? ?Who's Dancing..... Automatic Bids.??

[Greenbacks]

Arkansas-Connecticut

Thursday, March 23, 2023 07:15 PM (ET)

Arkansas rolls into Las Vegas riding high on the energy of ousting West Region top seed Kansas in the second round, but the Sweet 16 spot is nothing new to the Razorbacks.
For the second consecutive NCAA Tournament, Arkansas and Eric Musselman eliminated the top seed in the region to advance. Musselman piloted Arkansas to the Sweet 16 each of the previous two years, but the No. 8 seed finding a path back seemed implausible at the outset of the 2023 NCAA Tournament.
"This has been as challenging and up and down season as I've ever been a part of," Musselman said. "For these guys to be rewarded for sticking with it and being able to go to Las Vegas and participate with only 16 teams still standing ... it's really hard to make this tournament. It really hard to win a game in this tournament. It's really hard to beat defending champions, No. 1 seed. We did it, proud of us. I keep telling our guys and our coaches -- because of all the circumstances that have happened, we're still evolving, we're still adding offensive plays, we're still adding defensive coverages. We're an evolving basketball team and I feel fortunate these guys buy into the prep."
No. 4 seed UConn cruised through the first two rounds of the tournament. While many might've expected the Jayhawks to be waiting in a 1-vs-4 matchup, the Huskies don't seem to be sweating the opponent after handling Saint Mary's in Albany, N.Y.
"It feels like we're unbeatable," UConn guard Jordan Hawkins said of the team vibe entering Vegas. "The last two games in the second half, we just took off. When we're playing like that, I think we have a really good chance to win it all."
UConn coach Dan Hurley has depth for days, but Arkansas isn't light on bench options, either. In terms of top-end talent, the Razorbacks received pristine play from junior Davonte Davis against Illinois and Kansas, including 21 points in the second half before fouling out against the Jayhawks. Without Davis, regular-season leading scorer Ricky Council IV -- a physical and confident guard built more like a linebacker -- nailed the critical free throws to seal the win over Kansas.
But defense has been the difference for Arkansas in the postseason. The Razorbacks have erased the season trend of losing tight games, including 86-83 to No. 1 overall seed Alabama on Feb. 25, by focusing on stops, not shots.
In the first round, Arkansas forced 17 turnovers to take down Illinois. All-Big 12 freshman guard Gradey Dick was harassed with chest-to-chest defense every step he took and scored just seven points for Kansas in the second round.
It's part of the plan to peak in March.
"We told everybody, don't listen to the noise," Musselman said. "Worry about what's going on internally in this locker room and let's just keep getting better. Like I said, I thought our Illinois game was as good of a game we played. I thought tonight in the second half we played as good of a game as we have all year."
UConn has size, depth and defends with intent, which made the Huskies a popular pick on television bracket shows since Selection Sunday. Hurley said he's known quite a bit longer than most that this Huskies team could be special. It dates to the offseason scrimmage with Virginia. With two starters dealing with injuries, UConn laid it on the Cavaliers.
"We knew what we were capable of. It was about reaching our potential and staying true to ourselves and staying true to the work honestly," UConn's Andre Jackson Jr. said.
Even with Kansas home for the start of spring, there are bigger names in the West Region semifinals remaining on the other side of the bracket -- No. 3 seed Gonzaga and No. 2 seed UCLA.
While dominant guard play is expected from both teams, the Huskies have an edge in the middle with Adama Sonogo. The junior from Mali is a load at 6-foot-9, 245 pounds, and put up 24 points and eight rebounds against Saint Mary's and torched Iona with 28 and 13, respectively.
Arkansas has size, including high-energy sub Kamani Johnson, who likes the Razorbacks' matchup Thursday night.
"I think we match up well with them. I think it's going to be another war," Johnson said. "(Sonogo) is a super-active big, he's kind of (Oscar Tshiebwe)-like the way he crashes the boards but he's also skilled offensively."

Razorbacks are 6-1 ATS in their last 7 neutral site games.
Razorbacks are 5-11-1 ATS in their last 17 Thursday games.

Huskies are 7-1 ATS in their last 8 games overall.
Huskies are 6-1 ATS in their last 7 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
Huskies are 6-1 ATS in their last 7 games vs. a team with a winning straight up record.
Huskies are 6-1 ATS in their last 7 neutral site games.
Huskies are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 games following a ATS win.
Huskies are 17-5 ATS in their last 22 Thursday games.
Huskies are 18-6 ATS in their last 24 NCAA Tournament games.
Huskies are 18-7-1 ATS in their last 26 games following a straight up win.

