program's first outright Big East title since 1990-91, the Orange also earned a No.1 ranking for the first time in two decades. Although the team's stay atop the national rankings only lasted a week following a loss to Louisville in its finale, Syracuse still enters the postseason with a firm grip on a No.1 seed for the NCAA Tournament. The Orange, which earned a double-bye with its finish, is one of the most decorated teams in the Big East Tournament, winning 45 games and five titles.

The only team that has won more games than Syracuse in the Big East Tournament is today's opponent. The Hoyas notched their tourney-record 47th win in the second round yesterday, posting a 69-49 win over ninth-seeded South Florida. The win improved Georgetown to 21-9 overall and moved it one step closer to a record eighth championship in this event.

As far as the all-time series is concerned, Syracuse claims a 46-37 advantage over Georgetown and that includes two wins during the regular season. The two teams have split 12 prior encounters in the Big East Tournament as well.

The Hoyas knocked down 45.8 percent of their attempts from the floor and 7- of-14 from long range, as they pushed past USF yesterday. Greg Monroe and Jason Clark each tallied 16 points in the win, while Chris Wright logged 15 points and six boards. Austin Freeman though, was limited to just eight points, well off his regular-season average of 17.3 ppg. Monroe, a first-team all-league choice, ranks second to Freeman in scoring at 16.0 ppg and the 6-11 center also pulls in a team-high 9.5 rpg. Wright and Clark are two other options for Georgetown, as they check in with 14.2 and 10.5 ppg, respectively.

Syracuse can light up the scoreboard against anyone, entering the postseason with a hardy 81.4 ppg average behind an electric 51.5 percent shooting from the floor. Wes Johnson, who sat out last season after transferring from Iowa State, is one of the most versatile players around and he paces the Orange with 15.7 ppg and 8.5 rpg. A 38.1 percent three-point shooter, who also ranks second with 58 blocks and 52 steals, Johnson was recently tabbed as the Big East Player of the Year. Getting the ball to Johnson is Andy Rautins, who distributes a team-high 4.8 apg. Rautins, a second-team all-league pick, also leads the team in steals (64) to go with 11.6 ppg. Kris Joseph is another important player for the Orange, as provides 11.0 ppg and 5.4 rpg coming off the bench. He was recognized for his success with the Big East Sixth Man award.

These are two heavyweights in a conference loaded with big time programs and there could be no better quarterfinal round matchup. The Orange have had Georgetown's number of late and should continue that trend with a win today.

Predicted Outcome: Syracuse 74, Georgetown 68

 

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Texas Tech (17-14) vs. (1) Kansas (29-2)

Texas Tech (17-14) vs. (1) Kansas (29-2)

Texas Tech (17-14) vs. (1) Kansas (29-2)



Thursday, March 11th, 12:30 p.m. (et)

FACTS & STATS: Site: Sprint Center (18,555) -- Kansas City, Missouri. Television: ESPN2. Home Record: Texas Tech 13-5, Kansas 19-0. Away Record: Texas Tech 3-9, Kansas 9-2. Neutral Record: Texas Tech 1-0, Kansas 1-0. Conference Record: Texas Tech 4-12, Kansas 15-1. Series Record: Kansas leads, 18-4.

GAME NOTES: The top-ranked Kansas Jayhawks are the top seed in the Big 12 Conference Tournament, and they are slated to do battle with the ninth-seeded Texas Tech Red Raiders this afternoon in the quarterfinal round.

The winner of this game will do battle with either fourth-seeded Texas A&M or 12th-seeded Nebraska in the semifinals.

Texas Tech was impressive in yesterday's 82-67 victory over eighth-seeded Colorado, a team that beat the Red Raiders by 11 points in the regular-season finale last weekend. Tech is gunning for its first-ever Big 12 Conference Tournament title, and although the team did lose its final seven regular- season bouts, it appears that confidence has been restored.

Kansas has won six Big 12 Tournament titles, at least twice as many as any other active member of the league. The Jayhawks captured three consecutive crowns from 2006-2008, and they are 25-7 all-time in this event. At 29-2 overall, including 15-1 in league action, Bill Self's squad was highly impressive during the regular season.

The Jayhawks crushed the Red Raiders earlier this season in an 89-63 final, and Kansas owns a decided 18-4 advantage in the all-time series.

Through 30 games, Texas Tech was scoring and surrendering the same exact amount of points (76.4 ppg). There are three double-digit scorers in the fold for the Red Raiders, and Mike Singletary led the way with 14.9 ppg and 6.8 rpg heading into yesterday's affair. John Roberson checked in with 14.4 ppg, and he had handed out 161 assists. Nick Okorie rounded out the trio with 10.8 ppg, and he was shooting 41.5 percent from three-point range. In Wednesday's win over Colorado, Texas Tech connected on 55.6 percent of its field goal attempts over the final 20 minutes to seal the deal. Roberson posted 19 points and nine assists, Okorie had 18 points, and Brad Reese 16 points off the bench. As for Singletary, he registered 13 points for the Red Raiders, who forced 19 turnovers and earned a 39-29 rebounding advantage.

A combination of vast talent and big-game experience makes this Kansas team one of the favorites to win the national title. It all starts with senior Sherron Collins, a 5-11 point guard who is scoring 15.3 ppg to go along with 4.3 apg. Collins is an 83.9 percent shooter from the foul line, and he will undoubtedly have the ball in his hands at the end of every close game. Xavier Henry, a standout freshman, checks in with 13.9 ppg, and he leads the club with 48 steals. Marcus Morris brings 12.4 ppg to the mix on 55.9 percent shooting from the field, and he is pulling down 6.2 rpg. Finally, center Cole Aldrich is averaging 12.4 ppg and 9.7 rpg to complement his 110 blocked shots. While Aldrich has certainly been solid, he is capable of being much more dominant at the offensive end. The Jayhawks are generating 82.2 ppg while holding opponents to 63.6 ppg on 37.6 percent field goal efficiency. A positive rebounding differential of 6.8 rpg has certainly helped the cause.

It is highly unlikely that Kansas will play poorly in this quarterfinal matchup. If every team in the nation plays up to its potential from this point forward, the Jayhawks will win the national championship.

Predicted Outcome: Kansas 89, Texas Tech 67

 

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South Carolina (15-15) vs. Alabama (16-14)

South Carolina (15-15) vs. Alabama (16-14)

South Carolina (15-15) vs. Alabama (16-14)






DATE & TIME: Thursday, March 11th, 1:00 p.m. (et)

FACTS & STATS: Site: Bridgestone Arena (19,395) -- Nashville, Tennessee. Television: SEC Network. Home Record: S. Carolina 11-5, Alabama 11-6. Away Record: S. Carolina 2-9, Alabama 3-6. Neutral Record: S. Carolina 2-1, Alabama 2-2. Conference Record: S. Carolina 6-10, Alabama 6-10. Series Record: Alabama leads, 20-12.

GAME NOTES: The first round of the 2010 SEC Tournament pits the Alabama Crimson Tide against the South Carolina Gamecocks.

The winner of this game moves on to Friday's quarterfinal round to take on the top-seeded Kentucky Wildcats.

