The Big Dance.

[NBA_Kid]

VT @ FLA

Hokies are 9-1 ATS in their last 10 Friday games.

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

Hokies are 6-13 ATS in their last 19 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.

Hokies are 2-5 ATS in their last 7 NCAA Tournament games.

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

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

Over is 6-1-1 in Hokies last 8 neutral site games.

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

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

Under is 7-3 in Hokies last 10 overall.

Gators are 14-29 ATS in their last 43 games as an underdog.

Gators are 4-10-1 ATS in their last 15 neutral site games as an underdog.

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

Gators are 1-5 ATS in their last 6 games following a ATS loss.

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

Gators are 0-4 ATS in their last 4 games following a straight up loss.

Gators are 0-5 ATS in their last 5 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.

Gators are 0-5 ATS in their last 5 games vs. a team with a winning straight up record.

Over is 6-1-1 in Hokies last 8 neutral site games.

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

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

Under is 7-3 in Hokies last 10 overall.

 

[NBA_Kid]

Virginia Tech at Florida

Florida and Virginia Tech will play for the first time in 30 years in the opening game of the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Friday in Indianapolis, Ind.

The Hokies (15-6) are the No. 10 seed in the South Region and playing in the NCAA Tournament for the fourth consecutive time and 12th time overall. Virginia Tech is 8-11 all-time in the tournament.

Seventh-seeded Florida (14-9) has also made it to four consecutive NCAA Tournaments -- the longest active streak for a Southeastern Conference team -- and earned its 21st all-time bid.

"I didn't know if we'd be a seven, eight, nine," Florida coach Mike White said. "I thought we'd land somewhere in there. Excited to be a seven, (but) the number doesn't really matter. It's how you play when you get there."

Virginia Tech had five games canceled over the final month of the regular season and ended up playing just twice in a 38-day span leading up to its 81-73 loss to North Carolina in the Atlantic Coast Conference quarterfinals last on March 11.

"These guys have always been about the team and they have improved over the long haul of the season," Virginia Tech coach Mike Young said. "They have weathered every storm thrown at them and I expect them to continue to do the same as we get to Indianapolis."

Justyn Mutts had 24 points and eight rebounds, and Tyrece Radford had 20 points and six rebounds against the Tar Heels. But the Hokies will need a better performance from forward Keve Aluma, who leads them in scoring (15.6 points per game) and rebounding (8.0 per game).

"This is an opportunity for us in March to come out and make some noise," Virginia Tech forward Cordell Pemsl said. "Everyone knows at this point that anything can happen."

The Gators have dropped three of their past four games, losing to Missouri and twice to Tennessee -- both NCAA Tournament teams.

Tre Mann is on a hot scoring stretch, pouring in more than 20 points in four consecutive games. No Gator has ever had five consecutive games of 20-plus points.

In Mann's last game -- Florida's 78-66 SEC quarterfinal loss to Tennessee, he started slowly with only two points in the first half before scoring 28 after halftime for a career-high 30. He is averaging 16.0 for the season.

"I think we've had some other guys struggle just a little bit, and we're just struggling a little bit with the overall offensive production and effectiveness -- against some high-level defenses, of course," White said.

"And Tre really just kind of bailed us out some of these possessions, especially in the last game where he made it interesting against the Volunteers, putting up 30. He's really talented. His role has continued to grow here over the course of this year, and he continues to get better."

The Hokies are 5-4 all-time against the Gators and won their last meeting, 79-57, in 1991 in Orlando, Fla.

The winner will face the winner of the matchup between No. 2 seed Ohio State and No. 15 Oral Roberts on Sunday.

 

[NBA_Kid]

COLG @ ARK

Raiders are 6-2 ATS in their last 8 games overall.

Raiders are 6-2 ATS in their last 8 games following a straight up win.

Raiders are 19-7 ATS in their last 26 games vs. a team with a winning straight up record.

Raiders are 7-3 ATS in their last 10 games as an underdog.

Over is 5-1 in Raiders last 6 games following a ATS win.

Over is 5-2 in Raiders last 7 overall.

Over is 5-2 in Raiders last 7 games following a straight up win.

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

Under is 13-6-1 in Raiders last 20 games as an underdog.

Razorbacks are 6-1 ATS in their last 7 games vs. a team with a winning straight up record.

Razorbacks are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.

Razorbacks are 9-2 ATS in their last 11 games following a ATS loss.

Razorbacks are 8-2 ATS in their last 10 games overall.

Razorbacks are 8-2 ATS in their last 10 games as a favorite.

Razorbacks are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 Friday games.

Razorbacks are 6-2 ATS in their last 8 games following a straight up loss.

Razorbacks are 3-8 ATS in their last 11 NCAA Tournament games.

Under is 6-0 in Razorbacks last 6 Friday games.

Under is 5-0 in Razorbacks last 5 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.

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

Over is 14-4 in Razorbacks last 18 games following a straight up loss.

Under is 7-2 in Razorbacks last 9 games as a favorite.

Under is 19-7 in Razorbacks last 26 neutral site games as a favorite.

Under is 21-8 in Razorbacks last 29 neutral site games.

Over is 34-16-1 in Razorbacks last 51 overall.

 

[NBA_Kid]

Colgate at Arkansas

Arkansas and Colgate are two of the hottest teams in the country.

They're also two of the highest-scoring teams in the country.

Despite the disparity in seeding, the No. 3 Razorbacks (22-6) and the No. 14 Raiders (14-1) could provide one of the more entertaining games on the first day of the NCAA Tournament when they meet in the South Regional on Friday in Indianapolis.