Under is 5-0 in Razorbacks last 5 NCAA Tournament games.
Under is 4-1 in Razorbacks last 5 neutral site games.
Under is 11-4 in Razorbacks last 15 games following a ATS win.
Under is 17-7 in Razorbacks last 24 games following a straight up win.
Under is 9-4 in Razorbacks last 13 Thursday games.

Under is 5-0 in Huskies last 5 games following a ATS win.
Under is 5-0 in Huskies last 5 games following a straight up win.
Under is 5-1 in Huskies last 6 overall.
Under is 4-1 in Huskies last 5 neutral site games.

 

[Greenbacks]

Florida Atlantic-Tennessee

Thursday, March 23, 2023 09:00 PM (ET)

NEW YORK -- After ninth-seeded Florida Atlantic secured its first trip to the Sweet 16, the final question asked of coach Dusty May concerned how he'd approach the upcoming matchup against Tennessee.
"We're going to study Australian rugby rules and get ready for the Vols," May smirked.
It was a light jab at fourth-seeded Tennessee's physical brand of basketball, which attracted some scrutiny during the second round of the NCAA Tournament because of one player's foul trouble.
Tennessee and its aggressive defense will take on 3-point-firing FAU in a clash of styles Thursday in the East Region semifinals.
The Volunteers (25-10) own the third-best scoring defense in Division I at 57.8 ppg allowed. They forced 15 turnovers in their 65-52 win over fifth-seeded Duke in the second round.
But 7-footer Uros Plavsic picked up two fouls in the first 2:12 of the game, his first coming when he elbowed Kyle Filipowski to the ground after securing a defensive rebound. Filipowski caught another Plavsic elbow - inadvertent -- later in the game, drawing blood and a wound below his eye.
Plavsic, who averages 4.8 points and 3.4 rebounds per game, finished with four fouls and no points in 15 minutes.
"Obviously didn't like the way it started with Uros, I didn't like any part of that. He gets too emotional about it," Vols coach Rick Barnes said later. "We want to play within the rules in terms of -- as physical as we want to be, we don't want to foul."
But Barnes will not apologize for his team's identity.
"We're a tough, hard-nosed team. That's how we play everybody," he said. "But knowing that (Duke) had a lot of freshmen, we knew that if we come in and apply more pressure and be tough and physical, then they would have to deal with it."
Olivier Nkamhoua scored 27 points on 10-of-13 shooting to power the Volunteers' offense. He averages 11.0 points and 5.0 rebounds per game, while guard Santiago Vescovi had a team-high 12.7 points plus 4.6 rebounds and 3.1 assists per game.
The Vols were ranked as high as No. 2 in the country during the season. They lost six of 10 to finish the season and are also coping with the loss of point guard Zakai Zeigler (ACL).
While Tennessee is making its sixth Sweet 16 appearance since 2007 and second under Barnes, FAU (33-3) has won tournament games for the first time in just its second trip to the Big Dance.
The Owls won the C-USA title before surviving a dramatic first weekend in Columbus, Ohio. After upending Memphis 66-65 on Nicholas Boyd's layup with two seconds left, they faced Fairleigh Dickinson, the second No. 16 seed to ever beat a No. 1.
FAU trailed 49-44 with 12 minutes left before pushing ahead. Johnell Davis made a crucial steal and dunk with time winding down and finished with 29 points, 12 rebounds, five assists and five steals in the 78-70 victory.
While FDU's storybook run ended, FAU is one of the few Cinderellas remaining, given its mid-major status and No. 9 seed. Except May and his players don't see it that way.
"We never felt like we were a Cinderella story because of our record, because of the players in that locker room," May said.
The Owls rank 32nd in Division I in scoring (78.4 ppg), 18th in 3-point attempts per game (26.4) and top-50 in 3-point percentage (36.7). Six players have shot more than 100 3-pointers this season; Davis, Boyd and Bryan Greenlee all shoot at least 38 percent from the arc.
Davis (13.9 points, 5.4 rebounds), Alijah Martin (13.1 points, 5.3 rebounds) and Vladislav Goldin (10.4 points, 6.4 rebounds) carry FAU's offense.

