Wisconsin - Syracuse Preview
By Jack Jones
Betfirms.com
The No. 1 seed Syracuse Orange are set to do battle with the No. 4 seed Wisconsin Badgers in the Sweet 16. This East Region showdown will take place in Boston, Massachusetts at 7:15 EST on Thursday, March 19th. It will be the first meeting between these teams since 1999, which was won by Syracuse by a final of 68-49.
Oddsmakers in Las Vegas have installed a line of Syracuse -4 over Wisconsin with a total set of 121 points.
Syracuse
The Orange put together a tremendous season to earn their No. 1 seed in the East Region. They come in at 33-2 after winning the Big East regular season title. Syracuse has been through quite a bit this season with off-the-court distractions, but they continue to push through it. Their latest hit was a suspension to center Fab Melo (7.8 points, 5.8 rebounds, 2.9 blocks), who has been ruled ineligible for the NCAA Tournament.
Even without Melo, the Orange have looked dominant for the most part in the big dance. After trailing at halftime 34-30 to No. 16 UNC-Asheville, Syracuse would outscore them 42-31 the rest of the way to come out on top 72-65. Forward James Southerland led the charge with 15 points and 8 rebounds. The Orange were really impressive in their 75-59 victory over No. 8 Kansas State in the Round of 32. Dion Waiters scored 18 points, while Scoop Jardine chipped in with 16 and Southerland added 15 points.
Wisconsin
The Badgers continue to do what they’ve always done under head coach Bo Ryan. Wisconsin put together another solid season with a 26-9 campaign to this point. They wind the clock down, take care of the ball, and make key plays down the stretch while usually winning in ugly fashion. It’s a team that has impressive wins over the likes of BYU, Indiana twice, and also Ohio State. But they have also lost to Iowa twice, so consistency is clearly lacking.
Wisconsin opened their NCAA Tournament with a 73-49 blowout victory over Montana. They limited the Grizzlies to just 38.3 percent shooting in a great defensive effort. The Badgers hit 10-of-19 (52.6 percent) from 3-point range, while also making 17-of-19 (89.5 percent) of their free throw attempts. Despite being the higher seed, they would be an underdog to Vanderbilt in the next round. Wisconsin would win 60-57 thanks to their defense of two of the best players in the country. They held John Jenkins to 3-of-13 shooting and 13 points, while also limiting Jeffery Taylor to 4-of-12 shooting for 9 points. Five players scored in double-figures for Wisconsin.
What to Watch For
Syracuse has a huge advantage athletically in this one, but if Wisconsin can make this an ugly game, then the Badgers will have a shot at pulling off the upset. If this becomes an up-tempo game, it clearly favors the Orange. Syracuse has the better guards, but the Badgers have the big men to match them inside pretty well.
For Wisconsin to have any chance, leading scorers Jordan Taylor (14.7 points, 4.0 assists) and Ryan Evans (11.1 points, 6.8 rebounds) must be able to deliver offensively. Taylor is going to have to penetrate that patented Syracuse Jones and look to try and create for open shooters. When he does do that, John Glasser (45.6 percent 3-pointers) must continue to knock down open jumpers to stretch the zone.
For Syracuse, guards Dion Waiters (12.7 points), Brandon Triche (9.1 points) and Scoop Jardine (9.1 points) must look to push the tempo. Leading scorer Kris Joseph (13.7 points, 4.9 rebounds) must play big inside along with C.J. Fair (8.3 points, 5.4 rebounds). James Southerland has come out of nowhere to lead the team in scoring in the NCAA Tournament, and he has to continue to provide a spark off the bench.
Cincinnati - Ohio State Preview
By Jack Jones
Betfirms.com
The East Region’s No. 2 seed Ohio State Buckeyes look to advance to the Elite Eight with a win over the No. 6 Cincinnati Bearcats in the Sweet 16. These teams are set to do battle on Thursday, March 22nd at 9:45 EST. This showdown between two in-state foes will be held in Boston, Massachusetts Thursday night. It’s their first meeting since a 72-50 home victory by the Buckeyes back in 2006.
Taking a look at the odds in Las Vegas, I find a line of Ohio State -8 over Cincinnati and a total set of 129.5 points.
Ohio State
The Buckeyes came into the season with big expectations and national championship aspirations. They can still attain their goals, but they have failed to meet expectations to this point. Ohio State comes in at 29-7, and I don’t think anyone saw them losing seven games this year. They Buckeyes could only clinch a share of the Big Ten regular season title, and they were bounced in the conference championship by Michigan State.
Ohio State is certainly playing up to their potential in the NCAA Tournament, though. They knocked off Loyola-Maryland 78-59 in the Round of 64 behind a monster game from Deshaun Thomas. The sophomore forward played like a seasoned vet, scoring 31 points while grabbing 12 rebounds and blocking two shots. Sophomore forward Jared Sullinger would lead the way in the Round of 32, helping the Buckeyes fend off Gonzaga 73-66. He scored 18 points, including two baskets in the final 3 minutes to seal the victory.
