#kansas vs tcu basketball prediction

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Kansas vs TCU

The Kansas vs TCU rivalry is one of the most intense and long-standing matchups in the Big 12 Conference. This rivalry is built on a foundation of competition and passion, with each game providing fans with exciting, high-stakes basketball. When it comes to the keyword “rivalry,” there is no doubt that the Kansas vs TCU matchup fits the bill. These two teams have a history of going head-to-head…

[vietloto87]

3 2 Odds

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Lamar vs Incarnate Word College Basketball Picks, Odds, Predictions 2/3/21 AUTHOR: Andrew Jett Andrew has been writing about college, professional, and fantasy sports betting since 2013.

What Do 3/2 Odds Mean

3/2 Odds Meaning

3/2 Betting Odds

2 Clemson Tigers have been installed as moderate favorites to take down No. 3 Ohio State Buckeyes on New Year’s Day. The oddsmakers at DraftKings Sportsbook are listing projected No.1.

Oklahoma State Cowboys (11-4) at TCU Horned Frogs (9-7)

College Basketball: Wednesday, February 3, 2021 at 9:00 pm (Ed & Rae Schollmaier Arena)

The Line: TCU Horned Frogs +5 -- Over/Under: 141.5Click to Get Latest Betting Odds

TV: ESPN2 Stream College Basketball all season on ESPN+. Sign up now!

The Oklahoma State Cowboys and the TCU Horned Frogs meet Wednesday in college basketball action from Schollmaier Arena.

Oklahoma State enters this one at 11-4 so far. The Cowboys have won consecutive games over Iowa State and Arkansas. As for TCU, they’re 9-7 on the year. The Frogs have dropped five straight and are coming off a loss to Missouri. Check back all season long for free college basketball picks at Sports Chat Place.

Oklahoma State kicked off the year at 6-0 before a pair of losses to TCU and Texas. The Cowboys beat Texas Tech, Kansas State and Kansas in their next four games, then lost to Baylor. Since then it’s been two victories over Iowa State and Arkansas.

In the 81-77 win over the Razorbacks on Saturday, Oklahoma State’s Cade Cunningham posted 21 points with seven rebounds and five assists. Kalib Boone doubled up on 16 points and 12 rebounds, and Avery Anderson had 13 points with two rebounds in 21 minutes.

Over on the TCU side, they started out 4-0 before losses to Oklahoma and Providence. The Frogs then won five straight games, ending on a win over Kansas State January 2. Since then it’s been losses to Kansas, Baylor, Oklahoma, Kansas and Missouri for the Frogs.

In the 102-98 OT loss to Missouri on Saturday, TCU’s Mike Miles put up 28 points with five rebounds and five assists, and Charles O’Bannon put up 17 points with five rebounds and one assist. RJ Nembhard chipped in 15 points with four boards and three assists as well.

The Frogs are 2-8 ATS in their last 10 Wednesday games and 7-19 ATS in their last 26 after an ATS win. The under is 5-2 in TCU’s last seven overall and the over is 5-2 in their last seven at home.

Meanwhile, the Cowboys are 5-0-1 ATS in their last six road games and 0-4 ATS in their last four Wednesday games. Oklahoma State is 4-1 ATS in their last five overall and the over is 21-8-3 in their last 32 overall.

PICK: I like Oklahoma State here. These teams last met on December 16 in a tight 77-76 Horned Frogs win. TCU shot 54.5 percent in that one, pulling down 36 rebounds with 12 assists and 20 turnovers. Oklahoma State hit just 3-of-17 from 3-point range and had a tepid 65.4 percent from the line in the loss. I like the Cowboys to come back with a better effort here and get some revenge. Should be a good game.

Andrew’s PickOklahoma State Cowboys -5

The pick in this article is the opinion of the writer, not a Sports Chat Place site consensus.

Saint Louis Billikens (7-2) at La Salle Explorers (7-10)

College Basketball: Wednesday, February 3, 2021 at 7:00 pm (Tom Gola Arena)

The Line: La Salle Explorers +11 -- Over/Under: 141.5Click to Get Latest Betting Odds

TV: ESPN+ Stream College Basketball all season on ESPN+. Sign up now!

The Saint Louis Billikens and the La Salle Explorers meet Wednesday in college basketball action from Tom Gola Arena.

Saint Louis is sitting at 7-2 overall. The Billikens are 1-2 in their last three games and coming off a loss to Dayton. As for the Explorers, they’re 7-10 this year. La Salle has lost their last two games to Rhode Island and VCU. Check back all season long for free college basketball picks at Sports Chat Place.

Saint Louis began their year on a nice 6-0 run with wins over SIU Edwardsville, LSU, AR-Pine Bluff, Central Arkansas, Indiana State and NC State. Since then the Billikens are 1-2 with a win over UMKC in between losses to Minnesota and Dayton.

In last week’s 76-71 loss to the Flyers, Saint Louis’ Javonte Perkins put up 20 points with four rebounds and three assists. Hasahn French added 16 points with four rebounds and one assist, and Jordan Goodwin doubled up on 11 points, 11 rebounds and two assists.

Over on the La Salle side, they began their year at 5-5 with wins our Lincoln PA, Drexel, Delaware, Dayton and Fordham. The Explorers have gone 2-5 since then with losses to UMass, George Mason, Davidson, Rhode Island and VCU in that stretch of outings.

In the 73-62 loss to VCU on Saturday, La Salle’s Sherif Kenney managed 20 points with five rebounds and four assists. Jhamir Brickus added 12 points with two assets and one rebound, and Jack Clark put up 11 points, eight rebounds and one assist.

La Salle is 1-4 ATS in their last five Wednesday games and 6-1 ATS in their last seven versus a team with a winning straight-up record. The Explorers are 6-0 ATS in their last six versus a team with a winning percentage above .600 and 1-4 in their last five as a home underdog.

Meanwhile, the Billikens are 2-6 ATS in their last eight Wednesday games and 9-3 ATS in their last 12 overall. Saint Louis is 8-3 ATS in their last 11 as a favorite and the over is 7-2 in their last nine overall.

PICK: I’m sticking with Saint Louis. The Billikens have been pretty shaky over their last three games, and haven’t been able to ben on the court consistently over the last month or so. Saint Louis was rusty in the Dayton game, but still managed to score 71 points with their capable offense. As long as the Billikens play to their capabilities in this one, I think they’ve got a better shot at a cover.

What Do 3/2 Odds Mean

3/2 Odds Meaning

Andrew’s PickSaint Louis Billikens -11

3/2 Betting Odds

The pick in this article is the opinion of the writer, not a Sports Chat Place site consensus.

[thebookieco]

TCU vs Kansas Prediction Pick - College Basketball Pick, Odds, & Analysis. The Bookie's Daily Newsletter.

[tonyspicks]

Kansas State Wildcats vs TCU Horned Frogs 10/10/2020 Picks Predictions Previews

Kansas State Wildcats vs TCU Horned Frogs 10/10/2020 Picks Predictions Previews by Tonys team of professional handicappers who research NCAA College Football. Visit Us for Free Football Sports Picks, NBA Free Picks, Free NCAAF Picks, Free NCAAB Picks, Free NFL Picks and Free College Basketball Picks

Visit: https://tinyurl.com/y5l9ppul

[gizedcom]

Guerin Emig: A vote of conscience, confidence for Chuba Hubbard as Big 12 Offensive Player of Year | OSU Sports Extra

Sam Ehlinger will likely be the Big 12 Preseason Offensive Player of the Year, scheduled to be announced this week, which is both sensible and predictable given Ehlinger’s accomplishments and the fact he plays the most important position on the league’s most scrutinized team.

I believe he will be first team All-Big 12 quarterback at the end of 2020, assuming there is a 2020 season.

I also believe Oklahoma State running back Chuba Hubbard will be Offensive Player of the Year.

Consider this a vote of conscience, Hubbard having joined basketball coach Mike Boynton as the moral compass of OSU athletics the past several weeks.

Consider this primarily a vote of confidence.

I like Hubbard because I’m confident he is going to be as active in OSU’s offense as he was last year when he touched the ball 351 times.

Wait, you say. Remember what Mike Gundy said last January before the world went insane?

“I don’t see Chuba getting 30 carries a game like he did last year.”

I also remember Gundy saying five minutes later: “We need to have Chuba more involved in the throwing game. It makes us a better offense.”

What’s more likely to happen this season — Gundy giving No. 2 running back LD Brown more carries? Or Hubbard adding to his 23 receptions total from 2019?

I doubt Hubbard equals Joseph Randle’s 43-catch production out of OSU’s 2011 backfield. Surely, though, he can get in the 30s. He caught seven passes at West Virginia alone last fall.

Gundy and newly-installed offensive coordinator Kasey Dunn want Spencer Sanders targeting Tylan Wallace, Dillon Stoner and Landon Wolf downfield, no doubt. They want Sanders handing off to Hubbard more than flipping him screen passes.

I’m confident handing off to Hubbard will be just as effective this year as it was last. Meaning, I’m confident of the following…

* That OSU will figure out a way to play a couple non-conference games.

Hubbard rushed for 477 yards and six touchdowns against Oregon State and Tulsa. It was man barreling over boys.

It would have been the same this September, only now Oregon State isn’t playing in Stillwater and who knows whether the Big 12 will join the Pac-12 and Big Ten in wiping out non-conference games?

* That OSU will figure out a way to fortify an offensive line missing Johnny Wilson, Marcus Keyes and Dylan Galloway from the one that blew open holes a year ago.

Hubbard will be depending on Teven Jenkins and Bryce Bray, the two full-time returning starters, primarily, but also on West Virginia transfer Josh Sills, who should be a starter, and on coach Charlie Dickey, who is charged with rebuilding half his line.

* That Tylan Wallace stays healthy.

With Wallace out wide, defenses must play OSU’s run game honestly. That happened the first half of 2019, before Wallace tore up his knee. Then defenses cheated a little closer to the box and Hubbard’s production dipped.

* That Hubbard stays healthy.

“Chuba was beat up the last part of the season and didn’t practice much,” Gundy also said last January.

He’s going to get beat up again this season. It’s the life of a 2,000-yard running back, no matter how carefully he is protected.

Hubbard still cleared 100 yards in his last three regular-season games of 2019, but he didn’t have the same burst. He got a month of rest before the Texas Bowl, then averaged 8.2 yards per carry against Texas A&M.