Owls are 10-3-1 ATS in their last 14 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
Owls are 7-3-1 ATS in their last 11 Thursday games.
Owls are 22-10-1 ATS in their last 33 games overall.
Owls are 15-7-1 ATS in their last 23 games following a ATS loss.

Volunteers are 2-5 ATS in their last 7 games following a straight up win.
Volunteers are 2-5 ATS in their last 7 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
Volunteers are 3-8 ATS in their last 11 games vs. a team with a winning straight up record.
Volunteers are 2-7 ATS in their last 9 NCAA Tournament games.
Volunteers are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games following a ATS win.

Over is 7-1-1 in Owls last 9 Thursday games.
Under is 5-1 in Owls last 6 neutral site games.
Under is 4-1 in Owls last 5 overall.
Under is 4-1 in Owls last 5 games following a straight up win.
Over is 17-8-2 in Owls last 27 games following a ATS loss.

Under is 5-1 in Volunteers last 6 neutral site games.
Under is 5-2 in Volunteers last 7 games following a straight up win.
Under is 9-4-1 in Volunteers last 14 overall.
Under is 23-11-1 in Volunteers last 35 Thursday games.

 

[Greenbacks]

Gonzaga-UCLA

Thursday, March 23, 2023 09:45 PM (ET)

Thursday is the 17-year anniversary of when UCLA put on a dazzling game-ending 11-0 run for an improbable 73-71 victory in the Sweet 16 that left Gonzaga star Adam Morrison face-first on the court, crying in distress and defeat.
The Bulldogs returned the heartbreak less than two years ago when Jalen Suggs drained a buzzer-beater from just inside halfcourt in overtime to give the Bulldogs a miraculous 93-90 victory over the Bruins in Final Four.
More electrifying drama could be in store Thursday night when the second-seeded Bruins (31-5) and third-seeded Bulldogs (30-5) square off in the Sweet 16 in West Region play in Las Vegas.
Gonzaga has won 11 straight games and is in the Sweet 16 for the eighth straight NCAA Tournament. The Bulldogs beat Grand Canyon and TCU in their first two March Madness games.
"You've got to put it all on the line," Gonzaga star Drew Timme said. "You can't save yourself for the next round because there could be no next round. It's pedal to the metal every time."
UCLA has recorded 14 wins in 15 games and is part of the Sweet 16 for the third straight time and sixth in the past 10 NCAA Tournaments. The Bruins defeated UNC Asheville and Northwestern.
"We just try to teach guys how to play winning basketball," Bruins coach Mick Cronin said. "You got to be able to play situational, winning basketball because situations change. You got to play smart."
Forward Jaime Jaquez Jr. and point guard Tyger Campbell were starters on the UCLA team that lost to the Bulldogs in the Final Four. The duo has a 9-2 record in NCAA Tournament games.
Jaquez is in the lead role this season by averaging 20.5 points and 8.0 rebounds in the two victories. He also is in disbelief that he moved into 12th place on UCLA's all-time scoring list with 1,773 points, passing legendary Bill Walton (1,767).
"Just to be in a conversation with a guy that's so great like that, I mean, I'm just blessed," Jaquez said of Walton. "I'm just blessed to be in this position, blessed to play under such a great coach, blessed to go to this institution."
Meanwhile, Timme was named as one of four finalists for the Naismith Trophy on Tuesday. The award goes to the top player in the nation.
When Timme scored 28 points in Sunday's 84-81 win over TCU, he tied a record and became just the seventh player in NCAA Tournament history with nine 20-point outings. And the list is a virtual memory lane of March Madness stars: Bill Bradley (Princeton), Elvin Hayes (Houston), Danny Manning (Kansas) Glen Rice (Michigan), Corliss Williamson (Arkansas) and Richard Hamilton (UConn).
"He shines on any stage, actually," Gonzaga coach Mark Few said. "It's not like he's not getting 20-point games when he plays for us regularly. Listen, I think he's the best player in college basketball. I've said that. I think he's going to go down with the amount of success and the wins and all he's been able to do."
Timme, who is averaging 21.1 points per game, led the Zags to their eighth 30-win campaign in the past 11 seasons. Julian Strawther averages 15.3 points and Anton Watson averages with 11.3 points to go with a team-best 66 steals.
Jaquez scored 24 points in Saturday's 68-63 victory over Northwestern. He leads UCLA in scoring (17.5) and rebounding (8.1), while Campbell averages 13.4 points and a team-leading 4.9 points.
The Bruins recently lost defensive standout Jaylen Clark (Achilles) for the season, while the status of fellow guard David Singleton (ankle) is unclear after he was injured in the final minute against TCU.
Gonzaga is 5-2 all-time against UCLA, including a convincing 83-63 in Las Vegas on Nov. 23, 2021.
The winner faces either fourth-seeded UConn or eighth-seeded Arkansas in Saturday's West Region final.