Cincinnati
Things were not going very well for the Bearcats early in the season as they opened their campaign at 5-3. Their frustration really showed during a 76-53 loss to rival Xavier. Yancy Gates threw a punch, and several players were suspended for an ugly brawl in the closing seconds of that loss. Cincinnati would use it as motivation, and they went on to win seven straight, and 10 of their next 11 to put themselves in position to make the NCAA Tournament.
After making it all the way to the championship game of the Big East Tournament, and winning their first two games of the big dance, the Bearcats enter this game at 26-10. They have certainly been one of the best scores of the tournament thus far. Cincinnati topped Texas 65-59 in their opener behind 15 points, 10 rebounds and three blocks from Gates. They would upset No. 3 seed Florida State 62-56 in the Round of 32 thanks to a late steal and dunk from guard Dion Dixon. The Bearcats came up with a whopping 13 steals in the game.
What to Watch For
This game will feature perhaps the best big man battle in the entire tournament. Sullinger (17.4 points, 9.1 rebounds, 1.0 blocks) is an absolute load inside for Ohio State, but the Bearcats have someone who can at least contain him. Gates (12.4 points, 9.1 rebounds, 0.9 blocks) has been tremendous for Cincinnati down the stretch. If the Bearcats are going to have any shot at pulling off the upset, he needs to shut down Sullinger inside.
Cincinnati has three stud guards in Sean Kilpatrick (14.3 points), Dion Dixon (13.1 points) and Cashmere Wright (10.7 points, 4.6 assists). All three of these guys average at least 1.4 steals per game, so they get after it defensively as well. This gives the Bearcats a chance to counter William Buford (14.7 points) and Aaron Craft (8.8 points, 4.7 assists) as the star guards in Ohio State’s backcourt. The one player Cincinnati likely won’t have an answer for is forward Deshaun Thomas, who averages 15.9 points and 5.3 rebounds. He could very well be the difference in this one.
Florida - Marquette Preview
By Jack Jones
Betfirms.com
The No. 3 seed Marquette Golden Eagles take on the No. 7 seed Florida Gators in a Sweet 16 showdown on Thursday, March 22nd. This game will be held in Phoenix, Arizona at 10:15 EST, and it will certainly be one of the most exciting games in the West Region to date.
Oddsmakers in Las Vegas expect a close one as they’ve installed a spread of Marquette -1.5 over Florida and a total set of 146 points.
Marquette
The Golden Eagles have gone under the radar for most of the season. They brought back a lot of experience from a team that made it to the Sweet 16 last year. Marquette opened the year with 10 straight victories, including a triumph over then-No. 7 Wisconsin on the road. They haven’t looked back, currently sitting at 27-7 on the season, and one of the most dangerous teams left in the NCAA Tournament.
Marquette made easy work of BYU in their Round of 64 showdown, topping the Cougars by a final of 88-68. Jae Crowder exploded for 25 points, 16 rebounds, 4 assists and 4 steals. Darius Johnson-Odom also scored 20 points to go along with 5 rebounds and 4 assists. Things got a little more tough in their next game against Murray State, but the Golden Eagles would prevail 62-53 behind a great defensive effort. They held the Racers to just 31.3 percent shooting, while Crowder and Johnson-Odom each poured in 17 points.
Florida
Everyone seemed to give up on the Gators a couple months ago. They continually took bad shots offensively, while also sporting a suspect defense. They were tested early with losses to both Ohio State and Syracuse, but then came back with nice wins over the likes of Florida State and Vanderbilt. The low point of the season was losses to Tennessee twice and also Georgia. While they lost to Kentucky 74-71 in the SEC Tournament, that defeat actually showed that the Gators could play with anyone.
Florida (25-10) enters this game against Marquette playing its best basketball of the season. The Gators have outscored their first two opponents by a combined 70 points and 0.47 points per possession. They made surprisingly easy work of No. 10 Virginia in their opener with a 71-45 victory. Bradley Beal and Casey Prather scored 14 points each to lead the way. The Gators were given a gift in the Round of 32 with Norfolk State. The Spartans knocked off No. 2 Missouri in the Round of 64, but they were no match for Florida. The Gators rolled 84-50 as five players scored in double figures.
What to Watch For
This could be the most exciting Sweet 16 match-up of them all. Both teams are led by quick guards who love to push the pace, which should lead to a shootout. The best battle to watch will be that of Marquette leading scorer Johnson-Odom (18.5 points) against Florida leading scorer Kenny Boynton (16.1 points). Whoever has the better game will likely lead their team to victory.