"We're going to take our opponent seriously because -- as we've seen in previous years -- anything can happen regardless of seeding," Arkansas forward Justin Smith said. "They're going to get our utmost respect and hopefully we can come out with a win."

The Razorbacks finished second in the SEC regular season and lost to LSU in the semifinals of the SEC tournament last Saturday. That ended a 12-game winning streak against SEC teams.

Arkansas, which averages 82.4 points per game, has eight wins against teams in the NCAA field -- Alabama, Missouri (twice), Florida, LSU, North Texas, Abilene Christian and Oral Roberts. Freshman Moses Moody, projected to be a 2021 NBA lottery pick, leads the scoring parade with 17.4 points per game.

The Razorbacks are playing in the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2018.

"I've never made it to the NCAA Tournament," said guard Desi Sills. "It's a wonderful feeling. Hopefully we can make a run in the tournament and just keep playing together."

Colgate is second in the nation in scoring (86.3 points per game), trailing only Gonzaga. The Raiders set a Patriot League tournament scoring record with 105 points in a semifinal win against Bucknell before defeating Loyola 85-72 in the title game to earn an automatic bid.

The Raiders shoot 40.0 percent on 3-pointers, tied for third nationally.

"We've got to come up with some drills to defend the 3," Arkansas coach Eric Musselman said.

Colgate, which didn't play any games against teams from outside the Patriot League, has won 13 in a row. Its only loss was by two points against Army in the second game of the season on Jan. 3. All of its victories came by at least eight points, including a 74-63 overtime win at Holy Cross.

"It's been a crazy journey and we've only played 15 games, but it certainly seems like a lifetime," coach Matt Langel said. "They have not batted an eyelash at whatever has been thrown at them, like games being canceled."

The Raiders are led by senior guard Jordan Burns, who averages 17.0 points, 5.4 assists and 4.4 rebounds. He was the Most Valuable Player in the Patriot League tournament.

"We want to go to the NCAA Tournament and we want to win," Burns said. "We want to show our talent against teams outside of the Patriot League because we weren't able to do that earlier in the year.

"I want the country to know we are coming to play. We aren't here to just be happy about going to the NCAA Tournament. We're here to actually win games. We want to go far in the tournament, and we believe we have a team that's powerful enough to do so."

The winner will face the winner of the game between No. 11 Utah State and No. 6 Texas Tech on Sunday.

 

[NBA_Kid]

DREX @ ILL

Dragons are 3-0-1 ATS in their last 4 games overall.

Dragons are 4-0-1 ATS in their last 5 neutral site games.

Dragons are 7-1 ATS in their last 8 Friday games.

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

Dragons are 5-2 ATS in their last 7 games as an underdog.

Dragons are 1-4-1 ATS in their last 6 games following a ATS win.

Over is 5-1 in Dragons last 6 overall.

Under is 5-1 in Dragons last 6 neutral site games as an underdog.

Under is 8-2 in Dragons last 10 neutral site games.

Over is 11-3 in Dragons last 14 games as an underdog.

Under is 19-9 in Dragons last 28 games following a ATS win.

Fighting Illini are 6-1 ATS in their last 7 games overall.

Fighting Illini are 6-1 ATS in their last 7 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.

Fighting Illini are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 games following a straight up win.

Fighting Illini are 12-3-1 ATS in their last 16 games vs. a team with a winning straight up record.

Fighting Illini are 6-2 ATS in their last 8 games following a ATS loss.

Fighting Illini are 2-5 ATS in their last 7 games after scoring more than 90 points in their previous game.

Over is 10-2 in Fighting Illini last 12 games following a ATS loss.

Over is 5-1 in Fighting Illini last 6 games as a favorite.

Under is 18-7-1 in Fighting Illini last 26 NCAA Tournament games.

Under is 10-4 in Fighting Illini last 14 NCAA Tournament games as a favorite.

Under is 7-3-1 in Fighting Illini last 11 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.

Under is 29-13-1 in Fighting Illini last 43 Friday games.

Under is 13-6 in Fighting Illini last 19 games after scoring more than 90 points in their previous game.

 

[NBA_Kid]

Drexel at Illinois

As he basked in the glow of a Big Ten Conference tournament title early Sunday evening, Illinois coach Brad Underwood reflected back to his first exhibition game as the team's coach.

It was Nov. 3, 2017, and the Fighting Illini made a 40-mile trip south to play Eastern Illinois in a benefit game in which the proceeds were going to hurricane relief. Everything went for a good cause.

And then they played the game: Eastern Illinois 80, Illinois 67.

"You think I've forgotten the Eastern Illinois exhibition game? Then to be standing on a ladder, in the best league, as Big Ten champions," Underwood said. "Man, I mean, you take all of that in."

From that very humble beginning came the building of a program that now has an NCAA Tournament title squarely in its sights. The Fighting Illini open Friday with a Midwest Region contest in Indianapolis against Colonial Athletic Association champ Drexel in the 1 vs. 16 matchup.

Winning seven in a row and 14 of 15, as the 23-6 Illini have done, while playing in the nation's best conference this season will certainly get everyone's attention. With the exception of unbeaten and top-ranked Gonzaga, Illinois is the hottest team in college basketball.

National Player of the Year candidate Ayo Dosunmu (20.7 points, 6.3 rebounds, 5.3 assists per game) and 7-foot center Kofi Cockburn (17.6 points, 9.6 rebounds) form quite a 1-2 punch. But the Illini aren't just a two-man show.

