THURSDAY 1-1 +9.40 UNITS
I will be out the rest of the night so here are my selections:
10 Units Duke -6.5 (WON 72-62) +10.00 UNITS
Illinois easily defeated a Cincinnati team that played hardly any defense Sunday 92-68. Deron Williams hit his first seven attempts, setting the tone for the Illini. Dee Brown has proven to be quite solid in both tourney games with 11 assists and only two turnovers in 74 minutes. Forwards James Augustine will throw his body to the floor to come up with loose balls and also bang for rebounds. He averages 9.3 ppg and 7.5 boards per game while Roger Powell averages 11.8 ppg and seems to rise to the occasion in big moments. Duke is yet to be tested in the tournament having won their two games by an average of 32.5 ppg. In the 90-62 victory over Seton Hall in the second round of the NCAA Tournament, J.J. Redick scored 21 points while Luol Deng went 6-for-9 for 20 points and Shavlik Randolph went 4-for-5 for eight points. Shelden Williams finished with 13 points and 11 rebounds. Junior Daniel Ewing is also hitting his typical postseason stride, scoring 11 points against Seton Hall. Illinois will need a big effort on both ends of the floor. Notice that Illinois is 0-2 SU/ATS as a road dog this season, giving up 88 points in a loss at North Carolina of the ACC and a 76-56 loss at Wisconsin. The Blue Devils may be the most confident team and well balanced offenses in the field and that adds up to trouble for Illinois.
Allstar
[This message was edited by Allstar on March 27, 2004 at 12:33 AM.]
I will be out the rest of the night so here are my selections:
10 Units Duke -6.5 (WON 72-62) +10.00 UNITS
Illinois easily defeated a Cincinnati team that played hardly any defense Sunday 92-68. Deron Williams hit his first seven attempts, setting the tone for the Illini. Dee Brown has proven to be quite solid in both tourney games with 11 assists and only two turnovers in 74 minutes. Forwards James Augustine will throw his body to the floor to come up with loose balls and also bang for rebounds. He averages 9.3 ppg and 7.5 boards per game while Roger Powell averages 11.8 ppg and seems to rise to the occasion in big moments. Duke is yet to be tested in the tournament having won their two games by an average of 32.5 ppg. In the 90-62 victory over Seton Hall in the second round of the NCAA Tournament, J.J. Redick scored 21 points while Luol Deng went 6-for-9 for 20 points and Shavlik Randolph went 4-for-5 for eight points. Shelden Williams finished with 13 points and 11 rebounds. Junior Daniel Ewing is also hitting his typical postseason stride, scoring 11 points against Seton Hall. Illinois will need a big effort on both ends of the floor. Notice that Illinois is 0-2 SU/ATS as a road dog this season, giving up 88 points in a loss at North Carolina of the ACC and a 76-56 loss at Wisconsin. The Blue Devils may be the most confident team and well balanced offenses in the field and that adds up to trouble for Illinois.
Allstar
[This message was edited by Allstar on March 27, 2004 at 12:33 AM.]
5 Units Georgia Tech -4 (WON 72-67) +5.00 UNITS
The Nevada Wolfpack (25-8 SU, 21-9 ATS) shoot 46% from the field outscoring teams by an impressive 74-71 average away from home. Nevada is on a roll, winning 16 of 18 games. They are led by 6’-6” junior Kirk Snyder (18 points and 5.5 rebounds per game), 6’-10” freshman Nick Fazekas (7.6 rpg) and 6’-9” junior Kevin Pinkney. They beat Kansas 75-61 as a +6 dog! Nevada carries a 9-0 SU/8-1 ATS run into this game, and is off a 91-72 upset of Gonzaga. The Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (25-9 SU, 18-15 ATS) have 7'-1" junior Luke Schenscher and 6'-6" Isma'il Muhammad up front and a deep backcourt anchored by guard B.J. Elder (16 ppg) and fiery Jarrett Jack. G-Tech is a strong 8-6 SU/ATS on the road. They played a tough schedule, too, beating UConn (77-61), Texas Tech (85-65) and Ohio State (73-53 on the road). Georgia Tech is 0-2 ATS the last two games, both close wins over Northern Iowa and Boston College. This is a tough side to call, but both look for a defensive game, as G-Tech allows 39% shooting and is 4-2 UNDER the total the last six games.
Allstar
[This message was edited by Allstar on March 27, 2004 at 12:28 AM.]
