Root Trust Basketball Service
Thursday, March 17, 2016
Inner Circle
USC (+2) over Providence
9:50 PM (EDT) -- PNC Arena
Inner Circle---USC Perhaps no floor general in college basketball is more adept at making plays than Providence guard and likely future NBA lottery pick Kris Dunn. Providence has the best player on the court.Look for USC to throw everything at Ben Bentil, in hopes of pushing the ball out to the perimeter.That''s where USC will dominate. Katin Reinhardt, Julian Jacobs and Jordan McLaughlin will be all about taking care of the ball and knock down perimeter jumpers. They also have the talent to shut down (somewhat) guard Kris Dunn. USC is very athletic with Chimezie Metu playing his best ball. The Trojans have 5 guys that can play everywhere so there''s talent all over the court. Shutting down Bentil and Dunn will not be an easy task but with the advance game plan to practice, USC caught a break playing them the first game with added time for practice. Southern Cal should get this game on defense and from having to play in the difficult PAC 12.
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Millionaires
Duke (-10½) over UNCW
12:15 PM (EDT) -- Dunkin' Donuts Center
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No Limit
Colorado (+3½) over Connecticut
12:30 PM (EDT) -- Wells Fargo Arena
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Perfect Play
Gonzaga (-1) over Seton Hall
7:57 PM (EDT) -- Pepsi Center
Perfect Play---Gonzaga The Zags have a five-game winning streak with the same mark as Seton Hall over their past 14 games. Both clubs won their conference tournaments. But experience is the key in round one. The Zags have made this trip 18 years in a row. Seton Hall won the Big East tourney for the first time in 23 years and made the NCAA field for the first time since 2006. Look for the Zag''s Kyle Wiltier and Domantas to be the mainstay in this game. They may be too hot for the Pirates. Guard Silas Melson’s emergence in the last six weeks has provided a much-needed scoring boost. The guards and forwards have stepped it up in conference play and were big in the Zags’ run through the WCC tournament. This is a Gonzaga team that will pull off the 6/11 upset. The seeding by the NCAA has Seton Hall the better seed BUT, Vegas has the Zags listed as the favorite so this really won''t be an upset of any great proportions. The Oddsmakes have this game listed correctly.
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Pinnacle
Utah (-9) over Fresno State
5:27 PM (EDT) -- Pepsi Center
Pinnacle---Utah March Madness Favorite of the Year The Fresno St Bulldogs feature the Mountain West''s player of the year in senior guard in Marvelle Harris who will toss up 20 ppg. But that''s where it stops. However, they have been a hot team the last 3 to 4 weeks and won the MWC championship game to knock out san Diego St and move forward. Their rein stops tonight as they will not be able to handle a top 5 NBA big man. Utah reached the Sweet 16 last year and hope to improve on that with another very good coaching staff and players. This is the time of the year that one can make a case for coaching and Larry Krystkowiak is that guy. Coaching and a very talented big man. This year though, the Utes boast maybe the best big man in the country in seven-foot sophomore Jakob Poeltl, who averages 17.6 points and 9 rebounds per game and could go as high as the top five in this year’s draft in June. He’s a high-motor, strong big man with good passing skills and the ability to finish around the rim. Playing in Colorado with the same altitude will be a huge break for Utah. Fresno won''t be able to defend him or double up on him due to the lack of any size down low. They can''t run with them to wear him out so he may be all that is needed. But the Utah is deep and has the cast to wear you down and then blow you out. Blowouts are common in these "one and done" games. It''s upsets or blowouts. Rarely do you see a win but not a cover in this round.
Game time conditions: | Temp: ° | Wind from the at mph | Cloud cover:
Thursday, March 17, 2016
Inner Circle
USC (+2) over Providence
9:50 PM (EDT) -- PNC Arena
Inner Circle---USC Perhaps no floor general in college basketball is more adept at making plays than Providence guard and likely future NBA lottery pick Kris Dunn. Providence has the best player on the court.Look for USC to throw everything at Ben Bentil, in hopes of pushing the ball out to the perimeter.That''s where USC will dominate. Katin Reinhardt, Julian Jacobs and Jordan McLaughlin will be all about taking care of the ball and knock down perimeter jumpers. They also have the talent to shut down (somewhat) guard Kris Dunn. USC is very athletic with Chimezie Metu playing his best ball. The Trojans have 5 guys that can play everywhere so there''s talent all over the court. Shutting down Bentil and Dunn will not be an easy task but with the advance game plan to practice, USC caught a break playing them the first game with added time for practice. Southern Cal should get this game on defense and from having to play in the difficult PAC 12.
Game time conditions: | Temp: ° | Wind from the at mph | Cloud cover:
Millionaires
Duke (-10½) over UNCW
12:15 PM (EDT) -- Dunkin' Donuts Center
Game time conditions: | Temp: ° | Wind from the at mph | Cloud cover:
No Limit
Colorado (+3½) over Connecticut
12:30 PM (EDT) -- Wells Fargo Arena
Game time conditions: | Temp: ° | Wind from the at mph | Cloud cover:
Perfect Play
Gonzaga (-1) over Seton Hall
7:57 PM (EDT) -- Pepsi Center
Perfect Play---Gonzaga The Zags have a five-game winning streak with the same mark as Seton Hall over their past 14 games. Both clubs won their conference tournaments. But experience is the key in round one. The Zags have made this trip 18 years in a row. Seton Hall won the Big East tourney for the first time in 23 years and made the NCAA field for the first time since 2006. Look for the Zag''s Kyle Wiltier and Domantas to be the mainstay in this game. They may be too hot for the Pirates. Guard Silas Melson’s emergence in the last six weeks has provided a much-needed scoring boost. The guards and forwards have stepped it up in conference play and were big in the Zags’ run through the WCC tournament. This is a Gonzaga team that will pull off the 6/11 upset. The seeding by the NCAA has Seton Hall the better seed BUT, Vegas has the Zags listed as the favorite so this really won''t be an upset of any great proportions. The Oddsmakes have this game listed correctly.
Game time conditions: | Temp: ° | Wind from the at mph | Cloud cover:
Pinnacle
Utah (-9) over Fresno State
5:27 PM (EDT) -- Pepsi Center
Pinnacle---Utah March Madness Favorite of the Year The Fresno St Bulldogs feature the Mountain West''s player of the year in senior guard in Marvelle Harris who will toss up 20 ppg. But that''s where it stops. However, they have been a hot team the last 3 to 4 weeks and won the MWC championship game to knock out san Diego St and move forward. Their rein stops tonight as they will not be able to handle a top 5 NBA big man. Utah reached the Sweet 16 last year and hope to improve on that with another very good coaching staff and players. This is the time of the year that one can make a case for coaching and Larry Krystkowiak is that guy. Coaching and a very talented big man. This year though, the Utes boast maybe the best big man in the country in seven-foot sophomore Jakob Poeltl, who averages 17.6 points and 9 rebounds per game and could go as high as the top five in this year’s draft in June. He’s a high-motor, strong big man with good passing skills and the ability to finish around the rim. Playing in Colorado with the same altitude will be a huge break for Utah. Fresno won''t be able to defend him or double up on him due to the lack of any size down low. They can''t run with them to wear him out so he may be all that is needed. But the Utah is deep and has the cast to wear you down and then blow you out. Blowouts are common in these "one and done" games. It''s upsets or blowouts. Rarely do you see a win but not a cover in this round.
Game time conditions: | Temp: ° | Wind from the at mph | Cloud cover:
