NCAA Round 2 Sunday Starters

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NCAA Round 2 Sunday Starters

By now your sleep pattern showed be seriously disrupted, waking yourself up screaming, ?onions? from a Bill Raftery call or the occasional Dick Enberg ?oh my? as the brain can?t properly rest with the constant rhythm of a basketball pounding the hardwood for hours on end. Additionally, in the other regions of the brain, you are going over why you bet a certain team or why you didn?t have the ?onions? to take one you know you should have. Don?t despair, roughly one more eight hour segment to go before you can rest up, with five games coming in the early afternoon or late morning depending on your proximity.

Gonzaga vs. Syracuse 12:10E

The Orangemen answered one question; can they play without injured center Arinze Onuaku? The answer was yes, but Vermont doesn?t have anywhere near the talent level Gonzaga (27-6, 16-11-2 ATS) has. Even if Onuaku could go, he?ll have limitations as to what he can do, which means Wesley Johnson and Andy Rautins will have to carry the scoring load, with others like Scoop Jackson and Rick Jackson chipping in. Syracuse (29-4, 20-9 ATS) is a 6.5-point favorite at Sportsbook.com and is a 9-2 ATS after allowing 25 points or less in the first half last game.

The Bulldogs ended up drawing two phenomenal defensive teams in the early rounds of the West regional, but at least the ?Cuse likes to get out and run, more to Gonzaga?s liking. The Zags were exquisite in the first half against Florida State, building a 16-point lead, however fell into the Seminoles trap of slow down and needed always reliable Matt Bouldin to bail them out. With the total listed at 150, Gonzaga can play their more free-flowing style, but to win have to solve Jim Boeheim?s 2-3 zone. Gonzaga is 26-12 ATS as a neutral court underdog or pick.

1 vs. 8 seeds are 37-9 SU, winning by 9.3 points per game the last 25 years.

Georgia Tech vs. Ohio State 2:20E

As was documented yesterday, 10-seeds oft times present problems for No. 2 seeds, winning outright about 40 percent of the time. Georgia Tech (23-12, 16-12-1 ATS) was the sixth ACC team seeded 10th or worse since 1994 (out of seven), to pull off the upset in the first round. The Yellow Jackets have the athletes and inside power to make them a factor in any contest, however they must play at their own pace since they are 16-6 ATS when they attempt 54 to 62 shots. That means a large number of touches for Gani Lawal and freshman Derrick Favors.

Ohio State (28-7, 17-16-2 ATS) is more diverse offensively than Warren Buffet?s portfolio, making them a headache to defend. Everyone knows what Evan Turner can do, but when Jon Diebler hits seven of the purest three-pointers you have ever seen and defenses start leaning his way, that opens up William Buford and David Lighty to expand their games. The Buckeyes are a 6.5-point pick with total of 133.5 and they are 8-2 ATS playing against a team that wins 60% to 80% of their games this season.
The Yellow Jackets are 8-0 UNDER on a neutral court when the total is 130 to 139.5.

Michigan State vs. Maryland 2:30E

Round Two on Sunday resembles a Big Ten meet with four teams in action. The conference was believed to be improved this year and this is a swing game that will help determine if that belief was actually true. Michigan State (25-8, 12-20 ATS) got off a good start against New Mexico State, building a 13-point lead before seeing it all disappear to the more aggressive Aggies in the second half. The Spartans were overwhelmed by New Mexico State?s faster tempo and would have lost except for the Aggies impatience in late game shot selection and 13-22 mark from the free throw line. Coach Gary Williams more experienced team is unlikely to waste that opportunity if they reach that point and Michigan State is 5-15 ATS facing a club with a winning record this season.

Maryland?s (24-8, 17-10 ATS) win over Houston was workman-like, taking the Cougars best shots, while maintaining control. There's no question the Terrapins' success revolves around senior guard Greivis Vasquez, whose game has matured to the level of doing what it takes to win, instead of making sure his numbers are in order. Maryland will undoubtedly use full court or three quarter pressure on the Spartans earlier in the game to determine who they react. The Terps are 8-1 ATS in road conditions after playing consecutive games as a favorite and is 10-2 and 9-3 ATS in last dozen outings.

Maryland is a one-point favorite; however four seeds are 11-23 ATS since 1998.

Missouri vs. West Virginia 2:40E

Can Missouri (23-10, 15-12 ATS) ring the bell as an upset winner? If they bring the same intensity they played with Friday in beating Clemson they just might. The Tigers 75-60 loss to Nebraska in first Big 12 tourney contest had coach Mike Anderson thinking October, not March. The very next practice was a return to basics, including all the conditioning drills the players hate, but they got the message. Against Clemson they had 15 steals and 20 forced turnovers, which led directly to 20 points in 86-78 triumph. ?Our teams typically start playing some of their better basketball right around late February, March,?? said coach Anderson. ?I guess we really turned up the intensity?? The Tigers are 15-4 ATS versus ball handling teams committing 12 or fewer turnovers a contest.

West Virginia (28-6, 14-19 ATS) hit the snooze button to start against Morgan State down 10-0, but were alarmed into reality by the soothing tones of coach Bob Huggins and buried the Bears the rest of the first half 38-17 on the way to 27-point win. The Mountaineers will have to show patience on offense in attacking Missouri and take advantage of opportunities once they break the press. West Virginia can?t become flustered either when Mizzou goes on 6-0 or 8-2 runs, that just their style. The ?Teers are six-point favorites and are 13-2 ATS in a NCAA tournament games since 1997.

Cornell vs. Wisconsin 2:50E

The Big Red of Cornell (28-4, 17-10 ATS) ended the Ivy?s league?s 12-year drought of empty NCAA trips with a resounding performance against A-10 champion Temple. "Everyone was saying we were Cinderella or it's an upset. Not us," sophomore Chris Wroblewski said Friday after his toppled Temple 78-65 as three-point underdogs. Cornell spent the first half pushing the ball inside and once the Owls were forced to sag lower, the nation?s top three point shooting team unleashed the hounds and total nine 3-pointers. The team from Ithaca, NY is 10-1 ATS after playing a game as an underdog.

Wisconsin (24-8, 17-13 ATS) played average at best in holding off Wofford 53-49, nevertheless the Badgers showed their most important trait when it mattered most, poise. Wisconsin lost every bit of their early 10-point second half lead, but played solid defense in the closing minutes and made big shots to emerge victorious. The Badgers are reliable three-point defensive team and they will need to deliver. Wisky is a 4.5-point favorite and 8-1 ATS if opposing squad has win percentage of 80 percent or better.

The tournament has shown that 4-seeds taking on 12-seeds in this round win by four points a game, about the same as oddsmakers number.

 

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High Seeds look to Prevail

High Seeds look to Prevail

High Seeds look to Prevail

The final three contests of Round 2 of the NCAA Tournament have variety. A top seed takes on a hot team from a poor-mouthed conference, a three-seed is expected to be tested by a squad with ample tourney experience and fourth seed is listed underdog, not playing with all its weaponry. This trio of wagering options will fill the Sweet 16 dance card.


ACC power on parade

Duke tied for the ACC regular season title and walked away with conference tournament and faces California of the much maligned Pac-10. Funny thing about the left-coasters, both teams that made it to the NCAA?s moved on to second round, proving at least at the top, this league was not too bad. The Blue Devils cover the six-point spread at Sportsbook.com if they establish inside presence against the Bears with Kyle Singler, Brian Zoubek and Lance Thomas doing the dirty work, freeing up the perimeter shooters to score. Expect the Blue Devils to work inside out and they are 6-0 ATS after two straight games attempting 10 or more free throws than opponent.