Another great match-up will be Florida forward Patric Young (10.3 points, 6.4 rebounds) going up against Marquette forward Jae Crowder (17.6 points, 8.4 rebounds, 2.5 steals, 1.0 blocks). This certainly appears to favor Crowder, but Young is built like a football player and can hold his own defensively. Florida’s ability to contain both Johnson-Odom and Crowder will be the deciding factor.
Louisville - Michigan State Preview
By Jack Jones
Betfirms.com
The No. 1 seed Michigan State Spartans are set to take on the No. 4 seed Louisville Cardinals in the Sweet 16 of the West Region. This game will take place in Phoenix, Arizona and tip is set for 7:45 EST Thursday night. It will be a rematch from the 2009 NCAA Tournament when Tom Izzo’s Spartans knocked out Rick Pitino’s top-seeded Cardinals in the Elite Eight.
According to the latest college basketball odds, Michigan State is a 4.5-point favorite over Louisville with a total set of 125 points.
Michigan State
The Spartans opened the season with losses to North Carolina and Duke, starting yet another season with one of the toughest non-conference schedules in the country. They would go on to win 15 straight games, a share of the Big Ten regular season title, and a first place finish in the conference tournament. MSU enters this game with a 29-7 record overall.
Michigan State opened the NCAA Tournament with an impressive 89-67 victory over 16th-seeded LIU Brooklyn. They shot 58.8 percent from the floor, and Draymond Green led the way with a triple double by scoring 24 points, grabbing 12 rebounds and dishing out 10 assists. The Spartans would survive a scare in the second round with a 65-61 victory over No. 9 seed Saint Louis. Green had another big game with 16 points, 13 rebounds and six assists, and Keith Appling finished with 19 points, including a critical 3-pointer with 1:34 left to play.
Louisville
The Cardinals started their season with a bang by winning 12 straight games despite playing through injuries to several key players. Those injuries continued to linger all year right up until the final few weeks of the season. Once healthy, Louisville finally started to play up to their potential. The Cardinals enter this contest on a six-game winning streak, which included four wins in four days to be crowned Big East Tournament champions.
While it hasn’t been smooth sailing for the Cardinals in the big dance, they have played a couple of underrated teams to their credit. They knocked off No. 13 Davidson 69-62 behind 17 points and six assists from veteran point guard Peyton Siva in the opening round. Louisville would go on to beat New Mexico 59-56 behind a tremendous defensive effort on the Round of 32. They held the Lobos to just 39.7 percent shooting, including 5-of-23 (21.7 percent) from 3-point range. Russ Smith led the way with 17 points, while Kyle Kuric and Chane Behanan chipped in 10 points each.
What to Watch For
Michigan State is certainly the better offensive team in this one as they have managed to put up 72.3 points on 47.6 percent shooting despite playing in the tough Big Ten conference. Louisville scores 68.8 points on 42.5 percent shooting, ranking 225th in the country in field goal percentage. Both teams are pretty even defensively as the Spartans allow 59.4 points per game while the Cardinals yield 61.1 points per contest.
The biggest key to this game will be Michigan State’s ability to handle Louisville’s press. The Cardinals love to pick up full court after made baskets, so the Spartans’ guard play will be key. Guard Keith Appling (11.5 points, 3.9 assists) is prone to turnovers as he averages 2.3 per game. The Spartans just recently lost guard Branden Dawson (8.4 points) to a season-ending knee injury, leaving them thin at the position.
Green (16.3 points, 10.5 rebounds, 3.9 assists) has solid ball-handling abilities, but he does commit 2.9 turnovers per game as well. Louisville should be able to get a few easy buckets off of turnovers with their press, but they just might not have the offensive firepower to keep up with the Spartans in this one. They need Kuric (13.0 points), along with Russ Smith (11.4 points) and Chris Smith (9.8 points), to be making their 3-point shots. The interior battle between Gorgui Dieng (9.3 points, 9.1 rebounds, 3.1 blocks) and MSU centers Derrick Nix and Adreian Payne will be fun to watch.
NCAA Previews & Picks: Wisconsin vs. Syracuse
By Covers.com
No. 4 Wisconsin Badgers vs. No. 1 Syracuse Orange (-3.5, 120.5)
THE STORY: Under Bo Ryan, Wisconsin has qualified for the NCAA tournament 11 straight times and survived five opening weekends. But only once - in 2005 - have the Badgers advanced to the Elite Eight. If the Badgers hope to make a return, they’ll have to get past top-seeded Syracuse in an East Regional semifinal in Boston. The Orange are making their fourth Sweet 16 appearance since 2003, the year they won the national championship.
ABOUT SYRACUSE (33-2): When the NCAA declared sophomore center Fab Melo ineligible prior to the start of the tournament, Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim noted his team would have to rely on its depth if it hoped to advance. So far, the Orange have gotten strong contributions from the majority of their roster as six players are averaging 10 or more points and the bench has outscored opponents 64-18. After shaking off No. 16 seed UNC-Asheville in its first game, Syracuse blasted eighth-seeded Kansas State 75-59. Dion Waiters scored a game-high 18 points against Kansas State, and Rakeem Christmas, who played a season-high 35 minutes, had eight points and 11 rebounds. Syracuse is 2-1 against Big Ten teams in the last five years and hasn’t played a Big Ten opponent in an NCAA tournament game in more than a decade.