South Carolina, the fifth seed from the East Division, is still in search of its first SEC title, and the Gamecocks are 16-18 in SEC Tournament affairs over the years. The team has split the 30 games it has played this season, and it owns a disappointing 6-10 mark against conference foes. South Carolina carried a six-game skid into the regular-season finale against nationally- ranked Vanderbilt on the road, and the fact that the Gamecocks were able to post a 77-73 victory in that tilt is proof that they can beat anyone when playing well.

Alabama, the West's fourth seed, has won this tournament six times, the second most in the league, but the last crown was captured way back in 1991. Still, the Tide is 57-43 in this event. Like South Carolina, Alabama is 6-10 in league play this season, and the club moved to 16-14 overall with back-to-back wins to close out the regular season.

Alabama beat South Carolina by nine points in the only regular-season meeting between the two teams, and the Crimson Tide own a 20-12 advantage in the all- time series.

South Carolina possess the league's leading scorer in Devan Downey (22.6 ppg), and the senior is also handing out 3.5 apg to go along with an impressive total of 83 steals. Still, Downey does have a couple of weak spots in his game, as he has suffered more turnovers than assists while shooting barely over 40 percent from the floor. Brandis Raley Ross (11.0 ppg) and Sam Muldrow (10.3 ppg) are counted on to provide offensive balance. Muldrow, who is blocking 3.1 shots per game, was named to the SEC All-Defensive Team, while Downey was a First-Team All-SEC selection and an All-Defensive Team member as well. Unfortunately, the Gamecocks are last in the league in free throw percentage, assists and rebounding margin. Downey poured in 26 points against Vanderbilt to close out the regular season, while Muldrow added 20 points and nine boards.

The Crimson Tide depend heavily on their defense to win games, as they are second in the conference in scoring defense (64.6 ppg). Mikhail Torrance (15.4 ppg, 5.3 apg) and JaMychal Green (14.3 ppg, 7.0 rpg) are clearly the two best players on the roster for 'Bama, but it remains to be seen if they will get enough help from a supporting cast that can be generously labeled as mediocre. Alabama is generating 68.6 ppg on 44.6 percent shooting from the field, and it is highly unlikely that the output will scare South Carolina or any other team in this tournament. Torrance posted 13 points, 12 rebounds and six assists against Auburn in the regular-season finale, proof of his tremendous versatility. Both he and Green were All-SEC selections.

In what figures to be a close game from start to finish, give a narrow edge to South Carolina. When Downey gets hot, the Gamecocks are tough to beat, and he has at least one big SEC Tournament performance in him.

Predicted Outcome: South Carolina 79, Alabama 70

 

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Houston (16-15) vs. Memphis (23-8)

Houston (16-15) vs. Memphis (23-8)

Houston (16-15) vs. Memphis (23-8)






DATE & TIME: Thursday, March 11th, 1:00 p.m. (et)

FACTS & STATS: Site: BOK Center (19,199) -- Tulsa, Oklahoma. Television: CBSCSN. Home Record: Houston 10-5, Memphis 16-3. Away Record: Houston 4-9, Memphis 7-4. Neutral Record: Houston 2-1, Memphis 0-1. Conference Record: Houston 7-9, Memphis 13-3. Series Record: Memphis leads, 24-11.

GAME NOTES: The second-seeded Memphis Tigers begin their quest for a fifth straight Conference USA Tournament title today, as they take on the seventh- seeded Houston Cougars in quarterfinal round action at the BOK Center. The winner of this game will move on to the semifinals against either Southern Miss or UAB on Friday.

The Tigers are the only current league member to have won this event, capturing the last four titles, including a 71-59 victory over Houston in the 2007 championship game. Unlike its prior championship runs however, Memphis is not the top seed this year, as the program's string of regular-season titles came to an end with a second place finish of 13-3. The Tigers, who had their remarkable 64-game C-USA winning streak snapped earlier in the campaign, posted wins in seven of their last eight games, so the team is coming on strong at just the right time.

As for the Cougars, they shook off a mediocre regular-season campaign to top 10th-seeded East Carolina, 93-80, in this tourney's first game yesterday. It marked the third win in the past five games for Houston, which improve to 9-12 all-time in this event.

In regard to the all-time series, Memphis holds a 24-11 lead over Houston and that includes a 3-1 mark in the C-USA Tournament. The teams split a pair of meetings during the regular season.

The Cougars knocked down 13-of-26 three-pointers and forced 14 turnovers in a 93-80 triumph of ECU yesterday. Houston scored 18 points off those mishaps and committed just five turnovers itself. Aubrey Coleman led the charge with 29 points and five assists, while Kelvin Lewis posted 15 points. A first-team all-league member, Coleman leads the entire nation in scoring with a healthy average of 26.1 ppg. He also grabs a team-high 7.4 rpg and is even an elite defender with 83 steals to his name. Lewis provides a nice complement with 15.1 ppg and he is a 39.3 percent three-point shooter.

The Tigers aren't as talented as some of their recent teams, but they can still get the job done at both ends of the floor. Memphis is currently producing a hardy 75.7 ppg, while limiting the opposition to just 64.7 ppg. Elliot Williams is clearly the go-to-guy for this club, as he tops the roster in scoring at 18.5 ppg. A first-team all-league choice, Williams can do much more than just score, putting forth 4.2 rpg and 3.8 apg as well. Wesley Witherspoon, a third-team all-conference pick, is a distant second in the scoring deportment at 12.4, and Roburt Sallie tacks on 10.8 ppg and a team- high 56 steals. Rounding out the double-digit scorers is Doneal Mack, who contributes 10.6 ppg.

This is tough draw for Memphis, as Houston is more capable than its record and showed that with a win over the Tigers just a few weeks ago. Still, the Tigers are a bit deeper and their ability to play solid defense should make the difference today.

Predicted Outcome: Memphis 80, Houston 72

 

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Eastern Michigan (17-14) vs. Akron (22-9)

Eastern Michigan (17-14) vs. Akron (22-9)

Eastern Michigan (17-14) vs. Akron (22-9)


DATE & TIME: Thursday, March 11th, 2:00 p.m. (et)

FACTS & STATS: Site: Quicken Loans Arena (20,562) -- Cleveland, Ohio. Television: FSN-Ohio. Home Record: EMU 11-4, Akron 13-4. Away Record: EMU 5-9, Akron 7-4. Neutral Record: EMU 1-1, Akron 2-1. Conference Record: EMU 8-8, Akron 12-4. Series Record: Eastern Michigan leads, 18-17.

GAME NOTES: Mid-American Conference Tournament quarterfinal round action will continue at Quicken Loans Arena this afternoon when the sixth-seeded Eastern Michigan Eagles take on the third-seeded Akron Zips.

The Eagles began the tournament with a solid, 65-59 victory over Northern Illinois. It was the third win in the last four games for Eastern Michigan, which has claimed this title four times, but not since 1998.

Akron closed out its regular season with a 74-61 setback to Kent State. The loss to the Golden Flashes left Akron with the third seed, and also dropped the team to 12-4 in conference play. Last season the Zips grabbed their first- ever MAC Tournament title with a victory over Buffalo.

The Eagles own an 18-17 edge over Akron in the all-time series, but the Zips have won seven of the last eight matchups. Earlier this season the Eagles grabbed a 62-59 victory over the Zips.