Bulldogs are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 Thursday games.
Bulldogs are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 games following a ATS loss.
Bulldogs are 10-21-2 ATS in their last 33 games following a straight up win.
Bulldogs are 7-21-2 ATS in their last 30 games vs. a team with a winning straight up record.
Bulldogs are 6-19-2 ATS in their last 27 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
Bulldogs are 3-12-1 ATS in their last 16 neutral site games.
Bulldogs are 0-7 ATS in their last 7 NCAA Tournament games.

Bruins are 3-0-1 ATS in their last 4 Thursday games.
Bruins are 5-1-1 ATS in their last 7 games overall.
Bruins are 5-1-1 ATS in their last 7 games vs. a team with a winning straight up record.
Bruins are 4-1-1 ATS in their last 6 games following a straight up win.
Bruins are 4-1-1 ATS in their last 6 neutral site games.
Bruins are 6-2 ATS in their last 8 games following a ATS loss.
Bruins are 3-1-2 ATS in their last 6 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
Bruins are 8-3 ATS in their last 11 NCAA Tournament games.

Over is 4-1 in Bulldogs last 5 games following a ATS loss.
Over is 9-3 in Bulldogs last 12 overall.
Over is 8-3 in Bulldogs last 11 games following a straight up win.
Under is 11-5 in Bulldogs last 16 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600

Over is 5-0 in Bruins last 5 Thursday games.
Over is 6-1 in Bruins last 7 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
Over is 14-5 in Bruins last 19 games following a ATS loss.
Over is 5-2 in Bruins last 7 overall.

 

[Greenbacks]

 

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https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1639125631584677889

 

[Greenbacks]

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1639127744649785345

 

[Greenbacks]

2023 NCAA Men's Basketball Championship
60501	Alabama 1		+300
60502	Houston 1		+375
60512	Connecticut 4		+500
60506	Gonzaga 3		+600
60508	Texas 2		+800
60516	Creighton 6		+1100
60522	Kansas State 3		+1200
60535	Florida Atlantic 9		+2200
60528	San Diego State 5		+4000
60523	Xavier 3		+4500
60519	Miami Florida 5		+5000
60580	Princeton		+12500

 

[Greenbacks]

San Diego St.-Alabama

Friday, March 24, 2023 06:30 PM (ET)
Win or lose in the Sweet 16 matchup with No. 1 overall seed Alabama, San Diego State strives to control the pace.
For the Aztecs to defeat the Crimson Tide in the South Region semifinal on Friday in Louisville, Ky., the No. 5 seed has to live up to its reputation.
"San Diego State's defense is elite," Alabama coach Nate Oats said.

