Tracking Pointwise since 3/19, they are 6-11-1, pushed Wich St +3 closing lines I used to determine their record. They have a backwards grading system with 1 being their top play and anything more than 5 is a lean, so just laying -110 to win 100, they are down 6.1 units since 3/19/17.
GL!!
GL!!
Pointwise had the worst football season in years-they are followning it up in Basketball. 5 number 1 plays-1 win and 4 losses-thats horrible. I feel sorry for the people that paid 60 dollars for this Service-they should refund the money to there customers. Next year it will be very hard to get customers!!!!!!
THE GOLD SHEET
MONDAY, APRIL 3
NCAA FINAL
GONZAGA VS. NORTH CAROLINA
at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, AZ
After six decades of Final Four coverage at, we’re apt to reminisce a
little, though Gonzaga’s appearance on Monday night will be our first
experience writing about a WCC team in the title game. The last time a WCC
team made it to the final was Bill Russell’s San Francisco in 1956, when the
Dons beat Iowa 83-71 at Northwestern’s McGaw Hall, which was the year
before TGS began publishing in 1957. The WCC was also known as the WCAC
(West Coast Athletic Conference) in those days after briefly wearing the
“California Basketball Association” label when founded in 1953. Russell’s USF
team won back-to-back national titles in 1955 & ‘56, though in the latter, it was
Temple’s Hal Lear, not Russell, named the “Big Dance” Most Outstanding
Player. As for the Zags, they would not join the league until 1979, taking the
place of Nevada, which switched its affiliation to the Big Sky that year. The loop
shortened its designation to “WCC” in 1989.
Saturday’s semifinal win over South Carolina also harkened TGS handicappers to another Final Four during our “era” back in 1973. That year Indiana made a dramatic, late rally only to fall short vs. eventual National
Champion UCLA. Very similar to what the Gamecocks did this weekend when
scoring 16 straight points in the second half after Gonzaga had extended its
lead to 65-51. In ‘73, it was a pulsating 17-0 run by Bob Knight’s Hoosiers that
almost erased a 54-34 Bruin lead, one that would eventually shrink to 57-55
before some late-game heroics by UCLA’s Tommy Curtis and Larry Hollyfield
ended the IU upset bid, much as the Bulldogs ultimately defeated the
Gamecocks after some nervous moments on Saturday. Zag HC Mark Few can
only hope that his team replicates the Bruins in the ‘73 title game, although
we’re not sure anyone on the Gonzaga side can duplicate UCLA center Bill
Walton’s effort in that NCAA Championship Final. The “Big Redhead” made 21
of 22 FG attempts and scored 44 points to power the Bruins to victory over Gene
Bartow’s Memphis State in the finale 44 years ago in St. Louis
(we remember it like yesterday...where did the time go?).
Enough of the trip down memory lane, as the 2017 Big Dance finally
concludes on Monday night at the Arizona Cardinals’ U of Phoenix Stadium in
Glendale. Though there were a few memorable upsets along the way (some of
those delivered by the aforementioned South Carolina), the form chart has
mostly held in this year’s tourney, so it’s perhaps fitting that North Carolina and
Gonzaga, a pair of number one regional seeds, have made the finale.
We can identify some specific fundamental matchups that will likely favor
one side over the other.
Where, though, do the preponderance of perceived edges lie?
Recent history suggests that the Zags might not have their normal edge in
the backcourt. Simply, that’s because Roy Williams seems to have matchups
that could negate some of Gonzaga’s perimeter strength. Unlike several Zag
foes this season, the Tar Heels have sufficient length to fluster key Gonzaga Gs
(and Pac-12 transfers) Nigel Williams-Goss and Jordan Mathews. UNC has a
legit stopper in 6-6 swingman Theo Pinson, who kept Kentucky’s Malik Monk in
check in the Elite 8 and on Saturday similarly bundled Oregon’s dangerous
Dillon Brooks, held to just 10 points on 2 for 11 FG shooting.
Pinson will likely be defending Zag catalyst Williams-Goss, who is unlikely to overpower Pinson
as he did South Carolina’s smaller Duane Notice on Saturday. Indeed, much as
when facing the active and athletic West Virginia defense in the Sweet 16,
Williams-Goss will likely have problems gaining much separation from Pinson.
