The Big Dance.

[NBA_Kid]

Wisconsin at North Carolina

As much as this NCAA Tournament will be unprecedented in many areas, a couple of teams accustomed to being factors will be on hand.

One will be gone relatively soon because North Carolina and Wisconsin face off Friday in a South Region first-round game in West Lafayette, Ind.

"This will be an unusual tournament to say the least, but particularly for our coaches, because we have so many young players who will be playing in the NCAA Tournament for the first time," North Carolina coach Roy Williams said. "Wisconsin will be a big-time challenge, but we played our way into our seed and we will have to play very well to advance. But we are looking forward to having that opportunity."

North Carolina (18-10) is the No. 8 seed. Wisconsin (17-12) is seeded No. 9. The winner advances to face against either top-seeded Baylor or 16th-seeded Hartford in the second round.

North Carolina has won three of its past four games, falling to Florida State by 69-66 in Friday night's Atlantic Coast Conference tournament semifinal round.

The Tar Heels feel they're trending in the right direction.

"There were a couple of times during the season when we were wondering whether or not we would make the field, but our team kept getting a little bit better and better," Williams said. "So I'm just ecstatic for these kids, who ... have an opportunity to continue their season."

North Carolina went 2-1 in the ACC tournament. There were certain benefits.

"I think we just found out how deep we are, and we really got guys that come in and give us a lift off the bench," guard Caleb Love said. "We can really play 10, 12 guys. ... I think we learned a lot."

Wisconsin is one of five schools selected for the NCAA Tournament 21 times across a 22-year span.

The Badgers enter the NCAAs having lost four of their last five games. Each of those setbacks came to a nationally ranked opponent. The lone victory was a one-point decision against Penn State in last week's Big Ten tournament.

"Our guys were fired up to know that they have this opportunity in front of them," Wisconsin coach Greg Gard said of the at-large selection. "As I told them the other night after the Iowa game, it doesn't matter -- I've been on teams that have been seeded one all the way to 12 -- your anticipation, your anxiety isn't going to be different from one seed to the next."

Gard said the opponent is familiar in some ways.

"I recognize some names on the roster, and obviously the rebounding component, the transition, the things that North Carolina has always been known for years and years will be a point of study as we go through this week," Gard said.

North Carolina has six players who average more than eight points per game, topped by Armando Bacot at 12.3. He's also the team's leading rebounder with 8.0 per game.

The Tar Heels played well for the most part in the past month, with a two-point loss at Syracuse among the hiccups. The main dismal performance was against a team from Wisconsin, with Marquette visiting Chapel Hill, N.C., and thumping the Tar Heels 83-70 on Feb. 24.

This is an early meeting in the NCAA Tournament compared to past matchups between the Tar Heels and Badgers. North Carolina won a 2005 Elite Eight game, while Wisconsin prevailed in a 2015 Sweet 16 encounter.

The venue for the Wisconsin-North Carolina meeting will be familiar for the Badgers. The game is set for Purdue's Mackey Arena, where Wisconsin lost March 2 to Purdue.

 

[NBA_Kid]

CLEVST @ HOU

Vikings are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 neutral site games.

Vikings are 7-1 ATS in their last 8 games as an underdog.

Vikings are 6-1 ATS in their last 7 neutral site games as an underdog.

Vikings are 8-2 ATS in their last 10 games vs. a team with a winning straight up record.

Vikings are 17-6-1 ATS in their last 24 games overall.

Vikings are 5-2 ATS in their last 7 Friday games.

Vikings are 5-2 ATS in their last 7 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.

Over is 7-0-1 in Vikings last 8 games following a ATS win.

Over is 3-0-1 in Vikings last 4 Friday games.

Over is 7-1-1 in Vikings last 9 games following a straight up win.

Over is 8-3-1 in Vikings last 12 overall.

Under is 5-2 in Vikings last 7 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.

Cougars are 7-1 ATS in their last 8 neutral site games as a favorite.

Cougars are 6-1 ATS in their last 7 neutral site games.

Cougars are 12-4 ATS in their last 16 games overall.

Cougars are 12-4 ATS in their last 16 games as a favorite.

Cougars are 11-4 ATS in their last 15 games following a straight up win.

Cougars are 19-7 ATS in their last 26 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.

Cougars are 8-3 ATS in their last 11 games following a straight up win of more than 20 points.

Cougars are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games after scoring more than 90 points in their previous game.

Over is 5-1 in Cougars last 6 games following a straight up win of more than 20 points.

Under is 17-4 in Cougars last 21 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.

Under is 4-1 in Cougars last 5 NCAA Tournament games.

Over is 5-2 in Cougars last 7 overall.

Over is 5-2 in Cougars last 7 games as a favorite.

Over is 5-2 in Cougars last 7 neutral site games as a favorite.

 

[NBA_Kid]

Cleveland St. at Houston

The sixth-ranked and second-seeded Houston Cougars played the role of league juggernaut for most of this season, and on Sunday in the American Athletic Conference final, they did not let another moment to prove their worth slip from their grasp.