The Aztecs (29-6) led the nation in transition defense, and with a rotation that touches 10 players and beyond, San Diego State follows an old-school philosophy: Defend and offense will follow. The Mountain West champions expected to be in Louisville with this opportunity, even if others didn't.
"Defense travels," Aztecs guard Darrion Trammell said. "That's something we have on the paper every game, every away game. That's something that we hang our hats on. I think that's going to take us very far. Like (in the second round against Furman) if the offense is flowing, I feel like we're a very hard team to beat, but it's not something we have to rely on like a lot of teams do. I feel like that's an advantage against our competition."
San Diego State coach Brian Dutcher confessed upon his team punching a ticket to the Sweet 16 with a takedown of Furman in Orlando, he knew "nothing" about Alabama. A former Steve Fisher assistant who followed from Michigan, Dutcher has been at San Diego State since 1999 and has the team in the Sweet 16 for the first time since 2014.
His focus as long as the Aztecs, who hold opponents to 63.1 points and 6.4 made 3s per game, are around is to convince his players to focus first on themselves, their job and role, and being too connected as a team to lose.
"Teams don't win that play on their heels. We've got to play on our toes and with that comes intelligence," Dutcher said. "You can't go out and play crazy. I think we play connected, we play the right way, and we play with confidence."
Oats might be interested in thoughts from San Diego State's NCAA Tournament victims so far, Charleston and Furman, to get to know his Friday night date. Charleston coach Pat Kelsey said SDSU "kicked out butts" physically. Furman coach Bob Richey sounds like a believer, too, saying the Aztecs "could advance as far as they want in this thing because of how physical they are."
Of course, Alabama stands on the pedestal as the No. 1 seed for a reason. The Crimson Tide won two games in Birmingham by an average margin of 21.5 points, led by point guard Jahvon Quinerly and All-American Brandon Miller.
Maryland fell short in a second-round matchup with Alabama last week, and Terrapins coach Kevin Willard said a prime takeaway for his team was the way the Crimson Tide committed to using collective athletic ability to defend.
"There's a reason why they were second in 3-point field-goal defense," Willard said. "I think they are (third) in overall field-goal defense. They have a very simple game plan, which works. They just funnel everything into the big guy and they take away the strong side and the kicks -- they do a great job of it. They use their length tremendously."
The Crimson Tide will appear in the Sweet 16 for the ninth time in program history, last making it in 2021 and losing to UCLA.
"Losing to UCLA two years ago, I remember that feeling," Quinerly said. "I'm just going to let the guys know that, you know, we're close. We're very close, but we still got a ways to go."

Aztecs are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games overall.
Aztecs are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games following a straight up win.
Aztecs are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
Aztecs are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 neutral site games.
Aztecs are 6-1 ATS in their last 7 Friday games.
Aztecs are 12-3-2 ATS in their last 17 games vs. a team with a winning straight up record.
Aztecs are 3-1-1 ATS in their last 5 games following a ATS win.
Aztecs are 0-4 ATS in their last 4 games following a straight up win of more than 20 points.

Crimson Tide are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games overall.
Crimson Tide are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
Crimson Tide are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games vs. a team with a winning straight up record.
Crimson Tide are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 neutral site games.
Crimson Tide are 20-8 ATS in their last 28 Friday games.
Crimson Tide are 7-3 ATS in their last 10 games following a straight up win of more than 20 points.
Crimson Tide are 2-5 ATS in their last 7 NCAA Tournament games.

Under is 6-0 in Aztecs last 6 games following a ATS win.
Under is 6-0 in Aztecs last 6 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
Under is 14-3 in Aztecs last 17 overall.
Under is 13-3 in Aztecs last 16 games following a straight up win.
Under is 7-2 in Aztecs last 9 Friday games.
Under is 25-8 in Aztecs last 33 neutral site games.

Under is 7-1-1 in Crimson Tide last 9 games following a straight up win of more than 20 points.
Under is 5-1 in Crimson Tide last 6 overall.
Under is 5-1 in Crimson Tide last 6 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
Under is 8-2 in Crimson Tide last 10 games following a ATS win.
Under is 4-1 in Crimson Tide last 5 games following a straight up win.
Under is 4-1 in Crimson Tide last 5 neutral site games.

 

[Greenbacks]

Miami-Houston

Friday, March 24, 2023 07:15 PM (ET)

