The Big Dance.
- Thread starter NBA_Kid
- Start date
Creighton vs UC Santa Barbara Game Preview
Why UC Santa Barbara Will Win
The Gauchos were the best in the Big West both in the regular season and the tournament, rolling through the last five games and winning 18 of their last 19.
They?re air-tight at doing all the little things right.
They don?t turn the ball over a ton, they move it around as well as anyone, and they play a tough defense that?s good enough at guarding the three.
With enough size to be a problem on the inside, they generate rebounds from all five spots and they use their ability to make the extra few passes to come up with a whole lot of easy points.
So what?s the problem?
Why Creighton Will Win
It?s not that UCSB can?t score a ton ? it?s been able to go off at times this year ? it?s that it?s not necessarily built like Creighton is for a big-time shootout.
The Gauchos are fantastic from the field and they threes when they take them, but it doesn?t generate a whole ton of production from the outside ? it only hit double-digit threes in one of the last 11 games.
Creighton might have face-planted in the 73-48 loss to Georgetown in the Big East tournament final, but it?s got the ability to turn the lights out in this if the threes start dropping early on.
Few teams in America take more shots from the outside, and it?s got the rebounding ability to at least hang on the boards if not win the rebounding margin.
What?s Going To Happen
Which Creighton will show up?
Will it be the team that rolled through Villanova in mid-February and battled well defensively in the first two games of the Big East Tournament? Or will it be the one that was never in it from jump in a later game against Villanova and in the debacle against the Hoyas last week?
It won?t matter. UC Santa Barbara will be solid in all phases, it won?t buckle after Creighton goes on a 9-0 run, and it?ll be right there at the end.
As good as Creighton is at shooting from the outside, it?s awful on the free throw line. UC Santa Barbara isn?t.
UC Santa Barbara 74, Creighton 71
Why UC Santa Barbara Will Win
The Gauchos were the best in the Big West both in the regular season and the tournament, rolling through the last five games and winning 18 of their last 19.
They?re air-tight at doing all the little things right.
They don?t turn the ball over a ton, they move it around as well as anyone, and they play a tough defense that?s good enough at guarding the three.
With enough size to be a problem on the inside, they generate rebounds from all five spots and they use their ability to make the extra few passes to come up with a whole lot of easy points.
So what?s the problem?
Why Creighton Will Win
It?s not that UCSB can?t score a ton ? it?s been able to go off at times this year ? it?s that it?s not necessarily built like Creighton is for a big-time shootout.
The Gauchos are fantastic from the field and they threes when they take them, but it doesn?t generate a whole ton of production from the outside ? it only hit double-digit threes in one of the last 11 games.
Creighton might have face-planted in the 73-48 loss to Georgetown in the Big East tournament final, but it?s got the ability to turn the lights out in this if the threes start dropping early on.
Few teams in America take more shots from the outside, and it?s got the rebounding ability to at least hang on the boards if not win the rebounding margin.
What?s Going To Happen
Which Creighton will show up?
Will it be the team that rolled through Villanova in mid-February and battled well defensively in the first two games of the Big East Tournament? Or will it be the one that was never in it from jump in a later game against Villanova and in the debacle against the Hoyas last week?
It won?t matter. UC Santa Barbara will be solid in all phases, it won?t buckle after Creighton goes on a 9-0 run, and it?ll be right there at the end.
As good as Creighton is at shooting from the outside, it?s awful on the free throw line. UC Santa Barbara isn?t.
UC Santa Barbara 74, Creighton 71
Clemson vs Rutgers Game Preview
Why Rutgers Will Win
1991. That was the last time Rutgers was in the NCAA Tournament.
1983. That was the last time Rutgers won a game in the NCAA Tournament.
It wasn?t always a smooth ride to get here this year thanks to an ugly 1-6 midseason run, but the Scarlet Knights beat Illinois, Michigan State, and did a solid job of cleaning up against the mediocre teams in the Big Ten.
There?s a lot missing from this team, but the defense is good at getting aggressive and forcing mistakes, there?s a lot of size and a ton of blocks, and the team has a way of keeping games low scoring and close.
It also helps that Clemson doesn?t score.
The Tigers finished last in the ACC isn scoring, it struggles to get to 70 points, and the O doesn?t manufacture ways to get to the free throw line. However ?
Why Clemson Will Win
Clemson has the style to give Rutgers problems.
The Scarlet Knight like to keep games from getting wild, and Clemson is more than happy to play along.
Its defense is great at slowing down teams inside and out, there aren?t a whole lot of problems with mistakes and turnovers, and there?s just enough happening from three to get by ? and things are getting better.
It?s an okay-not-great shooting team overall, but it?s starting to hit from the outside a whole lot more, coming up with double-digit made threes over the last four games after not doing all that much for most of the regular season. Being hot from three doesn?t necessarily guarantee a win, but Rutgers doesn?t have the pop ? especially from the outside ? to keep up if the Tigers are hitting.
What?s Going To Happen
Assume this will be a relatively low scoring, tight game with a few mini mood and scoring swings.
Can Clemson get to the line late?
The Tigers make free throws as well as anyone, but they just don?t get to the line enough. Rutgers gets hit with a whole lot of fouls, and Clemson doesn?t. In the final few minutes, the Tigers will make their key free throws, and the Scarlet Knights won?t.
Clemson 59, Rutgers 57
Why Rutgers Will Win
1991. That was the last time Rutgers was in the NCAA Tournament.
1983. That was the last time Rutgers won a game in the NCAA Tournament.
It wasn?t always a smooth ride to get here this year thanks to an ugly 1-6 midseason run, but the Scarlet Knights beat Illinois, Michigan State, and did a solid job of cleaning up against the mediocre teams in the Big Ten.
There?s a lot missing from this team, but the defense is good at getting aggressive and forcing mistakes, there?s a lot of size and a ton of blocks, and the team has a way of keeping games low scoring and close.
It also helps that Clemson doesn?t score.
The Tigers finished last in the ACC isn scoring, it struggles to get to 70 points, and the O doesn?t manufacture ways to get to the free throw line. However ?
Why Clemson Will Win
Clemson has the style to give Rutgers problems.
The Scarlet Knight like to keep games from getting wild, and Clemson is more than happy to play along.
Its defense is great at slowing down teams inside and out, there aren?t a whole lot of problems with mistakes and turnovers, and there?s just enough happening from three to get by ? and things are getting better.
It?s an okay-not-great shooting team overall, but it?s starting to hit from the outside a whole lot more, coming up with double-digit made threes over the last four games after not doing all that much for most of the regular season. Being hot from three doesn?t necessarily guarantee a win, but Rutgers doesn?t have the pop ? especially from the outside ? to keep up if the Tigers are hitting.
What?s Going To Happen
Assume this will be a relatively low scoring, tight game with a few mini mood and scoring swings.
Can Clemson get to the line late?
The Tigers make free throws as well as anyone, but they just don?t get to the line enough. Rutgers gets hit with a whole lot of fouls, and Clemson doesn?t. In the final few minutes, the Tigers will make their key free throws, and the Scarlet Knights won?t.
Clemson 59, Rutgers 57
Grand Canyon Antelopes (17-6) at Iowa Hawkeyes (21-8)
The Grand Canyon Antelopes come into this one representing the WAC after finishing the year at 17-6, winning the conference tournament as well as finishing regular season co-champion with Utah Valley after finishing the year 17-6 with a 9-3 mark in conference play. The Antelopes trounced Seattle and New Mexico State on the way to the WAC championship and their reward is a date with Iowa. Asbjorn Midtgaard leads the Antelopes in scoring and rebounding with 14 PPG and 9.9 RPG while Alessandro Lever has 13.3 PPG with 5.4 RPG and Jovan Blacksher Jr. has 11.9 PPG with a team-high 5.3 APG to make up the trio of double-digit scorers for Grand Canyon up to this point in the season. As a team, Grand Canyon is averaging 75.4 PPG on 49.2% shooting from the field and 32.7% from three while allowing 62 PPG on 38.2% shooting from the field and 29.6% from three this season.
The Iowa Hawkeyes come into the tournament after finishing the year with a 21-8 mark overall and a 14-6 record in Big Ten conference play. The Hawkeyes took down Wisconsin in the semi-finals before being upended by conference tournament champion Illinois in the semi-finals. Luka Garza leads Iowa in scoring and rebounding with 23.7 PPG and 8.8 RPG while Joe Wieskamp has 14.7 PPG and 6.6 RPG this season. Jordan Bohannon has 10.9 PPG with 3.1 RPG and a team-high 4.5 APG to lead Iowa in assists and cap off the trio of double-digit scorers for Iowa up to this point in the season. As a team, Iowa is averaging 85 PPG on 47.4% shooting from the field and 39.6% from three while allowing 72.1 PPG on 41.2% from the field and 34.9% from three this season.