California?s best shot to pull the upset is staying glued to outside shooters from Duke and beat them down the floor in transition. If Jerome Randle can keep the Bears at high octane level to wear down the bigger Duke players, they?ll be able to take best shot since they are 10-2 ATS when the total is 140 to 149.5 this season. (Posted total is 143.5)

Pittsburgh against the X-Men

The Panthers and Xavier matchup opened with the Musketeers as a one-point favorite, moved to a Pick and are now single digit underdogs. Pittsburgh moves Salt Lake City if they can remain consistent. All season the Panthers have had players running hot and cold. That means Ashton Gibbs, Gilbert Brown, Gary McGhee, Travon Woodall and Dante Taylor all have to play within themselves and not try and be heroes. Pitt is 10-3 ATS versus very good teams outscoring their opponents by eight or points game this season.

The oddsmakers are telling us Xavier is very close to playing the way they want with total of 135.5. The Musketeers are 22-3 and 18-6 ATS, when they score 70 or more points and are very potent offensively averaging 79.6 points per contest.

Xavier will have to shoot better than 34.3 percent from the field like they did against Minnesota or they will be in real trouble, as three seeds are 8-1 SU against six seeds in this round.

Purdue could be predicament

The Boilermakers clearly haven't been the same without Robbie Hummel and will have to depend on defense to hold off Texas A&M. The Boilermakers will have to play sensational defense like they did against Siena (32.9 percent) and try and avoid long periods of not scoring. Junior guard E'Twaun Moore and center JaJuan Johnson will probably have to total 40 or more points and have at least two others score around 10 points each. Purdue is 15-26 ATS after playing three straight games as favorite over the last two seasons.

Texas A&M can defend as they proved against Utah State, holding the Aggies to 53 points, compared to average of 73 PPG. Donald Sloan is the inspirational leader and facilitator of the offense and center Bryan Davis is a rugged inside player. Coach Mark Turgeon has done a masterful job in blending the veterans with his youngsters, especially with the loss of Derrick Roland back in December to compound fracture. The Aggies are two-point favorites and 14-2 ATS when the line is +3 to -3.

 

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Today's capsules

Today's capsules

Today's capsules

STAFF and WIRE REPORTS
EAST REGIONAL

No. 2 West Virginia vs. No. 10 Missouri

■ SITE: Buffalo, N.Y.

■ TIME: 11:40 a.m.

■ ANNOUNCERS: Gus Johnson play-by-play, Len Elmore analyst

■ THE SPREAD: West Virginia -6

■ RECORDS: WVU 27-6, Missouri 23-10

■ HOW THEY GOT HERE: West Virginia d. No. 15 Morgan State 77-50; Missouri d. No. 7 Clemson 86-78

■ THE BUZZ: Mizzou did a great job containing Clemson F Trevor Booker in the first round. For the Tigers to win again, they'll have to handle WVU's big men in the same manner. The difference? Clemson had one big man of note, and WVU has one of the nation's deepest frontcourts. WVU's guards aren't known for their offense, and their job will be to avoid turnovers and handle Mizzou's pressure defense. While Mizzou wants a fast pace, the Mountaineers wouldn't mind turning this into a half-court affair. WVU's defense has been superb of late, and Missouri is going to have problems consistently scoring unless it's in transition.

No. 4 Wisconsin vs. No. 12 Cornell

■ SITE: Jacksonville, Fla.

■ TIME: 11:50 a.m.

■ ANNOUNCERS: Jim Nantz play-by-play, Clark Kellogg analyst

■ THE SPREAD: Wisconsin -4?

■ RECORDS: Wisconsin 24-8, Cornell 28-4

■ HOW THEY GOT HERE: Wisconsin d. No. 13 Wofford 53-49; Cornell d. No. 5 Temple 78-65

■ THE BUZZ: Cornell leads the nation in 3-point field-goal percentage, and the Big Red's motion offense carved up Temple's solid defense in the first round. Next up is Wisconsin and its solid defense. Good news for Cornell is that while Wisconsin is bigger than Temple, the Owls are quicker than the Badgers. Wisconsin's biggest advantage is its size. The Badgers need a big game from 6-foot-10-inch junior Jon Leuer. Cornell's only big man of note offensively is 7-footer Jeff Foote, who must avoid foul trouble. But the Big Red have physical, defense-minded big men they can bring off the bench. Cornell G Louis Dale and Wisconsin G Trevon Hughes should have a good battle.

SOUTH REGIONAL

No. 4 Purdue vs. No. 5 Texas A&M

■ SITE: Spokane, Wash.

■ TIME: 2 p.m.

■ ANNOUNCERS: Tim Brando play-by-play, Mike Gminski analyst

■ THE SPREAD: Texas A&M -1

■ RECORDS: Purdue 28-5, Texas A&M 24-9

■ HOW THEY GOT HERE: Purdue d. No. 13 Siena 72-64; Texas A&M d. No. 12 Utah State 69-53

■ THE BUZZ: Both teams were trendy picks to lose in the first round. Texas A&M is physical and plays good defense, but the Aggies aren't particularly proficient on offense and are sloppy with the ball at times. Purdue played well offensively against Siena, but it's hard to see the Boilermakers having that much success against the more physical Aggies. The flip side is that Purdue is physical on defense, too. The big man showdown between Purdue C JaJuan Johnson and A&M F Bryan Davis is worth keeping an eye on. In addition, figure that Purdue will put defensive stopper Chris Kramer on A&M G Donald Sloan. It would be a surprise if either team scored 60 points.

No. 1 Duke vs. No. 8 California

■ SITE: 2:15 p.m.

■ TIME: Jacksonville, Fla.

■ ANNOUNCERS: Jim Nantz play-by-play, Clark Kellogg analyst

■ THE SPREAD: Duke -6

■ RECORDS: Duke 30-5, California 24-10

■ HOW THEY GOT HERE: Duke d. No. 16 Arkansas-Pine Bluff 73-44; California d. No. 9 Louisville 77-62

■ THE BUZZ: Both want an up-tempo game, in the high 70s or low 80s. Duke is a better defensive team and rebounds better than the Golden Bears. Duke's perimeter defense has been great; the Blue Devils allow opponents to shoot barely 28 percent from 3-point range. Cal shoots better than 37 percent from beyond the arc and must be hot from the outside if it is to pull the upset. Cal also needs senior PG Jerome Randle, one of the nation's quickest players with the ball, to get into the lane; if Randle can drive and dish, the Golden Bears will get open looks on the perimeter. Duke F Kyle Singler and even C Brian Zoubek should have offensive success in the low post.

MIDWEST REGIONAL

No. 2 Ohio State vs. No. 10 Georgia Tech

■ SITE: Milwaukee

■ TIME: 11:20 a.m.

■ ANNOUNCERS: Ian Eagle play-by-play, Jim Spanarkel analyst

■ THE SPREAD: Ohio State -6?

■ RECORDS: Ohio State 28-7, Georgia Tech 23-12

■ HOW THEY GOT HERE: Ohio State d. No. 15 UC Santa Barbara 68-51; Georgia Tech d. No. 7 Oklahoma State 64-59

■ THE BUZZ: Georgia Tech's upset hopes depend on its big men. If Gani Lawal, Derrick Favors and Zachery Peacock get the ball enough, they are going to have success down low. But Tech's guards are so inconsistent, you wonder if they will be able to get the ball inside. Also important will be Tech G D'Andre Bell's defense on Ohio State star Evan Turner. Bell, who is 6 feet 6 inches, is known for his defensive prowess. Ohio State runs a four-guard offense with the 6-7 Turner directing traffic, but the athletic Buckeyes still rebound well. Tech needs to control the boards to increase its chances for an upset.

