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Arguably the best rivalry in sports returns on Saturday night and there’s not much on the line when Duke visits neighbor North Carolina. Nah, just the ACC outright regular-season title and a No. 1 seed in the conference tournament. And for the Dukies, a likely top seed in the Big Dance also rides on this game. Bet on it with Bodog’s NCAA basketball odds.
This will be the 14th time since the ACC began play in 1953-54 that the regular-season title or a tie for first has hinged on the outcome. It’s the third time in four seasons that first or a tie for first in the regular season is at stake.
Guarantees in sports are now kind of weak, but that didn’t stop Heels guard Dexter Strickland from issuing one: "I feel like the last time we played them, we just made mental errors that can be mentally corrected. I think that on Saturday, we're going to win. I know we're going to win on Saturday. I have a lot of confidence in myself and in my teammates. And if everybody has the same attitude I do, I know we're going to win."
Strickland is right in a way in that the Heels blew the first meeting with Duke. Back on Feb. 9 in Durham, the Heels had a 16-point first-half lead at one point but fell 79-73. That has been their only loss in the past 12 games. Duke was down 14 at the half but outscored North Carolina 50-30 in the second half to win its third straight in the series. Blue Devils star Nolan Smith, the lock ACC Player of the Year, scored 22 of his career-high 34 points in the second half. Duke's 14-point halftime deficit was its largest against North Carolina since 1997-98. Duke hadn't erased a halftime deficit that big to win any game since 1959.
Tyler Zeller had 24 points and a career-high 13 rebounds to lead the Heels. Star freshman North Carolina freshman Harrison Barnes finished with nine points on 3-of-8 shooting. But Barnes has been the main reason for the Heels’ resurgence. He has scored in double figures in every game since and on Wednesday he hit the game-winning 3-pointer with three seconds left to beat Florida State. It was his third game-winning 3-pointer of the year.
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This will be the 14th time since the ACC began play in 1953-54 that the regular-season title or a tie for first has hinged on the outcome. It’s the third time in four seasons that first or a tie for first in the regular season is at stake.
Guarantees in sports are now kind of weak, but that didn’t stop Heels guard Dexter Strickland from issuing one: "I feel like the last time we played them, we just made mental errors that can be mentally corrected. I think that on Saturday, we're going to win. I know we're going to win on Saturday. I have a lot of confidence in myself and in my teammates. And if everybody has the same attitude I do, I know we're going to win."
Strickland is right in a way in that the Heels blew the first meeting with Duke. Back on Feb. 9 in Durham, the Heels had a 16-point first-half lead at one point but fell 79-73. That has been their only loss in the past 12 games. Duke was down 14 at the half but outscored North Carolina 50-30 in the second half to win its third straight in the series. Blue Devils star Nolan Smith, the lock ACC Player of the Year, scored 22 of his career-high 34 points in the second half. Duke's 14-point halftime deficit was its largest against North Carolina since 1997-98. Duke hadn't erased a halftime deficit that big to win any game since 1959.
Tyler Zeller had 24 points and a career-high 13 rebounds to lead the Heels. Star freshman North Carolina freshman Harrison Barnes finished with nine points on 3-of-8 shooting. But Barnes has been the main reason for the Heels’ resurgence. He has scored in double figures in every game since and on Wednesday he hit the game-winning 3-pointer with three seconds left to beat Florida State. It was his third game-winning 3-pointer of the year.
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No. 13 North Carolina exploded on offense in the first half, and clamped down in the second to win the ACC title from No. 4 Duke 80-67.
The Tar Heels were 1.5 favorites at home in the contest and proved early they deserved the line regardless of their AP ranking. North Carolina built a 14-point lead in the first half and dropped 51 points, then went into shutdown mode, holding Duke to just 28 points in the second half.
"If nobody else believed, we did," sophomore John Henson said. "And that's why we're at this position."
With the ACC title wrapped up the Tar Heels easily improved on their 2010 season. North Carolina lost 17 games in 2010 and followed up by becoming the first team in league history to win the ACC regular-season title a year after finishing below .500 in league play.
"The last 10 months haven't been very easy a lot of times, but that crowd in that locker room has been fantastic," head coach Roy Williams said. "As a coach, where you get your strength is your relationship with the players. As a coach, you get your strength from how they allow you to coach them. This group has just been phenomenal to work with."
North Carolina has gotten hot at the right time with selection Sunday just eight days away. The Tar Heels have won seven games in a row and covered the spread in seven of their last 10.
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The Tar Heels were 1.5 favorites at home in the contest and proved early they deserved the line regardless of their AP ranking. North Carolina built a 14-point lead in the first half and dropped 51 points, then went into shutdown mode, holding Duke to just 28 points in the second half.
"If nobody else believed, we did," sophomore John Henson said. "And that's why we're at this position."
With the ACC title wrapped up the Tar Heels easily improved on their 2010 season. North Carolina lost 17 games in 2010 and followed up by becoming the first team in league history to win the ACC regular-season title a year after finishing below .500 in league play.
"The last 10 months haven't been very easy a lot of times, but that crowd in that locker room has been fantastic," head coach Roy Williams said. "As a coach, where you get your strength is your relationship with the players. As a coach, you get your strength from how they allow you to coach them. This group has just been phenomenal to work with."
North Carolina has gotten hot at the right time with selection Sunday just eight days away. The Tar Heels have won seven games in a row and covered the spread in seven of their last 10.
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Could the Butler Bulldogs miss the NCAA Tournament just a year after nearly pulling off one of the great runs in tourney history and just missing a national title? It’s very possible that Butler is in danger of not getting an at-large bid if the Bulldogs lose in the Horizon League championship game to top-seed Milwaukee on Tuesday night. Bet on the game with Bodog’s NCAA basketball odds.
Butler (22-9, 13-5 Horizon) does have a few decent non-conference wins, such as beating Florida State and Washington State. But that’s about it and the problem with possibly losing on Tuesday night is that it would be Milwaukee’s third win this season over Butler. Otherwise, at 19-12 overall, Milwaukee probably doesn’t have a strong enough resume to get to the Big Dance, so the Panthers in essence would be stealing a potential spot from Butler if they win. And you also have to argue the merits of Cleveland State (26-8), which has a better overall record than Butler and Milwaukee and tied for the regular-season Horizon title with those two. However, Butler just beat Cleveland State 76-68 in the Horizon semifinals. Overall the Bulldogs have won eight straight, while Milwaukee has won three in a row.
Tonight’s game is at Milwaukee and Butler is just 3-8 in its past 11 trips there. In Jan. 3 there, Wisconsin-Milwaukee beat Butler in a rout, 76-52. Kaylon Williams had Wisconsin-Milwaukee’s first triple-double since 1993 in that one, while Matt Howard scored 14 to lead Butler. The Bulldogs are 6-6 on the road this season. They haven’t lost to the same opponent three times in one season since 2004-05 against Wright State.
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Butler (22-9, 13-5 Horizon) does have a few decent non-conference wins, such as beating Florida State and Washington State. But that’s about it and the problem with possibly losing on Tuesday night is that it would be Milwaukee’s third win this season over Butler. Otherwise, at 19-12 overall, Milwaukee probably doesn’t have a strong enough resume to get to the Big Dance, so the Panthers in essence would be stealing a potential spot from Butler if they win. And you also have to argue the merits of Cleveland State (26-8), which has a better overall record than Butler and Milwaukee and tied for the regular-season Horizon title with those two. However, Butler just beat Cleveland State 76-68 in the Horizon semifinals. Overall the Bulldogs have won eight straight, while Milwaukee has won three in a row.