The Eagles were not at their best in their first-round matchup against Northern Illinois, but the team did just enough to grab a victory over the Huskies. Eastern Michigan shot a pedestrian 40.9 percent from the floor and finished 25-of-41 from the foul line. Brandon Bowdry led the way in the win with a double-double of 19 points and 12 rebounds, while Justin Dobbins tallied 13 points. Carlos Medlock and Jay Higgins helped out with 11 and 10 points respectively. Medlock and Bowdry are both averaging 16.1 ppg on the season, while Medlock is pacing the team with 118 assists, and Bowdry is leading the way with 9.8 rpg. Dobbins has also been a solid contributor on the season and is netting 12.3 ppg, to go along with 6.0 rpg.

The Zips have relied on their play defensively throughout the season, as the team is holding opponents to just 64.2 ppg. Opponents are shooting 41.3 percent from the floor against Akron, but the Zips are holding teams to just 30.8 percent from behind the arc. Offensively, the Zips have been nothing special and head into this contest averaging just 69.9 ppg, behind 43.7 percent shooting. Brett McKnight is the only player averaging double figures for Akron, as the forward is posting 10.3 ppg, to go along with 4.4 rpg. Jimmy Conyers, who is leading the team with 6.8 rpg, is also chipping in 9.9 rpg.

The Zips are tough defensively, but the Eagles were able to beat the them in Akron, so look for Eastern Michigan to soar past Akron this afternoon.

Predicted Outcome: Eastern Michigan 66, Akron 64

 

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Marquette (21-10) vs. (10) Villanova (24-6)

Marquette (21-10) vs. (10) Villanova (24-6)

Marquette (21-10) vs. (10) Villanova (24-6)



Thursday, March 11th, 2:00 p.m. (et)

FACTS & STATS: Madison Square Garden (19,763) -- New York, New York. Television: ESPN. Home Record: Marquette 13-4, Villanova 12-2. Away Record: Marquette 5-5, Villanova 8-4. Neutral Record: Marquette 3-1, Villanova 4-0. Conference Record: Marquette 11-7, Villanova 13-5. Series Record: Villanova leads, 10-6.

GAME NOTES: Two teams that have a history of playing close games meet in the quarterfinal round of the Big East Tournament today, as the fifth-seeded Marquette Golden Eagles battle the fourth-seeded and 10th-ranked Villanova Wildcats at Madison Square Garden.

These clubs met twice this past January, with Villanova capturing a two-point victory in each clash. Those meetings came after the Wildcats claimed a thrilling 76-75 victory over the Eagles in the quarterfinals of last year's Big East Tournament. Thanks to the narrow wins, Villanova now owns a 10-6 all- time record against Marquette.

If the Wildcats are to continue their recent success against the Eagles however, they will have to play better than they did down the stretch. After winning 22 of its first 24 games, Villanova dropped four its final six to fall out of contention for a Big East title. Furthermore, the late slide dropped the team into a three-way tie for second place, earning the fourth seed after the tie-breakers were worked out. Still, the Wildcats received a double-bye for the second straight year with a 13-5 finish, and they are just one win away from a fifth semifinals appearance in the last seven years.

The Eagles meanwhile, were one of the hottest teams coming down the stretch, winning nine of their last 11 games of the regular season. Marquette, which has had a knack for playing close games, continued its run and trend of tight games with a 57-55 nipping of 13th-seeded St. John's in second-round play yesterday.

The winner of this game will move on to face the victor of the Syracuse/Georgetown pairing in the semifinals on Friday.

The Eagles blew a 14-point lead yesterday, but David Cubillan's three-pointer with 1.11 to play put them back on top for good in a 57-55 win over SJU. Lazar Hayward tacked on two free throws with 35 seconds left to provide a cushion for Marquette, which drained 10-of-18 long-range buckets on the day. Hayward finished with 20 points and nine rebounds, while Cubillan posted 11 points. A second-team all-Big East choice, Hayward led the Eagles in scoring (18.0 ppg) as well as rebounding (7.8 rpg) during the regular season. Jimmy Butler and Darius Johnson-Odom followed with 15.2 and 12.9 ppg respectively, but they combined for just 10 points yesterday.

The Wildcats are an explosive team that finished the regular-season averaging a healthy 82.8 ppg, while shooting 37.2 percent from downtown and 75.1 percent at the foul line. Scottie Reynolds is the driving force behind this attack and the first-team all-league choice leads Villanova in scoring (18.8 ppg) as well as steals (47). A 39.9 percent three-point shooter, Reynolds also dishes out 3.4 apg. Corey Fisher, who earned a spot on the all-league third-team, checks in with 13.5 ppg and he distributes a team-best 4.0 apg. Antonio Pena is the team's top option down low and he puts forth 10.8 ppg and a team-high 7.4 rpg.

Villanova faded a bit down the stretch, but should be able to turn it on today. Expect a big game from Reynolds, as the Wildcats win a little more comfortably over Marquette in this one.

Predicted Outcome: Villanova 76, Marquette 64

 

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Miami-Florida (18-12) vs. Wake Forest (19-9)

Miami-Florida (18-12) vs. Wake Forest (19-9)

Miami-Florida (18-12) vs. Wake Forest (19-9)



DATE & TIME: Thursday, March 11th, 2:00 p.m. (et)

FACTS & STATS: Site: Greensboro Coliseum (23,500) -- Greensboro, North Carolina. Television: Raycom. Home Record: Miami 12-4, Wake Forest 13-2. Away Record: Miami 2-8, Wake Forest 6-7. Neutral Record: Miami 4-0, Wake Forest 0-0. Conference Record: Miami 4-12, Wake Forest 9-7. Series Record: Wake Forest leads, 8-3.

GAME NOTES: First-round action of the 57th-annual ACC Tournament continues this afternoon, as fifth-seeded Wake Forest takes on 12th-seeded Miami- Florida, with the winner moving on to the quarterfinals against fourth-seeded Virginia Tech on Friday.

Dino Gaudio's Demon Deacons have certainly had their ups and downs this season, residing briefly in the top-25 before dropping four straight games down the stretch. The team ended the regular season on a high note however with a big win over Clemson and with it, earning the five-seed with a 9-7 league ledger. Wake has won 42 ACC Tournament games and has four tourney titles to its credit, with the last one coming in 1996.

Frank Haith's Hurricanes ran through their non-conference slate unscathed, but suffered all 12 of their losses on the year in ACC play, finishing up in the conference cellar at an ugly 4-12. Miami's tournament resume isn't very long, going 3-5 in this event since joining the league.

Wake Forest owns an 8-3 series advantage, but these teams split a pair of meetings this season, each winning on its home floor.

The Hurricanes may have had plenty of problems this year in league play, but that doesn't tell the whole tale, as Miami won 18 games in the regular season. However, it won't be easy to erase five losses in the last six games and start anew in tournament play. Miami is one of five schools to have never won an ACC Tournament crown. Dwayne Collins is the centerpiece of Miami's attack, anchoring the play in the paint with 12.0 points and 7.8 rebounds per game. James Dews (11.7 ppg) is a close second in the scoring column, followed by Durand Scott (9.8 ppg) and Malcolm Grant (9.4 ppg), who are tied for the team lead with 104 assists apiece.