ABOUT WISCONSIN (26-9): After a 1-3 start in the Big Ten, which included a pair of home losses, expectations were tempered for this year’s Wisconsin team. But the Badgers bounced back, earned a fourth-place conference finish and are dreaming of their first Final Four since 2000. Wisconsin is only 2-5 against Big East opponents in the last five years, with five of those games against Marquette. The Badgers have won six of their last seven, which includes a victory over Ohio State, who they could face in the Elite Eight. Wisconsin has attempted 748 3-pointers, an average of 21 per game, and will need to convert them against the Orange, whose signature 2-3 zone could give them trouble. The No. 4 seed Badgers advanced after holding off Vanderbilt 60-57.
TRENDS:
* Badgers are 4-1 ATS in their last five NCAA tournament games.
* Orange are 11-5 ATS in their last 16 non-conference games.
* Over is 8-3 in Badgers' last 11 overall.
* Under is 4-1 in Orange's last five overall.
TIP-INS:
1. Wisconsin is 5-7 against Top 25 teams.
2. Jordan Taylor, who averages a team-high 14.7 points for Wisconsin, has scored 31 points through the first two rounds.
3. Boeheim is 4-11 all-time in the Sweet 16.
Pick: Wisconsin
NCAA Previews & Picks: Cincinnati vs. Ohio State
By Covers.com
No. 6 Cincinnati Bearcats vs. No. 2 Ohio State Buckeyes (-8, 129)
THE STORY: While a brawl with cross-town rival Xavier may have been a turning point in Cincinnati’s season, the Bearcats have fostered animosity toward another in-state rival, Ohio State. For only the second time in 50 years, the two schools will meet on the hardwood, this time in the Sweet 16. In the last meeting, Ohio State crushed downtrodden Cincinnati 72-50 in the 2006 Wooden Tradition. The Bearcats, who are in the Sweet 16 for the first time since 2001, finally get their shot at revenge.
ABOUT OHIO STATE (29-7): Second-seeded Ohio State is seeking to get over the hump after losing in the regional semifinals in each of the last two seasons. All-Big Ten sophomore forward Jared Sullinger scored 18 points, including the go-ahead jump-hook, in a 73-66 victory over seventh-seeded Gonzaga on Saturday. Sullinger’s matchup against Cincinnati big man Yancy Gates will be pivotal, but he won't be lacking for support. Sophomore forward DeShaun Thomas is averaging 24.5 points and 9.5 rebounds in two tournament games, and Big Ten defensive Player of the Year Aaron Craft recorded his first-career double-double with 17 points and 10 assists against the Bulldogs. Craft is regarded as the best on-the-ball defender in the nation, but the Bearcats don't commit many mistakes (10.7 turnovers per game,15th).
ABOUT CINCINNATI (26-10): The sixth-seeded Bearcats advanced to the Sweet 16 with a gritty 62-56 victory over third-seeded Florida State on Sunday. Dion Dixon scored 15 points, including a key steal and go-ahead dunk in the final two minutes. Cincinnati, the worst free-throw shooting team in the Big East (64.4), hit 19 of 23 from the line, including eight straight to seal the win. Despite utilizing a four-guard lineup, the Bearcats are one of the most physical teams in the nation thanks to the presence of Gates. The senior is averaging 12.5 points and 7.5 rebounds in two tournament games. He will be counted on to neutralize the sixth-most efficient offense (1.17 points per possession), according to Ken Pomeroy. Cincinnati hasn't reached the Elite Eight since 1996. Prior to 2006, the teams hadn't met since the Bearcats won to back-to-back national titles over the Buckeyes in 1961-62.
TRENDS:
* Bearcats are 8-1 ATS in their last nine games overall.
* Buckeyes are 6-13 ATS in their last 19 NCAA tournament games as favorites.
* Under is 4-1 in Bearcats' last five NCAA tournament games.
* Over is 8-1 in Buckeyes' last nine overall.
TIP-INS:
1. “The contract (to play Ohio State) was signed by the outgoing athletic director two weeks after Bob Huggins was fired. Surmise what you want to surmise on that one.” – Cincinnati coach Mick Cronin, speaking last summer about the timing of the most recent meeting with the Buckeyes.
2. Expect a defensive battle. Ohio State is first in Pomeroy’s defensive efficiency ratings (.084 points per possession), and Cincinnati is 22nd (0.91).