No. 4 Maryland vs. No. 5 Michigan State

■ SITE: Spokane, Wash.

■ TIME: 11:30 a.m.

■ ANNOUNCERS: Tim Brando play-by-play, Mike Gminski analyst

■ THE SPREAD: Maryland -1

■ RECORDS: Maryland 24-8, Michigan State 25-8

■ HOW THEY GOT HERE: Maryland d. No. 13 Houston 89-77; Michigan State d. No. 12 New Mexico State 70-67

■ THE BUZZ: Maryland wants to get out and run, and while Michigan State can handle any kind of tempo, the Spartans likely would be content to make this a half-court game. The Spartans pound foes on the boards, and that bears watching. Maryland isn't a particularly strong rebounding team anyway, and for the Terps to get out in transition, they must rebound well. For all the attention Maryland's offense gets, the Terps have played good defense this season, especially down the stretch. Michigan State's perimeter shooting is nothing special, and the Spartans need to be productive in the low post.

WEST REGIONAL

No. 1 Syracuse vs. No. 8 Gonzaga

■ SITE: Buffalo, N.Y.

■ TIME: 9:10 a.m.

■ ANNOUNCERS: Gus Johnson play-by-play, Len Elmore analyst

■ THE SPREAD: Syracuse -7?

■ RECORDS: Syracuse 29-4, Gonzaga 27-6

■ HOW THEY GOT HERE: Syracuse d. No. 16 Vermont 79-56; Gonzaga d. No. 9 Florida State 67-60

■ THE BUZZ: These are two of the most efficient offensive teams in the nation. Syracuse shoots better than 51 percent, and Gonzaga makes better than 49 percent of its shots. The Zags torched Florida State's nation's-leading field-goal defense in the first round, hitting 50 percent of their shots against a team that had allowed foes to make just 37.4 percent. Syracuse's zone means the Zags are going to have to hit some perimeter shots. The Orange should be able to score enough to beat the Zags, which means the Orange defense is the key to this one.

No. 3 Pittsburgh vs. No. 6 Xavier

■ SITE: Milwaukee

■ TIME: 2 p.m.

■ ANNOUNCERS: Ian Eagle play-by-play, Jim Spanarkel analyst

■ THE SPREAD: Pitt -1?

■ RECORDS: Pitt 25-8, Xavier 25-8

■ HOW THEY GOT HERE: Pitt d. No. 14 Oakland 89-66; Xavier d. No. 11 Minnesota 65-54

■ THE BUZZ: These teams met in the Sweet 16 last season, when top-seeded Pittsburgh downed the fourth-seeded Musketeers, 60-55. A lot has changed since then, but a lot also is the same: Pitt still plays physical, aggressive defense, and Xavier still prefers a fast pace. Xavier is good from 3-point range and will try to use the 3-pointer to create some room in the lane for big men Jason Love and Jamel McLean. Pitt G Ashton Gibbs didn't shoot well in the first round, but the Panthers won anyway. Pitt probably won't beat Xavier if Gibbs has another bad day. Look for Pitt to make Xavier G Jordan Crawford its defensive focus, and the Panthers will be as physical as possible with Crawford.

 

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South regional Day 4

South regional Day 4

South regional Day 4

Played in Spokane. All times ET.

No. 5 Texas A&M Aggies vs. No. 4 Purdue Boilermakers (+1.5, 125.5), 5:00 p.m.

Receiving little respect because of its loss of forward Robbie Hummel and a trendy pick to be upset, Purdue began the second half of Friday?s opening round with a 20-3 run to eventually defeat Siena, 72-64.

Keaton Grant (6.7 ppg, 2.7 rpg), who became a starter after Hummel?s knee injury, scored all 11 of his points in a span of only 5:10 during the Boilermakers? decisive run. JaJuan Johnson (15.4 ppg, 7.4 rpg, 2.0 blocks) had a game-high 23 points and 15 rebounds.

In the victory, Purdue, a 4.5-point favorite, covered its first game in eight tries since mid-February. The Boilermakers are 13-18-2 ATS this season.

Texas A&M has been on a roll and it continued Friday. The Aggies had little trouble with Utah State, winning 69-53 and advancing to the tournament?s second round for the fifth consecutive year.

Freshman forward Khris Middleton (7.3 ppg, 3.7 rpg) had a career-high 19 points and made 5-of-6 3-point attempts. Texas A&M is 11-2 ATS in its last 13 games and 19-10 ATS this season ? the 11th-best mark in the nation.

The second round game between Texas A&M and Purdue will pit two solid defenses against one another. In their last 10 games, the Aggies are yielding an average of less than 62 points per game while only two opponents have shot 44 percent or better from the floor. The Boilermakers are allowing only 61 points per game the entire season (29th in nation) while opponents shoot just 40 percent on field goals (36th).

The difference is, besides playing well defensively, Texas A&M is also extremely athletic. The sluggish Boilermakers will have a difficult time keeping up with the Aggies.

Final score prediction: Texas A&M 64, Purdue 57

Played in Jacksonville. All times ET.

No. 8 California Golden Bears vs. No. 1 Duke Blue Devils (-6, 143), 5:15 p.m.

Entering Friday?s opening round against Arkansas-Pine Bluff, Duke had struggled in recent NCAA tourneys, going 2-10 ATS since 2005. However, the Blue Devils? blowout win over Arkansas-Pine Bluff helps prove this Duke team may be a little better and more confident than previous editions.

Duke?s ?big three? of guards Jon Scheyer, Nolan Smith and forward Kyle Singler combined for 45 points while all three reached double digits for the 28th time in the Blue Devils? 35 games this season. In addition, forward Lance Thomas added 12 points ? more than twice his season scoring average.

?This is behind us,? said Smith of the 73-44 victory. ?We?ve got to get ready for whoever we play next.?

?Whoever? is the California Golden Bears, who had little trouble with Louisville in a 77-62 opening-round win. Pac-10 player of the year Jerome Randle (18.7 ppg, 4.5 apg) and forward Theo Robertson (14.1 ppg, 4.7 rpg) each scored 21 points as California, a 1-point favorite, covered its 10th game of its last 12.

The Bears did struggle against the Cardinals? height. California was out-rebounded 32-to-25 and Louisville?s big men, Samardo Samuels and Rakeem Buckles, combined for 36 points and 16-of-19 shooting from the field.

California, a relatively small team, is going to have a hard time matching up with Duke. The Blue Devils routinely out-rebound their opponents while, after their big three, four of the top five players are 6-foot-8 or taller. No Bear starter is taller than 6-foot-8.

This is the best Duke team in years and it should prove it today with a double-digit victory over an out-manned Cal team.

Final score prediction: Duke 75, California 63

 

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Midwest regional Day 4 picks

Midwest regional Day 4 picks

Midwest regional Day 4

Played in Milwaukee. All times ET.

No. 2 Ohio State Buckeyes vs. No. 10 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (+6.5, 133.5), 2:20 p.m.

Free-throw shooting has been a concern for Georgia Tech (23-12). The Jackets were under 65 percent for the season before going a blazing 24-of-25 (96 percent) in Friday?s 64-59 upset of Oklahoma State.

Georgia Tech?s frontcourt duo of 6-foot-9 junior Gani Lawal and 6-foot-10 freshman Derrick Favors got it done, with a combined 26 points and 15 rebounds.

The team also did a great job on Cowboys star guard James Anderson, who went just 3-of-12 for 11 points. Iman Shumpert is most credited for slowing Anderson.

No time to rest on those laurels. Here comes Evan Turner and Ohio State (27-7).

?I was a defensive stopper in high school,? Shumpert told Yahoo Sports. ?Evan is another tough assignment. Whatever I have to do.?

Turner didn?t have to do much in the Buckeyes? 68-51 win over UC Santa Barbara. He scored only nine points on 2-of-13 shooting (with 10 rebounds and five assists), but the backcourt of Jon Diebler and William Buford combined for 39 points.

Despite the comfortable win, Ohio State still didn?t go to its bench. Three starters played 37 or more minutes. Tech had eight players see 17 minutes or more in Friday?s win.

The two teams do have similar opponents. Ohio State beat Florida State 77-64, while Georgia Tech lost to the Seminoles twice, 66-59 and 68-66. The Buckeyes did lose to North Carolina 77-73 back when the Tar Heels were ranked No. 7. The Jackets beat the Heels three times in ACC play.

Georgia Tech is a perfect 5-0 in NCAA games played at the Bradley Center in Milwaukee. If the physical Jackets can wear down the Buckeyes ? and most teams have not - they have a very real chance.

Prediction: Ohio State 70, Georgia Tech 67

Played in Spokane. All times ET.

No. 4 Maryland Terrapins vs. No. 5 Michigan State Spartans (+1, 142), 2:30 p.m.

Michigan State (25-8) escaped past New Mexico State 70-67 Friday, with the help of an ill-timed lane violation by the Aggies.

At this point, it?s all about surviving and Michigan State kept its hopes of getting back to the NCAA title game alive.

Spartans star point guard Kalin Lucas, usually a top playmaker, called his own number and scored a career-high 25 points. Spartans coach Tom Izzo improved to 32-11 in the NCAA Tournament with the win.

?If there?s one thing I?ve learned in the years I?ve been in this tournament, the words ?survive and advance? that everybody preaches is the truth,? Izzo said after Friday?s win. ?I don?t want to say I?m glad we had a close game, but I learned something about these guys that I had been looking for this year. ? We played well early. We struggled in the second half. And we finished the game. We?ve survived and advanced.?

In other words, Izzo is hoping his Spartans are out of their late-season funk.

Four players scored in double figures for Maryland (24-8) in its 89-77 win over Houston. The Terps? multiple scoring options have been a source of strength and it?s also allowed leading scorer Greivis Vasquez (19.5 ppg) to avoid major extra attention.

Freshman Jordan Williams, a starter all season, arrived onto the national scene Friday, busting out a career-high 21 points and 17 rebounds.

Both teams go eight deep and have three common opponents, but not much can be deduced from them. Maryland lost to Wisconsin 78-69, beat Indiana handily and beat North Carolina 92-71. Michigan State lost to UNC 89-82 (again, back when the Heels were good), split with Wisconsin (54-47 win and 67-49 loss) and also handled the Hoosiers.

One big concern for Maryland will be keeping the physical Spartans off the board. Michigan State is averaging a plus-9.4 rebounding margin on the season. Maryland is at plus-1.4. The Terps will need to run down the floor and hit their shots and not many teams are as good at either - 15th nationally in scoring, 79.6 ppg and 29th in field goal percentage, 47.2 percent ? as the Terps.

Prediction: Maryland 69, Michigan State 67

 

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West regional Day 4 picks

West regional Day 4 picks

West regional Day 4

Game being played in Buffalo, N.Y. All times ET.

Syracuse Orange vs. Gonzaga Bulldogs (+7.5, 150), 12:10 p.m.

The Syracuse smothering zone defense was in full force Friday night, holding Vermont to 34.8 percent shooting in the game and 5-for-22 from 3-point range.

The Orange motto coming into the NCAA Tournament was ?Shut it Down? and they will have to recreate that shutdown defensive effort against a Gonzaga team that can bang the boards and has efficient perimeter shooters.

?We haven?t played anyone that plays a zone like Syracuse,? coach Mark Few told reporters. "With only one day to get ready for it, it's going to be a huge task (to win), especially in front of this crowd.?

With the game being played two and a half hours from the Syracuse campus, it will essentially be a home game for the Orange, much like their opening-round blowout.

Bulldogs guard Matt Bouldin said they will have to get their ?bigs? some touches to be effective against the zone and that starts with NBA prospect Elias Harris.

Harris totaled 13 points in the win over Florida State and when the big German scored in double figures this season the Zags went 20-3.

The Bulldogs bench totaled 25 minutes and zero points in their first game, so fatigue has to be a concern for the five starters in this game.

But with Arinze Onuaku sidelined, Boeheim?s rotation only goes six deep with Scoop Jardine coming off the bench. Onuaku?s status for the game remains uncertain.

Prediction: Syracuse 82, Gonzaga 77

Game being played in Milwaukee, Wis.

Xavier Musketeers vs. Pittsburgh Panthers (PK, 136), 4:50 p.m.

Jordan Crawford made a name for himself this summer after dunking on LeBron James, but he made a splash in Xavier?s first-round win over Minnesota after leading the team with 28 points.

The Musketeers have advanced to the second round of the Big Dance four straight years and four of the team?s five starters were in this position last year.

"There are different ways to motivate kids and we're really tired of being The Little Engine that Could," first-year coach Chris Mack told the media. "We're a really good program and our kids aren't scared to play anybody."

Pittsburgh was extremely balanced in its 23-point rout over Oakland Friday. The Panthers shot better than 53 percent from the field, had six players score double figures and all but one of their nine players saw 10 minutes of action or more.

Pitt?s strength down low will be a concern for Xavier, which was manhandled on the boards at times in the Minnesota game which didn?t afford the team many second-chance opportunities.

It should be a tight game throughout but the more experienced coach in Jamie Dixon will prove to be the difference in the end.

Prediction: Pittsburgh 67, Xavier 63

 

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East regional day 4 picks

East regional day 4 picks

East regional day 4 picks

Game being played in Buffalo, N.Y. All times ET.

No. 2 West Virginia Mountaineers (-5.5, 138.5) vs. No. 10 Missouri Tigers, 2:40 p.m.

Is anyone playing better than West Virginia right now?

The Mountaineers (28-6, 14-19 ATS) manhandled Morgan State in the opening round for their seventh straight win.

Missouri (23-10, 15-12) also was impressive in the first round. The Tigers ratcheted up their trademark pressure defense to pull away from Clemson in the second half. It was the best Missouri?s looked in a month, even though coach Mike Anderson?s team was out-rebounded by 12.

Rebounding has been an issue for Missouri all season (-2.9 rebounding margin). That?s a major concern against a West Virginia squad that lives off the offensive glass.

Missouri makes up for its lack of rebounding prowess with pressure, something Anderson said his team will be increasing throughout the tournament. The Tigers harassed Clemson into 20 turnovers and lead the nation in steals.

West Virginia struggled in high-scoring affairs against Villanova and Pittsburgh in early February.

Prediction: West Virginia 71, Missouri 67

Game being played in Jacksonville, Fla.

No. 4 Wisconsin Badgers (-4, 121) vs. No. 12 Cornell Big Red, 2:50 p.m.

Cornell is talking a good game, but can the tournament darlings back it up?

?We?re just getting started,? 7-foot center Jeff Foote told reporters after Friday?s dominating win over A-10 champion Temple. "We have a really special team and we're capable of a special run. I don't think the mission is accomplished at all."

Always-gritty Wisconsin stands in the way of Cornell (28-4, 17-10) and the Sweet 16. The Badgers (24-8, 17-13 ATS) failed to put away Wofford on Friday, but survived and now must figure out how to slow down the hot-shooting Big Red.