The Demon Deacons showed flashes of brilliance this season, just not enough consistency. Wake was ranked in the top-25 this year and had some quality wins over the likes of Gonzaga, Richmond, Xavier and Maryland en route to 19 total victories. A physical team, Wake led the conference in rebounding this year (42.1 rpg), while ranking second in field-goal percentage defense (.379) and three-point defense (.283). Wake relies on the low post game of sophomore forward Al-Farouq Aminu to fuel its attack. Aminu led the conference in rebounding (10.8 rpg) and averaged 15.9 ppg, earning All-ACC Second-Team honors. Point guard Ishmael Smith (13.3 ppg, 6.0 apg) joined Aminu on the all- conference Second-Team. C.J. Harris (10.0 ppg) and L.D. Williams (9.1 ppg) are valuable contributors as well.

Wake is the better team and behind the play of Aminu, expect the Demon Deacons to move on to Friday's action.

Predicted Outcome: Wake Forest 71, Miami-Florida 66

 

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Iowa (10-21) vs. Michigan (14-16)

Iowa (10-21) vs. Michigan (14-16)

Iowa (10-21) vs. Michigan (14-16)



DATE & TIME: Thursday, March 11th, 2:30 p.m. (et)

FACTS & STATS: Site: Conseco Fieldhouse (18,345) -- Indianapolis, Indiana. Television: ESPN2. Home Record: Iowa 9-9, Michigan 10-6. Away Record: Iowa 1-10, Michigan 3-8. Neutral Record: Iowa 0-2, Michigan 1-2. Conference Record: Iowa 4-14, Michigan 7-11. Series Record: Michigan leads, 86-57.

GAME NOTES: The opening game of the 2010 Big Ten Conference Tournament pits the ninth-seeded Iowa Hawkeyes against the eighth-seeded Michigan Wolverines. This is the third straight year that Iowa and Michigan have met in the first round of this event, and the winner will advance to the quarterfinals on Friday to challenge top-seeded Ohio State.

Iowa, which has a pair of Big Ten Tournament titles to its credit (2001, 2006), is 13-10 all-time in the gathering. The Hawkeyes (10-21, 4-14) have had a season they would rather forget, and they have won just once in 13 games outside of Iowa City. UI comes into the postseason having lost its last two games, and five of its last six overall.

Michigan, which has a 5-10 mark all-time in this event, won the inaugural Big Ten Tournament in 1998 by defeating Purdue in a 76-67 final. Unfortunately, that victory was vacated due to NCAA sanctions, and the team has not appeared in the title tilt since. This year, the Wolverines (14-16, 7-11) limp into the postseason having lost four of their last five games, and they have performed poorly outside of Ann Arbor all season, going just 3-8 in true road games and 4-10 when you factor in a 1-2 mark in neutral-site affairs.

Michigan won both games against Iowa during the regular season to take an 86-57 lead in the all-time series.

Struggles at both ends of the court hurt the Hawkeyes this season, as they average a league-low 60.8 ppg while surrendering 66.2 ppg to rank ninth. Additionally, Iowa ranks last in the Big Ten in turnover margin (-2.74) and doesn't have a player ranked in the top-15 on the league's scoring chart. Matt Gatens (12.4 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 3.3 apg) and Aaron Fuller (9.7 ppg, 5.9 rpg) both received All-Big Ten Honorable Mention honors, but neither is capable of carrying a team. A 35-point loss at Minnesota in the regular-season finale was anything but a confidence-booster, but it wasn't for a lack of effort on Fuller's part as he went 6-of-11 from the field to net 16 points. Gatens and Eric May also finished in double figures with 10 points apiece, but a 4-of-17 showing from three-point range coupled with the fact that the Golden Gophers dropped 58.5 percent of their total shots, including a 12-of-19 effort from downtown, led to the lopsided defeat.

Michigan boasts two double-digit scorers in the form of Manny Harris (17.7 ppg, 4.1 apg) and DeShawn Sims (16.9 ppg, 7.7 rpg), both All-Big Ten performers who finished the regular season ranked in the top-five on the league's scoring list. The team as a whole is netting just 64.4 ppg and shooting a mere 41.5 percent from the floor to rank 10th in the conference in both categories. Foes are also doing a number on the Maize and Blue on the glass, outrebounding the club by 4.0 caroms per contest. Michigan does a good job protecting the ball, turning it over just 10.2 times per game. The Wolverines were outclassed in their regular-season finale at hated rival Michigan State last weekend, falling to the Spartans in a 64-48 final. Zack Gibson came off the bench to score a team-high 10 points, as UM shot just 34.9 percent from the field, a mere 19.0 percent from beyond the arc and committed 19 turnovers while being outrebounded by a 36-24 margin. The Spartans scored 38 points in the paint, compared to just 18 for the Wolverines.

Neither team is capable of making a deep run in this tournament, but the Hawkeyes are clearly the inferior group and will succumb to the Wolverines in this one. Expect Harris and Sims to load the team on their backs and lead Michigan into the quarterfinals where it will take on No. 1 seed Ohio State.

Predicted Outcome: Michigan 69, Iowa 60

 

[Lumi]

Air Force (10-20) vs. (8) New Mexico (28-3)

Air Force (10-20) vs. (8) New Mexico (28-3)

Air Force (10-20) vs. (8) New Mexico (28-3)



Thursday, March 11th, 3:00 p.m. (et)

FACTS & STATS: Site: Thomas & Mack Center (18,500) -- Las Vegas, Nevada. Television: The Mtn. Home Record: Air Force 8-9, UNM 17-1. Away Record: Air Force 0-10, UNM 10-2. Neutral Record: Air Force 2-1, UNM 1-0. Conference Record: Air Force 1-15, UNM 14-2. Series Record: New Mexico leads, 47-18.

GAME NOTES: Less than 24 hours after picking up just their second win all-time in the Mountain West Conference Tournament, the Air Force Falcons are back on the hardwood of the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas as they clash with top- seeded and eighth-ranked New Mexico in the quarterfinals of the 11th annual event this afternoon.

The Falcons, who had just a single league win this season and are the ninth seed in the tourney, completely confused eighth-seeded Wyoming yesterday and came up with a stunning 59-40 win over the Cowboys. It was the fewest points allowed by the academy this season and by far the fewest points scored by the Pokes as well. The victory snapped a nine-game losing streak by Air Force, which began just after the squad's first and only MWC win, a 70-63 triumph over those same Cowboys at home back on January 30th.

As for the highly-touted Lobos, they are under the direction of Steve Alford who earned himself MWC Coach of the Year honors for the second year in a row as he guided the program to a spectacular 28-3 record and a 14-2 mark in league play after opening the MWC schedule with back-to-back losses. UNM is currently riding a 14-game win streak and a win today would not only set a new school record for wins in a single season, it would give the program its second-longest run in school history behind a 17-game streak set in 1967-68.

With respect to the all-time series between these two schools on the hardwood, the Lobos have won six straight over Air Force and now own a commanding 47-18 mark overall. However, the academy gave UNM a scare this season when it allowed the Lobos just a 59-56 win at home in The Pit, after Air Force rolled over at home a month earlier in a 73-50 decision.

The winner of this matchup heads to the semifinals on Friday to clash with the winner of the Colorado State/San Diego State battle.

