College Knowledge
Baylor (-7) beat BYU 79-64 Feb 21 in Waco, after falling behind 19-8 in first 8:00; Bears made 9-18 from arc- they've lost six of last seven road-neutral contests, with only win in stretch by 3 at West Virginia. BYU is 4-3 in last seven road/neutral games, winning at Southern Miss by 17 to get here. Cougars lost by 21 at Iowa State in its other game vs Big X foe.
Iowa lost by 16 at Va Tech in November, won by 11 at Virginia to get here, their two games vs ACC opponents; Hawkeyes won 10 of last 13 games, splitting last six road/neutral games. Inexperienced Iowa (#294 in experience) subs a lot (#34 in bench minutes). Maryland won five of last six games, losing by 3 to UNC in ACC tourney- they beat N'western by 20 in only game vs ACC foe. Mayrland is #322 in experience but they sub a lot too (#37 in bench minutes).
East Carolina won eight of last ten games but this is first time they'll be on road in this tournament; Pirates are #40 team in experience in nation, are 4-3 in last seven road/neutral games. Weber State should've been in NCAAs- they were best team in Big Sky. Wildcats won 17 of last 18, with only loss by 3 at Montana in Big Sky title game- their close win at Northern Iowa last game is very impressive. Weber has won 14 in a row at home since losing to BYU before Christmas.
Armadillosports.com
NIT Semifinals Preview: BYU vs. Baylor
Atssportsline.com
The college basketball world will be focused on Atlanta in the Final Four on Saturday, April 6, but there's another tournament going on that's had just as much history and tradition. The NIT semifinal offers two excellent betting opportunities with four teams from power conferences. In the first NIT game, BYU takes on Baylor and in the later game, Maryland faces Iowa. Check below for a preview of the NIT semifinal between Baylor and BYU with key betting trends and angles along with March Madness statistics.
Brigham Young Cougars (24-11 SU, 16-17-1 ATS) vs. Baylor Bears (21-14 SU, 15-15 ATS)
Betting Odds: Baylor is a 3-point betting odds favorite after opening up at 3.5. The total is 153 in most books.
Last Matchup: (12/21/12) Baylor (-7) over Byu, 79-64.
Key Betting Trends:
BYU is:
5-1 ATS last 6 non-conference games.
0-4 ATS last 4 vs. Big 12
0-4 ATS last 4 neutral site games.
Baylor is
5-0 ATS last 5 vs. West Coast Conference.
4-1 ATS last 5 Tuesday games.
4-1 ATS last 5 vs. non-conference teams.
9-22 ATS last 31 following an ATS win.
Who has the edge? Baylor defeated BYU in December as Pierre Jackson led all five starters in double figures with 16 points and also added nine assists. Baylor shot 45 perent from the field and 50 percent (9-of-18) from beyond the arc. But Baylor also shot just 64 percent (16-25) from the line. BYU turned it over 14 times and were led by forward Brandon Davies, who had 26 points an d17 rebounds. But the Cougars shot just 39 percent from the field and 2-of-12 from beyond the arc. Baylor held BYU's leading scorer Tyler Haws to just 13 points.
These are both good basketball teams, but they also have weaknesses. That's why they are in the NIT. Both teams defend well and shoot the ball well. Baylor has the edge when it comes to being more athletic and much quicker on the perimeter. They beat Long Beach State (112-66), Arizona State (89-86) and Providence (79-68) gto get here, covering two of those three games. Jackson leads the Big 12 in scoring (19.7 points) and 6.9 assists. Junior forward Cory Jefferson (12.8 points) us a thin forward who is skilled, but the key is freshman Isaiah Auston (7-1, 220). Austin had 14 points, 10 rebounds and five blocks in the first game against BYU. He's a serious NBA prospect, who averages 12.9 points and 8.3 rebounds, while shooting 45.3 percent from the floor.
BYU wants to make this a halfcourt affair, even though they average 76.8 points per game. Haws (6-5, 200) leads the team with 21.6 points per game, while shooting 38.4 percent from beyond the arc and 48 percent from the floor. Davies is a rugger power forward, who averages 17.8 points and 8.1 rebounds. Guard Matt Carlino adds 17.7 points, nine assists and 6.3 rebounds in three NIT games.