Top-seeded Houston is in the Sweet 16 for the fourth consecutive NCAA Tournament, but the Cougars don't feel they receive the proper respect.
Heading into the second weekend of the tournament, that feeling lingers despite the Cougars being just one victory away from their third straight Elite Eight appearance.
"A lot of people were pushing for us to lose," Houston guard Tramon Mark said. "They didn't believe we were a real 1 seed because of the conference (American Athletic) we play in. But I think we're one of the best teams in the country still, and we proved it."
The Cougars (33-3) look to take the next step when they battle fifth-seeded Miami (27-7) on Friday night in Midwest Region play in Kansas City, Mo.
Houston spent the entire season near the top of the national rankings and surely isn't a surprise Sweet 16 participant.
"I put ourselves in a whole different category," forward J'Wan Roberts said. "I don't compare us to other teams. We just stick to what we do, and it shows. Other No. 1 teams got beat, but we didn't."
The Cougars and Alabama are the No. 1 seeds still playing. Purdue lost in the opening round and Kansas fell in the second.
Houston coach Kelvin Sampson tries to simplify the approach during March Madness.
"We've been here many times in the final 16," Sampson said. "The next 40 minutes are going to be big. We've got to find a way to get the next 40 minutes, and then we'll move on from there. If not, it's over."
Star guard Marcus Sasser (groin) is still gimpy despite scoring 22 points in Saturday's 81-64 win over Auburn. On Thursday, Sasser proclaimed he will be "around 90 percent" for the game. Teammate Jamal Shead (knee) said he is 100 percent recovered.
Mark scored a career-high 26 points against Auburn.
The Hurricanes are in the Sweet 16 in consecutive seasons for the first time in program history. Last season, they reached the Elite Eight before being routed 76-50 by eventual national champion Kansas.
Star guard Isaiah Wong said it is a great era for the Hurricanes, who are just two victories away from matching the school record.
"It's just an honor being part of this program, with the history we have," Wong said. "We have a great team this year and last year too, and I feel like it's great to see how we came up.
"My first year we wasn't as good, but for the last two years, we're going to the Sweet 16, and last year the Elite Eight."
Still, guard Jordan Miller said that Miami also doesn't receive the level of respect it should.
"I wouldn't say underappreciated, but at the end of the day, all we can do is just come out and win basketball games," Miller said. "I feel like winning a game in itself is a way to get recognition. We're going to the Sweet 16. That's a lot of recognition. We don't necessarily care about what the media says."
Wong averages a team-best 16.1 points and Miller is right behind at 15.1 Nijel Pack and Norchad Omier both average 13.4 points with the latter collecting a team-leading 10.1 rebounds per game.
Omier grabbed 17 rebounds in Sunday's 85-69 victory over Indiana. That was a program record for boards in an NCAA Tournament game, surpassing the 14 he collected two nights earlier in a 63-56 victory over Drake.
"If I'm being honest, I really don't know," Omier said of his success. "I just like playing with my teammates. They always motivate me to go do what I love to do, and I love rebounding."
Wong scored 27 points against Indiana.
Miami guard Wooga Poplar, who injured his back against Indiana, has yet to be cleared but will be in the starting lineup if he can play.
Houston holds a 9-5 series edge over Miami but the schools haven't met in 52 years.
The winner faces either second-seeded Texas or third-seeded Xavier in Sunday's regional final.

Hurricanes are 8-1-1 ATS in their last 10 Friday games.
Hurricanes are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 NCAA Tournament games.
Hurricanes are 8-3 ATS in their last 11 games vs. a team with a winning straight up record.
Hurricanes are 5-2 ATS in their last 7 games following a ATS win.
Hurricanes are 36-16-1 ATS in their last 53 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.

Cougars are 7-1 ATS in their last 8 Friday games.
Cougars are 11-5 ATS in their last 16 neutral site games.
Cougars are 2-5 ATS in their last 7 games following a straight up win.
Cougars are 2-5 ATS in their last 7 games vs. a team with a winning straight up record.
Cougars are 2-6 ATS in their last 8 games overall.
Cougars are 1-6 ATS in their last 7 games following a ATS win.

Under is 6-1 in Hurricanes last 7 NCAA Tournament games.
Over is 4-1 in Hurricanes last 5 games following a ATS win.
Under is 7-3 in Hurricanes last 10 neutral site games.

Under is 4-1 in Cougars last 5 NCAA Tournament games.
Under is 7-3 in Cougars last 10 neutral site games.
Under is 43-21-1 in Cougars last 65 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.

 

[Greenbacks]

Princeton-Creighton

Friday, March 24, 2023 09:00 PM (ET)