The defense by the Falcons stunned Wyoming yesterday, holding the Pokes to a mere 21 points in the first half and an even weaker 19 points after the break. Wyoming finished the meeting shooting just 2-of-16 behind the three-point line, got off a total of only 33 field goal chances and sank a meager 8-of-19 at the charity stripe. Leading the way for Air Force were Grant Parker and Michael Lyons with 15 and 11 points, respectively, as the squad actually beat the Cowboys on the glass, 25-21. Parker continues to be the leading scorer for the Falcons with his 13.1 ppg, hitting 47.9 percent of his field goal attempts, while Evan Washington checks in with 10.2 ppg and combines with Parker to account for more than nine rebounds per game. Unfortunately for the academy, that still leaves the group with a rebounding deficit of nearly four boards per outing.

The Lobos, winners of this tournament back in 2005, have in their lineup the top player in the league in Darington Hobson. Not only was Hobson named the MWC Newcomer of the Year, the junior also picked up the award for MWC Player of the Year after leading the conference in rebounding with 10.1 per game and placing third in scoring (14.9 ppg) and third in assists (4.8 apg). One of the most well-rounded players to hit the MWC landscape in several years, Hobson was a beast in the final month and a half of the regular season with his 18.2 ppg, 11.0 rpg and 5.8 apg over the last nine outings. But the Lobos are so much more than just Hobson as they also get significant contributions from Roman Martinez (14.1 ppg, 6.3 rpg) who is a 42.9 percent shooter behind the three-point line, followed by Dairese Gary and Phillip McDonald with 12.4 and 10.9 ppg, respectively. Gary, also accounted for 123 assists to take some of the pressure off Hobson. Perhaps the most impressive part of the Lobos is that they had the same starting lineup for every single game this season.

Simply put, the Lobos have far too many weapons for a winded Air Force team to try and stop. New Mexico hasn't forgotten about how close it came to losing at home to the academy, so expect this to be payback.

Predicted Outcome: New Mexico 74, Air Force 52

 

[Lumi]

Nebraska (15-17) vs. (23) Texas A&M (22-8)

Nebraska (15-17) vs. (23) Texas A&M (22-8)

Nebraska (15-17) vs. (23) Texas A&M (22-8)



Thursday, March 11th, 3:00 p.m. (et)


FACTS & STATS: Site: Sprint Center (18,555) -- Kansas City, Missouri. Television: Big 12 Network. Home Record: Nebraska 12-6, Texas A&M 15-1. Away Record: Nebraska 1-10, Texas A&M 5-5. Neutral Record: Nebraska 2-1, Texas A&M 2-2. Conference Record: Nebraska 2-14, Texas A&M 11-5. Series Record: Nebraska leads, 11-7.

GAME NOTES: The 23rd-ranked Texas A&M Aggies are the fourth-seeded team in the Big 12 Conference Tournament, and they will play a quarterfinal-round game against the surprising 12th-seeded Nebraska Cornhuskers today.

Next up for the winner of this game is a semifinal clash with either top- seeded Kansas or ninth-seeded Texas Tech.

Not only did Nebraska manage to upset fifth-seeded Missouri yesterday, but the game was rather lopsided, as the Cornhuskers cruised to a 75-60 triumph. Nebraska has never won this tournament and owns a 6-13 record in the event all-time. The Huskers racked up a 12-3 record against non-conference foes during the regular season, but that mark was clearly overshadowed by a 2-14 record against Big 12 opponents. Still, the win in Wednesday first-round affair offers renewed confidence.

Texas A&M has only won three of the 16 Big 12 Conference Tournament games it has played, and the team is still in search of its first league crown. The Aggies are certainly playing with a great deal of confidence right now, as they closed out the regular season with three consecutive wins to move to 22-8 overall and 11-5 in conference. Last Saturday, they easily disposed of Oklahoma in a 69-54 final on the road.

The Aggies beat the Cornhuskers, 64-53, back in January, but Nebraska still owns an 11-7 advantage in the all-time series.

The Cornhuskers are a modest offensive team, averaging 66.3 ppg on 43.5 percent shooting from the floor heading into this tournament. Defensively, the Cornhuskers were permitting 65.8 ppg by the end of the regular season, and Ryan Anderson (11.0 ppg) was the only double-digit scorer on the roster. Brandon Richardson was the best player for Nebraska yesterday, as he scored 19 points on 6-of-8 shooting from the floor. Anderson also shot 6-of-8 from the field and finished with 16 points and nine rebounds. Both Jorge Brian Diaz and Lance Jeter scored 10 points in the triumph, and Jeter added seven boards and six assists. The Cornhuskers connected on 55.8 percent of their field goal attempts against Missouri, including an 8-of-14 effort from three-point range. They also shot 19-of-22 from the foul line, earned a 38-22 rebounding advantage and limited Missouri to 33.9 percent shooting.

When fans discuss the best players in the Big 12, Texas A&M's Donald Sloan is rarely mentioned. The fact of the matter is that while Sloan doesn't possess impressive numbers in assists, rebounds or steals, his 17.9 ppg have been a major key to the success of the Aggies this season. There is only one other active double-digit scorer in the lineup for A&M, as Bryan Davis provides an even 10.0 ppg. While Sloan, Davis and company are averaging 72.0 ppg, they are limiting opponents to 64.4 ppg on 40.4 percent shooting from the field. Against Oklahoma in the regular season the finale, the Aggies connected on 51 percent of their field goal attempts while limiting the Sooners to 36.2 percent. A 36-26 rebounding advantage also helped the cause.

Don't expect a second consecutive upset by Nebraska, as Texas A&M will play well enough at both ends of the floor to win a competitive game. The Aggies are extremely well coached.

Predicted Outcome: Texas A&M 71, Nebraska 62

 

[Lumi]

Boise State (15-16) vs. Utah State (25-6)

Boise State (15-16) vs. Utah State (25-6)

Boise State (15-16) vs. Utah State (25-6)



DATE & TIME: Thursday, March 11th, 3:00 p.m. (et).

FACTS & STATS: Site: Lawlor Events Center (11,536) -- Reno, Nevada. Television: ESPNU. Home Record: BSU 9-7, USU 17-1. Away Record: BSU 4-9, USU 8-5. Neutral Record: BSU 2-0, USU 0-0. Conference Record: BSU 5-11, USU 14-2. Series Record: Utah State leads, 24-8.

GAME NOTES: The last two winners of the Western Athletic Conference Tournament square off in the first game of the 27th annual event today, as the Utah State Aggies clash with the Boise State Broncos at the Lawlor Events Center in Reno, Nevada.

Utah State, which won the tourney last year with a 72-62 victory over Nevada, is the top seed in this year's event and heads into the postseason as one of the hottest teams in the nation. Last Saturday, the squad closed out the regular season with an 81-63 rout of New Mexico State at home, USU's 15th straight win which marks its fourth-longest run in school history. The team has not lost since opening WAC play back in early January with consecutive losses to New Mexico State and Louisiana Tech.

As for the Broncos, the eighth seed in this tournament, they needed to win their final two games in order to earn an invitation to Reno for this event. The squad actually took three of the last four, thanks to an 85-56 thrashing of San Jose State at home over the weekend. Nevertheless, BSU still finished just 5-11 in conference and is a game below .500 overall at 15-16.

In terms of the all-time series, obviously the Aggies won both meetings this season and as a result Utah State now owns a commanding 24-8 record versus Boise State since the Broncos made the move to the Division I ranks. However, BSU won the only previous meeting between the two teams in the postseason back in 2008, the same year the Broncos took the title and went to the NCAA Tournament.