Six Illinois players scored in double figures in a 91-88 overtime decision against Ohio State that cinched the Big Ten tourney crown, including three off the bench. Dosunmu, Cockburn and Andre Curbelo each tallied 16, Da'Monte Williams added 13, Georgi Bezhanishvili hit for 12 and Trent Frazier had 10.

"We'll take that every single night," Underwood said of the team's balance.

The Illini rank in the top 20 nationally in scoring, field-goal percentage, rebound margin and assists. While they occasionally get loose with the ball and can struggle at the line, those issues have yet to haunt them when it matters.

Meanwhile, Drexel (12-7) had trouble finding a rhythm in this pandemic-shortened season, enduring 12 postponements for COVID-19 reasons. The Dragons' longest winning streak is the four-game run they are on at the moment, including three straight in the CAA tourney.

Entering the CAA event as the sixth seed, Drexel stopped College of Charleston and Northeastern to reach the final. Eighth-seeded Elon was waiting there for the Dragons, who won a 63-56 grinder to earn their first NCAA bid in 25 years.

That Drexel team, led by future NBA champion Malik Rose, dumped Memphis 75-63 in the first round and then played respectably in a second-round loss to eventual national runner-up Syracuse. It might take five Roses for this group of Dragons to match up with Illinois.

"I don't think we're too worried about the seeding," Drexel guard Camren Wynter said, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer. "At this point, any game is going to be a difficult game."

Wynter paces the Dragons' offense with 16.8 points and 5.3 assists per game while James Butler contributes averages of 12.9 points and 9.2 rebounds.

 

[NBA_Kid]

USU @ TTU

Aggies are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 neutral site games.

Aggies are 19-9 ATS in their last 28 Friday games.

Aggies are 2-5 ATS in their last 7 games following a straight up loss.

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

Aggies are 2-6 ATS in their last 8 games vs. a team with a winning straight up record.

Aggies are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 NCAA Tournament games as an underdog.

Aggies are 1-5 ATS in their last 6 NCAA Tournament games.

Under is 5-0 in Aggies last 5 overall.

Under is 5-0 in Aggies last 5 neutral site games.

Under is 6-1 in Aggies last 7 NCAA Tournament games as an underdog.

Over is 4-1 in Aggies last 5 games following a straight up loss.

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

Under is 6-2 in Aggies last 8 NCAA Tournament games.

Over is 6-2 in Aggies last 8 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.

Under is 5-2 in Aggies last 7 neutral site games as an underdog.

Red Raiders are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 NCAA Tournament games.

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

Red Raiders are 5-13 ATS in their last 18 games as a favorite.

Red Raiders are 6-16 ATS in their last 22 games overall.

Red Raiders are 9-25-1 ATS in their last 35 games following a straight up loss.

Red Raiders are 7-20 ATS in their last 27 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.

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

Red Raiders are 1-5 ATS in their last 6 games following a ATS loss.

Red Raiders are 1-5 ATS in their last 6 neutral site games.

Red Raiders are 0-5 ATS in their last 5 neutral site games as a favorite.

Under is 4-0 in Red Raiders last 4 games as a favorite.

Under is 5-1 in Red Raiders last 6 NCAA Tournament games as a favorite.

Under is 5-1 in Red Raiders last 6 Friday games.

Under is 4-1 in Red Raiders last 5 overall.

Under is 4-1 in Red Raiders last 5 games following a straight up loss.

Under is 5-2 in Red Raiders last 7 NCAA Tournament games.

 

[NBA_Kid]

Utah St.at Texas Tech

Texas Tech vaulted into the upper echelon of college basketball at a rapid pace, culminating with an overtime loss to Virginia in the 2019 national championship game.

That made the sudden ending of last season that much more painful, as the Red Raiders were unable to build on that run.

While Texas Tech isn't exactly back to square one, it does have some work to do to re-establish its footing on the national level. That process begins on Friday afternoon against Utah State in a South Region contest of the NCAA Tournament in Bloomington, Ind.

Sixth-seeded Texas Tech (17-10) has a challenge on its hands right off the bat against the Aggies (20-8), who earned an at-large bid despite losing to San Diego State in the Mountain West tournament championship game.

"It's a tough game, but they're all tough games (because) you're in the national tournament," fifth-year Red Raiders coach Chris Beard said.

"You've got to play well. ... You're playing against a team that has an NCAA Tournament r?sum?."

And in Texas Tech's case, Utah State doesn't loom as a great matchup for the Red Raiders.

Opponents with a strong presence have tended to give Texas Tech trouble, although nine of its 10 losses came to opponents from the Big 12 Conference. The other was to Houston, a No. 2 seed in the NCAA Tournament.

The Aggies feature 7-footer Neemias Queta, who averages 15.1 points and 10.0 rebounds per game and has logged double-digit rebound totals in 17 contests this season.

Forward Justin Bean supplies 11.3 points and 7.7 rebounds a contest for Utah State.

After sitting on the edge of their seats to see if they received a berth in the NCAA Tournament, the Aggies don't lack for confidence after pushing San Diego State for the regular-season Mountain West crown.

"We were nervous for a little bit," Queta said. "We didn't know if we were going to be in.

"We worked for this the whole year. When we saw our name, I felt a sense of joy and accomplishment, but at the same time we want to go in there and make sure we go there to win and make a run in the tournament."

That's certainly the goal for Texas Tech, especially considering the Red Raiders' first two trips under Beard.