I have confidence Hubbard will pick up where he left off when he gets his first touch of 2020, that he’ll keep getting touches both in the run and pass game, that he’ll keep cutting back into wide swaths created by his replenished line, that he and Wallace will be healthier deeper into the season, and that the end result will make him 2020 Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year.

Here’s my Preseason All-Big 12 ballot

Spencer Rattler, Spencer Sanders, Brock Purdy, Charlie Brewer, Alan Bowman and Skylar Thompson make this the deepest position in the conference. No quarterback is more proven, or valuable, than Ehlinger.

Chuba Hubbard, Oklahoma State

Hubbard is obvious. I went with Brooks over Pooka Williams and Breece Hall because of opportunities. Brooks should get plenty of touches with Trey Sermon now at Ohio State.

Wallace is also obvious. I have no idea about the second receiver. Brennan Eagles of Texas? T.J. Vasher of Texas Tech? Charleston Rambo of OU? I sort of think Rattler spreads it around. Parchment should get 15 targets a game at KU.

Charlie Kolar, Iowa State

Wanna drive Big 12 defensive coordinators crazy? Ask them about trying to cover Kolar.

Jack Anderson, Texas Tech

Start with Humphrey and then draw names out of a helmet, honestly.

Wyatt Hubert, Kansas State

Darius Stills, West Virginia

JaQuan Bailey, Iowa State

The Sooners’ Ronnie Perkins would get consideration were he not suspended for the first five games of the upcoming season.

Three triple-digit tacklers from a year ago. OSU’s Amen Ogbongbemiga is a fourth. He narrowly misses the cut.

Anthony Johnson, Iowa State

A leap of faith here on Brown, assuming Grinch’s defense is ready to take the ball twice as much as it did a year ago.

Iowa State safety Greg Eisworth is my nickel.

Austin McNamara, Texas Tech

Joshua Youngblood, K-State

Watch now: Thurman Thomas among former Cowboys interested in showing Mike Gundy, OSU a better way

A look at OSU running back Chuba Hubbard’s career so far

Chuba Hubbard in 2019

Oklahoma State Cowboys running back Chuba Hubbard (30) carries the ball up the middle against against the Texas A&M Aggies during the fourth quarter of the 2019 Texas Bowl at NRG Stadium in Houston, TX, Dec 27, 2019. ERIK WILLIAMS/for the Tulsa World

Chuba Hubbard in 2019

Oklahoma State Cowboys running back Chuba Hubbard (30) looks to block Texas A&M Aggies defensive back Demani Richardson (26) while carrying the ball during the second quarter of the 2019 Texas Bowl at NRG Stadium in Houston, TX, Dec 27, 2019. ERIK WILLIAMS/for the Tulsa World

Chuba Hubbard in 2019

Oklahoma State’s Chuba Hubbard (right) was named to the Preseason Walter Camp 2020 All-American first team. ERIK WILLIAMS/for the Tulsa World, file

Chuba Hubbard in 2019

Oklahoma State’s Chuba Hubbard (left) tries to avoid Oklahoma’s DaShaun White during the bedlam football game in Stillwater, Okla., on Saturday, November 30, 2019. MATT BARNARD/Tulsa World

Chuba Hubbard in 2019

Chuba Hubbard breaks free for a touchdown during Oklahoma State’s football game vs. TCU on Nov. 2, 2019 at Boone Pickens Stadium in Stillwater, Oklahoma. DEVIN LAWRENCE WILBUR/For the Tulsa World

Chuba Hubbard in 2019

Oklahoma State’s Chuba Hubbard (30) carries the ball during the second quarter of an NCAA college football game against West Virginia in Morgantown, W.Va., on Saturday, Nov. 23, 2019. (AP Photo/Chris Jackson)

Chuba Hubbard in 2019

Oklahoma State’s Chuba Hubbard (30) runs with the ball during the first half of the NCAA college football game against Texas Tech, Saturday, Oct. 5, 2019, in Lubbock, Texas. (AP Photo/Brad Tollefson)

Chuba Hubbard in 2019

Oklahoma State running back Chuba Hubbard blows a kiss to the Oklahoma State fans after their 34-27 win over Iowa State after an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Oct. 26, 2019, in Ames, Iowa. (AP Photo/Matthew Putney)

Chuba Hubbard in 2019

Oklahoma State’s Chuba Hubbard (left) and Hunter Anthony (right) celebrate a touchdown against Kansas’ during a football game in Stillwater, Okla., on Saturday, November 16, 2019. MATT BARNARD/Tulsa World

Chuba Hubbard in 2019

Oklahoma State’s Chuba Hubbard (left) is hit by Baylor’s JT Woods (right) during a football game in Stillwater, Okla., on Saturday, October 19, 2019. MATT BARNARD/Tulsa World

Chuba Hubbard in 2019

Oklahoma State’s Chuba Hubbard warms up against Baylor during a football game in Stillwater, Okla., on Saturday, October 19, 2019. MATT BARNARD/Tulsa World

Chuba Hubbard in 2019

Chuba Hubbard celebrates with teammates after scoring a touchdown during Oklahoma State’s football game vs. No. 24 Kansas State in Stillwater, Oklahoma at Boone Pickens Stadium, on September 28, 2019. DEVIN LAWRENCE WILBUR/For the Tulsa World

Chuba Hubbard in 2019

Oklahoma State’s Chuba Hubbard (center) is brought down just short of the goal line by Texas defenders during a football game in Austin, Texas, on Saturday, September 21, 2019. MATT BARNARD/Tulsa World

Chuba Hubbard in 2019

Oklahoma State Cowboys running back Chuba Hubbard (30) stiff arms Tulsa Golden Hurricane safety Cristian Williams (3) during the NCAA football between the Oklahoma State Cowboys and the Tulsa Golden Hurricane at Skelly Field at H.A. Chapman Stadium in Tulsa, Okla. on Saturday, Sept. 14, 2019. IAN MAULE/Tulsa World

Chuba Hubbard in 2019

Oklahoma State’s Chuba Hubbard (left) runs downfield against McNeese State at a football game in Stillwater, Okla., on Saturday, September 7, 2019. MATT BARNARD/Tulsa World

Chuba Hubbard in 2019

Oklahoma State Cowboys running back Chuba Hubbard (30) poses for a portrait during the Oklahoma State Football media day in Stillwater on August 3, 2019. Tulsa World File photo

Chuba Hubbard in 2019

Oklahoma State Cowboys running back Chuba Hubbard (30) runs the ball during Oklahoma State’s Spring Weekend at Oklahoma State University in Stillwater, Okla. on Saturday, April 20, 2019. IAN MAULE/Tulsa World

Chuba Hubbard in 2019

Running back Chuba Hubbard makes a catch at football practice during Oklahoma State’s first day of fall camp at the Sherman E. Smith training center in April 2019. DEVIN LAWRENCE WILBER/For the Tulsa WOrld

Chuba Hubbard in 2018

Oklahoma State’s Chuba Hubbard raises his arms as he scores a touchdown during a football game against Missouri State at Oklahoma State University in Stillwater, Okla., on Thursday, August 30, 2018. MATT BARNARD/Tulsa World

Chuba Hubbard in 2018

Oklahoma State Cowboys running back Chuba Hubbard (30) runs through an attempted tackle by Boise State Broncos safety DeAndre Pierce (4) during the NCAA football between the Boise State Broncos and the Oklahoma State Cowboys at Boone Pickens Stadium in Stillwater, Okla. on Saturday, September 15, 2018. IAN MAULE/Tulsa World

Chuba Hubbard in 2018

Oklahoma State’s Chuba Hubbard (bottom) is brought down by Iowa State’s Will McDonald during a football game at Oklahoma State University in Stillwater, Okla., on Saturday, October 6, 2018. MATT BARNARD/Tulsa World

Chuba Hubbard in 2018

Oklahoma State’s Chuba Hubbard (center)heads downfield against Texas during a football game in Stillwater, Okla., on Saturday, October 27, 2018. MATT BARNARD/Tulsa World

Chuba Hubbard in 2018

Oklahoma State’s Chuba Hubbard (center) runs downfield under pressure from Oklahoma’s Curtis Bolton (right) at the Bedlam football game in Norman, Okla., on Saturday, November 10, 2018. MATT BARNARD/Tulsa World

Chuba Hubbard in 2018

Oklahoma State’s Chuba Hubbard runs past a pack of West Virginia defenders including Dravon Askew-Henry (right) during a football game at Oklahoma State University in Stillwater, Okla., on Saturday, November 17, 2018. MATT BARNARD/Tulsa World

Chuba Hubbard in 2018

Oklahoma State running back Chuba Hubbard runs breaks away from Missouri linebacker Cale Garrett during the first half of the Liberty Bowl NCAA college football game in Memphis, Tenn., Monday, Dec. 31, 2018. JOE RONDONE/The Commercial Appeal via AP

Chuba Hubbard in 2017

Running Back, Chuba Hubbard, 30, runs a pass during a drill at Oklahoma State’s first practice at the Sherman E. Smith practice center in Stillwater on Sunday July 30, 2017. Tulsa World file

Chuba Hubbard in 2017

Oklahoma State’s Chuba Hubbard warms up against Texas Christian during a football game at Oklahoma State University in Stillwater, Okla., on Saturday, September 23, 2017. MATT BARNARD/Tulsa World

Chuba Hubbard in 2017

Justice Hill (left) and Chuba Hubbard sign autographs during Fan Appreciation Day at Oklahoma State University in Stillwater, Okla., on Saturday, August 4, 2018. MATT BARNARD/Tulsa World

Video: Eric Bailey and Guerin Emig break down Bedlam

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The post Guerin Emig: A vote of conscience, confidence for Chuba Hubbard as Big 12 Offensive Player of Year | OSU Sports Extra appeared first on GIZED - Breaking News Worldwide.

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College basketball predictions - Will UNC complete the Duke sweep?

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College basketball predictions - Will UNC complete the Duke sweep?

Duke and North Carolina have their second meeting of the 2018-19 season on Saturday (6 p.m. ET, ESPN), and ESPN.com’s team of college basketball experts weighed in on whether the possibly still-Zion-less Blue Devils would earn the split or fall victim to the sweep. Our experts also made their picks for the much-anticipated Michigan-Michigan State rematch (8 p.m. ET, ESPN) and told us what they expected to be the most compelling conference tourney of the season.

Jump to score predictions for the weekend’s top games

It’s Duke/North Carolina, Part II. Tell us how this is going to go if Zion Williamson plays … and if he doesn’t.

