Wednesday's First Four
March 17, 2015
East Regional First Four - No. 11 Boise State vs. No. 11 Dayton (truTV, 9:10 p.m. ET)
Venue: Dayton Arena
Location: Dayton, Ohio
Betting Odds: Dayton -4, Total 126
The Selection Committee got it way wrong with Dayton and Boise State. The Flyers, who advanced to last season's Elite Eight, should not have to be playing 72 hours after losing a heartbreaker to VCU in the finals of the Atlantic-10 Tournament. Dayton (25-8 straight up, 16-15 against the spread) went 6-6 against the RPI Top 100, while UCLA went 5-10 versus the Top 100 and was an atrocious 2-8 against the Top 50. Nevertheless, the Bruins are a No. 10 seed.
Dayton has one of the rising stars in the coaching profession in Archie Miller, who has led the Flyers to 51 wins the last two years and its first Elite Eight trip since 1984. This has been Miller's best coaching job, as his team has had to play without five key contributors due to suspensions and injuries. His rotation, which featured 11 regulars last season, has been reduced to seven players.
Nevertheless, Dayton finished second in the A-10 regular-season standings, posting quality wins over the likes of VCU, Ole Miss, Texas A&M, Richmond, La Salle and Rhode Island (twice). The Flyers have only one bad loss -- at Duquesne. They challenged themselves in the non-conference portion of the schedule, playing at Arkansas, hosting Georgia Tech and facing UConn on a neutral floor.
Jordan Sibert is the catalyst for Dayton, averaging a team-best 16.5 points and 1.8 steals per game. Sibert gets plenty of help from Kendall Pollard and Dyshawn Pierre, who average 12.8 and 12.7 points per game, respectively. Pierre averages a team-best 8.2 RPG.
Boise State (25-8 SU, 19-11 ATS) shouldn't be playing in Dayton, either, and it sure as hell shouldn't be playing at Dayton. Leon Rice did one of the nation's best coaching jobs this season, leading the Broncos to the Mountain West regular-season championship despite losing their leading scorer Anthony Drmic to a season-ending ankle injury.
Drmic is one of the best pure shooters West of the Rockies and he's a two-time All-MWC selection. Despite his absence, Rice guided his team to 15 wins its last 17 games dating back to Jan. 13. During this stretch, Boise St. covered the number at an incredible 14-3 ATS clip.
Senior guard Derrick Marks earned MWC Player of the Year honors. Marks, who Rice plucked out of Chicago, is one of the best players in BSU history and his play during his senior year has been off the charts.
Marks averages team-highs in scoring (19.3 points per game), assists (3.0 APG) and steals (1.8 SPG). He's also averaging 3.7 RPG and shooting at outstanding clips from the field (49.4%), behind the 3-point line (44.0%) and at the charity stripe (78.9%).
When Drmic (15.0 PPG in seven outings) went down, sophomore forward James Webb III emerged as a big-time player. Webb was named the MWC's Newcomer of the Year and was a second-team all-league selection.
Webb, who was also on the conference's All-Defensive Team, averaged 11.3 points and 7.9 rebounds per game. He's a high-flyer who plays above the rim and alters shots at the defensive end. Webb does a terrific job of helping in the lane from the weak side.
BSU's big Aussie doesn't get the press clippings afforded to his coach, Marks and Webb, but Nick Duncan provides the Broncos with fire, emotion, physicality and 3-pointers. Duncan (9.7 PPG) has scored in double figures in three straight games and four of the last six, including 26 and 23-point efforts. He makes 39.0 percent of his attempts from downtown.
Dayton hasn't tasted defeat at home all season. Not once in 16 games.
And that's what makes Boise State's trip across country for a true road game even more baffling. Making matters worse, the Broncos have to forget about their nightmare showing at the same arena two seasons ago.
BSU was sent to the First Four in the 2013 Tournament to face La Salle. Rice's team came out flat and played one of its worst games of the season, falling 80-71 to the Explorers as a 1.5-point underdog. Drmic had 28 points, while Marks finished with 14 points, seven rebounds and five assists.
BSU has been an underdog nine times this year, producing a 7-2 spread record with five outright victories. The Broncos have wins at San Diego St., at UNLV, at New Mexico and at Saint Mary's. The other outright triumph as a 'dog came at home against the Aztecs when they were catching one point.
Dayton has been a single-digit home favorite seven times, going 4-3 ATS. The Flyers are 9-5 ATS in their 14 lined home contests.
As of early Tuesday, most betting shops had Dayton installed as a four-point favorite with a total of 127 points. Gamblers can back Boise St. on the money line for a +155 return (risk $100 to win $155).
The 'over' is on a 9-4 roll in Dayton's last 13 games, improving to 16-11 overall for the season.