In Beard's second season at the wheel in 2017-18, Texas Tech marched to the Elite Eight before falling to eventual national champion Villanova.

The next season, the Red Raiders advanced to the first Final Four in program history. They defeated Michigan State before falling to Virginia.

Beard was quick to point out that this is an almost completely different team from that final game. Kyler Edwards and Avery Benson are the only players on the current roster who played in the Final Four run. Edwards is one of Texas Tech's main cogs, averaging 10.0 points and 4.6 rebounds a game while leading the team in assists (72) and 3-pointers made (51).

Two Red Raiders starters transferred into the program to be part of an NCAA Tournament team. Mac McClung spent two seasons at Georgetown without the opportunity. Marcus Santos-Silva was on a VCU team that lost in the first round in 2019.

McClung is the Red Raiders' top scorer with 15.7 points a game, followed by Terrence Shannon Jr. (12.7 per game). Santos-Silva is Texas Tech's biggest interior player and has produced 8.5 points and a team-best 6.5 rebounds a contest.

"This year is our own different journey," Beard said. "This team has done a great job of having its own identity, its own journey.

"One thing is a constant (in the NCAA Tournament): You've got to be you and ride the train that got you there. You can't reinvent yourself. You can't let the stage keep you from being yourself."

 

[NBA_Kid]

ORU @ OSU

Golden Eagles are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games overall.

Golden Eagles are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games following a straight up win.

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

Golden Eagles are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.

Golden Eagles are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 games vs. a team with a winning straight up record.

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

Golden Eagles are 0-4 ATS in their last 4 Friday games.

Over is 6-1 in Golden Eagles last 7 neutral site games as an underdog.

Over is 42-11 in Golden Eagles last 53 games following a ATS win.

Over is 40-16 in Golden Eagles last 56 games as an underdog.

Over is 5-2 in Golden Eagles last 7 Friday games.

Over is 36-16 in Golden Eagles last 52 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.

Over is 40-19 in Golden Eagles last 59 games following a straight up win.

Over is 51-25 in Golden Eagles last 76 overall.

Buckeyes are 6-1 ATS in their last 7 games following a ATS win.

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

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

Buckeyes are 5-2 ATS in their last 7 neutral site games as a favorite.

Buckeyes are 11-5 ATS in their last 16 games vs. a team with a winning straight up record.

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

Buckeyes are 1-5-1 ATS in their last 7 games after allowing more than 90 points in their previous game.

Buckeyes are 1-9 ATS in their last 10 NCAA Tournament games.

Buckeyes are 0-4 ATS in their last 4 games following a straight up loss.

Buckeyes are 0-6 ATS in their last 6 NCAA Tournament games as a favorite.

Over is 4-1 in Buckeyes last 5 neutral site games.

Over is 15-5-1 in Buckeyes last 21 games following a ATS win.

Over is 22-8 in Buckeyes last 30 NCAA Tournament games as a favorite.

Over is 21-8 in Buckeyes last 29 NCAA Tournament games.

Over is 16-7 in Buckeyes last 23 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.

Over is 38-18-1 in Buckeyes last 57 neutral site games as a favorite.

 

[NBA_Kid]

Oral Roberts at Ohio St.

"R and R" will be important to No. 7 Ohio State this week as the Buckeyes open play in the NCAA Tournament against Oral Roberts on Friday afternoon in West Lafayette, Ind.

The Buckeyes (21-9) are the second seed in the South Region after a grueling Big Ten tourney that saw them play four games in four days. They went to overtime in two of them, including a 91-88 loss to No. 2 Illinois in the title game on Sunday, so a bit of rest is welcomed.

"We will have to try to recover as best as possible this week after playing four tough games in a row," Ohio State guard CJ Walker said. "We just have to try and bounce back the best we can and go try to win a national championship.

"I think recovery is one of the biggest things right now, especially for the guys who spent as many minutes playing against these great teams. Some guys are sore and banged up. Going into March Madness, we need everybody to contribute at a high level."

Justice Sueing (groin) and Musa Jallow (ankle) are concerns but the biggest worry for Ohio State coach Chris Holtmann is the status of Kyle Young. The senior forward sustained his second concussion in three weeks against Purdue on Friday and did play the past two games.

"I think he's making progress but in terms of what his availability will be, I'm optimistic and hopeful but not sure what his availability will be right now," Holtmann said on his radio show Monday.

At the same time the Buckeyes were defeating Purdue, Oral Roberts coach Paul Mills was playing the role of prognosticator at practice and prepping his players for Ohio State.

The Golden Eagles (16-10) clinched their first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2008 by beating North Dakota State to win the Summit League tournament on March 9.

"I said to them. 'I'll just give you my take -- I think we're the 15th seed and I think we're playing Ohio State,'" he said. "You've been looking at the 15 seeds ever since you clinched. It was kind of thinking, what's the possibilities? Sometimes you guess right. This time I happened to guess right."

Oral Roberts is led by the highest scoring duo in the country in Max Abmas (24.2 points per game) and Kevin Obanor (18.2). The Golden Eagles average 81.8 ppg compared to 77.3 for the Buckeyes.

While Oral Roberts averages a Division I-best 11.3 3-pointers made per game, the Buckeyes make 8.2. The Golden Eagles also lead the nation in free-throw percentage (82.4).

"They're one of the really, really talented offensive teams in the country," Holtmann said. "They spread you out. They shoot a lot of 3s. That's really been their calling card this year.