For the third straight year, a No. 15 reached the Sweet 16. For the second straight season, a private school from New Jersey is the noisemaker in the NCAA Tournament.
Princeton coach Mitch Henderson said the Tigers received celebrity treatment since returning home from consecutive bracket-busting upsets of South No. 2 seed Arizona and No. 7 Missouri. Henderson and Princeton wade deeper into uncharted territory in a South Region semifinal game against sixth-seeded Creighton on Friday in Louisville.
"I was on a show today with Coach K (Mike Krzyzewski), and he asked me the same thing," Henderson said. "I was like, 'Well, you tell me. What do we do here?'"
It's not a mystery for the Ivy League champions. Henderson intends for everyone to remember what got them to this point, to stay themselves while enjoying the moment.
The Tigers (23-8) haven't played like a No. 15 seed in their two tournament wins. They never trailed after the opening minutes against Missouri, made twice as many 3-pointers (12 to six) as their opponent and dominated the boards 44-30, all while handling the Tigers' pressure defense.
Princeton's Ryan Langborg scored a game-high 22 points, adding six rebounds and four assists. Freshman Caden Pierce grabbed a career-high 16 rebounds -- seven on the offensive glass -- to go with nine points, and Tosan Evbuomwan finished with nine points, nine rebounds and five assists.
"We're playing a brand of basketball that's conducive to winning at the highest levels, and that's rebounding," Henderson said. "You've gotta be physical and you've got to go up there and get it, and you've got to play tough-nosed defense."
But the rebound margin might not be so lopsided against Creighton (23-12), and Henderson knows it. Creighton hits the boards hard, with guard Baylor Scheierman an answer for Pierce with his team-leading 8.2 rebounds per game. Ryan Kalkbrenner, the Bluejays' 7-foot-1 leading scorer (15.7 points per game), adds 6.2 rebounds per contest.
Creighton coach Greg McDermott praised Princeton for having a "very efficient" offense.
"This isn't a true Princeton offense, but a lot of their characteristics are the same," McDermott said Tuesday, referencing the traditional backdoor cut sets of a bygone era. "Their spacing's great, their cutting's elite, their ball security's really good and they spread you out, space you out with their ability to shoot the basketball."
While Princeton made its first Sweet 16 in program history, the Bluejays secured their second Sweet 16 appearance in three years by shooting down third-seeded Baylor in the second round, 85-76.
Ryan Nembhard scored a career-high 30 points for Creighton, which shot 45.8 percent from 3-point range (11 of 24) and 100 percent at the foul line (22 of 22).
Not unlike Princeton, Creighton has been on a mission to show it belongs with the best. The Bluejays were ranked as high as No. 7 in the country this season and may have been underseeded on the six line.
"We definitely don't care who we're going against," Nembhard said after the win over Baylor. "We respect everybody. We give everybody the respect they're due, but at the end of the day, we think we're just as good as anybody in the country. We come into every game thinking that mentality."
Princeton is 11th in the country in rebound margin at plus-6.6. Creighton ranks a respectable 62nd with a plus-3.7 margin.
Creighton and Princeton have met just once before, and the Bluejays won in Omaha, Neb., on Dec. 29, 1961.
The Tigers hope to emulate the success of last year's No. 15 seed from New Jersey. St. Peter's made it to the Elite Eight, beating Kentucky and Purdue in the process, before bowing out in the regional final to North Carolina.

Tigers are 6-0 ATS in their last 6 games overall.
Tigers are 5-0 ATS in their last 5 games following a ATS win.
Tigers are 5-0 ATS in their last 5 games following a straight up win.
Tigers are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 NCAA Tournament games.
Tigers are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
Tigers are 6-0 ATS in their last 6 games vs. a team with a winning straight up record.
Tigers are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 neutral site games.

Bluejays are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 NCAA Tournament games.
Bluejays are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 games overall.
Bluejays are 12-3 ATS in their last 15 neutral site games.
Bluejays are 11-5 ATS in their last 16 Friday games.

Under is 6-0 in Tigers last 6 NCAA Tournament games.
Under is 7-1 in Tigers last 8 neutral site games.
Over is 4-1 in Tigers last 5 Friday games.
Over is 8-3 in Tigers last 11 games following a straight up win.
Over is 7-3 in Tigers last 10 games following a ATS win.
Over is 9-4 in Tigers last 13 overall.

Under is 4-1 in Bluejays last 5 Friday games.
Over is 8-3 in Bluejays last 11 neutral site games.
Over is 5-2 in Bluejays last 7 overall.
Under is 9-4-1 in Bluejays last 14 games following a ATS win.

 

[Greenbacks]

Xavier-Texas

Friday, March 24, 2023 09:45 PM (ET)