3. The winner will face top-seeded Syracuse or No. 4 seed Wisconsin in Saturday's East Regional final.
Pick: Cincinnati
NCAA Previews & Picks: Florida vs. Marquette
By Covers.com
No. 7 Florida Gators vs. No. 3 Marquette Golden Eagles (-1.5, 146)
THE STORY: It should be a fast-paced matchup when Marquette meets Florida in a West Regional semifinal in Phoenix. The third-seeded Golden Eagles and seventh-seeded Gators cruised through the NCAA tournament’s first weekend, but this will be a significant step up in competition for both. Florida likes to use a guard-oriented attack to spread the court and shoot a lot of 3-pointers, while Marquette thrives in the open court and can put up points in a hurry.
ABOUT FLORIDA (25-10): The Gators dispatched of Virginia and Norfolk State by a combined 60 points last weekend, looking like one of the tournament’s most dominant teams in the process. But the quality of opponents they’ve faced is still a big question mark, so Marquette will be the first true test. Florida is outsized against most teams, but that won’t be the case. Instead, the Gators will have to get their shooters open against the Golden Eagles’ quick defenders. Guard Kenny Boynton ranks sixth in the country with 107 made 3-pointers, while guards Erving Walker and Bradley Beal and forward Erik Murphy have all connected on at least 56 3-pointers.
ABOUT MARQUETTE (27-7): The Golden Eagles don’t start any player taller than 6 feet 7, but they more than make up for it with speed, toughness and a relentless pace. In its first two games, Marquette eventually wore down BYU and Murray State, beating both by at least nine points. The key to the Golden Eagles’ style is 6-foot-6 senior Jae Crowder, a bull of a forward who was the Big East Player of the Year. Crowder, who’s averaging 21 points and 14.5 rebounds in the tournament, presents matchup problems for virtually every team with his ability to both bang down low and step out and knock down the 3-pointer. Darius Johnson-Odom, a senior guard who ferociously attacks the rim, is the team’s leading scorer at 18.5 points.
TRENDS:
* Gators are 5-1 ATS in their last six NCAA tournament games.
* Golden Eagles are 4-1 ATS in their last five NCAA tournament games.
* Over is 8-2 in Gators' last 10 NCAA tournament games.
* Under is 4-1 in Golden Eagles' last five NCAA tournament games.
TIP-INS:
1. The only two meetings came during a home-and-home series in 1976 and 1977. Marquette won both.
2. Crowder, who averages 17.6 points and 8.4 rebounds, has 14 double-doubles this season.
3. Florida is 31-12 all-time in the NCAA tournament, including a 27-9 mark under coach Billy Donovan.
Pick: Marquette
NCAA Previews & Picks: Louisville vs. Michigan State
By Covers.com
No. 4 Louisville Cardinals vs. No. 1 Michigan State Spartans (-5, 125.5)
THE STORY: Top-seeded Michigan State got all it could handle from No. 9 seed Saint Louis in Sunday's third round before prevailing, 65-61 behind the second-half heroics of senior All-American Draymond Green and sophomore guard Keith Appling. Fourth-seeded Louisville had an equally tough test in its second game of the weekend, holding on down the stretch for a 59-56 victory over New Mexico on Saturday. The Spartans and Cardinals are in the top three in field-goal percentage defense.
ABOUT LOUISVILLE (28-9): The Cardinals have built their success this season on defense, ranking third nationally in opponent shooting percentage (37.9) and seventh in steals (9.0), and that has certainly carried over into the postseason. Louisville, which also forces 15.6 turnovers per contest, held New Mexico to 5 for 18 from 3-point range Saturday after allowing Davidson to hit 4 of 19 from behind the arc in Thursday's second round. Six players average 9.1 points or more for Louisville, including senior point guard Peyton Siva (9.2 points, 5.5 assists), the Big East tournament MVP, and sophomore center Gorgui Dieng (9.3 points, 9.1 rebounds, 3.1 blocks).
ABOUT MICHIGAN STATE (29-7): The Spartans have been extremely tough defensively, holding opponents to 59.4 points on 37.9 percent shooting from the field (second in NCAA). Michigan State is also fifth in the country in rebounding margin (8.3), besting second-round foe LIU Brooklyn on the boards by a staggering 43-20. Green has been the team's driving force, earning Big Ten Player of the Year honors after leading Michigan State in scoring (16.3), rebounding (10.5) and steals (1.5) while also ranking among the Big Ten leaders in assists. Appling, who scored a team-high 19 points against Saint Louis, is the only other Michigan State player in double figures for the year (11.5 points). Michigan State won the last meeting 64-52 in the 2009 NCAA Midwest Regional final.
TRENDS:
* Cardinals are 0-6 ATS in their last six vs. Big Ten.
* Spartans are 19-7-1 ATS in their last 27 NCAA tournament games as favorites.
* Under is 5-0 in Cardinals' last five NCAA tournament games.
* Over is 4-1 in Spartans' last five NCAA tournament games.
TIP-INS:
1. Louisville leads the series 4-3, but Michigan State has won three of the last four. The 2009 tournament meeting was the schools' only one since the turn of the century.
