College Knowledge
Robert Morris kids might still be hung over after beating Kentucky last week on national TV; Colonials lost by 10 at Pitt LY, last time they've faced a Big East team. Providence plays only seven guys; they're 8-3 in last 11 games, beat Bryant by 32, in only game vs NEC opponent.
Mercer finished ahead of Florida Gulf Coast in A-Sun; they're 12-2 in last 14 games, but lost at New Mexico by 18, Denver by 29 in its two western road games this year. BYU is 4-5 in its last nine games, but won three of last four at home. Last three Mercer games went over total.
27-6 Louisiana Tech snapped 3-game skid with 71-66 win at Florida St., Tech (-4) beat Southern Miss 65-55 Dec 8, despite 23 turnovers; USM top scorer Davis had only 7 points. Eagles won last five home games and eight of last 11 overall. Tech lost two of its last three away games.
George Mason is announcing move to A-16 today; their last six games were all decided by 6 or less points. Patriots lost four of last five home games. Houston has played easiest schedule in country this year; they've won five of last six games, with last three wins all by 5 or less points.
Richmond's 76-71 win at Bryant in first round was its second win in last ten road games; Spiders are 16-2 this season vs teams ranked outside top 100 (Wright State is #113). Raiders won four of last five games; they're 1-0 vs CAA teams this year, winning 63-57 at league doormat Hofstra.
Santa Clara is 10-5 in its last 15 games, but lost lost last three road tilts, by 17-43-13 points; Broncos are 1-7 vs teams in top 70, winning by 7 at Saint Louis in November. Purdue won three of last four at home, with only loss by 5 to Michigan. Purdue is 12-4 vs teams outside top 80.
Western Michigan lost three of last four road games, with four of its last five on road decided by 4 or less points; Broncos won 12 of its last 17 games overall. Wyoming is 15-0 vs teams outside MWC, 12-0 vs teams ranked outside top 125- they've beaten four top 70 teams in Laramie.
Cal-Irvine won nine of last 11 games; they lost by hoop at Sam Houston State in OT, its only game vs Southland opponent- they won two of last three road games. Oral Roberts beat Sam Houston two out of three, but lost to them in Southland tourney; Titans won seven of eight at home.
Amarillosports.com
Monday NIT Action
By Kevin Rogers
VegasInsider.com
The Sweet 16 is set in the NCAA Tournament, but the NIT is reclaiming the spotlight tonight with three games with its Final Four starting next week at Madison Square Garden. The top-seed in the Kentucky regional is no longer playing as the Wildcats were bounced by Robert Morris last week. It was an upset to a certain extent, but Robert Morris received a huge break by playing the game at home in Pittsburgh due to Rupp Arena being unavailable as it was used for the NCAA Tournament.
Robert Morris at Providence (-8½)
The Colonials will look to bottle up all the momentum from last Tuesday's 59-57 upset of Kentucky as 3½-point home underdogs as Robert Morris makes the short trip to Providence. RMU allowed 52% shooting from the floor to Kentucky, while pulling down just 17 rebounds in the win.
Providence rallied past Charlotte in its NIT opener, 75-66, while pushing as nine-point home favorites. The Friars outscored the 49ers, 42-30 in the second half, as the game barely went 'over' the total of 139½. PC's starting five scored 73 of the 75 points, while Bryce Cotton led the Friars with 25 points for the fifth straight win at the Dunkin Donuts Center.
Robert Morris has very little to show from a pointspread standpoint due to the Northeast Conference rarely being listed on the board. The Colonials are 4-2 ATS in six lined games, while posting a 1-1 ATS mark as an underdog that includes an early-season loss at Lehigh. RMU lost close calls at Arkansas and Xavier earlier this season, while picking up a solid home win over Ohio on December 1.
The Friars owned a 5-3-1 ATS record as a home favorite this season, but that also includes an outright loss to DePaul early in Big East play. However, Ed Cooley's club has won eight of 11 games down the stretch since a three-game skid to close January.
Mercer at BYU (-7½)
Probably the biggest upset in the first round of the NIT came in Knoxville, as Mercer won at Tennessee, 75-67 to cash outright as eight-point road underdogs. The Bears hail from the same conference as Florida Gulf Coast (Atlantic Sun), as Mercer knocked down 50% of its shots from the floor to shock the Volunteers, while leading from start to finish. Now, Mercer travels to Provo for a tough matchup with BYU.
The Cougars chased out Washington in the opening round of the NIT, 90-79 to cash as six-point favorites. BYU blistered Washington's defense with 57 points in the second half, while Tyler Haws put up a game-high 37 points for the Cougars. The victory snapped a six-game ATS skid in the favorite role, while improving to 4-8 ATS the last 12 opportunities when laying points.
The Bears have played seven lined contests the whole season, but have posted a 2-4-1 ATS record. Mercer has eclipsed the 72-point mark in five consecutive games, while hitting the 'over' in three straight contests, including the win at Tennessee. This team is not afraid to go into big-time schools and cause trouble, as Mercer has picked up victories at Alabama and Florida State this season.
Louisiana Tech at Southern Mississippi (-8)
These two teams met earlier this season in Rustin, as Louisiana Tech silenced Southern Miss, 65-55. The Bulldogs cashed as four-point favorites in spite of shooting just 39% from the floor, but they limited the Golden Eagles to 33% shooting. Southern Miss was squeezed from the NCAA Tournament when it fell to Memphis in double-overtime of the Conference USA title, as the Eagles go for their second consecutive win in the NIT.
Donnie Tyndall's club held off Charleston Southern, 78-71, but failed to cover as 11 ½-point home 'chalk' last Wednesday. Southern Miss torched Charleston from the field by drilling 56% of their shots, while hitting 10 three-pointers. The Golden Eagles have now finished 'over' the total in seven of the last eight games, while scoring at least 78 points six times in this stretch.
Louisiana Tech snapped a three-game skid by knocking off Florida State in Tallahassee, 71-66 as three-point underdogs. The Bulldogs grabbed a share of the WAC regular season title with Denver, but Tech was upset in the opening round of the conference title against Texas-San Antonio, dashing any chances of a bid to the Big Dance. Tech put together a 2-3 ATS record as a road underdog this season, but went 11-5 straight-up away from Rustin.