Butler -3 -120 (2 units) The formula for beating Butler has been relatively simple this year: pressure the shi* out of them from the opening tip. They lost their only true point guard when Crishawn Hopkins was dismissed prior to the season, forcing Clarke to play out of position at the point. Stevens has used Roosevelt Jones quite a bit as well to take advantage of his unique passing and vision. Bucknell doesn't pressure - ever. Paulson doesn't have the athletes to try and turn teams over, so the Bison rely on a really sound halfcourt man-to-man with an elite shotblocker in Muscala negating drives and cleaning the glass. If you haven't seen Bucknell play, every single offensive set runs through Muscala in some form. He's a tremendous passer with vision to dish the ball out of double teams and the Bison have a knockdown shooter in Bryson Johnson (all-time leader in Patriot League history).
But the matchup just isn't there, IMO. Andrew Smith - provided he stays out of foul trouble - presents a stiff challenge for Muscala, as does the length and athleticism of Khyle Marshall (and probably Kam Woods on occasion). Bucknell's defense is at its best when it packs the paint and takes away driving lanes, but with Clarke and Dunham firing from deep, the Bison may have to extend further than normal. Oh, and it's Brad Stevens in the tournament.
Sparty -5/SLU -4 (1 unit) I'm amused by all of these people who think they're on to something
new with Saint Louis. News flash: the Bills are not a new commodity.
Their lack of exposure on ESPN and placement in a
criminally-underappreciated league has led to a lack of recognition
pretty much all season long. Anyway, there's also a lot of Sim Bhullar
talk. Yes, he's very big. Yes, he's 6 inches taller than the world's
softest 6'11 man (Rob Loe). And yes, he will play about 10 minutes today
because the nation's leading flop (err, charge) artist Cody Ellis will
fall down every time Bhullar makes a move with the basketball. Mullings
is a great scorer, but Jordair Jett is one of the 10 best on-ball
defenders in the country. SLU dictates pace here - as it does in every
game - and the Aggies' lack of discipline proves costly.
Big fan of Valpo & Bryce Drew, but other than maybe Wisconsin, the Crusaders could not have drawn a worse matchup. This is a finesse offense with precious little size and a reliance on creating spacing to get open shots. Broekhoff is a next-level talent, but he's limited athletically and is typically guarded by someone either too small or too slow to defend his diverse skillset. Not the case today. Similarly, Van Wijk is a nice, fundamentally-sound inside player, but he hasn't seen anything like the size and length of Nix and Payne. This is probably close for awhile as Sparty undergoes its typical first half tryptophan routine, but the depth probably should prove to be too much mid way through the second half. Oregon +2 (1 unit) Not much here. Think Kazemi controls the glass, the Ducks murder OK State in the paint, and the athletic Oregon wings give Nash and Brown a difficult time. Smart probably has a big game, but I've said from day one that I don't see this Cowboys team as being built for tournament success.
Butler -3 -120 (2 units) The formula for beating Butler has been relatively simple this year: pressure the shi* out of them from the opening tip. They lost their only true point guard when Crishawn Hopkins was dismissed prior to the season, forcing Clarke to play out of position at the point. Stevens has used Roosevelt Jones quite a bit as well to take advantage of his unique passing and vision. Bucknell doesn't pressure - ever. Paulson doesn't have the athletes to try and turn teams over, so the Bison rely on a really sound halfcourt man-to-man with an elite shotblocker in Muscala negating drives and cleaning the glass. If you haven't seen Bucknell play, every single offensive set runs through Muscala in some form. He's a tremendous passer with vision to dish the ball out of double teams and the Bison have a knockdown shooter in Bryson Johnson (all-time leader in Patriot League history).
But the matchup just isn't there, IMO. Andrew Smith - provided he stays out of foul trouble - presents a stiff challenge for Muscala, as does the length and athleticism of Khyle Marshall (and probably Kam Woods on occasion). Bucknell's defense is at its best when it packs the paint and takes away driving lanes, but with Clarke and Dunham firing from deep, the Bison may have to extend further than normal. Oh, and it's Brad Stevens in the tournament.
Sparty -5/SLU -4 (1 unit) I'm amused by all of these people who think they're on to something
new with Saint Louis. News flash: the Bills are not a new commodity.
Their lack of exposure on ESPN and placement in a
criminally-underappreciated league has led to a lack of recognition
pretty much all season long. Anyway, there's also a lot of Sim Bhullar
talk. Yes, he's very big. Yes, he's 6 inches taller than the world's
softest 6'11 man (Rob Loe). And yes, he will play about 10 minutes today
because the nation's leading flop (err, charge) artist Cody Ellis will
fall down every time Bhullar makes a move with the basketball. Mullings
is a great scorer, but Jordair Jett is one of the 10 best on-ball
defenders in the country. SLU dictates pace here - as it does in every
game - and the Aggies' lack of discipline proves costly.