"Obviously, they have a guard (Abmas) who is single-handedly capable of winning a game. When you get to this tournament, everybody can play."

Ohio State is led by Duane Washington Jr. (16.3 ppg), who set a Big Ten tournament title-game record with 32 points against Illinois.

The winner advances to play Sunday vs. the winner between No. 7 seed Florida (14-9) and No. 10 seed Virginia Tech (15-6).

 

[NBA_Kid]

HART @ BAY

Hawks are 5-0 ATS in their last 5 games overall.

Hawks are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games following a ATS win.

Hawks are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games following a straight up win.

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

Hawks are 10-2 ATS in their last 12 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.

Hawks are 13-3 ATS in their last 16 games vs. a team with a winning straight up record.

Hawks are 5-2 ATS in their last 7 games as an underdog.

Under is 15-5-1 in Hawks last 21 games as an underdog.

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

Under is 15-7-1 in Hawks last 23 games following a straight up win.

Under is 36-17-1 in Hawks last 54 overall.

Bears are 7-2 ATS in their last 9 neutral site games.

Bears are 6-2 ATS in their last 8 neutral site games as a favorite.

Bears are 5-2 ATS in their last 7 games following a ATS loss.

Bears are 9-4 ATS in their last 13 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.

Bears are 23-11 ATS in their last 34 games vs. a team with a winning straight up record.

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

Bears are 2-5 ATS in their last 7 games as a favorite.

Bears are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 NCAA Tournament games as a favorite.

Over is 7-0 in Bears last 7 games following a straight up loss.

Over is 4-0 in Bears last 4 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.

Over is 11-1 in Bears last 12 overall.

Over is 11-1 in Bears last 12 games as a favorite.

Over is 7-1 in Bears last 8 neutral site games.

Over is 6-1 in Bears last 7 neutral site games as a favorite.

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

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

Over is 6-2 in Bears last 8 NCAA Tournament games as a favorite.

 

[NBA_Kid]

Hartford at Baylor

Hartford has something that Baylor doesn't possess going into their NCAA tournament meeting.

A winning streak.

While No. 3 Baylor is a team that many observers like as a potential national champion, the Bears are coming off only their second loss of the season.

Hartford (15-8) will roll into Friday's game in Indianapolis with some confidence for the first NCAA Tournament appearance in program history.

Baylor is the top seed in the South Region, while Hartford will look to become just the second team with the No. 16 seed to knock off a top seed in NCAA Tournament history. The winner of this game takes on the Wisconsin-North Carolina winner Sunday.

It's the first time the Bears have held a No. 1 regional seed.

"I'm really excited for the guys," coach Scott Drew said. "They've earned it."

Baylor (22-2) fell to eventual Big 12 tournament champion Oklahoma State in Friday's semifinal round.

The Bears, who are in the postseason for a school-record ninth consecutive season (two of those in the National Invitation Tournament), have been ranked No. 2 in the country for most of the season.

They had an 18-game winning streak to open their schedule.

Baylor guard Jared Butler, a first-team All-Big 12 selection, averages 17.1 points and 4.8 assists per game.

The Bears thrive on defense and by facing an opponent outside of the Big 12 to begin the NCAA Tournament, that could be a benefit.

"We're going to be playing Hartford, who hasn't seen our defense," Butler said. "We're going to be able to really get after it."

Hartford (15-8) holds a five-game winning streak as America East tournament champion, defeating UMass Lowell 64-50 in Saturday's title game. The Hawks were seeded fourth in the America East tournament, becoming the lowest-seeded champion in the league's history.

Just like Baylor, the Hawks have high expectations.

"We're not going to say hello," Hartford coach John Gallagher said. "We're going to win."

Hartford would have played in the 2020 America East tournament championship game if that hadn't been canceled because of the pandemic. But the Hawks made it back and then were able to take the next step during the past weekend.

"There were a lot nightmares to get to this point," Gallagher said. "... But we're dancing."

Austin Williams, a transfer from Marist, averages a team-best 13.9 points per game for the Hawks.

Drew, even though he's not familiar with any players on Hartford's roster, said he knows better than to underestimate what the Hawks can do.

"With Hartford, I'm used to coming from Valpo (Valparaiso) in a one-bid league and I know the parity of college basketball and how good teams are," Drew said. "Anxious to study Hartford and get caught up on that."

Under Drew, the Bears are 11-8 in NCAA Tournament play. Baylor has some experience, with four members of the team appearing in the 2019 NCAAs when the Bears went 1-1 and lost in the second round to top-seeded Gonzaga.

This is a homecoming of sorts for Drew, who graduated from Butler.

Baylor is 2-0 all-time against Hartford, with the most-recent meeting in 2009.

 

[NBA_Kid]

GT @ L-IL

Yellow Jackets are 8-1 ATS in their last 9 games overall.

Yellow Jackets are 6-1 ATS in their last 7 games following a ATS win.

Yellow Jackets are 6-1 ATS in their last 7 games following a straight up win.

Yellow Jackets are 7-3 ATS in their last 10 games as an underdog.

Yellow Jackets are 37-16 ATS in their last 53 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.

Yellow Jackets are 48-23 ATS in their last 71 games vs. a team with a winning straight up record.

Over is 4-0 in Yellow Jackets last 4 Friday games.

Over is 4-1 in Yellow Jackets last 5 overall.

Over is 4-1 in Yellow Jackets last 5 games following a straight up win.

Ramblers are 7-1-1 ATS in their last 9 games vs. a team with a winning straight up record.

Ramblers are 6-1 ATS in their last 7 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.