Grand Canyon is 5-0 ATS in their last 5 games as an underdog and 16-5 ATS in their last 21 neutral site games while the under is 7-1 in their last 8 games following a win. Iowa is 0-2-2 ATS in their last 4 neutral site games and 1-3-1 ATS in their last 5 games against a team with a winning record while the under is 9-2 in their last 11 games overall.
This is an intriguing matchup because the Antelopes have been a good a cover team as any that we?ve made money on this season, and not many people remember that the Antelopes would?ve made the NCAA tournament a few years ago in their first season in D-I, but due to the classification restrictions, the Antelopes couldn?t participate in the postseason. The issue here though is that Iowa just has too many weapons for Grand Canyon to deal with and while the Antelopes battled against teams like Nevada, Arizona State, Colorado and San Francisco, Iowa and the offensive onslaught that the Hawkeyes possess is just too much to handle. I?ll lay the points with Iowa as I see the Hawkeyes pulling away in the second half.
The Grand Canyon Antelopes come into this one representing the WAC after finishing the year at 17-6, winning the conference tournament as well as finishing regular season co-champion with Utah Valley after finishing the year 17-6 with a 9-3 mark in conference play. The Antelopes trounced Seattle and New Mexico State on the way to the WAC championship and their reward is a date with Iowa. Asbjorn Midtgaard leads the Antelopes in scoring and rebounding with 14 PPG and 9.9 RPG while Alessandro Lever has 13.3 PPG with 5.4 RPG and Jovan Blacksher Jr. has 11.9 PPG with a team-high 5.3 APG to make up the trio of double-digit scorers for Grand Canyon up to this point in the season. As a team, Grand Canyon is averaging 75.4 PPG on 49.2% shooting from the field and 32.7% from three while allowing 62 PPG on 38.2% shooting from the field and 29.6% from three this season.
The Iowa Hawkeyes come into the tournament after finishing the year with a 21-8 mark overall and a 14-6 record in Big Ten conference play. The Hawkeyes took down Wisconsin in the semi-finals before being upended by conference tournament champion Illinois in the semi-finals. Luka Garza leads Iowa in scoring and rebounding with 23.7 PPG and 8.8 RPG while Joe Wieskamp has 14.7 PPG and 6.6 RPG this season. Jordan Bohannon has 10.9 PPG with 3.1 RPG and a team-high 4.5 APG to lead Iowa in assists and cap off the trio of double-digit scorers for Iowa up to this point in the season. As a team, Iowa is averaging 85 PPG on 47.4% shooting from the field and 39.6% from three while allowing 72.1 PPG on 41.2% from the field and 34.9% from three this season.
Grand Canyon is 5-0 ATS in their last 5 games as an underdog and 16-5 ATS in their last 21 neutral site games while the under is 7-1 in their last 8 games following a win. Iowa is 0-2-2 ATS in their last 4 neutral site games and 1-3-1 ATS in their last 5 games against a team with a winning record while the under is 9-2 in their last 11 games overall.
This is an intriguing matchup because the Antelopes have been a good a cover team as any that we?ve made money on this season, and not many people remember that the Antelopes would?ve made the NCAA tournament a few years ago in their first season in D-I, but due to the classification restrictions, the Antelopes couldn?t participate in the postseason. The issue here though is that Iowa just has too many weapons for Grand Canyon to deal with and while the Antelopes battled against teams like Nevada, Arizona State, Colorado and San Francisco, Iowa and the offensive onslaught that the Hawkeyes possess is just too much to handle. I?ll lay the points with Iowa as I see the Hawkeyes pulling away in the second half.
Texas Southern Tigers
Tigers are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games overall.
Tigers are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games following a straight up win.
Tigers are 7-1-1 ATS in their last 9 neutral site games.
Tigers are 9-3 ATS in their last 12 Thursday games.
Tigers are 10-4-1 ATS in their last 15 games vs. a team with a winning straight up record.
Over is 4-0 in Tigers last 4 NCAA Tournament games as an underdog.
Over is 7-1 in Tigers last 8 Thursday games.
Over is 5-1 in Tigers last 6 neutral site games as an underdog.
Over is 5-1 in Tigers last 6 NCAA Tournament games.
Over is 15-5 in Tigers last 20 games following a straight up win.
Over is 8-3-1 in Tigers last 12 games following a ATS win.
Over is 21-10-1 in Tigers last 32 overall.
Mount St Marys Mountaineers
Mountaineers are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games overall.
Mountaineers are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games following a ATS win.
Mountaineers are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 Thursday games.
Mountaineers are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games following a straight up win.
Mountaineers are 20-6 ATS in their last 26 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
Mountaineers are 6-2 ATS in their last 8 games vs. a team with a winning straight up record.
Over is 7-1 in Mountaineers last 8 neutral site games.
Over is 4-1 in Mountaineers last 5 overall.
Over is 4-1 in Mountaineers last 5 NCAA Tournament games.
Under is 7-2 in Mountaineers last 9 games as a favorite.
Under is 8-3 in Mountaineers last 11 games following a ATS win.
Tigers are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games overall.
Tigers are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games following a straight up win.
Tigers are 7-1-1 ATS in their last 9 neutral site games.
Tigers are 9-3 ATS in their last 12 Thursday games.
Tigers are 10-4-1 ATS in their last 15 games vs. a team with a winning straight up record.
Over is 4-0 in Tigers last 4 NCAA Tournament games as an underdog.
Over is 7-1 in Tigers last 8 Thursday games.
Over is 5-1 in Tigers last 6 neutral site games as an underdog.
Over is 5-1 in Tigers last 6 NCAA Tournament games.
Over is 15-5 in Tigers last 20 games following a straight up win.
Over is 8-3-1 in Tigers last 12 games following a ATS win.
Over is 21-10-1 in Tigers last 32 overall.
Mount St Marys Mountaineers
Mountaineers are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games overall.
Mountaineers are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games following a ATS win.
Mountaineers are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 Thursday games.
Mountaineers are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games following a straight up win.
Mountaineers are 20-6 ATS in their last 26 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
Mountaineers are 6-2 ATS in their last 8 games vs. a team with a winning straight up record.
Over is 7-1 in Mountaineers last 8 neutral site games.
Over is 4-1 in Mountaineers last 5 overall.
Over is 4-1 in Mountaineers last 5 NCAA Tournament games.
Under is 7-2 in Mountaineers last 9 games as a favorite.
Under is 8-3 in Mountaineers last 11 games following a ATS win.
Drake Bulldogs
Bulldogs are 4-0-1 ATS in their last 5 neutral site games as a favorite.
Bulldogs are 7-0 ATS in their last 7 Thursday games.
Bulldogs are 5-1-1 ATS in their last 7 games following a ATS loss.
Bulldogs are 7-2-1 ATS in their last 10 games vs. a team with a winning straight up record.
Bulldogs are 20-6-1 ATS in their last 27 games overall.
Bulldogs are 6-2-1 ATS in their last 9 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
Bulldogs are 18-7-1 ATS in their last 26 games following a straight up loss.
Bulldogs are 18-7-2 ATS in their last 27 neutral site games.
Bulldogs are 39-16-2 ATS in their last 57 games as a favorite.
Over is 6-1 in Bulldogs last 7 overall.
Over is 5-1 in Bulldogs last 6 games as a favorite.
Under is 5-1 in Bulldogs last 6 vs. a team with a winning straight up record.
Over is 5-1 in Bulldogs last 6 neutral site games.
Over is 4-1 in Bulldogs last 5 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
Under is 20-7 in Bulldogs last 27 Thursday games.
Wichita State Shockers
Shockers are 4-0-1 ATS in their last 5 NCAA Tournament games as an underdog.
Shockers are 5-0-1 ATS in their last 6 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
Shockers are 5-1-1 ATS in their last 7 neutral site games as an underdog.
Shockers are 3-1-1 ATS in their last 5 games following a straight up loss.
Shockers are 15-5-1 ATS in their last 21 games as an underdog.
Shockers are 3-7 ATS in their last 10 games overall.
Shockers are 1-3-1 ATS in their last 5 Thursday games.
Shockers are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 neutral site games.
Shockers are 1-6-1 ATS in their last 8 games following a ATS loss.
Shockers are 0-3-1 ATS in their last 4 NCAA Tournament games.
Under is 4-0 in Shockers last 4 games following a ATS loss.
Under is 6-0 in Shockers last 6 NCAA Tournament games.
Over is 4-0 in Shockers last 4 vs. a team with a winning straight up record.
Over is 5-1 in Shockers last 6 games following a straight up loss.
Under is 5-1 in Shockers last 6 Thursday games.
Under is 9-2 in Shockers last 11 games as an underdog.
Over is 4-1 in Shockers last 5 NCAA Tournament games as an underdog.
Under is 4-1 in Shockers last 5 neutral site games.
Over is 18-5 in Shockers last 23 neutral site games as an underdog.
Under is 9-3 in Shockers last 12 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
Under is 5-2 in Shockers last 7 overall.
Head to Head Trends
Favorite is 7-3-1 ATS in the last 11 meetings.