Jeff Borzello, college basketball insider: I’m not sure it matters on Saturday. I guess it’ll be closer if Zion suits up in Chapel Hill, but I think North Carolina wins either way. If he doesn’t play — and Mike Krzyzewski’s comments make that appear the likelier scenario — I think the Blue Devils are really going to struggle. They’re a thoroughly average team without Zion and one that got steamrollered by North Carolina in Durham just two weeks ago. The Tar Heels dominated Duke in the post behind Luke Maye, Cam Johnson and Garrison Brooks, and that seems likely to happen again. At the other end, Duke hasn’t gotten consistent offense from anyone not named RJ Barrett, which could be an issue against a team that loves to push the tempo and put up points.

Coby White and UNC face RJ Barrett and Duke on Saturday. Can the Tar Heels pull off the season sweep? Lance King/Getty Images

Myron Medcalf, senior college basketball writer: Tough question. You can’t rely on the analytics for everything, but Duke without Williamson is a team that falls in love with the 3-pointer (42 percent of its attempts compared with 35 percent with Williamson available) and relies on Barrett’s straight-line drives. The Blue Devils are just easier to figure out and that’s what I think North Carolina will do (again) in a second win if Williamson doesn’t play because, as Jeff said, Duke isn’t really built to stop UNC in the paint without Williamson. If he plays, then Duke wins. Why? Because he’s the ultimate playmaker who fixes the flaws that were exposed (defense around the rim, post production, poor shot selection) in the first game.

Here’s your updated source for all of the latest on the NCAA tournament bubble.

Virginia, Duke and North Carolina all have top-seed cases … if they take care of business this week.

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John Gasaway, college basketball writer: This is going to go swimmingly for Duke if Zion plays. He changes the Blue Devils for the better on both offense and defense. That first part requires no further explanation, one surmises, but on D the freshman is a disruptor and a highly mobile wall of shot-changing menace. Fueled by Williamson’s return and, no less, by a desire to even the score after the game in Durham, Duke wins if Zion comes back. If not, this does not go well for the Blue Devils. Winning in Chapel Hill is a taller order than recording a home victory against Wake Forest.

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Jordan Schultz, insider/analyst: Duke is winning this game, with or without Zion. As poorly as the Blue Devils played in a near upset loss to Wake, they still received tremendous production from Barrett, whose 28 points helped him pass Marvin Bagley III for most ever by a Duke freshman. Assuming Williamson can’t go, look for Coach K to once again run everything through Barrett, isolating him on the wings with flat sets that allow him to work out against a terrific Heels defense. We should expect more from the uber-talented Cam Reddish as well, who already hit Carolina for a career-high 27 points in Durham. If Zion does play, however, expect a heavy dose of post-ups and highlight-reel plays considering this will be the only time the prodigious future No. 1 pick ever plays in the Dean Dome. Either way, an angry Duke team wins what should be an excellent game.

And then immediately after, it’s Michigan vs. Michigan State from East Lansing. You expecting a Spartans sweep?

Medcalf: I just want to be there. The Breslin Center is just a wild place, especially when that bass player in the school’s band gets going. It’ll be crazy this weekend. And I think that will be the difference in a game that will feature two teams hoping to get healthier before the NCAA tournament arrives. I just don’t see Cassius Winston, who has been a hero and Wooden Award contender despite his ongoing bout with knee tendinitis, falling short in this season finale against his team’s chief rival. Ain’t happening. Michigan State gets the sweep.

Borzello: Man, this is a tough game to read. First, it doesn’t sound like either team is going to be healthy. Charles Matthews has missed two games in a row for Michigan, and John Beilein didn’t sound optimistic that Matthews would play on Saturday. For Sparty, Nick Ward is still hurt and Kyle Ahrens also missed the last game. Michigan State goes through stretches where it struggles to score due to its lack of options, and that theoretically will be magnified against an elite defensive unit like the Wolverines. That said, this is basically the same team that went into Ann Arbor — with Matthews playing 28 minutes — and beat Michigan by seven two weekends ago. In that one, it was all Winston. He had 27 points and eight assists and outplayed his counterpart, Zavier Simpson. I think that happens again and I think Michigan State gets the sweep.

Gasaway: Yes, the Spartans will sweep Michigan after going 0-2 against Indiana. How perfect is that? In the first game, Michigan State did what you’re not supposed to be able to do against the Wolverines. Tom Izzo’s guys attacked in the paint and it worked beautifully. No Big Ten opponent has scored as efficiently against Michigan as did the Spartans (1.23 points per possession), and no Big Ten opponent has shot anywhere near as well inside the arc (68 percent). True, Michigan State took better care of the ball than UM, which we can safely class as a true freak occurrence. Still, I like MSU’s chances in East Lansing.

Schultz: I do not. Michigan was uncharacteristically locked up by the rugged Spartans defense in Ann Arbor, going 7-26 (26.9 percent) from 3 while amassing just six total assists. True, Sparty is elite on both ends — top 10 in offensive and defensive efficiency, per KenPom — but the Wolverines have more firepower and once again will not have to worry about Ward, who continues to be sidelined with a fractured hand. The X factor for John Beilein & Co. is Matthews, if he plays. When he plays well and is confident shooting it, Michigan becomes much harder to guard, because Simpson and Jordan Poole are both deft at creating their own offense as well. Matthews — who went 1-8 with 4 points in the first MSU game — must discover his stroke in this one. I’m betting he will, and in turn, that the Maize and Blue steal a tight one on the road.

You are forced to watch every minute of one and only one 2019 conference tournament. Which one are you picking, and why? (Ivy League mini-tournament not allowed):

Borzello: No naps? I’m going to be at the Big East tournament, so I’ll leave that one out. If literally every second has to be watched, I think you have to avoid leagues with double byes. If you choose the ACC, you’re saying you want to watch Wake Forest or Georgia Tech or Pittsburgh twice in 24 hours. The Big Ten actually has interesting lower seeds, but still, no. The SEC has you grinding through two games involving Texas A&M or Missouri or something. Meh. I’ll go with the Big 12. There’s a ton at stake heading into Kansas City and fascinating storylines abound. Oklahoma, TCU and Texas all still have work to do to feel comfortable heading into Selection Sunday, so those opening-round games are interesting. Does Kansas bounce back after seeing its streak end on Tuesday night? Does Texas Tech stay hot? Can Iowa State stop losing? Will Kansas State start getting national respect? I’m all-in on the Big 12 next week.

Medcalf: Oh, man. Borzello’s pick makes sense. The Big 12 is always fun and it’s in Kansas City, where you can just walk across the street to the Power and Light District and party with Iowa State fans after the games. But I’ll take the SEC. I mean, Tom Crean in the opening round, where Georgia might score 98 points (win over Texas on Jan. 26) or 39 points (Wednesday loss to Missouri)? He might punt a basketball into the stands before halftime. Mizzou’s Jordan Geist taking 30 shots because why not? Can Billy Kennedy save his job? All of that before we even get to LSU, Kentucky and Tennessee? I’ll take it. I’d love to watch everything that happens at the SEC tournament, including Frank Martin and Bruce Pearl possibly pulling off upsets and giving us the best postgame interviews of the week.

Gasaway: Is this even up for discussion? Absolutely the Pac-12 tournament. One, no one in the conference not named “Washington” or, possibly, “Arizona State” (and even that second one is very iffy) is getting anywhere near the NCAA tournament without an automatic bid. These teams will all be playing like hungry carnivores, not like the “let’s just stay healthy” locks in certain other major conferences. Two, these completely off-bubble teams can, paradoxically win a game or possibly even two if they do get in the field of 68: Utah’s offense is excellent and the two Oregon teams are both playing quite well without anyone much noticing. Three, UW’s Matisse Thybulle is possibly Division I’s most entertaining player who’s also healthy. Last thing, 12-team tournaments feel like less of a slog on the first day than your true mega-leagues. I’d love to be there with my Maui Jim sunglasses celebrating the conference of champions.

Schultz: This is relatively easy for me, if hardly conventional, but I love the OVC, mainly because Belmont and Murray State each have All-America candidates. We all know about Racers all-world point guard Ja Morant, who is arguably the best player — and highlight — in the country, save for Mr. Williamson. But don’t sleep on Bruins senior hybrid forward Dylan Windler, a sterling offensive machine who can shoot it (43.2 percent 3s), make a play off the bounce and post up as well. Windler (21.1 PPG, 10.3 RPG, 2.5 APG, 1.4 SPG) is one of the most efficient all-around players in the nation and a legitimate pro prospect as well, as one NBA scout recently noted to me. To be sure, a Belmont-Murray State OVC final is the matchup we all deserve.

ESPN.com expert picks for this weekend’s top games

(Lines, published as they become available, from the Westgate Las Vegas SuperBook.)

2018-19 college basketball predictions leaderboard

ESPN.com experts Last week SU Season SU Last week ATS Season ATS Jeff Borzello 7-3 51-19 4-5-1 38-28-4 Jordan Schultz 8-2 51-19 6-3-1 38-29-3 John Gasaway 8-2 51-19 4-5-1 31-33-6 Myron Medcalf 7-3 50-20 4-5-1 29-36-5

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2018 NCAA tournament Everything you need to know about second-round games

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2018 NCAA tournament Everything you need to know about second-round games

The University of Maryland, Baltimore County just showed why in March, hope springs eternal.

On Friday, UMBC became the first 16-seed in NCAA tournament history to knock off a No. 1. And the Retrievers didn’t just knock off Virginia. They destroyed the Cavaliers with one of the most improbable, impressive and dominant second halves that college basketball has ever seen.

Can the Retrievers harness that magic and carry it into Sunday? If so, the Sweet 16 would be waiting for one of the best stories in sports history.

More on UMBC and the rest of Sunday’s second-round action below:

All times ET

No. 9 Kansas State vs. No. 16 UMBC 7:45 p.m., Charlotte, N.C., South Region Player to watch: K-State’s leading scorer, Dean Wade, sat out Friday’s win over Creighton because of a foot injury, but the Wildcats are hoping he will be able to return Sunday. The All-Big 12 forward is a difference-maker, whom the Wildcats will definitely need on the floor to stymie this snowballing UMBC surge.

What will keep Kansas State from moving on: Fate? Destiny? But above all, a second half from UMBC like the one it delivered Friday. The Retrievers scored 53 points after halftime against Virginia, which came into the tournament with the nation’s No. 1-rated defense. Can the Retrievers replicate such a magical performance? The college basketball world — well, outside Manhattan, Kansas — will be pulling for it.

