NCAAB
Armadillo's Write-Up
Thursday, March 13
ACC tournament (Greensboro)
Miami survived brickfest with Va Tech yesterday; only one sub played more than 7 minutes, four starters played 33+. 'canes won three of last four with NC State; teams split this year. Wolfpack won first meeting 56-55, then lost rematch 85-70, when Miami shot 61% inside arc. State is 3-4 in its last seven games, with two losses by a point- they're 4-2 in this tourney under Gottfried, winning two games each year.
Big Dozen tourney (Indianapolis)
Minnesota swept Penn State this season, 68-65 on road, 81-63 at home four days ago, when they shot 72% (18-25) inside arc; Gophers are 4-7 in last 11 games, with one win by more than 6 points. Lions lost six of last nine games, but they won two of last three road games. Gophers are 4-2 in first tourney games last six years, but defend arc (37.3%) worse than anyone in league; PSU is 3-8 in its last 11 first tourney games.
AAC tournament (Memphis)
UConn swept Memphis this year, 83-73 here, 86-81 in OT at home Feb 15, when they outscored Mermphis 29-6 on foul line. Huskies shot 65% inside arc in first meeting; they scored 1.3/1.13 ppp in two series games. Memphis won 15 of last 16 conference tourney games, albeit in different league; Huskies won seven of last eight, but didn't play in tourney LY because of APR problems. Tough for UConn to play road game here.
Big X tournament (Kansas City)
Iowa State won four of last six games with Kansas State, splitting a pair this year; ISU won 81-75 at home, then lost rematch 80-73 on road 12 days ago. Cyclones shot 58 (28/30) FTs in two games, but were 9-18 on arc in their win, 7-27 in loss. Wildcats lost seven of last eight road tilts, with only win at Texas Tech. Iowa State is 1-8 in this event last eight years; K-State lost its first tourney games four of last six years.
Oklahoma State is 5-1 since Smart came back from suspension, beating Kansas 72-65 (-1.5) 12 days ago, after losing 80-78 (+5) in Lawrence in January (were down 17 at half). Embiid played 29:00 in Stillwater, will not play here; Jayhawks are 19-2 in this event last seven years, winning it five times. Cowboys won their first tourney games the last 10 years. Kansas lost two of last three games, giving up 92 points in last game at West Virginia, when Mountaineers took 40 foul shots.
West Virginia got swept by Texas this year, 80-69 at home (were 4-25 on arc, +12 turnovers), 88-71 in Austin Feb 15 (Texas shot 66% inside arc). Mountaineers are 1-9 last 10 times they scored less than 80 points; they're 0-3 in conference tourney games since winning Big East tourney in 2010. Longhorns won its first tourney game last eight years- they are 2-4 in last six games overall, with three of losses by 9+ points.
Big East tournament (New York)
Over last decade, St John's is 3-6 in Big East tourney, despite playing on its home court; Red Storm split pair with Providence this year, losing in double OT (84-83) at home, winning 86-76 in rematch 9 days ago. Friars use bench less than any team in country, despite going to double OT in four conference games (2-2). St John's won 10 of last 13 games. Friars are 0-4 in this event last four years, with last three losses by 17+ points.
SEC tournament (Atlanta)
Alabama is 0-14 this season away from home, losing to USF, Drexel-- they won seven of its last nine games with LSU, beating them 80-78 (-2) Jan 25. Last three series games were decided by 3 or less points. Tide blew 19-point second half lead before rallying to win. Tigers are 4-6 in last ten games, losing seven of last eight away from home. Alabama won its first tourney game last five years; since '03, LSU is 4-3 in this round.
Conference USA tournament (El Paso)
Four teams tied for first in C-USA, got first round bye; Southern Miss drew short straw, has true road game here at #5 Miners, who lost 77-68 at Southern Miss Feb 2, after leading by 12 in first half. Miners had to play yesterday, had stress-free win; they've won 18 of last 22 games, but lost four of last five games with Southern Miss, who won first game in tourney last eight years. USM is 5-3 SU on road in Conference USA.
Pac-12 tournament (MGM, Las Vegas)
Utah is 0-6 vs Arizona in Pac-12 games, losing 65-56 in Tucson, 67-63 in OT in home rematch Feb 19 in two games this season; Utes played three starters 35+ minutes in tough win over Washington yesterday, its 4th win in last five games. Wildcats haven't won Pac-12 tourney in last 11 years; they're 4-3 in first round last seven years. Arizona split their last six away games, with none of the wins by more than five points.
Cal-Colorado split six Pac-12 meetings; Golden Bears beat Buffs 66-65 in OT at Berkeley five days ago in this year's only meeting, after trailing by 9 with 8/:52 left. Buffs played four starters 30+ minutes in tough win over USC- they're 2-3 in last five games, with both wins 59-56. Cal lost first tourney game four of last six years; they lost eight of last 13 games overall, after starting season 14-4. Senior G Booker is carrying Colorado.
UCLA won by hoop in Eugene this year, then lost 87-83 in double OT at home to Oregon when its two best players were suspended. Ducks won eight in row, are off bubble. Alford won MW tourney last two years, was 4-2 in first tourney game with Lobos; UCLA won first tourney game five of last six years, hasn't won tourney since '08. Oregon beat rival Beavers by 14 yesterday; no starter played more than 27:00.
MAC tournament (Cleveland)
Buffalo beat Eastern Michigan 86-76 (-4) at home Jan 11 in only meeting this year; Bulls won first tourney game four of last five years, but never won tourney, which is why Witherspoon was fired and Hurley is coach now-- this is his first conference tourney game. Eagles only played one starter more than 26:00 in last night's tense 53-48 win, played four subs 17:00+, plus they play 2-3 zone which is less taxing than playing man.