The Cougars were all but assured an NCAA Tournament berth prior to their 37-point dismantling of Cincinnati, but the one thing missing from their recent program resurgence was a conference tournament title and the automatic NCAA Tournament berth that accompanies it.

Houston (24-3) accomplished that mission and won its first tournament title since 2010.

"We've been putting banners (up) and cutting nets down for three or four years," Cougars coach Kelvin Sampson said. "It's nice to know that this group will have a legacy. I told them 15, 20 years from now they'll be driving through Houston and see if you can get in the building (the Fertitta Center) so you can show your son or daughter that banner that says ?champion, NCAA Tournament,' whatever the banner may say. You're going to be proud of that."

The Cougars will face 15th-seeded Cleveland State (19-7) on Friday at a site that represents history for both programs. The game will be at Assembly Hall in Bloomington, Ind., home of the Indiana Hoosiers, whom Sampson coached for two seasons before being forced to resign under allegations of NCAA violations. The Vikings famously stunned Indiana in their first NCAA Tournament appearance.

The Cougars are laden with standouts from junior guard Quentin Grimes, the American Athletic Conference Co-Player of the Year, senior guard DeJon Jarreau (Defensive Player of the Year) and senior forward Justin Gorham (Most Improved Player). But in the NCAA Tournament upsets happen, and Sampson is aware that taking opportunities for granted is a dangerous endeavor.

"I don't know how much longer the season is going to last," he said. "I saw UMBC beat Virginia (in the 2018 Tournament) so I don't take anything for granted. Neither should anyone else."

Cleveland State has a stake in NCAA Tournament lore as a March Madness darling tied to its magical run to the Sweet 16 in 1986. The Vikings became the first 14 seed to advance to the second weekend by upsetting the third-seeded Hoosiers before ousting St. Joseph's in the second round. Cleveland State fell to Navy, and future NBA Hall of Fame center David Robinson, to end their memorable run.

This appearance in the NCAA Tournament marks the Vikings' third overall and first since 2009.

"One thing I do know about the city of Cleveland is we have some tradition-rich sports fans that's enjoying this moment as well. So this is for them," said Cleveland State coach Dennis Gates, a two-time Horizon League Coach of the Year honoree in as many seasons.

The Vikings were the top seed in the Horizon League tournament and defeated Oakland 80-69 to claim the NCAA Tournament berth. They have relied mostly on defensive might, led by junior center Tre Gomillion, the Horizon Defensive Player of the Year, holding opponents to 30.8 percent 3-point shooting while forcing 14 turnovers a game.

Houston will test the Vikings' reputation. Preparedness, however, won't be a pressing concern.

"I think that's the most important opponent that we have is ourselves," Gates said. "My staff, they'll do their jobs in preparing us. They've done so all year.

"Our conference is a great conference, and to get 90-plus percent of our games in has allowed us to mature, it has allowed us to get better and face different styles of play, different defenses. So my credit is to the Horizon League for their diligence this summer scheduling the way that we scheduled to get these games in the way that we did and obviously get to this point."

 

[NBA_Kid]

UNT @ PUR

Mean Green are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games overall.

Mean Green are 6-0-1 ATS in their last 7 games following a straight up win.

Mean Green are 5-0 ATS in their last 5 neutral site games.

Mean Green are 21-7-1 ATS in their last 29 games following a ATS win.

Mean Green are 3-1-1 ATS in their last 5 games as an underdog.

Mean Green are 11-5 ATS in their last 16 Friday games.

Under is 4-0-1 in Mean Green last 5 neutral site games as an underdog.

Under is 5-0 in Mean Green last 5 Friday games.

Under is 8-1 in Mean Green last 9 games following a straight up win.

Under is 6-1 in Mean Green last 7 games following a ATS win.

Under is 6-1-1 in Mean Green last 8 neutral site games.

Under is 4-1 in Mean Green last 5 games as an underdog.

Under is 4-1 in Mean Green last 5 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.

Under is 10-3 in Mean Green last 13 overall.

Boilermakers are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games as a favorite.

Boilermakers are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 games overall.

Boilermakers are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 neutral site games as a favorite.

Boilermakers are 3-1-1 ATS in their last 5 games following a straight up loss.

Boilermakers are 5-2 ATS in their last 7 NCAA Tournament games as a favorite.

Boilermakers are 7-3-1 ATS in their last 11 games vs. a team with a winning straight up record.

Boilermakers are 2-5-2 ATS in their last 9 games following a ATS loss.

Over is 10-2 in Boilermakers last 12 NCAA Tournament games.

Over is 7-2 in Boilermakers last 9 NCAA Tournament games as a favorite.

Over is 6-2 in Boilermakers last 8 games following a straight up loss.

Over is 37-13-1 in Boilermakers last 51 neutral site games.

Over is 19-7 in Boilermakers last 26 games as a favorite.