Moreover, North Carolina’s 6-8 Justin Jackson and his considerable length
could take Zag G Mathews out of the game as well.
However, problems could arise for the Tar Heels with their 6-foot PG Joel
Berry II, whose injured ankles have him playing at something less than 100%
and whose defense, even when he is healthy, can be suspect. While Williams
could risk Berry guarding Oregon frosh Payton Pritchard on Saturday, this time
he likely draws Gonzaga’s more-explosive Josh Perkins, who should be able to
attack the defense-poor Berry off of the dribble. UNC’s hero of the Elite Eight
win over Louisville, F Luke Maye, is another defensive liability, a main reason he
was on the floor just 13 minutes vs. the Webfoots.
We believe the Heels might also run into additional unaccustomed trouble on
the blocks, where the Zags are one of the few teams to match UNC’s size in the
paint.
With such size and Few’s liberal deployment of zone looks on the
stop end, Gonzaga appears well-suited to take away much of the vaunted
Tar Heel power game that usually dominates on the blocks and off of the
glass.
We don’t expect UNC to have its usual edges inside on Monday.
It will be much more difficult than usual for the Tar Heels to crash the boards and scoop
up some of the “garbage” buckets that have fueled their success most of the
season. UNC will face difficulty not only when Few uses the zone, but also in
man-to-man looks, where Gonzaga can always keep a big (or two) on the Heels’
bruising 6-10 sr. Kennedy Meeks. Meeks hurt Oregon on Saturday with 25
points on 11 for 13 FG shooting, though most of that damage was done off of the
glass (Meeks had 14 rebounds), and not from post-up scoring on the blocks.
Meeks committed four fouls on Saturday trying to slow Oregon’s Jordan Bell,
but he must now deal with menacing Gonzaga post-up threats such as 7-1
banger Przemek Karnowski. Meeks and 6-9 Isaiah Hicks must also cope with
rapidly-maturing 7-foot Bulldog frosh Zach Collins, perhaps the best NBA
prospect on the floor and whose 14 points, 13 boards, and 6 blocks vs. the
Gamecocks confirmed his arrival as a bona fide interior force. Indeed, Few can
throw a lot of size at UNC, not only with 7-footers Karnowski and Collins, but
also utilizing 6-9 Mizzou transfer Johnathan Williams and 6-9 frosh Killian Tillie.
Williams had a quiet 7 points on Saturday vs. SC after scoring 19 in the Elite 8
vs. Xavier, and it will be important for his contributions to more mirror the win
over the Musketeers than his efforts on Saturday. Tillie made a pair of FTs in
the final seconds finally put the sword to the Gamecocks in the Final Four.
In conclusion, we are not convinced the Tar Heels are quite as good as
their 2016 edition, which also made it to the final game and was tied with
Villanova in the final second before a Kris Jenkins 3-pointer won it for the
Wildcats. That UNC edition had an athletic big in 6-9 Brice Johnson and a
nervy bomber in Marcus Paige who was not afraid to step up and take the big
shot. Still, the 2017 version has proven remarkably resilient, already pulling
three nailbiters out of the fire in the Dance. And there is always a chance that
an unsuspecting hero (such as capable sr. G Nate Britt, who sank a couple of
key shots on Saturday vs. Oregon) steps forward for the Heels. But, aside from
Meeks and Jackson, UNC was a combined 8 for 42 from the floor in the semis
and did not appear entirely comfortable with their shots, probably bothered by
the depth perception adjustments in the football stadium. Though we don’t
expect Berry and Hicks to shoot a combined 3 for 26 from the floor as on
Saturday, we’re not sure Williams can count on much scoring from them, either.
And let’s not forget that the Gonzaga defense has allowed foes to hit only 36.5%
from the floor the entire season, tied with UCF (thanks largely to its 7-6 C Tacko
Fall) for the top mark in the nation.
Previously-hot South Carolina could only connect on 37.9% of its shots on Saturday.
The fundamentally-sound Bulldog defense is adept at staying “in front” of opposing dribblers, which should come
in very handy vs. the Heels, who as a result are unlikely to be able to crash theglass as usual.
A season’s worth of exemplary performance is not a mirage.
This Gonzaga edition has beaten all comers (except a late-season home letdown vs. explosive
BYU), with most of the big wins away from Spokane. With depth, balance, size,
and more athleticism on the perimeter than past editions, the Zags also appear
built to beat the Tar Heels, who will likely fall just short for the second straight
year.