Bulldogs are 4-0-1 ATS in their last 5 neutral site games as a favorite.
Bulldogs are 7-0 ATS in their last 7 Thursday games.
Bulldogs are 5-1-1 ATS in their last 7 games following a ATS loss.
Bulldogs are 7-2-1 ATS in their last 10 games vs. a team with a winning straight up record.
Bulldogs are 20-6-1 ATS in their last 27 games overall.
Bulldogs are 6-2-1 ATS in their last 9 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
Bulldogs are 18-7-1 ATS in their last 26 games following a straight up loss.
Bulldogs are 18-7-2 ATS in their last 27 neutral site games.
Bulldogs are 39-16-2 ATS in their last 57 games as a favorite.
Over is 6-1 in Bulldogs last 7 overall.
Over is 5-1 in Bulldogs last 6 games as a favorite.
Under is 5-1 in Bulldogs last 6 vs. a team with a winning straight up record.
Over is 5-1 in Bulldogs last 6 neutral site games.
Over is 4-1 in Bulldogs last 5 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
Under is 20-7 in Bulldogs last 27 Thursday games.
Wichita State Shockers
Shockers are 4-0-1 ATS in their last 5 NCAA Tournament games as an underdog.
Shockers are 5-0-1 ATS in their last 6 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
Shockers are 5-1-1 ATS in their last 7 neutral site games as an underdog.
Shockers are 3-1-1 ATS in their last 5 games following a straight up loss.
Shockers are 15-5-1 ATS in their last 21 games as an underdog.
Shockers are 3-7 ATS in their last 10 games overall.
Shockers are 1-3-1 ATS in their last 5 Thursday games.
Shockers are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 neutral site games.
Shockers are 1-6-1 ATS in their last 8 games following a ATS loss.
Shockers are 0-3-1 ATS in their last 4 NCAA Tournament games.
Under is 4-0 in Shockers last 4 games following a ATS loss.
Under is 6-0 in Shockers last 6 NCAA Tournament games.
Over is 4-0 in Shockers last 4 vs. a team with a winning straight up record.
Over is 5-1 in Shockers last 6 games following a straight up loss.
Under is 5-1 in Shockers last 6 Thursday games.
Under is 9-2 in Shockers last 11 games as an underdog.
Over is 4-1 in Shockers last 5 NCAA Tournament games as an underdog.
Under is 4-1 in Shockers last 5 neutral site games.
Over is 18-5 in Shockers last 23 neutral site games as an underdog.
Under is 9-3 in Shockers last 12 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
Under is 5-2 in Shockers last 7 overall.
Head to Head Trends
Favorite is 7-3-1 ATS in the last 11 meetings.
Appalachian State Mountaineers
Mountaineers are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games overall.
Mountaineers are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games vs. a team with a winning straight up record.
Mountaineers are 5-0 ATS in their last 5 neutral site games.
Mountaineers are 5-2 ATS in their last 7 games following a ATS win.
Mountaineers are 5-2 ATS in their last 7 games following a straight up win.
Mountaineers are 2-5 ATS in their last 7 Thursday games.
Mountaineers are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games as a favorite.
Under is 4-0 in Mountaineers last 4 games as a favorite.
Under is 8-2 in Mountaineers last 10 neutral site games as a favorite.
Under is 9-4 in Mountaineers last 13 Thursday games.
Norfolk State Spartans
Spartans are 5-0 ATS in their last 5 games overall.
Spartans are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games following a straight up win.
Spartans are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games vs. a team with a winning straight up record.
Spartans are 4-0-1 ATS in their last 5 neutral site games.
Spartans are 10-1 ATS in their last 11 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
Spartans are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games following a ATS win.
Spartans are 6-2 ATS in their last 8 Thursday games.
Under is 4-0 in Spartans last 4 games following a ATS win.
Under is 5-1 in Spartans last 6 overall.
Under is 4-1 in Spartans last 5 games following a straight up win.
Under is 4-1 in Spartans last 5 games as an underdog.
Under is 5-2 in Spartans last 7 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
Under is 5-2 in Spartans last 7 neutral site games.
Mountaineers are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games overall.
Mountaineers are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games vs. a team with a winning straight up record.
Mountaineers are 5-0 ATS in their last 5 neutral site games.
Mountaineers are 5-2 ATS in their last 7 games following a ATS win.
Mountaineers are 5-2 ATS in their last 7 games following a straight up win.
Mountaineers are 2-5 ATS in their last 7 Thursday games.
Mountaineers are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games as a favorite.
Under is 4-0 in Mountaineers last 4 games as a favorite.
Under is 8-2 in Mountaineers last 10 neutral site games as a favorite.
Under is 9-4 in Mountaineers last 13 Thursday games.
Norfolk State Spartans
Spartans are 5-0 ATS in their last 5 games overall.
Spartans are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games following a straight up win.
Spartans are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games vs. a team with a winning straight up record.
Spartans are 4-0-1 ATS in their last 5 neutral site games.
Spartans are 10-1 ATS in their last 11 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
Spartans are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games following a ATS win.
Spartans are 6-2 ATS in their last 8 Thursday games.
Under is 4-0 in Spartans last 4 games following a ATS win.
Under is 5-1 in Spartans last 6 overall.
Under is 4-1 in Spartans last 5 games following a straight up win.
Under is 4-1 in Spartans last 5 games as an underdog.
Under is 5-2 in Spartans last 7 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
Under is 5-2 in Spartans last 7 neutral site games.
UCLA Bruins
Bruins are 7-3 ATS in their last 10 games as an underdog.
Bruins are 3-7 ATS in their last 10 games following a ATS loss.
Bruins are 4-10 ATS in their last 14 neutral site games.
Bruins are 8-21 ATS in their last 29 neutral site games as an underdog.
Bruins are 2-7 ATS in their last 9 games vs. a team with a winning straight up record.
Bruins are 3-11 ATS in their last 14 games overall.
Bruins are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 NCAA Tournament games as an underdog.
Bruins are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 NCAA Tournament games.
Bruins are 1-6 ATS in their last 7 games following a straight up loss.
Under is 4-1 in Bruins last 5 NCAA Tournament games.
Under is 4-1 in Bruins last 5 vs. a team with a winning straight up record.
Over is 7-2 in Bruins last 9 NCAA Tournament games as an underdog.
Over is 6-2 in Bruins last 8 Thursday games.
Under is 5-2 in Bruins last 7 games as an underdog.
Michigan State Spartans
Spartans are 27-9-1 ATS in their last 37 Thursday games.
Spartans are 5-11 ATS in their last 16 games following a ATS loss.
Spartans are 7-17 ATS in their last 24 games overall.
Spartans are 2-5 ATS in their last 7 NCAA Tournament games as a favorite.
Spartans are 2-10 ATS in their last 12 games as a favorite.
Spartans are 1-5 ATS in their last 6 neutral site games as a favorite.
Spartans are 1-6 ATS in their last 7 neutral site games.
Under is 6-0 in Spartans last 6 overall.
Under is 5-0 in Spartans last 5 games as a favorite.
Under is 4-0 in Spartans last 4 Thursday games.
Under is 4-0 in Spartans last 4 NCAA Tournament games.
Under is 5-1 in Spartans last 6 vs. a team with a winning straight up record.
Under is 4-1 in Spartans last 5 NCAA Tournament games as a favorite.
Under is 12-3-1 in Spartans last 16 neutral site games.
Under is 21-8-1 in Spartans last 30 neutral site games as a favorite.
Under is 7-3 in Spartans last 10 games following a ATS loss.
Under is 7-3 in Spartans last 10 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
Head to Head Trends
Underdog is 4-1-1 ATS in the last 6 meetings.
Bruins are 7-3 ATS in their last 10 games as an underdog.
Bruins are 3-7 ATS in their last 10 games following a ATS loss.
Bruins are 4-10 ATS in their last 14 neutral site games.
Bruins are 8-21 ATS in their last 29 neutral site games as an underdog.
Bruins are 2-7 ATS in their last 9 games vs. a team with a winning straight up record.
Bruins are 3-11 ATS in their last 14 games overall.
Bruins are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 NCAA Tournament games as an underdog.
Bruins are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 NCAA Tournament games.
Bruins are 1-6 ATS in their last 7 games following a straight up loss.
Under is 4-1 in Bruins last 5 NCAA Tournament games.
Under is 4-1 in Bruins last 5 vs. a team with a winning straight up record.
Over is 7-2 in Bruins last 9 NCAA Tournament games as an underdog.
Over is 6-2 in Bruins last 8 Thursday games.
Under is 5-2 in Bruins last 7 games as an underdog.
Michigan State Spartans
Spartans are 27-9-1 ATS in their last 37 Thursday games.
Spartans are 5-11 ATS in their last 16 games following a ATS loss.
Spartans are 7-17 ATS in their last 24 games overall.
Spartans are 2-5 ATS in their last 7 NCAA Tournament games as a favorite.
