+4.3 units
Not a great showing unit wise but this was my first season trying to cap NCAAB and it was only about half the season. I would like to be over 30 units after this tourney.
I know my Big Ten, WCC and Horizon very well. Although knowing the Horizon and WCC doesnt help me very much right now. Here is my first few plays on Thurs.
VCU vs UCLA
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Here is a match up of the two fastest point guards in college. Collison and Maynor. UCLA has struggles this year defending some of the best point guards out west. Abrams scored 31, Harden has two big games against UCLA (ASU swept UCLA), Isiah Thomas put up 24 in a Washington win, Wise put up 26 in an Arizona win.
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Maynor is a taller point guard at 6’3” averaging 22, 6 and 3 and VCU has done a good job at putting shooters around him (36% from 3). Hopefully Maynor doesn’t get too 3 point happy, he is only a decent shooter from behind the arcThey have an impressive point-margin advantage at over 10. Larry Sanders (6’10”, 220, 11PPG, 8.5 RPG, 2.7 BLK) needs to stay on the floor to protect the basket and rebound. He averages 3.6 fouls per game. Without him on the floor UCLA will get a bunch of layups.
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No team has more tournament experience than UCLA. They have three players – Collison, Shipp and Aboya – who have played in three consecutive Final Fours. If any team in the field knows what it takes to win in March, it’s UCLA. However this Bruin team isn’t as good on the defensive end as in years past. They do shoot the 3 ball well at close to 44%. VCU will need to continue to defend the 3 like they have all year at holding opponents to 30%. They also do a great job at forcing over 14 turnovers per game.
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Location: UCLA has to fly across country to PA. The farthest UCLA has traveled away from home this year was Texas, which they lost by 4.
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I just don’t think this UCLA is a talented as we have seen before. VCU has what it takes to win this game if they shoot well and keep Sanders out of foul trouble. I think 7 points will be too much and VCU will stay close. If UCLA covers I think they will have to backdoor this one, I cant see them blowing VCU out if they aren’t lights out from 3.
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2 units
VCU +8
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LSU vs Butler
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I have seen many Butler games this year and I think I am 6-3 on their games, actually lost my last 2 on them. This is a rough matchup for this team. They are very young, not a senior on the roster which shows down the stretch in games. They are not the most athletic team either. They can get away with that in the Horizon but against this LSU team, I don’t think it will be so easy.
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LSU’s best player is Marcus Thornton a 6’4” senior guard who will be joined in the starting lineup by 2 other seniors.
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Butler runs its offence through their sophomore center Haywood. He is only 6’8” but does have good hands and feet and was the Horizon player of the year. He will have problems with LSU’s size. When he struggles Butler struggles. Granted they have shooters and in this tourney, any team can get hot from 3 and this team is more than capable.
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As many young teams, the home court has been kind to Butler all year. The lack of experience, lack of athletism is going to hurt Butler against a team like LSU who has the size. The best stat here I think is that LSU holds opponents to less than 30% from 3. LSU is also a very good rebounding team and should control the boards and has shot blockers down low that will be big because Butler does not play above the rim.
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3 units
LSU –2
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Northern Iowa vs Purdue
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Purdue has been on a roll lately, making an impressive run to win the big ten tourney with beatdowns of penn st and Illinois and a nice comeback win against Ohio St. With Hummel healthy this team is much better. He adds leadership, rebounding and another outside shooter. However this team downlow is still not very big or strong.
Northern Iowa’s advantage will be downlow with Egsleder at 7’1. Kwadzo Ahelegbe stepped up his scoring effort in the Valley tourney to lead UNI. The sophomore point guard paced the Panthers with 57 points. Forward Adam Koch added 47 points as both were named to the all-tournament team. I like UNI’s depth and availability of scorers. You need that against this Purdue defense. They get up into you and pressure your ball handlers.UNI does a great job protecting the ball with only 12 turnovers per.
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Purdue is a good team that plays very tough but does rely on the 3 ball. Moore can get to the bucket but Jackson is so short he has trouble finishing and Hummel isn’t very quick. <o></o>
Purdue should be able to win this game but 8 points is too much.<o></o>
2 units<o></o>
Northern Iowa +8.5<o></o>
Not a great showing unit wise but this was my first season trying to cap NCAAB and it was only about half the season. I would like to be over 30 units after this tourney.