The winner of this meeting is back in action on Friday night and will face the winner of the Fresno State/Louisiana Tech matchup in the semifinals.

The Broncos have the ability to put points on the board, averaging 74.5 ppg this season, but at the same time the defense has been somewhat lax and allowed 72.5 ppg, which means there isn't much room for error. Ike Okoye paces the group with his 12.9 ppg and 8.0 rpg, using his play in the paint to make good on 53.6 percent of his field goal attempts. Robert Arnold, who recently was named the WAC Player of the Week, accounts for another 11.7 ppg, while Daequon Montreal has brushed aside the fact that he has just 36 assists over 31 games and has contributed with 10.6 ppg and 5.4 rpg, on his way to being named to the All-WAC Third Team earlier this week.

The Aggies, who won six tournament titles as members of the Big West Conference before coming over to the WAC, have advanced to the championship game in eight of the past 10 seasons so they have the pedigree to get the job done again. Stew Morrill, who was named the WAC Coach of the Year for the second time, has Tai Wesley and Jared Quayle, both of whom were picked as All- WAC First Team, to direct the action on the floor. Not only did Wesley lead the team in both scoring (13.7 ppg) and rebounding (6.4 rpg), but he was also tops with 40 blocked shots and second in assists, behind Quayle (132), with his 101 dishes over 31 starts. Tyler Newbold (8.3 ppg, 92 assists) and Brian Green (7.2 ppg) gave the group a huge advantage out on the perimeter as the duo connected on 42.5 and 50.0 percent of their three-point tries, respectively.

As a team, Utah State shot a sizzling 42.0 percent beyond the arc this season and close to 49 percent from the field overall, and when you add that to a stingy defense it is tough to go against the Aggies this week.

Predicted Outcome: Utah State 82, Boise State 64

 

[Lumi]

U-C-L-A (13-17) vs. Arizona (16-14)

U-C-L-A (13-17) vs. Arizona (16-14)

U-C-L-A (13-17) vs. Arizona (16-14)




DATE & TIME: Thursday, March 11th, 3:10 p.m. (et)

FACTS & STATS: Site: Staples Center (18,997) -- Los Angeles, California. Television: FoxSportsNet. Home Record: UCLA 10-6, Arizona 11-5. Away Record: UCLA 3-7, Arizona 4-7. Neutral Record: UCLA 0-4, Arizona 1-2. Conference Record: UCLA 8-10, Arizona 10-8. Series Record: UCLA leads, 46-34.

GAME NOTES: The quarterfinal round of the Pac-10 Conference Tournament will begin this afternoon when the fifth-seeded UCLA Bruins battle the fourth- seeded Arizona Wildcats at the Staples Center.

The Bruins stumbled down the stretch this season, losing four of their last five games, including three in a row. The late slide dropped UCLA into the fifth spot for this tournament. The Bruins have won this event three times, with the latest title coming in 2008.

As for the Wildcats, they closed out their regular season with three consecutive wins to finish the year with a 10-8 mark in conference action. Arizona, which is playing as the four-seed, has won this title four times, with the last one coming back in 2002.

UCLA holds a 46-34 edge over Arizona in the all-time series, but the Wildcats have won both meetings this season.

The Bruins have struggled at the offensive end of the court this year, and enter this tournament averaging just 66.4 ppg, despite shooting a healthy 46.8 percent from the floor. Michael Roll comes in as the team's leading scorer (13.5 ppg) and is also pacing the squad with 3.6 apg. Malcolm Lee has done a little of everything for UCLA, as the guard is posting 12.4 ppg, to go along with 4.5 rpg and 3.1 apg. Nikola Dragovic is only shooting 38.2 percent from the field on the season, but the guard is still posting 12.0 ppg. Fortunately the team has been somewhat successful at the defensive end of the floor, holding opponents to 68.0 ppg.

As for the Wildcats, they have not been overwhelming offensively, but the team has played well enough to collect victories. Arizona is producing 72.0 ppg, while shooting a respectable 44.5 percent from the floor. Derek Williams is a large reason for the team's success offensively, as the forward is netting 15.7 ppg, to go along with 7.0 rpg. Nic Wise has been the captain running the show on the floor, and heads into this event with 14.4 ppg, to go along with a team-best 102 assists. Kyle Fogg, who is shooting 42.7 percent from behind the arc, is netting 11.2 ppg, while Jamelle Horne, who is connecting on 43.4 percent of his three-point attempts, is posting 9.7 ppg.

The Wildcats have defeated UCLA twice this season and even though the Bruins are playing closer to home, look for Arizona to grab another win and move into the next round.

Predicted Outcome: Arizona 73, UCLA 65

 

[Lumi]

L-S-U (11-19) vs. (15) Tennessee (23-7)

L-S-U (11-19) vs. (15) Tennessee (23-7)

L-S-U (11-19) vs. (15) Tennessee (23-7)



Thursday, March 11th, 3:15 p.m. (et)

FACTS & STATS: Site: Bridgestone Arena (19,395) -- Nashville, Tennessee. Television: SEC Network. Home Record: LSU 11-7, Tennessee 15-1. Away Record: LSU 0-9, Tennessee 5-5. Neutral Record: LSU 0-3, Tennessee 3-1. Conference Record: LSU 2-14, Tennessee 11-5. Series Record: Tennessee leads, 57-42.

GAME NOTES: The 15th-ranked Tennessee Volunteers are set to take on the LSU Tigers in the first round of the 2010 SEC Tournament.

The winner of this contest will move on to face Ole Miss, the West Division's second seed, in Friday's quarterfinal round.

LSU, 11-19 overall, is the sixth seed from the West Division, and it captured its lone SEC crown back in 1980. The Tigers finished 2-14 versus league foes during the regular season, but the team did close out the campaign with a victory and may enter this tournament with some confidence.

The Vols have won the SEC Tournament four times, but it has been 31 years since their last title. Last season, Tennessee reached the title game, only to fall to Mississippi State by a 64-61 final. The 2009-10 Vols are 23-7 overall, and they closed the regular season with three consecutive wins.

Tennessee and LSU played just once during the regular season, and the Vols escaped Baton Rouge with a five-point win. In regard to the all-time series, Tennessee owns a 57-42 advantage.

The Tigers lack depth and are the lowest-scoring team in the SEC (61.9 ppg) despite boasting two of the league's top 13 scorers, including Tasmin Mitchell (17.0 ppg, 9.5 rpg). Bo Spencer provides 14.9 ppg, and he leads the team with 79 assists. Unfortunately, Spencer is shooting a woeful 33.9 percent from the field. Storm Warren is the third and final double-digit scorer on the roster with 11.6 ppg, and he is grabbing 7.2 rpg to complement a team-high 43 blocks. Unfortunately, no other player on the team is netting more than 4.6 ppg, so the trio mentioned is responsible for almost all of the Tigers' 61.9 ppg. LSU managed to beat Georgia in the regular-season finale despite shooting just 31 percent from the floor.