Spartans are 2-10 ATS in their last 12 games as a favorite.
Spartans are 1-5 ATS in their last 6 neutral site games as a favorite.
Spartans are 1-6 ATS in their last 7 neutral site games.
Under is 6-0 in Spartans last 6 overall.
Under is 5-0 in Spartans last 5 games as a favorite.
Under is 4-0 in Spartans last 4 Thursday games.
Under is 4-0 in Spartans last 4 NCAA Tournament games.
Under is 5-1 in Spartans last 6 vs. a team with a winning straight up record.
Under is 4-1 in Spartans last 5 NCAA Tournament games as a favorite.
Under is 12-3-1 in Spartans last 16 neutral site games.
Under is 21-8-1 in Spartans last 30 neutral site games as a favorite.
Under is 7-3 in Spartans last 10 games following a ATS loss.
Under is 7-3 in Spartans last 10 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
Head to Head Trends
Underdog is 4-1-1 ATS in the last 6 meetings.
- Nov 30, 2003
- 3,712
- 230
- 63
NC State Wolfpack
Wolfpack are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games as an underdog.
Wolfpack are 4-9-2 ATS in their last 15 games vs. a team with a winning straight up record.
Wolfpack are 3-8-2 ATS in their last 13 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
Wolfpack are 2-6-1 ATS in their last 9 games following a straight up loss.
Wolfpack are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 neutral site games as an underdog.
Wolfpack are 1-8 ATS in their last 9 games following a straight up loss of more than 20 points.
Over is 5-1 in Wolfpack last 6 overall.
Over is 15-3 in Wolfpack last 18 games as an underdog.
Over is 4-1 in Wolfpack last 5 games following a straight up loss of more than 20 points.
Over is 7-2 in Wolfpack last 9 games following a ATS loss.
Over is 7-2 in Wolfpack last 9 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
Davidson Wildcats
Wildcats are 8-2 ATS in their last 10 games following a ATS loss.
Wildcats are 3-7 ATS in their last 10 neutral site games.
Wildcats are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 neutral site games as a favorite.
Wildcats are 1-6 ATS in their last 7 Thursday games.
Under is 4-0 in Wildcats last 4 games following a ATS loss.
Under is 5-1 in Wildcats last 6 overall.
Under is 4-1 in Wildcats last 5 games following a straight up loss.
Wolfpack are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games as an underdog.
Wolfpack are 4-9-2 ATS in their last 15 games vs. a team with a winning straight up record.
Wolfpack are 3-8-2 ATS in their last 13 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
Wolfpack are 2-6-1 ATS in their last 9 games following a straight up loss.
Wolfpack are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 neutral site games as an underdog.
Wolfpack are 1-8 ATS in their last 9 games following a straight up loss of more than 20 points.
Over is 5-1 in Wolfpack last 6 overall.
Over is 15-3 in Wolfpack last 18 games as an underdog.
Over is 4-1 in Wolfpack last 5 games following a straight up loss of more than 20 points.
Over is 7-2 in Wolfpack last 9 games following a ATS loss.
Over is 7-2 in Wolfpack last 9 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
Davidson Wildcats
Wildcats are 8-2 ATS in their last 10 games following a ATS loss.
Wildcats are 3-7 ATS in their last 10 neutral site games.
Wildcats are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 neutral site games as a favorite.
Wildcats are 1-6 ATS in their last 7 Thursday games.
Under is 4-0 in Wildcats last 4 games following a ATS loss.
Under is 5-1 in Wildcats last 6 overall.
Under is 4-1 in Wildcats last 5 games following a straight up loss.
SMU Mustangs
Mustangs are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 neutral site games as an underdog.
Mustangs are 16-35-1 ATS in their last 52 neutral site games.
Mustangs are 2-5 ATS in their last 7 games following a ATS loss.
Mustangs are 1-5 ATS in their last 6 games overall.
Mustangs are 1-5 ATS in their last 6 games vs. a team with a winning straight up record.
Mustangs are 0-6 ATS in their last 6 games following a straight up loss.
Mustangs are 0-4 ATS in their last 4 games as an underdog.
Mustangs are 0-4 ATS in their last 4 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
Under is 4-0 in Mustangs last 4 games following a ATS loss.
Under is 7-1 in Mustangs last 8 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
Under is 4-1 in Mustangs last 5 overall.
Over is 4-1 in Mustangs last 5 neutral site games.
Under is 5-2 in Mustangs last 7 games following a straight up loss.
Under is 5-2 in Mustangs last 7 Thursday games.
Boise State Broncos
Broncos are 13-4 ATS in their last 17 games following a straight up loss.
Broncos are 15-5-1 ATS in their last 21 games following a ATS loss.
Over is 4-0 in Broncos last 4 Thursday games.
Over is 4-1 in Broncos last 5 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
Under is 7-3 in Broncos last 10 games following a straight up loss.
Mustangs are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 neutral site games as an underdog.
Mustangs are 16-35-1 ATS in their last 52 neutral site games.
Mustangs are 2-5 ATS in their last 7 games following a ATS loss.
Mustangs are 1-5 ATS in their last 6 games overall.
Mustangs are 1-5 ATS in their last 6 games vs. a team with a winning straight up record.
Mustangs are 0-6 ATS in their last 6 games following a straight up loss.
Mustangs are 0-4 ATS in their last 4 games as an underdog.
Mustangs are 0-4 ATS in their last 4 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
Under is 4-0 in Mustangs last 4 games following a ATS loss.
Under is 7-1 in Mustangs last 8 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
Under is 4-1 in Mustangs last 5 overall.
Over is 4-1 in Mustangs last 5 neutral site games.
Under is 5-2 in Mustangs last 7 games following a straight up loss.
Under is 5-2 in Mustangs last 7 Thursday games.
Boise State Broncos
Broncos are 13-4 ATS in their last 17 games following a straight up loss.
Broncos are 15-5-1 ATS in their last 21 games following a ATS loss.
Over is 4-0 in Broncos last 4 Thursday games.
Over is 4-1 in Broncos last 5 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
Under is 7-3 in Broncos last 10 games following a straight up loss.
Texas Southern at Mount St. Mary's
Being placed in the First Four of the NCAA Tournament wasn't a bother to Mount St. Mary's point guard Damian Chong Qui.
The Mountaineers open the tournament on Thursday against fellow No. 16 seed Texas Southern in Bloomington, Ind., in an East Regional game, with the winner set to play No. 1 seed Michigan on Saturday.
"I didn't really care where we were or when we played or who we played," Chong Qui told The Baltimore Sun. "I'm just ready to play. We're here to win games. So whatever we need to do, we're going to be ready and we're going to be well-prepared."
This is the sixth trip to the NCAA Tournament for Mount St. Mary's (12-10), a small university from Emmitsburg, Md., that qualified for this season's tournament by winning the Northeast Conference tournament. The Mountaineers are 2-5 in NCAA play, with both wins coming in the play-in round, when they beat Coppin State in 2008 and New Orleans in 2017.
Texas Southern is making its ninth trip to the NCAA Tournament after winning the Southwestern Athletic Conference. Its lone NCAA win came against North Carolina Central in the 2018 First Four.
The Tigers (16-8) enter with nine straight victories and 14 wins in their past 15 games.
Texas Southern Coach Johnny Jones has been to the NCAA Tournament before with North Texas (twice) and LSU (once). But returning to March Madness in his third season at the Houston-based school was highly pleasing to him due to the challenges presented by the coronavirus pandemic and other factors.
"Gratifying the way we had to do it," Jones said. "Through the pandemic, weather problems. These guys stayed together, stayed focused; they never wavered."
Texas Southern is led by standout guard Michael Weathers, who averages 16.5 points, 5.2 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 2.2 steals per game. Weathers was a first-team All-SWAC selection as well as the league's Newcomer of the Year.
"Our team, we have a lot of pieces," Weathers said after the SWAC title game. "Everybody had a key part in this."
Before rolling through the schedule in the SWAC, the Tigers played a tough nonconference schedule, losing to Washington State, Oklahoma State, Saint Mary's, Auburn and BYU. Texas Southern, however, did beat Wyoming.
Mount St. Mary's didn't face as tough a slate but dropped games to Navy, Maryland and Virginia Commonwealth early in the season.
Chong Qui, a first-team All-NEC selection, is the standout for the Mountaineers. He is averaging 15.1 points, 5.5 assists and 4.2 rebounds, and he made 35 3-point baskets.
Neither school knows much about the other program, but Mount St. Mary's coach Dan Engelstad said he isn't getting caught up with those types of hurdles.
"We are excited for this incredible opportunity, but we're not satisfied, and that's the message," Engelstad told The Sun of being part of the 68-team field. "This is an opportunity that we've got to embrace. It's different with COVID just with the protocols, but you can sense the enthusiasm with this team just for the chance to compete."
Being placed in the First Four of the NCAA Tournament wasn't a bother to Mount St. Mary's point guard Damian Chong Qui.