2. The Cardinals' first game with Michigan State was also an NCAA tournament showdown, with Louisville winning a 1959 regional final 88-81.
3. Since the NCAA began officially tracking assists in 1984-85, Green is the only player to ever post two triple-doubles in tournament play.
Pick: Louisville
East Region Semifinals
By Brian Edwards
VegasInsider.com
These East Region games will be played at TD Garden in Boston.
Wisconsin vs. Syracuse
As of Wednesday afternoon, most books were listing top-seeded Syracuse (33-2 straight up, 18-16 against the spread) as a 3½-point favorite with a total of 121. Gamblers can back the Badgers to win outright for a plus-160 return (risk $100 to win $160).
Playing without Big East Defensive Player of the Year Fab Melo, who was suspended for the NCAA Tournament last Tuesday, Jim Boeheim’s squad got a major scare against UNC-Asheville in its NCAA opener. The Bulldogs led the Orange by four at intermission and they very much in contention to pull off a stunning upset until the final 30 seconds. The ‘Cuse got a couple of fortunate calls at crunch time and knocked down its free throws to escape with a 72-65 win.
Syracuse never threatened to cover the number against UNC-Asheville as a 15½-point favorite. James Southerland provided a huge lift off the bench for the Orange, scoring a team-high 15 points on 6-of-8 shooting from the field. Kris Joseph and Dion Waiters added 12 points apiece.
After playing so poorly against UNC-Asheville, Syracuse looked much better in Saturday’s 75-59 win over Kansas St. as a 5½-point favorite. Waiters was the catalyst with a game-high 18 points and Scoop Jardine tallied 16 points, eight assists and five rebounds.
Wisconsin (26-9 SU, 18-14 ATS) advanced to another Sweet 16 thanks to a thrilling 60-57 win over Vanderbilt, which had been red hot after winning the SEC Tournament with a win over Kentucky in the finals. The Badgers took the cash in this pick ‘em affair. They got a team-high 14 points from senior point guard Jordan Taylor, who hit a clutch 3-pointer at crunch time. Taylor also got Vandy star Jeffery Taylor into foul trouble in the first half by forcing the refs to blow the whistle with his dribble penetration.
As we all know, Syracuse strictly plays a zone defense and that very well could be a good thing for Wisconsin, which has a number of outstanding 3-point shooters, including several of its big men that can step out and stroke it from beyond the arc. Without Melo, the Orange can’t attack shooters quite as aggressively because it no longer has a premier shot blocker in the lane to bail out defenders that get beat with shot fakes off the dribble.
Bo Ryan’s team has been an underdog seven times, compiling a 4-3 spread record with three outright victories.
Syracuse has limped to a 5-9 spread record in 14 games as a single-digit favorite.
The ‘under’ is 17-15 overall for the Badgers.
The ‘under’ is 19-14-1 overall for the ‘Cuse, 4-1 in its last five games.
Tip-off is scheduled for Thursday at 7:15 p.m. Eastern on CBS.
Cincinnati vs. Ohio State
Most books are listing Ohio St. (29-7 SU, 18-13 ATS) as an eight-point favorite with a total of 129½. The Bearcats are available on the money line for a lucrative plus-320 payout (risk $100 to win $320).
Cincinnati (26-10 SU, 17-13 ATS) has caught fire at the right time with 11 wins in its last 14 games, including Sunday night’s ferociously intense 62-56 win over third-seeded FSU as a two-point underdog. The Bearcats pulled away from the Seminoles in a defensive slugfest thanks to crucial jumpers at crunch time from Sean Kilpatrick, who scored a game-high 18 points on 4-of-6 shooting from 3-point range.
Cincy’s win over FSU featured 11 ties and 22 lead changes. If coaches want to put in a film to teach their respective teams about defensive intensity, all they have to do is play the second half of this battle in which every dribble and pass was hotly contested. The game turned at the 1:40 mark after a Yancy Gates free throw knotted the score at 50-50. When Cincy showed press, Dion Dixon guessed correctly and got a great break on a pass from FSU’s Luke Loucks and got a steal and an easy dunk. Moments later, the Bearcats forced Loucks into another turnover (he thought he was fouled) and then they knocked down six consecutive free throws to put the game on ice.
Mick Cronin’s team has thrived in the underdog role, going 8-4 ATS with six outright victories in 12 such situations.
Cincy has been lining the pockets of its backers with greenbacks galore lately, going 8-1 ATS in its last nine games.
Thad Matta’s team is back in another Sweet 16 thanks to a 73-66 win over Gonzaga as an eight-point ‘chalk’ this past Saturday. Jared Sullinger and Deshaun Thomas shared team-high honors with 18 points apiece, but Aaron Craft was the difference with 17 points, 10 assists, three rebounds and three steals.
Ohio St. has been a single-digit favorite 14 times and has struggled to a 5-9 spread record.