Two wins shy of the Final Four, redemption stories intersect in Kansas City when the Texas Longhorns and Xavier Musketeers collide in the Sweet 16 on Friday.
The second-seeded Longhorns (28-8) are making their return to the regional semifinals for the first time since 2008, a long and winding pilgrimage that included firing head coach Chris Beard following his arrest on suspicion of domestic violence in December.
Xavier (27-9), the No. 3 seed in the Midwest Region, is returning to prominence under the direction of coach Sean Miller. Fired by Arizona in 2021, Miller returned to the Musketeers, the school he coached from 2004-09, one year and a few days ago.
Almost instantly, Miller restored the program's contender status with a balanced attack that puts up 81.2 points per game and features five players averaging at least 10 points per game.
"We're thrilled to be in the Sweet 16," Miller said. "It's a hard journey to get here, and I'm really thrilled for these guys, each of them, because it's their first opportunity, and they'll remember it forever."
Texas interim coach Rodney Terry continues a fight that could help propel him into the permanent post, from Beard's top assistant to successor. He led the Longhorns to the Big 12 conference tournament -- in Kansas City -- and now looks to continue the squad's NCAA Tournament run. While he claims he is not thinking about titles or salaries in the moment, it's clear his players are flexing on his behalf.
"I think he embodies what we are and what we try to be every day -- tough," Texas forward Timmy Allen said. "Someone who has been there before, never shakes at adversity, somebody who wakes up and tries to attack the day to be great. When I've got somebody like that in my corner, I'll do anything for them."
Miller bolted for Arizona in 2009 and went to the Elite Eight three times. However, he came under fire during an FBI investigation into a pay-for-play scheme that caused the program to self-impose a one year postseason ban. He has Xavier back in the Sweet 16 for the first time since 2017.
"I didn't need a reminder," Miller said of his ability to coach. "You know, I never lost belief. I really didn't. I'm grateful for the opportunity, though.
"I have an amazing group to work with. There's a lot of coaches that could win with this team, and I recognize that, but my hope is that we have more in us, that we're able to have a great week and make what we already feel good about even better."
Souley Boum said Xavier didn't need a reminder Miller could coach, either.
"We've been talking about this all summer, all fall," Boum said.
Boum had 14 points, all in the second half, for the Musketeers in their 84-73 win over Pitt in the second round. Xavier made eight 3-pointers, five by Adam Kunkel.
Texas has been getting the job done on defense in the tournament, sticking shooters around the 3-point arc and challenging with scorers inside and out on the offensive end.
New Mexico State transfer Sir'Jabari Rice had seven 3-pointers in the first-round win against Colgate. Forward Dylan Disu, the most outstanding player in the Big 12 conference tournament, continued his exceptional play with 28 points and 10 boards to lead Texas past Penn State, 71-66, in the second round.
Rice said the Final Four looms as a greater goal, but the Longhorns are taking the business of winning to a new level.
"It sounds representative, but it's just preparation," Rice said. "Every single time we are in practice, we're locked in. Walkthroughs, we're locked in. We know a time and place when to play and when not to. Obviously every team has a sense of urgency and seriousness because it's do or die. With us, since the beginning of the season, we had a goal and we set out to complete that goal.
"When we get down and play teams like that that go on runs, I think it's just a testament to who we are as, like, a culture and how together we are. Us sticking together is just, like I said, is a testimony to who we are and just preparation every day."

Musketeers are 25-8-2 ATS in their last 35 NCAA Tournament games.
Musketeers are 15-5-1 ATS in their last 21 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
Musketeers are 8-3-1 ATS in their last 12 Friday games.
Musketeers are 18-7-1 ATS in their last 26 games vs. a team with a winning straight up record.
Musketeers are 2-6 ATS in their last 8 games following a ATS win.

Longhorns are 6-0-1 ATS in their last 7 games overall.
Longhorns are 4-0-1 ATS in their last 5 games following a straight up win.
Longhorns are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 Friday games.
Longhorns are 5-0-1 ATS in their last 6 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
Longhorns are 6-0-1 ATS in their last 7 games vs. a team with a winning straight up record.
Longhorns are 4-0-1 ATS in their last 5 neutral site games.
Longhorns are 2-11-1 ATS in their last 14 NCAA Tournament games.

Under is 7-2 in Musketeers last 9 games following a ATS win.
Over is 12-5 in Musketeers last 17 neutral site games.
Under is 7-3-1 in Musketeers last 11 NCAA Tournament games.

Under is 7-0 in Longhorns last 7 overall.
Under is 5-0 in Longhorns last 5 games following a straight up win.
Under is 6-0 in Longhorns last 6 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
Under is 5-0 in Longhorns last 5 neutral site games.
Under is 8-3 in Longhorns last 11 Friday games.
Over is 13-6 in Longhorns last 19 NCAA Tournament games.

 

[Greenbacks]

 

[Greenbacks]

 

[Greenbacks]