SCORE FORECAST:
GONZAGA 78 - North Carolina 73
NCAA CHAMPIONSHIP FORECAST
MONDAY, APRIL 3
NCAA FINAL
GONZAGA VS. NORTH CAROLINA
at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, AZ
After six decades of Final Four coverage at, we’re apt to reminisce a
little, though Gonzaga’s appearance on Monday night will be our first
experience writing about a WCC team in the title game. The last time a WCC
team made it to the final was Bill Russell’s San Francisco in 1956, when the
Dons beat Iowa 83-71 at Northwestern’s McGaw Hall, which was the year
before TGS began publishing in 1957. The WCC was also known as the WCAC
(West Coast Athletic Conference) in those days after briefly wearing the
“California Basketball Association” label when founded in 1953. Russell’s USF
team won back-to-back national titles in 1955 & ‘56, though in the latter, it was
Temple’s Hal Lear, not Russell, named the “Big Dance” Most Outstanding
Player. As for the Zags, they would not join the league until 1979, taking the
place of Nevada, which switched its affiliation to the Big Sky that year. The loop
shortened its designation to “WCC” in 1989.
Saturday’s semifinal win over South Carolina also harkened TGS handicappers to another Final Four during our “era” back in 1973. That year Indiana made a dramatic, late rally only to fall short vs. eventual National
Champion UCLA. Very similar to what the Gamecocks did this weekend when
scoring 16 straight points in the second half after Gonzaga had extended its
lead to 65-51. In ‘73, it was a pulsating 17-0 run by Bob Knight’s Hoosiers that
almost erased a 54-34 Bruin lead, one that would eventually shrink to 57-55
before some late-game heroics by UCLA’s Tommy Curtis and Larry Hollyfield
ended the IU upset bid, much as the Bulldogs ultimately defeated the
Gamecocks after some nervous moments on Saturday. Zag HC Mark Few can
only hope that his team replicates the Bruins in the ‘73 title game, although
we’re not sure anyone on the Gonzaga side can duplicate UCLA center Bill
Walton’s effort in that NCAA Championship Final. The “Big Redhead” made 21
of 22 FG attempts and scored 44 points to power the Bruins to victory over Gene
Bartow’s Memphis State in the finale 44 years ago in St. Louis
(we remember it like yesterday...where did the time go?).
Enough of the trip down memory lane, as the 2017 Big Dance finally
concludes on Monday night at the Arizona Cardinals’ U of Phoenix Stadium in
Glendale. Though there were a few memorable upsets along the way (some of
those delivered by the aforementioned South Carolina), the form chart has
mostly held in this year’s tourney, so it’s perhaps fitting that North Carolina and
Gonzaga, a pair of number one regional seeds, have made the finale.
We can identify some specific fundamental matchups that will likely favor
one side over the other.
Where, though, do the preponderance of perceived edges lie?
Recent history suggests that the Zags might not have their normal edge in
the backcourt. Simply, that’s because Roy Williams seems to have matchups
that could negate some of Gonzaga’s perimeter strength. Unlike several Zag
foes this season, the Tar Heels have sufficient length to fluster key Gonzaga Gs
(and Pac-12 transfers) Nigel Williams-Goss and Jordan Mathews. UNC has a
legit stopper in 6-6 swingman Theo Pinson, who kept Kentucky’s Malik Monk in
check in the Elite 8 and on Saturday similarly bundled Oregon’s dangerous
Dillon Brooks, held to just 10 points on 2 for 11 FG shooting.
Pinson will likely be defending Zag catalyst Williams-Goss, who is unlikely to overpower Pinson
as he did South Carolina’s smaller Duane Notice on Saturday. Indeed, much as
when facing the active and athletic West Virginia defense in the Sweet 16,
Williams-Goss will likely have problems gaining much separation from Pinson.
Moreover, North Carolina’s 6-8 Justin Jackson and his considerable length
could take Zag G Mathews out of the game as well.
However, problems could arise for the Tar Heels with their 6-foot PG Joel
Berry II, whose injured ankles have him playing at something less than 100%
and whose defense, even when he is healthy, can be suspect. While Williams
could risk Berry guarding Oregon frosh Payton Pritchard on Saturday, this time
he likely draws Gonzaga’s more-explosive Josh Perkins, who should be able to
attack the defense-poor Berry off of the dribble. UNC’s hero of the Elite Eight
win over Louisville, F Luke Maye, is another defensive liability, a main reason he
was on the floor just 13 minutes vs. the Webfoots.
