NCAAB
Monday, March 20
Central Florida coach Dawkins won NIT twice when he was at Stanford, part of reason they fired him; no one wants to be in the NIT. Knights are 10-3 outside AAC, 7-1 in last eight games overall; they won last two road games, at ECU/Temple. UCF is #50 experience team that turns ball over 21.9% of time (#334). Illinois State spit pair with Tulsa of AAC; Redbirds won 21 of last 23 games- they’ve got #5 eFG% defense in country, are #98 experience team. Illinois State is 15-0 at home this season.
Tex-Arlington is 9-3 outside Sun Belt; they scored 62 points in first half of last game, a 105-89 win at BYU. Mavericks are #13 experience team that has #67 eFG% defense- they’re 11-0 at home this season. Akron beat Ga Southern of Sun Belt 75-67 in November; Zips won four of last five games- they’ve got #18 eFG% offense in country. MAC teams are 3-1 vs spread in tourney games this postseason; Sun Belt teams are 3-3.
Illinois is being coached by an assistant/interim coach after Groce was fired; they hired Brad Underwood two days ago, but he won’t coach Illini tonight. Illini won five of last seven games after being 14-12 at one point. Illini beat Northwestern/Michigan St in last two home games. Boise State is 8-4 outside Mountain West; they won last game 73-68 at Utah, despite shooting 3-16 on arc. Broncos are 5-8 vs top 100 teams; they split last eight games overall.
Colorado State is 9-5 outside Mountain West; their 7-man team should be better rested after its conference tourney run. Rams won 13 of last 16 games after an 11-8 start; they beat WAC’s New Mexico St (Bakersfield’s big rival) by 3 in season opener. Bakersfield won last game at Cal; they beat Fresno St of MW at home in November. Roadrunners are one of five worst foul shooting teams in country- they force turnovers 23.4% of time, #9 in country, are #15 experience team.
Coastal Carolina is 4-8 outside Sun Belt, but 8-1 vs teams ranked outside top 200; they beat a MEAC team last round. Chanticleers split their last eight games, but won five of last six home tilts. Coastal shoots 64.8% on line (#328). Loyola MD is 6-5 outside Patriot League- they had an impressive win over George Mason last round. Greyhounds turn ball over 21.9% of time (#336); they’re #242 experience team. Loyola lost six of its last nine games overall.
Pace #14 vs Pace #17. Rice won 10 of last 13 games; they’re #274 experience team that is playing pace #17- if VCU coach Will Wade gets another coaching job, Rice coach Rhoades will bolt to VCU. Owls shoot 39% on arc (#21 in country); they start three sophs, one junior. Utah Valley lost by 6 at UTSA of C-USA back in December; Wolverines won five of last six games, losing 4OT game in semis of WAC tourney. UVSU is #123 experience team; they play pace #14.
Wyoming is 9-3 outside Mountain West; they’re 3-5 in last eight games, since a 4OT win over Fresno- they won last three home games, by 11-12-10 points. Cowboys play pace #11 in high altitude; they start three juniors, one junior. UMKC is 6-9 outside WAC; they beat Green Bay at home last round, making 13-23 on arc- Kangaroos start five seniors, are #51 experience team that shoots 37.3% on arc for season (#68)- they play pace #49.
Ill-Chicago is somehow in a postseason tournament despite being 16-18; they’re 6-6 outside Horizon, beating Stony Brook of America East by 2 at home last game. Flames are 0-6 this season vs teams ranked #125 or better- their best win was over #184 DePaul. George Washington won seven of last eight games, with road wins at Duquesne/Fordham; Colonials played schedule #101- they’re 9-0 against teams ranked outside the top 200.
Tenn-Martin lost OVC final to Jacksonville State; Skyhawks are #8 experience team, starting a senior and four juniors- they’re 9-5 outside OVC, beating NC-Asheville in last round, team that finished ahead of Campbell in Big South. Camels won five of last six games; they’re 5-5 outside Big South,- they’re #318 experience team. Martin turns ball over 21.7% of time (#330); they’re #6 team in country on offensive boards grabbing 37.8% of their own misses.
Samford is in the #13 league, Liberty in the #27 league. Samford beat Campbell by 13 in its only Big South game; Bulldogs won three of last four games, but lost their last four true road games- their last road win was Jan 28 at VMI. Liberty lost NC-Greensboro by 7, Furman by 3 in its two SoCon games; Flames are 3-8 outside Big South- they won last game by 9 over a MEAC team. Liberty is #294 experience team that plays a very slow pace.
A&M-Corpus Christi lost Southland final in OT; they’re 5-4 outside Southland. Islanders are a thin team that forces turnovers 22.5% of time (#12)- they don’t shoot well (32.8% on arc), are 2-3 vs teams ranked #175 or higher. Weber State lost Big Sky final in OT; they won four of last five games, winning last round at Cal State-Fullerton. Wildcats shoot 39.7% on arc (#13); they are 4-3 in last seven true road games.