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

Ramblers are 6-2-1 ATS in their last 9 games following a ATS win.

Ramblers are 5-2 ATS in their last 7 neutral site games as a favorite.

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

Ramblers are 13-6-1 ATS in their last 20 games following a straight up win.

Ramblers are 7-19-1 ATS in their last 27 Friday games.

Over is 6-1 in Ramblers last 7 neutral site games as a favorite.

Over is 6-1 in Ramblers last 7 Friday games.

Over is 6-1 in Ramblers last 7 neutral site games.

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

Under is 7-2 in Ramblers last 9 games following a ATS win.

Under is 13-5 in Ramblers last 18 overall.

Under is 13-5 in Ramblers last 18 games as a favorite.

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

Under is 11-5 in Ramblers last 16 games following a straight up win.

 

[NBA_Kid]

Georgia Tech at Loyola-Chicago

For Loyola, a mission for respect could bring a shot at No. 1 seed Illinois and set the Ramblers up for a run in the 2021 NCAA Tournament.

First, the respect part.

Granted, the NCAA's NET rankings are not a be-all, end-all when it comes to seeding teams for its tournament. Colgate was No. 9 in the NET and a 14th seed in its region, a ranking which comes closer to reality than a top 10 in the NET.

On the other hand, the consensus is that 17th-ranked Loyola Chicago's No. 10 NET ranking wasn't properly rewarded with a higher seed. The Ramblers' No. 8 seed in the Midwest seems criminally low when paired with the fact that they have the best scoring defense in Division I at 55.5 points per game and metrics that attest to their all-around efficiency.

"If we're a 10 ... I don't know. If we're an 8 seed, it looks like we're in the 32 range," Loyola Chicago coach Porter Moser said to the Chicago Tribune. "We can just control what we can control."

And what the Ramblers (24-4) can control is how they play in the NCAA Tournament, starting Friday when they take on ninth-seeded Georgia Tech in Indianapolis.

The Yellow Jackets were already dealt a loss early in the week when the program announced a member of the traveling party tested positive for COVID-19. As of Tuesday afternoon, Georgia Tech planned to play Friday while testing of the roster continued, head coach Josh Pastner said.

Any personnel loss would hit Georgia Tech hard considering depth is one of the team's tournament concerns.

How Loyola plays will land under most microscopes, and one might not need high power to see the first few minutes could be ugly. The Ramblers haven't played since March 7, when they stopped Drake 75-65 in St. Louis to win the Missouri Valley Conference tournament.

After averaging only 57.3 points in its last four regular season games, Loyola looked more like itself in St. Louis. It scored 71 points per game at Arch Madness, more in line with its per game average of 71.5, and shot more like the outfit that made 50.5 percent of its shots for the season.

But the Ramblers, who advanced to the Final Four in 2018, will probably have to work harder to get good shots against the Atlantic Coast Conference tournament champs, who dumped Florida State 80-75 on Saturday night in Greensboro. The Yellow Jackets (17-8) won on the strength of a defense that forced a whopping 25 turnovers that led to 31 points.

"They were terrific," Moser said of Georgia Tech. "You've got to be really, really good to win the ACC tournament."

It was the eighth straight win for the Yellow Jackets, a streak that took them from another year of irrelevance to a journey to Indianapolis. They were 9-8 with nonconference losses to Georgia State and Mercer prior to finding their groove.

Georgia Tech lives and dies with its starting lineup.

ACC Player of the Year Moses Wright (17.4 ppg, 8.0 rebounds, 41 blocked shots) leads four players in double figures. Point guard Jose Alvarado (15.3 ppg, 4.1 assists, 3.0 steals) is the team's heart and soul, and Michael Devoe chips in 15.1 ppg along with 40.1 percent 3-point shooting.

That nucleus, along with Jordan Usher (11.5), carried the squad. Pastner normally uses just two players off the bench, a sharp contrast to Moser, who can run four or five players off the pine without much dropoff.

"I like our chances," Pastner said. "I love our team."

Those chances could ultimately depend on whether the Yellow Jackets can limit 6-9 Ramblers senior Cameron Krutwig (15 ppg, 6.7 rebounds), the MVC Player of the Year.

It may be Georgia Tech's first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2010 but Pastner anticipates a long stay.

"We want to go win six games," Pastner said. "But I can't tell you the importance of having that name pulled up on that screen."

 

[NBA_Kid]

ORST @ TENN

Beavers are 9-1-1 ATS in their last 11 games following a ATS win.

Beavers are 7-1 ATS in their last 8 games vs. a team with a winning straight up record.

Beavers are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 games following a straight up win.

Beavers are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.

Beavers are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 neutral site games.

Beavers are 13-3 ATS in their last 16 games as an underdog.

Beavers are 16-5-1 ATS in their last 22 games overall.

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

Over is 6-0 in Beavers last 6 overall.

Over is 5-0 in Beavers last 5 games following a ATS win.

Over is 5-0 in Beavers last 5 games following a straight up win.

Over is 6-0 in Beavers last 6 games as an underdog.

Over is 4-0 in Beavers last 4 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.

Over is 5-0 in Beavers last 5 neutral site games.

Over is 18-6 in Beavers last 24 neutral site games as an underdog.

Under is 5-2 in Beavers last 7 Friday games.

Volunteers are 3-0-1 ATS in their last 4 games following a straight up loss.

Volunteers are 4-1-1 ATS in their last 6 games following a ATS loss.

Volunteers are 0-4 ATS in their last 4 NCAA Tournament games as a favorite.