Sullinger presents a matchup problem for most team because few squads have a physical presence with the type of size and strength to deal with Sullinger. That’s not the case whatsoever with the Bearcats, who have a guy in Yancy Gates who won’t be bullied in the lane by any other player in America.
The ‘over’ is 18-11-2 overall for the Buckeyes, cashing in eight of their last nine games.
The ‘under’ is 17-13 overall for the Bearcats, 7-3 in their last 10 games.
This is the first time in NCAA Tournament history that four teams from the same state (Ohio: Cincy, Ohio St., Xavier and Ohio) have advanced to the Sweet 16.
This game will begin 30 minutes following the end of ‘Cuse-Wisconsin.
West Region Semifinals
By Brian Edwards
VegasInsider.com
These games will be played at US Airways Arena in Phoenix.
Michigan State vs. Louisville
As of Wednesday afternoon, most books were listing top-seeded Michigan St. (29-7 straight up, 22-11 against the spread) as a five-point favorite with a total of 125. The Cardinals are plus-180 on the money line (risk $100 to win $180).
Louisville (28-9 SU, 20-13-1 ATS) has won six in a row both SU and ATS, including wins over Davidson (69-62) and New Mexico (59-56). Peyton Siva was the catalyst against the Wildcats, scoring 17 points and dishing out six assists. Chane Behanan added 14 points and 11 rebounds.
Rick Pitino’s team broke open a close game against the Lobos and led by as many as 15 in the second half. However, U of L had to hold off a late UNM rally to capture the three-point win as a two-point ‘chalk.’ Russ Smith came off the bench and buried all three attempts from 3-point range en route to scoring a team-high 17 points. Behanan and Kyle Kuric added 10 points apiece.
Michigan St. cruised past LIU Brooklyn by an 89-67 count as a 19-point favorite in its NCAA opener. Draymond Green had a triple-double with 24 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists, while Derrick Nix added 18 points and eight boards.
Tom Izzo’s squad beat Saint Louis 65-61 this past Sunday as a 7½-point favorite. The Billikens hit a late three to ensure the cover as underdogs. Green was terrific again with 16 points, 13 rebounds and six assists. Keith Appling finished with a game-high 19 points.
Louisville will be looking for revenge in this spot. In the 2009 NCAA Tournament, U of L was a No. 1 seed in the Midwest Region before losing a 74-62 decision to the Spartans as a 6½-point favorite in the Elite Eight. As a freshman, Green has six point and 10 rebounds for the winners.
Louisville owns a 6-3 spread record with four outright wins in nine games as an underdog this season.
Michigan St. has posted a 9-7 spread record as a single-digit ‘chalk.’
Totals have been an overall wash for the Spartans (16-16-1), but we should note that the ‘over’ is 4-2 in their last six outings.
The ‘under’ is on fire in Louisville games, cashing at a 9-1 clip in its last 10 games. The ‘under’ is 20-14 overall for the Cardinals.
TBS will have television coverage at 7:45 p.m. Eastern.
Marquette vs. Florida
Most betting shops are listing third-seeded Marquette (27-7 straight up, 18-12-1 against the spread) as a 1½-point favorite with the total in the 145-146 range. Gamblers can take the Gators to win outright for a plus-105 return (risk $100 to win $105).
Florida (25-10 SU, 14-15-1 ATS) advanced to the Sweet 16 with a pair of wins in Omaha over Virginia (71-45) and Norfolk St. (84-50). Those victories represented the first time in NCAA Tournament history that a team scored 70 or more and held opponents to 50 or less in the first weekend.
Five UF players scored in double figures during its run-away-and-hide win over Norfolk St., which had stunned second-seeded Missouri 48 hours beforehand. Junior guard Kenny Boynton led the way with 20 points, eight rebounds and four assists. Bradley Beal and Erving Walker combined for 29 points, six assists and four steals, while Mike Rosario snapped out of a prolonged shooting slump to bury 5-of-7 from the field in a 12-point effort.
When we get to this time of year, all head coaches ask their players for a little something extra. However, it’s rare that a player who has contributed next to nothing all season produces a big-time performance. Nevertheless, that’s exactly what Billy Donovan got out of sophomore forward Casey Prather last week. In the win over UVA, Prather scored a career-high 14 points and pulled down four rebounds in just 22 minutes of playing time. Prather took a charge, stepped out to the perimeter and knocked down a trey and attacked the basket like he’s never done before during his collegiate career. He was suffering from flu-like symptoms prior to the win over Norfolk St., however, and was limited to nine minutes of action.
Marquette advanced to the region semifinals with wins over BYU (88-68) and Murray St. (62-53). Jae Crowder, the Big East Player of the Year, destroyed the Cougars with 25 points, 16 rebounds, four assists and four steals with only one turnover. Darius Johnson-Odom added 20 points, five boards and four assists.
Buzz Williams’s squad trailed nearly the entire game against Murray St. before using a late 14-2 run to overcome the Racers and get back to the Sweet 16 for the second time in as many years. Crowder and Johnson-Odom scored 17 points apiece for the Golden Eagles, who got their 14th double-double of the season out of Crowder.
Florida has four players (Boynton, Walker, Beal and Erik Murphy) who have drained 56 treys or more led by Boynton’s 107, which is sixth-best in the nation.
Donovan owns a 4-1 record in five career Sweet 16 games during his tenure at Florida. The lone loss? That came in Phoenix at this venue in the 1999 NCAA Tournament when Gonzaga beat UF on Casey Calvary’s last-second tip-in. Donovan owns a 27-9 career record in the NCAA Tournament.
Marquette owns a 9-7 spread record in 16 games as a single-digit favorite. Meanwhile, the Gators are winless (straight up) and 3-3 ATS in six games as underdogs.
The ‘over’ is 18-12 overall for UF, but the ‘under’ cashed in both of its NCAA games last weekend.
The ‘over’ is 19-12 overall for Marquette, 8-3 in its last 11 games.
This game will tip 30 minutes after the conclusion of Michigan St.-Louisville. TBS will provide television coverage.
NCAAB Preview
Syracuse won national title in 2003; since then, they're 0-3 in this round of tournament; they were favored in two of three games, a 1-point dog in the third. Since 2002, #1 seeds are 7-6 vs spread when facing a #4 seed in this round. Wisconsin shoots lot of 3's (20-52 in two games last week), so you'd think they'd be good against a 2-3 zone, but Orange allow foes to make just 30.7% outside arc (#28 in country). Since 2003, Wisconsin is 1-3 in this round, losing by 6-17-7 points- they lost to Marquette by 7, their only game vs Big East opponent this year. Syracuse didn't play a Big Dozen team this year- they were 2-0 against them last season.
Since 2008, Big Dozen teams are 1-7 in this round- they're 1-4 vs spread in last five games as a favorite in this round. Since '05, Big East teams are 11-9 in this round, 4-5 vs spread as an underdog. Ohio State lost in this round as a favorite the last two years; Buckeyes won six of last seven overall, allowing 61 ppg in last four games. Cincinnati is strong defensive team- they're 9-2 in last 11 games, allowing 50-46 points in the two losses. Cincinnati-Ohio State met for national title in both '61/'62, have met just once since, five years ago; over last decade, #2 seeds are 4-3-1 vs spread when facing a 6-seed in this round.
Since 2004, SEC teams are 9-4 in this round, covering seven of nine as an underdog. Since '05, Big East teams are 11-9 in this round; they're 5-9 vs spread in last 14 games as a favorite in this round. #3 seeds covered five of last seven games in this round when not facing a #2 seed. Overall, #3's are 7-7 vs spread as an underdog in this round. Florida is 3-0 this round over last six years, winning by 4-8-9 points. Gators lost to Syracuse and Rutgers in their two games vs Big East foes this season. Marquette beat Ole Miss by 30, lost by 17 to Vandy in its two games this year against SEC teams. Florida won its games last weekend by 26-34 points.
Louisville won last three games in this round, by 14-19-39 points; they were favored in all three games. Since 2003, Cardinals are 0-4 vs spread in NCAAs as an underdog, losing by 15-3-10-15 points. Michigan State won four of last five games in this round, despite being underdog in four of five games. Louisville is 6-0 over last two weekends, allowing 54 ppg in last four; they scored 56 or less points in its last four losses. Spartans won five in row, 12 of last 14 games; since '08, Big Dozen teams are 2-7 in this round, 2-4 vs spread as a favorite. Michigan State holds foes to just 29.6% shooting behind the arc (13th in country).
Armadillosports.com
SWEET-16 THURSDAY CHEAT-SHEET
By Scott Spreitzer
WISCONSIN v. SYRACUSE: No Fab Melo - no problem thus far. Boeheim's 2-3 zone doesn't have that big clog in the middle. Badgers average 22 3-point attempts per night. Have multiple 3-point gunners to shoot over the zone. Orange can dish out the physical brand of basketball Wiscy is used to dishing out...but normally not taking. Badger guard Josh Gasser (illness) probable.
CINCINNATI v. OHIO STATE: Bearcats getting a lot of credit for their 3-point shooting. But on the season they're 250th and 193rd in FG percentage & 3-point accuracy. Buckeyes deep perimeter shooting not as good as last year's edition. Cinci faces their first "big man" (Sullinger) so far in the Big Dance.
FLORIDA v. MARQUETTE: Similar styles -- both teams want a quick tempo. Gators = all 5 starts in double-figures in points per game. Eagles = 2 players in double-figures. Billy Donovan on a 23-12 ATS Big Dance run at Florida. Marquette must have success with their transition defense and utilize better shot selection than they did against Murray State.