Over is 34-16-1 in Boilermakers last 51 neutral site games as a favorite.

 

[NBA_Kid]

North Texas at Purdue

Purdue is participating in the NCAA Tournament for the sixth consecutive time.

The No. 20 Boilermakers will hope to make it a long stay.

No. 4-seeded Purdue (18-9), which won 11 of its final 15 games, will begin play on Friday against No. 13 North Texas, which is making its first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2010.

The winner of this South Regional matchup will battle either No. 5 Villanova or No. 12 Winthrop on Sunday in Indianapolis.

Purdue had its five-game winning streak snapped with a hard-fought 87-78 overtime loss to Ohio State in the quarterfinals of the Big Ten tournament.

Trevion Williams, a first-team All-Big Ten selection, was terrific with 26 points, 14 rebounds and five assists. Jaden Ivey added 19 points.

The Boilermakers could have defeated Ohio State but fell just short. They still have a plethora of talent capable of making a deep run in the NCAA Tournament.

"This is a lesson learned," Williams said of losing to the Buckeyes. "I think a lot of guys, a lot of teams in our situation would hang their heads. I'm trying to do my best to keep everyone motivated. Keep guys ready for the tournament. After this tournament, it means more. We've got to come prepared for that. Like I said, we just got to keep our heads."

Purdue typically is never out of a game even if it falls behind. The Boilermakers allow 66.2 per game and held three of their last five opponents below 60.

"We don't want this feeling again," Ivey said. "We have to step up and we've got to win. We can't take any more L's on the tournament."

North Texas, meanwhile, earned its highest seed in program history after capturing the Conference USA tournament title with a 61-57 victory in overtime against Western Kentucky.

Javion Hamlet (team-best 15.0 points per game) was named the Conference USA tournament Most Valuable Player while Zachary Simmons was named to the all-tournament team.

The Mean Green (17-9) had lost three in a row but managed to win four games in four days, thanks in large part to their defense. They allow opponents to score just 61.2 points per game.

North Texas also became the first Conference USA team to win four games in four days since Houston in 2010.

"When you have to win four games in four days and the last one is against a program like Western Kentucky who we have the utmost respect for as a team, as a staff and as a program with history, we knew it was going to be a fight," North Texas head coach Grant McCasland said. "We came here, despite losing three straight and having to win four games in four days, with the expectation we were going to win. So we're going to go to the NCAA Tournament with the expectation to win."

The Mean Green won the Conference USA regular season title last season but had their season ended like every other program due to COVID-19.

Rallying to win the conference tournament a year later proved how resilient they became.

"It's amazing. It feels kind of surreal at the moment," Simmons said. "It's what you work for. Especially since we couldn't do it last year."

"We really are grateful to play," McCasland added. "I don't think our guys will ever take for granted playing games."

 

[NBA_Kid]

RUTG @ CLEM

Scarlet Knights are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games following a ATS loss.

Scarlet Knights are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games following a straight up loss.

Scarlet Knights are 2-6 ATS in their last 8 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.

Scarlet Knights are 2-7 ATS in their last 9 Friday games.

Scarlet Knights are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games following a straight up loss of more than 20 points.

Scarlet Knights are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 neutral site games.

Over is 14-5-1 in Scarlet Knights last 20 games following a straight up loss of more than 20 points.

Under is 5-2 in Scarlet Knights last 7 neutral site games as a favorite.

Under is 7-3 in Scarlet Knights last 10 games as a favorite.

Tigers are 6-1 ATS in their last 7 neutral site games.

Tigers are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games following a ATS loss.

Tigers are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 NCAA Tournament games.

Tigers are 19-7-1 ATS in their last 27 neutral site games as an underdog.

Tigers are 7-3 ATS in their last 10 Friday games.

Tigers are 3-7-1 ATS in their last 11 games vs. a team with a winning straight up record.

Tigers are 1-5 ATS in their last 6 games as an underdog.

Under is 4-1 in Tigers last 5 games following a ATS loss.

Over is 18-7 in Tigers last 25 neutral site games as an underdog.

 

[NBA_Kid]

Rutgers at Clemson

Two teams who haven't exactly been traditional staples in the NCAA Tournament will meet Friday when Clemson and Rutgers play a first-round game on Friday night in Indianapolis.

No. 7 seed Clemson (16-7) will be making its third NCAA Tournament appearance in 11 years under coach Brad Brownell, while No. 10 seed Rutgers (15-11) will be returning for the first time in 30 years.

"It's a chance to dance," fifth-year Rutgers coach Steve Pikiell said. "It's a good time to be a Scarlet Knight."

The winner advances to a second-round game against No. 2 seed Houston or No. 15 seed Cleveland State.

The last time the Tigers made the NCAA Tournament, in 2018, they advanced to the Sweet 16 before losing to Kansas.

This season, Clemson won six of its last eight games, but lost to No. 13 seed Miami in its Atlantic Coast Conference tournament opener last week in Greensboro, N.C. Despite that defeat, the Tigers earned a higher seed than ACC tournament champion Georgia Tech and received the third-highest seed among the league's seven NCAA Tournament teams.