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

Over is 9-0 in Volunteers last 9 neutral site games as a favorite.

Over is 6-1 in Volunteers last 7 Friday games.

Over is 9-2 in Volunteers last 11 neutral site games.

Over is 6-2 in Volunteers last 8 NCAA Tournament games.

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

 

[NBA_Kid]

Oregon St. at Tennessee

Perhaps it's fitting that Oregon State received the No. 12 seed into the NCAA Tournament's Midwest Region.

After all, the Beavers were picked to finish 12th -- dead last -- in the Pacific-12 preseason poll.

But Oregon State (17-12) rallied from a 16-point deficit to defeat UCLA, upended top-seeded Oregon in the semifinals and beat Colorado 70-68 in the title game to win the Pac-12 tournament and earn the conference's automatic bid to the NCAAs. The Beavers will face fifth-seeded Tennessee (18-8) in a first-round game Friday at Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.

Maurice Calloo came off the bench to score a team-high 15 points in the Pac-12 finale as leading scorer Ethan Thompson (15.3 points per game) was limited by foul trouble.

The No. 12 has been a rallying cry for the Beavers all season.

When they received new shooting shirts before the conference tourney, Oregon State coach Wayne Tinkle asked one of the team's equipment managers, Ryan Lawrence, to put the No. 12 inside the shirts. Tinkle said he figured the number might be hand-written in pen.

"He ironed it on real nice, orange, 12th," the coach said after Sunday's selection show. "(Guard) Jarod Lucas was the first one that noticed it and went nuts, then that was kind of our rally cry down the stretch."

The Beavers arrived in Indianapolis in time to watch the selection show from their hotel's conference room.

"When they saw that we popped up as the 12 seed, everybody looked like, 'Yep, this is going to mean something, something special,'" Tinkle said. "We'll keep milking it, for sure."

The Beavers, who last won an NCAA Tournament game in 1982, have advanced to the Big Dance just once since 1990. They lost a first-round game to Virginia Commonwealth in 2016.

Tennessee will be making its third straight NCAA appearance under coach Rick Barnes, who took over in 2015.

The Volunteers reached the Southeastern Conference tournament semifinals before suffering a 73-68 loss to eventual champion Alabama. The Crimson Tide rallied from a 15-point deficit in that game.

Tennessee played the semifinal without forward John Fulkerson, who sustained a concussion and facial injuries after taking two elbows from Florida's Omar Payne in Friday's quarterfinal victory.

A Volunteers spokesperson said Sunday night that Fulkerson, who started 24 games this season, had a medical procedure for his injuries and his status for the NCAAs has yet to be determined.

"He wants to be out there," Barnes said. "If he could, he would (play)."

Jaden Springer leads a balanced Tennessee offense with 12.5 points per game, just ahead of fellow freshman Keon Johnson (11.2) and Victor Bailey Jr. (11.0).

Bailey is familiar with the Beavers, having played his first two seasons at rival Oregon before transferring to Tennessee.

"I think we're good enough to play anybody and beat anybody in the tournament. I really believe that," Barnes said. "Do I want to have everybody (available)? I would. ... Even if things don't work out with (Fulkerson), we're going to go there with the same mindset, because we believe that someway, somehow, we've got guys that maybe haven't played as many minutes ... that (are) ready to step in there and play. I just like the mindset that we have right now. But it would be nice for us to have our full allotment and just see what we can be."

 

[NBA_Kid]

LIB @ OKST

Flames are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games as an underdog.

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

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

Flames are 6-1 ATS in their last 7 games following a ATS loss.

Flames are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 neutral site games as an underdog.

Flames are 12-3 ATS in their last 15 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.

Flames are 12-3 ATS in their last 15 neutral site games.

Flames are 6-2 ATS in their last 8 games overall.

Flames are 6-2 ATS in their last 8 games following a straight up win.

Flames are 19-7 ATS in their last 26 games vs. a team with a winning straight up record.

Over is 3-0-1 in Flames last 4 overall.

Over is 3-0-1 in Flames last 4 games following a straight up win.

Over is 6-1-1 in Flames last 8 neutral site games.

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

Over is 16-5 in Flames last 21 neutral site games as an underdog.

Under is 7-3 in Flames last 10 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.

Cowboys are 5-0 ATS in their last 5 games after allowing more than 90 points in their previous game.

Cowboys are 10-1 ATS in their last 11 games following a straight up loss.

Cowboys are 8-1 ATS in their last 9 games overall.

Cowboys are 7-1 ATS in their last 8 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.

Cowboys are 7-1 ATS in their last 8 games vs. a team with a winning straight up record.

Cowboys are 10-2-1 ATS in their last 13 games following a ATS loss.

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

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

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

Cowboys are 0-5 ATS in their last 5 NCAA Tournament games as a favorite.

Over is 21-4-1 in Cowboys last 26 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.

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

Over is 4-1 in Cowboys last 5 neutral site games.

Over is 13-4 in Cowboys last 17 neutral site games as a favorite.

Over is 11-5-1 in Cowboys last 17 Friday games.

Over is 34-16-3 in Cowboys last 53 overall.

 

[NBA_Kid]

Liberty at Oklahoma State

Last year, after winning the Atlantic Sun postseason tournament, Liberty had a week off to relax before it was to learn its NCAA Tournament opponent.

That, of course, was the week that college basketball ground to a halt, with March Madness canceled because of the coronavirus pandemic.

You can imagine Selection Sunday was a bit more special for the Flames this year.

