While I'm hot, I figure I might as well go ahead and put in a few plays. Here's what I think about Tuesdays' matchups:
UNC-Asheville -4
This is a really solid play. UNC-A has played very well for the past couple of weeks. They beat a good Coastal Carolina team twice in that span (both times on the road). Also, if you look at the lineups for both teams, UNC-A seems to have the edge in the size department across the board for the most part. The majority of the players that get minutes for UALR are guards that are 6'0 or shorter. UNC-A also has a 6'10 center that UALR will have no answer for in the blocks. UALR has a couple of 6'6 guys that play 20 mins and 17 mins per game respectively, so it sounds like they will have to guard Cunningham (the 6'10" guy) by committee. The guard duo of Primm and Dickey for UNC-A play about 34 mins per game each....and both can shoot the ball well. UALR will jack up several more 3s than UNC-A. The numbers say that. However, my guess is that the size advantage that UNC-A has will force UALR to take tougher looks. I think UNC-A wins this game rather comfortably.
UAB +4.5
Let's face it, Clemson doesn't exactly show up to the big dance ready to play very often. I think these two teams are pretty equal, but you have two different mindsets coming in (in my opinion). UAB should be thanking their lucky stars that they are playing on Tuesday. Not many people had them in the field of 68. Now that they are here, I think they'll show up and play some good ball. Clemson just lost a heartbreaker to the Tarheels. There could very well be some hangover from that loss that creeps into this game. If UAB starts out the game with intensity, then Clemson will find itself behind early and the Tigers may just pack it in. I've seen it before. Either way you slice this game, I love the points.
UNC-Asheville -4
This is a really solid play. UNC-A has played very well for the past couple of weeks. They beat a good Coastal Carolina team twice in that span (both times on the road). Also, if you look at the lineups for both teams, UNC-A seems to have the edge in the size department across the board for the most part. The majority of the players that get minutes for UALR are guards that are 6'0 or shorter. UNC-A also has a 6'10 center that UALR will have no answer for in the blocks. UALR has a couple of 6'6 guys that play 20 mins and 17 mins per game respectively, so it sounds like they will have to guard Cunningham (the 6'10" guy) by committee. The guard duo of Primm and Dickey for UNC-A play about 34 mins per game each....and both can shoot the ball well. UALR will jack up several more 3s than UNC-A. The numbers say that. However, my guess is that the size advantage that UNC-A has will force UALR to take tougher looks. I think UNC-A wins this game rather comfortably.
UAB +4.5
Let's face it, Clemson doesn't exactly show up to the big dance ready to play very often. I think these two teams are pretty equal, but you have two different mindsets coming in (in my opinion). UAB should be thanking their lucky stars that they are playing on Tuesday. Not many people had them in the field of 68. Now that they are here, I think they'll show up and play some good ball. Clemson just lost a heartbreaker to the Tarheels. There could very well be some hangover from that loss that creeps into this game. If UAB starts out the game with intensity, then Clemson will find itself behind early and the Tigers may just pack it in. I've seen it before. Either way you slice this game, I love the points.