"This is a great reward for our players, for all their hard work, their togetherness and their performance," Brownell said. "It's an exciting time, a fun time. The teams you're playing are all really good. A lot of times these games come down to a couple of possessions."

Clemson posted eight victories this season against teams that made the NCAA Tournament, tying the program's 1996-97 team for the most in school history. The Tigers enter the tournament ranked No. 41 in the NET, 25th in strength of schedule and have posted an ACC-best four nonconference victories against Power 5 teams.

The Tigers are 2-1 all-time against Rutgers, but haven't played the Scarlet Knights since posting a 76-58 victory during the 2015-16 season in Las Vegas.

Clemson is led by senior forward Aamir Simms, who paced the Tigers this season in scoring (13.3), rebounding (6.2) and assists (2.7). A second-team All-ACC selection, Simms has 15 double-figure scoring games this season, including three contests with at least 20 points.

Junior forward Hunter Tyson averages 7.4 points and 4.3 rebounds and is shooting a career-best 41.7 percent from 3-point range.

Clemson defeated two teams that won conference championships -- Alabama and Morehead State -- as well as Big Ten opponents Purdue and Maryland.

"I've gotten a chance to watch them (Clemson) play a few times," Pikiell said. "They won a couple of games in our league, too. They're going to be a very challenging team, but we've been challenged in our league, too. It's going to be an awesome game.

"We're a confident group. When we defend and rebound, we can play with anybody."

Third-team All-Big Ten pick Ron Harper Jr. leads the Scarlet Knights with a 15.4 scoring average after posting seven 20-point games. He's complemented by Jacob Young (14.4 ppg) and Geo Baker (10.1 ppg), and Myles Johnson, who averages 8.3 points per game while also leading the team with 8.7 rebounds per game.

Each were key contributors as the Scarlet Knights snapped the longest NCAA Tournament drought among all Power 5 teams. Rutgers' schedule was rated the seventh-toughest in the nation, according to KenPom.

"I'm just real proud and happy for our university," Pikiell said. "We got through this whole year COVID-free without a pause, and now they get rewarded and get a chance to play for a national championship."

 

[NBA_Kid]

SYR @ SDSU

Orange are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games overall.

Orange are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 NCAA Tournament games as an underdog.

Orange are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games vs. a team with a winning straight up record.

Orange are 6-1-1 ATS in their last 8 neutral site games as an underdog.

Orange are 8-2 ATS in their last 10 NCAA Tournament games.

Over is 4-0 in Orange last 4 Friday games.

Over is 10-1 in Orange last 11 neutral site games.

Over is 4-1 in Orange last 5 neutral site games as an underdog.

Over is 20-6 in Orange last 26 games as an underdog.

Over is 21-7 in Orange last 28 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.

Aztecs are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 NCAA Tournament games.

Aztecs are 6-2 ATS in their last 8 games following a ATS win.

Aztecs are 23-9 ATS in their last 32 Friday games.

Aztecs are 9-4 ATS in their last 13 neutral site games as a favorite.

Aztecs are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games overall.

Aztecs are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games following a straight up win.

Aztecs are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games as a favorite.

Under is 14-3 in Aztecs last 17 neutral site games.

Under is 4-1 in Aztecs last 5 neutral site games as a favorite.

Over is 19-7-2 in Aztecs last 28 Friday games.

Over is 5-2 in Aztecs last 7 NCAA Tournament games as a favorite.

 

[NBA_Kid]

Syracuse at San Diego St.

Many pegged Syracuse as a likely candidate to be relegated to playing in a First Four matchup, but the Orange slipped into the main draw of the NCAA Tournament as a No. 11 seed.

And now it's time to throw out the seeding.

It's rare that Jim Boeheim's team is a double-digit seed, but Syracuse has been dangerous in two other such situations and could be again when the Orange (16-9) take on No. 6 San Diego State (23-4) on Friday at Hinkle Fieldhouse in a Midwest Region game in Indianapolis.

Syracuse made a Final Four run as a 10th seed in 2016 and advanced to the Sweet 16 as an 11th seed in 2018. Credit that famous 2-3 zone, which can be problematic for opponents not used to seeing it and having to prepare for it on short notice.

"They'll be interesting," said coach Brian Dutcher of 16th-ranked San Diego State. "We've seen very limited zone all year."

The Aztecs, who won the Mountain West regular-season and conference tournament titles, are known more for their defense than their offense. So this could be a low-scoring, grind-it-out battle with both offense trying to find their rhythm.

"There's no set they haven't seen and there's no rotation they haven't made," Dutcher said of Syracuse's zone. "It's going to be going against the team that's mastered their trade. This is what they do at a high level."

Syracuse helped itself late in the season with a three-game winning streak -- North Carolina, Clemson and North Carolina State -- before losing to Virginia at the buzzer in the ACC tournament quarterfinals.