What will keep UMBC from moving on: UMBC coming back to planet Earth. On Feb. 3, the Retrievers fell to Vermont by 28. On Jan. 21, they were obliterated by Albany by 44. Beginning with the America East tournament, which culminated with Jairus Lyles‘ buzzer-beating 3 and propelled the Retrievers into the dance, UMBC has been a completely different club. And it is suddenly playing as well as about any team in college basketball.

The tournament has tipped off. Your picks are locked in. It’s time to find out how your bracket is holding up. Check your brackets

No. 2 Purdue vs. No. 10 Butler 12:10 p.m., Detroit, East Region Player to watch: Kelan Martin‘s 27 points Friday against Arkansas were the second-most ever by a Butler player in the tournament. And Butler has had some big-time performances in recent history in the tournament. Martin has put up 27 or more eight times this season. He can absolutely fill it up.

What will keep Purdue from moving on: Assuming he’s unable to play as expected, the absence of center Isaac Haas, who fractured his right elbow in Friday’s victory over Cal State Fullerton. Initially, he was ruled out for the rest of the tournament, though on Saturday he participated in parts of the Boilermakers’ practice wearing a brace. Coach Matt Painter is still not expecting Haas to play. Purdue’s offense ran through the 7-foot-2 center, and retooling on the fly won’t be easy.

What will keep Butler from moving on: Purdue’s 3-point shooting. The Boilermakers — who came into the tournament shooting 42 percent from 3, ranked second nationally — knocked out another nine on 22 attempts Friday. With Haas out, look for Purdue to bomb away from 3.

Can Miles Bridges keep up his scoring pace against Syracuse? Gregory Shamus/Getty Images

No. 3 Michigan State vs. No. 11 Syracuse 2:40 p.m., Detroit, Midwest Region Player to watch: According to ESPN Stats & Information, only Scott Skiles and Steve Smith have scored more points for Michigan State through three tournament games than Miles Bridges, who dropped another 29 points Friday. With Bridges playing that way, Michigan State is a legit national title contender.

What will keep Michigan State from moving on: The vaunted matchup zone. Syracuse, already with two wins since Wednesday, frustrated TCU on Friday with its length. As a result, the Horned Frogs shot below 40 percent from the field and only 18 percent from 3. Michigan State is a much better offensive team than TCU. But this Syracuse zone can puzzle the best of offenses.

What will keep Syracuse from moving on: Shooting. Even though Syracuse defeated the Horned Frogs, it struggled to get much going offensively. The Orange made only three 3s and shot 37 percent from the field. As good as Syracuse’s zone has been, the Orange will need much more from Oshae Brissett and Tyus Battle to have any chance of keeping up with Bridges & Co.

No. 2 North Carolina vs. No. 7 Texas A&M 5:15 p.m., Charlotte, N.C., West Region Player to watch: Kenny Williams delivered one of the best games of his career Friday, scoring 18 points in a rout of Lipscomb. Playing alongside Luke Maye and Joel Berry II, Williams had scored as much only four times this season. Williams isn’t going to be North Carolina’s primary playmaker or scorer. But when he can knock down shots playing off Berry & Co. the way he did against Lipscomb, that makes North Carolina all the more dangerous.

What will keep North Carolina from moving on: Texas A&M’s prowess inside. Robert Williams and Tyler Davis made all eight of their shots in the paint in the second half Friday against Providence, as the Aggies finished with 26 paint points after halftime. Texas A&M also blocked eight shots and outrebounded Providence 44-26. North Carolina is a tremendous offensive rebounding team. But the Aggies are an absolute force around the basket at both ends.

What will keep Texas A&M from moving on: North Carolina’s balanced attack. The Tar Heels have five players who average double figures in scoring, and on Friday, all five scored at least 10 points.

No. 2 Cincinnati vs. No. 7 Nevada 6:10 p.m., Nashville, Tenn., South Region Player to watch: With Jacob Evans and Gary Clark struggling to get going, it was Jarron Cumberland who pushed Cincinnati past Georgia State on Friday. Cumberland scored a career-high 27 points and grabbed eight offensive rebounds. Cumberland’s shooting and activeness around the glass could be a real plus for Cincinnati moving forward.

What will keep Cincinnati from moving on: Nevada twins Caleb Martin and Cody Martin producing another pair of all-around brilliant performances. On Friday, Cody had 15 points, 6 assists and 4 blocks. Caleb, meanwhile, took over the game in overtime, nailing three 3s in OT to finish with 18 points, 10 rebounds and 5 assists. The two played a combined 85 of a possible 90 game minutes.

What will keep Nevada from moving on: The Wolf Pack had trouble dealing with the size of Texas center Mohamed Bamba. Now they face one of the top rebounding teams in the country in Cincinnati, which outrebounded Georgia State by 20 on Friday, collecting 20 offensive boards alone. If the Wolf Pack get clobbered on the glass, they’ll stand little chance of scraping out a win.

No. 4 Auburn vs. No. 5 Clemson 7:10 p.m., San Diego, Midwest Region Player to watch: Clemson had been sputtering since losing senior forward Donte Grantham for the season because of a knee injury, but Shelton Mitchell gave the Tigers a major spark Friday. He scored a season-high 23 points and handed out five assists. Post-Grantham, Clemson has been searching for more offense. Since the ACC tournament, Mitchell has been answering that call.

What will keep Auburn from moving on: Clemson keeping the hot hand. Clemson, known for its defense, torched New Mexico State and shot 56 percent from the field, including 43 percent from 3. If Clemson, which entered the tournament with the nation’s sixth-best adjusted defensive efficiency, keeps shooting anywhere close to that, it will be a tough out for anyone.

What will keep Clemson from moving on: Auburn knocking down tough shots late. In Friday’s narrow win over Charleston, Auburn nailed four contested 3-pointers in the second half, including two in the final two minutes, according to ESPN Stats & Info. Although Auburn struggled to shoot for much of the game, the closing minutes of the second half were a different story.

• Tournament bracket | PDF | GIF • Tournament Challenge: Check brackets • 538: Win probabilities & predictions • Best bets for Sunday’s games • 2018-19 projections for tourney teams • College Basketball PickCenter • College Basketball Scoreboard • College Basketball Nation blog • NCAA tournament schedule • Full NCAA tournament coverage <!– • What you need to know for Saturday • BPI tournament projections • BPI: Projections | Best bracket tips • Scouting the entire tournament field • FiveThirtyEight: Win probabilities • NCAA tournament bracket cheat sheet • ESPN expert picks for the Final Four • Best bets for first-round games • Bilas picks every game of the tourney • Who are the tourney’s best players? • NCAA tournament bold predictions • Who is this year’s Kemba Walker? • Spreads for every first-round game • Selection Sunday winners and losers –>

No. 1 Xavier vs. No. 9 Florida State 8:40 p.m., Nashville, Tenn., West Region Player to watch: The Musketeers lean heavily on Trevon Bluiett for scoring. But on Friday, backcourt wingman J.P. Macura dropped a career-high 29 points. When Macura produces offensively that way, it takes pressure off Bluiett.

What will keep Xavier from moving on: Florida State’s bench play. In Friday’s win over Missouri, the Seminoles got 42 of their 67 points from their bench, led by Mfiondu Kabengele, PJ Savoy and Trent Forrest, who all finished in double figures.

What will keep Florida State from moving on: Bluiett’s greatness. The Musketeers are 19-1 when he scores at least 20 points. The problem for Florida State is that Bluiett usually gets to 20.

No. 5 West Virginia vs. No. 13 Marshall 9:40 p.m., San Diego, East Region Player to watch: Jon Elmore was sensational for Marshall in Friday’s upset of 4-seed Wichita State. Elmore scored 27 points, nailing four 3s while getting to the free throw line 15 times. Elmore is unafraid to shoot, no matter how far he is from the basket.

What will keep West Virginia from moving on: Fouls. As a team that presses full court, West Virginia is always going to be a team that fouls an inordinate amount. But Marshall overall is an excellent free throw shooting team, averaging 77 percent from the line as a unit. The Mountaineers have to be who they are. But against their in-state rivals, they must strive to keep Marshall out of the bonus for as long as possible.

What will keep Marshall from moving on: Turnovers. Although the Thundering Herd turned the ball over only nine times against Wichita State, Marshall can get careless with the pace with which it plays. West Virginia’s lifeblood is forcing turnovers. Marshall can’t afford to give away possessions — or baskets to Jevon Carter and Daxter Miles Jr. going the other way off the break.

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Full 2018 NCAA Tournament Breakdown

Once again it’s time. Time for all of us to fill out a bracket, drop some knowledge on college basketball and get beat by our 8-year-old niece in the family pool. The NCAA Tournament is always a fun time to take sick days and day drink while watching basketball. Before you do, take a look at my March Madness preview for upsets and Final Four predictions. Also, don’t forget folks, #IntegrityBracket.

NCAA Tournament East Region (Boston, MA)

This region may be the easiest path for a #1 seed. Now that I’ve said that, Villanova may lose in the second round. I absolutely love Purdue in this region and they have a great setup. I wouldn’t expect too many, if any, upsets here. So let’s get to the first region of the NCAA Tournament.

Best Potential Upset: #9 Alabama vs. #1 Villanova (Round of 32)

Do I really think this happens? Not entirely. The Crimson Tide certainly played their way into the tournament and Collin Sexton is one helluva player. I do think Alabama makes it past Virginia Tech and they give ‘Nova a great test. However, Jay Wright is a tremendous coach and Jalen Brunson is a STUD. You should 1000% watch this game cause the Tide is rising and next year’s NCAA Tournament will be that much more fun.

Best Game to Watch: #1 Villanova vs. #2 Purdue (Elite Eight)

This matchup is pure chalk, yes, but it’s also an amazing regional final. Two teams ranked in the top-5 in Basketball Power Index (BPI), each with great outside shooting ability. Between the aforementioned Brunson and Purdue’s Carsen Edwards, expect a bunch of threes going up. The Boilermakers have a leg up in the paint with Isaac Haas but freshman Omari Spellman will be a fun matchup for him. Bigger help will be the tremendous guard play that the Wildcats have.

I love this Purdue team so much. Almost enough to pick them to win it all.

East Region Winner: Villanova

There’s a difference between experience and “big game” experience. The teams and coaches that have the most time in those big games will succeed. In this region, nobody better than Jay Wright and the five-time defending Big East champions.

NCAA Tournament South Region (Atlanta, GA)

With Virginia as the overall #1 seed in this NCAA Tournament and a sentimental favorite for the title, a lot of people will be hoping for chalk here. But, there a couple others to have an eye on. Including a pair of impressive SEC teams and maybe the biggest seeding snub.

