Kyle Bales 3/10
It was fitting that the Golden Eagles ended the regular season by taking their opponent to overtime but surprising because Marquette wound up losing the game. Four of the final five Marquette games heading into the Big East tournament went to at least one overtime. This also was the case when Marquette and St. John's met up earlier this year with Marquette winning by two (-2) in overtime in New York. I watched that game and saw Marquette beat themselves in the final minutes like they are prone to do this year but I expect a much better shooting performance from this team today, especially from behind the arc. The Golden Eagles are pretty much a lock for the NCAA Tournament, but one Big East tournament win would remove all doubt. They will be facing a desperate team Red Storm team fighting to save its coach's job but it's too little too late. Marquette by 11.
Play On: 15* Marquette -3.5
Georgetown and South Florida each feature All-Big East first-team players in Greg Monroe and Dominique Jones but the difference here today will be in guard Austin Freeman. Missing a game after being diagnosed with diabetes, Freeman came back to action with 24 points as the Hoyas destroyed Cincinnati by 27 (-7). I expect the same kind of dominance today from the Hoyas who I expect to go deep into the tournament despite losing four of their last six. South Florida beat the Hoyas 72-64 (+12.5) February 3rd after being down by nine at halftime to outscore the Hoyas by seventeen in the second half. Freeman and Monroe both had 21 points in that game and you should expect an even greater performance today. The Hoyas simply overlooked South Florida after a big win against Duke but will be much focused today. Just like I said about the Milwaukee Bucks last night, This team is hungry and with a big revenge factor on a big stage I see the Hoyas by 15 or more.
Play On: 10* Georgetown -6.5
Charlotte is the "Jekyll and Hyde" of the NBA. A solid 23-8 at home but just 8-23 on the road where they have lost seven of their last nine. The Sixers have lost six of their last seven, though their first five losses in that stretch came against some of the league's elite team in; Phoenix, the Los Angeles Lakers, Orlando, Atlanta and Boston. Philadelphia seemed to be emerging from its slump when Thaddeus Young sparked a 114-101 win in Toronto on Sunday by scoring 32 points, but the Sixers fell right back into it Tuesday. Young, Elton Brand and Andre Iguodala combined for just 20 points total. Iguodala was the biggest surprise averaging 16.9 ppg. He was held to just 5 points which is his second lowest of the season. (4 points against the Knicks 1/13) Expect a big game from Iguodala as I don't think any of the Bobcats can stop him. Also look out for 76ers rookie Jrue Holiday who has scored 21 points in each of his past two games. A good sign after Holiday averaged 6.2 points in his first 52 NBA games.
Play On: 10* Philadelphia 76ers +1.5
It was fitting that the Golden Eagles ended the regular season by taking their opponent to overtime but surprising because Marquette wound up losing the game. Four of the final five Marquette games heading into the Big East tournament went to at least one overtime. This also was the case when Marquette and St. John's met up earlier this year with Marquette winning by two (-2) in overtime in New York. I watched that game and saw Marquette beat themselves in the final minutes like they are prone to do this year but I expect a much better shooting performance from this team today, especially from behind the arc. The Golden Eagles are pretty much a lock for the NCAA Tournament, but one Big East tournament win would remove all doubt. They will be facing a desperate team Red Storm team fighting to save its coach's job but it's too little too late. Marquette by 11.
Play On: 15* Marquette -3.5
Georgetown and South Florida each feature All-Big East first-team players in Greg Monroe and Dominique Jones but the difference here today will be in guard Austin Freeman. Missing a game after being diagnosed with diabetes, Freeman came back to action with 24 points as the Hoyas destroyed Cincinnati by 27 (-7). I expect the same kind of dominance today from the Hoyas who I expect to go deep into the tournament despite losing four of their last six. South Florida beat the Hoyas 72-64 (+12.5) February 3rd after being down by nine at halftime to outscore the Hoyas by seventeen in the second half. Freeman and Monroe both had 21 points in that game and you should expect an even greater performance today. The Hoyas simply overlooked South Florida after a big win against Duke but will be much focused today. Just like I said about the Milwaukee Bucks last night, This team is hungry and with a big revenge factor on a big stage I see the Hoyas by 15 or more.
Play On: 10* Georgetown -6.5
Charlotte is the "Jekyll and Hyde" of the NBA. A solid 23-8 at home but just 8-23 on the road where they have lost seven of their last nine. The Sixers have lost six of their last seven, though their first five losses in that stretch came against some of the league's elite team in; Phoenix, the Los Angeles Lakers, Orlando, Atlanta and Boston. Philadelphia seemed to be emerging from its slump when Thaddeus Young sparked a 114-101 win in Toronto on Sunday by scoring 32 points, but the Sixers fell right back into it Tuesday. Young, Elton Brand and Andre Iguodala combined for just 20 points total. Iguodala was the biggest surprise averaging 16.9 ppg. He was held to just 5 points which is his second lowest of the season. (4 points against the Knicks 1/13) Expect a big game from Iguodala as I don't think any of the Bobcats can stop him. Also look out for 76ers rookie Jrue Holiday who has scored 21 points in each of his past two games. A good sign after Holiday averaged 6.2 points in his first 52 NBA games.
Play On: 10* Philadelphia 76ers +1.5