Boeheim's son, Buddy Boeheim, is averaging a team-best 17.1 points per game, showing an all-around game, able to drain the 3-pointer and score off the dribble. He poured in a career-high 31 against Virginia in the ACC tourney. Alan Griffin puts in 14.7 points per game, followed by Quincy Guerrier at 14.4 to go with a team-best 8.8 rebounds per game.

Syracuse was 13-1 at home this season but is just 3-8 away from the Carrier Dome.

San Diego State is led by Mountain West Player of the Year Matt Mitchell (15.4 points per game) and the hot-shooting Jordan Schakel (14.3 points per game). Schakel has hit 46.7 percent of his 3-point attempts (78 of 167) to rank third in the country.

The Aztecs excel on defense, ranking seventh nationally in field goal percentage defense (38.7) and eighth in scoring defense (60.6 points per game). They are 16th in turnover margin (plus-3.9 per game).

"They're big, they're very athletic, they shoot very well. They're one of the tougher teams you can draw in the tournament," Boeheim said.

"There are some teams that are big but don't shoot very well, or don't defend. They defend at a high level. They shoot it at a high level. ... I don't think you can get a harder matchup."

San Diego State and Syracuse have met twice, both won by the Orange -- in the 2007 NIT second round and in 2012 in an outdoor game on the deck of the USS Midway Museum aircraft carrier in San Diego, Calif.

The Aztecs shot 1 of 18 from beyond the arc and were 14 of 33 from the free throw line in that 2012 game.

"I remember the free throws curving, the wind was blowing so hard," said Dutcher, who was then the team's lead assistant to Steve Fisher. "So you can imagine what the 3-point shots were doing. That was something else. With the absence of wind, we might even make some 3s this time."

 

[NBA_Kid]

MORE @ WVU

Eagles are 10-1 ATS in their last 11 games as an underdog.

Eagles are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 Friday games.

Eagles are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games overall.

Eagles are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games following a straight up win.

Eagles are 8-2 ATS in their last 10 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.

Eagles are 8-2 ATS in their last 10 games vs. a team with a winning straight up record.

Eagles are 9-3 ATS in their last 12 games following a ATS win.

Eagles are 11-5 ATS in their last 16 neutral site games as an underdog.

Over is 5-0 in Eagles last 5 neutral site games as an underdog.

Under is 4-0 in Eagles last 4 NCAA Tournament games.

Under is 4-1 in Eagles last 5 Friday games.

Under is 26-11 in Eagles last 37 games following a ATS win.

Under is 9-4 in Eagles last 13 games as an underdog.

Under is 9-4 in Eagles last 13 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.

Under is 38-17 in Eagles last 55 games following a straight up win.

Mountaineers are 9-2 ATS in their last 11 NCAA Tournament games as a favorite.

Mountaineers are 3-1-1 ATS in their last 5 NCAA Tournament games.

Mountaineers are 5-2 ATS in their last 7 neutral site games.

Mountaineers are 3-7 ATS in their last 10 neutral site games as a favorite.

Mountaineers are 3-7 ATS in their last 10 Friday games.

Mountaineers are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.

Mountaineers are 0-4 ATS in their last 4 games overall.

Mountaineers are 0-4 ATS in their last 4 games vs. a team with a winning straight up record.

Over is 4-0 in Mountaineers last 4 NCAA Tournament games as a favorite.

Under is 5-0 in Mountaineers last 5 Friday games.

Over is 5-1 in Mountaineers last 6 games following a ATS loss.

Over is 5-1 in Mountaineers last 6 NCAA Tournament games.

Over is 10-3 in Mountaineers last 13 overall.

Over is 18-7-1 in Mountaineers last 26 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.

 

[NBA_Kid]

Morehead St. at West Virginia

West Virginia has lost three of its past four games heading into the NCAA Tournament, but the way coach Bob Huggins sees it, that just helps his team be battle-tested for the most important part of the season.

"I think we've played as good of a schedule as virtually anybody has," Huggins said. "Our league helps a lot with that because we had so many ranked teams. I think we played a very competitive, very well-rounded schedule."

Third-seeded West Virginia (18-9) will play No. 14 Morehead State (23-7) in a Midwest Region game on Friday night in Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. The late losses didn't appear to make much of a dent in the Mountaineers' seeding, given that the defeats came to NCAA tourney No. 1 seed Baylor and twice to surging Oklahoma State, including in the Big 12 tournament.

"The fact that we struggled a little bit down the stretch ... we lost nine games and we're a three seed so that bodes well for who we've played," Huggins said.

This is Huggins' 25th appearance in the NCAA Tournament and the 10th in his 14 seasons at West Virginia. He'll bring one of his most talented offensive teams against a hot Morehead State team that has gone 19-1 since the beginning of January.

The Eagles finished second in the Ohio Valley Conference and then won the conference tournament by beating top-seeded Belmont to punch their ticket to the NCAAs for the first time since 2011.

"Anytime you're going into tournament time you want to be playing your best and our team has proven that," said Morehead State coach Preston Spradlin.

The Eagles' calling cards have been defense and controlling tempo after a 4-6 start to the season. They are allowing 63.4 points per game, 40.3 percent shooting and 30.7 percent accuracy from behind the arc.

"Our guys from the beginning had great buy in," Spradlin said.

"We had a difficult schedule and we were shaking off the rust from a lot of guys that didn't play last year or were new to our program. Four of our five starters didn't play for us last year and that makes a big difference. We knew it was going to take some time for everybody to find their footing."

Morehead State is led by 6-foot-10 forward Johni Broome, the OVC Freshman of the Year who is averaging 13.9 points and 9.0 rebounds. West Virginia counters with a strong physical presence in burly Derek Culver (14.6 points, 9.8 rebounds per game).

"That's going to be the marquee matchup of the night without a doubt," Spradlin said.

What makes the West Virginia offense go is that Culver is surrounded by sharpshooting guards Miles McBride, Taz Sherman and Sean McNeil. McBride averages a team-best 15.4 points. All three guards shoot better than 36.6 percent from 3-point range.

The Mountaineers are 11th nationally in adjusted offensive efficiency, according to KenPom.com.

And they are rested, having played just once since March 6, which capped a week in which they played four games.

"I think these guys will be ready to go," Huggins said. "I think they'll be chomping at the bit to be able to play in the NCAA Tournament."

Huggins will be going for the 900th victory of his career, which includes 71 wins at Walsh College, an NAIA school.

 

[NBA_Kid]

WIN @ VILL

Eagles are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games following a straight up win of more than 20 points.

Eagles are 10-1 ATS in their last 11 games as an underdog.

Eagles are 13-3 ATS in their last 16 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.

Eagles are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 neutral site games.

Eagles are 16-5 ATS in their last 21 games vs. a team with a winning straight up record.

Eagles are 5-2 ATS in their last 7 games overall.

Eagles are 2-5 ATS in their last 7 neutral site games as an underdog.

Eagles are 0-4 ATS in their last 4 NCAA Tournament games.

Under is 5-0-1 in Eagles last 6 overall.

Under is 4-0-1 in Eagles last 5 games following a ATS win.

Under is 5-0 in Eagles last 5 NCAA Tournament games as an underdog.

Under is 5-0 in Eagles last 5 Friday games.

Under is 6-0 in Eagles last 6 NCAA Tournament games.

Under is 10-1-1 in Eagles last 12 games following a straight up win.

Under is 5-1-1 in Eagles last 7 games following a straight up win of more than 20 points.

Under is 29-9 in Eagles last 38 neutral site games.

Under is 19-7 in Eagles last 26 neutral site games as an underdog.

Wildcats are 7-0 ATS in their last 7 NCAA Tournament games as a favorite.

Wildcats are 13-3 ATS in their last 16 NCAA Tournament games.

Wildcats are 15-5-1 ATS in their last 21 Friday games.

Wildcats are 7-3-1 ATS in their last 11 games vs. a team with a winning straight up record.

Wildcats are 36-16-2 ATS in their last 54 games following a ATS loss.

Wildcats are 2-5-1 ATS in their last 8 neutral site games as a favorite.

Wildcats are 2-5-1 ATS in their last 8 neutral site games.

Under is 4-1 in Wildcats last 5 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.

Over is 8-2 in Wildcats last 10 neutral site games.

Over is 7-2 in Wildcats last 9 neutral site games as a favorite.

Over is 6-2 in Wildcats last 8 Friday games.

 

[NBA_Kid]

Winthrop at Villanova

The first all-time meeting between No. 18 Villanova and Winthrop could turn out to be one of the most intriguing opening-round matchups in the NCAA Tournament.

The Wildcats (16-6) were seeded fifth for the first time since 2005 and will face an imposing No. 12 seed in the Eagles, who finished 23-1 and captured the Big South regular season and conference tournament titles.

Villanova and Winthrop will battle in Indianapolis Friday night in the South Region with the winner advancing to face either No. 4 Purdue or No. 13 North Texas two days later.

The Wildcats were eliminated 72-71 by Big East tournament champion Georgetown in the quarterfinals. They are also without one of the top players in the country in co-Big East Player of the Year Collin Gillespie, who is lost for the season with a torn MCL.

"We always talk about never taking this for granted," said Villanova head coach Jay Wright, whose program won the national championship in 2016 and '18. "It's such an honor to play in the NCAA Tournament, but I think this year, more than ever, just to make it to this point and know that you have a chance to play in the tournament is an incredible accomplishment."

Villanova still features plenty of talent, including another co-Big East Player of the Year Jeremiah Robinson-Earl. It will be his first experience in the NCAA Tournament since last year's event was canceled.

"I was super fired up watching the Selection Show and I'm just super excited to get after it and in these next couple of practices and play on Friday," said Robinson-Earl, who is averaging 15.7 points and 8.3 rebounds per game.