The Badgers boast the fourth-ranked scoring defense and commit the fewest turnovers in the nation. That will certainly help, but where will the offense come from? Wisconsin hasn?t scored over 55 points in its last two games. Cornell has averaged over 80 in its last three.

The Big Red, of course, shoots a ton of 3?s. They average close to 10 made 3-pointers per game. Wisconsin made just 1-of-9 attempts from downtown against Wofford.

Prediction: Cornell 69, Wisconsin 62

 

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NCAA Basketball Picks

NCAA Basketball Picks

NCAA Basketball Picks
California vs. Duke
The Golden Bears look to take advantage of a Duke team that is 0-6 ATS in its last 6 NCAA Tournament games as a favorite of 1 to 6 1/2 points. California is the pick (+6 1/2) according to Dunkel, which has Duke favored by only 4 1/2. Dunkel Pick: California (+6 1/2). Here are all of today's games.

SUNDAY, MARCH 21
Time Posted: 7:30 a.m. EST
Game 715-716: Missouri vs. West Virginia
Dunkel Ratings: Missouri 65.655; West Virginia 72.899
Dunkel Line: West Virginia by 7
Vegas Line: West Virginia by 5 1/2
Dunkel Pick: West Virginia (-5 1/2)
Game 717-718: Gonzaga vs. Syracuse
Dunkel Ratings: Gonzaga 67.275; Syracuse 71.037
Dunkel Line: Syracuse by 4
Vegas Line: Syracuse by 7
Dunkel Pick: Gonzaga (+7)
Game 719-720: Cornell vs. Wisconsin
Dunkel Ratings: Cornell 67.340; Wisconsin 69.948
Dunkel Line: Wisconsin by 2 1/2
Vegas Line: Wisconsin by 4 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Cornell (+4 1/2)
Game 721-722: California vs. Duke
Dunkel Ratings: California 72.054; Duke 76.435
Dunkel Line: Duke by 4 1/2
Vegas Line: Duke by 6 1/2
Dunkel Pick: California (+6 1/2)
Game 723-724: Xavier vs. Pittsburgh
Dunkel Ratings: Xavier 69.976; Pittsburgh 68.319
Dunkel Line: Xavier by 1 1/2
Vegas Line: Pick
Dunkel Pick: Xavier
Game 725-726: Georgia Tech vs. Ohio State
Dunkel Ratings: Georgia Tech 68.407; Ohio State 77.320
Dunkel Line: Ohio State by 9
Vegas Line: Ohio State by 6
Dunkel Pick: Ohio State (-6)
Game 727-728: Texas A&M vs. Purdue
Dunkel Ratings: Texas A&M 73.443; Purdue 68.410
Dunkel Line: Texas A&M by 5
Vegas Line: Texas A&M by 1 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Texas A&M (-1 1/2)
Game 729-730: Michigan State vs. Maryland
Dunkel Ratings: Michigan State 70.494; Maryland 74.471
Dunkel Line: Maryland by 4
Vegas Line: Maryland by 1
Dunkel Pick: Maryland (-1)

 

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Georgia Tech (23-10) vs. Ohio State (28-7)

Georgia Tech (23-10) vs. Ohio State (28-7)

Georgia Tech (23-10) vs. Ohio State (28-7)



Sunday, March 21st, 2:20 p.m. (et)


FACTS & STATS: Site: Bradley Center (19,150) -- Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Television: CBS. NCAA Tournament Record: Georgia Tech 23-15, OSU 38-20. Series Record: Ohio State leads, 10-3.

GAME NOTES: The second-seeded Ohio State Buckeyes and 10th-seeded Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets come together today in the second round of the 2010 NCAA Tournament at the Bradley Center in Milwaukee. The winner of this Midwest Regional pairing moves on to the Sweet 16 versus Tennessee.

The Yellow Jackets continued their late-season charge on Friday, as they upended Oklahoma State, 64-59, in the first round. Georgia Tech, which needed a good showing in the ACC Tournament just to earn an at-large bid to this event, improved to 5-0 in NCAA Tournament games played at the Bradley Center. The program is now one victory away from moving on to the "Sweet 16" for the first time since 2004.

On the flip side, the Buckeyes had a much easier time in their first-round game, posting a 68-51 win over 15th-seeded UC Santa Barbara on Friday. OSU, which won a share of the Big Ten regular-season title and then claimed the league tourney championship, are now 38-20 all-time in the NCAA Tournament. The team is hoping to move on to the "Sweet 16" for the first time since advancing to the final game in 2007.

As for the all-time series between these two clubs, OSU owns a 10-3 advantage, but the Yellow Jackets have won the last two meetings.

Georgia Tech converted 24-of-25 free-throw attempts and dominated the boards, 32-17, as it slipped past Oklahoma State on Friday. As expected, the frontcourt tandem of Derrick Favors and Gani Lawal overmatched the smaller Cowboys, and they combined for 26 points and 15 rebounds. Lawal led the way with 14 points and six boards, meanwhile, Favors posted 12 points and nine rebounds. For the season, Lawal heads the team in scoring (13.1 ppg) as well as rebounding (8.6 rpg), while Favors follows with 12.5 ppg and 8.5 rpg. Iman Shumpert chips in with 10.1 ppg and he is in charge of feeding the frontcourt tandem, handing out a team-high 3.9 apg.

The Buckeyes drained 10-of-22 buckets from beyond the arc and held UCSB to a dismal 32.3 percent overall shooting performance, as they cruised to victory on Friday. Jon Diebler was outstanding in the win, tallying 23 points on 7- of-12 shooting from downtown. William Buford added 16 points and seven boards, while Evan Turner tallied nine points, 10 caroms and five assists. A National Player of the Year candidate, Turner is one of the most versatile players around and he paces OSU with 19.9 ppg, 9.2 rpg and 5.9 apg. Buford is next in line with 14.5 ppg and 3.1 apg, while Diebler adds 13.1 ppg on the strength of 42.9 percent shooting from long range. David Lighty also gets into the mix, as he puts forth 12.6 ppg, 4.6 rpg and 2.9 apg.

The frontcourt tandem of Favors and Lawal should once again make their presence known, but unlike Oklahoma State, Ohio State has the bodies to help slow them down. Expect Turner to also have a bigger day and lead the Buckeyes to the next round.

Predicted Outcome: Ohio State 69, Georgia Tech 61

 

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Maryland (24-8) vs. Michigan State (25-8)

Maryland (24-8) vs. Michigan State (25-8)

Maryland (24-8) vs. Michigan State (25-8)



Sunday, March 21st, 2:30 p.m. (et).


FACTS & STATS: Site: Spokane Memorial Arena (12,210 ) -- Spokane, Washington. Television: CBS. NCAA Tournament Record: Maryland 38-22, Michigan State 49-22. Series Record: Series is tied, 2-2.

GAME NOTES: The ACC meets the Big Ten in the second round of the 2010 NCAA Tournament today, as the fifth-seeded Maryland Terrapins battle the fourth- seeded Michigan State Spartans at Spokane Memorial Arena. The winner of this Midwest Regional contest will move on to the Sweet 16 to challenge Northern Iowa.

Winners of 10 of their last 12 outings, the Terps took care of business in first-round action on Friday, notching an 89-77 victory over 13th-seeded Houston. It marked the 10th straight first-round win for Maryland, which improved to 38-22 all-time in the NCAA Tournament. With another win today, the Terps would move on to the Sweet 16 for the first time since 2003.

As for Michigan State, it had its hands full with 12th-seeded New Mexico State on Friday, but hung on for a 70-67 first-round win. The Spartans, making their 13th straight NCAA Tournament appearance, are trying to duplicate last year's run when they advanced to the Championship Game.

