Something fishy today!
I got suspicious when I did not see Brandon Lang's pick on any of the service board threads. Something weird is going on today. Maybe they are pissed about losing revenue.
DeMarco's writeup on Kansas State is available but where is Lang? WTF! The guy that emailed me on Lang's pick is usually reliable, but its always on the service threads right away. Something fishy going on. Someone else please confirm this, preferably by buying the pick when its available. He might be holding off so more people will buy the pick to get it, then the purchasers have to wait for it to come up much later than usual, thus getting more business because no one can find the pick on the net. They might be wanting to fuck with these boards too. I want to see a full writeup now. Bastards!
Al DeMarco
Saturday's Play
15 Dime Release
Kansas State
Butler has won 23 straight since a road loss to UAB on December 19, but since the streak started, who have the Bulldogs beaten other than Syracuse the other night? Running the table in the Horizon League, beating the likes of Detroit, Wright State and Wisconsin-Green Bay doesn't exactly compare to Kansas State's weekly Big 12 wars against teams like Baylor, KU, Texas and Texas A&M, right?
Okay, Butler destroyed Big Dance invite Siena in its bracket-buster game in mid-February, but would the Saints finish ahead of even Colorado or Iowa State in the Big 12?
The Bulldogs downed UTEP and Murray State in the first two rounds of the Tournament, respeetively, but foes from Conference USA and the Ohio Valley Conference weren't intimidating.
That brings us to Syracuse. The Orange, other than their two opening Big Dance wins, had not been playing well of late and they were minus their starting center. Game, set, match Butler.
Kansas State's double-OT win against Xavier was certainly draining, but I pegged this team for the Final Four at the outset of the Tournament and I'm now backing off now.
The Wildcats, unlike Syracuse, attack the boards with aggression and that keys a devasetating fast break led by guards Jacob Pullen and Denis Clemente, who average a combined 36 ppg.
Yes, Butler held Syracuse to just 48 shots and 59 total points, but they will not be forcing 18 turnovers against the Wildcats as they did versus the Orange.
Almost overlooked in Bulldogs' Sweet 16 upset is the fact they shot just 40% from the field and missed 18 of 24 three-point tries. This is a team that lives and dies beyond the arc, and don't expect their percenteges to go up dramatically against a Kansas State backcourt that is more agressive and athletic than anything Syracuse could offer as a chalenge.
Kansas State is 22-9 ATS this season, including 14-2 when laying single digits. And the price of this game is being discounted by the oddsmakers because of the grueling Xavier victory. Fatigue can wait another day; the Wildcats return to the Final Four for the first time since 1964 with a nine-point win.