Tonight’s game is at Milwaukee and Butler is just 3-8 in its past 11 trips there. In Jan. 3 there, Wisconsin-Milwaukee beat Butler in a rout, 76-52. Kaylon Williams had Wisconsin-Milwaukee’s first triple-double since 1993 in that one, while Matt Howard scored 14 to lead Butler. The Bulldogs are 6-6 on the road this season. They haven’t lost to the same opponent three times in one season since 2004-05 against Wright State.
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The Knight Era is over at Texas Tech as the school has decided to fire Coach Pat Knight, the son of Hall of Famer Bobby Knight, after yet another losing season in Lubbock. However, Knight will stay on to coach the Red Raiders as long as they are alive in this week’s Big 12 Tournament. TTU opens on Wednesday against Missouri and will be a sizable underdog.
Texas Tech is just 13-18 overall this year and 5-11 in the Big 12. Pat Knight was basically bestowed the head coaching job by Bobby three-plus seasons ago when he retired. It’s certainly no coincidence that TTU also has a new athletic director. Kirby Hocutt was introduced last Wednesday as Gerald Myers, a longtime friend of the senior Knight, prepares for retirement.
Barring a miracle run in the Big 12 Tournament, TTU will miss the NCAA Tournament for the fourth season in a row. Certainly more was expected of a team that had a senior-laden roster returning from last year’s 19-16 season and NIT postseason run. Knight is 50-60 since taking over for his father in February 2008 and only 16-42 in Big 12 play. He is 2-3 in Big 12 tournament games and his lone postseason appearance came in the 2010 NIT. The Red Raiders won 2 games before falling in the quarterfinals in double overtime to Ole Miss.
Knight had been named head coach designate, promised a five-year contract whenever his father stepped down, before the 2005-06 season. At that point, he’d had one stint of head coaching experience, from 1998-99, for the Wisconsin Blast of the International Basketball Association. Bobby had gone 138-82 in six-plus seasons at TTU And took the Red Raiders to four NCAA tournaments, the last in 2007.
The hot name being mentioned as Knight’s replacement is former Texas A&M and Kentucky coach Billy Gillispie. He desperately wants to return to the college game and has a wealth of recruiting knowledge of Texas and the surrounding states.
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Texas Tech is just 13-18 overall this year and 5-11 in the Big 12. Pat Knight was basically bestowed the head coaching job by Bobby three-plus seasons ago when he retired. It’s certainly no coincidence that TTU also has a new athletic director. Kirby Hocutt was introduced last Wednesday as Gerald Myers, a longtime friend of the senior Knight, prepares for retirement.
Barring a miracle run in the Big 12 Tournament, TTU will miss the NCAA Tournament for the fourth season in a row. Certainly more was expected of a team that had a senior-laden roster returning from last year’s 19-16 season and NIT postseason run. Knight is 50-60 since taking over for his father in February 2008 and only 16-42 in Big 12 play. He is 2-3 in Big 12 tournament games and his lone postseason appearance came in the 2010 NIT. The Red Raiders won 2 games before falling in the quarterfinals in double overtime to Ole Miss.
Knight had been named head coach designate, promised a five-year contract whenever his father stepped down, before the 2005-06 season. At that point, he’d had one stint of head coaching experience, from 1998-99, for the Wisconsin Blast of the International Basketball Association. Bobby had gone 138-82 in six-plus seasons at TTU And took the Red Raiders to four NCAA tournaments, the last in 2007.
The hot name being mentioned as Knight’s replacement is former Texas A&M and Kentucky coach Billy Gillispie. He desperately wants to return to the college game and has a wealth of recruiting knowledge of Texas and the surrounding states.
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NCAA basketball betting is due to start picking up the pace as conference tournaments get into full swing. None should be as thrilling as the Big East Tournament, where six to 10 teams could be ranked among the Top 25. Without a doubt, Pittsburgh leads the way. This is your Big East Tournament preview.
The Pitt Panthers have rolled to a 27-4 record this season, though they’re just 14-12 against the spread. The team has won three of its last four games, with the only defeat being a respectable overtime loss in Louisville. That was the only time Pitt failed to cover in its last four games.
Notre Dame is second in the conference with a 25-5 record. The Irish also delivered against the spread, going 15-10 ATS during the regular season. Perhaps most importantly, Notre Dame carries a ton of momentum into the postseason. The Fighting Irish are 11-1 in their past 12 games (the lone loss came on the road at West Virginia). They’ve gone 8-3 ATS in that span, including three straight victories.
The next three contenders are clustered tightly together—Syracuse, Louisville and St. John’s. The Orange (25-6, 13-16 ATS) have shaken off a mini-slump, winning five consecutive games and going 4-1 against the spread. The Cardinals (23-8, 17-10-1 ATS) have been the best team in the Big East against the spread this season, and they’re not showing any signs of slowing down; Louisville is 6-1 ATS in its last seven games, including five straight covers. The Red Storm (20-10, 15-14 ATS) are also one of the hottest teams in the country, going 7-1 both straight up and against the spread in their last eight games.
Even beyond those five powerhouses, there are tons of teams that could come away with a Big East Championship. Don’t look past Cincinnati (24-7, 14-12 ATS), West Virginia (20-10, 12-15 ATS), Georgetown (21-9, 15-14 ATS), UConn (21-9, 13-11 ATS), Villanova (21-10, 11-16-1 ATS), or Marquette (18-13, 14-11 ATS).
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The Pitt Panthers have rolled to a 27-4 record this season, though they’re just 14-12 against the spread. The team has won three of its last four games, with the only defeat being a respectable overtime loss in Louisville. That was the only time Pitt failed to cover in its last four games.
Notre Dame is second in the conference with a 25-5 record. The Irish also delivered against the spread, going 15-10 ATS during the regular season. Perhaps most importantly, Notre Dame carries a ton of momentum into the postseason. The Fighting Irish are 11-1 in their past 12 games (the lone loss came on the road at West Virginia). They’ve gone 8-3 ATS in that span, including three straight victories.
The next three contenders are clustered tightly together—Syracuse, Louisville and St. John’s. The Orange (25-6, 13-16 ATS) have shaken off a mini-slump, winning five consecutive games and going 4-1 against the spread. The Cardinals (23-8, 17-10-1 ATS) have been the best team in the Big East against the spread this season, and they’re not showing any signs of slowing down; Louisville is 6-1 ATS in its last seven games, including five straight covers. The Red Storm (20-10, 15-14 ATS) are also one of the hottest teams in the country, going 7-1 both straight up and against the spread in their last eight games.
Even beyond those five powerhouses, there are tons of teams that could come away with a Big East Championship. Don’t look past Cincinnati (24-7, 14-12 ATS), West Virginia (20-10, 12-15 ATS), Georgetown (21-9, 15-14 ATS), UConn (21-9, 13-11 ATS), Villanova (21-10, 11-16-1 ATS), or Marquette (18-13, 14-11 ATS).
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The Big 12 boasts one of the most talented conferences in the country. There’s little doubt NCAA betting fans will have their attention locked onto No. 2 Kansas. This is your Big 12 Tournament preview.
The Jayhawks (29-2, 15-13-1 ATS) lost just twice all year and are a great bet to win the conference, but they’re barely a .500 team against the spread, taking them on a nightly basis is certainly a little risky. While Kansas enters the tournament with a five-game winning streak, the team is 0-2-1 ATS in its last three games.
No. 10 Texas (25-6, 18-8 ATS) is appealing at first glance, but if you like making picks based on momentum, stay far away from the Longhorns. Texas has lost three of its past five games, and its results against the spread have been even worse. Since covering seven consecutive games in January, the Longhorns are just 4-5 against the spread. Perhaps Texas can recover in time, but this team has wilted under the pressure before.
Maybe it’s something in the water, because in-state rival Texas A&M (23-7, 12-9-1 ATS) isn’t playing its best basketball, either. The Aggies dropped back-to-back games before winning their regular-season finale against Texas Tech. On a much more positive note, A&M has covered four of its past five games.