The Mountaineers open the tournament on Thursday against fellow No. 16 seed Texas Southern in Bloomington, Ind., in an East Regional game, with the winner set to play No. 1 seed Michigan on Saturday.
"I didn't really care where we were or when we played or who we played," Chong Qui told The Baltimore Sun. "I'm just ready to play. We're here to win games. So whatever we need to do, we're going to be ready and we're going to be well-prepared."
This is the sixth trip to the NCAA Tournament for Mount St. Mary's (12-10), a small university from Emmitsburg, Md., that qualified for this season's tournament by winning the Northeast Conference tournament. The Mountaineers are 2-5 in NCAA play, with both wins coming in the play-in round, when they beat Coppin State in 2008 and New Orleans in 2017.
Texas Southern is making its ninth trip to the NCAA Tournament after winning the Southwestern Athletic Conference. Its lone NCAA win came against North Carolina Central in the 2018 First Four.
The Tigers (16-8) enter with nine straight victories and 14 wins in their past 15 games.
Texas Southern Coach Johnny Jones has been to the NCAA Tournament before with North Texas (twice) and LSU (once). But returning to March Madness in his third season at the Houston-based school was highly pleasing to him due to the challenges presented by the coronavirus pandemic and other factors.
"Gratifying the way we had to do it," Jones said. "Through the pandemic, weather problems. These guys stayed together, stayed focused; they never wavered."
Texas Southern is led by standout guard Michael Weathers, who averages 16.5 points, 5.2 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 2.2 steals per game. Weathers was a first-team All-SWAC selection as well as the league's Newcomer of the Year.
"Our team, we have a lot of pieces," Weathers said after the SWAC title game. "Everybody had a key part in this."
Before rolling through the schedule in the SWAC, the Tigers played a tough nonconference schedule, losing to Washington State, Oklahoma State, Saint Mary's, Auburn and BYU. Texas Southern, however, did beat Wyoming.
Mount St. Mary's didn't face as tough a slate but dropped games to Navy, Maryland and Virginia Commonwealth early in the season.
Chong Qui, a first-team All-NEC selection, is the standout for the Mountaineers. He is averaging 15.1 points, 5.5 assists and 4.2 rebounds, and he made 35 3-point baskets.
Neither school knows much about the other program, but Mount St. Mary's coach Dan Engelstad said he isn't getting caught up with those types of hurdles.
"We are excited for this incredible opportunity, but we're not satisfied, and that's the message," Engelstad told The Sun of being part of the 68-team field. "This is an opportunity that we've got to embrace. It's different with COVID just with the protocols, but you can sense the enthusiasm with this team just for the chance to compete."
Drake at Wichita St.
Selection Sunday turned into a frightful bracket unveiling after Wichita State, regular-season champion of the American Athletic Conference, landed firmly on the bubble following a seminal loss to Cincinnati in the AAC tournament.
What the Shockers (16-5) lacked in high-quality wins, they gained from edging out Houston for the AAC regular-season title while posting a 9-2 record in games decided by five points or less.
Those traits earned Wichita State an 11-seed and a First Four matchup Thursday against former Missouri Valley rival Drake (25-4) in West Lafayette, Ind. The winner will play Saturday against sixth-seeded USC in the West Region.
"Houston was ranked seventh and we won the conference. I felt that put us over the hump," said Wichita State coach Isaac Brown, who replaced Gregg Marshall in November after the successful 10-year coach resigned following accusations he abused players and staff verbally and physically.
Brown had to smooth over a contentious locker room frustrated by interactions involving Marshall and the uncertainty created by the offseason departure of six players.
After being promoted with the title of interim coach, Brown was awarded a five-year contract last month.
"When I first took the job, those (players) had come here to play for a Hall of Fame coach," Brown said. "I wasn't sure who was going to come back. We had a couple guys that talked about opting out. The first meeting, all I talked about was the staff and how we were going to give those guys 110 percent every day."
The respect and affection Brown gained could be seen in two responses captured on video -- the first when players learned their coach signed his five-year deal and the second when the Shockers erupted making the NCAA Tournament.
The berth is the eighth for Wichita State in the last nine tournaments. Tyson Etienne will lead this charge as a 17.0-point scorer who was named AAC Co-Player of the Year.
Alterique Gilbert, a Connecticut transfer, directs the floor (4.1 assists per game), while Dexter Dennis is a defensive stopper. Trevin Wade, who provides backcourt depth, will wait to travel after missing the AAC tournament because of COVID-19 protocol.
Drake will make its first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2008, gaining an at-large berth after falling to Loyola Chicago in the Missouri Valley tournament final.
"Extremely excited. It was a long week to get to this point, but it was worth every minute of it," said third-year Drake coach Darian DeVries, who agreed to an eight-year extension Wednesday.
DeVries did not say Sunday whether the Bulldogs' top scorer, ShanQuan Hemphill (14.1), will be available. He has been out after suffering a broken foot Feb. 10.
Another key contributor, Roman Penn, also suffered a February foot injury and is out for the season.
The Bulldogs raced to a 18-0 start this season and was one of three remaining unbeatens in Division I.
"We've overcome so much adversity," D.J. Wilkins, a 10.6-point scorer, said in the Chicago Tribune. "We lost our two top players, and not a lot of teams could deal with that. The vibe in the locker room never changed. We never doubted ourselves."
Selection Sunday turned into a frightful bracket unveiling after Wichita State, regular-season champion of the American Athletic Conference, landed firmly on the bubble following a seminal loss to Cincinnati in the AAC tournament.
What the Shockers (16-5) lacked in high-quality wins, they gained from edging out Houston for the AAC regular-season title while posting a 9-2 record in games decided by five points or less.
Those traits earned Wichita State an 11-seed and a First Four matchup Thursday against former Missouri Valley rival Drake (25-4) in West Lafayette, Ind. The winner will play Saturday against sixth-seeded USC in the West Region.
"Houston was ranked seventh and we won the conference. I felt that put us over the hump," said Wichita State coach Isaac Brown, who replaced Gregg Marshall in November after the successful 10-year coach resigned following accusations he abused players and staff verbally and physically.
Brown had to smooth over a contentious locker room frustrated by interactions involving Marshall and the uncertainty created by the offseason departure of six players.
After being promoted with the title of interim coach, Brown was awarded a five-year contract last month.
"When I first took the job, those (players) had come here to play for a Hall of Fame coach," Brown said. "I wasn't sure who was going to come back. We had a couple guys that talked about opting out. The first meeting, all I talked about was the staff and how we were going to give those guys 110 percent every day."
The respect and affection Brown gained could be seen in two responses captured on video -- the first when players learned their coach signed his five-year deal and the second when the Shockers erupted making the NCAA Tournament.
The berth is the eighth for Wichita State in the last nine tournaments. Tyson Etienne will lead this charge as a 17.0-point scorer who was named AAC Co-Player of the Year.
Alterique Gilbert, a Connecticut transfer, directs the floor (4.1 assists per game), while Dexter Dennis is a defensive stopper. Trevin Wade, who provides backcourt depth, will wait to travel after missing the AAC tournament because of COVID-19 protocol.
Drake will make its first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2008, gaining an at-large berth after falling to Loyola Chicago in the Missouri Valley tournament final.
"Extremely excited. It was a long week to get to this point, but it was worth every minute of it," said third-year Drake coach Darian DeVries, who agreed to an eight-year extension Wednesday.
DeVries did not say Sunday whether the Bulldogs' top scorer, ShanQuan Hemphill (14.1), will be available. He has been out after suffering a broken foot Feb. 10.
Another key contributor, Roman Penn, also suffered a February foot injury and is out for the season.
The Bulldogs raced to a 18-0 start this season and was one of three remaining unbeatens in Division I.
"We've overcome so much adversity," D.J. Wilkins, a 10.6-point scorer, said in the Chicago Tribune. "We lost our two top players, and not a lot of teams could deal with that. The vibe in the locker room never changed. We never doubted ourselves."
Appalachian St. at Norfolk State
The last time Norfolk State went to the NCAA Tournament, it produced a result no one affiliated with the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference school has forgotten.
In 2012, with future NBA center Kyle O'Quinn patrolling the lane, the Spartans sent Missouri packing to the Southeastern Conference with one of just eight all-time losses by a No. 2 seed against a 15 seed. That Norfolk State was boat-raced in the next round by Florida was nearly irrelevant.
Nine years later, the Spartans are back and hoping for another crack at a powerhouse. That will only happen if they beat Appalachian State on Thursday night in Bloomington, Ind., in a First Four matchup.
The winner gets top-seeded Gonzaga in the West Region on Saturday night. If Norfolk State's eighth-year coach, Robert Jones, gets to that game and somehow beats the No. 1 Bulldogs, he suspects he'd wind up immortalized on campus.
"They might as well make a statue in front of Echols for me," he said to the Norfolk Virginian-Pilot, referring to the Spartans' home floor, Echols Hall.