Best Potential Upset: #11 Loyola-Chicago vs. #3 Tennessee (Sweet Sixteen)

Do you want your best shot at Cinderella? Here it is. The Ramblers haven’t been dancing since 1985 but they sure as hell earned their spot this year. They have a tremendous defense and four players shooting over 50% from the floor, each averaging at least 10 points per game. Loyola-Chicago will definitely beat Miami in the first round without top dog Bruce Bowen, Jr. Whether or not they beat the Volunteers will depend on how much Tennessee’s offense fades away like it did against Kentucky in the SEC Final.

Loyola-Chicago is easily the best chance at Cinderella this year.

Best Game to Watch: #4 Arizona vs. #5 Kentucky (Round of 32)

In my opinion, the Wildcats are playing the best basketball out of anybody right now. For as much as I dislike John Calipari, his coaching job has been beyond phenomenal this year. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is an unreal Canadian freshman with boatloads of talent. Pair that with Kevin Knox in the paint and Kentucky can make some serious noise. However, to most of the world, Arizona has gone unnoticed due to the time difference. If you only know Deandre Ayton cause of the wire-tapping claims, you’re missing out. Kid averages a double-double and is going to look really good in a Cleveland Cavaliers uniform this fall.

South Region Winner: Virginia

The old cliche is “defense wins championships” and the Cavaliers play defense better than anyone. As talented as teams like Cincinnati, Kentucky, and Tennessee are, Virginia is just better. Kyle Guy has a year of experience under his belt and the confidence of this team’s dominance all year long has to have them flying high. They really do have a favorable path to San Antonio and they’ll probably take it rather simply.

NCAA Tournament West Region (Los Angeles, CA)

Alright, I’ve got a bone to pick with this region. I did not think Xavier deserved a top-seed (Cinci should have). If North Carolina had won the ACC Tournament, they would have gotten it. This region is the most up in the air in my opinion and should prove quite entertaining.

Best Potential Upset: #12 South Dakota State vs. #5 Ohio State (First Round)

First-round matchups will always be interesting, especially in the 5/12 games. Only four times in history have we gone through the first round with a #12 failing to pull an upset. The Jackrabbits have a point differential of +11 this year and their big man Mike Daum dominates down low. I’m very iffy on Ohio State. You can’t beat Michigan State by 16, split meetings with Michigan and then lose three times to the embarrassingly bad Penn State. Head Coach Chris Holtmann has done an amazing job with the Buckeyes but the popular move is to pick SDSU. Go for it.

Best Game to Watch: #2 North Carolina vs. #3 Michigan (Sweet Sixteen)

It’s always nice when you get chalk meetings late in the tournament because it really is the best case scenario if you want a good game. And this may be the game of the tournament. Watching the ACC tournament I really enjoyed Theo Pinson. His court vision is tremendous and it makes Luke Maye and Joel Berry II so much more dangerous. Add in Cam Johnson and the defending NCAA Tournament champs are insanely talented. Meanwhile, the Wolverines have a three-headed monster of their own. Not to mention John Beilein is a great tournament coach and they don’t have much of a roadblock on the way to the Sweet Sixteen.

John Beilein has the Wolverines primed for another deep tournament run.

West Region Winner: Michigan

If it wasn’t for the Big Ten tournament being a week earlier, I’d consider the Wolverines the team playing the best right now. They still are playing well having won 11 of their last 12 games, including another tournament title. Most importantly, they have the best tournament experience of anyone in the bracket. Moritz Wagner, Muhammad-Ali Abdur-Rahkman (great name), and Charles Matthews is a three-headed monster.

NCAA Tournament Midwest Region (Omaha, NE)

Welcome to the biggest wildcard part of the bracket. There are multiple national championship contenders in this region and the best chance for your bracket to get busted. I see four potential champs and the most intriguing possible upset.

Best Potential Upset: #8 Seton Hall vs. #1 Kansas

Listen, I firmly believe that IF Arizona State advances past Dayton, they take down TCU and advance to the second round. However, they will lose to Michigan State. This makes an incredibly experienced Seton Hall squad my favorite potential upset pick of the tournament. If Udoka Azubuike is still out with an ankle, it makes the pick that much better. Seniors Khadeen Carrington, Angel Delgado, and Desi Rodriguez want to go out on a high note. The question is if their head coach, Kevin Willard, will let them.

Pre-season Player of the Year in my opinion. Might lead his team to the title anyway.

Best Game to Watch: #2 Duke vs. #3 Michigan State

This might actually be the national championship game before we even get to San Antonio. The Blue Devils have been the most intriguing team down the stretch, dominating in a number of ways. They also have the best freshman (maybe player) in the country in Marvin Bagley III. Add both Wendell Carter, Jr. and Grayson Allen to the mix and they may be the most talented team in the tourney. That is until you look at the Spartans. With my preseason pick for Player of the Year in Miles Bridges, Nick Ward, Joshua Langford, and more, Michigan State plays great at both ends. Yes, Coach K got the win earlier this year but March is made for Tom Izzo.

Midwest Region Winner: Michigan State

I picked Sparty at the start of the year to win the national title so naturally, they are going to advance to the Final Four. Should they get past Duke, a matchup with Kansas will be like practice to them. Michigan State is a well-experienced team with just enough youth to play without concern. Plus, it’s Tom Izzo in the NCAA Tournament. Good luck betting against him.

Final Four (San Antonio, TX) Predictions

The road to San Antonio will be bumpy for some.

Michigan State over Villanova

Virginia over Michigan

NCAA Tournament Champion: Michigan State over Virginia, 74-65 (Defense wins championships but experience rules all. Sparty On)

Want to hear more from Christian? Follow him on Twitter or check out his podcasts “Press Row” and “The Cheap Seats” to learn more.

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It’s that time of year again, Nation!

Time for office pools and side bets a-plenty as the NCAA Tournament rolls out March Madness. Our own Logan Crosland has checked in with his thoughts and predictions.

Our man Logan checks in with his March Madness thoughts

West

Most Intriguing First Round Matchup: Texas A&M vs. Providence—This is probably the most intriguing matchup of the entire first round. I’ve been able to watch both of these teams a lot this season and both have impressed me. If Kyron Cartwright plays the way he did in the Big East Championship game, Providence will not only win this game, but could make a deep run overall. On the other hand, if the two big guys for A&M, Tyler Davis and Robert Williams, can dominate the paint and the guards can make some outside shots, they will control the game. I believe Providence will win this game because I trust they’ll come to play more so than A&M.

Most Likely First Round Upset: South Dakota State over Ohio State—South Dakota State has one of the best scorers in the country in Mike Daum. Anytime you have an elite scorer on your team that can take over a game, you have a chance to win not only your first round game, but maybe make a bit of a run. If they can somehow figure out a way to match the size and athleticism of Ohio State, Daum can lead them to the second round.

Sleeper Team: Michigan—Michigan has been one of the hottest teams over the last month of the season. The Wolverines’ run through Big 10 tournament was incredibly impressive and quite dominant. This team has been very good on defense all season, but their offense really has started to run like a well-oiled machine as of late. This team will be incredibly dangerous for whoever plays them and I wouldn’t be shocked if they make a run to San Antonio.

Elite Eight Prediction: North Carolina over Gonzaga—North Carolina is a team that I always trust when tournament time comes around, and though this year’s team isn’t as consistently good as previous teams have been, it’s March Madness and I always trust Roy Williams this time of year. I think they will face off in a rematch of last year’s national championship against Gonzaga in the Elite Eight. Gonzaga will have the size advantage down low, but I fully expect Joel Berry and Luke Maye to lead this team to the Final Four for the third year in a row.

Midwest

Most Intriguing First Round Matchup: Rhode Island vs Oklahoma—This matchup is intriguing because of one player, and that player is Trae Young. Oklahoma shouldn’t even be in this tournament according to most people. This game will prove if they are really worthy or not and if Trae Young can make himself a March legend by carrying this team far into the tournament. A second round matchup with Duke would be very intriguing as well.

Most Likely First Round Upset: Winner of Syracuse/Arizona State over TCU—I believe whoever comes out of this play-in game will beat TCU. The Horned Frogs were one of those teams that started the season very hot and looked like they may be able to put together a magical season. Then they got into conference play and struggled mightily. Syracuse I trust because of the tournament experience of their coach and their size. Arizona State I trust because of their guard play. Either way, TCU will fall in this game.

Sleeper Team: Auburn—Auburn is team that has impressed me all year. They have two great guards in Bryce Brown and Jared Harper that can shoot lights-out. They are a bit undersized as they lost one of their bigs, Anfernee McLemore, late in the season. We have seen in the past what a team that has a couple of shooters can do, and I believe it could make for a nice run in the tourney for the Tigers.

Elite Eight Prediction: Michigan State over Kansas—This game comes down to the fact that the Jayhawks have not played anyone with the size that Michigan State is going to throw at them in this matchup. Devontae Graham is a great player and leader, which is a reason that it wouldn’t shock me at all if Kansas wins this game. Like I’ve said a few times already though, it’s all about who you trust in this level of the tournament, and Kansas seems to fade around this time every year, while Michigan State thrives. That coupled with the size advantage they have, I’ll take the Spartans to go the Final Four.

East

Most Intriguing First Round Matchup: Butler vs Arkansas—Butler is always a perennial tough out in the tournament, as the Bulldogs always seem to pull off at least an upset or two in the tournament. Arkansas has a very impressive trio of senior guards in Jaylen Barford, Daryl Macon, and Anton Beard. They also have a freshman big guy in Daniel Gafford that can change any game he is in.

Most Likely First Round Upset: St. Bonaventure over Florida—The Gators may be one of the coldest teams coming into the tournament this year. They didn’t finish the regular season well and lost their first game in the SEC tournament. On the other hand, the Bonnies have already played a play-in game, so they are tournament-tested and I just don’t trust the Gators if Chris Chiozza doesn’t take over the game.

Sleeper Team: Arkansas—As I said above, the Razorbacks can be very dangerous because they have a trio of senior guards that can shoot really well. They also have a big guy in Gafford and if he is on, there might not be anyone who can stop him. Those two things could make them incredibly dangerous as the tournament goes on.

Elite Eight Prediction: Villanova over Purdue—Villanova is always a perennial favorite in the tournament ever year and I believe that the Wildcats have what it takes to go all the way this year as well. The Boilermakers have a size advantage over pretty much anybody they face and I think it will get them to this point. I believe the play of Jalen Brunson will prove to be the difference for Villanova and they will be moving on to the Final Four.