Missouri (22-9, 12-13-1 ATS) is another team struggling heading into the Big 12 tourney, as the Tigers have dropped their past three games — including an 0-2-1 run against the spread.
The hot team heading into the tournament might just be Kansas State (22-9, 11-14 ATS). The Wildcats are 8-1 in their last nine games, including six consecutive victories. They’ve been sharp against the spread, too, going 5-1 ATS in their last six outings.
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The Jayhawks (29-2, 15-13-1 ATS) lost just twice all year and are a great bet to win the conference, but they’re barely a .500 team against the spread, taking them on a nightly basis is certainly a little risky. While Kansas enters the tournament with a five-game winning streak, the team is 0-2-1 ATS in its last three games.
No. 10 Texas (25-6, 18-8 ATS) is appealing at first glance, but if you like making picks based on momentum, stay far away from the Longhorns. Texas has lost three of its past five games, and its results against the spread have been even worse. Since covering seven consecutive games in January, the Longhorns are just 4-5 against the spread. Perhaps Texas can recover in time, but this team has wilted under the pressure before.
Maybe it’s something in the water, because in-state rival Texas A&M (23-7, 12-9-1 ATS) isn’t playing its best basketball, either. The Aggies dropped back-to-back games before winning their regular-season finale against Texas Tech. On a much more positive note, A&M has covered four of its past five games.
Missouri (22-9, 12-13-1 ATS) is another team struggling heading into the Big 12 tourney, as the Tigers have dropped their past three games — including an 0-2-1 run against the spread.
The hot team heading into the tournament might just be Kansas State (22-9, 11-14 ATS). The Wildcats are 8-1 in their last nine games, including six consecutive victories. They’ve been sharp against the spread, too, going 5-1 ATS in their last six outings.
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Arizona is at the head of the class in the Pac-10, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t a few contenders poised for potential upsets in NCAA basketball betting this week. This is your Pac-10 Tournament preview.
No. 16 Arizona (25-6, 15-13-1 ATS) unraveled toward the end of the season, losing back-to-back games to potential tournament foes UCLA and USC. Though the Wildcats bounced back to win their final two games, they’ve lost five consecutive games against the spread, hardly inspiring basketball heading into the conference tournament.
UCLA (22-9, 16-14-1 ATS), on the other hand, is 9-2 in its past 11 games, with both losses coming on the road and in overtime. The Bruins are also looking like a college basketball bettor’s best friend heading into the tourney; they’ve covered their last four outings and are 8-2 in their last 10 games against the spread.
Washington (20-10, 14-13-1 ATS) has enjoyed a strong season, but the Huskies are caving in at the worst possible time. They’ve gone 2-3 down the stretch, not to mention a brutal three-game losing streak against the spread.
USC (18-13, 14-12-4 ATS) is at the other end of the spectrum. The Trojans have won five of their last six games, with the lone loss coming on the road to Washington State. Southern Cal has also upped its game against the spread, going 5-1 ATS in its last six outings.
California (17-13, 15-13-1 ATS) is another great “hot at the right time” candidate. The Golden Bears are riding a four-game winning streak into the Pac-10 Tournament, including a 4-0 run against the spread.
Washington State (19-11, 15-12-1 ATS) looks solid on paper, but the team’s record was padded by a 10-1 start. The team has played below .500 basketball since then, including a brutal 2-5 run against the spread to close out the regular season.
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No. 16 Arizona (25-6, 15-13-1 ATS) unraveled toward the end of the season, losing back-to-back games to potential tournament foes UCLA and USC. Though the Wildcats bounced back to win their final two games, they’ve lost five consecutive games against the spread, hardly inspiring basketball heading into the conference tournament.
UCLA (22-9, 16-14-1 ATS), on the other hand, is 9-2 in its past 11 games, with both losses coming on the road and in overtime. The Bruins are also looking like a college basketball bettor’s best friend heading into the tourney; they’ve covered their last four outings and are 8-2 in their last 10 games against the spread.
Washington (20-10, 14-13-1 ATS) has enjoyed a strong season, but the Huskies are caving in at the worst possible time. They’ve gone 2-3 down the stretch, not to mention a brutal three-game losing streak against the spread.
USC (18-13, 14-12-4 ATS) is at the other end of the spectrum. The Trojans have won five of their last six games, with the lone loss coming on the road to Washington State. Southern Cal has also upped its game against the spread, going 5-1 ATS in its last six outings.
California (17-13, 15-13-1 ATS) is another great “hot at the right time” candidate. The Golden Bears are riding a four-game winning streak into the Pac-10 Tournament, including a 4-0 run against the spread.
Washington State (19-11, 15-12-1 ATS) looks solid on paper, but the team’s record was padded by a 10-1 start. The team has played below .500 basketball since then, including a brutal 2-5 run against the spread to close out the regular season.
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According to the polls, the best team in the country resides in the Big Ten. But Ohio State will have plenty of threats if NCAA basketball betting odds are to be taken into consideration. This is your Big Ten Tournament preview.
Ohio State (29-2, 15-13 ATS) is ranked tops in the nation after losing just twice all season and has impressive 4/7 odds of winning the Big Ten Tournament outright. It’s a little troubling, though, that both losses came in the team’s past seven games (to Purdue and Wisconsin). Still, the Buckeyes closed out the regular season with four straight victories, including a 4-0 run against the spread and have
No. 9 Purdue (25-6, 18-10 ATS), meanwhile, has been fantastic against the spread this season — or, at least it had been until the last week. The Boilermakers failed to cover their last two games, ending a six-game winning streak against the spread. But despite losing the finale to Iowa, Purdue is 7-1 in its last eight games. That’s still a fair amount of momentum heading into the Big Ten tourney.
Wisconsin (23-7, 15-11 ATS) also has a spot in the Top 25. The No. 13 Badgers made some noise by topping OSU in mid-February, though the Buckeyes got revenge in the regular-season finale. Even with that loss, though, Wisconsin is 8-2 in its last 10 games, but both losses came against the top contenders (OSU, Purdue). The Badgers were just 5-5 ATS in that span.
Illinois (19-12, 16-14-1 ATS) covered its final three games of the regular season, but trusting the team to go deep into the tournament is a little risky. The Fighting Illini didn’t show much fight after a 10-1 start to the season, going just 9-11 after that.
Michigan (19-12, 18-8 ATS), however, is one of the hottest teams heading into the Big Ten Tournament — especially against the spread. The Wolverines are 8-3 in their past 11 games and, more importantly, went 10-1 ATS in that span. They closed out the regular season with five consecutive wins against the spread.
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Ohio State (29-2, 15-13 ATS) is ranked tops in the nation after losing just twice all season and has impressive 4/7 odds of winning the Big Ten Tournament outright. It’s a little troubling, though, that both losses came in the team’s past seven games (to Purdue and Wisconsin). Still, the Buckeyes closed out the regular season with four straight victories, including a 4-0 run against the spread and have
No. 9 Purdue (25-6, 18-10 ATS), meanwhile, has been fantastic against the spread this season — or, at least it had been until the last week. The Boilermakers failed to cover their last two games, ending a six-game winning streak against the spread. But despite losing the finale to Iowa, Purdue is 7-1 in its last eight games. That’s still a fair amount of momentum heading into the Big Ten tourney.
Wisconsin (23-7, 15-11 ATS) also has a spot in the Top 25. The No. 13 Badgers made some noise by topping OSU in mid-February, though the Buckeyes got revenge in the regular-season finale. Even with that loss, though, Wisconsin is 8-2 in its last 10 games, but both losses came against the top contenders (OSU, Purdue). The Badgers were just 5-5 ATS in that span.