Jones' team earned its flight to the NCAA Tournament by stopping Morgan State 71-63 in the MEAC championship game, their fourth win in five games with the Bears this season. Joe Bryant led a balanced attack with 17 points, while Kashaun Hicks scored 14 and Devante Carter added 12 points to go along with five assists.
Carter has been the man to make Norfolk State (16-7) go this season, leading the team in scoring (15.5 points per game), rebounding (5.3), assists (4.0) and steals (26). Bryant is the team's other double-figure scorer at 11.6 per game, canning 39.1 percent on 3-pointers.
Four other players chip in between 7.6 and 9.4 points for the Spartans, who average 75.2 and connect on a solid 36.8 percent from 3-point land. Opponents hit only 40.4 percent from the field and 31.6 percent on 3-pointers.
That 3-point defense figures to get a test from Appalachian State's Michael Almonacy. The graduate transfer set a Sun Belt Conference tournament record with 20 3-pointers during the Mountaineers' four-game, four-day run to the tourney title.
Almonacy played 51 games over two years at Stony Brook before transferring to Division II Southern New Hampshire, where he averaged 15.6 points per game last season. He averaged 21.8 in the conference tournament, pouring in a career-high 32 on March 8 in an 80-73 win over Georgia State that punched Appalachian State's ticket.
"It's been so rewarding to prove all the doubters wrong and show I could play at this level," Almonacy said.
Almonacy enters the NCAA Tournament averaging 12.9 points per game, hitting in double figures in 17 of his last 18 games to raise his scoring average by nearly four points. Adrian Delph (13.2) and Justin Forrest (13.0) are the team's top two scorers.
The Mountaineers (17-11) are making their third NCAA Tournament appearance and first since 2000. Bobby Cremins coached their first NCAA Tournament game in 1979, leaving shortly thereafter to build Georgia Tech's program. Their previous two appearances came as champions of the Southern Conference.
This will be the first meeting between the programs.
The last time Norfolk State went to the NCAA Tournament, it produced a result no one affiliated with the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference school has forgotten.
In 2012, with future NBA center Kyle O'Quinn patrolling the lane, the Spartans sent Missouri packing to the Southeastern Conference with one of just eight all-time losses by a No. 2 seed against a 15 seed. That Norfolk State was boat-raced in the next round by Florida was nearly irrelevant.
Nine years later, the Spartans are back and hoping for another crack at a powerhouse. That will only happen if they beat Appalachian State on Thursday night in Bloomington, Ind., in a First Four matchup.
The winner gets top-seeded Gonzaga in the West Region on Saturday night. If Norfolk State's eighth-year coach, Robert Jones, gets to that game and somehow beats the No. 1 Bulldogs, he suspects he'd wind up immortalized on campus.
"They might as well make a statue in front of Echols for me," he said to the Norfolk Virginian-Pilot, referring to the Spartans' home floor, Echols Hall.
Jones' team earned its flight to the NCAA Tournament by stopping Morgan State 71-63 in the MEAC championship game, their fourth win in five games with the Bears this season. Joe Bryant led a balanced attack with 17 points, while Kashaun Hicks scored 14 and Devante Carter added 12 points to go along with five assists.
Carter has been the man to make Norfolk State (16-7) go this season, leading the team in scoring (15.5 points per game), rebounding (5.3), assists (4.0) and steals (26). Bryant is the team's other double-figure scorer at 11.6 per game, canning 39.1 percent on 3-pointers.
Four other players chip in between 7.6 and 9.4 points for the Spartans, who average 75.2 and connect on a solid 36.8 percent from 3-point land. Opponents hit only 40.4 percent from the field and 31.6 percent on 3-pointers.
That 3-point defense figures to get a test from Appalachian State's Michael Almonacy. The graduate transfer set a Sun Belt Conference tournament record with 20 3-pointers during the Mountaineers' four-game, four-day run to the tourney title.
Almonacy played 51 games over two years at Stony Brook before transferring to Division II Southern New Hampshire, where he averaged 15.6 points per game last season. He averaged 21.8 in the conference tournament, pouring in a career-high 32 on March 8 in an 80-73 win over Georgia State that punched Appalachian State's ticket.
"It's been so rewarding to prove all the doubters wrong and show I could play at this level," Almonacy said.
Almonacy enters the NCAA Tournament averaging 12.9 points per game, hitting in double figures in 17 of his last 18 games to raise his scoring average by nearly four points. Adrian Delph (13.2) and Justin Forrest (13.0) are the team's top two scorers.
The Mountaineers (17-11) are making their third NCAA Tournament appearance and first since 2000. Bobby Cremins coached their first NCAA Tournament game in 1979, leaving shortly thereafter to build Georgia Tech's program. Their previous two appearances came as champions of the Southern Conference.
This will be the first meeting between the programs.
UCLA at Michigan St
Yes, perennial power Michigan State is in the First Four of the NCAA Tournament.
But considering that a few weeks ago the Spartans' chances of getting a bid seemed bleak, they simply might be happy to be in the field for the 23rd consecutive time.
They'll play another traditional power, UCLA (17-9), in an East Regional matchup of No. 11 seeds Thursday night in West Lafayette, Ind.
The teams have 13 national titles between them -- UCLA 11 and Michigan State two.
The survivor of Thursday's game will play No. 6 BYU (20-6) on Saturday.
"Yeah, I was a little surprised," Spartans coach Tom Izzo said of being relegated to the First Four. "(But) it's a Thursday night game, it's the biggest game, it's the only game of two major conferences, and I think it will be good exposure.
"I was just surprised that it was a play-in game. Then again I'm in, and I got the same opportunity as the number one seed, and that's the way I'm going to look at it."
Michigan State (15-12) finished below .500 in the Big Ten Conference but has knocked off three top-10 opponents: Illinois, Ohio State and Michigan since the last week of February. The Spartans lost to Maryland in the second round of the conference tournament last week.
In their only other previous matchup in the NCAA Tournament, No. 7-seeded UCLA beat No. 10-seeded MSU 78-76 in the second round in 2011.
The Big Ten had nine members chosen for the tournament, and Izzo said he believes that playing so many games against those teams will serve the Spartans well this week.
"We are battle tested, we've been through it all, and I'm proud of them for that," he said. "I like the way we went. We had our backs against the wall, we had to win, we played all those games with one- or two-day prep anyway, so we are tested on that. We played some of the best teams in the country ... so I think we are as prepared as anybody."
Michigan State is led by forward Aaron Henry, who is averaging 15.3 points, 5.7 rebounds and 3.5 assists a game. He's the only Spartan averaging double figures in scoring.
The team's offensive issues are due in large part to the lack of a floor leader. The Spartans have a minus-2.4 turnover margin. They committed 18 turnovers in a 68-57 loss to Maryland on Thursday in the second round of the Big Ten tournament.
UCLA hurt its seeding by losing its last four games, including an 83-79 overtime defeat to Oregon State in the quarterfinals of the Pac-12 tournament.
Oregon State won the tournament and received the automatic bid. UCLA's other recent losses also came against NCAA Tournament teams -- Colorado, Southern California and Oregon.
"We did not play poorly down the stretch," UCLA coach Mick Cronin said. "We played well; we just didn't win. We didn't close games out. We could've beaten two tournament teams on the road, and then we lost to two tournament teams at the buzzer."
The Bruins have five scorers averaging in double figures, led by guard Johnny Juzang's 14 points a game.
"I left a great situation (at Cincinnati) to come here and try to build UCLA back into a championship program," said Cronin, the program's second-year coach. "This is a step forward for us."
Yes, perennial power Michigan State is in the First Four of the NCAA Tournament.
But considering that a few weeks ago the Spartans' chances of getting a bid seemed bleak, they simply might be happy to be in the field for the 23rd consecutive time.
They'll play another traditional power, UCLA (17-9), in an East Regional matchup of No. 11 seeds Thursday night in West Lafayette, Ind.
The teams have 13 national titles between them -- UCLA 11 and Michigan State two.
The survivor of Thursday's game will play No. 6 BYU (20-6) on Saturday.
"Yeah, I was a little surprised," Spartans coach Tom Izzo said of being relegated to the First Four. "(But) it's a Thursday night game, it's the biggest game, it's the only game of two major conferences, and I think it will be good exposure.
"I was just surprised that it was a play-in game. Then again I'm in, and I got the same opportunity as the number one seed, and that's the way I'm going to look at it."
Michigan State (15-12) finished below .500 in the Big Ten Conference but has knocked off three top-10 opponents: Illinois, Ohio State and Michigan since the last week of February. The Spartans lost to Maryland in the second round of the conference tournament last week.
In their only other previous matchup in the NCAA Tournament, No. 7-seeded UCLA beat No. 10-seeded MSU 78-76 in the second round in 2011.
The Big Ten had nine members chosen for the tournament, and Izzo said he believes that playing so many games against those teams will serve the Spartans well this week.