I know my Big Ten, WCC and Horizon very well. Although knowing the Horizon and WCC doesnt help me very much right now. Here is my first few plays on Thurs.
VCU vs UCLA
<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com
fficeffice" /><o></o>Here is a match up of the two fastest point guards in college. Collison and Maynor. UCLA has struggles this year defending some of the best point guards out west. Abrams scored 31, Harden has two big games against UCLA (ASU swept UCLA), Isiah Thomas put up 24 in a Washington win, Wise put up 26 in an Arizona win.
<o
></o>Maynor is a taller point guard at 6’3” averaging 22, 6 and 3 and VCU has done a good job at putting shooters around him (36% from 3). Hopefully Maynor doesn’t get too 3 point happy, he is only a decent shooter from behind the arcThey have an impressive point-margin advantage at over 10. Larry Sanders (6’10”, 220, 11PPG, 8.5 RPG, 2.7 BLK) needs to stay on the floor to protect the basket and rebound. He averages 3.6 fouls per game. Without him on the floor UCLA will get a bunch of layups.
<o
></o>No team has more tournament experience than UCLA. They have three players – Collison, Shipp and Aboya – who have played in three consecutive Final Fours. If any team in the field knows what it takes to win in March, it’s UCLA. However this Bruin team isn’t as good on the defensive end as in years past. They do shoot the 3 ball well at close to 44%. VCU will need to continue to defend the 3 like they have all year at holding opponents to 30%. They also do a great job at forcing over 14 turnovers per game.
<o
></o>Location: UCLA has to fly across country to PA. The farthest UCLA has traveled away from home this year was Texas, which they lost by 4.
<o
></o>I just don’t think this UCLA is a talented as we have seen before. VCU has what it takes to win this game if they shoot well and keep Sanders out of foul trouble. I think 7 points will be too much and VCU will stay close. If UCLA covers I think they will have to backdoor this one, I cant see them blowing VCU out if they aren’t lights out from 3.
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></o>2 units
VCU +8
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></o>LSU vs Butler
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></o>I have seen many Butler games this year and I think I am 6-3 on their games, actually lost my last 2 on them. This is a rough matchup for this team. They are very young, not a senior on the roster which shows down the stretch in games. They are not the most athletic team either. They can get away with that in the Horizon but against this LSU team, I don’t think it will be so easy.
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></o>LSU’s best player is Marcus Thornton a 6’4” senior guard who will be joined in the starting lineup by 2 other seniors.
<o
></o>Butler runs its offence through their sophomore center Haywood. He is only 6’8” but does have good hands and feet and was the Horizon player of the year. He will have problems with LSU’s size. When he struggles Butler struggles. Granted they have shooters and in this tourney, any team can get hot from 3 and this team is more than capable.
<o
></o>As many young teams, the home court has been kind to Butler all year. The lack of experience, lack of athletism is going to hurt Butler against a team like LSU who has the size. The best stat here I think is that LSU holds opponents to less than 30% from 3. LSU is also a very good rebounding team and should control the boards and has shot blockers down low that will be big because Butler does not play above the rim.
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></o>3 units
LSU –2
<o
></o>Northern Iowa vs Purdue
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></o>Purdue has been on a roll lately, making an impressive run to win the big ten tourney with beatdowns of penn st and Illinois and a nice comeback win against Ohio St. With Hummel healthy this team is much better. He adds leadership, rebounding and another outside shooter. However this team downlow is still not very big or strong.
Northern Iowa’s advantage will be downlow with Egsleder at 7’1. Kwadzo Ahelegbe stepped up his scoring effort in the Valley tourney to lead UNI. The sophomore point guard paced the Panthers with 57 points. Forward Adam Koch added 47 points as both were named to the all-tournament team. I like UNI’s depth and availability of scorers. You need that against this Purdue defense. They get up into you and pressure your ball handlers.UNI does a great job protecting the ball with only 12 turnovers per.
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></o> Purdue is a good team that plays very tough but does rely on the 3 ball. Moore can get to the bucket but Jackson is so short he has trouble finishing and Hummel isn’t very quick. <o
></o>Purdue should be able to win this game but 8 points is too much.<o
></o>2 units<o
></o>Northern Iowa +8.5<o
></o>
