Larry Ness
10* Elite 8 "GOY" - Duke
Baylor's basketball program was nearly destroyed by the scandal which occurred under Dave Bliss but less than decade later, Scott Drew has literally resurrected the program. The Bears crushed St Mary's in Friday's Sweet 16 contest, building a 29-point halftime on the way to a lead 72-49 rout. Dunn scored 23 points to set a Baylor single-season points record with 682. St Mary's Omar Samhan, who entered averaging 30.5 PPG in his first two games, was held to 15 points and nine rebounds. Duke advanced Friday by beating short-handed Purdue , as without Hummel, Johnson and Moore scored 41 points but the rest of Purdue's team scored just 16 points while making a pathetic 3-of-21 FG attempts. Scheyer (18.1-3.5-4.8) has led Duke in scoring this year but broke out his tourney slump by making 5-of-9 FGs in the second half and 7-of-8 FTs for the game (18 points). He teams with Smith (17.1-2.8-2.9) to give the Dookies a terrific backcourt. The 6-8 Singler (17.9-7.) has averaged 21.0-7.7 in three tourney games plus the 7-1 Zoubek (5.5-7.6) has contributed 27 rebounds vs Cal and Purdue. Both teams have excellent size, as Baylor's frontcourt consists of the 6-10 Udoh (13.8-9.7), the 7-0 Lomers (6.3-4.8) and the 6-10 Jones (6.3-4.8). Joining Zoubek and Singler are the 6-10 Plumlee brothers and the underachieving 6-8 Thomas (4.8-4.8). The 6-7 Acy (9.2-5.1) has given Baylor a nice boost off the bench all season and that's continued in the NCAA tourney. Kudos to Baylor and the Bears, who do get a slight bonus for playing this game in Houston, but let's remember that the Bears have yet to face a team from a major conference in this tourney. They've beaten Sam Houston St, Old Dominion and St Mary's. Those three schools own a total of just 18 all-time NCAA appearances with an overall record of 6-18 (.250). In comparison, Coach K is in his 30th year at Duke and after failing to qualify for the Big Dance in his first three years in Durham, he’s gone to 26 NCAA tourneys the last 27 years (15 straight from 1996-2010, the second-longest active streak). He owns three national championships and has been to 10 Final 4s (third-most all-time). He's made 19 Sweet 16 appearances and this is his 12th Elite 8 (first since 2004). His record in the NCAA tourney is an astounding 74-22 (.771) and it can't go without mention that his Duke teams are 10-1 in Regional Finals. Dunn and Carter won't back down from Scheyer and Smith plus Baylor has the size up front to pound with Duke. However, while this is just a "typical" game for Coach K and his team, it's rarefied air for the Baylor program. Duke's D has held three tourney opponents to 51.3 PPG and 36.1 percent from the floor, including 11-of-46 (23.9) on threes. Expect the Blue Devils to control the pace of the game and extend the margin from the free-throw line at the end in a double-digit win.
8* LV Insider - Tennessee/Michigan State Over
If the Vol's win this game, they'll head to the Final Four for the first time in school history. "Our seniors have made a huge difference," Tennessee coach Bruce Pearl said following his team's 76-73 victory over second-seeded Ohio State on Friday. "Guys that want to take this Tennessee basketball program places it's never been." The Vols used superior inside play and its depth to knock off the Big Ten Champion Buckeyes. "All that hard work we put in, it's nice see it pay off and winning some of these close games," said senior guard Bobby Maze, who scored 10 points against the Buckeyes. Wayne Chism led the Vols with 22 points, and 11 boards; Brian Williams had nine points and 12 rebounds. Added Chism; "This team is going to continue to do great things for Tennessee, and try our best to get it somewhere it's never been again," (note: Tennessee has seen the total go "over" the posted number in two of its three NCAA tournament games). The Spartans are looking to reach the Final Four for the sixth time in 12 years. Michigan State was the #5 seed in this year's Midwest Regional; they knocked off New Mexico State, Maryland and then dispensed with Northern Iowa which upset the Jayhawks in the previous round. "We knew if we didn't change then, the ship was going to sink," Draymond Green said. "And it was sinking on us." Green is of course speaking of the adversity his team went through this season and to make it this far. Leader Kalin Lucas went down in the first half against Maryland but still the Spartans are finding ways to win; Tom Izzo: "I think the whole thing about coaching and working with young people is preparing them for adversity. Anybody can sail the ship when the seas are calm and the winds are favorable," (note: Michigan State has seen the total go "over" the posted number in all three games this year when playing with one or less days rest). Both teams will be looking to push the ball whenever given the opportunity; as a result, play on the "over".
Mark Lawrence
3 Units Baylor
3 Units Timberwolves
Billy Coleman
4* Orl -5.5
4* Sac/Clev Under 197.5
3* LAC -5
3* SA/Bos Under 191.5
3* Mich St +1.5
4* Miss St/Fla St Over 132
3* Okla +5.5
Alatex
15* Tennessee
Ben Burns
Baylor / Duke Under 140
Michael Cannon
30* Baylor
15* Duke/Baylor Under
Chris Jordan
100* MSU
100* Cleveland
100* Chicago
Brandon Lang
5 Dime MSU
Jamie Tursini
Duke vs Baylor
Pick: Baylor +5
This is where Duke's season ends. Baylor is the real deal and I believe will win this straight up. My "Power Ratings" have this as a PK. Getting this many points is too good to pass up on. Coach K is one of the most overrated in the game. He never wins these games unless he has NBA players. Not a whole lot here. Take the points in what I believe is an "Odds Makers" error.
STEPHEN NOVER
15* Tennessee
Ron Meyer
20* Baylor
5* Michigan St
WAYNE ROOT
No Limit GOY - Michigan State
Millionaire - Duke
Will Cover
3* Duke
Teddy Covers
Tennessee
Bulls
ATS Financial
4 Units Denver Nuggets +5.5
3 Units Portland Blazers +5
Lenny Del Genio
20* Div TOM Chi/Det Over 199.5
Executive
250% Mich St
250% Duke