The Nevada Wolfpack (25-8 SU, 21-9 ATS) shoot 46% from the field outscoring teams by an impressive 74-71 average away from home. Nevada is on a roll, winning 16 of 18 games. They are led by 6’-6” junior Kirk Snyder (18 points and 5.5 rebounds per game), 6’-10” freshman Nick Fazekas (7.6 rpg) and 6’-9” junior Kevin Pinkney. They beat Kansas 75-61 as a +6 dog! Nevada carries a 9-0 SU/8-1 ATS run into this game, and is off a 91-72 upset of Gonzaga. The Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (25-9 SU, 18-15 ATS) have 7'-1" junior Luke Schenscher and 6'-6" Isma'il Muhammad up front and a deep backcourt anchored by guard B.J. Elder (16 ppg) and fiery Jarrett Jack. G-Tech is a strong 8-6 SU/ATS on the road. They played a tough schedule, too, beating UConn (77-61), Texas Tech (85-65) and Ohio State (73-53 on the road). Georgia Tech is 0-2 ATS the last two games, both close wins over Northern Iowa and Boston College. This is a tough side to call, but both look for a defensive game, as G-Tech allows 39% shooting and is 4-2 UNDER the total the last six games.
Allstar
[This message was edited by Allstar on March 27, 2004 at 12:28 AM.]
5 Units UAB +5 (LOST 74-100) -5.45 UNITS
Kentucky fans won't soon forget the name Mo Finley. Finley made a 17-foot jumper with 12.2 seconds left and ninth-seeded Alabama-Birmingham hung on to stun the tournament's No. 1 seed Wildcats 76-75 Sunday. Using a "40 minutes of Hell" attack that their coach Mike Anderson learned under Nolan Richardson at Arkansas, the UAB (22-9) Blazers took it to the Wildcats from the outset. Donell Taylor and Gabe Kennedy scored 13 apiece for the Conference USA regular season co-champs. UAB is an impressive 5-4 SU, 6-3 ATS as a road dog this season, and that doesn't include the last two games, upsetting Washington and Kentucky on neutral courts. Kansas' Wayne Simien had 18 points and 12 rebounds and shook off a nagging groin injury to lead the Jayhawks past Pacific 78-63 Sunday. The Jayhawks (23-8), combo of Simien and 6-foot-9 forward Jeff Graves combined to get Kansas a 40-27 rebounding edge and a 24-5 advantage in second-chance points. Keith Langford added 16 and J.R. Giddens 13. The Blazers continue to depend on depth and defense to win games, but they've struggled at times this season when they've missed shots and lost the battle of the boards. The Blazers are at their best when they are creating chaos which leads to fast breaks which will be tough to do when Simien (a man among boys) and Graves take possession of the paint. On the other hand, Kansas is a disappointing 6-7 SU, 5-8 ATS away from home this season.
Good Luck Tonight,
Allstar
[This message was edited by Allstar on March 27, 2004 at 12:29 AM.]
Kentucky fans won't soon forget the name Mo Finley. Finley made a 17-foot jumper with 12.2 seconds left and ninth-seeded Alabama-Birmingham hung on to stun the tournament's No. 1 seed Wildcats 76-75 Sunday. Using a "40 minutes of Hell" attack that their coach Mike Anderson learned under Nolan Richardson at Arkansas, the UAB (22-9) Blazers took it to the Wildcats from the outset. Donell Taylor and Gabe Kennedy scored 13 apiece for the Conference USA regular season co-champs. UAB is an impressive 5-4 SU, 6-3 ATS as a road dog this season, and that doesn't include the last two games, upsetting Washington and Kentucky on neutral courts. Kansas' Wayne Simien had 18 points and 12 rebounds and shook off a nagging groin injury to lead the Jayhawks past Pacific 78-63 Sunday. The Jayhawks (23-8), combo of Simien and 6-foot-9 forward Jeff Graves combined to get Kansas a 40-27 rebounding edge and a 24-5 advantage in second-chance points. Keith Langford added 16 and J.R. Giddens 13. The Blazers continue to depend on depth and defense to win games, but they've struggled at times this season when they've missed shots and lost the battle of the boards. The Blazers are at their best when they are creating chaos which leads to fast breaks which will be tough to do when Simien (a man among boys) and Graves take possession of the paint. On the other hand, Kansas is a disappointing 6-7 SU, 5-8 ATS away from home this season.
Good Luck Tonight,
Allstar
[This message was edited by Allstar on March 27, 2004 at 12:29 AM.]
SATURDAY SELECTIONS
FRIDAY 2-1 +9.55 UNITS
Anyone for a sweep today!!!
10 Units Connecticut -8.5 -108
The Crimson had a big week, knocking off Stanford and defending National Champ Syracuse handily 81-70 on Thursday. Earnest Shelton, who scored 22 points and Kennedy Winston (a first-team all-SEC player), with 19 put Alabama (20-12) ahead from the outside in the first half, then Chuck Davis, a 6-foot-7 sophomore, got rough inside in the second and added a game clinching 17 in the second half. Alabama's 3-point barrage offset Syracuse's dominance inside through the first half, putting the Crimson Tide up 38-36 at the break. The Tide went 8-for-15 on 3s in the first half, with Winston and Shelton each going 4-for-6. UConn took another step towards the Final Four on Thursday when they posted an another easy 73-53 victory over Vanderbilt. The win sent the Huskies (30-6) into the Elite Eight for the first time since they won the national championship in 1999. Emeka Okafor the 6-10 junior shot-blocker scored a quiet 12-point, 11-rebound performance. Okafor showed no signs of trouble from an ailing back that has bothered him all season. Rashad Anderson (15 points) and Ben Gordon (20) buried one three after another for a 45-27 halftime lead. The Connecticut defense has held NCAA opponents to an average 54 ppg while scoring an average 72 ppg. The Crimson can score from the perimeter, but the Huskies combo of Gordon and Okafor (who dominate on both ends of the court), will be too much, especially defensively.