We believe the Heels might also run into additional unaccustomed trouble on
the blocks, where the Zags are one of the few teams to match UNC’s size in the
paint.
With such size and Few’s liberal deployment of zone looks on the
stop end, Gonzaga appears well-suited to take away much of the vaunted
Tar Heel power game that usually dominates on the blocks and off of the
glass.
We don’t expect UNC to have its usual edges inside on Monday.
It will be much more difficult than usual for the Tar Heels to crash the boards and scoop
up some of the “garbage” buckets that have fueled their success most of the
season. UNC will face difficulty not only when Few uses the zone, but also in
man-to-man looks, where Gonzaga can always keep a big (or two) on the Heels’
bruising 6-10 sr. Kennedy Meeks. Meeks hurt Oregon on Saturday with 25
points on 11 for 13 FG shooting, though most of that damage was done off of the
glass (Meeks had 14 rebounds), and not from post-up scoring on the blocks.
Meeks committed four fouls on Saturday trying to slow Oregon’s Jordan Bell,
but he must now deal with menacing Gonzaga post-up threats such as 7-1
banger Przemek Karnowski. Meeks and 6-9 Isaiah Hicks must also cope with
rapidly-maturing 7-foot Bulldog frosh Zach Collins, perhaps the best NBA
prospect on the floor and whose 14 points, 13 boards, and 6 blocks vs. the
Gamecocks confirmed his arrival as a bona fide interior force. Indeed, Few can
throw a lot of size at UNC, not only with 7-footers Karnowski and Collins, but
also utilizing 6-9 Mizzou transfer Johnathan Williams and 6-9 frosh Killian Tillie.
Williams had a quiet 7 points on Saturday vs. SC after scoring 19 in the Elite 8
vs. Xavier, and it will be important for his contributions to more mirror the win
over the Musketeers than his efforts on Saturday. Tillie made a pair of FTs in
the final seconds finally put the sword to the Gamecocks in the Final Four.
In conclusion, we are not convinced the Tar Heels are quite as good as
their 2016 edition, which also made it to the final game and was tied with
Villanova in the final second before a Kris Jenkins 3-pointer won it for the
Wildcats. That UNC edition had an athletic big in 6-9 Brice Johnson and a
nervy bomber in Marcus Paige who was not afraid to step up and take the big
shot. Still, the 2017 version has proven remarkably resilient, already pulling
three nailbiters out of the fire in the Dance. And there is always a chance that
an unsuspecting hero (such as capable sr. G Nate Britt, who sank a couple of
key shots on Saturday vs. Oregon) steps forward for the Heels. But, aside from
Meeks and Jackson, UNC was a combined 8 for 42 from the floor in the semis
and did not appear entirely comfortable with their shots, probably bothered by
the depth perception adjustments in the football stadium. Though we don’t
expect Berry and Hicks to shoot a combined 3 for 26 from the floor as on
Saturday, we’re not sure Williams can count on much scoring from them, either.
And let’s not forget that the Gonzaga defense has allowed foes to hit only 36.5%
from the floor the entire season, tied with UCF (thanks largely to its 7-6 C Tacko
Fall) for the top mark in the nation.
Previously-hot South Carolina could only connect on 37.9% of its shots on Saturday.
The fundamentally-sound Bulldog defense is adept at staying “in front” of opposing dribblers, which should come
in very handy vs. the Heels, who as a result are unlikely to be able to crash theglass as usual.
A season’s worth of exemplary performance is not a mirage.
This Gonzaga edition has beaten all comers (except a late-season home letdown vs. explosive
BYU), with most of the big wins away from Spokane. With depth, balance, size,
and more athleticism on the perimeter than past editions, the Zags also appear
built to beat the Tar Heels, who will likely fall just short for the second straight
year.
SCORE FORECAST:
GONZAGA 78 - North Carolina 73
NCAA CHAMPIONSHIP FORECAST
BUZZ you may have already seen this https://www.aol.com/article/news/2017/04/14/facts-you-didnt-know-kim-jong-un-north-korea/22038983/