This isn't a typical 12-5 matchup as Winthrop could have easily been a higher seed.

"This is a tough matchup for us," Wright said. "They're similar to Creighton, who has given us trouble."

Winthrop's only loss came on Jan. 29, a 57-55 defeat to UNC Asheville, but they rallied to win seven in a row from there.

The high-powered Eagles average 79.5 points per game to rank 30th in the country. They've scored at least 80 on 13 occasions this season, including all three games in the Big South tournament.

Winthrop's marquee player is 6-foot-7 Chandler Vaudrin, who's averaging 12.2 points, 7.2 rebounds and 6.9 assists per game. Vaudrin, the Big South Player of the Year and tournament Most Valuable Player, is the lone player in the country to post three triple-doubles this season.

"We've all bought into the system and trust each other," Vaudrin said. "It's not about one person. We play 10 people. It's a quick system. We want to have more offensive possessions than our opponent. We space the floor and coach puts a lot of trust in me by putting me in a lot of pick-and-rolls. There are shooters all around me. It's the best thing for me."

D.J. Burns, a 6-foot-9 center who transferred from Tennessee, will also pose a challenge to the Wildcats. In the Big South tournament title game, Burns shot 11 of 12 and finished with 22 points.

"We work as hard or harder than anybody in the country and we're gonna go out and go play our game, play our style to speed them up or slowing down if you need to," Burns said. "We're all gonna do whatever it takes to win. That's a part of our culture that the coaches instilled in us from Day One."

Winthrop has one NCAA tourney victory, a 74-64 win over Notre Dame in 2007.

 

[NBA_Kid]

LT @ MISS

Bulldogs are 5-0 ATS in their last 5 games following a straight up loss.

Bulldogs are 9-2 ATS in their last 11 games vs. a team with a winning straight up record.

Bulldogs are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games following a ATS loss.

Bulldogs are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games as an underdog.

Bulldogs are 16-5 ATS in their last 21 games overall.

Bulldogs are 9-3-1 ATS in their last 13 Friday games.

Bulldogs are 2-5 ATS in their last 7 neutral site games as an underdog.

Bulldogs are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 neutral site games.

Under is 4-0 in Bulldogs last 4 games following a ATS loss.

Under is 4-0 in Bulldogs last 4 games following a straight up loss.

Under is 5-0 in Bulldogs last 5 games as an underdog.

Under is 6-1 in Bulldogs last 7 neutral site games as an underdog.

Under is 6-2-1 in Bulldogs last 9 overall.

Over is 6-2 in Bulldogs last 8 games after scoring less than 50 points in their previous game.

Under is 6-2 in Bulldogs last 8 Friday games.

Under is 5-2 in Bulldogs last 7 neutral site games.

Rebels are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games following a ATS loss.

Rebels are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games following a straight up loss.

Rebels are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games vs. a team with a winning straight up record.

Rebels are 8-3 ATS in their last 11 games overall.

Rebels are 17-8-1 ATS in their last 26 Friday games.

Rebels are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 neutral site games as a favorite.

Rebels are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 neutral site games.

Under is 4-0-1 in Rebels last 5 games following a ATS loss.

Under is 4-0-1 in Rebels last 5 games following a straight up loss.

Under is 6-1-1 in Rebels last 8 neutral site games as a favorite.

Under is 13-4-2 in Rebels last 19 games as a favorite.

Under is 12-4 in Rebels last 16 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.

Under is 20-7-2 in Rebels last 29 overall.

 

[NBA_Kid]

Louisiana Tech at Mississippi

The top-seeded Ole Miss Rebels, led by first-team All-SEC guard Devontae Shuler, are set to play the fourth-seeded Louisiana Tech Bulldogs in an opening-round NIT game on Friday night in Frisco, Texas.

Shuler, a 6-2 senior, leads Ole Miss in scoring (15.3) and assists (3.3) in what has become a breakout season.

Ole Miss (16-11) is a five-point favorite against Louisiana Tech (21-7), and Shuler is a big factor. He is the SEC's active leader in steals and assists and ranks second in points.

"I'm proud of Devontae," Rebels coach Kermit Davis said. "It's like with your children. When you spend so much time with these guys, coaching them, it's not all hugs.

"But he's matured and grown into a great young man. (The All-SEC honor) is well-deserved."

Ole Miss leads its series against Louisiana Tech, 8-5. However, the Rebels have won eight of their past nine games against the Bulldogs, including a 99-80 blowout in their most recent meeting on Dec. 15, 2015.

This season's Rebels team prides itself on defense and rebounding. Ole Miss leads the SEC in scoring defense (65.4), defensive rebounding percentage and offensive rebounding percentage during conference play. The Rebels have also held four SEC teams to 50 points or fewer, the first time Ole Miss has accomplished that feat since 1948.

In addition, the Rebels are 12-0 when holding teams to 40-percent shooting or less.