The all-time series between Michigan State and Maryland is knotted at 2-2, with the Terps taking the last two meetings, including an 80-62 decision in 2008.

Jordan Williams was unstoppable on Friday, recording career-highs of 21 points and 17 rebounds to lead Maryland past Houston. It was the seventh double- double of the season for Williams, who is averaging 9.6 ppg and 8.6 rpg. Landon Milbourne added 19 points and seven rebounds, while Greivis Vasquez turned in 16 points, seven rebounds and six assists. Eric Hayes tacked on 11 points and six helpers for Maryland, which dominated the glass, 50-29. The Terps are barely outrebounding opponents on the season, so don't expect that kind of dominance against MSU today. Maryland though, can score with the best of them, averaging a robust 79.6 ppg. Vasquez, the ACC Player of the Year, is the focal point of the UM attack and he produces 19.4 ppg and 6.2 apg. Milbourne checks in with 12.7 ppg and 5.0 rpg, and Hayes contributes 11.1 ppg and 3.8 apg.

Kalin Lucas poured in a career-high 25 points and the Spartans hit several key shots down the stretch to top New Mexico State on Friday. Lucas also dished out four assists for the Spartans, who outscored the Aggies, 23-13, at the foul line. Durrell Summers logged 14 points, and Raymar Morgan pitched in with 11. For the season, Lucas heads MSU in scoring at 15.2 ppg and he is also distributing a team-high 3.9 apg. Morgan ranks second with 11.4 ppg and 6.1 rpg, while Summers puts fourth 10.2 ppg and 4.5 rpg. Draymond Green provides a spark off the bench with 9.8 ppg, 8.1 rpg and 3.0 apg for Michigan State, which is outrebounding opponents by 8.8 rpg for the season.

These are two evenly matched teams, so expect a dogfight. The Spartans are a little better defensively and that should help them emerge victorious.

Predicted Outcome: Michigan State 74, Maryland 69

 

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Missouri (23-10) vs. West Virginia (28-6)

Missouri (23-10) vs. West Virginia (28-6)

Missouri (23-10) vs. West Virginia (28-6)



Sunday, March 21st, 2:40 p.m. (et)

FACTS & STATS: Site: HSBC Arena (19,100) -- Buffalo, New York. Television: CBS. NCAA Tournament Record: Missouri 22-22, West Virginia 21-22. Series Record: Missouri leads, 1-0.

GAME NOTES: The second-seeded West Virginia Mountaineers and the 10th-seeded Missouri Tigers will collide in the second round of the NCAA Tournament this afternoon.

The winner of this East Regional matchup will advance to the Sweet 16 to do battle with 11th-seeded Washington.

Missouri outplayed seventh-seeded Clemson in the second half of Friday's first-round game, and the result was an 86-78 victory. This marks the 23rd NCAA Tournament appearance for Missouri, which owns a 22-22 record at the event. Last season, the Tigers reached the Elite Eight, and the fact that they have returned to the Big Dance despite losing three 1,000-point scorers from that squad is a credit to head coach Mike Anderson and his staff. Overall, Missouri is 23-10 and finished 10-6 versus Big 12 Conference opposition during the regular season.

As for West Virginia, it overcame a slow start to crush 15th-seeded Morgan State by a 77-50 final. WVU is making its 23rd appearance in the Big Dance and third straight under head coach Bob Huggins. The Mountaineers, who are 28-6 overall, won the Big East Tournament title and had a resume' that was certainly worthy of No. 1 seed consideration, so Huggins didn't attempt to conceal the fact that he was disappointed with the No. 2 seed. The club finished sixth in the final regular-season poll, the best finish for the program since placing fifth in 1960. WVU is 21-22 all-time in the NCAA Tournament.

Missouri won its only previous meeting with West Virginia by an 89-78 final in 1992.

On Friday, Missouri played tremendous basketball in the victory over Clemson, as the team shot 51.9 percent from the floor and finished with 21 assists against only nine turnovers. Missouri also forced 20 turnovers and earned a 21-10 edge in points from the foul line, enabling the squad to overcome a 41-30 rebounding disadvantage. Both Keith Ramsey and Kim English tallied 20 points, while Laurence Bowers pitched in 15 points for the Tigers. J.T. Tiller added 10 points for Missouri, which is averaging 77.8 ppg while limiting opponents to 66.2 ppg. English continues to lead the team with 14.1 ppg, and that output would be better if not for his 39.5 percent shooting from the field. Marcus Denmon and Bowers are contributing 10.8 ppg and 10.3 ppg, respectively. The Tigers are holding opponents to 41 percent field goal efficiency, but the team has struggled on the boards.

West Virginia is generating 73.1 ppg while limiting opponents to 63.4 ppg on 42 percent shooting from the field. The Mountaineers are a dominant rebounding team, as they are ripping down 6.9 rpg more than the opposition. Da'Sean Butler, one of the top performers in the Big East Conference, brings 17.2 ppg to the floor for WVU. Kevin Jones checks in with 13.6 ppg and 7.1 rpg, and he is shooting 52.8 percent from the floor. As for Devin Ebanks, the third and final double-digit scorer on the roster, he brings 12.0 ppg and 8.4 rpg to the court. West Virginia held Morgan State to 29.5 percent shooting from the floor in the first round, including 3-of-19 from three-point range. A 49-38 rebounding advantage also helped the cause for the Mountaineers, who finished with 20 assists against nine turnovers. Jones scored 17 points in the clash, while Ebanks tallied 16 points and 13 rebounds.

The difference in this game will be rebounding, as West Virginia will dominate the boards and cruise to victory. Butler only scored nine points against Morgan State, so expect him to put up much better numbers today.

Predicted Outcome: West Virginia 80, Missouri 64

 

[Lumi]

Cornell (28-4) vs. Wisconsin (24-8)

Cornell (28-4) vs. Wisconsin (24-8)

Cornell (28-4) vs. Wisconsin (24-8)



Sunday, March 21st, 2:50 p.m. (et)

FACTS & STATS: Site: Veterans Memorial Arena (14,091) -- Jacksonville, Florida. Television: CBS. NCAA Tournament Record: Cornell 1-5, Wisconsin 21-14. Series Record: First-ever meeting.

GAME NOTES: The 12th-seeded Cornell Big Red earned the first NCAA Tournament win in program history two days ago, and they will attempt to upset the fourth-seeded Wisconsin Badgers in the second round of the East Regional.

The winner of this game will do battle with top-seeded Kentucky in the Sweet 16.

Cornell was far superior to fifth-seeded Temple in Friday's 78-65 triumph. The Big Red are now 28-4 overall and cruised to the Ivy League title. They have tied a record set by the 1970-71 Penn Quakers for most wins in a season by an Ivy squad (28) and can obviously claim sole possession of the record today. Cornell is making its fifth NCAA Tournament appearance and had an 0-5 record in the event prior to the triumph over Temple.

As for Wisconsin, it is making its 16th appearance in this event and owns a 21-14 record. The program advanced to the Final Four in 1941 and 2000 and won its only national title in '41. The Badgers have been to the NCAA Tournament in each of head coach Bo Ryan's nine seasons with the team and in 12 straight years overall. They are 24-8 this season and are coming off a 53-49 victory over 13th-seeded Wofford, a first-round game that was closer than expected.

This game marks the first-ever meeting between Cornell and Wisconsin on the hardwood.

