The Tournament.....Day 1

[Tiger]

Haven't posted much in the 2nd half of the season as I struggled from January 1st on, but hope to turn the page and find success with the Tournament.

Two picks from the early games today..................


1) Davidson(+7.5) over Maryland

I really don't see any weaknesses on this Davidson squad. They can shoot, they hit the boards hard, they play good D, and they have a huge advantage over the Terrapins from the charity stripe.....80.5% to just 62.5% in neutral site games.

This team was 29-4 this year, winning their last 13 straight and 25 of their last 26. I don't care if you're playing girls high school teams.......that's pretty impressive. They were 14-4 ATS in all road games TY, and 6-0 SU in neutral site games.

They made an appearance last year in the tourney playing Ohio State in the first round, so they will not be intimidated by a big name school from a big name conference.

On the flip side, this is the first appearance for Maryland in 3 years. They were 7-6 ATS on the road this year, and 2-2 on neutral courts, and come in losing outright to 12-20 Miami as a 13 point favourite. Hmmmmm.



2) Oral Roberts(+6.5) over Washington State

Again, I see a very deep and talented team here in Oral Roberts that has the best player of this game in 3 time Mid-Continent player of the year in senior Caleb Green, who averages more than 20 points per game.

O.R. rebounds well, can hit their 3's (37.2% YTD) and can play stifling defence........

DFG% on neutral courts this year.....39.3%
DFG% in their last 5 games overall......37.5%

Compare that to Washington State's defensive numbers...........

DFG% on neutral courts......45.2%
DFG% last 5 games overall......46.4%

Washington State comes into this one 0-4 ATS their last 4 games, and 1-4 ATS the last 5 times they have favoured by 8 points or less.

Two live dogs to start the day, looking at the later games right now.

Good luck out there today,
Tiger

 

[Tiger]

3) George Washington(+3.5) over Vanderbilt

GW comes into this one as the hotter team, winning their last 8 straight, and going a cool 7-1 ATS in those contests. Contrast that to Vanderbilt coming in 2-3 straight up in their last 5, and 5-5 straight up in their last 10. They are 3-5 ATS in their last 8.

GW is the better defensive team...............

DFG% YTD
GW...............41.4%
Vandy............44.7%


DFG% Last 5 games
GW..............37.9%
Vandy..........51.5%

And GW has better rebounding numbers.



They are 5-2 on neutral courts this year..............Vandy is 2-2.

I think the better team is getting points here.

 

[airportis]

love Davidson, have been following them this year and Curry is amazing. they are playing great right now, forcing Maryland to play at their pace and forcing them into putting up 3's

 

[~sandog~]

If davidson wouldn't have started chucking 3' s at the end instead of taking the easy baskets terps where giving them.....covered easily !!!!!! :shrug:




dogg

 

[Tiger]

Wow, very disappointing loss with Davidson !

4) Marquette(+2) over Michigan State

Plain and simple, I just think Marquette is the better team here.

The stats show a mixed bag of results although the Golden Eagles are better on the boards, and have been much better in free throws over the last month.

The Spartans are 1-3 both straight up and ATS in their last 4, with the only outright win being a 5 pt victory over Northwestern as an 11.5 pt favourite.

Marquette has won 4 of their last 6 and look tournament toughened to me, as 6 of their last 8 have been against Pitt, Pitt, Notre Dame, Villanova, Louisville and Georgetown.