The 'over' is 12-11 overall for BSU after cashing in back-to-back games.
TruTV will have the broadcast around 9:10 p.m. Eastern (30 minutes after the conclusion of Robert Morris vs. North Florida).
**B.E.'s Bonus Nuggets**
-- Robert Morris and North Florida will meet in Wednesday's lid-lifter in Dayton at 6:40 p.m. Eastern on TruTV. As of early Tuesday, most spots had the Osprey favored by three points with a total of 138.5. North Florida won the Atlantic Sun Tournament and if that conference's name rings a bell, it's because Florida Gulf Coast and Mercer combined for three Tournament wins over the last two years while representing the league.
-- According to multiple reports out of Athens, Georgia starting guard Kenny Gaines didn't practice Monday and won't attempt to until Wednesday in preparation for Friday's 7/10 matchup vs. Michigan St. Gaines (11.6 PPG) has missed two of UGA's last three games since spraining his foot at practice prior to the regular-season finale at Auburn. He played in a win over South Carolina in the SEC Tourney quarterfinals, but he sat out a loss to Arkansas in the semifinals.
-- Although many coaches like Duke's Mike Krzyzewski, UNC's Roy Williams, Louisville's Rick Pitino, Michigan St.'s Tom Izzo and other have more career NCAA Tournament wins, it is SMU's Larry Brown who has the best career NCAA Tournament winning percentage among active coaches. Brown is 19-6 (76.0%) and back in the Tourney for the first time since leading Kansas and his 'Danny and The Miracles' team to the 1988 title by beating Billy Tubbs's Oklahoma squad that featured Mookie Blaylock and Stacey King.
-- All indications out of Morgantown are that West Va's Juwan Staten and Gary Browne will be good to go this week after missing the Big 12 Tournament with injuries.
-- Georgia Tech announced Monday that Brian Gregory will return for a fifth season despite failing to take the Yellow Jackets to the NCAA Tournament for a fourth consecutive time. G-Tech still owes former coach Paul Hewitt another $3.6 million over the next four years, and Gregory's buyout is reportedly for $2.4 million. Therefore, this is clearly a financial decision and unless Gregory has a breakout year in 2015-2016, he'll likely take a pink slip at this time next year. This has to be immensely disappointing for Tech fans, who have heard their schools' name called just six times over the last 22 Selection Sundays.
March 17, 2015
East Regional First Four - No. 11 Boise State vs. No. 11 Dayton (truTV, 9:10 p.m. ET)
Venue: Dayton Arena
Location: Dayton, Ohio
Betting Odds: Dayton -4, Total 126
The Selection Committee got it way wrong with Dayton and Boise State. The Flyers, who advanced to last season's Elite Eight, should not have to be playing 72 hours after losing a heartbreaker to VCU in the finals of the Atlantic-10 Tournament. Dayton (25-8 straight up, 16-15 against the spread) went 6-6 against the RPI Top 100, while UCLA went 5-10 versus the Top 100 and was an atrocious 2-8 against the Top 50. Nevertheless, the Bruins are a No. 10 seed.
Dayton has one of the rising stars in the coaching profession in Archie Miller, who has led the Flyers to 51 wins the last two years and its first Elite Eight trip since 1984. This has been Miller's best coaching job, as his team has had to play without five key contributors due to suspensions and injuries. His rotation, which featured 11 regulars last season, has been reduced to seven players.
Nevertheless, Dayton finished second in the A-10 regular-season standings, posting quality wins over the likes of VCU, Ole Miss, Texas A&M, Richmond, La Salle and Rhode Island (twice). The Flyers have only one bad loss -- at Duquesne. They challenged themselves in the non-conference portion of the schedule, playing at Arkansas, hosting Georgia Tech and facing UConn on a neutral floor.
Jordan Sibert is the catalyst for Dayton, averaging a team-best 16.5 points and 1.8 steals per game. Sibert gets plenty of help from Kendall Pollard and Dyshawn Pierre, who average 12.8 and 12.7 points per game, respectively. Pierre averages a team-best 8.2 RPG.
Boise State (25-8 SU, 19-11 ATS) shouldn't be playing in Dayton, either, and it sure as hell shouldn't be playing at Dayton. Leon Rice did one of the nation's best coaching jobs this season, leading the Broncos to the Mountain West regular-season championship despite losing their leading scorer Anthony Drmic to a season-ending ankle injury.
Drmic is one of the best pure shooters West of the Rockies and he's a two-time All-MWC selection. Despite his absence, Rice guided his team to 15 wins its last 17 games dating back to Jan. 13. During this stretch, Boise St. covered the number at an incredible 14-3 ATS clip.