"We are battle tested, we've been through it all, and I'm proud of them for that," he said. "I like the way we went. We had our backs against the wall, we had to win, we played all those games with one- or two-day prep anyway, so we are tested on that. We played some of the best teams in the country ... so I think we are as prepared as anybody."
Michigan State is led by forward Aaron Henry, who is averaging 15.3 points, 5.7 rebounds and 3.5 assists a game. He's the only Spartan averaging double figures in scoring.
The team's offensive issues are due in large part to the lack of a floor leader. The Spartans have a minus-2.4 turnover margin. They committed 18 turnovers in a 68-57 loss to Maryland on Thursday in the second round of the Big Ten tournament.
UCLA hurt its seeding by losing its last four games, including an 83-79 overtime defeat to Oregon State in the quarterfinals of the Pac-12 tournament.
Oregon State won the tournament and received the automatic bid. UCLA's other recent losses also came against NCAA Tournament teams -- Colorado, Southern California and Oregon.
"We did not play poorly down the stretch," UCLA coach Mick Cronin said. "We played well; we just didn't win. We didn't close games out. We could've beaten two tournament teams on the road, and then we lost to two tournament teams at the buzzer."
The Bruins have five scorers averaging in double figures, led by guard Johnny Juzang's 14 points a game.
"I left a great situation (at Cincinnati) to come here and try to build UCLA back into a championship program," said Cronin, the program's second-year coach. "This is a step forward for us."
NC State at Davidson
Davidson still has enough firepower to concern North Carolina State even though the in-state teams haven't met in more than a decade.
The Wolfpack has some production it can count on, too, when the teams collide in the first round of the 16-team National Invitational Tournament on Thursday night in Denton, Texas.
"Everyone I've spoken to has talked about that, they think they're one of the best if not the best team in the Atlantic 10 this year," NC State coach Kevin Keatts said. "They've had pauses that certainly didn't work in their favor, just as everyone else has."
NC State leads the series with Davidson by 69-14, but the Wildcats won the most-recent meeting with Stephen Curry producing a big outing with 44 points in a December 2008 matchup.
Third-seeded NC State (13-10) had won five consecutive games until the Atlantic Coast Conference tournament, losing to Syracuse for the third time this season.
The late-season success has the Wolfpack anxious for another taste of competition.
"From what I've seen from our guys the last couple of days, I see excitement," Keatts said. "I see guys that want to play. We're blessed to be one of 84 teams left to be playing in our season. I think that's important."
The Wolfpack could benefit from more games, especially with a core of youthful players.
"In our case I do because we have so many young guys," Keatts said. "If we were taking a bunch of seniors and playing in the NIT, I'm not sure that that would help us in the following year. Our roster has shifted from older guys with (injured players) Thomas Allen and Devon Daniels to without having those guys now. I think it could certainly pay off."
Second-seed Davidson (13-8) played only six games since late January, going 3-3 in those.
Davidson guard Kellan Grady is 10 points away from 2,000 for his career. He's a senior and a four-time, all-Atlantic 10 Conference selection.
The Wildcats have a prolific scoring attack from the perimeter with Hyunjung Lee hitting 43.9 percent of his 3-point attempts.
Davidson reached the Atlantic 10 Conference tournament semifinals before losing to Virginia Commonwealth.
"I thought our guys fought from start to finish, and they emptied their tanks and gave everything they had," veteran Davidson coach Bob McKillop said.
NC State has a rugged interior defense, led by shot-blocking specialist Manny Bates. He has averaged 2.8 rejections per game.
NC State was also in the 2019 NIT, reaching the quarterfinal round with a pair of home victories. Like Davidson, the Wolfpack was eliminated by Lipscomb in that version of the NIT.
This is the ninth time that Davidson will compete in the NIT.
NC State is in the NIT for the 13th time, holding an 18-13 all-time record in the event. The Wolfpack are 10-2 in NIT openers.
Thursday's winner meets either Colorado State or Buffalo in the second round.
Davidson still has enough firepower to concern North Carolina State even though the in-state teams haven't met in more than a decade.
The Wolfpack has some production it can count on, too, when the teams collide in the first round of the 16-team National Invitational Tournament on Thursday night in Denton, Texas.
"Everyone I've spoken to has talked about that, they think they're one of the best if not the best team in the Atlantic 10 this year," NC State coach Kevin Keatts said. "They've had pauses that certainly didn't work in their favor, just as everyone else has."
NC State leads the series with Davidson by 69-14, but the Wildcats won the most-recent meeting with Stephen Curry producing a big outing with 44 points in a December 2008 matchup.
Third-seeded NC State (13-10) had won five consecutive games until the Atlantic Coast Conference tournament, losing to Syracuse for the third time this season.
The late-season success has the Wolfpack anxious for another taste of competition.
"From what I've seen from our guys the last couple of days, I see excitement," Keatts said. "I see guys that want to play. We're blessed to be one of 84 teams left to be playing in our season. I think that's important."
The Wolfpack could benefit from more games, especially with a core of youthful players.
"In our case I do because we have so many young guys," Keatts said. "If we were taking a bunch of seniors and playing in the NIT, I'm not sure that that would help us in the following year. Our roster has shifted from older guys with (injured players) Thomas Allen and Devon Daniels to without having those guys now. I think it could certainly pay off."
Second-seed Davidson (13-8) played only six games since late January, going 3-3 in those.
Davidson guard Kellan Grady is 10 points away from 2,000 for his career. He's a senior and a four-time, all-Atlantic 10 Conference selection.
The Wildcats have a prolific scoring attack from the perimeter with Hyunjung Lee hitting 43.9 percent of his 3-point attempts.
Davidson reached the Atlantic 10 Conference tournament semifinals before losing to Virginia Commonwealth.
"I thought our guys fought from start to finish, and they emptied their tanks and gave everything they had," veteran Davidson coach Bob McKillop said.
NC State has a rugged interior defense, led by shot-blocking specialist Manny Bates. He has averaged 2.8 rejections per game.
NC State was also in the 2019 NIT, reaching the quarterfinal round with a pair of home victories. Like Davidson, the Wolfpack was eliminated by Lipscomb in that version of the NIT.
This is the ninth time that Davidson will compete in the NIT.
NC State is in the NIT for the 13th time, holding an 18-13 all-time record in the event. The Wolfpack are 10-2 in NIT openers.
Thursday's winner meets either Colorado State or Buffalo in the second round.
Southern Methodist at Boise St.
The SMU Mustangs, who made the National Invitational Tournament championship game in 2014, will have home-state advantage on Thursday night when they face the Boise State Broncos in Frisco, Texas.
This is a first-round game in what is a shortened, 16-team NIT field this year.
SMU (11-5) is powered by 5-11 junior guard Kendric Davis, who led the American Athletic Conference in scoring (18.8) and assists (7.4).
Davis, a Houston native, arrived at SMU last season after transferring from Texas Christian, and he said he worked this past offseason on getting stronger.
"I think I wore down by the end of last season," said Davis, who was a unanimous first-team All-AAC player this year. "Now I can shoot from distance -- from the SMU logo -- to keep defenders honest.
"I'll take what the defense gives me. If they leave me open, I will shoot. If I see a teammate open, I'll pass."
However, there hasn't been too much of any of that for the Mustangs lately. Due to COVID-19 protocols, the Mustangs have only played one game since Feb. 8, and that was on March 12 in a 74-71 loss to Cincinnati in the AAC tournaments quarterfinals.
Meanwhile, Boise State (18-8) is powered by 6-9, 190-pound senior guard Derrick Alston, who leads the team in scoring (17.4), three-point shooting (39.2 percent) and free-throw shooting (86.5 percent).
Alston is one of only five players in the country this season to shoot at least 85 percent from the foul line, 44 percent from the floor and 39 percent on three-pointers.
He made first-team All-Mountain West Conference, finishing second in the league in scoring.
Alston has come a long way since serving as a Houston Rockets ball boy and then, later, joining Boise State as a 6-8, 148-pound walk-on.
"I had to earn everything," Alston said. "It's just being able to work in the dark, redshirting my first year, so that when the lights come on and you get your opportunity, you are able to seize it fully."
This is SMU's fourth time playing in the NIT, following trips in 1986, 2000 and the aforementioned run to the title game, losing to Minnesota in 2014.
Boise State will be making its seventh NIT appearance. The Broncos are 4-6 in NIT play, with their deepest run coming in 2004's 40-team tournament, when they defeated Nevada-Las Vegas and Milwaukee before losing to Marquette.
SMU leads the series against Boise State, 6-5. However, the teams split their two most recent matchups, in 2016 and 2017. Their previous nine matchups happened when they were rivals in the Western Athletic Conference between 2001 and 2005.
The SMU Mustangs, who made the National Invitational Tournament championship game in 2014, will have home-state advantage on Thursday night when they face the Boise State Broncos in Frisco, Texas.
This is a first-round game in what is a shortened, 16-team NIT field this year.
