Take ND.......again

[bear]

Notre Dame is going to compete very well today and I'll be very surprised if they get blown out. This is a solid team both offensively and defensively........They score, on average 10 more points than their opposition gives up.......and allow 3 fewer than their opposition scores.........If that follows today Duke wins by 3..(82-79)
Now, if you apply the same to Duke...who averages 17 more than opp. gives up...etc etc. Duke wins (86-62)...24pts

Soooooooo....range of 21 points....likely in the middle of that
somewhere around 10

Now.....off Huge performance over Winthrop....I'm thinking...Duke is the overlay here.(by about 4 or 5pts)........ND shoots 46% to Dukes 50% and Ds at 40% to Dukes 42%
For the 3s ...ND at 38%...Duke at 36%

ND........used to a more physical brand of basketball....and cant matchup speedwise but was very impressive in tournament opener over UNCC. I'm looking for the last 10 min to be very interesting........and I like the points here.

good luck
bear

 

[bear]

ND lookin real good so far!
Gotta go out so I'll throw a few more out there!

1. Missouri ......takin the team thats playing the best ball in this one and that is Missouri...no question

2. Stanford - take the points.........past is prologue.. Holy Cross followed Oklahoma in giving the Jayhawks fits.......Kansas falls hard today once again and may lose outright

Strong lean toward CT tomorrow..... after taking Hampton in last.....will be back to explain Why..

 

[dr. freeze]

like your picks but keep in mind Ohio State just won the Big 10 tourney....hard for me to think that Mizzou is playing better ball than them......

 

[dr. freeze]

i also think that O'Brien is one of the best coaches in the game.....think jury is still out on Snyder

 

[gecko]

GREAT CALL on ND, bear. Final score, OT notwithstanding, should fall in the scoring range you'd predicted, too.

Also leaning towards Mizzou and Stanford. OSU is an antiseptic team. Believe Mizzou has shown more grit this yr, and had to tough it out in more games. Stanford's been overlooked thus far. Think Borchardt's inside physicality will pose some problems, and Jacobsen, Childress and Hernandez' outside shooting may keep them on pace with the Jayhawks.

 

[bear]

Connecticut -2.........heres why

I'll give the bucket to NC ST cause they'll need it ! Why?
CT and Pitt can play with anyone........NC St cannot!
CT has proven itself against Arizona, Oklahoma,Pitt, Notre Dame, and although they are a young, oftentimes offensively challenged, mistake prone with the lead, They get the W at "winning time"

1. Roadplay Advantage - CT is the better road team....for a couple of reasons not the least of which is their record....State actually gives up more points then it scores on the road 72-75 ( thanks to Duke) and a very HIGH 47 fg% to road opponents.......Connecticut outscores road opponents by 4 on the road and shoots at a 46% mark ...meanwhile NO lapse in road D 37%fg for the opp..10 full pts better than NC ST

2. CT will win the boards by around 5 if numbers play out (CT averages 40 on the road while NC St, averages 29) State is about even with opposition on the boards overall.

3. NC ST better be ready to hit those 3s that they like so much cause CT only allows them at 31% on the road. With Okafor (2 double doubles in last 2) playing the way he is (blocking and altering shots) CT perimeter D should play tough!..... (Seton Hall hit for 14 3s vs CT recently however.) If State hits 14 3s they win!

4.Steals and turnovers should be about even with 7 or 8 steals and 15 or so turnovers.....more by either team could be significant

5. Free throw % edge to NC St. not HUGE but an edge nonetheless

6. Love Sendeck but edge to Calhoun on the sidelines in March

7. CT is very cocky now....especially Butler who feels he (once again) has something to prove after he "somehow,someway" did not make All-American top 3 teams as co POY in Big East.....Theres something to be said for being cocky in March (K. El Amin)

So thats it ....I'm playin my team to advance and all I have to give is 2..........They have lots of trouble covering the big numbers but they like the small ones:shrug:

Good Luck
bear

 

[kcwolf]

Thanks for all the time for write-ups. Never play a game for or against UCONN til I hear your unbiased opinions.

Here's to your Huskies: :toast:

bears and wolves, don't go against us!:nono: :nono:

Thanks again bear!

kcwolf