Tennessee owns the second-best scoring margin in the SEC (+9.8 ppg), surprising considering the fact that it doesn't possess a single player ranked in the top 20 in the league in scoring. Scotty Hopson paces the squad with 13.1 ppg, and Wayne Chism checks in with 12.4 ppg and 6.8 rpg. Chism has also blocked 44 shots, but he has been inconsistent this season, choosing to play a role rather than use his unique skill set to dominate games. The Vols are the top team in the conference when it comes to defending the three-point shot. They are limiting opponents to 65.2 ppg while generating 75.0 ppg at the offensive end. In a 16-point victory over Mississippi State to close out the regular season, the Vols shot 50 percent from the floor, had five double-digit scorers and held the Bulldogs to 33.9 percent shooting.

The Vols and Tigers have met on nine previous occasions in the SEC Tournament, and Tennessee has won six of those meetings. Expect another victory for the boys from Knoxville today.

Predicted Outcome: Tennessee 75, LSU 64

 

[Lumi]

Southern Miss (19-12) vs. U-A-B (23-7)

Southern Miss (19-12) vs. U-A-B (23-7)

Southern Miss (19-12) vs. U-A-B (23-7)



DATE & TIME: Thursday, March 11th, 3:30 p.m. (et)

FACTS & STATS: Site: BOK Center (19,199) -- Tulsa, Oklahoma. Television: CBSCSN. Home Record: USM 11-3, UAB 12-3. Away Record: USM 6-7, UAB 9-4. Neutral Record: USM 2-2, UAB 2-0. Conference Record: USM 8-8, UAB 11-5. Series Record: UAB leads, 22-11.

GAME NOTES: The third-seeded UAB Blazers and sixth-seeded Southern Miss Golden Eagles meet for the third time this season, as they do battle in the quarterfinals of the Conference USA Tournament at the BOK Center. The victor of this game moves on to the semifinals versus the winner of the Memphis/Houston pairing.

The Blazers are the No.3 seed for the second straight season, as they finished with an 11-5 record within the conference. UAB, which earned a first-round bye, is trying to become the first No.3 seed to win this tourney. The Blazers own a 13-14 mark in this event and have made it as far as the finals on two occasions.

As for the Eagles, they finished outside of the top four at 8-8, so they were forced to play a first-round game. USM handled 11th-seeded Tulane, 57-47, for its third win in a row. The team is now 10-12 all-time in this event and one step closer to its first finals appearance.

In regard to the all-time series, UAB holds a 22-11 advantage over USM and that includes a pair of wins during the regular season. Neither game was easy though, as the two wins came by a combined six points. These two teams also locked horns in the quarterfinals of last year's C-USA Tournament, with UAB winning, 74-73, on a last second shot in overtime.

In a game in which neither team shot well, the Eagles' 50-38 dominance on the boards played a big factor in a 57-47 win over Tulane yesterday. USM also outscored Tulane at the foul line, 19-5, to help compensate for a 32.8 percent shooting effort from the field. Gary Flowers registered a double-double with 17 points and 14 rebounds to lead the way, while Torye Pelham and Angelo Johnson chipped in with 11 points apiece. A second-team all-league choice, Flowers tops the roster in scoring (14.8 ppg) as well as rebounding (8.1) and is the lone player averaging double figures on the season.

The Blazers are led by one of the league's top players in Elijah Millsap, who recently earned first-team all-conference honors. The UL-Lafayette transfer leads all of C-USA with 15 double doubles, to go with team highs of 16.0 ppg, 9.4 rpg and 50 steals. Howard Crawford adds 12.1 ppg and 4.5 rpg for the Blazers, while Jamarr Sanders produces 10.4 ppg and 5.0 rpg. Aaron Johnson, a third-team all-conference choice, chips in 10.0 ppg and he is in charge of running the offense, distributing a team-high 4.9 apg.

These teams have a history of playing close games, so expect another one today. Go with the Blazers and look for Millsap to make the difference in the end.

Predicted Outcome: UAB 68, Southern Miss 66

 

[Lumi]

Indiana (10-20) vs. Northwestern (19-12)

Indiana (10-20) vs. Northwestern (19-12)

Indiana (10-20) vs. Northwestern (19-12)






DATE & TIME: Thursday, March 11th, 4:55 p.m. (et)

FACTS & STATS: Site: Conseco Fieldhouse (18,345) -- Indianapolis, Indiana. Television: ESPN2. Home Record: Indiana 8-9, Northwestern 15-4. Away Record: Indiana 1-8, Northwestern 2-8. Neutral Record: Indiana 1-3, Northwestern 2-0. Conference Record: Indiana 4-14, Northwestern 7-11. Series Record: Indiana leads, 109-44.

GAME NOTES: The Indiana Hoosiers and Northwestern Wildcats meet in the opening round of the 2010 Big Ten Tournament, with the winner slated to face second- seeded Purdue in the quarterfinals on Friday.

The Hoosiers (10-20, 4-14) have had an absolutely dreadful season, and they carried an 11-game losing streak into the regular-season finale against this same Northwestern squad. Fortunately for Indiana, it was able to post an 88-80 overtime victory over the visiting Wildcats to stop the slide. IU, which has won just twice outside of Bloomington this season, is 8-12 all-time in the Big Ten Tournament and has never won the title.

The Wildcats (19-12, 7-11), who are just 4-12 all-time in this event and have never appeared in the championship game, had a solid campaign, although they would have liked to have performed better in conference. The recent loss to Indiana was Northwestern's fourth in its last six games, but the team has won its only two neutral-site affairs this season giving it some confidence heading into this matchup.

Indiana owns a commanding 109-44 advantage in the all-time series with Northwestern, and the teams split a pair of regular-season meetings. This is the first time the two will have squared off in the Big Ten Tournament.

The loss of Maurice Creek (knee injury) after a dozen games hampered Indiana's ability to play competitive basketball, as the talented rookie was averaging 16.4 ppg. Verdell Jones III (14.8 ppg) and Christian Watford (12.1 ppg) are the only active players netting double figures on a consistent basis, and the Hoosiers rank last in the league in assists (12.2 apg), assist/turnover ratio (0.8) and scoring defense (71.4 ppg). Jordan Hulls scored 24 points, Jones III had 18, Derek Elston 17 and Watford a double-double with 14 points and 11 rebounds, as Indiana powered its way past Northwestern last Saturday. While neither team shot lights out, a 26-9 edge in points from the foul line was the most obvious reason that Indiana won the game.

Northwestern ranked in the middle of the Big Ten pack in terms of scoring offense (69.5 ppg), but the team does have a star in sophomore forward John Shurna (18.5 ppg, 6.4 rpg). A better than 46 percent shooter in each of his first two collegiate seasons, Shurna was recently named to the All-Big Ten Second Team and he is coming off a 31-point performance in the recent loss to Indiana. Joining Shurna as the club's only double-digit scorers on the season is Michael Thompson (13.9 ppg, 4.2 apg), although Drew Crawford (9.9 ppg) and Jeremy Nash (9.0 ppg) are close to making the grade as well. Thompson poured in 25 points and handed out eight assists against the Hoosiers in the finale, nailing seven three-pointers along the way. The Wildcats defend the three- point shot better than any team in the conference (.315), and they rank first in assist/turnover ratio (1.5) as well.

Despite having lost to Indiana less than a week ago, expect Shurna and the Wildcats to earn a hard-fought victory, thus ending the Hoosiers' season and earning a trip to the quarterfinals themselves.