SMU (11-5) is powered by 5-11 junior guard Kendric Davis, who led the American Athletic Conference in scoring (18.8) and assists (7.4).
Davis, a Houston native, arrived at SMU last season after transferring from Texas Christian, and he said he worked this past offseason on getting stronger.
"I think I wore down by the end of last season," said Davis, who was a unanimous first-team All-AAC player this year. "Now I can shoot from distance -- from the SMU logo -- to keep defenders honest.
"I'll take what the defense gives me. If they leave me open, I will shoot. If I see a teammate open, I'll pass."
However, there hasn't been too much of any of that for the Mustangs lately. Due to COVID-19 protocols, the Mustangs have only played one game since Feb. 8, and that was on March 12 in a 74-71 loss to Cincinnati in the AAC tournaments quarterfinals.
Meanwhile, Boise State (18-8) is powered by 6-9, 190-pound senior guard Derrick Alston, who leads the team in scoring (17.4), three-point shooting (39.2 percent) and free-throw shooting (86.5 percent).
Alston is one of only five players in the country this season to shoot at least 85 percent from the foul line, 44 percent from the floor and 39 percent on three-pointers.
He made first-team All-Mountain West Conference, finishing second in the league in scoring.
Alston has come a long way since serving as a Houston Rockets ball boy and then, later, joining Boise State as a 6-8, 148-pound walk-on.
"I had to earn everything," Alston said. "It's just being able to work in the dark, redshirting my first year, so that when the lights come on and you get your opportunity, you are able to seize it fully."
This is SMU's fourth time playing in the NIT, following trips in 1986, 2000 and the aforementioned run to the title game, losing to Minnesota in 2014.
Boise State will be making its seventh NIT appearance. The Broncos are 4-6 in NIT play, with their deepest run coming in 2004's 40-team tournament, when they defeated Nevada-Las Vegas and Milwaukee before losing to Marquette.
SMU leads the series against Boise State, 6-5. However, the teams split their two most recent matchups, in 2016 and 2017. Their previous nine matchups happened when they were rivals in the Western Athletic Conference between 2001 and 2005.
Betting Preview for the Ohio Bobcats vs Virginia Cavaliers NCAA College Basketball Game on March 20 2021
Record: 16-7 Overall / 9-5 Conference
Not many people think much of Ohio, but the Bobcats at least are being led by a guard that could become a legitimate NBA star one day in Jason Preston. The 6-4 Preston is averaging 16.6 points, 7.2 assists, and 6.8 rebounds per game. The Bobcats play a whole lot better when he?s on the floor, and the team needs every second from him against a tough Virginia squad. The Bobcats are more than just about Preston, though. Apart from Preston, the Bobcats have four players averaging at least 10.0 points per game. As a team, Ohio is fourth in the nation with 80.9 points per game. Ohio, on paper, looks like a legitimate threat to Virginia, which may have flashes of its first-round loss to the UMBC Golden Retrievers when it sees how Ohio operates this Saturday.
Ohio is 9-1 against the spread in its last 10 games overall.
Record: 18-6 Overall / 13-4 Conference
Tony Bennett?s Cavs team is known for its defense, but Virginia?s offense this season seems like its bigger asset between the two. The Cavaliers are 12th in the nation with 115.7 points per 100 possessions and 16th with a 38.1 3-point shooting percentage. The Cavs still play a deliberate style that tries to slow down the game to a snail?s pace, which could leave Ohio?s gun silenced as the Bobcats are not as efficient in scoring as the Cavs. Virginia?s defense remains a big threat to any team. The Cavs can clamp down on Ohio?s scorers with Virginia?s renowned pack-line defense that is the rock Virginia?s defense is built upon. On the season, Virginia is allowing just 60.5 points per game, sixth-best in the nation. Virginia is led by Sam Hauser, who is averaging 16.0 points per contest on 51.8 percent shooting from the floor.
The over is 4-1 in Virginia?s last five games overall.
Record: 16-7 Overall / 9-5 Conference
Not many people think much of Ohio, but the Bobcats at least are being led by a guard that could become a legitimate NBA star one day in Jason Preston. The 6-4 Preston is averaging 16.6 points, 7.2 assists, and 6.8 rebounds per game. The Bobcats play a whole lot better when he?s on the floor, and the team needs every second from him against a tough Virginia squad. The Bobcats are more than just about Preston, though. Apart from Preston, the Bobcats have four players averaging at least 10.0 points per game. As a team, Ohio is fourth in the nation with 80.9 points per game. Ohio, on paper, looks like a legitimate threat to Virginia, which may have flashes of its first-round loss to the UMBC Golden Retrievers when it sees how Ohio operates this Saturday.
Ohio is 9-1 against the spread in its last 10 games overall.
Record: 18-6 Overall / 13-4 Conference
Tony Bennett?s Cavs team is known for its defense, but Virginia?s offense this season seems like its bigger asset between the two. The Cavaliers are 12th in the nation with 115.7 points per 100 possessions and 16th with a 38.1 3-point shooting percentage. The Cavs still play a deliberate style that tries to slow down the game to a snail?s pace, which could leave Ohio?s gun silenced as the Bobcats are not as efficient in scoring as the Cavs. Virginia?s defense remains a big threat to any team. The Cavs can clamp down on Ohio?s scorers with Virginia?s renowned pack-line defense that is the rock Virginia?s defense is built upon. On the season, Virginia is allowing just 60.5 points per game, sixth-best in the nation. Virginia is led by Sam Hauser, who is averaging 16.0 points per contest on 51.8 percent shooting from the floor.
The over is 4-1 in Virginia?s last five games overall.
Betting Preview for the Grand Canyon Antelopes vs Iowa Hawkeyes NCAA College Basketball Game on March 20 2021
Record: 17-6 Overall / 9-3 Conference
Grand Canyon, guided by former Valparaiso head coach Bryce Drew, arrives in March Madness armed with the best defense in the Western Athletic Conference. The Antelopes allowed just 93.0 points per 100 possessions in conference play and held WAC teams to only 43,9 effective field goal percentage. Overall, Grand Canyon is ninth in the nation with just 61.6 points allowed per game. The Antelopes are a pretty good rebounding team, too. They are 16th nationally with 30.78 defensive rebounds per game and also 16th in offensive rebound percentage (33.0). Leading the team on the floor is seven-footer Asbjorn Midtgaard, who?s averaging 14.0 points and 9.9 rebounds per game. Midtgaard could present a decent matchup at the very least against Iowa?s Luka Garza.
Grand Canyon is 3-0 against the spread in its last three games overall.
Record: 21-8 Overall / 14-6 Conference
Luka Garza is looking forward to having a strong run in his final March Madness appearance. Although the Antelopes feature a tough defense, Garza and the Hawkeyes are expected to take care of business in the first round. Grand Canyon has never played a team with an offense that?s anywhere close to what the Hawkeyes are going to bring to the game this Saturday. The Hawkeyes have the second-best offensive efficiency rating in the nation, with 123.5 points per 100 possessions. They are fourth in scoring with 83.8 points per game and they don?t turn the ball over a lot. Garza is too talented for Midtgaard to handle on single coverage and if Grand Canyon tries to double the Hawkeyes? big man, that will only leave Iowa shooters open. The Hawkeyes are connecting on 38.6 percent of their outside shots.
Iowa is 5-4-1 against the spread in its last 10 games overall.
Record: 17-6 Overall / 9-3 Conference
Grand Canyon, guided by former Valparaiso head coach Bryce Drew, arrives in March Madness armed with the best defense in the Western Athletic Conference. The Antelopes allowed just 93.0 points per 100 possessions in conference play and held WAC teams to only 43,9 effective field goal percentage. Overall, Grand Canyon is ninth in the nation with just 61.6 points allowed per game. The Antelopes are a pretty good rebounding team, too. They are 16th nationally with 30.78 defensive rebounds per game and also 16th in offensive rebound percentage (33.0). Leading the team on the floor is seven-footer Asbjorn Midtgaard, who?s averaging 14.0 points and 9.9 rebounds per game. Midtgaard could present a decent matchup at the very least against Iowa?s Luka Garza.
Grand Canyon is 3-0 against the spread in its last three games overall.
Record: 21-8 Overall / 14-6 Conference
Luka Garza is looking forward to having a strong run in his final March Madness appearance. Although the Antelopes feature a tough defense, Garza and the Hawkeyes are expected to take care of business in the first round. Grand Canyon has never played a team with an offense that?s anywhere close to what the Hawkeyes are going to bring to the game this Saturday. The Hawkeyes have the second-best offensive efficiency rating in the nation, with 123.5 points per 100 possessions. They are fourth in scoring with 83.8 points per game and they don?t turn the ball over a lot. Garza is too talented for Midtgaard to handle on single coverage and if Grand Canyon tries to double the Hawkeyes? big man, that will only leave Iowa shooters open. The Hawkeyes are connecting on 38.6 percent of their outside shots.
Iowa is 5-4-1 against the spread in its last 10 games overall.