Senior guard Derrick Marks earned MWC Player of the Year honors. Marks, who Rice plucked out of Chicago, is one of the best players in BSU history and his play during his senior year has been off the charts.
Marks averages team-highs in scoring (19.3 points per game), assists (3.0 APG) and steals (1.8 SPG). He's also averaging 3.7 RPG and shooting at outstanding clips from the field (49.4%), behind the 3-point line (44.0%) and at the charity stripe (78.9%).
When Drmic (15.0 PPG in seven outings) went down, sophomore forward James Webb III emerged as a big-time player. Webb was named the MWC's Newcomer of the Year and was a second-team all-league selection.
Webb, who was also on the conference's All-Defensive Team, averaged 11.3 points and 7.9 rebounds per game. He's a high-flyer who plays above the rim and alters shots at the defensive end. Webb does a terrific job of helping in the lane from the weak side.
BSU's big Aussie doesn't get the press clippings afforded to his coach, Marks and Webb, but Nick Duncan provides the Broncos with fire, emotion, physicality and 3-pointers. Duncan (9.7 PPG) has scored in double figures in three straight games and four of the last six, including 26 and 23-point efforts. He makes 39.0 percent of his attempts from downtown.
Dayton hasn't tasted defeat at home all season. Not once in 16 games.
And that's what makes Boise State's trip across country for a true road game even more baffling. Making matters worse, the Broncos have to forget about their nightmare showing at the same arena two seasons ago.
BSU was sent to the First Four in the 2013 Tournament to face La Salle. Rice's team came out flat and played one of its worst games of the season, falling 80-71 to the Explorers as a 1.5-point underdog. Drmic had 28 points, while Marks finished with 14 points, seven rebounds and five assists.
BSU has been an underdog nine times this year, producing a 7-2 spread record with five outright victories. The Broncos have wins at San Diego St., at UNLV, at New Mexico and at Saint Mary's. The other outright triumph as a 'dog came at home against the Aztecs when they were catching one point.
Dayton has been a single-digit home favorite seven times, going 4-3 ATS. The Flyers are 9-5 ATS in their 14 lined home contests.
As of early Tuesday, most betting shops had Dayton installed as a four-point favorite with a total of 127 points. Gamblers can back Boise St. on the money line for a +155 return (risk $100 to win $155).
The 'over' is on a 9-4 roll in Dayton's last 13 games, improving to 16-11 overall for the season.
The 'over' is 12-11 overall for BSU after cashing in back-to-back games.
TruTV will have the broadcast around 9:10 p.m. Eastern (30 minutes after the conclusion of Robert Morris vs. North Florida).
**B.E.'s Bonus Nuggets**
-- Robert Morris and North Florida will meet in Wednesday's lid-lifter in Dayton at 6:40 p.m. Eastern on TruTV. As of early Tuesday, most spots had the Osprey favored by three points with a total of 138.5. North Florida won the Atlantic Sun Tournament and if that conference's name rings a bell, it's because Florida Gulf Coast and Mercer combined for three Tournament wins over the last two years while representing the league.
-- According to multiple reports out of Athens, Georgia starting guard Kenny Gaines didn't practice Monday and won't attempt to until Wednesday in preparation for Friday's 7/10 matchup vs. Michigan St. Gaines (11.6 PPG) has missed two of UGA's last three games since spraining his foot at practice prior to the regular-season finale at Auburn. He played in a win over South Carolina in the SEC Tourney quarterfinals, but he sat out a loss to Arkansas in the semifinals.
-- Although many coaches like Duke's Mike Krzyzewski, UNC's Roy Williams, Louisville's Rick Pitino, Michigan St.'s Tom Izzo and other have more career NCAA Tournament wins, it is SMU's Larry Brown who has the best career NCAA Tournament winning percentage among active coaches. Brown is 19-6 (76.0%) and back in the Tourney for the first time since leading Kansas and his 'Danny and The Miracles' team to the 1988 title by beating Billy Tubbs's Oklahoma squad that featured Mookie Blaylock and Stacey King.
-- All indications out of Morgantown are that West Va's Juwan Staten and Gary Browne will be good to go this week after missing the Big 12 Tournament with injuries.
-- Georgia Tech announced Monday that Brian Gregory will return for a fifth season despite failing to take the Yellow Jackets to the NCAA Tournament for a fourth consecutive time. G-Tech still owes former coach Paul Hewitt another $3.6 million over the next four years, and Gregory's buyout is reportedly for $2.4 million. Therefore, this is clearly a financial decision and unless Gregory has a breakout year in 2015-2016, he'll likely take a pink slip at this time next year. This has to be immensely disappointing for Tech fans, who have heard their schools' name called just six times over the last 22 Selection Sundays.