After wrapping up their third consecutive ASUN tourney title a week ago with a 79-75 victory against North Alabama as conference player of the year Darius McGhee had a game-high 21 points and eight rebounds, the Flames are dancing.

The 13th-seeded Flames (23-5) play 11th-ranked and No. 4 seed Oklahoma State (20-8) in the opening round of the NCAA Midwest Region on Friday in Indianapolis.

"I think that's really where the excitement was -- getting your name called and knowing that the March Madness tournament is about to happen," Flames senior guard Elijah Cuffee said.

The Flames have won 12 consecutive games, the fourth-longest streak in the nation, entering the tourney. Two of their five losses came to Purdue and Missouri, two other teams that made the NCAA field.

"I think given the season and all the adversity and obstacles that have been in our path, and everyone's path, I just think there's a sense of relief that, hey, it's going to happen. We're going to get these games in and have a chance to be a part of March Madness," Flames coach Ritchie McKay said. "We have a mature group, they're really fabulous, and I think they've got that appreciation that even though we can't be with people we know or love so much, we do get a chance to participate in the tournament."

The Flames will face an Oklahoma State team that features freshman guard Cade Cunningham, the Big 12 Player of the Year and the probable No. 1 overall pick in the next NBA draft. Cunningham averages 20.2 points per game.

The Cowboys received an at-large berth despite suffering a 91-86 loss to Texas in the Big 12 title game Saturday.

Cunningham scored 29 points in the loss, including a pair of 3-pointers in the final minute to pull Oklahoma State within 89-86 before the Longhorns clinched the victory at the free-throw line.

"It's so valuable having gone through this," Oklahoma State coach Mike Boynton said, "and the thing I will remind them of probably every day until we play, the next time we have this feeling losing a game, it's over.

"We need to make sure we have an understanding of that."

The Cowboys, making their first NCAA appearance since 2017, beat six ranked teams over the past two weeks to build some momentum, including an 83-74 victory against No. 2 Baylor in the Big 12 semifinals. Cunningham scored 25 in that victory, making back-to-back 3-pointers to give Oklahoma State the lead and then five free throws in the final minute.

"I'm a confident player. I feel like every shot I shoot is supposed to go in," Cunningham said. "I try to shoot them with confidence and make plays that my teammates need."

 

[NBA_Kid]

BUFF @ CSU

Bulls are 6-0 ATS in their last 6 games following a ATS loss.

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

Bulls are 8-3-1 ATS in their last 12 neutral site games as an underdog.

Bulls are 7-3 ATS in their last 10 games as an underdog.

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

Under is 6-1 in Bulls last 7 overall.

Under is 6-1 in Bulls last 7 Friday games.

Under is 5-1 in Bulls last 6 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.

Over is 13-3-3 in Bulls last 19 games following a double-digit loss at home.

Over is 4-1 in Bulls last 5 games as an underdog.

Over is 75-30-2 in Bulls last 107 games following a straight up loss.

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

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

Rams are 7-21-1 ATS in their last 29 Friday games.

Under is 7-1 in Rams last 8 games as a favorite.

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

Under is 6-2 in Rams last 8 overall.

Under is 8-3 in Rams last 11 games following a ATS loss.

Over is 39-18 in Rams last 57 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.

 

[NBA_Kid]

WIS @ NC

Badgers are 7-1-2 ATS in their last 10 NCAA Tournament games as an underdog.

Badgers are 12-4-2 ATS in their last 18 games following a straight up loss.

Badgers are 14-6-2 ATS in their last 22 NCAA Tournament games.

Badgers are 9-4-3 ATS in their last 16 neutral site games as an underdog.

Badgers are 3-7-1 ATS in their last 11 Friday games.

Badgers are 1-3-1 ATS in their last 5 games overall.

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

Badgers are 1-5-1 ATS in their last 7 games vs. a team with a winning straight up record.

Badgers are 1-6-1 ATS in their last 8 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.

Badgers are 0-3-1 ATS in their last 4 neutral site games.

Under is 11-1 in Badgers last 12 neutral site games as an underdog.

Over is 4-1 in Badgers last 5 overall.

Under is 4-1 in Badgers last 5 NCAA Tournament games as an underdog.

Under is 20-7-2 in Badgers last 29 neutral site games.

Under is 38-15-2 in Badgers last 55 games as an underdog.

Under is 7-3 in Badgers last 10 games following a straight up loss.

Tar Heels are 3-0-1 ATS in their last 4 games overall.

Tar Heels are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games following a straight up loss.

Tar Heels are 4-0-1 ATS in their last 5 neutral site games as a favorite.

Tar Heels are 3-0-1 ATS in their last 4 neutral site games.

Tar Heels are 5-1-1 ATS in their last 7 games vs. a team with a winning straight up record.

Tar Heels are 5-2 ATS in their last 7 games as a favorite.

Tar Heels are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 NCAA Tournament games as a favorite.

Tar Heels are 1-4-1 ATS in their last 6 Friday games.

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

Over is 6-1 in Tar Heels last 7 games as a favorite.

Under is 5-1 in Tar Heels last 6 NCAA Tournament games as a favorite.

Under is 5-1 in Tar Heels last 6 NCAA Tournament games.

Over is 4-1 in Tar Heels last 5 games following a straight up loss.

Under is 8-2 in Tar Heels last 10 neutral site games as a favorite.

Under is 8-2 in Tar Heels last 10 neutral site games.

Under is 5-2 in Tar Heels last 7 Friday games.