Predicted Outcome: Northwestern 73, Indiana 67

 

[jimbo069]

Bol 2 Day illuminati :toast:

 

[Lumi]

Fresno State (15-17) vs. Louisiana Tech (22-9)

Fresno State (15-17) vs. Louisiana Tech (22-9)

Fresno State (15-17) vs. Louisiana Tech (22-9)



DATE & TIME: Thursday, March 11th, 5:30 p.m. (et).

FACTS & STATS: Site: Lawlor Events Center (11,536) -- Reno, Nevada. Television: ESPNU. Home Record: FSU 12-5, LaTech 11-2. Away Record: FSU 3-11, LaTech 9-7. Neutral Record: FSU 0-1, LaTech 2-0. ConferenceRecord: FSU 7-9, LaTech 9-7. Series Record: Fresno State leads, 12-11.

GAME NOTES: Quarterfinal action at the 2010 Western Athletic Conference Tournament in Reno, Nevada pits the Fresno State Bulldogs against the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs.

LaTech, which has a record of just 3-8 in this event over the years, checks in as the fourth seed this season after putting together a 9-7 conference record. The team kicked off league play with five straight wins and was expected to vie for the regular-season title, but then reality set in and the squad closed with two straight losses and three in the last four outings overall.

As for Fresno State, a program that has played in the championship game just once previously and used that opportunity to take down Tulsa (75-72) back in 2000, it is the fifth seed this time around. The California-based Bulldogs snapped a two-game slide in the regular-season finale by posting a 66-59 home win against this same LaTech group.

With respect to the all-time series between these two schools on the hardwood, FSU holds a slim 12-11 advantage after the teams split two regular-season meetings.

The winner of this contest will move into the semifinals on Friday and will face either Boise State or Utah State for the right to advance to the title game on Saturday night.

Even though he missed some action late in the season due to injury, Paul George performed well enough to earn himself All-WAC Second-Team honors as he led the team in both scoring and rebounding with averages of 16.6 points and 7.1 rebounds per contest. George, who also accounted for 86 assists and 61 steals, showed great touch at the free-throw line as he made good on 90.6 percent of his opportunities, yet the team as a whole finished at a mere 67.3 percent. Sylvester Seay's 14.3 ppg and 6.0 rpg were also crucial to the group's success, but his 29.2 percent shooting beyond the arc sometimes counteracted his efforts. Greg Smith made the WAC's All-Newcomer Team thanks to his 11.8 ppg and 6.0 rpg and not his 58.3 percent shooting at the charity stripe.

If Louisiana Tech is going to have any impact in the tournament it will need Kyle Gibson to show up in a big way. Nursing an injury in recent weeks, having Gibson (19.1 ppg) on the floor means the Bulldogs have one of the top free- throw shooters in the entire nation at their disposal. Despite missing action Gibson, who was named to both the All-WAC Second Team and All-Defensive Team, ranked 13th in the nation in free throws made with 178 and converted at a rate of 85.2 percent. As a team, LaTech outscored the opposition at the charity stripe by 126 points over 31 games. Magnum Rolle, who appeared on both all- conference teams with Gibson, took control in the paint with his 14.5 ppg, 8.8 rpg and 69 blocked shots, giving opponents something to think about when they brought the ball into the paint. Fellow starters Jamel Guyton (11.5 ppg), DeAndre Brown (11.1 ppg) and Olu Ashaolu (10.6 ppg, 8.3 rpg) were also integral parts of the plan for a team that relied so heavily on its starters.

If free-throw shooting becomes a key factor in this meeting, Fresno State is in for some serious trouble. The fact that FSU has not seemed right in recent weeks and has played uninspired ball doesn't bode well for the group.

Predicted Outcome: Louisiana Tech 69, Fresno State 62

 

[Lumi]

Colorado State (16-14) vs. San Diego State (22-8)

Colorado State (16-14) vs. San Diego State (22-8)

Colorado State (16-14) vs. San Diego State (22-8)



DATE & TIME: Thursday, March 11th, 5:30 p.m. (et).

FACTS & STATS: Site: Thomas & Mack Center (18,500) -- Las Vegas, Nevada. Television: The Mtn, CBSCSN. Home Record: CSU 11-4, SDSU 14-1. Away Record: CSU 3-10, SDSU 8-7. Neutral Record: CSU 2-0, SDSU 0-0. Conference Record: CSU 7-9, SDSU 11-5. Series Record: Colorado State leads, 35-30.

GAME NOTES: The San Diego State Aztecs try to get back to the title game of the Mountain West Conference Tournament for the second year in a row, as they clash with the Colorado State Rams in the quarterfinals of the 11th annual event today at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas.

SDSU, which has two tournament titles to its credit, is the fourth seed this time around after coming up two points short in the championship game last year against Utah (52-50). The Aztecs had another successful season all-around with a 22-8 record and an 11-5 mark in league action. Except for an 82-68 blowout loss to nationally-ranked BYU, the Aztecs were hot down the stretch to close out the regular season with two straight wins and victories in six of the last seven overall.

As for the Rams, a squad that is seeded fifth in the tournament, the opposite was true for them as they limped into the postseason with just a 76-67 victory against Utah in the finale to show for their efforts over the last three weeks. The win over Utah actually snapped a five-game slide by CSU.

Colorado State has made it to the championship game just once in the previous 10 years, capturing the trophy in 2003 over UNLV by a single point, 62-61.

Colorado State leads the all-time series with SDSU by a count of 35-30, but the last three years the Aztecs have owned the Rams by taking six straight encounters.

The winner of this contest will take on the survivor of the Air Force/New Mexico meeting in the semifinals on Friday.

In conference games this season, the production by the Rams was rather weak as the squad generated just 63.8 ppg, partly because the group shot only 67.1 percent at the free-throw line in those matchups. Andy Ogide was tops on the unit in scoring with 12.3 ppg as he made good on 55.7 percent of his field goals and close to 80 percent at the stripe, adding a team-best 7.2 rpg along the way. But if there's a knock against Ogide it is that he doesn't have a knack for getting his teammates involved in the action, having handed out just 15 assists in 16 conference battles. Dorian Green checked in with 10.0 ppg and picked up the slack with his 37 assists, but still the program had 62 more turnovers than dishes in 16 league outings on the season. Travis Franklin (9.4 ppg) and Adam Nigon (8.4 ppg) always have the potential for strong offensive outings as well.

A two-time MWC Player of the Week this season, Kawhi Leonard made a strong enough impression that he was named the top freshman in the Mountain West Conference this season. Over the final 21 games of the regular season, the youngster recorded 13 double-doubles. For the entire season, Leonard was responsible for 12.6 ppg, 9.6 rpg and 56 assists. Malcolm Thomas was another of the solid performers for a team that evenly distributed the offense, as he tallied 11.1 ppg and helped out on the glass with 7.9 rpg. However, even though Thomas shot a stellar 55.5 percent from the floor, he made just 51.3 percent at the charity stripe. D.J. Gay and Billy White accounted for 10.6 ppg each, the former handing out 97 assists and stepping in as the primary three- point threat with his 55 conversions this season.

It's not easy to defeat one team three times in a single season, but San Diego State has the sort of balanced attack that can and should get the job done today versus the Rams.

Predicted Outcome: San Diego State 72, Colorado State 63