Saturday Service Play Thread 03/25/2023

[Laffytaffy]

you got the write up by any chance? please and thank you

The Big Dance! March Madness! It takes a lot of hard work over a 4 month regular season to get here.
And, once here, the team that gets the hottest survives.
So the 8 teams that made it this far are the hottest. There's another important factor that
comes into play to get to the next round which is the Final 4 - that's Experience.
As the teams advance in the tournament, the pressure gets more intense!
This is where experience becomes even more important to advancing.
Since 2015 this is Gonzaga's 5th time to reach the Elite 8.
In their previous 4 trips to the Elite 8, they went 2-2 SU. The 2 times they won
in this round, they went on to make it to the Championship game.
Coach Few has been there for each of those trips, and his experience
will be crucial in game planning to execute vs UConn's stellar defense.
Over that same period of time this is UConn's first trip to the Elite 8.
Prior to this year they didn't even make it into the tournament since 2016 where they went 1-1.
Since 2015, Gonzaga has more tournament experience than the
other remaining 7 teams combined. And, they are the hottest team coming down the stretch.
Gonzaga has shot over 40% from the field in every game this season except one.
And, they only shot under 45% 4 times over the entire season.
Over their last 16 games they shot over 45% in every game,
and shot over 50% in 13 of those contests. They are 15-1 SU in those 16 games.
This should be a close game between 2 hot teams.
Over that period of time, Gonzaga is 2-0 SU in games decided by 5 points or less
and they are 7-2 on the season in those close games.
And, in games following a SU loss or a win by 5 or less, they are 10-2 SU in their next contest.
In neutral site games this season, UConn is 7-1 SU and Gonzaga is 10-2 SU.
In the past 16 games UConn is 0-4 SU in close games decided by 5 or less.
UConn has been very impressive winning by 24, 15, and 23 so far in the tournament.
Those 3 wins were against teams that shot 39%, 39% & 32% from the field.
Gonzaga won their last 2 games by 3 points each, so they know what it's like
to be involved in and win a close game. UConn has had 3 cake walks and has
yet to feel the pressure of a close NCAA Tournament contest.
In addition to all the above, Gonzaga is 15-4 ATS vs Big East Conference opponents.
We look for Gonzaga to not only win today,
but to also make it to the Championship Game!
PREDICTION: GONZAGA WINS BY 7

 

[JoshHall]

ANDREW MCINNIS NHL
3% Canadians team total over 3.5

 

[peppe]

MONSTER UCONN -2

Gold Key Kansas ST -2

Arthur Ralph

 

[pickmaster2000]

IntPicks

Full card for Saturday

NCAAB
FAU vs KSU Over 144 (top)
UConn -2 (top)

NBA
Clippers -5 (top)
Utah +9.5
Brooklyn @ Miami Over 222 (free)

Recent record I was able to track:
68% last 96 picks overall (68%).
56-28 NCAAB run (67%)
55-24 (70%)

They post all picks shortly after the games start in their records pages. (click on individual leagues for historical and any pending pages after tipoff times).

 

[BuzzKill]

Root

Gold Standard—-Florida Atlantic
A consistent theme for Florida Atlantic and Kansas State has been guard play, as KSU’s Markquis Nowell set the NCAA Tournament single-game record for most assists in a game (19 against MSU), and FAU’s starting guards, Johnell Davis and Alijah Martin, average 26.9 combined points per game. Both teams’ offenses run through their guard play, but I think this game will be determined by whoever controls the glass. Both teams' guards are impressive, but FAU can take advantage of Kansas State on the offensive glass. The Wildcats allowed Michigan State to grab 36% of their misses in the Sweet 16, and the Spartans rank 213th in the country in offensive rebounding rate. Now, KSU will face a Florida Atlantic squad that was 89th in the country in offensive rebounding rate this season.
Additionally, the Owls just outrebounded Tennessee, who ranked in the top 100 in the country in defensive rebounding rate this year. If that’s any indication of what will happen Saturday night, it could be a long game for the Wildcats. KSU ranks 248th in defensive rebounding rate, so FAU should have success hitting the glass early and often. Florida Atlantic loves to hoist its fair share of three-pointers, taking a three on 44 percent of its field goal attempts, good for the 35th-best mark in college basketball. The Owls knock in a high percentage of those three, draining 36.5 percent of their triples (45th in D-1). The FAU Owls are averaging 79.3 points on 47.2 percent shooting and allowing 65.7 points on 41.1 percent shooting. The defense is amazing for FAU. The Owl defense has allowed teams to get to shooting 46% or better just six times. When it locks down and keeps offenses from making more than 44% of their shots, it's 24-0. Another defensive masterclass like last night could result in the Owls' first Final Four appearance in school history.

Pinnacle——Gonzaga
Gonzaga and their offensive firepower and veteran leadership has helped the Bulldogs get to the Elite Eight. Of course, having Mark Few as your head coach since 1999 is also a big reason why Gonzaga is as consistent as they come. Gonzaga is a team with loads of NCAA Tournament experience. They’re still looking for their first National Championship, but Drew Timme will be playing in his 12th NCAA Tournament game. Center Drew Timme remains one of the more fascinating and dominating players in all of college basketball. Fresh off of an absurd 36-point outing that tied a school NCAA record, Timme is one of those rare players that can single-handily put a team on his back and lead them to victory. After abusing UCLA in the paint to the highest degree, be on the lookout for the senior big man to have his way with the Huskies as well. Drew Timme is atop almost all of the Bulldogs’ leaderboards by averaging 21.5 points, 7.5 rebounds and 3.1 assists per game.
Also helping power Gonzaga is junior guard Julian Strawther, who nailed a long 3-pointer late against UCLA to help secure the Sweet 16 win. He is coming off a double-double in the win over UCLA, scoring 16 points and grabbing 10 rebounds. He has reached double-digit scoring in 10 consecutive games, including three games with 28 points. Gonzaga is outscoring opponents by 13.9 points per game, with a +500 scoring differential overall. It puts up 87 points per game (first in college basketball). These teams are evenly matched up in a ton of ways, but that is not true when it comes to turnovers. UConn gives the ball away 13.0 times per game (No. 241 in NCAA), while Gonzaga only tallies 10.7 turnovers per contest (No. 34 in NCAA). The Huskies logged 17 turnovers against the Razorbacks. Those extra scoring chances are going to come in handy for a Bulldogs offense that already averages an NCAA-best 86.1 points per game. Keep in mind UConn has struggled when facing elite offenses. The Huskies are 1-4 when allowing more than 76 points and 6-7 when allowing more than 66 points. There are a ton of offensive weapons to go around on and at the end of the day, it will be the ‘Zags, led by their phenomenal head coach in Mark Few and center Drew Timme, that makes key plays down the stretch, ultimately being enough for them to cover as a small underdog.

 

[dough]

Nover - Essler - Goodfella al, had plays on Kan St/ F Atl game

Nover had Kan St ML

 

[pickmaster2000]

IntPicks

Full card for Saturday

NCAAB
FAU vs KSU Over 144 (top)
UConn -2 (top)

NBA
Clippers -5 (top)
Utah +9.5
Brooklyn @ Miami Over 222 (free)

Recent record I was able to track:
68% last 96 picks overall (68%).
56-28 NCAAB run (67%)
55-24 (70%)

They post all picks shortly after the games start in their records pages. (click on individual leagues for historical and any pending pages after tipoff times).

4-1 today, 69-32 (68%) last 101 picks.