Guaranteed Pick: Larry Ness
Game: Georgia Tech at Duke Mar 13 2005 1:00PM
Prediction: Georgia Tech
Reason: Ga Tech FINALLY is starting to look like the top-five team eveyone thought it would be at the beginning of the year. With Elder completely healthy now and Bynum off a career-best 35-point effort in the upset of North Carolina, the Yellow Jackets are PRIMED to take the ACC title! Paul Hewitt's team is playing GREAT defense, holding the multi-talented Tar Heels to just 36.1% shooting! Jack (15.8-4.8-4.5), Elder (13.7) and Bynum (11.7) give the team an OUTSTANDING perimeter game plus the 7-1 Schenscher (10.2-7.4) looks to be primed for another tournament run. The Dookies have been concerned about their depth all year and really only have Shelden Wiliams (15.6-11.2) making major contributions up front. While freshman Nelson's numbers are similar to that of Dockery's, the Blue Devils MISS the junior's solid play. Of course Redick (35 vs NC St) is a GREAT scorer and Ewing (15.1) has played in more winning games than any current college player but REMEMBER, they are matched by Ga Tech's threesome (held Redick to just 5-of-15 shooting on 12/23)! In two ACC tourney games, Ga Tech has held its opponents to a shooting percentage of 36.6! After losing twice to Duke in the regular season, Ga Tech upsets the depth-shy Blue Devils here. Conf Tourn Underdog of the Year. 10* Ga Tech.
Game: Texas Tech at Oklahoma State Mar 13 2005 3:00PM
Prediction: Texas Tech
Reason: Last year the Red Raiders depended TOO MUCH on Andre Emmett but this year's team has gotten better balanced scoring and here has a chance to win the Big-12 tourney vs Okla St. In Tech's first tourney win over Iowa St, FIVE players scored in double digits but in yesterday's upset of Okla, it was the team's OUTSTANDING guard duo of Ross and Jackson (who combined to average just over 30 PPG TY) leading the way with 50 points! Freshman Zeno and senior Marshall give Tech two good swingmen and the 6-8 Giles has been excellent inside the last two days with 21 pts and 23 rebs! Okla St avenged its regular season loss at Kansas (collapsed down the stretch) by beating the Jayhawks 78-75 on Saturday. The Cowboys are led by Lucas (18.3) and two super forwards (Joey Graham and McFarlin). Interestingly, Sutton's team (so well-known for its defense) has struggled in these two Big-12 tourney games, allowing Colorado and Kansas to shoot 52.5% from the field! On the other hand, Bob Knight has his team playing GREAT defense, holding Iowa St and Okla to a combined 38.1% from the field. Upset? 10* Texas Tech.
Game: Wisconsin at Illinois Mar 13 2005 3:30PM
Prediction: Wisconsin
Reason: Have the Fightin' Illini lost their 'Fight'? Illinois went STONE-COLD down the stretch at Columbus last Sunday, losing for the first time this year (65-64). In two Big-10 tourney games, Illinois has won but failed to cover either contest. There is nothing wrong with the team's defense (held opponents to 51 and 56 points) but Illinois shot just 35.7% vs Minnesota and a combined 11-of-40 from three-point range in the two games combined! Speaking of good defense, the Badgers have advanced to the title game by holding their two opponents to an average of 52.5 PPG and 39.0% shooting! The inside matchups in this contest are favorable for Wisconsin as Powell (12.1-5.3) has NOTHING on Wisconsin's Tucker (14.9-6.7) and Augustine (10.1-7.0) will have his hands full with Wilkinson (14.7-7.3). The 'wild card' for Wisconsin is 6-8 power forward Zach Morley who lost his starting job during the year but has scored 40 points and grabbed 13 rebounds the last two games! Wisconsin guards Chambliss, Taylor and Hanson are NO MATCH for Head, Brown and Williams on paper but the Illini-trio has combined to go 11-of-34 and 10-of-26 in the team's two tourney games. Doing the math, that's just 35%! Wisconsin beat Illinois 70-53 in the tile game last year, maybe the Badgers will do it again? 10* Wisconsin.
Good old Larry was 0-2 on 15* and Info game yesterday. Looks like it is going to be a major fade on GTech. Everyone is on them!!