There are several obvious reasons that Cornell was able to get by Temple so easily on Friday. The Big Red connected on 56.3 percent of their field goal attempts and knocked down nine three-pointers. They also earned a 30-20 rebounding advantage and a 15-6 edge in points from the foul line. Louis Dale scored 21 points and handed out seven assists to lead the charge against the Owls. Ryan Wittman, the Ivy League Player of the Year, was close behind with 20 points on the strength of a 4-of-6 effort from three-point range, and Jeff Foote provided 16 points and seven boards from his center position. Overall this season, Cornell is scoring 75.4 ppg and is shooting a staggering 43.2 percent from behind the arc as a team, the best mark in the nation. The club is limiting opponents to 63.2 ppg on 41.6 percent field goal efficiency. Wittman paces his club with 17.6 ppg, while both Foote (12.4 ppg, 8.2 rpg) and Dale (12.2 ppg, 141 assists) are consistent contributors as well.

Wisconsin struggled mightily at the offensive end of the floor against Wofford in the first round, shooting a mere 37 percent, including 1-of-9 from three- point range. The Badgers were also outrebounded by a 37-30 margin, but they did earn a 12-6 edge in points from the foul line and only turned the ball over four times. Jon Leuer and Trevon Hughes combined to score 39 of Wisconsin's 53 points. Leuer finished with 20 points and eight rebounds, while Hughes tallied 19 points. The key to the Badgers' success this season has been their strong defensive play, as they have limited their foes to 56 ppg on 41.8 percent shooting from the field. Offensively, they are netting 67.0 ppg and have four double-digit scorers in the fold. Hughes leads the team with 15.5 ppg, and he has 55 steals to his credit as well. Leuer is close behind with 15.0 ppg, and his 5.9 rpg are actually tops on the roster. Jason Bohannon (11.4 ppg) and Keaton Nankivil (10.1 ppg) round out a foursome of double-digit scorers.

Wisconsin clearly struggled with Wofford, and Cornell represents and even tougher test. Both the Big Red and Badgers play strong defense, but Cornell is the better shooting team and will clinch an improbable berth in the Sweet 16.

Predicted Outcome: Cornell 66, Wisconsin 60

 

[Lumi]

Xavier (25-8) vs. Pittsburgh (25-8)

Xavier (25-8) vs. Pittsburgh (25-8)

Xavier (25-8) vs. Pittsburgh (25-8)



Sunday, March 21st, 4:50 p.m. (et)

FACTS & STATS: Site: Bradley Center (18,600) -- Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Television: CBS. NCAA Tournament Record: Xavier 18-20, Pittsburgh 22-22. Series Record: Pittsburgh leads, 4-2.

GAME NOTES: One of only two active teams capable of making it to the Sweet 16 for the third consecutive year, the Xavier Musketeers must first get by the Pittsburgh Panthers in the second round of the 72nd annual NCAA Tournament this afternoon at the Bradley Center.

Prior to yesterday, Xavier was one of four teams that was shooting for the round of 16 for the third year in a row, but both Kansas and Villanova were shown the door by Northern Iowa and Saint Mary's, respectively. The sixth- seeded Musketeers are into the second round of the tourney for the fourth straight year and the 12th time overall, thanks to a 65-54 victory over the Minnesota Golden Gophers on Friday.

As for the third-seeded Panthers, they started out a bit slow two days ago against Oakland in the first round, but then picked up steam and ended up crushing the opposition by a final of 89-66. A win today would send Pittsburgh to the Sweet 16 for the sixth time in the last nine seasons and of the remaining active teams in the tourney, only Duke has made it to that round more times during the same stretch.

The Panthers own a 4-2 advantage in the all-time series against Xavier and that includes a 60-55 win in the East Regional semifinals a year ago.

The winner of today's meeting will face off against second-seeded Kansas State in Salt Lake City next week.

Tied at 26-26 at the break, Xavier turned up the offense in the second half against the Golden Gophers to pull away for the double-digit victory at the Bradley Center two days ago. Jordan Crawford made good on 5-of-11 shots from three-point range and 11-of-21 from the floor overall as he finished with a game-high 28 points, the only double-digit scorer for the Musketeers. Crawford added six rebounds and five assists, while Jamel McLean ripped down a game- high 14 rebounds as he helped guide the squad to a 50-41 rebounding advantage over a squad that had considerable height on the front line. A 39.3 percent shooter beyond the arc this season, Crawford is easily the top scorer for the Musketeers with his 20.0 ppg, while Jason Love and Terrell Holloway account for another 11.7 ppg apiece, the former clearing a team-best 8.5 rpg and the latter responsible for a team-high 129 assists. Toss in McLean with his 7.5 rpg and it is easy to see how this group beats opponents on the glass by more than five per game.

Oakland held an early lead against the Panthers two days ago in the first half, but a 26-8 run to close the frame put Pittsburgh ahead for good and the favorite was able to cruise to the lopsided victory. Of the seven players who scored for the Panthers, all but one reached double digits as Gilbert Brown and Jermaine Dixon both dropped in 17 points, followed by Nasir Robinson and Brad Wanamaker with 13 apiece and a combined 11 assists. Gary McGhee, who suffered five turnovers without benefit of a single assist, added 12 points and six boards. Travon Woodall chipped in 10 points off the bench as the team shot 53.6 percent from the field and held the Grizzlies to just 33.3 percent for the game. Leading scorer Ashton Gibbs, responsible for 15.6 ppg this season, converted only one of his seven field goal attempts in the first round, making it that much easier to understand why he is converting just 39.7 percent of his field goal attempts on the season overall. One of the most complete players in the Big East this season, Wanamaker is averaging 12.2 ppg, 5.6 rpg and 4.7 apg through 33 contests for the Panthers, his 40 steals first on the roster as well. Defensively, Pittsburgh gives up just 61.5 ppg as it allows 39.8 percent shooting by the opposition from the field.

If the Panthers are going to be successful today they will have to get far more production from reserves. Pittsburgh should get just that en route to a close, hard-fought victory.

Predicted Outcome: Pittsburgh 78, Xavier 71

 

[Lumi]

Texas A&M (24-9) vs. Purdue (28-5)

Texas A&M (24-9) vs. Purdue (28-5)

Texas A&M (24-9) vs. Purdue (28-5)



Sunday, March 21st, 5:10 p.m. (et)

FACTS & STATS: Site: Spokane Memorial Arena (12,210) -- Spokane, Washington. Television: CBS. NCAA Tournament Record: Texas A&M 9-11, Purdue 32-23. Series Record: Purdue leads, 2-1.

GAME NOTES: Second-Round action in the South Region of the NCAA Tournament will take place at Spokane Memorial Arena when the fourth-seeded Purdue Boilermakers take on the fifth-seeded Texas A&M Aggies.

The Aggies pushed through to the second round for the fifth straight season, after opening the tournament with a convincing, 69-53 victory over Utah State in the first round. Texas A&M, which finished with a 23-9 record during the regular season, is now 9-11 all-time in this event, and 6-4 in the Big Dance over the past five seasons.

After an embarrassing loss to Minnesota in the Big Ten Tournament, the Boilermakers redeemed themselves with a solid, 72-64 victory over Siena in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Friday. Purdue, which is making its fourth consecutive appearance in the NCAA Tournament, is now 32-23 all-time in this event.

In regard to the all-time series between the two schools on the hardwood, the Boilermakers own a slim 2-1 edge over Texas A&M. However, the lone win for the Aggies came in the last meeting back in 2001.