South

Most Intriguing First Round Matchup: Kentucky vs Davidson—This is a matchup of perhaps the two hottest teams in the country coming in. Kentucky comes in having won seven of its last eight and winning all three of its SEC tournament games in fairly dominant fashion. Davidson is a bid stealing team that made its way through a very difficult A-10 Conference tournament, beating favorite Rhode Island in the final to secure a bid. The Wildcats are playing the best they’ve played all season, but Davidson’s elite score Peyton Aldridge is going to make sure he does everything he can to put an early end to Kentucky’s tourney run.

Most Likely First Round Upset: Loyola-Chicago over Miami—Loyola-Chicago is the trendy upset pick in this year’s tournament, and with good reason. The Ramblers play a slow style that allows them to control pretty much any game. They also shoot the ball from deep at a very high percentage and defend at a very efficient rate. I fully expect the Ramblers to take care of the Canes in this matchup.

Sleeper Team: Tennessee—Tennessee is a team that overachieved all season and the Vols were able to take that all the way to being regular season co-champions of the SEC. They have one of the most dominant front lines in the country with Grant Williams and Admiral Schofield. Williams, the SEC Player of the Year, has the ability to take over games and really just dominate whoever he is matched up with for the night on both sides of the floor. Schofield dominates the paint in every game that he is in, offensively and defensively, and I think I would pick him against any big man in the country at this moment.

Elite Eight Prediction: Virginia over Tennessee—As described above, I am a big believer in Tennessee. I believe they will make it all the way to the Elite Eight and match up against the best defensive team in the country in Virginia. I believe the dominant defense of Virginia will prove to be the difference and the Cavaliers will not only advance to the Final Four, but the championship game.

Final Four: Virginia over North Carolina, Villanova over Michigan State

National Championship: Villanova over Virginia—Villanova always seems to get here year-in-and-year-out. The Wildcats just always seem to be playing their best basketball coming into the tourney and I really believe this year is no different. Virginia’s defense is elite and I feel that will propel the Cavs all the way to the finals, but Villanova has won a title fairly recently and I think they have the big-game experience edge.

March Madness has been known to throw us some shockers in the past, so anything can happen in the next month. That’s why they call it MARCH MADNESS!

[tylerarltunl]

Tyler’s Takes 2.0

March 11, 2018

College Basketball Exclusive

Welcome back to Tyler's Takes! This week I will be focusing only on college basketball as the field of 68 was set of the NCAA tournament and sadly I have to mention the NIT since that is where one of my teams and my alma-mater ended up. So let's get it to it!

College Basketball

Duke Blue Devils

Duke only has themselves to blame for the region of death. Two losses to North Carolina sealed their fate as a two seed. Out of all the 1 seeds I wanted to avoid Villanova. Xavier and Kansas are quality teams but I think Duke matches up well with either of them and Duke ended up getting the two seed in the Midwest region. Duke vs. Michigan State would be an excellent game but as a fan I would prefer blow outs and an easier match up. Kansas has a really easy path to the Elite 8. They should be there... now Duke's half of the bracket is tricky. Michigan State should breeze into the Sweet 16 without breaking a sweat. Iona the 15 seed plays a hectic and crazy pace. Duke will have to play their game and be focused. This Duke team has shown the ability to loose to inferior teams this season and that is concerning because Iona is not a pushover by any means. I see Duke vs. Iona as a first half battle that balloons to a 15+ point victory for Duke. Now to the second round. I would prefer if Duke played OU. Rhode Island has been ranked in the top 25 consistently all year. With either OU or Rhode Island Duke's bigs (Wendell Carter and Marvin the Third) should dominate. Rhode Island is the better team but the Trey Young factor against Duke's zone defense is a wee bit scary as well. If he goes off Duke could be looking at another early exit. I don't think it happens. OU plays with a fire and beats Rhode Island but Duke is too much for OU at every position. Trey Young keeps it interesting for the first 10-12 minutes but Duke sets the tone after that. This Duke team has the most talent in the country. If they play their A+ game I don't think they can be beat. The problem is I haven't seen the A+ game since Duke beat Louisville in Cameron Indoor.

PREDCITON- Duke goes 2-0.

Nebraska Cornhuskers

WOW. I thought this team deserved to be in the NCAA Tournament. Little did I know they were barely invited to the NIT Tournament. All bubble teams have flaws and Nebraska's flaw happened to be what the committee chose to care about most this year with the quadrant system as a guide. "Quality" wins were talked about at length and Nebraska just did not have enough of those. I feel for this team because they are talented enough to play in a Sweet 16 this year but will not get the chance. I think it is a good learning moment for their young talent. If you roll the ball on the court I think Nebraska today would beat Syracuse, Arizona State, UCLA, Oklahoma, St. Bons, and TCU. Sadly that is not how the NCAA Tournament is chosen. Now to the slap in the face and maybe the chip on the shoulder that ignites this team to run to Madison Square Garden and cut down the nets.... A 5 seed in the NIT is ridiculous and laughable. LSU is a three seed at 17-14 in a bad SEC. Utah a 2 seed at 19-11 in an awful PAC-12. Nebraska should be playing a game or two in Pinnacle Bank Arena but they aren't and will have to get over it. I think they use this as motivation and beat Mississippi State by 12+ in Starksville. Now can James Palmer Jr please come back for a run at the tournament next year? I sure hope so because Isaiah Roby is going to blossom in to a star.

Prediction- Nebraska wins by 12+ on Wednesday

Everything Else

Oklahoma State was the team got screwed the most by the committee. If they put OU in they had to put the Pokes in by my standards. They went 2-1 against OU and swept Kansas in the regular season.. OU gets way to much credit for wins in November and December when teams did not know who the heck Trey Young was. Oklahoma State's non-conference was not as impressive as OU's BUT that is not the same OU team I have seen for the last month and a half. I was fine with both being left out or if one team made it out of the two it should have been Oklahoma State. I hope to the good man upstairs the committee didn't factor in Trey Young because that is not what the NCAA Tournament should be about.

PREDITICON- OU plays their best game in a month and a half against Rhode Island since they are tired of hearing they don't belong and win, Then return to form and lose to Duke, Oklahoma State shows the committee why they should be in the field of 68 and win by 20+.

What a match up of Creighton and Kansas State. Marcus Foster against his old team and his old coach. Creighton and Kansas State are the same team with different styles. Creighton is going to shoot 3s and get good looks while Kansas State is going to muck it up and play really good defense. They are the same team because neither team has a bad loss. Creighton has shown the ability to beat the best of the best with a home win against Villanova and Kansas State just didn't lose a horrendous game all year. Both are just solid in what they do and how they play. To be honest both stand a change against Virginia in the next round. If Kansas State advances and plays Virginia that will be a game that might put you to sleep. The first team to 45 could win that game. Creighton has a better chance to beat Virginia with their ability to shoot the 3 ball but I think Kansas State matches up really well with Creighton and Marcus Foster tries to do to much against his former team.

PREDICITON- Kansas State beats Creighton, Marcus Foster costs Creighton late with some selfish basketball, Kansas State losses a brutal game to watch against Virginia but covers the spread.

I might be called a hater for this but man this Wichita State team scares me and in a bad way for their fans. Shaq Morris is a beast and doesn't get enough praise nationally but Wichita State has played suspect defense at best all season. I know very little about Marshall (the team they play in the first round) but I would not be shocked to see the Shockers in a final possession game. I don't know who I am picking in this matchup but I am confident in the fact that the Shockers will struggle and lose to West Virginia in the second round. McDuffy just hasn't been the same and Landry Shamet can't do it all against a press that will drive him crazy.

PREDICTION- The Shockers escape Marshall but run into a team they don't match up well against in West Virginia.

I will wrap up with Kansas. This Kansas team is good. It is not the best Kansas team in recent memory though. They have been better than the sum of their parts all year and if they can keep it up they will cruise to an Elite 8. If Malik Newman and Desosa keep playing they way they did in the Big 12 Tournament this KU team could make it all they way to the Final Four. I say that on one hand but my other hand comes back and slaps sense into me with this.. KU won 11 games by single digits this season. They have lost to mediocre teams this season as well. That makes me think this could be an early exit year for Kansas because NC State has proven it can beat the top teams in the field. Kansas is very interesting because by the numbers they should walk to the Elite 8 but something is telling me this could be a one weekend team.

PREDICTION- Kansas doesn't stub its toe and makes the Sweet 16 but NC State or Seaton Hall give them a scare.

Final Thoughts

March Madness is finally here. This is the best tournament in sports. I feel like the past few years upsets just haven't been there. That is what makes March so special. I think there are some good teams that can pull a few upsets. If you are filling out a bracket consider Loyola Chicago, Wright State, and San Diego State on Thursday as possible upsets and on Friday look for whoever TCU ends up playing, Murray State, and Marshall. My are you crazy never going to happen but you heard it here first picks if it does happen are Georgia State over Cincinnati and College of Charleston over Auburn. I will post my bracket in a special 2.5 edition of Tyler's Takes on Wednesday night after the play in games. Thanks for reading!

[yahoo-the-dagger-blog]

Three things the NCAA tournament committee got right and three it got wrong

The NCAA tournament selection committee unveiled its bracket Sunday evening. Here’s a look at three things it got right and three things it got wrong: 

What committee got right: Emphasis on schedule strength

When selection committee chairman Bruce Rasmussen was asked why 28-win Saint Mary’s did not receive an at-large bid, he offered a blunt response. Rasmussen noted that only four of the Gaels’ wins came against the top two quadrants and added that Gaels coach Randy Bennett did not assemble a tough enough schedule.

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All but two of the opponents on Bennett’s non-league slate finished the season outside the top 100 in the RPI. The two exceptions were WAC champion New Mexico State and a Georgia team that finished in the bottom half of the SEC.

One valid excuse Saint Mary’s can offer is that scheduling Cal and Dayton didn’t provide the expected boost. The Bears finished second-to-last in the Pac-12 and the Flyers endured a rebuilding season. Another worthwhile counterpoint is that it’s hard for a mid-major like Saint Mary’s to assemble a formidable schedule. No Pac-12 programs are eager to schedule a home-and-home with the Gaels.

The message from Rasmussen is that Bennett can’t rely on just piling up third and fourth quadrant wins and beating Gonzaga once in league play. He needs to get creative. Reach out to top-tier Mountain West and Atlantic 10 schools about scheduling a series. Go find a mid-tier Pac-12 team who’s willing to play on a neutral site.