BYU beat Southern Miss, 79-62 getting 5.5 on March 27 to make the NIT semifinal. They are averaging 86.3 points in three wins in the NIT, while Baylor averages 93.3 points in three games.
Bottom Line: How talented is Baylor? They are the only team to beat Kentucky at Rupp Arena and Kansas in the same season. Both teams have talent and can score, but the team that plays defense or attempts to, will advance to the NIT Championship game on Thursday.
NIT Betting Preview: Maryland vs. Iowa
Atssportsline.com
College basketball is ready for another Final Four. But this one is in New York City on Tuesday night. The NIT semifinal offers two excellent betting opportunities with four teams from power conferences. In the first NIT game, BYU takes on Baylor and in the later game, Maryland faces Iowa. Check below for a preview of the NIT semifinal between Maryland and Iowa with key betting trends and angles along with March Madness statistics.
Maryland Terrapins (25-12 SU, 17-12-1 ATS) vs. Iowa Hawkeyes (24-12 SU, 23-9 ATS)
Betting Odds: Iowa is a 3-point betting odds favorite after opening up at 2. The total is 135.5 in most books.
Last Matchup: Haven't met since 1999.
Key Betting Trends:
Iowa is:
8-0 ATS last 8 non-confernce games.
6-1 ATS last 7 Tuesday games.
17-4 ATS last 21 following a SU win.
22-6 ATS last 28 overall.
1-4 ATS last 5 vs. ACC.
Maryland is:
8-3-1 ATS last 12 vs. Big Ten.
4-0 ATS last 4 following a SU win.
6-0 ATS last 6 following an ATS win.
Who has the edge? Iowa upset Virginia on the road on March 278, 75-64 to reach the NIT semifinal. This is a young team who starts just one senior in guard Eric May. The Hawkeyes has 10 wins since February 6, which is second only to Ohio State in the Big 10. Iowa wins with defense because they shoot just 42.4 percent from the field and 30.9 percent from beyond the arc. They hold teams to just 38.8 percent field goal shooting and 29.5 percent from beyond the arc.
Jurnior guard Roy-Devyn Marble (6-6, 194) leads the way with 15.1 points pe game along with 105 assists (41 percent from the field). Aaron White (6-8, 218) is the second-leading scorer with 12.9 points and leads in rebounds with 6.1 per game. Freshman Adam Woodbury (7-1, 235) averages 4.9 points and 4.8 rebounds. He'll be tested by Maryland's 7-1 sophomore center Alex Len.
Maryland upset No. 1 seed Alabama, 58-57 on March 26, getting 3. They've won five of their last six games including a 83-74 win over Duke in the ACC Tournament in March 15, getting 10. They shoot 46.6 percent from the floor and 33.9 percent from the three-point line, while allowing teams to averages 63.8 points, and shoot 38.4 percent from the field. Len will be a lottery pick if he comes out. The center from Lithuania averages 11.8 points, 7.8 rebounds and nearly two blocks per game. The leader is sophomore wing Dez Wells (6-5, 215), a transfer from Xavier, who averages 13.2 points and 4.8 rebounds, while leading the team in steals with 34.
The Terrapins will be without freshman guard Seth Allen, who averages 7.8 points per game but broke his arm in practice before the Alabama game. They'll need senior Logan Aronhalt (6-3, 210) to step up from the outside and Nick Faust (9.3 points) to help with ballhandling duties.
Bottom Line: These two teams are more defensive-oriented though Maryland did put up 83 on Duke and 76 on North Carolina. They are the more athletic team, but they also turn the ball over more. Both teams are young and looking at this as a building experience.
NIT Semifinals Preview
By Sportsbook.ag
BYU COUGARS (24-11) vs. BAYLOR BEARS (21-14)
A pair of high-scoring teams meet up in the first NIT Semifinal matchup on Tuesday night at Madison Square Garden when Baylor takes on BYU.
The Cougars average 77.3 PPG this season (10th in nation) and have posted a robust 86.3 PPG so far in three NIT wins. The Bears also know how to put up points, with 76.0 PPG for the season (21st in D-I) and a whopping 93.3 PPG in the NIT. BYU has crushed its three NIT opponents, beating Washington by 21, Mercer by 19 and going on the road to clobber Southern Miss by 17 points. Baylor took out Long Beach State by a 112-66 score, but struggled to put away Arizona State (89-86 win) before handling Providence by 11 points in Wednesday's quarterfinals. These teams have actually met in each of the past two seasons, both resulting in Baylor wins. The Bears prevailed at BYU 86-83 on Dec. 17, 2011 and then beat them at home 79-64 this past Dec. 21.
BYU has shot very well (46% FG) during its NIT run, but has also been dominating the glass with a +9.0 RPG margin, while committing a mere 10.0 TOPG in the three contests. The Cougars shoot pretty well from the floor (45.8%), and are an unselfish club with 16.2 APG (9th in nation) and a heady 1.34 Ast/TO ratio (20th in nation). But this team is far from perfect, making just 34.1% threes (158th in nation), blocking a paltry 2.4 shots per game (284th in D-I) and committing a large amount of fouls per game (18.7, 249th-fewest in nation). The bulk of the scoring falls on two players, SG Tyler Haws (21.6 PPG, 9th in nation) and PF Brandon Davies (17.8 PPG, 8.1 RPG). Haws scored at least 20 points in all five games in March, including a hefty 28.7 PPG on 54% FG in the NIT. He was held to 13 points (6-of-14 FG) with four boards and three assists in the earlier meeting with Baylor. Davies had an unbelievable game in Waco, scoring 26 of his team's 64 points, plus 17 rebounds (five offensive), three steals and three assists. He has also played a big role in his team's NIT success, averaging 20.0 PPG (47% FG, 17-of-21 FT) and 10.7 RPG.
Sophomore PG Matt Carlino (11.3 PPG, 4.7 APG, 3.5 RPG) has done it all for the Cougars during the NIT, averaging 17.7 PPG (13-of-29 threes), 9.0 APG and 6.3 RPG. This team will need much more out of him than what they got at Baylor when he finished with just eight points, three rebounds and a season-low one assist in 27 minutes. Senior swingman Brock Zylstra (7.7 PPG, 4.1 RPG) played just 11 minutes in that meeting with the Bears, but has been a beast in the past two games with 18.5 PPG (9-of-17 threes) and 8.0 RPG.
Like BYU, Baylor shoots a high percentage (45.9% FG, 50th in nation) thanks to an unselfish offense averaging 15.8 APG (19th in D-I). However, the Bears aren't a great three-point shooting team (35.5%, 94th in nation), and they really struggle from the free-throw line, making just 68.6% (201st in D-I). Baylor is not a particularly strong defensive team either, giving up 66.6 PPG (173rd in nation) and producing just 6.6 steals per game (184th in D-I). Senior PG Pierre Jackson (19.7 PPG, 21st in D-I) is one of the most dynamic college players in the country with 6.9 APG (11th in nation), a 2.04 Ast/TO ratio and a strong 1.6 SPG. He also shoots 79% from the foul line despite playing so many minutes for this team (34.6 MPG). After receiving just 20 minutes of action in the blowout of Long Beach State, Jackson has been remarkable in the past two games, averaging 23.0 PPG (24-of-28 FT), 14.5 APG, 5.0 RPG and 2.5 SPG. In Wednesday's victory over Providence, he dished out 13 assists and committed zero turnovers. Jackson was one of five starters to score in double-figures against BYU in December, tallying team highs with 16 points, nine assists and four steals.
Junior PF Cory Jefferson (12.8 PPG, 8.1 RPG) hasn't missed much in the NIT, scoring 20.7 PPG on 71% FG with 6.0 RPG. He was extremely active against the Cougars earlier this season too, scoring 13 points and grabbing 16 rebounds. Freshman C Isaiah Austin (12.9 PPG, 8.3 RPG) also posted a double-double that night versus BYU with 14 points, 10 boards and five blocks, which helped make up for his 5-for-15 shooting clip. Austin started off the NIT with identical games of 13 points and six rebounds, but didn't do much on Wednesday with a mere five points on 1-of-7 shooting. SG Brady Heslip (8.9 PPG) and SG A.J. Walton (7.0 PPG, 3.6 APG) both reached double-figures against the Cougars on Dec. 21, as Heslip scored 11 points (3-of-5 threes), while Walton pitched in 10 points, four assists and two steals. While Heslip has had a huge tournament (16.0 PPG, 14-of-25 threes), Walton has totaled a mere nine points (4-of-13 FG) in the three games combined.
IOWA HAWKEYES (24-12) vs. MARYLAND TERRAPINS (25-12)
Two schools that have made bettors quite happy this month, Iowa and Maryland, will play in the second NIT Semifinal matchup on Tuesday in Manhattan.
While the Hawkeyes are 9-0 ATS (7-2 SU) in their past nine games, the Terrapins are working on a seven-game ATS win streak (5-2 SU). Both teams have been extremely impressive so far in the NIT with Iowa winning its three games by 16, 12 and 11 points, while Maryland won by 16 and 10 points at home before going on the road to upset Alabama 58-57 last Tuesday. Both clubs have dominated the glass in the NIT, with the Hawkeyes sporting a +27 rebounding margin and the Terrapins not far behind with a +18 rebounding margin. These schools last met in 1999, an 83-65 home victory for the Terps.
Iowa is not a gifted offensive team, averaging just 70.6 PPG (93rd in nation) on 42.4% FG (219th in D-I) and 30.9% threes (269th in nation). But this team never takes a possession off defensively, holding teams to 62.6 PPG on 38.8% FG (18th in nation) and 29.5% threes (15th in D-I). This is also a very intelligent team, sporting a 1.19 Ast/TO ratio (44th in nation) while posting 4.9 blocks per game (31st in D-I) and a +5.0 RPG margin (38th in nation). Junior swingman Roy Devyn Marble (15.1 PPG, 3.9 RPG, 3.0 APG) has been phenomenal in the NIT, scoring at least 24 points in all three games, averaging 25.3 PPG on 49% FG and 23-of-28 FT (82%). He's also dished out 16 assists with just four turnovers in the three victories. Sophomore PF Aaron White (12.9 PPG, 6.1 RPG) didn't play very well in Wednesday's win at Virginia (6 pts on 1-of-6 FG, 5 reb), but he started the tournament with 12.0 PPG and 10.0 RPG in his first two games. White is one of the biggest reasons his team shoots so horribly from three-point range though, making a paltry 15-of-64 (23%) from downtown this season. Freshman PG Mike Gesell (8.7 PPG, 2.8 APG) is the team's third-leading scorer, but has been playing a much smaller role in the offense with just 14 points on 6-of-16 shooting in the three NIT games combined. PF Melsahn Basabe (7.1 PPG, 5.1 RPG) was shut out against Virginia (0-for-3 FG), but had been playing great in his previous five games with 9.2 PPG and 9.4 RPG. His size and strength will be needed to help counter Maryland star C Alex Len.
Maryland has been one of the better rebounding teams in the country at +8.7 RPG (4th among D-I schools), which is a big reason its FG Pct. defense is so impressive (38.4% FG, 10th in nation). The Terrapins score 71.0 PPG on 46.6% FG (34th in D-I), but they are not a team that lights it up from beyond the arc, making just 5.8 threes per game (210th in nation) on a 33.9% clip (167th in D-I). Maryland also hurts itself badly with poor free-throw shooting (68.2% FT, 212th in nation) and turnovers, producing a hefty 14.9 TOPG (290th in D-I) and a minus-4.2 TO margin (8th-worst in nation). C Alex Len (11.8 PPG, 7.8 RPG) has a great scoring touch for a 7-footer, knocking down 53% FG and 69% FT this season. He needs to do a better job of staying out of foul trouble though, with the same amount of fouls (11) as made field goals (11-of-23) so far in the NIT. He is coming off a monster game against Alabama though, netting 15 points (6-of-9 FG), grabbing 13 boards and blocking five shots.
Sophomore swingman Dez Wells (13.2 PPG, 4.9 RPG) is the team's leading scorer, tallying 10 straight double-figure scoring games. So far in the NIT, he's averaged 14.7 PPG on an impressive 73% FG and 7-of-8 from the line. SG Nick Faust (9.3 PPG, 3.8 RPG) started off the tournament with 15 points and 11 boards against Niagara, but has just 7.5 PPG (3-of-10 FG) and 3.5 RPG in two games since. PG Pe'Shon Howard (3.3 PPG, 3.6 APG) is a pass-first point guard who has a strong 2.23 Ast/TO ratio this season. In six postseason games (3 ACC Tournament, 3 NIT) he has totaled 18 assists and just six turnovers, although three of those miscues came last Tuesday in Tuscaloosa.
NIT Semifinals: What Bettors Need to Know
By Covers.com
BYU Cougars vs. Baylor Bears (-3, 153)
The first of the two National Invitation Tournament semifinal games at Madison Square Garden figures to be a high-scoring and entertaining one. Baylor comes in averaging 93.3 in its three previous NIT wins while Brigham Young is averaging 86.3 and scored 90 points in victories over Washington and Mercer.
BYU, which won NIT titles in 1951 and 1966, leads the all-time series with Baylor, 5-4. The two teams already met once this season with Baylor claiming a 79-64 win on Dec. 21 in Waco. The Bears also defeated the Cougars a year earlier in Provo, 86-83. This marks just the second time in school history that BYU has played a game in April. The Cougars lost to Colorado, 16-10, on April 2, 1903 in Provo. "I encouraged the guys today to score a couple more points than maybe that team did," Cougar coach Dave Rose joked to the Salt Lake Tribune.
ABOUT BRIGHAM YOUNG (24-11, 16-17-1 ATS): The Cougars looked at the NIT as a chance for redemption and have made the most of it following a 72-69 loss to San Diego in the quarterfinals of the West Coast Conference tournament which snuffed out any chance for an NCAA at-large berth. BYU, which struggled with its 3-point shooting much of the season, connected for a season-best 11 treys in its 79-62 quarterfinal win at Southern Miss on Wednesday and has been hitting on all cylinders offensively in the NIT. BYU finished with 24 assists on its 26 field goals against the Golden Eagles. "We went to six straight NCAA Tournaments before this year, and I don't remember being any more excited than we are right now," Rose told the Salt Lake Tribune. "I mean, this is really good for our team. It is really good for our program." Sophomore guard Tyler Haws leads the Cougars in scoring (21.6) and is shooting 38.4 percent from 3-point range while lanky 6-9 senior forward Brandon Davies (17.8) is an NBA prospect who has 24 career double-doubles.
ABOUT BAYLOR (21-14, 15-15-0 ATS): Like BYU, the Bears come in on a roll offensively. Baylor shot a school-record 69.6 percent (16-of-23) from 3-point range in its 112-66 win over Long Beach State in its NIT opener and finished with 31 assists. The Bears had five turnovers in their 79-68 quarterfinal win over Providence, tying for the fewest in the 10-year Scott Drew coaching era. Senior point guard Pierre Jackson, who leads the Big 12 in scoring (19.7) and assists (6.9), set an NIT record with 16 assists in the Bears' 89-86 second round victory over Arizona State and has scored in double figures in 41 of his last 42 games. Junior forward Cory Jefferson (12.8) leads the Big 12 in field goal percentage (60.3) while 7-1 freshman center Isaiah Austin has 10 double-doubles and ranks third in the Big 12 in rebounding (8.3).
TRENDS:
* Cougars are 0-4 ATS in their last 4 vs. Big 12.
* Bears are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 non-conference games.
* Over is 6-2 in Cougars' last eight vs. Big 12.
* Over is 9-4 in Bears' last 13 non-conference games.
TIP-INS:
1. Haws, the WCC scoring leader (21.6), has scored 20 or more points in 24 games this season.
2. Baylor G Brady Heslip is shooting 58 percent (30-of-52) from 3-point range in seven career postseason games for Baylor.
3. PG Matt Carlino is averaging 17.7 points, nine assists and 6.3 rebounds in three NIT games for BYU while also connecting on 13-of-29 3-pointers (44.8 percent).
Iowa Hawkeyes vs. Maryland Terrapins (+2.5, 136)
Maryland, which upset No. 1 seed Alabama, 58-57, in the quarterfinals, makes its third appearance in the National Invitation Tournament semifinals. The Terrapins, who captured the 1972 title with wins over Jacksonville and Niagara, fell in the 2005 semis to South Carolina. Maryland has won five of its last six games with the lone loss to North Carolina, 79-76, in the semifinals of the ACC tournament.
Iowa advanced to the NIT semifinals for the first time in school history with a 75-64 victory at Virginia on Wednesday, snapping the Cavaliers' 19-game home win streak. The Hawkeyes have won 10 of their last 13 games and have done so by an average of 13.2 points per game. It's the third meeting between the two schools. Maryland has won both including a 83-65 victory in 1999 in the last meeting.
ABOUT IOWA (24-12, 23-9-0 ATS): The Hawkeyes, who start just one senior in guard Eric May, are a team to keep an eye on in 2013-14. Since Feb. 6, only Ohio State (11) has more victories than Iowa (10) in the Big Ten. Six of the Hawkeyes' nine losses in Big Ten play were by margins of four points or less including two in overtime and one in double overtime. Junior guard Roy Devyn Marble leads the team in scoring (15.1) and is averaging 25.3 points, 5.3 assists and three steals in three NIT games. Alex Woodbury, a 7-1 freshman center, had 10 points and eight rebounds in the quarterfinal upset of Virginia and figures to play a key role defensively against Maryland 7-1 sophomore center Alex Len, a probable high NBA lottery pick in June. "It's a great challenge for him," Iowa coach Fran McCaffery told Hawkcentral.com. "He's gone against other lottery picks this year. We'll see how it goes. He'll be ready for the challenge."
ABOUT MARYLAND (25-12, 17-12-1 ATS): Maryland hit the 25-win mark for the ninth time in school history and did it with a 10-man rotation that features seven underclassmen. All eyes will be on Len who is coming in off a Alabama game in which he finished with 15 points, 13 rebounds and five blocks. Another sophomore, swingman Dez Wells, leads the team in scoring (13.2) and is averaging 18.3 points in the postseason. Maryland leads the ACC and ranks 10th nationally in field goal percentage defense (38.4) and has held 21 of its 37 opponents to under 40 percent shooting.
TRENDS:
* Hawkeyes are 22-6 ATS in their last 28 games overall.
* Terrapins are 8-3-1 ATS in their last 12 vs. Big Ten.
* Over is 4-1 in Hawkeyes' last five vs. Atlantic Coast.
* Over is 7-1 in Terrapins' last eight vs. Big Ten.
TIP-INS:
1. Maryland tops the ACC and ranks fourth nationally in rebounding margin at plus-8.7 per game.
2. Iowa has blocked a school-record 178 shots this season.
3. Freshman G Seth Allen, who averaged 7.8 points and 2.3 assists for the Terps, is out for the season after fracturing his hand in practice on March 24.
NIT Final Four
By Brian Edwards
VegasInsider.com
Baylor vs. Brigham Young
In the first game of a doubleheader at Madison Square Garden in New York City, Baylor and BYU will collide in the NIT semifinals with a berth in Thursday’s championship game at stake.
As of late Monday night, most betting shops had Baylor (21-14 straight up, 15-15 against the spread) installed as a three-point favorite with a total of 153. Gamblers can take the Cougars on the money line for a +135 return (risk $100 to win $135).
Scott Drew’s team advanced with three consecutive home wins over Long Beach State (112-66), Arizona St. (89-86) and Providence (79-68). The Bears covered the spread in two of the three games with the win over the Sun Devils as 8.5-point favorites serving as the lone exception.
Baylor used a late 7-0 run ignited by a Pierre Jackson 3-pointer with 3:57 remaining to pull away from Providence to capture a 79-68 win as an eight-point home ‘chalk.’ The 147 combined points dipped ‘under’ the 150-point total. Cory Jefferson scored a career-high 26 points by making 10-of-14 shots from the field, while Jackson finished with 20 points, 13 assists and seven rebounds without committing a turnover.
Baylor has won at least three postseason games in four of the last five seasons. The Bears went to the NIT finals in 2009 and the Elite Eight in 2010 and 2012, losing to the eventual champion each time.
BYU (24-11 SU, 16-17-1 ATS) is led by senior center Brandon Davies and sophomore guard Tyler Haws. Davies averages 17.8 points and 8.1 rebounds per game. He also averages team-highs in field-goal percentage (52.6%) and blocked shots (1.0 BPG). Haws, a sophomore guard who returned this season after a two-year Mormon mission, averages a team-high 21.6 PPG.
Dave Rose’s squad made it to the Big Apple with three straight wins both SU and ATS. BYU beat Washington (90-79) and Mercer (90-71) at home before cruising to a 79-62 victory at So. Miss. as a 5.5-point road underdog. Senior guard Brock Zylstra buried five treys in the first half on his way to a season-high 23 points for the Cougars, who got a game-high 25 points from Haws. Davis produced 12 points and 13 rebounds.
BYU has been an underdog eight times this season, compiling a 3-4-1 spread record. Meanwhile, Baylor has posted a 6-7 spread ledger in 13 games as a single-digit favorite.
These schools met in Waco on Dec. 21 with Baylor winning a 79-64 decision as a seven-point home favorite. Jackson led the way with 16 points, nine assists and four steals. Jefferson posted a double-double with 13 points and 16 rebounds. In the losing effort, Davies finished with 26 points, 17 boards, three assists and three steals. The 143 combined points stayed ‘under’ the 151.5-point total.
The ‘under’ is 15-11 overall for BYU.
The ‘over’ is 16-13 overall for the Bears, going 3-1 in their last four games.
ESPN will have the telecast at 7:00 p.m. Eastern.
Iowa vs. Maryland
Most spots have installed Iowa (24-12 SU, ATS) as a three-point favorite with a total of 136. The Terrapins are +135 on the money line (risk $100 to win $135).
Iowa has hooked up its backers by taking the cash in nine straight games. The Hawkeyes have won outright in six of their last seven games with the only defeat coming in a 59-56 loss to Michigan St. (a Sweet 16 team) at the Big Ten Tournament.
Fran McCaffery’s team earned a trip to NYC with victories vs. Indiana St. (68-52), vs. Stony Brook (75-63) and at Virginia (57-49). The Hawkeyes are led by junior guard/forward Roy-Devyn Marble, the son of Iowa legend Roy Marble. The younger Marble led his team to the win at UVA by producing 24 points, five assists, three rebounds and three assists.
Marble leads the Hawks in scoring (15.1 PPG) and assists (3.0 APG). Marble has averaged 25.3 PPG in the NIT, including a 28-point effort vs. Stony Brook.
Iowa has thrived as a single-digit ‘chalk’ this year, compiling a lucrative 8-2 spread record.
Maryland (25-12 SU, 17-12-1 ATS) has covered the spread in seven consecutive games, including NIT wins vs. Niagara (86-70) vs. Denver (62-52) and at Alabama (58-67). The Terrapins won in Tuscaloosa in large part due to back-to-back 3-pointers from freshman forward Jake Layman, who finished with 13 points off the bench. Layman’s treys extended Maryland’s lead to 57-49 with 3:47 remaining. ‘Bama’s Trevor Lacey missed a would-be winning jumper at the buzzer.
Maryland sophomore center Alex Len torched the Crimson Tide with 15 points, 13 boards and five blocked shots, including a key rejection of Rodney Cooper in the lane with 3.1 ticks left. Dezmine Wells added 13 points for the Terps.
Mark Turgeon’s squad cashed tickets at an 8-4 ATS clip in 12 games as an underdog.
Maryland will be without freshman guard, Seth Allen who broke his hand at practice before the win at Alabama. Allen was averaging 7.8 points, 2.3 assists and 2.2 rebounds per game.
The ‘under’ is 18-13-1 overall for Iowa.
Totals have been an overall wash (14-14) for Maryland.
ESPN2 will have the tip 30 minutes after the conclusion of BYU-Baylor.
B.E.’s Bonus Nuggets
Baylor’s Pierre Jackson is currently listed as the 60th and final pick of the most recent 2013 mock draft at nbadraft.net. The same website has Baylor’s Jefferson, who will be a senior next season, as the 49th pick in its 2014 mock.
NBADraft.net currently has Maryland’s Len listed as the seventh pick in its latest mock of this summer’s draft.
Southern Cal announced late Monday night that it has hired Florida Gulf Coast’s Andy Enfield as its next head coach. I’ll take a wait-and-see approach to my analysis of this hire. Obviously, Enfield was a hot name after leading the Eagles to the Sweet 16, so he deserves some time before being judged. With that said, there were many other candidates with more sustained success on their resume.
As for UCLA’s hire of Steve Alford, as I tweeted on Saturday, I think it was a shaky decision by AD Dan Guerrero. I gave it a C- at best.
Tubby Smith has agreed to become the next head coach at Texas Tech. Like I wrote a few weeks ago, Auburn could’ve had Tubby had it made the no-brainer decision to get rid of Tony Barbee.