Illinois (19-12, 16-14-1 ATS) covered its final three games of the regular season, but trusting the team to go deep into the tournament is a little risky. The Fighting Illini didn’t show much fight after a 10-1 start to the season, going just 9-11 after that.
Michigan (19-12, 18-8 ATS), however, is one of the hottest teams heading into the Big Ten Tournament — especially against the spread. The Wolverines are 8-3 in their past 11 games and, more importantly, went 10-1 ATS in that span. They closed out the regular season with five consecutive wins against the spread.
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One of the biggest NCAA Tournament bubble games on Thursday is in the Pac-10 Tournament when Washington State faces Washington. The Huskies, who are an NCAA lock, have opened as 5.5-point favorites on Bodog’s NCAA basketball odds.
Wazzu (19-11, 9-9 Pac-10) probably gets in with a victory here, although the Cougars probably would have been assured a spot had they beaten UCLA in the regular-season finale. But WSU got perhaps the best matchup it could ask for in the tournament as it swept Washington this season. And Wazzu will have star Klay Thompson for this game.
Coach Ken Bone reinstated Thompson from suspension (marijuana possession) after the Pac-10’s leading scorer was benched for that loss against the Bruins. Thompson has been practicing all week. He had 26 points in the most recent meeting with UW, an 80-69 Cougars win on Feb. 27. Thompson averages 21.4 points, which ranked 13th in NCAA Division I through Tuesday. WSU has not had a Pac-10 scoring champion since Don Collins averaged a school-record 23.1 points in 1979-80. However, WSU point guard Reggie Moore is questionable with a sprained ankle. He’s scored 30 points against the Huskies in two games this year and probably will play.
Washington will be without point guard Venoy Overton, who was suspended by coach Lorenzo Romar following a misdemeanor charge of distributing liquor to a minor. Senior forward Justin Holiday is expected to play after suffering a concussion Saturday and missing practice earlier this week.
Really neither WSU-UW game has been close this year. On Jan. 30 in Pullman, the Huskies committed 24 turnovers and made just 11 of 31 3-point attempts in an 87-80 loss. The second time around, the Cougars limited UW to just 17 points in the first half, then opened a 21-point lead in the 80-69 victory.
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Wazzu (19-11, 9-9 Pac-10) probably gets in with a victory here, although the Cougars probably would have been assured a spot had they beaten UCLA in the regular-season finale. But WSU got perhaps the best matchup it could ask for in the tournament as it swept Washington this season. And Wazzu will have star Klay Thompson for this game.
Coach Ken Bone reinstated Thompson from suspension (marijuana possession) after the Pac-10’s leading scorer was benched for that loss against the Bruins. Thompson has been practicing all week. He had 26 points in the most recent meeting with UW, an 80-69 Cougars win on Feb. 27. Thompson averages 21.4 points, which ranked 13th in NCAA Division I through Tuesday. WSU has not had a Pac-10 scoring champion since Don Collins averaged a school-record 23.1 points in 1979-80. However, WSU point guard Reggie Moore is questionable with a sprained ankle. He’s scored 30 points against the Huskies in two games this year and probably will play.
Washington will be without point guard Venoy Overton, who was suspended by coach Lorenzo Romar following a misdemeanor charge of distributing liquor to a minor. Senior forward Justin Holiday is expected to play after suffering a concussion Saturday and missing practice earlier this week.
Really neither WSU-UW game has been close this year. On Jan. 30 in Pullman, the Huskies committed 24 turnovers and made just 11 of 31 3-point attempts in an 87-80 loss. The second time around, the Cougars limited UW to just 17 points in the first half, then opened a 21-point lead in the 80-69 victory.
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NCAA basketball betting is in full force this week thanks to a ton of conference championships. Here is your Atlantic 10 Tournament quarterfinals preview.
(1) Xavier vs. (9) Dayton – Dayton (20-12, 15-11 ATS) advanced through the first round after topping Massachusetts 78-50. The Flyers have covered back-to-back games, but don’t get too excited, that first-round win ended a three-game losing streak. One of those losses came to Xavier, a 66-62 defeat at home. Speaking of Xavier (24-6, 14-14-1 ATS), the Musketeers head into the quarters after a first-round bye. They’ve ripped off nine consecutive victories and have gained some momentum against the spread, going 7-1 ATS in their past eight outings.
(4) Duquesne vs. (12) St. Joseph’s – St. Joseph’s (10-21, 14-14 ATS) suffered through a pretty underwhelming season, but it enjoyed a 71-59 overtime upset over George Washington in the first round. The Hawks are coming on at the right time, as they’ve won three of their last four games, including a 3-1 run against the spread. Duquesne (18-11, 13-9-1 ATS), meanwhile, is stumbling into the postseason. The Dukes picked up a first-round bye despite going 2-6 in their last eight games. Duquesne was just as bad against the spread, going 1-7 ATS in that span. The Dukes have lost five straight against the spread.
(2) Temple vs. (10) La Salle – La Salle (15-17, 13-4 ATS) squeaked past St. Bonaventure 75-73 in overtime in the first round. Like St. Joseph’s, the Explorers are gaining some momentum precisely when it matters most; they are 3-1 in their last four games, not to mention a four-game winning streak. Temple (24-6, 16-14 ATS) has won three straight—including a 90-82 win over La Salle in its regular-season finale—and is 11-1 in its past 12 games. The Owls are just 1-4 ATS in their last five outings, however.
(3) Richmond vs. (6) Rhode Island – Rhode Island (19-12, 14-14 ATS) took care of business with a 70-61 win over Saint Louis in the opening round of the Atlantic 10 tourney. The Rams ended a two-game skid and improved to 3-2 over their last five outings. Rhode Island is also 3-2 ATS in that span. Richmond (24-7, 16-12 ATS) is one of the hottest teams heading into the tournament. The Spiders are 8-1 in their last nine games, and they’ve ripped off four straight victories against the spread.
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(1) Xavier vs. (9) Dayton – Dayton (20-12, 15-11 ATS) advanced through the first round after topping Massachusetts 78-50. The Flyers have covered back-to-back games, but don’t get too excited, that first-round win ended a three-game losing streak. One of those losses came to Xavier, a 66-62 defeat at home. Speaking of Xavier (24-6, 14-14-1 ATS), the Musketeers head into the quarters after a first-round bye. They’ve ripped off nine consecutive victories and have gained some momentum against the spread, going 7-1 ATS in their past eight outings.
(4) Duquesne vs. (12) St. Joseph’s – St. Joseph’s (10-21, 14-14 ATS) suffered through a pretty underwhelming season, but it enjoyed a 71-59 overtime upset over George Washington in the first round. The Hawks are coming on at the right time, as they’ve won three of their last four games, including a 3-1 run against the spread. Duquesne (18-11, 13-9-1 ATS), meanwhile, is stumbling into the postseason. The Dukes picked up a first-round bye despite going 2-6 in their last eight games. Duquesne was just as bad against the spread, going 1-7 ATS in that span. The Dukes have lost five straight against the spread.
(2) Temple vs. (10) La Salle – La Salle (15-17, 13-4 ATS) squeaked past St. Bonaventure 75-73 in overtime in the first round. Like St. Joseph’s, the Explorers are gaining some momentum precisely when it matters most; they are 3-1 in their last four games, not to mention a four-game winning streak. Temple (24-6, 16-14 ATS) has won three straight—including a 90-82 win over La Salle in its regular-season finale—and is 11-1 in its past 12 games. The Owls are just 1-4 ATS in their last five outings, however.
(3) Richmond vs. (6) Rhode Island – Rhode Island (19-12, 14-14 ATS) took care of business with a 70-61 win over Saint Louis in the opening round of the Atlantic 10 tourney. The Rams ended a two-game skid and improved to 3-2 over their last five outings. Rhode Island is also 3-2 ATS in that span. Richmond (24-7, 16-12 ATS) is one of the hottest teams heading into the tournament. The Spiders are 8-1 in their last nine games, and they’ve ripped off four straight victories against the spread.
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Sunday’s ACC Tournament championship game will be the third meeting of the season between bitter rivals Duke and North Carolina and more than just the conference title is likely on the line. So, too, is a very good shot at a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament. Bet on this game with Bodog’s NCAA basketball odds.
The Heels, who won the regular-season crown, are pretty fortunate to be in this spot as they staged a miracle comeback against Miami on Friday. They were pushed again on Saturday by Clemson, trailing by 14 at one point, but got 40 points from freshman star Harrison Barnes to win 92-87. That’s an ACC Tournament record for a freshman. It was the first 40-point game in the ACC Tournament since Randolph Childress had that amount for Wake Forest in 1995. The last Tar Heel to score 40 in any game was Tyler Hansbrough five years ago. Carolina is the first team in ACC history to win multiple games after overcoming double-digit deficits at halftime.
The Dukies have had it much easier so far, beating Maryland by 16 in the tourney opener and then Virginia Tech 77-63 on Saturday. ACC Player of the Year Nolan Smith had 27 points to lead the way against the Hokies. Smith was a game-time call Saturday after suffering a toe injury in the win over the Terps but obviously will play against UNC.
Duke and Carolina split the regular-season meetings, each winning at home. UNC blew a huge lead in the game in Durham and then won handily in the regular-season finale in Chapel Hill. Rather shockingly, these two haven’t met in this title game since 2001. And Sunday’s winner likely will claim the final No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament, with Ohio State, Kansas and Pittsburgh expected to get the other three.
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The Heels, who won the regular-season crown, are pretty fortunate to be in this spot as they staged a miracle comeback against Miami on Friday. They were pushed again on Saturday by Clemson, trailing by 14 at one point, but got 40 points from freshman star Harrison Barnes to win 92-87. That’s an ACC Tournament record for a freshman. It was the first 40-point game in the ACC Tournament since Randolph Childress had that amount for Wake Forest in 1995. The last Tar Heel to score 40 in any game was Tyler Hansbrough five years ago. Carolina is the first team in ACC history to win multiple games after overcoming double-digit deficits at halftime.
The Dukies have had it much easier so far, beating Maryland by 16 in the tourney opener and then Virginia Tech 77-63 on Saturday. ACC Player of the Year Nolan Smith had 27 points to lead the way against the Hokies. Smith was a game-time call Saturday after suffering a toe injury in the win over the Terps but obviously will play against UNC.
Duke and Carolina split the regular-season meetings, each winning at home. UNC blew a huge lead in the game in Durham and then won handily in the regular-season finale in Chapel Hill. Rather shockingly, these two haven’t met in this title game since 2001. And Sunday’s winner likely will claim the final No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament, with Ohio State, Kansas and Pittsburgh expected to get the other three.
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Get your brackets ready, the field of 68 squads have been decided. Madness is coming.
The teams getting the top seeds will be Ohio State, Kansas, Pittsburgh and defending champion Duke. Because the Buckeyes took out Penn State in the Big 10 final 71-60 they get the top seed overall. They’ll face the winner of Texas-San Antonio and Alabama State.
Duke starts its tourney against Charlotte, Kansas starts off versus Boston University and Pittsburgh plays the winner of UNC-Ashville and Arkansas-Little Rock.
First round games tip on Tuesday, March 15:
UNC-Ashville and Arkansas-Little Rock play at 6:40 p.m. ET. UAB and Clemson play after that.
The seeds for all the regions are listed below. And be sure to check out the March Madness page for odds and updates in the Bodog Sportsbook. The best tournament in the world is about to begin… Madness would be missing it!
East Region
1.Ohio State
2. North Carolina
3. Syracuse
4. Kentucky
5. West Virginia
6. Xavier
7. Washington
8. George Mason
9. Villanova
10.Georgia
11.Marquette
12.Winner of UAB vs. Clemson
13.Princeton
14.Indiana State
15.Long Island
16.Winner of UT-San Antonio vs. Alabama State
West Region
1.Duke
2.San Diego State
3.Connecticut
4.Texas
5.Arizona
6.Cincinnati
7.Temple
8.Michigan
9.Tennessee
10.Penn State
11.Missouri
12.Memphis
13.Oakland
14.Bucknell
15.No. Colorado
16.Hampton
Southwest Region
1.Kansas
2.Notre Dame
3.Purdue
4.Louisville
5.Vanderbilt
6.Georgetown
7.Texas A&M
8.UNLV
9.Illinois
10.Florida State
11.Winner of USC vs. VCU
12.Richmond
13.Morehead State
14.St. Peter’s
15.Akron
16.Boston University
Southeast Region
1.Pittsburgh
2.Florida
3.BYU
4.Wisconsin
5.Kansas State
6.St. John’s
7.UCLA
8.Butler
9.Old Dominion
10.Michigan State
11.Gonzaga
12.Utah State
13.Belmont
14.Wofford
15.UC Santa Barbara
16.Winner of NC-Ashville vs. Ark. Little-Rock
The teams getting the top seeds will be Ohio State, Kansas, Pittsburgh and defending champion Duke. Because the Buckeyes took out Penn State in the Big 10 final 71-60 they get the top seed overall. They’ll face the winner of Texas-San Antonio and Alabama State.
Duke starts its tourney against Charlotte, Kansas starts off versus Boston University and Pittsburgh plays the winner of UNC-Ashville and Arkansas-Little Rock.
First round games tip on Tuesday, March 15:
UNC-Ashville and Arkansas-Little Rock play at 6:40 p.m. ET. UAB and Clemson play after that.
The seeds for all the regions are listed below. And be sure to check out the March Madness page for odds and updates in the Bodog Sportsbook. The best tournament in the world is about to begin… Madness would be missing it!
East Region
1.Ohio State
2. North Carolina
3. Syracuse
4. Kentucky
5. West Virginia
6. Xavier
7. Washington
8. George Mason
9. Villanova
10.Georgia
11.Marquette
12.Winner of UAB vs. Clemson
13.Princeton
14.Indiana State
15.Long Island
16.Winner of UT-San Antonio vs. Alabama State
West Region
1.Duke
2.San Diego State
3.Connecticut
4.Texas
5.Arizona
6.Cincinnati
7.Temple
8.Michigan
9.Tennessee
10.Penn State
11.Missouri
12.Memphis
13.Oakland
14.Bucknell
15.No. Colorado
16.Hampton
Southwest Region
1.Kansas
2.Notre Dame
3.Purdue
4.Louisville
5.Vanderbilt
6.Georgetown
7.Texas A&M
8.UNLV
9.Illinois
10.Florida State
11.Winner of USC vs. VCU
12.Richmond
13.Morehead State
14.St. Peter’s
15.Akron
16.Boston University
Southeast Region
1.Pittsburgh
2.Florida
3.BYU
4.Wisconsin
5.Kansas State
6.St. John’s
7.UCLA
8.Butler
9.Old Dominion
10.Michigan State
11.Gonzaga
12.Utah State
13.Belmont
14.Wofford
15.UC Santa Barbara
16.Winner of NC-Ashville vs. Ark. Little-Rock
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There are even more college basketball betting opportunities than usual this year, as March Madness features a whopping four play-in games. This year’s 68-team tournament is the biggest yet, and the opening round gets started Tuesday; here is your March Madness play-in games preview.
UNC Asheville vs. Arkansas-Little Rock (Tuesday)
Asheville (19-13, 3-1 ATS) is one of the hottest teams in the country heading into the tournament. The Bulldogs are riding a six-game winning streak, including a 60-47 romp over Coastal Carolina to claim the Big South Championship. Asheville has covered three straight. Arkansas-Little Rock (19-16, 17-16 ATS) is also peaking at the right time, winning — and covering — four straight games to claim the Sun Belt Championship.
UAB vs. Clemson (Tuesday)
UAB (22-8, 17-11-1 ATS) was upset by East Carolina in the Conference USA Tournament, but the Blazers are still enjoying a 7-2 run. They’d covered three straight before losing last week. Clemson (21-11, 13-13-2 ATS) was bounced from the ACC tourney by North Carolina. There’s no shame in that, and the Tigers are 3-0-1 ATS in their past four games.
Texas-San Antonio vs. Alabama State (Wednesday)
Texas-San Antonio (19-13, 1-1 ATS) extended its winning streak by cruising through the Southland Conference tournament. The Roadrunners earned a championship and have now won five straight games, though they haven’t been tested much this season. Alabama State (17-17, 4-1 ATS) earned a spot in March Madness after knocking off Grambling in the SWAC Championship. After a brutal first half of the season, the Hornets have gone 11-1 in their last 12 games.
USC vs. VCU (Wednesday)
Southern California (19-14, 15-13-4 ATS) picked up the pace towards the end of the season, going 6-2 over its last eight games. The Trojans were just as effective against the spread, covering six of their past eight games. VCU (23-11, 13-20 ATS) lost to Old Dominion in the Colonial Athletic Tournament. The Rams have the least momentum of any play-in team, as they’re just 3-5 in their past eight games—including 2-6 against the spread.
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UNC Asheville vs. Arkansas-Little Rock (Tuesday)
Asheville (19-13, 3-1 ATS) is one of the hottest teams in the country heading into the tournament. The Bulldogs are riding a six-game winning streak, including a 60-47 romp over Coastal Carolina to claim the Big South Championship. Asheville has covered three straight. Arkansas-Little Rock (19-16, 17-16 ATS) is also peaking at the right time, winning — and covering — four straight games to claim the Sun Belt Championship.
UAB vs. Clemson (Tuesday)
UAB (22-8, 17-11-1 ATS) was upset by East Carolina in the Conference USA Tournament, but the Blazers are still enjoying a 7-2 run. They’d covered three straight before losing last week. Clemson (21-11, 13-13-2 ATS) was bounced from the ACC tourney by North Carolina. There’s no shame in that, and the Tigers are 3-0-1 ATS in their past four games.
Texas-San Antonio vs. Alabama State (Wednesday)
Texas-San Antonio (19-13, 1-1 ATS) extended its winning streak by cruising through the Southland Conference tournament. The Roadrunners earned a championship and have now won five straight games, though they haven’t been tested much this season. Alabama State (17-17, 4-1 ATS) earned a spot in March Madness after knocking off Grambling in the SWAC Championship. After a brutal first half of the season, the Hornets have gone 11-1 in their last 12 games.
USC vs. VCU (Wednesday)
Southern California (19-14, 15-13-4 ATS) picked up the pace towards the end of the season, going 6-2 over its last eight games. The Trojans were just as effective against the spread, covering six of their past eight games. VCU (23-11, 13-20 ATS) lost to Old Dominion in the Colonial Athletic Tournament. The Rams have the least momentum of any play-in team, as they’re just 3-5 in their past eight games—including 2-6 against the spread.
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College basketball betting reaches its peak this week as the NCAA Tournament has arrived. Here is your March Madness first-round preview.
For starters, the tournament will have a new look this year. The field has been expanded to 68 teams—up from 65 a year ago. The “First Four” (UAB, Clemson, Southern Cal, Virginia Commonwealth) kicked off the tournament on Tuesday and Wednesday. It’s similar to the traditional play-in game but, in an added twist, the teams aren’t just 16 seeds; UAB and Clemson were fighting for a 12-seed while USC and VCU are playing for an 11-seed. There’s also the usual 16-seed battle (between UTSA and Alabama State) on Wednesday.
This year’s No. 1 seeds were awarded to Ohio State, Kansas, Duke and Pittsburgh. Their opening-round matchups shouldn’t offer too much intrigue, as a No. 16 seed has never won a game in the history of March Madness. No. 15 seeds haven’t had much luck either, as they’ve collectively gone winless (0-36) in the past nine years. In fact, the top four seeds have traditionally had a lot of success in the first round of March Madness, with each winning at least 78 percent of the time (and the No. 1 seed at the top with 100 percent success).
If you’re looking for upsets, picking a 12-seed over a 5-seed might be your best bet. Teams seeded fifth win just 66 percent of the time, and there are seemingly more upsets every year. This year’s 5/12 matchups include West Virginia and Clemson; Vanderbilt and Richmond; Arizona and Memphis; and Kansas State and Utah State.
Of those games, Memphis over Arizona looks the most intriguing. In the last three years, there have been eight teams seeded fourth or fifth that missed the tournament the previous year. Seven of those eight teams lost in the first round (with the eighth losing in the second round). No. 5 Arizona fits that exact profile this season.
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For starters, the tournament will have a new look this year. The field has been expanded to 68 teams—up from 65 a year ago. The “First Four” (UAB, Clemson, Southern Cal, Virginia Commonwealth) kicked off the tournament on Tuesday and Wednesday. It’s similar to the traditional play-in game but, in an added twist, the teams aren’t just 16 seeds; UAB and Clemson were fighting for a 12-seed while USC and VCU are playing for an 11-seed. There’s also the usual 16-seed battle (between UTSA and Alabama State) on Wednesday.
This year’s No. 1 seeds were awarded to Ohio State, Kansas, Duke and Pittsburgh. Their opening-round matchups shouldn’t offer too much intrigue, as a No. 16 seed has never won a game in the history of March Madness. No. 15 seeds haven’t had much luck either, as they’ve collectively gone winless (0-36) in the past nine years. In fact, the top four seeds have traditionally had a lot of success in the first round of March Madness, with each winning at least 78 percent of the time (and the No. 1 seed at the top with 100 percent success).
If you’re looking for upsets, picking a 12-seed over a 5-seed might be your best bet. Teams seeded fifth win just 66 percent of the time, and there are seemingly more upsets every year. This year’s 5/12 matchups include West Virginia and Clemson; Vanderbilt and Richmond; Arizona and Memphis; and Kansas State and Utah State.
Of those games, Memphis over Arizona looks the most intriguing. In the last three years, there have been eight teams seeded fourth or fifth that missed the tournament the previous year. Seven of those eight teams lost in the first round (with the eighth losing in the second round). No. 5 Arizona fits that exact profile this season.
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Darryl Bryant scored 19 points and Dalton Pepper made big plays down the stretch as No. 5 West Virginia beat No. 12 Clemson 84-76 as 6-point favorites.
It looked like another 5/12 upset was on the menu during the first game of the second round, but a three-pointer by guard Kevin Jones tied the game at 40, and the Mountaineers went on a 28-8 run that gave them a decisive 57-47 lead.
Pepper, mostly a bench warmer, was a big part of keeping Clemson at bay in the second half. He made two steals at midcourt then a dunk and layup in the closing minute, finishing with 10 points on 4 of 4 shooting.
Clemson’s season ends after going through a traveling roller coaster the last few days and shows the drawbacks after the new tourney format. After beating UAB 70-52 in Dayton, Ohio, Clemson then boarded a plane in the wee hours of the morning to Florida and only had a couple of hours of sleep before practice and game time.
“It was difficult, but you know, it’s the NCAA tournament. It’s a tremendous opportunity, so I’m not talking about the negatives,” Clemson coach Brad Brownell said. “We’re going to be ready at 12 o’clock, and we’re going to lace them up and be ready to go.”
Andre Young did his best to give Clemson the upset. The 5-9 guard scored 22 points in the game, and got 10 of them in the opening 15 minutes.
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It looked like another 5/12 upset was on the menu during the first game of the second round, but a three-pointer by guard Kevin Jones tied the game at 40, and the Mountaineers went on a 28-8 run that gave them a decisive 57-47 lead.
Pepper, mostly a bench warmer, was a big part of keeping Clemson at bay in the second half. He made two steals at midcourt then a dunk and layup in the closing minute, finishing with 10 points on 4 of 4 shooting.
Clemson’s season ends after going through a traveling roller coaster the last few days and shows the drawbacks after the new tourney format. After beating UAB 70-52 in Dayton, Ohio, Clemson then boarded a plane in the wee hours of the morning to Florida and only had a couple of hours of sleep before practice and game time.
“It was difficult, but you know, it’s the NCAA tournament. It’s a tremendous opportunity, so I’m not talking about the negatives,” Clemson coach Brad Brownell said. “We’re going to be ready at 12 o’clock, and we’re going to lace them up and be ready to go.”
Andre Young did his best to give Clemson the upset. The 5-9 guard scored 22 points in the game, and got 10 of them in the opening 15 minutes.
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After seeing their record streak of 25 consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances come to an end last year, Arizona is back among the nation’s elite and faces Memphis in Friday afternoon’s West Region game in Tulsa. The Wildcats are 5.5-point favorites on Bodog’s NCAA basketball odds.
Memphis (25-9, 10-6) was struggling some down the stretch and was certainly in jeopardy of missing out on the NCAA Tournament, but the Tigers made that point moot by winning the Conference USA Tournament. Memphis second-year coach Josh Pastner knows the Arizona program well. Prior to joining the Tigers for the 2008-09 season, Pastner spent the previous 12 years of his college basketball life at Arizona as a player, staff member and assistant coach. And ironically, he nearly lured current Wildcats star Derrick Williams to Memphis before Williams decided on Arizona in his final on-campus visit. The Tigers start four guards so they don’t have much size – they are led by freshman Will Barton's 12.3 ppg figure.
Arizona (27-7) was the regular-season Pac-10 champion but lost in the conference tournament final on a Washington buzzer-beater. Williams was one of the top players in the nation this year, averaging 19.1 points and 8.1 rebounds. He ranks fifth in the nation in field-goal percentage (61.5) and has gotten to the free-throw line more than any other player in Division I. The Tigers will swarm him because no other Wildcat averages double-figure points. But Memphis can’t totally collapse on him because Arizona ranks among the nation's leaders in 3-point field goal percentage (39.9).
These two schools have met seven times previously, but not since, 2007, with Memphis holding a 4-3 edge.
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Memphis (25-9, 10-6) was struggling some down the stretch and was certainly in jeopardy of missing out on the NCAA Tournament, but the Tigers made that point moot by winning the Conference USA Tournament. Memphis second-year coach Josh Pastner knows the Arizona program well. Prior to joining the Tigers for the 2008-09 season, Pastner spent the previous 12 years of his college basketball life at Arizona as a player, staff member and assistant coach. And ironically, he nearly lured current Wildcats star Derrick Williams to Memphis before Williams decided on Arizona in his final on-campus visit. The Tigers start four guards so they don’t have much size – they are led by freshman Will Barton's 12.3 ppg figure.
Arizona (27-7) was the regular-season Pac-10 champion but lost in the conference tournament final on a Washington buzzer-beater. Williams was one of the top players in the nation this year, averaging 19.1 points and 8.1 rebounds. He ranks fifth in the nation in field-goal percentage (61.5) and has gotten to the free-throw line more than any other player in Division I. The Tigers will swarm him because no other Wildcat averages double-figure points. But Memphis can’t totally collapse on him because Arizona ranks among the nation's leaders in 3-point field goal percentage (39.9).
These two schools have met seven times previously, but not since, 2007, with Memphis holding a 4-3 edge.
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Let’s not kid ourselves here. Hampton is not going to beat Duke on Friday in West Region play in Charlotte. A No. 16 seed has never beaten a No. 1 seed and the Pirates practically have to play on Duke’s home court with the game in Charlotte. The Dukies are by far the biggest favorites on the Bodog board for the second round at -23.
But the big story here is the expected return of Blue Devils star freshman point guard Kyrie Irving from a toe injury. Irving was tremendous to start this season as Duke began 8-0 and looked near invincible. But then the freshman suffered a toe injury in a win over Butler and hasn’t played since – Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski had said all year he wasn’t expecting Irving to make it back. The school didn’t want to jeopardize his playing future – he is a lock NBA Top 5 pick if he comes out this year. Irving was the team’s leading scorer at 17.4 ppg and 5.1 apg when he went down and the Blue Devils were playing at much faster pace with him distributing the ball.
It’s possible that Duke (30-4) holds Irving out of this game because clearly the outcome isn’t in doubt and it would allow Irving a few more days to get back into rhythm and game shape. And Coach K has said that even if Irving does return, he will do so off the bench and obviously in limited minutes, although his totals could climb each game. In his absence, senior guard Nolan Smith moved over to point guard for the Blue Devils and won ACC Player of the Year honors in leading the Blue Devils to the conference tournament crown.
As for Hampton (24-8), it won the MEAC Tournament after finishing tied for second during the regular season. That earned the Pirates their first NCAA bid since 2006. Hampton led the conference in holding its opponents to 62.2 points a game. In their conference tournament, the Pirates held the opposing teams to 55, 61 and 55 points. The Pirates’ offense is based heavily on the 3-point shot. They have and are 1-14 all-time against teams from the ACC. For what it’s worth, Hampton did pull one of the NCAA Tournament stunners of all time, when as a No. 15 seed it beat No. 2 Iowa State in 2001.
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But the big story here is the expected return of Blue Devils star freshman point guard Kyrie Irving from a toe injury. Irving was tremendous to start this season as Duke began 8-0 and looked near invincible. But then the freshman suffered a toe injury in a win over Butler and hasn’t played since – Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski had said all year he wasn’t expecting Irving to make it back. The school didn’t want to jeopardize his playing future – he is a lock NBA Top 5 pick if he comes out this year. Irving was the team’s leading scorer at 17.4 ppg and 5.1 apg when he went down and the Blue Devils were playing at much faster pace with him distributing the ball.
It’s possible that Duke (30-4) holds Irving out of this game because clearly the outcome isn’t in doubt and it would allow Irving a few more days to get back into rhythm and game shape. And Coach K has said that even if Irving does return, he will do so off the bench and obviously in limited minutes, although his totals could climb each game. In his absence, senior guard Nolan Smith moved over to point guard for the Blue Devils and won ACC Player of the Year honors in leading the Blue Devils to the conference tournament crown.
As for Hampton (24-8), it won the MEAC Tournament after finishing tied for second during the regular season. That earned the Pirates their first NCAA bid since 2006. Hampton led the conference in holding its opponents to 62.2 points a game. In their conference tournament, the Pirates held the opposing teams to 55, 61 and 55 points. The Pirates’ offense is based heavily on the 3-point shot. They have and are 1-14 all-time against teams from the ACC. For what it’s worth, Hampton did pull one of the NCAA Tournament stunners of all time, when as a No. 15 seed it beat No. 2 Iowa State in 2001.
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George Mason staged one of the most memorable Final Four runs in NCAA Tournament history five years ago, and this year’s Patriots might be as talented as that club. They get a Villanova team on Friday in the East Region that stumbled into the Big Dance with five consecutive losses. But the Wildcats opened as 1-point favorites on Bodog’s NCAA basketball odds.