Ultimately, it’s important for the sport that the selection committee rewards strong non-conference schedules and penalizes teams who don’t play anyone. College basketball already has too many one-sided games between sharks and minnows in November and December. The committee can’t give teams incentive to schedule more.

What committee got wrong: Syracuse

The most surprising inclusion in this year’s NCAA tournament was a team who is accustomed to nabbing unexpected at-large bids. Syracuse made it again with a resume that upon close inspection does not appear good enough.

One of a record five at-large teams to make the NCAA tournament despite a sub-.500 record in its league, Syracuse went 8-10 in the ACC, suffered sub-100 RPI losses to Wake Forest and Georgia Tech and crashed out of the league tournament in the second round. The Orange went 0-5 against the ACC’s three best teams, though they did pick up solid home wins against Clemson and Virginia Tech and quality road victories at Miami and Louisville.

Syracuse played a respectable non-conference schedule, but both Kansas and St. Bonaventure beat the Orange. Their best non-conference wins were against Buffalo, Maryland and Iona.

Every bubble team’s resume was flawed, but there were a handful with a stronger argument than Syracuse’s. Oklahoma State boasted a much stronger collection of quality wins. USC finished second in its league and reached its conference tournament title game. Louisville didn’t lose to a single team that didn’t make the NCAA tournament.

None of those teams are egregious snubs, but you can make a case for any of them over the Orange.

What committee got right: Seeding (with one exception)

Of all the years I’ve done this column, this was the toughest one to identify egregious seeding errors from the committee. There were no inexplicable decisions like Wichita State receiving a No. 10 seed seed last year despite a top 10 KenPom ranking or Oregon getting jobbed with a No. 12 seed four years ago when most projected them six or seven seed lines higher.

This year’s committee made the obvious choice in selecting Virginia, Villanova, Kansas and Xavier as the No. 1 seeds. It’s hard to argue with any of the No. 2 seeds either as North Carolina and Duke were clear picks, Purdue had the strongest resume of any Big Ten team and Cincinnati left no doubt with its sweep of the American regular season and tournament titles.

There are some who believe Big Ten regular season champion Michigan State got shafted with a No. 3 seed, but only two of the Spartans’ 29 wins this season came against NCAA tournament teams. There are some who have argued Arizona deserved better than a No. 4 seed after sweeping the Pac-12 regular season and tournament titles, but the highest seeded teams the Wildcats beat all season were Texas A&M (7) and Alabama (9).

You could reasonably argue that West Virginia (5) shouldn’t be two seed lines below fellow Big 12 power Texas Tech (3), but give credit to the committee if something that minor is among the biggest blunders. In fact, there’s only one team in the whole field who has a real gripe about its seeding, and that team is way down on the No. 16 line.

The NCAA tournament committee made some controversial choices on bubble teams, but did a better than usual job on seeding this year. (Getty)

What committee got wrong: Penn’s No. 16 seed (the exception)

Some of the closest calls No. 1 seeds have endured in the opening round of the NCAA tournament occurred because the No. 16 seeds they were facing were grossly underseeded. That could happen again this year to Kansas when it takes on Ivy League champion Penn.

At 127 in Ken Pomeroy’s ratings, Penn (24-8) is the highest ranked No. 16 seed since 2012. The Quakers check in ahead of 14th seeded Wright State and three of this year’s four No. 15 seeds.

Penn hasn’t beaten any power-conference teams this season — it lost by 28 at Villanova and by nine to Temple — but the Quakers hail from a conference with a history of opening-round upsets. In the past eight years, Cornell has made a Sweet 16 run, Harvard has upset New Mexico and Cincinnati, Yale has toppled Baylor and Princeton has pushed Kentucky and Notre Dame to the brink.

None of this will probably matter because No. 1 seeds always manage to find a way, but consider this aspect of the matchup for a moment. Kansas’ greatest strength this season is its 3-point shooting. The single best thing Penn does is limit opponents to under 30 percent shooting from behind the arc.

What committee got right: Regional balance

Put a quick poll up on social media asking which region is the toughest. The fact that you’ll get votes for several different regions is a testament to the job the committee did balancing them this year.

There’s no unfairly overloaded region like a few years ago when the committee set up a gauntlet that included Kentucky, Louisville, Wichita State, Michigan and Duke. There’s also no empty region in which the No. 1 seed can just coast to the Final Four.

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The No. 1 seed with the biggest gripe is probably the No. 1 overall seed. The committee did Virginia no favors by throwing it into a region that includes four different regular season or tournament champs from major conferences, Cincinnati, Tennessee, Arizona and Kentucky.

This year’s most top-heavy region is the midwest as top three seeds Kansas, Duke and Michigan State are all title threats. But the committee did a reasonable job balancing that with sputtering Auburn, shorthanded Clemson and far-from intimidating TCU as the next three seeds.

Xavier was the weakest of the four No. 1 seeds, but the committee did a fairly good job offsetting that with the rest of the teams in the West Region. Second-seeded North Carolina had the most quadrant 1 wins of any team in the country, third-seeded Michigan enters the NCAA tournament on a tear after winning the Big Ten tournament and fourth-seeded Gonzaga is a top 10 team according to every predictive metric.

The one region that might be a little thin is Villanova’s. No. 2 seed Purdue and No. 3 seed Texas Tech may have peaked earlier in the season. But West Virginia is a tough team to prepare for in the NCAA tournament, and Wichita State is certainly no easy out.

What committee got wrong: USC

Halfway through the selection show, a text from a Pac-12 assistant coach popped up on my phone.

“Did I just witness USC not get in the tournament?” he said. “But the ninth-place team in the Pac-12 did?”

It’s surprising USC did not make the field when you consider that the Trojans finished second in the league and reached the conference tournament title game. It’s even more stunning when you consider that three other Pac-12 teams did make the NCAA tournament including an Arizona State team that finished four full games behind the Trojans in the Pac-12 standings.

You can certainly understand the committee’s thought process. Arizona State went 12-0 in non-league play including victories over Kansas, Xavier, Kansas State and San Diego State. USC beat only two NCAA tournament-bound teams all season, Big West tournament champ Cal State Fullerton and WAC champ New Mexico State.

But USC’s profile is not as empty as that would suggest. The Trojans finished with nine quadrant 1 and 2 wins, more than most bubble teams. And seven of those came away from home.

Ultimately, the issue isn’t with Arizona State making the field. It’s that if you take the Sun Devils, it seems like the Trojans belong too.

Kevin Ware, Christian Laettner, Ali Farokhmanesh, Bo Kimble

– – – – – – –

Jeff Eisenberg is a college basketball writer for Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at daggerblog@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter!

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This is when school basketball’s final six unbeaten groups might lose their first recreation

Parity will not be synonymous with school basketball, however early returns are exhibiting an uncommon bending of occasions simply over a month into the season. Amazingly, there are solely six undefeated groups left. Faculty basketball can typically rely on catching Christmas with that many nonetheless standing sans a scar. 

Not this season, although. After Mississippi State’s predictable 65-50 highway loss Tuesday night time to Cincinnati, only a half-dozen groups stay with a bagel within the L column — and the quantity might dwindle much more earlier than the weekend arrives. Nearly everybody has been tripped up, although. It might make for lots of enjoyable however difficult parsing of crew résumés down the highway.

The right way to account for this? It is laborious to, actually. There isn’t any one motive. Be it highway video games, neutral-site tournaments, accidents, suspensions or in any other case, 345 groups have taken on a loss and that has led to loads of inconsistency inside the rankings and seen an influence construction change amongst high conferences. The SEC is ranked larger than the Huge Ten. The Pac-12 is barely forward of the AAC at KenPom.

It is a flip from latest seasons, when school basketball has been boosted in three of the previous 4 years by having a crew get deep into February, if not March or April, earlier than shedding its first recreation. Bear in mind when these groups flirted with undefeated seasons?

2013-14: Wichita State ran the regular-season desk and earned a No. 1 seed as an unbeaten crew heading into the NCAAs earlier than shedding to Kentucky within the Spherical of 32.

2014-15: Kentucky made it to 38-Zero earlier than falling to Wisconsin within the Ultimate 4.

2016-17: Gonzaga bought all the way in which to its last recreation of the common season earlier than shedding in baffling style on its dwelling flooring to BYU.

It would not appear to be we will get that form of run this season, even when the present No. 1 crew within the nation appears succesful. In reality, Villanova won’t make it to subsequent week and not using a loss. 

This is who stays good, with ideas on every crew’s season thus far, when the primary loss ought to arrive and a prognostication on NCAA Match seeding.

Finest two wins: vs. SMU, vs. Nevada (in Los Angeles)

Subsequent three opponents: vs. Texas Southern (Dec. 18); vs. William & Mary (Dec. 22); vs. Oklahoma (Dec. 30)

Seed guess for Choice Sunday: No. Three

Jamie Dixon’s crew has not obtained constant acclaim for enjoying past expectations this season, however that ought to change quickly. The Horned Frogs had been anticipated to be a lock for the highest 4 of the Huge 12. Would possibly they wind up really tussling with Kansas atop the league standings? The Frogs are capturing 61 % from 2-point vary, fourth greatest within the nation. That is as a result of Kenrich Williams, Vladimir Brodziansky, J.D. Miller and Ahmed Hamdy could possibly be the very best entrance line in school basketball. All juniors or seniors. All serving to put TCU on the map nationally. This crew isn’t any fraud. Simply because it hasn’t been a program of be aware in a long time does not imply it deserves skepticism. 

TCU will get to 12-Zero, then that dwelling recreation vs. Oklahoma goes to be large. Each groups ought to crack 85. If TCU wins there, the highway recreation in opposition to Baylor on Jan. 2 might be the place it lastly will get tripped up. The Huge 12 total is simply too loaded this season to entertain any crew lasting into mid-January earlier than taking a league loss. It is the very best convention within the nation. 

Finest two wins: vs. Tennessee (within the Bahamas), vs. Gonzaga (at Madison Sq. Backyard)

Subsequent three opponents: at Temple (Wednesday); at Hofstra (Dec. 22); at DePaul (Dec. 27 on CBS Sports activities Community)

Seed guess for Choice Sunday: No. 1

The Temple tilt will likely be a Huge 5 matchup on the Owls’ dwelling flooring. Fran Dunphy’s crew might shock you and wind up within the NCAAs. Nova has appeared pretty much as good as anybody this season — however that is going to be a battle. It will be an fascinating subsequent two weeks for Jay Wright. After Temple comes a recreation at Hofstra, the place Wright coached earlier than incomes the VU gig. After that, league play begins on the highway at DePaul. DePaul will not be that good, however each coach needs to open convention play at dwelling. 

