NCAAB
Tuesday, March 7
ACC tournament, Brooklyn
If you’re playing in the ACC tournament today, you had a bad season. Except for Wake Forest
NC State fired its coach three weeks ago; they’ve lost nine of last ten games, with win by hoop at Ga Tech. Clemson started season 11-2, then lost 12 of next 15 games before winning last two; they beat NC State 78-74 at home six days ago, in only meeting this season. Teams split last eight series games. Brownell is 2-6 in ACC tourney games. Wolfpack won its first ACC tourney game the last five years. Tigers lost seven of last eight road games, with one win at Pitt; State is 2-7 in ACC road games. NC State turned ball over 19.3% of time in ACC games.
Wake Forest is 1-9 in ACC tournament the last nine years; they beat Boston College twice this year, 79-66/85-80- they were 17-36 on arc in those games. Deacons won last three games overall, went 9-9 in ACC (5 wins vs BC-NC St-GT); they’ve got shot at NCAA’s, but obviously need win here and then more wins. BC is horrible again, going 2-16 in ACC; they’re 10-62 in ACC games last four years, 1-3 in this event. Eagles lost last 14 games; their last win was Jan 11 over NC State- they do have wins over Providence and Syracuse.
Georgia Tech lost four of last six games, but one of wins was 61-52 over Pitt week ago tonight. Tech shot 55% inside arc in that game; they’re 2-3 vs Pitt in ACC games, 2-6 in ACC tourney last six years. Pastner was 11-4 in conference tourneys at Memphis, with three titles. Pitt lost its last four games, scoring 52-42 points in last two games. Pitt is just 3-8 in conference tourneys the last eight years. Stallings was 13-13 in SEC tourney his last 14 years at Vanderbilt; he won SEC tourney in 2012. Wake is best team in ACC at getting to the foul line.
Big Sky tournament, Reno
Until recently, only top half of league qualified for this tournament
Portland State lost nine of its last 12 games, with four losses in OT; home side won both their games with Northern Arizona this year. Vikings forced 43 NAU turnovers in two games, but they were -25 n boards in loss in Flagstaff. PSU is #22 experience team in country, but Big Sky teams shot 55% inside arc against them this year. Lumberjacks lost six of last nine games; they lost nine of last ten games away from home. Portland State is 7-1 in its first conference tourney games- they start three seniors and two juniors.
Sacramento State is 5-3 in its last eight games; they won their first Big Sky tourney game the last two years, by 10-4 points. Hornets beat Idaho State 75-63 at home Feb 11, only meeting this year, game Vikings led by 12 at half- they’re 5-2 in last seven games overall with ISU. Idaho State lost its last eight games; 0-2 in Big Sky tourney games the last seven years. Bengals’ last tourney win was in ’09. Sac State plays slowest tempo in league; ISU plays 3rd-fastest. PG for Idaho State is Ethan Telfair, brother of the former NBA guard.
Montana State went 10-3 in its last 13 games after starting season 6-12; Bobcats won 83-78 at Southern Utah Feb 13, in only meeting this year; MSU forced 23 turnovers (+12), were 11-27 on arc. Montana State is 7-1 vs Thunderbirds in Big Sky play. SUU lost 15 of last 16 games, with one win over NAU; T’birds allowed 84+ points in each of last four games. MSU is 0-5 in Big Sky tourney the last seven years; their last tourney win was in ’09. Bengals is 0-2 in tourney the last seven years; their last win was also in ’09.
Horizon tournament, Detroit
Milwaukee had lost nine games in row coming into Horizon tourney; now #10 seed Panthers are playing for 4th time in five nights for conference title. Northern Kentucky won 11 of its last 13 games; they split with Milwaukee this year, losing by 10 on road Jan 12 (game was tied at half), then winning rematch by 6 at home Feb 11- they were down 8 at half. NKU used three starters 38:00+ last nite, a 4th starter 33:00- they were up 15 at half, not real stressful game. Panthers used used only two kids more than 27:00 last nite. Game will be in a large, mostly empty arena.
Summit tournament, Sioux Falls
South Dakota State is in Summit final for 5th time in last six years; they had emotional 74-71 win over its arch-rival last night; Jackrabbits were down 11 at half, took lead with 0:01.5 left. Visitors won both SD State-Omaha games this year; Mavericks led 55-34 at half of 101-93 win on road Jan 7 (Omaha was 16-35 on arc), then Jackrabbits won rematch 88-84 three weeks later- they were 11-30 on arc. Omaha shoots 42.6% on arc in Summit games, best in league. Jackrabbits shoot 56% inside the arc, also best in league. State will have big crowd edge in this game.