In 2006 the Patriots reached the Final Four as an 11th seed – tying as the lowest seed to ever make it – by dispatching three former national champions on the way. GMU (26-6) won the CAA regular season with a 16-2 record but was upset in the tournament final by VCU – those same Rams easily handled USC of the Pac-10 in a First Four game on Wednesday night. A No. 8 is the highest seed the Rams have ever gotten. Their star is Cam Long, a first team CAA selection. He is the team’s top scorer (15.3 points per game) and three-point shooter (42.6 percent). Long, a senior, has a 30-point game and six 20-plus point nights to his credit this year.
The Patriots have amassed a record of 4-5 in NCAA Tournament play, including a 68-50 loss to No. 5-seed Notre Dame in the 2008, their most recent tournament action. All four of Mason's victories came during the 2006 run.
Villanova (21-11, 9-9 Big East) was in the Top 10 in the nation for a while but had that skid at the end that saw the Wildcats finish tied for ninth in the Big East. The Wildcats need star Corey Fisher to step up in the Big Dance. He leads the team, averaging 15.4 points and 4.8 assists this season and was a second-round All-Big East selection. But knee tendonitis has contributed to his inconsistent play. In the last five games, all losses, Fisher's numbers dipped to 10.8 points and 3.8 assists in 33.6 minutes per game. Villanova is making its seventh straight appearance in the NCAA tournament, making its current string of selections match the longest in school history.
These two teams have met four times previously over the years, with Villanova having a 4-0 edge. The last meeting was just last year, a 69-68 Nova win in Puerto Rico.
Madness would not be betting on the NCAA Tournament at Bodog Sportsbook!
In 2006 the Patriots reached the Final Four as an 11th seed – tying as the lowest seed to ever make it – by dispatching three former national champions on the way. GMU (26-6) won the CAA regular season with a 16-2 record but was upset in the tournament final by VCU – those same Rams easily handled USC of the Pac-10 in a First Four game on Wednesday night. A No. 8 is the highest seed the Rams have ever gotten. Their star is Cam Long, a first team CAA selection. He is the team’s top scorer (15.3 points per game) and three-point shooter (42.6 percent). Long, a senior, has a 30-point game and six 20-plus point nights to his credit this year.
The Patriots have amassed a record of 4-5 in NCAA Tournament play, including a 68-50 loss to No. 5-seed Notre Dame in the 2008, their most recent tournament action. All four of Mason's victories came during the 2006 run.
Villanova (21-11, 9-9 Big East) was in the Top 10 in the nation for a while but had that skid at the end that saw the Wildcats finish tied for ninth in the Big East. The Wildcats need star Corey Fisher to step up in the Big Dance. He leads the team, averaging 15.4 points and 4.8 assists this season and was a second-round All-Big East selection. But knee tendonitis has contributed to his inconsistent play. In the last five games, all losses, Fisher's numbers dipped to 10.8 points and 3.8 assists in 33.6 minutes per game. Villanova is making its seventh straight appearance in the NCAA tournament, making its current string of selections match the longest in school history.
These two teams have met four times previously over the years, with Villanova having a 4-0 edge. The last meeting was just last year, a 69-68 Nova win in Puerto Rico.
Madness would not be betting on the NCAA Tournament at Bodog Sportsbook!
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The Oakland Golden Grizzlies have an NBA-type big man who gives them the chance to win a few games in the NCAA Tournament, but Oakland does face an extremely tough opening matchup Friday in the West Region against a Texas team that has as many athletes as any club in the country. The Longhorns opened as 10.5-point favorites on Bodog’s NCAA basketball odds.
Oakland (25-9, 17-1 Summit League) played a non-conference schedule that’s more suited for a BCS conference team. The Grizzlies faced the likes of Purdue, Michigan State, Illinois, Tennessee and Ohio State. And they upset the Vols in Knoxville and nearly beat MSU. Since losing at top-ranked Ohio State in late December, Oakland has just one loss sandwiched between a 10-game winning streak and its current eight-game run. Oakland led the Summit League in offensive rebounding, blocked shots and assists and was third in field-goal defense. The star is easily 6-foot-11 center Keith Benson. He averaged 18 points and 10.1 rebounds while shooting 55 percent from the field this season and is very much on the screen of NBA scouts. The Golden Grizzlies lost 89-66 to Pittsburgh in the first round of the NCAA tournament last year, but Benson scored 28 points.
Texas (27-7, 13-3 Big 12) at one point was ranked as high as No. 3 in the country before a late-season swoon. But the Longhorns seemed to get things back in track in the Big 12 tournament, reaching the title game before falling to Kansas. Star Jordan Hamilton had been struggling mightily with his shot but found his rhythm in the Big 12 tourney. He leads the team in scoring (18.6 ppg) and is second in rebounding (7.6). A fascinating matchup should be Texas pogo-stick freshman Tristan Thompson, a shot-blocking machine, helping to defend against Benson.
Madness would be not betting on the NCAA Tournament at Bodog Sportsbook!
Oakland (25-9, 17-1 Summit League) played a non-conference schedule that’s more suited for a BCS conference team. The Grizzlies faced the likes of Purdue, Michigan State, Illinois, Tennessee and Ohio State. And they upset the Vols in Knoxville and nearly beat MSU. Since losing at top-ranked Ohio State in late December, Oakland has just one loss sandwiched between a 10-game winning streak and its current eight-game run. Oakland led the Summit League in offensive rebounding, blocked shots and assists and was third in field-goal defense. The star is easily 6-foot-11 center Keith Benson. He averaged 18 points and 10.1 rebounds while shooting 55 percent from the field this season and is very much on the screen of NBA scouts. The Golden Grizzlies lost 89-66 to Pittsburgh in the first round of the NCAA tournament last year, but Benson scored 28 points.
Texas (27-7, 13-3 Big 12) at one point was ranked as high as No. 3 in the country before a late-season swoon. But the Longhorns seemed to get things back in track in the Big 12 tournament, reaching the title game before falling to Kansas. Star Jordan Hamilton had been struggling mightily with his shot but found his rhythm in the Big 12 tourney. He leads the team in scoring (18.6 ppg) and is second in rebounding (7.6). A fascinating matchup should be Texas pogo-stick freshman Tristan Thompson, a shot-blocking machine, helping to defend against Benson.
Madness would be not betting on the NCAA Tournament at Bodog Sportsbook!
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The young Bruins (21-8, 12-4) have won eight of their past nine games. They were very impressive last Saturday in thumping then-No. 10 Arizona 71-49 at Pauley Pavilion to tie the Wildcats atop the Pac-10. Reeves Nelson had a career-high 27 points and 16 rebounds to lead UCLA. The Bruins have turned on the defense of late. In their first 15 games this season, nine opponents shot 44 percent or better from the field. In the past 14 games, 12 of them wins, nine opponents haven’t cracked 40 percent. And if UCLA gets a big lead, forget it: It is 20-0 when taking a lead of at least 10 points this year. The Bruins probably have to win here and then Saturday at Washington State to tie for the regular-season title because Arizona has two home games left in which it will be a heavy favorite against the Oregon schools.
Washington (19-9, 10-6) has lost two of its past three, including a disappointing 80-69 home loss to Washington State on Sunday. The Huskies were held to 17 points in the first half and trailed by as much as 21 in the second half. They need to be careful, because if UW were to somehow lose here and then in the regular-season finale against USC, the Huskies might be on the NCAA bubble. Washington did handle UCLA earlier this season in L.A., 74-63. Star guard Isaiah Thomas had 17 points and nine assists for UW, while Nelson led UCLA with 19 points and 10 rebounds.
The Bruins have not won in Seattle since January 2004, a span of six consecutive losses.
Can UCLA end the Seattle skid? Get the best props on this game at Bodog Sportsbook