Allstar
FRIDAY 2-1 +9.55 UNITS
Anyone for a sweep today!!!
10 Units Connecticut -8.5 -108
The Crimson had a big week, knocking off Stanford and defending National Champ Syracuse handily 81-70 on Thursday. Earnest Shelton, who scored 22 points and Kennedy Winston (a first-team all-SEC player), with 19 put Alabama (20-12) ahead from the outside in the first half, then Chuck Davis, a 6-foot-7 sophomore, got rough inside in the second and added a game clinching 17 in the second half. Alabama's 3-point barrage offset Syracuse's dominance inside through the first half, putting the Crimson Tide up 38-36 at the break. The Tide went 8-for-15 on 3s in the first half, with Winston and Shelton each going 4-for-6. UConn took another step towards the Final Four on Thursday when they posted an another easy 73-53 victory over Vanderbilt. The win sent the Huskies (30-6) into the Elite Eight for the first time since they won the national championship in 1999. Emeka Okafor the 6-10 junior shot-blocker scored a quiet 12-point, 11-rebound performance. Okafor showed no signs of trouble from an ailing back that has bothered him all season. Rashad Anderson (15 points) and Ben Gordon (20) buried one three after another for a 45-27 halftime lead. The Connecticut defense has held NCAA opponents to an average 54 ppg while scoring an average 72 ppg. The Crimson can score from the perimeter, but the Huskies combo of Gordon and Okafor (who dominate on both ends of the court), will be too much, especially defensively.
Allstar
10 Units Oklahoma State -2.5
Oklahoma State saved its best performance for the Pitt Panthers. Tony Allen heard about Pitt and how tough and physical a team the Panthers can be. Allen and the Cowboys took all the Panthers had on Thursday and gave it right back to them. The senior guard had 23 points and seven rebounds to lead OSU to a 63-51 win. The Cowboys all but took away the Panthers' second-shot opportunities, outrebounding the Panthers, 15-4, on Pitt's offensive glass in the second half. Pittsburgh's defense kept it close, and with the score tied 42-42 in the second half it was anybody's game until a late spurt. Jameer Nelson and Delonte West, the brilliant backcourt that carried St. Joseph's throughout the season, scored 24 points apiece to carry the Hawks to an 84-80 victory over Wake Forest on Thursday. St. Joe's guard Pat Carroll was a key contributor with 17 points, shooting 5-of-7 from three-point range. Once again Nelson showed why he is so deserving of the college POY. Nelson penetrated, found the open man time and again, nding the open man. He also shot, rebounded and led the Hawks, something he appears ready to do once again on Saturday on the road to the Final Four. Saturday's game should effectively answer the question whether the Hawks deserved the # 1 seed or not. Both teams come off excellent total team effort games. OSU has the frontcourt edge, St. Joe's the backcourt edge. Expect a see-saw battle and a close one.
Good Luck Today,
Allstar
Oklahoma State saved its best performance for the Pitt Panthers. Tony Allen heard about Pitt and how tough and physical a team the Panthers can be. Allen and the Cowboys took all the Panthers had on Thursday and gave it right back to them. The senior guard had 23 points and seven rebounds to lead OSU to a 63-51 win. The Cowboys all but took away the Panthers' second-shot opportunities, outrebounding the Panthers, 15-4, on Pitt's offensive glass in the second half. Pittsburgh's defense kept it close, and with the score tied 42-42 in the second half it was anybody's game until a late spurt. Jameer Nelson and Delonte West, the brilliant backcourt that carried St. Joseph's throughout the season, scored 24 points apiece to carry the Hawks to an 84-80 victory over Wake Forest on Thursday. St. Joe's guard Pat Carroll was a key contributor with 17 points, shooting 5-of-7 from three-point range. Once again Nelson showed why he is so deserving of the college POY. Nelson penetrated, found the open man time and again, nding the open man. He also shot, rebounded and led the Hawks, something he appears ready to do once again on Saturday on the road to the Final Four. Saturday's game should effectively answer the question whether the Hawks deserved the # 1 seed or not. Both teams come off excellent total team effort games. OSU has the frontcourt edge, St. Joe's the backcourt edge. Expect a see-saw battle and a close one.
Good Luck Today,
Allstar