Louisiana Tech, led by Conference USA Coach of the Year Eric Konkol, won 12 of its final 14 regular-season games and then advanced in the league tournament with a win over Florida Atlantic before bowing out in the semifinals with a 54-48 loss to North Texas.

The Bulldogs' best player is Isaiah Crawford, who made third-team all-conference and leads the team in scoring (12.1). Kalob Ledoux (11.3) and Kenneth Lofton Jr. (11.0) are Tech's other double-figure scorers.

Lofton, who also leads the Bulldogs in rebounds (7.3), was named the C-USA Freshman of the Year.

Playing Ole Miss represents a big opportunity for the Bulldogs.

"Only 16 percent of the nation's Division 1 teams have qualified for the NCAA Tournament or the NIT," Konkol said. "We feel honored to get this far.

"Ole Miss is very talented. We know coach Davis from when he was at Middle Tennessee. He likes to mix zone and man defenses.

"(The Rebels) just missed making the NCAA Tournament. I'm sure they're going to be very hungry to prove they belong there."

 

[NBA_Kid]

Betting Preview for the Norfolk State Spartans vs Gonzaga Bulldogs NCAA College Basketball Game on March 20 2021

Record: 17-7 Overall / 8-4 Conference
Somewhere, Kyle O?Quinn is smiling and cheering for his Spartans. Norfolk State is in the first round of March Madness after escaping with a narrow 54-53 win over the Appalachian State Mountaineers on Thursday in the First Four play-in round. But the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference tournament champions have a near-impossible task of beating Gonzaga in the first round, but a chance is all it takes for a wannabe-Cinderella team to shock the world. Norfolk State can go crazy with an otherworldly shooting from the 3-point area to keep up with the Bulldogs. On the season, Norfolk State is shooting 37.4 percent from deep. The Spartans went 7 of 18 from deep in the Appalachian State game, with Jalen Hawkins coming off the bench and scoring 24 points to lead the way. The Spartans need their best player to recover fast, though, after DeVante Carter shot 1 of 10 for just four points against the Mountaineers. Carter entered the First Four round with averages of 15.5 points, 5.3rebounds, and 4,0 assists per game.

Norfolk State is 3-0 against the spread in its last three games.


Record: 26-0 Overall / 15-0 Conference
Gonzaga dominated the regular season and the West Coast tournament, which was a foregone conclusion that they?d win. The Bulldogs boast of a tremendous offense that?s unmatched this season, at least on paper. The Bulldogs are tops in the nation in adjusted offensive efficiency with 126.1 points per 100 possessions while owning a Division I-best 61.0 effective field goal percentage. Gonzaga is stacked with talent, especially on its starting unit. Drew Timme, Jalen Suggs, Corey Kispert, Joel Ayayi, and Andrew Nembhard can all go off at the same time. Norfolk State will have severe headaches in trying to find a solution on how to stop the Bulldogs? offense that?s averaging 75.1 points per game. Gonzaga, barring an insane stroke of luck by Norfolk State, should coast past the first round.

Gonzaga is 5-4-1 against the spread in its last 10 games overall.

 

[NBA_Kid]

Betting Preview for the VCU Rams vs Oregon Ducks NCAA College Basketball Game on March 20 2021

Record: 19-7 Overall / 10-4 Conference
VCU is bringing its tenacious defense to March Madness. The Rams are 11th in adjusted defensive efficiency, per KenPom, as they are allowing just 89.7 points per 100 possessions and are a top-30 team against the 3-point line with teams shooting just 30.5 percent from behind the arc against VCU. The Rams guard the basket well, as it is fifth in the nation in both blocks per game (5.4) and in block percentage (9.6%). On offense, the Rams have a clear-cut go-to guy in Nah?Shon Hayland, who is the current Atlantic 10 Player of the Year. Hayland could prove to be more than a handful for opposing guards in the Big Dance. He is averaging 19.5 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 2.1 assists per game while shooting 37.1 percent from long range.

VCU is 5-4-1 against the spread in its last 10 games.


Record: 20-6 Overall / 14-4 Conference
Oregon had a strong finish to the regular season that it managed to win the Pac-12 regular-season title. While the Ducks failed to take the Pac-12 tournament championship, they are at least finally healthy, going into the Big Dance. Eugene Omuruyi, Chris Duarte, LJ Figueroa, Eric Williams Jr., and Will Richardson each average at least 10.4 points per game, and their hands will all be on deck to loosen up the defense of VCU. Defensively, the Ducks have the potential to cripple the attack of the error-prone VCU. Oregon is 38th in the nation in steal percentage (9.7), while the Rams are turning the ball over 14.6 times per contest. The Rams are also 298th nationally with an 11.5 non-steal turnover percentage. Five Oregon players are also averaging at least 1.0 steals per game, so expect plenty of extra possessions for the Ducks, who are allowing 67.4 points per game this season.

Oregon is 5-1 against the spread in its last six games.

 

[PJ12]

Take a breath kid :0074

Enjoy the games and thanks
:toast: