Monday’s 6-pack
Teams who play the slowest tempo (longest possessions on offense)21.3 seconds— North Texas (26-7)
20.4— Charlottte (18-14)
20— Jacksonvville (13-16)
19.4— Virginia (25-7)
19.4— Saint Mary’s (26-7)
18.7— Northern Kentucky (22-12)
Quote of the Day
“All season, our focus and goal have been on being the best team we can possibly become and reaching our full potential to give us another opportunity to compete, play for and win an NCAA championship. Although we no longer have that opportunity and this season wasn’t what we had hoped for, I want to thank our players and staff for their hard work and love for Carolina Basketball.”
North Carolina basketball coach Hubert Davis
Monday’s quiz
When was the last time three #1-seeds got to the Final Four?
Sunday’s quiz
Steve Martin played a traveling preacher in the movie
Leap of Faith; Meat Loaf played the keyboard during the preacher’s shows.
Saturday’s quiz
Charlotte Hornets drafted Kobe Bryant with the 13th pick of the 1996 NBA Draft, then traded him to the Lakers, for Vlade Divac.
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Monday’s Den: Some quick thoughts on the Field of 68
— Last three years, only four of the 12 Final Four teams were #1-seeds.
— Three of this year’s #1-seeds play Thursday-Saturday this week.
— Top-ranked teams who missed the Field of 68: Rutgers (#35), Oklahoma Sate (#38) and Oregon (#41).
— Arizona State is in the First Four for third time in last five tournaments; they lost 60-56 to Syracuse in 2018, beat St John’s 74-65 the next year.
Think about it; on February 25, Sun Devils beat rival Arizona 89-88 when they sank a 55-foot desperation jumper at the buzzer. Without that win, Arizona State is in the NT.
— Speaking of the NIT, North Carolina declined to play in it after being the first preseason #1 team ever to miss the NCAA Tournament.
Some trends on how some conferences have fared in first round games:
— Lot has been said this year about how the Big X is by far the best conference this year; over the last three years, Big X teams are 14-5 ATS in Round of 64 games.
— Mountain West got four teams in the NCAA’s this year; over the last three years, MW teams are 0-8 SU/ATS in Round of 64 games.
— Charleston is a 5-point underdog vs San Diego State Thursday; Cougars play pace #29, while Aztecs play pace #252, so a contrast of styles here.
Over last nine years, CAA teams are 0-9 SU, but 5-4 against the spread.
— Florida Atlantic is 31-3, their best season ever; will they be able to keep coach Dusty May? You go 31-3 at a mid-major, a coach usually works his way up to a bigger $$$ job.
Last seven years, Conference USA teams are 5-2 SU in Round of 64 games.
— VCU beat Dayton 68-56 to win the A-15 tournament; Rams are 27-7, but they weren’t getting in the NCAA’s if they lost this game. This was first time since 2005 that the A-15 got one team in the tournament- they had 12 teams in the league back then.
— Big Sky teams haven’t won a tournament game since Montana (+7) upset Nevada 87-79 way back in 2006. Big Sky teams went 3-11-1 ATS in those losses.
Montana State is this year’s Big Sky team; they’re 22-4 in their last 26 games, are experience team #47. Bobcats play #3-seed Kansas State in their first round game.
— Last three years, SEC teams are 7-4-2 ATS in first round games.
— Kent State-Indiana play in Albany Friday night; Kent coach Ron Senderoff is an Albany alum and he also worked at Indiana, from 2006-08.
Over last six years, MAC teams covered all six of their games in Round of 64.
— Over last ten years, Horizon League teams are 0-10 SU, 3-7 ATS; Wright State did win a play-in game last year.
— I’ll have a lot more on the tournament as the week goes on.