Big fan of Valpo & Bryce Drew, but other than maybe Wisconsin, the Crusaders could not have drawn a worse matchup. This is a finesse offense with precious little size and a reliance on creating spacing to get open shots. Broekhoff is a next-level talent, but he's limited athletically and is typically guarded by someone either too small or too slow to defend his diverse skillset. Not the case today. Similarly, Van Wijk is a nice, fundamentally-sound inside player, but he hasn't seen anything like the size and length of Nix and Payne. This is probably close for awhile as Sparty undergoes its typical first half tryptophan routine, but the depth probably should prove to be too much mid way through the second half. Oregon +2 (1 unit) Not much here. Think Kazemi controls the glass, the Ducks murder OK State in the paint, and the athletic Oregon wings give Nash and Brown a difficult time. Smart probably has a big game, but I've said from day one that I don't see this Cowboys team as being built for tournament success.
Love it all but Oregon - ok state too physical and too much smart.
I wouldn't necessarily describe OK State as physical. Brown and Smart are strong and aggressive, but the inside guys can be overmatched by more athletic and/or talented players. There might not be a physical 6'7 guy than Arsalan Kazemi. Monster on the glass.
Love it all but Oregon - ok state too physical and too much smart.
I wouldn't necessarily describe OK State as physical. Brown and Smart are strong and aggressive, but the inside guys can be overmatched by more athletic and/or talented players. There might not be a physical 6'7 guy than Arsalan Kazemi. Monster on the glass.
Mike Cobbins and Phil Jurick can man up with Oregons bigs the Pac 12 sucks and they will be lucky to win 1 game as a conference Lebryan Nash is another stud too many athletes and Phil Forte is unconcious from the 3 also Dominic Artis is still not 100 percent
Mike Cobbins and Phil Jurick can man up with Oregons bigs the Pac 12 sucks and they will be lucky to win 1 game as a conference Lebryan Nash is another stud too many athletes and Phil Forte is unconcious from the 3 also Dominic Artis is still not 100 percent
Anyone think the VCU line is climbing too high? Gut feeling is the public is getting hammered with pro-Shaka stories and is subsequently betting the garbage out of VCU.
Anyone think the VCU line is climbing too high? Gut feeling is the public is getting hammered with pro-Shaka stories and is subsequently betting the garbage out of VCU.
Anyone think the VCU line is climbing too high? Gut feeling is the public is getting hammered with pro-Shaka stories and is subsequently betting the garbage out of VCU.
Thoughts?
Yup. I'll be on Akron later. Probably the under, too. Ridiculous amount of familiarity between Dambrot and Shaka.
Anyone think the VCU line is climbing too high? Gut feeling is the public is getting hammered with pro-Shaka stories and is subsequently betting the garbage out of VCU.
Thoughts?
Yup. I'll be on Akron later. Probably the under, too. Ridiculous amount of familiarity between Dambrot and Shaka.
ESPN finally mentioned St Louis last week so those that dont know much about A-10 ball are now talking about them,but dont think they will take them pass first game in their brackets,lol. I gave the 9.5 on them,think they can blow N.Mex.St out,only chance I see if alot of those 3s fall for them it might be closer, Im hoping to be able to get a good line on Mich.St for sec.half, GL today
ESPN finally mentioned St Louis last week so those that dont know much about A-10 ball are now talking about them,but dont think they will take them pass first game in their brackets,lol. I gave the 9.5 on them,think they can blow N.Mex.St out,only chance I see if alot of those 3s fall for them it might be closer, Im hoping to be able to get a good line on Mich.St for sec.half, GL today
Ehhhhhh maybe. Obviously Akron needs to protect the ball. Think VCU really struggles in the halfcourt setting against a team that guards the hell outta the perimeter and has an elite eraser in the middle.
Ehhhhhh maybe. Obviously Akron needs to protect the ball. Think VCU really struggles in the halfcourt setting against a team that guards the hell outta the perimeter and has an elite eraser in the middle.
Ehhhhhh maybe. Obviously Akron needs to protect the ball. Think VCU really struggles in the halfcourt setting against a team that guards the hell outta the perimeter and has an elite eraser in the middle.
Bol - hope we both win - ill probably have vcu ml in a parlay.
Ehhhhhh maybe. Obviously Akron needs to protect the ball. Think VCU really struggles in the halfcourt setting against a team that guards the hell outta the perimeter and has an elite eraser in the middle.
Bol - hope we both win - ill probably have vcu ml in a parlay.
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