The Wildcats might get picked off earlier than 2018 arrives, however with how properly they’re balanced they don’t seem to be going to drop out of the highest 10 all season. It is not simply Jalen Brunson as a Participant of the Yr candidate at level guard. Mikal Bridges has discovered his new stage. In reality, Bridges ranks third in KenPom’s POY metric, a surprising improvement. Omari Spellman is a borderline top-10 freshman (albeit a redshirt) in America. Phil Sales space, Eric Paschall and Donte DiVincenzo are all able to placing up 15-plus on the suitable night time. To me, the almost definitely crew to be the final one standing and not using a loss. However at the least three are coming Villlanova’s approach earlier than we get to the Huge East Match. 

Finest two wins: vs. Xavier (in Las Vegas), at Kansas

Subsequent three opponents: vs. Vanderbilt (Dec. 17); vs. Longwood (Dec. 19); vs. Pacific (Dec. 22) 

Seed guess for Choice Sunday: No. Three

Beating Kansas on Sunday was big for Arizona State’s rating and nationwide fame. Amazingly, ASU is on this listing as a result of it simply earned its second non-league win in opposition to a top-10 crew in 38 years. The one different top-10 win the Solar Devils have had vs. a crew outdoors the Pac-Eight/Pac-10/Pac-12 since 1978-79 got here in 1994 in opposition to Maryland. Arizona State is off to its second 9-Zero begin in class historical past. Its longest profitable streak is 18 video games, which got here again in 1961-62. That season, ASU bought as excessive as No. Three within the Related Press ballot, a faculty report. The Solar Devils at the moment are No. 5, their highest rating since 1981.

The Solar Devils are poised to enter league play undefeated. Vanderbilt is up subsequent and the Commodores are solely Three-6. All three upcoming video games are on ASU’s dwelling flooring. This units up an incredible Dec. 30 recreation at Arizona to open Pac-12 play. It could possibly be the recreation of that weekend. ASU is unlikely to get via the primary quarter of the league schedule earlier than shedding, although. Even when it will get by Arizona, Colorado and Utah on the highway observe. ASU has a top-five offense, however the D is simply common. Somebody’s going to select the Solar Devils off inside the subsequent month. Nonetheless, what a narrative and what a enjoyable crew. Shannon Evans, Tra Holder and Kodi Justice are the very best three-headed senior assault in school hoops proper now. 

Finest two wins: at Rutgers, at Florida

Subsequent three opponents: vs. Oklahoma State (Saturday in Dawn, Florida); vs. Charleston Southern (Dec. 18); vs. Southern Miss (Dec. 21)

Seed guess for Choice Sunday: No. 6

That Oklahoma State recreation later this week is trickier than you would possibly assume. Florida State ought to win, however simply regulate it. The Notes blipped the nationwide radar with their 83-66 beatdown at Florida on Dec. four. Aside from that, not lots. Successful at Rutgers is not nothing, nevertheless it is not one thing. FSU ranks 28th in offensive and defensive effectivity at KenPom. It is high 10 in offensive rebound share, which is an enormous plus at this stage, however we’ve to account for the relative lack of measurement FSU has confronted in opposition to most non-conference groups as properly. Cannot deny that this crew is best than was anticipated on the entire, although. It misplaced Jonathan Isaac, Dwayne Bacon and Xavier Rathan-Mayes to the NBA Draft. It got here again with some expertise however nobody who was an alpha. Thus far junior small ahead Terance Mann and sophomore level guard C.J. Walker have flourished. 

Absolutely the furthest this crew will go earlier than shedding a recreation is Dec. 30. On that day, the Noles head to Duke. 

Finest two wins: at Richmond, Mount St. Mary’s

Subsequent three opponents: vs. Syracuse (Saturday on CBS ); vs. North Texas (Dec. 20); vs. Alabama A&M (Dec. 23)

Seed guess for Choice Sunday: NIT

The Hoyas’ notoriously depressing non-conference schedule, which ranks because the worst (351 out of 351) within the sport, is the rationale this crew will not be ranked in the mean time. Nor ought to it’s. With Patrick Ewing in his first season as a head coach, Georgetown pillowed up the non-con in an effort to construct confidence and crew morale. Thus far, so good. That’s: no mortifying losses to SWAC or MEAC groups. Mississippi State — after shedding to Cincinnati on Tuesday night time and dropping its first recreation of the season — did not obtain the backlash of Georgetown, however let the report mirror that as of Tuesday night time it ranked 346th in non-conference SOS. 

The Hoyas are most likely shedding at dwelling Saturday vs. Syracuse, nevertheless it’s a rivalry recreation so maybe not. I do not assume Cuse is an NCAA Match crew this season, so if the Hoyas can win that one then they’re most likely not dealing with the specter of a loss till the Huge East opener on Dec. 27 at dwelling in opposition to Butler. Absolutely the longest I see this streak going is Dec. 30. That is a roadie at Marquette. Georgetown will not be making it to 2018 undefeated. 

Finest two wins: at Minnesota, vs. La Salle (in Studying, Pennsylvania) 

Subsequent three opponents: at George Washington (Saturday on CBS Sports activities Community); at Hawaii (Dec. 22); vs. Davidson or New Mexico State (Dec. 23 in Hawaii)

Seed guess for Choice Sunday: No. 2

A program that was caught up with the FBI’s investigation — coach Jim Larranaga was subpoenaed however nobody from Miami was connected to the scheme straight — has not let that saga have an effect on its on-court play. The Hurricanes’ win at Minnesota appeared nice on the time, and can nonetheless carry worth, however Minnesota hasn’t been proper since that 86-81 loss. Miami was my preseason decide to win the ACC. I stand by it. This crew is loaded with athletes who’ve the dimensions to make each night time a nightmare for ACC foes. Larranaga’s teaching a top-five protection. The offense will solely get higher. One of the best signal for The U is that Bruce Brown has been merely good thus far. He is their greatest total participant, but sophomore energy ahead Dewan Huell and freshman capturing guard Lonnie Walker have been extra environment friendly. When all of the items click on, Miami could make a Ultimate 4 run. 

The schedule will get fascinating. George Washington will not be good this season, however no highway recreation in opposition to a crew from a top-10 convention is automated. Then Miami has to fly to Hawaii for the Diamond Head Traditional. It performs Hawaii first, then will face both Davidson or New Mexico State. The U is best than each of these groups, after all. From there, a possible championship recreation look in that bracket in opposition to Princeton (a attainable rematch), Center Tennessee, Akron or Southern California. Then it returns to the continental United States to play at Pitt, then at Georgia Tech. That will likely be 5 straight video games away from dwelling. Within the large image, it is lots to ask. I believe Miami will get picked off in a kind of 5. 

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Kansas vs. TCU 2017 live stream: How to watch online

The Horned Frogs get a home date with a hapless Kansas team on Saturday.

The No. 4 TCU Horned Frogs (6-0) more or less control their own destiny in the Big 12 race right now. They put their unbeaten record on the line in a home game with the Kansas Jayhawks (1-5) at 8 p.m. ET on FOX (live stream via Fox Sports Go).

The Horned Frogs endured a 26-6 win over the Kansas State Wildcats last week, with multiple weather delays stretching their game out into a marathon. The game was scheduled to begin at 11 a.m. local time, but thanks to a massive storm hitting the region, it didn’t finish until the early evening. Nevertheless, TCU took care of business, with Sewo Olonilua scoring two touchdowns and the defense holding K-State to just 216 total yards.

With multiple top-10 losses last week, TCU moved to No. 4 in the AP Poll and is knocking on the door of a potential College Football Playoff spot. All eyes are now on the upcoming showdown with the Oklahoma Sooners on Nov. 11, which could also be a rematch in the Big 12 Championship. But Gary Patterson’s team will cross that bridge when it gets there — right now, the focus is on avoiding any slip-ups.

Things are far less rosy in Lawrence, where the Jayhawks are scuffling through yet another lost season. They have yet to win a game in conference play and are only two losses away from missing bowl eligibility. Last week’s 45-0 loss to Iowa State was just more of the same for a team that hasn’t played in a bowl game since 2009. It doesn’t look like that drought will be ending any time soon.

Time, TV channel, and streaming info

Time: 8 p.m. ET

Location: Amon G. Carter Stadium, Fort Worth, Texas

TV: FOX

Streaming: Fox Sports Go

Odds: TCU is favored by 38

Kansas vs. TCU news:

Frogs o’ War has some words for AP voters still sleeping on TCU:

And maybe I’m old fashioned, maybe I’m old school. But if your team LOSES you shouldn’t be ranked ahead of quality (key word here) undefeated teams (especially if the team you lost to then lost to Iowa State- no offense Cyclones). So WHY IN THE WORLD IS OHIO STATE RANKED AHEAD OF US, KLATT?

Gary Patterson to Tennessee? Nah, probably not happening:

It’s a yearly occurrence now. October has come, college football dreams have been crushed, and disgruntled fans start doing a little internet shopping for a new head football coach.

This year, it’s Tennessee. Volunteer fans are mad online at Butch Jones, and they’re in the market for a new head man. It seems like a few have their eyes on TCU’s visored genius.

Back in 2014 I wrote an article about how Gary Patterson isn’t going anywhere. It’s still true.

Rock Chalk Talk reviews the Iowa State loss, which is a pretty grim picture:

KU didn’t cross its own 35-yard line until the fourth quarter.

THINK ABOUT THAT LAST SENTENCE.

Although I’m not even really sure that counts because KU didn’t “cross” the 35-yard line there, they received a punt on their own 39 and gained 8 yards on the return to start on their own 47. So yeah.

Will Kansas be looking for another head coach soon?

David Beaty was hired to replace Charlie Weis in 2015, but the results haven’t been much better. The Jayhawks are 3-27 under his watch and showing little-to-no signs of progress (last year’s stunning win over Texas notwithstanding).

Kansas football has always been kind of an afterthought at a basketball-first school, but the constant humiliating losses have to be wearing thin on the fan base. If Beaty finishes 2-10 or worse for the third straight year, it would not be surprising if he gets shown the door.

Kansas vs. TCU prediction:

On paper, this is a mismatch in every way, and there’s little reason to expect a letdown from Patterson’s squad. Look for the Horned Frogs to put this away early and give their backups some reps in the second half.

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(via TCU vs. Kansas State - 3/1/17 College Basketball Pick, Odds, and Prediction - Sports Chat Place)