The Aggies flexed their muscle defensively against Utah State on Friday, as they held their opponent to just 53 points behind a 38.7 percent shooting effort. Utah State, which was one of the top three-point shooting teams in the nation, was limited to just 5-of-20 from behind the arc. At the other end of the floor the Aggies where just as impressive, as they shot 49.0 percent in the contest and that included an 8-of-18 clip from behind the arc. Khris Middleton led the way with 19 points, while David Loubeau added 14 points. B.J. Holmes and Donald Sloan contributed 11 and 10 points, respectively. Sloan has been the top performer throughout the season for Texas A&M, as the guard is leading the team with 18.0 ppg. However, if the Aggies are going to remain in this tournament the team will have to continue its strong play defensively, as Texas A&M heads into this second round matchup holding opponents to just 64.5 ppg.

The Boilermakers are a fourth seed in the tournament, but somehow Purdue was looked upon to be a team that would not make it out of the first round. However, without star forward Robbie Hummel, the Boilermakers proved they are a dangerous team by taking care of Siena by an eight-point margin to open up play. Purdue shot 45.8 percent from the field in the victory and was led by a terrific performance by JaJuan Johnson, who finished with a double-double of 23 points and 15 rebounds. E'Twaun Moore added 12 points and six rebounds, while Keaton Grant and Chris Kramer posted 11 and 10 points, respectively. The loss of Hummel and his 15.7 ppg and 6.9 rpg is definitely a sore spot for the Boilermakers, but the team has relied on Johnson, who is averaging 15.4 ppg and a team-best 7.3 rpg. Moore has also stepped up his game and comes into this matchup averaging 16.4 ppg, to go along with a team-high 91 assists. As a whole, the Boilermakers are producing 71.1 ppg, but a strong emphasis on defense is the key the rest of the way, as Purdue is currently limiting opponents to just 61.0 ppg.

Both teams have relied on their defensive tenacity, so look for a low-scoring, physical affair. Even without Hummel on the floor though, the Boilermakers still have an edge offensively, and should be able to prove their critics wrong once again with a victory this evening.

Predicted Outcome: Purdue 67, Texas A&M 64

 

[Lumi]

California (24-10) vs. Duke (30-5)

California (24-10) vs. Duke (30-5)

California (24-10) vs. Duke (30-5)



Sunday, March 21st, 5:20 p.m. (et)

FACTS & STATS: Site: Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena (14,091) -- Jacksonville, Florida. Television: CBS. NCAA Tournament Record: California 19-15, Duke 89-30. Series Record: California leads, 2-0.

GAME NOTES: After breezing through their first-round game, the top-seeded Duke Blue Devils will face more of a challenge this evening when they battle the eighth-seeded California Golden Bears in second round action in the South Region of the NCAA Tournament at Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena.

The Golden Bears posted their first NCAA Tournament victory since 2003 with a 77-62 decision over Louisville in the first round on Friday. It was the largest win for Cal in the "Big Dance" since 1960 when the Golden Bears pounded Oregon, 70-49. The Golden Bears, who claimed their first Pac-10 regular-season championship in 50 years, are now 24-10 on the season, and pushed their all-time ledger in this event to a respectable 19-15.

The Blue Devils had no trouble in their first-round matchup, as they pounded the Arkansas-Pine Bluff Golden Lions, 73-44. The Blue Devils are no strangers to playing as a number one seed, as this will be the 11th time in the school's history and the ninth in the last 13 tournaments. As a number one seed the Blue Devils are 38-8 and all-time in this event the team is now an outstanding 89-30 overall. Duke, which claimed the ACC regular season and tournament titles, has now posted its 11th 30-win campaign in school history.

The Golden Bears own a slim 2-0 edge over Duke in the all-time series, and that includes an 82-77 victory over the Blue Devils in the second round of the 1993 NCAA Tournament.

The Golden Bears were solid offensively in their first-round victory over Louisville, as Cal shot 51.0 percent in its 15-point victory. The Golden Bears also finished 8-of-15 from behind the arc and 17-of-22 from the charity stripe. Jerome Randle and Theo Robertson both tallied 21 points in the victory, while Patrick Christopher added 17 points, to go along with eight rebounds. Throughout the season California has flourished offensively, as the team is producing 77.9 ppg, behind a 47.8 percent shooting effort. Randle, who was selected as the Pac-10 Player of the Year, comes into this matchup averaging 18.8 ppg, to go along with a team-best 149 assists. Randle has also done a tremendous job from behind the arc, connecting on 40.5 percent of his three-point attempts. Christopher and Robertson are contributing 16.0 and 14.4 ppg, respectively, while Jamal Boykin is netting 11.9 ppg, to go along with a team-high 6.6 rpg.

The Blue Devils were not challenged in their first-round matchup, as the team dismantled Arkansas-Pine Bluff with relative ease. Duke, which won by a 29- point margin, shot 51.1 percent from the field and finished with a respectable 6-of-13 showing from the floor. Kyle Singler's double-double of 22 points and 10 rebounds led the way for Duke, wile Jon Scheyer added 13 points. Lance Thomas and Nolan Smith finished with 12 and 10 points apiece, respectively. Duke has been dangerous at the offensive end of the court throughout the season, as the team is averaging 77.8 ppg, behind a 44.2 percent shooting effort. The team as a whole is connecting on 38.4 percent of its three-point attempts, and an even better 76.0 percent on its shots from the foul line. Scheyer is currently the team's best option, as the guard is netting 18.4 ppg, to go along with a team-high 172 assists. Singler however, has also been outstanding for the Blue Devils, posting 17.7 ppg, to go along with 7.0 rpg. Smith has also been a huge help for Duke, as the guard is posting 17.1 ppg.

Both schools have plenty of firepower offensively, so look for a thrilling, high-scoring event. One number one seed has already been downed by a nine seed in the tournament, but do not expect it to happen again, as the Blue Devils should be able to narrowly escape with a victory.

Predicted Outcome: Duke 78, Cal 72

 

[Lumi]

CBB | (633) PRINCETON @ (634) IUPUI | 03/22/2010 7:00 PM
Play ON PRINCETON against the spread in All games when playing against a team with a winning record after 15 or more games
The record is 11 Wins and 0 Losses for the last three seasons (+11.00 units)
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CBB | (723) XAVIER @ (724) PITTSBURGH | 03/21/2010 4:50 PM
Play OVER XAVIER on the total in All games when the total is 130 to 139.5
The record is 12 Overs and 1 Unders this season (+10.90 units)
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CBB | (645) PACIFIC @ (646) N COLORADO | 03/22/2010 9:00 PM
Play ON N COLORADO using the money line in All games after a non-conference game
The record is 10 Wins and 1 Losses this season (+10.15 units)
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CBB | (635) MOREHEAD ST @ (636) BOSTON U | 03/22/2010 7:00 PM
Play ON MOREHEAD ST in the first half in All games as an underdog vs. the 1rst half line
The record is 22 Wins and 4 Losses for the last two seasons (+17.60 units)
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CBB | (723) XAVIER @ (724) PITTSBURGH | 03/21/2010 4:50 PM
Play OVER XAVIER on the first half total in All games versus good defensive teams - allowing <=64 points/game after 15+ games
The record is 13 Overs and 1 Unders for the last two seasons (+11.90 units)
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CBB | (725) GEORGIA TECH @ (726) OHIO ST | 03/21/2010 2:20 PM
Play ON OHIO ST using the money line in All games as a favorite
The record is 22 Wins and 3 Losses for the last two seasons (+17.85 units)
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CBB | (643) LOUISIANA TECH @ (644) MISSOURI ST | 03/22/2010 8:00 PM
Play ON LOUISIANA TECH using the money line in All games in non-conference games
The record is 13 Wins and 5 Losses for the last two seasons (+16.55 units)

 

[jimbo069]

illuminati






:toast:

 

[Lumi]

You are welcome Jimbo


:toast:
:toast: